Chapter: 10
The next day
I stood before yet another group of stonemen, my third set of the day. The process had become routine by now: return them to normal, explain the situation, and wait for their response—would they join me or not? So far, no one had refused, but something in the back of my mind told me that this luck wouldn't hold forever.
As I finished with the current group and was about to move on to the next set for the day, a familiar voice called out to me.
"Lord Victor."
Turning, I saw Lilith approaching, her wings folding neatly behind her. "Lilith, you're back. I assume your mission was successful?"
"Yes," she replied, bowing slightly. "30,000 wildlings have chosen to join us; however, 10,000 of them refused and decided to stay behind."
"That's more than I expected. I thought we'd have fewer join us," I said, not surprised by the ones who stayed behind. "Well then, let's go meet our new citizens, shall we?"
Lilith nodded, her face composed and professional. "As you wish."
We both spread our wings and took off, flying toward the location where the wildlings were waiting. As we neared the group, I noticed that Giratina was there, looming silently over them, acting as their temporary guardian. The wildlings were huddled together, likely feeling uncertain in these strange new surroundings.
Lilith and I landed softly a short distance away and began walking toward the gathered wildlings. As we approached, I could feel the weight of their stares on me, filled with curiosity, fear, and skepticism.
Lilith was the first to speak, her voice carrying a calm authority. "People of the Free Folk, this is Lord Victor, the ruler of Valyria, and the one who has resurrected this land. He is also my creator."
Murmurs spread through the crowd, the adults in particular seeming shocked by her words. Valyria had been destroyed long before any of them were born, so to hear that it now had a ruler, let alone one so young, was hard for them to believe. The children, however, were less burdened by the past, their faces lighting up with fascination.
Stepping forward, I raised my hand in a gesture of greeting. "Welcome to Valyria," I said, keeping my voice steady and calm. "I understand this may be overwhelming, but know that you are safe here. I have worked to rebuild this land, and now you are a part of its future."
The wildlings stared at me, clearly not expecting me to be so young. A few of them looked at one another, confused by how someone my age could command such power. But Lilith had already introduced me, and they could sense there was truth behind her words. Still, the air was thick with unease.
Eventually, one of the wildlings, a tall man with a weathered face, stepped forward. "How do we know this place will protect us from what's coming?" he asked, his voice gruff. "We've seen things out there, things no one should survive. The white walkers… they won't stop. Not for Valyria or anyone."
There it was—the question I had been expecting. The white walkers were a looming threat, one that was already on the move. I looked the man in the eye, unflinching.
"I know about the white walkers," I said evenly. "And I know the kind of danger they represent. But Valyria will not fall to them. This land, under my protection, will withstand their advance. You have my word."
The crowd exchanged uncertain glances, but my confidence seemed to calm some of their fears. They had lived in chaos and uncertainty for so long, the idea of safety—true safety—was almost too much to believe.
After a long silence, the man who had spoken earlier bowed his head. Slowly, the others followed suit, dropping to one knee in a gesture of loyalty.
"We pledge ourselves to you, Lord Victor," he said. "If Valyria is to rise again, then we'll be part of it."
I nodded, accepting their oath. "Good. Together, we'll make Valyria stronger than it ever was."
Lilith stood by my side, her expression serene but pleased as the wildlings made their pledge. The children, who had been quiet up until now, finally broke into smiles, clearly excited to be part of something bigger than the harsh world they had known.
After the initial introductions and pledges of loyalty, the wildlings asked more questions, particularly about the white walkers. I answered as best I could, reassuring them that plans were already in place to deal with the threat when it arrived.
Eventually, after what felt like hours of discussion, the wildlings began to settle in, finding places to rest and regroup. I watched as they slowly began to integrate into the new Valyria, their rough edges beginning to soften as they adapted to their new reality.
Turning to Lilith, I nodded. "Let's keep an eye on them for now. They'll need time to adjust."
"Of course, Lord Victor," she said, her voice respectful as ever.
With that, we took to the sky once more, leaving the wildlings to begin their new lives in Valyria. There were still more stonemen to free, and the work of rebuilding was far from over. But with every new addition to Valyria's population, the future looked a little brighter.
Chapter 10: End