Chapter: 14
I stood before a tree that stretched into the clouds, towering so high that its upper branches disappeared into the mist. Its bark and limbs were made of pure obsidian, or what the people of this world called dragon glass, shimmering with a dark, crystalline sheen under the sunlight. The leaves were a magnificent mosaic of rubies, glinting occasionally with spots of diamonds and amethyst. A set of amethyst steps spiraled up the tree, leading to the upper branches where the canopy stretched wide over the land.
A roar echoed through the air, shaking the ground slightly. I turned to see a massive dragon descending from the sky, far larger than any building in Valyria, even dwarfing some of the larger skyscrapers back in my old world. Her light blue scales glinted in the sunlight, and her six green eyes—two on each head—gleamed with intelligence and strength. At her chest, an emerald orb pulsed gently with energy. As she landed with a grace that belied her size, crystal flowers bloomed wherever her massive claws touched the ground.
"Hey, Queen," I greeted her, smiling as she lowered her heads to me.
Queen was the second of the guardian dragons I had created, tasked with protecting the second Goodness Tree. Unlike her sibling, King, who had a more aggressive temperament, Queen was calm, thoughtful, and patient, qualities that suited her role as the guardian of the more delicate regions of my domain. Though that's only when she isn't aggravated but we don't talk about that. I petted one of her heads, feeling the cool, smooth texture of her scales.
"Want to go for a fly?" I asked, grinning as I rubbed the side of her neck.
Queen let out a low rumble, a sound that I took as approval. Without further prompting, I leaped onto her back, settling in comfortably between the ridge of her massive neck. I could feel her muscles coiling beneath me as she prepared to take off. With a single, powerful flap of her six enormous wings, we were airborne, shooting into the sky with breathtaking speed.
As we ascended higher, the view below expanded, revealing the entirety of the peninsula I had rebuilt. Thousands of homes, marketplaces, and structures dotted the landscape, thriving with life. Nature had been woven seamlessly into the design—forests, rivers, and mountains sprawled out in perfect harmony with the cities. It was a beautiful contrast of civilization and the untamed wilds, a balance I had been careful to maintain when crafting this new world. I let out a satisfied sigh as we flew over the mines, which were producing resources at a steady pace, enough to fuel the growth of my empire. I had done everything I had set out to do here, and the land was flourishing.
Queen roared beneath me, bringing my attention back to the skies. She angled her wings slightly, directing us toward the smaller islands where the younger dragons I had created were growing. From above, I could see them engaging in mock battles, some of them already displaying impressive size and strength. There had been no significant problems—just the usual squabbles among the more territorial dragons, which was to be expected. They were, after all, still growing into their power.
As we flew lazily over the islands, I relaxed, leaning back against Queen's warm scales. The wind ruffled my hair as I let my thoughts drift. I couldn't deny the sense of satisfaction I felt as I looked over the land. It had taken time, effort, and power, but everything was progressing perfectly. The people were thriving, the dragons were maturing, and the infrastructure I had set in place was functioning smoothly.
Suddenly, the scent of rain caught my attention, and I glanced upward. The sky had darkened, thick storm clouds swirling above us. Lightning flashed, briefly illuminating a massive figure within the clouds. My heart skipped a beat as a colossal green, serpentine dragon burst from the storm. Even from this distance, it was clear that this dragon dwarfed Queen.
Rayquaza.
The mighty dragon descended from the storm clouds, his massive body shimmering with green and yellow patterns. His long, missile-like body coiled effortlessly through the air, and the red-tipped fins along his shoulders and tail gleamed ominously. Yellow ring-like symbols adorned his serpentine form, glowing faintly as he moved, and his yellow eyes glinted with ancient wisdom and power. The Valyrians had taken to calling him the Dragon God of the Sky, and they weren't far off. He was one of the few dragons I didn't often see—he preferred to spend his time high in the upper stratosphere, overseeing the world from above.
"Rayquaza," I called out, raising my voice to be heard over the thunder. "What brings you down here?"
Rayquaza's massive head turned toward me, his gaze locking onto mine. "It's nothing, Victor," he replied, his deep, rumbling voice resonating through my mind via telepathy.
I raised an eyebrow. "You're usually in the upper stratosphere. What's the occasion?"
The massive dragon shrugged—or at least, it seemed like a shrug. "Boredom, I suppose."
A chuckle escaped me. "Heh, you and me both." I patted Queen's neck, signaling that it was time for us to leave. "Anyway, take care, Rayquaza."
Rayquaza let out a low, rumbling sound that might have been a chuckle before he turned and ascended back into the storm clouds. His massive form disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, leaving only the faint sound of thunder in his wake.
Queen and I circled back toward the castle, the familiar sight of the obsidian towers and gold-lined halls coming into view. She landed gently on the ground outside the entrance, lowering her head to allow me to dismount. I gave her one final pat before she returned to her tree, her massive wings spreading as she took off toward the heavens.
With a sigh, I teleported back to the throne room, settling onto my throne. The room was quiet, save for the faint crackle of the fire in the hearth. I leaned back, my thoughts returning to the future. Everything here was progressing faster than I had anticipated. The dragons were growing, the people were thriving, and the infrastructure I had set in place was functioning smoothly. But Westeros was still on my mind. Cannon had already started, and the chaos of the game of thrones would soon be in full swing.
Should I check on Westeros? I mused. It had been a while since I last looked into the state of things there.
After a moment of contemplation, I decided to act. Closing my eyes, I reached out with my mind, activating the telepathic link I had established long ago.
"Ariel," I called out mentally.
There was a brief pause before a familiar voice responded. "Victor? What is it?"
"Fancy a trip?" I asked, a small smile playing on my lips.
"To where?"
"Westeros."
Chapter 14: End.