Leaving the room, Rhaegar shook off the attendants following him and descended the stairs alone.
He seemed a bit hurried.
Who wouldn't be, after hitting the Queen's son?
Of course, he wasn't afraid.
Just moments earlier, as he blew out the candle, he had heard a voice:
"Explorer system successfully loaded. Please search for lost treasures."
At first, Rhaegar thought it was just the aftermath of a nightmare.
But when he opened his eyes, not only was he greeted by Aegon's cream attack, but also a strange panel.
---
**[Rhaegar Targaryen]**
- **Talent**: Dreamer (Gold)
- **Bloodline**: Ancient Valyrian Dragonlord (5%)
- **Skills**: Literature (Beginner), History (Beginner)
- **Relics**: None
**Evaluation**: "A frail human child, certain to die before the age of ten. A pity, given the rare talent."
---
The clean and simple panel outlined Rhaegar's personal details.
Rhaegar was shocked, confused, and then accepting.
During the brief moment when Alicent wiped off the cream, he organized his thoughts and grew excited about the system's appearance.
In his three years of nightmares, he had dreamed of many things, including fragments of an unknown continent: green-skinned serpents, steel dragons, towering cement buildings…
The word "system" seemed vaguely familiar.
It appeared to be some kind of tool designed to help useless individuals rise against the odds—perfect for someone like him: pitiful, weak, and helpless.
Overjoyed, he couldn't resist giving his dear brother Aegon a little "reward." Hopefully, he'd enjoy it.
---
"Explorer… relics…"
"With the system's prompt, it must mean finding ancient, valuable items."
Rhaegar analyzed rationally, his young face unusually serious.
Before leaving the room, he had already thought of something sufficiently ancient and valuable.
Walking through the crowded halls of the Red Keep, Rhaegar arrived at an empty great hall where a statue of the Mother was displayed.
At the center of the hall, a circular platform built from stone held a colossal dragon skull.
This was the skull of Balerion the Black Dread, the dragon of Aegon the Conqueror.
---
Balerion was a legendary dragon.
When House Targaryen fled Old Valyria, Balerion accompanied their fleet as a protector.
Later, he became Aegon the Conqueror's mount, aiding in the conquest of Westeros and the unification of its Seven Kingdoms.
After Aegon's death, Balerion was tamed by his descendants, continuing to serve House Targaryen.
When Balerion was over 200 years old, he became the mount of Rhaegar's father, Viserys.
This mighty dragon once circled the skies of King's Landing three times with a young Viserys on his back.
It was the last time the people of Westeros saw him.
Shortly afterward, Balerion passed away, having reached the natural lifespan of a dragon.
To commemorate the great dragon, House Targaryen placed his skull in the Red Keep, where it has since been honored by future generations.
---
Looking at the enormous skull before him, Rhaegar couldn't think of anything older or more valuable.
"Balerion, thank you for your service to House Targaryen. Please help me just this once."
With hopeful eyes, Rhaegar knelt before the altar and silently prayed.
Climbing onto a stool, he scaled the meter-high altar.
Carefully, he touched the jagged dragon teeth, each one larger and thicker than he was.
Gingerly, Rhaegar entered the skull from an unobstructed opening at the back, his small hands brushing against the pale bone.
---
"Exploration task initiated. Target: Balerion the Black Dread's skull."
The system's voice suddenly echoed, startling Rhaegar. He glanced around nervously.
Children were often scolded for climbing and jumping where they shouldn't.
And he was just a child, terrified his secret might be discovered.
Thankfully, the great hall was seldom visited.
Relieved, Rhaegar noticed a new prompt appearing before him:
---
**[Balerion's Skull]**
- **Exploration Progress**: 0.2%
---
"What does that mean?" Rhaegar muttered.
**Rhaegar withdrew his hand, and the panel changed.**
**[Balerion's Skull]**
Exploration Progress: 0.2% (Paused)
"Does exploring the relic require physical contact?"
Rhaegar suddenly understood and touched the skull again.
Sure enough, the exploration progress resumed.
"So that's how it works. All that's left is to wait patiently."
Rhaegar plopped down, leaning against the skull to rest, occasionally touching it with his cheek or feet.
His body was too weak—he was out of breath after just a few steps.
The only reason he'd made it this far to explore Balerion's Skull today was thanks to the adrenaline rush brought on by excitement.
---
By dusk, as the sun sank lower, a voice broke through and startled the dozing Rhaegar awake.
"Exploration complete. Please retrieve the lost treasure."
Rhaegar rubbed his sleepy eyes, and the system panel appeared before him.
**[Balerion's Skull]**
Exploration Progress: 100%
"It's done! What treasure did I get?"
Rhaegar instantly perked up.
He checked the panel, which only displayed two short lines.
Tilting his head in confusion, Rhaegar recalled the word "retrieve" from the earlier prompt.
Standing up, he scanned his surroundings.
A watermelon-sized red aura floated above the dragon skull's closed teeth.
Curious, Rhaegar approached and slowly reached out to touch it.
**Pop!**
The red aura burst like a bubble, scattering into tiny red specks of light before shooting into his hand like fireworks.
"Relic retrieved successfully. Analyzing…"
"Analysis complete. Classified as a Legendary Relic: Dragon's Legacy."
"Legendary? Looks like I hit the jackpot," Rhaegar murmured softly as a dragon scale, named "Dragon's Legacy," materialized in his mind.
With a thought, the scale appeared in his hand.
It was pitch black, covered in scars, and only about the size of an adult's palm.
"A dragon scale? How do I use this?"
As Rhaegar inspected the scale, the system panel's text shifted.
"Blood and fire share the same source. To inherit the Dragon's Legacy, you must first be a true dragon."
"Blood and fire…"
Rhaegar's eyes lit up.
Everyone knew dragons were synonymous with fire.
If the activation required blood, it had to be dragon blood.
Rhaegar smiled faintly.
He wasn't a dragon, but he was a pure-blooded Targaryen.
Grasping the dragon scale in one hand, he pressed his other thumb against its sharp edge.
Gritting his teeth, he said, "Here goes nothing."
**Slash!**
The scale cut his thumb, and a trickle of blood flowed.
As the scale absorbed the blood, it emitted a red glow.
"Congratulations, Dragon's Legacy has been activated. You've gained…"
**[Blood and Fire]**
Rarity: Legendary (Red)
Effect: Fire Resistance +50%
Description: "True dragons fear no flames; the same goes for Targaryens."
The dragon scale shattered into dust and scattered with the wind.
Before Rhaegar could react, a faint flush appeared on his pale face, and his skin grew warm.
The sensation wasn't unpleasant.
It felt like curling up under a blanket on a winter day, next to a cozy fire.
His body filled with warmth.
The heat came and went quickly.
When it faded, Rhaegar's skin appeared smoother, and his once-pale complexion looked healthier.
He no longer looked frail enough to drop dead at any moment—more like someone recovering from a serious illness.
"Fire resistance? What kind of ability is that?"
Rhaegar walked to the edge of the altar, where a dense circle of candles surrounded him.
Lighting one, he held his hand over the flame.
Why not test it out?
At first, the fire felt warm against his skin.
As time passed and the heat built up, he started to feel a burning sensation.
When a drop of wax landed on his hand, Rhaegar frowned slightly at the sting.
Blowing out the candle, Rhaegar reflected on what he had learned.
"Fire still hurts, but the damage is minimal."
---
*This is a new story by a beginner author. Please excuse any imperfections as I work hard to improve.*
*Language can be a sharp blade, and this author has a fragile heart—certain comments can easily discourage me.*
*(End of Chapter)*