Chapter 11: The Green Eyes

Alaerya sat bathing in the flames after exerting her powers in the temple for practice and contribution to the Flames of Valyria. As it was her last Mystery to master she was required to dedicate time to the temple and integrate what she had learnt. Her Aunt was proud of her graduation to priestess and was always available to help with questions of guidance. Alaerya had also encountered and met the Council of Flames, she had shaken the hands of the small group who would be the catalyst of Valyrias destruction.

She left them to their devices though as she was warned by her aunt to not interfere with the thread of time.

"Only work with the threads in your hands, don't take the threads of another's."

Which Alaerya knew to mean only focus on what she had seen in prophecy and dream walking. Don't interfere with the rest.

She felt cleansed after her time in the flames as if it burned away a layer of herself that was wearing her down.

Her aunt was doing some flame manipulation when she entered her private chambers. The flames burned in her hands and slid up her neck and down to the other side. They leapt in to the air and became a beautiful fire bird flying through the room. It circled around Alaerya as she entered, she stopped to watch its flight as it returned to her aunt. she didn't want to disturb her focus while working with flame.

Her Aunt stopped and looked at her, Alaerya smiled and cast a shield around them to block out any spying eyes.

Her Aunt nodded once her face unchanged

"How was your journey?" She murmured while looking into the flames.

She approached her aunt and responded in a low voice, "We found the islands, they posses great riches and unsurpassed power. All who were in its vicinity immediately increased their strength"

"That has never known to have happened before, what changes did you feel?"

Alaerya explained her powerful experience in the cave and Jaehserys frantic sketches and planning.

"You are edging closer to succeeding but there is still much work to do."

"Yes I have been visiting the First Dreamwalker for guidance, as well as you"

"It never hurts to have another perspective. Although working with dreams and spirit energy can shift and change. The visions in flames are more reliable..."

Alaerya bowed her head, "I remember all my lessons. Which is why I sought out both of you to check I'm on the right path"

Her Aunt conjured flames into her palms, "You never told me your feelings on this red priestess"

She sat across from her Aunt and explained how she felt, she had a clear gut feeling this person was not to be trusted and was more trouble than help.

Her Aunt gazed into the flames in her hands, "She will bring you no harm personally, but the actions of these fanatics will bring more trouble to those who are foolish enough to become involved with them. You will see her again but things will be very different next time"

Knowing better than to question too deeply Alaerya simply nodded and waited for her Aunt to speak.

"Your mother has been watching closely all you have been doing. You need to reconnect with her"

Alaerya sighed, she had always had a tumultuous relationship with her mother who she felt dedicated more time to her practices than to her children. Now Alaerya realised she was doing the same.

"Don't blame her for her ambitions child, when you have the same streak in you. I took you on as your relationship with her was not at the level needed to really teach and grasp what we do here. Go to her and reconnect, it'll be important for you to have her with you...when you go"

Alaerya looked up at her aunt whose face was shining in the light of the flames in her hands. She was staring into the flames and not looking at Alaerya.

"She knows about my plans?" She said heatedly

Her aunt sighed, "She does not, but if I'm not to be there with you then it is she who needs to be"

"Wait-what? You said I could save you if it didn't interfere with the threads of time..."

"Yes I did and now it seems my threads lead to the fire. Without me the events that happen in Valyria won't be the same and it needs to unfold as you saw when you recorded the first prophecy all those years ago. If I'm not there the flames won't turn on them, it's up to me to burn those who wield our magic with ill intent." She sighed, "It's my job to make sure the volcano detonates"

Alaerya's face cracked for the slightest moment at the thought of what her aunt would be doing. She loved this woman more than her mother because they shared so many more meaningful moments throughout her life.

"You will come to share those same feelings with her my Love" whispered her Aunt.

Her aunt put her hand on hers, "We have plenty of time together to enjoy what we have left. And you need to rebuild with your mother, it makes sense I'm out of the way so you can do that. Plus the power on your new lands is untamed and wild, it needs experience and patience to bring it under control. She is more than capable of that"

Alaerya nodded. She realised in the times to come she would have plenty of hard decisions to make.

"Now enough of this talk. We are making artifacts today. These are forged from gold, steel and inlaid with rubies, emeralds and diamond. Diamond amplifies the energy of other stones, emerald helps to ground the energy from becoming unpredictable and rubies contribute to the glamour effect"

Alaerya looked up, "The glamour effect?"

Her aunt showed her a handful of red rubies, "Your ability to change faces and become another is an aspect of glamour. I've never seen or known another to do this, rubies help the wielder when under specific enchantments to inhabit a body in the guise of their choosing for an almost infinite amount of time. The energy of the stones and the strong magic used to wield them can extend the life of the wearer for hundreds of years or possibly more. But for this artefact we are making it will be used to change what an area of a space looks like. These can be lodged into the ground with great magic and used to conceal whole houses, neighbourhoods and other places we might consider too precious to let others just stumble upon"

Alaerya looked at the design and got to work manipulating the metals and laying the stones in place.

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The sound of quill on paper was like constant soft whispering. The children had begun gathering in Alaerya's expansive library which took up a whole floor every day for their lessons in Valyrian magic. She sat at the front of the group of children and watched them proudly as they began to learn the basics of magic and history of Valyria. Her own children were students along with her children's betrothed and her future wards.

She led them through memorisation magic and retaining knowledge from what they read. She tested them on facts from Valyrian History, "who can tell me how many members made up the original Valyrian council?"

A number of hands raised in the air, she glanced around the room and at a particularly bright student.

"Vysarra, can you answer this for me?"

"There were five originally, each member representing mastery in a particular element. And one member for the spirit element which is where magical energy originates from and what fuels the magic in the physical elements"

"Excellent answer, for extra points can you tell me their names?"

Her student smiled proudly, "Aerya, Vaxxaer, Raelion, Jhaerys, Rhaegar. Two women and three men. Their names go on to produce many of the Valyrian name variations we have today. And which many of our names are based on in this room"

"Excellent skills of memorisation and recall. See children it's not just the skill of committing it to memory it's just as important to be able to recall and do so in detail. Now the mind is a busy place, we are constantly in motion in our minds. It powers our physical bodies, stores memories and generates our internal magic. I'll be the first to admit I'm not able to recall every book I've memorised in my lifetime. But with a little focus and visualisation the information will present to you. We have some Valyrians who are able to recall information in an instant because they're using this skill constantly. If this is your area of magical skill there is more advanced work we can guide you to later in your studies. But for the mean time I want you to really understand where we came from, and how it's shaped who we are today. Homework is to research and write about one of the original members of the Valyrian council. Discuss their magical strengths and if you can find it their weaknesses, to hand in tomorrow."

The children scribbled their instructions down and looked up at her expectantly.

"Let's take a break for now, and have some lunch. History can be a lot to process! Go enjoy your lunch. Return after eating and we will begin an important topic for Valyrian culture, studying dragons"

The class murmured excitedly, many had dragons of their own and had just begun to form strong bonds with them. Alaerya wanted to take it a step further and learn how to wield magic by bonding with the dragons energy. The power amplified her own ten fold and it could be very important for other areas of magic also. The children all filed out and Alaerya went to her formal office she had made her teaching office to have lunch on her own. She thought fondly about her students and in particular Vysarra. The child had surprised her, she came from a family Alaerya had bad relations with. She had been in the same social class and age group as Vysarras mother, Auraelia. She had always been cruel and jealous of Alaerya which intensified when she was betrothed to Aeyrelis. They had numerous heated confrontations and once Alaerya had injured her badly during a particularly violent clash. Her untamed magic had lashed out at the girl and slashed her down her face. It left a deep scar and she had never forgiven her despite Alaerya trying to make amends. Now her daughter was here and she had mixed feelings. On one hand she was extremely guarded and apprehensive but on the other this child was a delight to teach. She was also very bright, and it seemed the child held no ill feelings towards her. She searched the child and found nothing concerning in her thoughts. She questioned the possibility her mother placed reversing magic on her child but didn't know Auraelia to be that gifted in magic. She still felt something was odd though so she decided to keep an open mind about the child but remain cautious.

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Aeyrelis toured through the mines under the Valyrian volcanoes. His slave workers hauling out precious metals and stones from the expansive vaults of natural materials contained in his mines. His slave lieutenant gave him a report on progress and happenings in the mines. Aeyrelis looked around and inside deeply disliked the use of slaves but he knew they were needed. He knew these were members of once great houses of the Ghiscari empire. 'Cost of being weaker than dragons', he thought to himself.

He had tried to make the lives of his slaves better in small ways that wouldn't raise suspicions. He had forbidden the rape and mistreatment of women and children, the male slaves were stronger to defend themselves against the worst of it. But he didn't tolerate anyone damaging the females and young ones. He remembered chastising one of his lieutenants, "Raxar, who do you think breeds and gives birth to more slaves? The women and the children! If you hurt them you're trying to hurt my business. I won't have it, lay another hand on a woman or child and you'll lose that hand"

The message was received, the women slowly had less bruises and the children didn't cower in fear. Alaerya agreed hurting these people was bad for business so he knew he was on the right path. As he trusted his wife's opinion above all others, something he didn't make public knowledge as it would make him look weak. He inspected the stock pile of materials all raw and in need of processing. There was piles of gold, silver, steel and gemstones piled high in the cave.

"Has this been entered into inventory?" He said pointing to the expanse of raw material.

His lieutenant bowed, "it has sir it is due to be moved to processing and storage later today"

He nodded, satisfied, "Good I see everything is in order then. I'll return another time to do another inspection."

He returns home and is aware of all the children studying in the library, he smiles and is proud of his wife's latest achievements. He retires to his offices to finish the last of his paperwork. The files all float to their relevant places once completed and he looks through the last stack of paperwork. Betrothal and ward documents...he read through them and smiled at her ingenuity. She had bound the best and brightest families to their own through the children. The terms of the agreements prevents any kind of treachery or deceit bound by signature of blood and magic. Iron tight and devastating for either party if they break the terms of the agreements. These papers he stored in a hidden compartment in his desk, along with the inventory of the families wealth. He opened the inventory book and wondered how he was going to move all this when they left Valyria. He made a mental note to discuss this with his wife later, surely with magic they could figure out the logistics of such a task. They had enough wealth to distribute so his great great grandchildren could command respect and influence. How things had changed since their union. There was a knock at his door and he looked up, she entered the room and looked tired but happy.

"How is everything going with the children?" he asked softly with a smile, he was also tired.

She smiled, "They're all enthusiastic and bright. Grasping everything well"

She sat across from him and conjured a drink to her hand, as it glides across the room it was swirling.

He looked at her puzzled, "Water magic?"

She grasped the glass and took a sip, "Yes I finished documenting sea and water magic with Valaer before he left for Driftmark"

Aeyrelis replaced the inventory and locked and warded the cupboard.

"He's gone again?"

She nodded, "He is close with Aenar Targaryen and apparently his cousin warned him to vacate Valyria. He hasn't completely emptied out his stores here but left some behind so it doesn't raise suspicions"

"How much did he take with him already?"

"A substantial amount, he's only left a quarter of what he had in Valyria."

"Is he coming back for it?"

"Possibly, but he mentioned he's at peace with the potential of not being able to retrieve it"

"Have you discussed these prophecies with Valaer?"

She shrugged, "only very limited. Our paths won't need to cross when we leave Valyria. He has his own path to go on and so do the Targaryen's"

"Let me come back to that. I have a question for you, how are we going to move all that we have when we need to? We have vast amounts of materials that need to be moved"

"We can't take it all with us for one it'll arouse suspicions and it'll take too long to store it. Never mind what it'll look like carting that many storage vaults to the port"

Aeyrelis looked stunned, "We are leaving it?"

She smiled "we will take a large portion and we will replace what we have lost in the new territory"

"Right I'll need to process this..." he started feeling irritated, he wasn't fond of leaving anything behind.

"Bring as much as you want my love. If you want to bring it all we will need to start ferrying amounts over to the islands from now. Otherwise we won't make it, some of it will inevitably get destroyed"

He looked down at his hands thinking, planning, "I can organise two shipments a week without being noticed. Is there a way we can do it unnoticed?"

She shrugged, "Do it my Love if it's important to you I support it and leave it with me. I'll find a way to help speed things along".

"Tell me more about your Targaryen comment. What's Aenar been up to?"

She puts her drink down and looks at him, "I feel like we need to reach out. When this happens we will be the only two branches of Valyrian civilisation. I need to think more on it but it doesn't feel right to not have a connection there. Might be useful in the future"

"We have never considered them strong enough to forge a connection with before so why now? Just because we'll be the only ones left in the world from Valyria doesn't mean we need to suddenly become friends"

She acquiesced her head, "You have a valid point, as I said I'm still thinking about it"

"You didn't answer my question though, what has Aenar been doing?"

"From what I can see nothing of real value. He's set up his lands around him and gained relations with the settlers who were there before, he built his castle..."

"He built a castle? How?!"

"Valaer mentioned it and I verified it in the flames. He used magic." She sipped her drink.

Aeyrelis sat back and smiled, "Well I never knew Aenar had it in him..."

"Don't get too excited about Aenar wielding great magic. The fool didn't take enough material to really grow his or his family's talents. His library was limited at best. Magic will die out in that line...dragons will die out too but not for a long time"

"How does one kill off their own dragons?"

She smiled sadly, "Stupid mistakes and fighting amongst the family"

Aeyrelis nodded solemnly as he'd known other families to self destruct from in fighting.

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He had his own gifts aside from dragon riding and his wife had been insistent on him focusing on his talents again. They both knew that being Master of the house all the logistics of the family wealth and businesses fell on his shoulders leaving not enough time for much else. Aeyrelis was skilled with metals, crafting stunning Valyrian artifacts, working with dragon hatchlings and his family were masters with the element of air. When he was a child he managed to leap into the air and fly when he was in danger. It was considered a level of mastery to fly and no one in Valyrian history had managed it in the longest time. He hadn't managed to do it again even though he tried with all his might. He smiled at the memory and conjured a swirl of air energy around him. Air was considered difficult to manage because it's not something that can be held in your hands like the other elements. It was an invisible force but it could destroy whole cities and fleets If used with intention.

Aeyrelis sat in a spinning vortex of air and began his practices which he had neglected in so long. The air spun around the room and formed the shape of a soldier wielding a weapon and it went into an attack, it dissolved into a swirling vortex and swept up objects in his office becoming deadly projectiles, he calmed the air and controlled the return of the objects to their places, lastly he conjured balls of swirling air that sent at the right speed could stop attacks in their spot. The vortex returned to surround him and the swishing currents of air felt calming to him. He opened his eyes they were shining bright and he realised he couldn't feel the floor underneath him. Glancing down he saw he was floating in the centre of the vortex the air spinning violently around him. He smiled.

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Alaerya was nervous. Not something she felt often because she couldn't seer how this encounter would end. She felt in her it could go either way. She sat in the familiar dragon dome and felt comforted by Vaellas presence.

She heard her enter the dome, the largest one in Valyria and approach her. She still had the limp from being beaten by her brother, Alaerya saw her face and it still retained hints of bruising as well.

"This is a surprise" said Rhylla

"I felt it was time to come, considering I'm taking wards from your family"

The woman stiffened, "I honestly am not sure if these are truly wards or just your hostages to keep everyone in line."

The air was frosty to put it nicely.

Alaerya felt on edge but kept her energy calm.

"You've known me for long enough to know which one it is Rhylla" she looked at her reproachfully, "Do you really think I'd hurt children?"

Rhylla didn't answer. She just looked away

Alaerya sighed, "I thought by removing Brae as head of your house you'd put the past behind us. Why are you so angry with me? I only seem to remember being betrothed to Aeyrelis and then our friendship was over. I don't actually know what I did wrong"

"And you thought now you've gained all the power it was time to talk? It's been fifteen years and you didn't think it was important until now?" her words were full of iciness.

"To be honest I didn't want to enter your home while Braeyon was alive. He was a monster and you know it, I might not have been able to leave"

Rhylla knew she was right but didn't want to quell her anger.

"Listen Alaerya it's been a long time. I will forget the past and move on. But don't expect us to rekindle our friendship."

Alaerya sat quietly, "Understood"

She sat for a few moments more and when Rhylla spoke no more she recognised a lost cause and left after mounting Vaella. She looked one last time at her childhood friend and flew out of the dome.

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Rhylla landed her dragon in the dome of a lesser house, fury coursing through her veins and she came to her friend to share what had happened. She entered the room knowing she was in there practicing magic, the room was full of swirling green mists casting an ominous glow all around the room.

Her friend looked up from her practices at her friends appearance.

"She came to see me" said Rhylla.

"What happened?" The woman frowned.

"She tried to make peace," Rhylla laughed harshly, "it's too late for that"

The woman smiled evilly, "Then its time we make our move"

Her eyes glowing green in the light with malicious intent.