In the quiet corner of the Citadel, I buried myself in the Journals. The more I delved into them, the deeper I sank into the world of dark and forbidden rituals, marked by the constant companionship of those dark circles under my eyes—like badges of exhaustion.
Being a former surgeon, the unsettling drawings made from the blood of victims didn't faze me much, but a lingering queasiness clung to me.
The twisted knowledge I absorbed had a certain dark vibe, leading me to the 22nd Archmaester's gruesome experiments—dissecting body parts to understand the power of sacrifices.
Oddly, the Citadel's understanding of anatomy derived from such creepy practices.
Amid sleepless nights and exhaustive reading, my mind wandered to a peculiar magic—Warg magic. It offered a way to connect with animals without the need for old rituals. Three essentials were needed: a robust life force, a tough mind to control the animal's thoughts, and an animal buddy without prior allegiances.
Flipping through the pages, I stumbled upon a lost ritual called House Founding, lost in the mists of time during the age of heroes. My theory revolved around the war between the children and First Men, masters of greenseer and mind arts.
The book introduced a technique by Peremore the Twisted for training the mind—"entrance enhancement," a method to teach non-Warging magic users. The enhancement felt like a sleeping animal compared to the real deal.
For enhancing life force, the magic book suggested using sap from a well-known tree in Westeros as Weirwood. You could obtain the sap after the tree grew for many years or by sacrificing something to it.
Fortunately, a Weirwood tree stood in front of me, ready to fulfill both conditions.
The journals hinted at the prevalence of Weirwoods in the past. Even a sip of the sap could open the mind or induce a pseudo-coma. Normally, years of training with the entrance trial were required, but hey, I had the AI to remind me. Deciding to get this over with, I mentally prepared for the experience while ordering the AI to process the acquired knowledge—three days remaining in the countdown. Fortunately, other functions of the AI remained unaffected during this time.
Armed with tools in the room, I collected the Weirwood sap using an obsidian glass found there. The Valyrian First Men ritual knife, a relic custom-ordered by the Citadel from Valyria, served its purpose as I cut my palm. Mixing my blood with the sap, I drank the concoction with a toast.
The next moments unfolded in a dreamlike state. My thoughts meandered from childhood movie memories to temple visits and even the ending of Avengers.
In this experience, I found myself reliving the first day of school—an unexpected memory. Sitting in a vibrant classroom, the aroma of biryani wafting from the lunchbox beside me, the Avengers' iconic theme playing in my mind—it was a nostalgic blend of flavors and sounds, leaving me oddly comforted in this surreal dreamscape.
Abruptly, the AI's reminder pierced through the whimsical dreamscape—[Warg training] [Warg training].
Reality hit hard, and I found myself retching up my dinner as I returned to the room.
The almost burnt candle suggested an entire hour had passed, though for me, it felt like a fleeting second.
Surprise struck again—[Data process completed].
The sap had expedited the information absorption process, a welcome positive. Now, I needed to wait for the toxins of the sap to leave my body—a moon cycle, according to the journals.
Life resumed its course until an unexpected announcement from the teacher interrupted, "Pack your belongings. We are going to Braavos."
Getting ready for our trip to Braavos, the teacher, all wise-like, explained why we were going—to sort out some stuck negotiations. My job, being the owner of the business in question, was important for these talks.
And to make things even more helpful, the teacher once helped a big Braavosi family, like nobles in Westeros. Now, they were going to be our go-betweens in the upcoming talks. Teacher told me in his bid to encourage me, "In time with your talent, you will reach the same influence with favours and friends everywhere. You forging a link at such young age is indication of your talent but you much study hard to reach it."
Seems like my disappearance in to the ROOM is noted, lucky for me it was noted by teacher to be me playing around with the other brats. Sure I did that, but not as much as he thinks.
Good thing the teacher said yes to bringing along Walder and Smallfoot. They're the folks I'm closest to, so at least I won't be bored during the trip.
But, beneath all the excitement, there's the weight of my secrets on my heart.
My former life, the room, and even my ambitious nature compared to the pure friendship of Walder and Smallfoot. But I will not reveal them, especially the past life. Such is the kind of person I am.
This journey isn't just about talking business for me. What really caught my interest is the tradition of Braavosi Sea Lords and their private zoo. Sea Lords, to show goodwill and make friends, have the biggest collection of animals you can imagine. Their private zoo is like a VIP club, only open to special guests. They even give away unique animals as gifts to important friends of Braavos, making their zoo a showcase of the city's diverse culture.
But here's the catch: getting into this zoo comes with a price tag in the form of partnership to the Braavosi. While I think the Auto-quills have the potential to be luxury goods, it is not worth the gift for a mere 10%. The debacle from Harwin gave the advantage in the negotiations. Well, the Braavosi know what to do with the lemons handed to them. They squeeze like they mean it. The one who must pay is the weaker party—ME. More shares lost.
The Citadel will always want its share. Even with Harwin's fault, who might be the son of an Archmaester, the bill is on me. Grumbling about the unfairness of the situation, I asked the teacher whether it is worth it.
"Archmaester Harwlyin will pay us back with his favor. Trust me, it's worth it," he assured me.
Unlike those main characters who act without thinking, I trust my teacher enough not to poke too much into it. The teacher treats me like a son, and we've got this shared experience from a bath we took together. Where I saw the torture marks on his body and the castrated pelvis.
He gave a small smile and hugged me that day and requested some time. That told enough about his past and his connection to me.
Funny enough, shared baths are a thing in the Reach and the Riverlands. Even though bathing isn't common because of the beliefs of faith. As we set off for Braavos, I couldn't help but think about the chance of finding a potential partner among the exotic creatures in the Sea Lords' zoo.
"Shit."
I was heaving over the boat with Smallfoot, while Walder watched with amusement.
So, there I was, standing on this big wooden boat, feeling all kinds of things. Excitement, yeah, but also a bit of 'What am I doing here?' vibes. The boat was rocking like a stripper in a bar, and the salty smell was everywhere.
The captain, Berek, a weathered dude with a beard matching his auburn hair that had probably seen more than I could imagine, strolled over. "First time on the seas, huh?" he said, giving me a friendly smack on the back.
The crew behind him burst into laughter. "No worries, we won't let any krakens get ya!" he joked, and everyone laughed even harder.
As we sailed, I tried to look all cool and sailor-like, but truth be told, I had no idea how they were steering this thing.
It was Berek, my guide in all things boat-related, who came up to me and said, "See those stars up there? That's the only truth on the sea." The waves below were like a lullaby, and the crew, seeing me wide-eyed, gave me these knowing smiles. "First time at sea can be a bit dizzying," one of them said, and I laughed nervously, thinking, "Yeah, no kidding."
"It can turn faster than a woman bleeding on her time of the month. Once, when I was a cabin boy, I went to take a shit. Back in a candle time, but the sea turned from this into a bitch that swallowed everything up to hundreds of meters." Despite his crude description, I got what he is telling me. The climate changes on the sea rapidly, and stars can be the only thing counted on to navigate. Not even the coastline on which we're hugging can guarantee safety.
Hugging the coastlines brought us close to these massive cliffs and rocky shores. It was like the sea saying, 'Hey, I'm big, and you're small.'
The captain Berek, as if reading my mind, said, "Respect the sea, and it'll be your buddy."
Deep, right?
Night fell, and the sky turned into this starry masterpiece. The crew kept doing their star dance, and I was just trying not to get lost in the middle of the ocean. Jokes flew around, and everyone had these cool nicknames from their adventures.
The captain invited me to steer the ship, telling me to "feel the sea." Seems like the pen I had gifted worked like a charm.
I grabbed the wheel, feeling like a pirate or something. The captain shared stories of wild storms and far-off lands, making me feel like I was in a movie.
But, as the night went on, tiredness hit me like a ton of bricks. The crew, seeing me struggle, teased me about it being my first night at sea. The teacher Bracken, being all wise, said, "Rest will come, son. The sea takes care of its tired travelers."
I crawled into my bunk, and the gentle rocking of the boat turned into a lullaby. Dreams of stars and laughter filled my head, making my first night on this big ocean boat a crazy, unforgettable adventure on the way to Braavos.Top of Form
Summary : In the secretive depths of the Citadel, my relentless exploration into Journals left me tired and marked.
Warg magic and the House Founding ritual added layers to the mystery of magic, with the surreal experience of enhancing my mind and life force using Weirwood sap. The prospect of a journey to Braavos sparked excitement, intertwining business negotiations with the enigmatic tradition of the Braavosi Sea Lords and their private zoo. Despite the weight of secrets and financial concerns, the voyage promised cultural immersion and potential alliances among exotic creatures. My maiden voyage on a medieval boat ushered in a mix of excitement and self-doubt, with sea sickness earning laughter from companions. Guided by Captain Berek's crude jokes, I navigated the starry night, gaining a newfound respect for the unpredictable sea.
[Navigation between Oldtown and Bravoos, a excerpt from captain Berek's Journal: Departing from Oldtown, a major port in the Reach, the ship would head northeast, hugging the coastlines. Along the way, it would pass the Stormlands and the Crownlands, navigating through the Blackwater Bay and the Shipbreaker Bay.
Continuing northward, the ship would approach the eastern coast of Westeros, passing Dragonstone and the Storm's End. The journey then takes the ship through the Stepstones, a chain of islands in the narrow sea. Sailing further northeast, the ship would finally reach the Free City of Pentos, one of the Nine Free Cities.
From Pentos, the ship would continue its journey northward along the coast, passing the cities of Lorath, Norvos, and Qohor. Finally, after navigating through the northern waters of the narrow sea, the ship would reach its destination: the bustling city of Braavos.
This maritime route offers a scenic voyage, with the ship hugging the coastlines, passing through various regions, and encountering the diverse cultures of the Free Cities along the way. It's a journey that combines both the challenges and beauty of the narrow sea, making it a memorable maritime adventure.]