Twist Of Fate

The next day.

After observing Viserys' progress through a spar, Aerion returned him to Jaime's capable hands. Viserys was no warrior... but Aerion was slightly surprised with his improvement. Viserys had good enough potential; he was around six feet in height, seemed to be quite strong for someone without any training and was determined to improve. With these foundations, enough time and a couple of the most skilled swordsmen in the Known World, he could most certainly become a formidable warrior who could hold his own.

"What would you want from a ruined city like Old Valyria?" Viserys wondered before Jaime began instructing him.

"Feeling less frightened today, Viserys?" Aerion smiled.

"I've had enough time to think," Viserys replied. "And I realised that you're not one to journey to such a place on a whim. Is there something that I do not know about?"

The Kingsguard looked towards Aerion as they, too, did not know of his intentions.

"Old Valyria holds many treasures on its own, I have no doubts about that... but the truly invaluable treasure is the trial ground within it."

"Trial ground?"

"Yes, a trial ground. The first and only one that I've visited was located in the Dornish Desert." Emerald flames surged from Aerion's left palm for demonstration. "It was where I attained power over the dead and attained a greater realm of understanding over magic overall."

"From my first experience, it seems that these trial grounds are intended to provide the participant with a difficult challenge. A challenge that can easily lead to death if one is not striving for survival. If you do manage to survive, however, a reward worth the effort is granted."

"Such places exist?"

Arthur had no idea and neither did anyone else.

"Indeed, they do. The second trial is within Old Valyria and is bound to be far more dangerous than my first trial. But... I have all of you to aid me in this trial, unlike my first."

Viserys frowned. "If it's dangerous to you, then of what use will we be?"

"That is the reason why the majority of this ship's crew are Soul Knights." Aerion explained. "Furthermore, the Kingsguard are all among the most brilliant swordsmen in the Seven Kingdoms... men that you should not underestimate."

"It is our duty to protect the Emperor as members of the Kingsguard." Oswell Whent explained. "Wherever he goes, we go."

Aerion nodded.

"As for you, Viserys... I did say this journey was for your greater good, did I not? Any living person who accompanies me and survives the trial is to be granted a blessing. You are the person who needs this most... Viserys."

"I see..." Viserys nodded.

After Aerion explained all he knew about the trial further, Viserys started his training session and Aerion returned to planning the future of his Empire. The thought of an heir did come to mind ever since all nine Free Cities had been united. Currently, it was unlikely that House Targaryen could hold the Free Cities together without him. This was mostly because the Empire was quite unstable as the thought of independence still lingered among most and he had no true heir to speak of which further added to the instability.

Aerion decided that he would produce an heir once the Seven Kingdoms were under his rule. As the subject of an heir was put to the side, he did think of an alternative.

"System... is it possible to attain immortality?" Aerion wondered.

"Why, of course, it is!" The system replied. "The very purpose of Necromancy is to overcome death, after all. You can save others from their deaths, be it from natural causes or otherwise... but you have yet to attain the power to save yourself. In truth, your current level of Necromancy is depressingly far away from being capable of such feats."

"How far away, exactly?"

"Three stages."

Grandmaster... King...

"Emperor." The System stated. "Following the King stage is Emperor and God. With every stage, there is a colossal increase in power and utility, usually enough to make the lesser yet similar magic skills obsolete."

Aerion nodded.

Ever since he could summon tornadoes, Mighty Roar had become somewhat useless. This was the very same case with Greater Fireblast and Rain of Fire. Even with greater undead... he much preferred the use of Soul Knights.

~

As the Mad King began to sail through the Smoking Sea, the tensions did not rise by much. The Soul Knights were all confident of their strength and the strength of their Lord while the Kingsguard were not afraid of death. In truth, they would welcome it if it came. Viserys was less at ease than the rest but Aerion reminded him that they were all together.

After a few more days, the mist began to grow thicker and navigation became more difficult as a result. Aerion and his vice-captain Soul Knight had been following a map closely but that was becoming ever so difficult with the mist making their surroundings hidden. Aerion had used his wind to clear the fog once in a while but that grew tiring as he simply could not keep up.

However, they had kept relatively close to land at all times which made the fog slightly less troublesome.

"This is not the best situation to be in," Jaime remarked as Aerion sat on the deck of the ship, drained of all magic vitality.

"What if a Kraken emerges and..."

Aerion sighed. "We might very well be lost at sea and you are worried about some bloody Kraken. There are slightly more pressing matters at the moment, my dear uncle-"

CRACK...

BOOM.

A massive and long tentacle rose from the sea and grabbed the Mad King's side, followed by several others. It began to pull immediately.

"My luck..."

"BY ALL THE SEVEN... WE'RE DEAD MEN!" Viserys announced in panic.

Even Aerion's heart began to race more swiftly at the turn of events but he managed to remain calm. His life was at stake, after all.

"SOUL KNIGHTS, STRIKE THOSE LEGS AND FREE THE MAD KING AT ONCE!"

"YES, MY LORD!"

With great haste, the Soul Knights formed their weapons from fire and began to strike at each of the tentacles. It was then that another emerged and stuck Aerion to itself before attempting to descend back into the sea...

"Seven Hells..."

"My Lord!"

BOOM.

The archer fired off an arrow and separated the tentacle in half, leaving Aerion stuck to the dead part as he fell into the sea. Infuriated with its wounded tentacles, the Kraken moved closer and damaged the ship's lower-deck with one furious, massive bite. And so... the Mad King began to sink.

Aerion opened his eyes after falling into the water and held his breath. He focused his magic control over Hydromancy to form a small barrier around his head. Afterwards, he could breathe once more without worrying about breathing in water. As the dead tentacle was pulling him further into the sea, Aerion swam to the side and detached himself from it.

He then looked towards the Kraken which was eating away at the Mad King. His blood surged with burning rage as he thought about the loss that he had suffered because of a single sea monster.

It will die today.

He swam closer to it, using his power over the sea to increase his pace. The Soul Knights had already jumped off the ship and began to fight the Kraken in the sea. Meanwhile, the rest were helplessly hanging onto the falling Mad King as falling in the Smoking Sea meant death.

Fire... give me greater strength.

Aerion used the heat from the Smoking Sea to supplement his depleted magic vitality as a last resort. The Soul Knights could not make the most out of their fire under the sea and were forced to rely on their physical strength instead...

"My Lord, how will we slay this beast?"

Allow it to swallow you and kill it from the inside.

Aerion willed his Soul Knights to follow his orders. Seconds later, they began to swim into the Kraken's mouth willingly. As the Kraken was being dealt with, Aerion turned his attention to the sinking Mad King.

He closed his eyes and used all the magic vitality he had to force the ship into the air and towards land... as softly as he could.

This action cost both his magic vitality and consciousness.

His violet eyes began to grow heavy and close. The barrier faded, too, as his fall into the depths of the sea seemed imminent.

Then, a Soul Knight grabbed hold of him and began to swim to the surface.

"My Lord... all will be well."

With that, Aerion managed the smallest of smiles as he closed his eyes shut... free of all worries.

~

Viserys rubbed his aching head before opening his eyes to a dragon. A massive crimson dragon, large as the Balerion the Black Dread, stood before him, mounted by a beautiful middle-aged man. He seemed quite cheerful for a man of his age and carried great charisma as he spoke in valyrian.

"Well, what do we have here?"