Chapter 15: Nightmares and Disasters

The true cause of Kevan's death spread quickly with the aid of those who had an agenda.

As King's Landing had just been plundered, there were more than a few who harbored resentment towards House Lannister.

Combined with the fact that many nobles in the rebellious faction were also envious of the Lannisters reaping the rewards of victory, their infamy spread throughout the city through a tacit collaboration.

Countless commoners rejoiced at Kevan's death, believing the Targaryens would eventually return and make the Lannisters 'pay their debts.'

The Targaryens still held the hearts of the people.

During one of his recent outings, a rotten egg was thrown at the face of Lord Tywin.

His face was cold, even turning an ashen hue, and anyone could see the fury in his eyes.

However, the city guards, known as the Gold Cloaks, scurried about and failed to find the real culprit behind the attack on Tywin.

The situation escalated, painting Tywin as an utterly wicked demon.

In the end, several Lannister soldiers were ambushed and beaten to death by an unruly mob while patrolling the city.

The turmoil continued to brew.

Many in the usurpers' faction were delighted to witness such events, even fueling the fire by continuously slinging dirt at House Lannister.

After all, the fewer people there were to share the spoils, the better.

...

Meanwhile, far away on Dragonstone.

An unknown amount of time had passed.

Viserys still lay in bed, lost in a deep slumber, with a series of intricate dreams unfolding in his world.

He dreamt of his past lives.

He dreamt of a colossal dragon breathing fire at him, attempting to turn him to ashes.

He also dreamt of a world-ending catastrophe, with all the volcanoes erupting simultaneously, spewing ash, smoke, and flames into the sky.

The cracked earth swallowed majestic temples, palaces, and bustling towns.

"Where is this?"

Viserys didn't know why he dreamt of such a scene, yet he shivered as if he was actually there.

He knew this was a manifestation of fear.

It was like the feeling when he was attacked on the road, with a frightened warhorse charging straight at him.

It was also like a fish flung ashore, gasping for air, praying for the disaster or wrath of the gods to cease.

"Why would such a terrible disaster happen here?"

But no one could give him an answer.

Countless images of world destruction filled Viserys's mind, as if he had experienced this catastrophic event firsthand. He played various roles in the disaster, experiencing the 'first-person perspective' of many people caught in the catastrophe.

The cycle continued, endlessly entwined.

However, the catastrophe finally came to a halt, dissipating into a black mist that vanished among the vast clouds of smoke.

The psychological torment that Viserys experienced in his dreams ceased as well.

As everything vanished, darkness took over his sight. The boy lying in bed seemed to gradually regain his spirit. Soon, he heard a series of vague sounds around him, including hushed conversations and the soft sobbing of a girl.

Finally, he felt a raspy tongue lick his cheek, as if trying to awaken him.

Viserys slowly opened his eyes, but at this moment, he was completely drained of energy, as if he had just recovered from a severe illness.

Devoid of strength, he lay in bed, barely moving his fingers.

His throat was unbearably parched, like cracked, arid land. His dry lips slightly puckered, and he requested a glass of water in a hoarse voice.

"Water…get me a glass of water."

The small black cat was the first to notice that Viserys had awakened. As it licked the boy's cheek, it saw his eyes open and tilted its head slightly, its green eyes seemingly gleeful.

Next to hear Viserys' voice was the girl sobbing beside his bed.

"Huh, Viserys, you're awake?!"

The brown-haired girl, tears streaming down her face, was overjoyed to hear Viserys' voice, which alerted the others in the room.

Queen Rhaella, Viserys' mother, hurried to his side. An experienced maester brought a cup of warm water and gently helped Viserys sit up against the headboard.

First, he moistened the boy's parched throat.

"My child, how are you feeling?"

The queen sat beside her son, but Viserys' mind was still somewhat foggy. He managed to answer a few questions before succumbing to sleep once more.

This time, Queen Rhaella didn't allow anyone to disturb Viserys, giving him some peace and quiet to sleep.

In her view, Viserys had endured too many events in a short period, suffering severe shock and stress, exhaustion from traveling, and illness that caused a fever and a day-long coma.

His beloved brother had died, forcing him to flee King's Landing in haste. He had encountered an attack en route, bravely killed an enemy, and arrived at Duskendale without much rest.

Then, he spent several days at sea before reaching Dragonstone. He had barely arrived when his mother hastily crowned him.

Viserys must have been exhausted. After all, he was only a seven-year-old child.

Queen Rhaella felt guilty, reflecting on her actions. It was Viserys who comforted his mother, assuring her that he was fine and only needed some rest.

Once everyone had left the bedroom, Viserys, who had been 'asleep,' opened his eyes.

His pale purple eyes seemed even brighter than before. Sitting up, he glanced at the mirror on the bedside table, which reflected light from the sunrays piercing through the curtain gaps.

Three seconds later, a black mist arrived as promised.

[Viserys Targaryen]

Sun Essence: 5

Earth Essence: 6

Water Essence: 8

Moon Essence: 20

The silver-haired boy in the mirror still possessed an otherworldly handsome face, though slightly pale and haggard.

His silver hair appeared even more dazzling than before, like molten silver draped over his young shoulders.

However, Viserys didn't overly concern himself with his beauty, as it was destined to accompany him throughout his life.

Instead, his gaze focused on the black mist, visible only to him.

"Moon Essence... 20."

This indicated that his mental prowess had already far surpassed that of ordinary people. Yet now, it had incredibly jumped from 18 to 20, reaching twice the level of a normal adult.

No...

Perhaps this multiplier didn't work in such a straightforward manner.

The abilities manifested by the black mist might become increasingly difficult to advance as they grew more profound.

Moreover, when his Moon Essence reached 20, it seemed to awaken a very powerful special ability.

(To be continued.)