Chapter 7 : Seeing a Dragon in the sky

"3, 2, 1. Pull."

"PULL"

"Damn it assholes, put the food you ate for use. PULL."

"'PULL'"

I watched as the combined efforts of the sailors finally pulled the anchor up.

Leaning on the rail, I mumbled, "I wish we could have spent some time there. After all, it is the centre of trade between Essos and Westeros."

Teacher Bracken chuckled as he said, "The scars from the Dornish wars have not yet healed. Spending more time there when the scars are too raw is asking for trouble."

Leaving Sunspear behind, we swiftly restocked our provisions and set sail on the same day. 

"Well, not you at least," he playfully pointed out towards my distinctive Indian/Dornish features—rich brown skin and dark hair.

It made me curious about my parents in this world, wondering whether they looked the same as my previous parents. Considering I look the same as in my previous life, they must be the same.

But, that makes me even more sad, especially considering the fate of people in this world. Despite my luck, I can say that Westeros is a cruel place.

So, we sailed through Shipbreaker Bay, and let me tell you, that name ain't just for show. It's like the Bermuda Triangle of Westeros, where ships go to vanish, but here in Westeros, there's proof of why.

Captain Berek was dead serious about not dropping anchor there. If you do, your ship's gonna be in pieces real quick, thanks to the crazy currents and rocky outgrowing.

Shipbreaker Bay is the Stormlands' natural defence and constraint. It wreaked havoc on their naval trade, leaving only Tarth standing tall as the navy powerhouse. They call it the Sapphire Isle, probably 'cause the surrounding water is bluer than the sky and it is the only rest top in Shipbreaker Bay.

So, as we sailed past, we were giving Shipbreaker Bay the side-eye, when suddenly one sailor jumped on the Railing.

THUD

He was shouting like a madman at the sharp currents of Shipbreaker waves, "Nah, we're not falling for your tricks."

The crew nodded like it was some unspoken wisdom.

Considering the cruel journey in Shipbreaker Bay, I nodded at them. While I had the luxury of staying inside the safety of the ship, the sailors kept the ship going day and night for an entire week.

The Shouting almost downed, only to be saved by the safety rope all sailors tied around themself in this part of Journey. Gods, if the ship was not a carrack, we would be dead in a minute under the bitchy waves of Shipbreaker Bay.

Still, the disappointment of missing the sights of Dorne and the Stormlands lingered briefly, but it dissipated the moment we entered the vast Blackwater Bay.

The crew was gliding around while they took their well-deserved sleep. Captain Berek, forever the guy with the tales, kicked off with stories about the Blackwater Bay, the beating heart of the Seven Kingdoms' Trade and its protection - The Royal Fleet.

" Under that fleet, it was safe travels to everyone. Let me tell you an incident, that has to do with three things- a banana, women on the ship and a very horny me..."

---====Near Kingslanding port===---

GURGLE GURGLE

I did my best to wash out the taste of the salty sea and spew the gargled water. This spot was apparently a suitable spot to learn to swim.

So, the Sailors threw me, Smallfoot and Walder into the waters. Right in our sleep. It was a choking me that had to be taken out by the Sailors. 

Thankfully, this spot is really suitable. Shallow and almost no waves. So, the cycle repeated until we were swimming.

PLOP

PLOP

PLOP

After a single dive, we entered the icy waters of Blackwater Bay. 

SHUH SHUH SHUH

As I swam for air, I noticed Walder was pulling Smallfoot back into the water. While the sailor's way is cruel, it got us good at swimming. 

So, I got inspired by Walder and pulled him under the water. 

SLOSH SLOSH

"Fuck you, Kerith. You are an asshole. I almost drowned."

I just shrugged in the water, thinking that Walder took to swearing like a fish to the sea. Speaking of fish, Smallfoot caught another fish with his bare hands. Impressive.

SPLASH

I laughed as the fish's tail splashed water onto Walder's face, making me wonder if it was intentional.

However, looking at Smallfoot's reluctant face to kill the fish, I shook the thought away. This kid is far too kind.

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As we sailed further into the bay, King's Landing's silhouette was up on the horizon.

The ship's mood changed with that scene. Ranging from happiness, horniness and excitement to even relief. Despite the beautiful sights and experiences, sailing just makes one tired. Both in mind and body.

Teacher Hoster murmured, "Even with all the political drama and mystery tied to King's Landing, you couldn't ignore its pull."

As the first rays of dawn painted the sky with hues of orange and pink, signalling the birth of a new day, a sound that echoed across the vast expanse of the sea shattered the calm.

ROARRRRRR

A roar, deep and thunderous, reverberated through the air, sending shivers down the spines of those on the ships. It didn't feel like a sound; rather like a force of nature, reminding me of the sharp waves of Shipbreaker Bay.

The sunlight, still in its infancy, struggled to hold its ground against an impending darkness. It was as if the approaching sun had second thoughts. In the blink of an eye, shadows covered the decks, and the world around me plunged into darkness.

FLUTTER

Then, a symphony of wings cutting through the air reached our ears. It was a sound that felt like a primal call that seemed to shake the very foundations of the world.

In the depths of my mind, I already knew what was coming, the harbinger of both awe and dread at this age.

"He's alive," I muttered to myself. But the words were barely audible over the cacophony. "But not for long."

The colossal creature was a living mountain with wings outstretched, which cast shadows that seemed to have covered the sky.

Balerion the Black Dread, the conqueror of Westeros, a legend made of flesh—or scales. The sheer enormity of the dragon seemed to swallow the world for a second.

Captain Breken stood by my side, his gaze fixed on the awe-inspiring spectacle above. "Balerion," he spoke, the name carrying both reverence and a hint of fear. "The Black Dread, the one who brought kingdoms to heel."

The dragon's presence alone cast a shadow over the ships and their crews. It was a reminder of a power that transcended the might of men, a force that could reshape the very destiny of Westeros. As Balerion soared overhead, his scales gleaming in the subdued light, a chill ran down my spine.

"Prepare yourself," the Teacher sounded wary as he warned, his voice reciting the famous saying from Conquest. "For the conqueror has graced us with his presence, and where he goes, history follows."

[Expert from the book of Baal, Magic and its impact on the world. [Conquest edition]- 5 A.c]

And so, we stood on the decks, witnesses to the living legend that darkened the sky. A force of nature that left no doubt in the hearts of those who beheld him—this is the age of dragons.

Though known only to me and other mystical prophets, nightmares or anything else present in the world- an age that is about to end.

I thought about the dark future amidst the smell of piss passed by my two friends and most of the young sailors.

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--===King's Landing===--

"....COME ON. COME ON. 10 copper for the cart of bananas. One in a moon offer. Come on."

CRUNCH CRUNCH

Looking at the travelling cart of the Banana seller, I felt my stomach flip. I may not eat bananas for a long time. Especially after Captain's banana story. Just how horny can you be to use a banana as an opener?

Thankfully, Smallfoot is too small to understand the talk, but I noticed Walder looking quite excited. Fucking hell, a virgin teenager with hardened sailors who got the payday is a recipe for Moans.

Here I was, drifting along the streets of King's Landing, the capital of an entire continent. My first thought is about bananas, sex and sailors.

So I forced myself to the second thought, which is just as bad. It fucking smells of shit or urine. Though, it is the norm of any city of the current time. The only plus point is that it is nowhere as bad as described in the TV series.

But the sheer population roaming around reminded me of the crowded streets of the modern age.

CLANG CLANG

I soon walked among the streets of steel, looking at every showcase here and there but comparing them with Garhammer. I found most of them to be lacking. But it is unfair to the common blacksmiths to compare them with the best blacksmith in Oldtown. After all, not any blacksmith can become a contractor with Citadel.

SMACK

"I expect you to present yourself tomorrow morning."

"Yes, Wisdom William."

I soon saw the only other order of scholars in the world - The Alchemists, recruiting children or learned men found on the streets of King's Landing.

Quite pitiful. But they picked madmen like Maegor to support, so they got spanked hard after he died. Especially the old king who vented his anger on them.

So, there I was on my first visit to King's Landing, pondering the crazy idea of trying to drag some Alchemist along as my follower. I quickly realized how ridiculous that sounded and shook my head, letting go of that absurd plan. 

Instead, my mind wandered to the impending death of Balerion, the Black Dread, and the whole Dance of Dragons drama that was about to unfold in a couple of years.

With a jolt, I realized I had been thinking too long, a trait becoming common to me. I guess I need to put effort into not to be an introvert again.

"What are you doing? Walk."

Walder and Smallfoot, my friends, dragged me back to INN DRAKE, our stay. Especially since the night was approaching and our babysitter sailor was running for the nearest brothel.

[Inn Drake: A famous inn nestled near the Street of Steel and Silk Street. This joint was budget-friendly with top-notch grub. With a group of city guards always present.]

The owner was a genius, giving the place a name that buttered up the royal house without directly naming its dragons. Hence, avoiding offending their high and mighty feelings.

CLUTTER CLUTTER

Inside the inn, the scene was buzzing with life. People chatted away, tankards clinked, and the owner, a jolly guy with a twinkle in his eye, hustled around, making sure everyone was happy. This place is like a temporary escape from daily life and it's struggling.

I grabbed a seat in a corner, checking out the mix of folks around. Merchants, soldiers, small folk–you name it, they were all there.

The innkeeper was clearly good at handling this diverse crowd and was doing his thing. He showed quite a knack for making everyone feel at home.

The innkeeper, with a knowing smile, swung by my table. "Having a good time, my little friend?" he asked, already familiar with the art of dealing with guests from all walks of life.

I nodded, appreciating the feel of the inn. "Your place is a hidden gem in the chaos of King's Landing," I said, raising my tankard filled with juice in a silent toast to his success.

He chuckled in a prideful voice that spoke volumes about the years of running this joint. "We aim to give folks a break from the exhausting daily routine," he shared, pride in his eyes.

As the night rolled on, the inn turned into a hub of chat and jokes. Showing that life went on even in the face of political drama for most of them.

Talks about Prince Daemon and his soon-to-be marriage to the "Bronze Bitch" buzzed around. That catchy nickname was already making the rounds even before the wedding. 

The inn's crowd, a mix of nosiness and curiosity, speculated on what this majority meant for the city. Especially the merchants, they were racking their brains to find the specialities of Runestone, the seat of Royces. Because they will flood King's landing market with the wedding on the horizon.

TOOTLE TO

In the corner, a minstrel played a lute, adding a sweet melody to the lively atmosphere. The tunes captured the difficulties of life in King's Landing.

At that moment, I couldn't help but admire the resilience of Kings Landing's people. Despite the dragons and the political chaos, life carried on.

As the night wound down, and the last notes of the minstrel's lute faded away, I got up from my seat with a thanks and a whistle for relaxation provided.

Good music is wonderful music. No matter the place or time.

CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP

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"I am bored out of my mind, " said the groaning Smallfoot.

Back in our shared room with Walder and Smallfoot, along with the younger apprentices from the ship, I spiced things up a bit. I pulled out that the board games I had Re-invented up, classics like Tic Tac Toe, Snake and Ladder.

Being stuck on the ship left us with little to do, so might as well monetize my board game genius, right? Well, it wasn't exactly a skill that required a Ph.D., but hey, it was something.

I figured I could make a few coins as pocket money for our next shore leave. Counterfeit Monopoly would be the talk of the town by the end of the month.

"Damn it, Walder. Put aside the sword. I need a place to sit."

As we settled in for the game, I moved Walder's sword onto his lap to make the place.

Things took an interesting turn when Geric, one of the sailor apprentices, dropped a bombshell of a request. He looked at Walder with this curious glint in his eyes and said, "Hey, Walder, can you teach me swords?"

GASP GASP

Now, you've got to understand that this was a bit of a crazy thing to ask. In a society where people value smarts and skills they passed like gold, asking to teach them is like wanting the opposite guy's job and house.

The room, which was buzzing with noise just a moment ago, went dead silent. I guess everyone was trying to process what Geric just asked. After all, you can find a Geric everywhere in the world. While Walder has been born to a great lord and is already an acolyte. The social difference between them is a lot.

The room can fall into such a deep silence upon this innocent request that one can hear the night winds.

WHOOSH

I am proud to say that my influence crushed any of the lingering Freyness. (Yes, it is slang widely in use.)

Because Walder, being his usual self, just grinned and said, "Sure."

I really like kids.

--====A few days later, Ship: Sailing bitch===---

So, as the days rolled on, Geric became a bit of a gossip topic with his newfound sword training. The crew came to know the news, and suddenly, everyone wanted to get in on the sword spars.

It was like this unspoken barrier between us, and the rest of the crew just melted away.

Our evenings turned into this cool mix of storytelling and sword swinging. Picture Walder, swinging his sword like he was born with it, while Smallfoot and I took turns spinning tales of epic battles and legendary warriors.

What started as Geric's off-the-cuff request turned into a new ship-wide trend.

Even the older sailors, who were sceptical at first, got hooked on the idea of passing down their swordplay wisdom to the younger folks. So, we moved the whole sword training thing to the ship's deck, because, you know, gotta get used to swinging swords at sea.

THUD THUD

Captain Berek said while swaying with the rocking boat, "Don't go against the sea. Trust and follow it."

While cryptic, it is easy to understand when watching the one-legged man dodging Walder's slashes using the unsteady footing as an advantage.

SLASH

With a slight sway to the right, he dodged another slash and said, "Always give a firm footing."

With one poke from the blunt side of Berek's sword, Walder fell like a sack of flour.

THUMP.

"HAHAAH, it's not funny when you are the one falling right," That comment came from Geric, who has his ass handed to him too much by Walder.

Walder, unintentionally becoming the sword instructor, handled the situation with just a pained grunt.

CLANG

With one sudden jump from Walder, his sword finally caught Captain Berek's sword for the first time among the gasps of the sailors.

His systematic training made him stand out, earning nods of approval from the seasoned sailors.

CLANG

But, in the middle of all these spars, I couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. Watching Walder effortlessly do his swordplay thing made me wish I had that kind of physical finesse. 

His skills weren't some magical gift; the guy just put in the hard work and dedication. Meanwhile, I struggled with anything that required more than a keyboard *Cough* Quill and paper.

Watch the words, Kerith. You can't mess up like that. Old habits that crop like this are rare, but I must crush them swiftly. No need to give myself a reputation for being weird.

It was in this bitchy mood that a wild hope appeared for me. I kinda yearned for the ability to warg. You know, the whole mind-melding thing with an animal and all that. Hopefully, that new perspective will help me as motivation towards combat.

CLANG CLANG CLANG

THUD

The captain, who was panting on the ground, looked at the offered hand. "You still got your skills, so much for putting your sword days behind, Hoster."

Teacher Hoster Bracken just chuckled while saying, "Might as well move this broken body once in a while."

CLANG

The most cool thing is that he said that while sparing with two other sailors. Damn, Teacher Bracken is awesome.