Chapter 9: The oath. [Edited 11/08]

I decided to check on the progress of my insect breeding ground in the dungeon, noticing in the back of my mind that the number of beings I was connected to had increased significantly compared to the day before. I sent them towards the dungeon using my modified beetles, which could see in the dark. Despite their biological modifications, these beetles looked physically identical to any other beetle from the North.

As I waited for the beetles to reach their destination, I realized I would need to modify them to move faster. I was ready to leave my room in about five minutes, and my beetles had not yet reached the entrance.

Various ideas crossed my mind for their modification, from enhancing their muscle structures to increasing the speed of their nervous systems. I even considered altering their wings to make them more aerodynamic, enabling them to fly long distances quickly.

Walking to the large breakfast table, always using the rest of the adult insects at my disposal, I remained vigilant for anything out of place, whether it be a spy or a secret compartment the Stark family had yet to discover. Considering Lord Stark's position was forced into my father's hands, there were likely many things he did not know about the family's secrets.

Ned grew up as a ward of House Arryn from the young age of eight, only returning for short periods during his wardship, so it's highly probable that due to not being the primary heir, Ned was unaware of many things about the castle or hidden vaults within it.

One of my first ideas upon discovering my powers was to use my insects to find treasures or valuable items. I imagined I could uncover forgotten riches within Winterfell or perhaps find something in the collapsed crypts beneath the castle. Who knows if such things exist, but one can dream.

"Father, Mother, I hope you are well," I greeted them at the table, frowning as I noticed Jon was sitting at a table separate from the rest of the family.

I never understood why my father never revealed the secret to my mother. In the early days of their relationship, it was understandable—they practically married without knowing each other, and my mother was betrothed to my uncle Brandon.

But they already had five children together; I think it was time for Catelyn to learn the secret. Honestly, it would have helped a lot in the original story. Who knows what would have changed if Jon had never felt the need to go to the Wall to honor his father despite being a supposed bastard?

Well, I have other things to think about for now.

"We are well, dear," said Catelyn, as my father nodded.

"I'm glad, mother. I would like us to gather in your solar, Father. We have much to discuss."

"Very well, son. We can meet after breakfast," my father confirmed, clearly wondering what I needed to talk to them about.

"And how are you?" I asked my siblings, who responded that they were well.

Making a decision, I took my food, lifted it, and went to sit next to Jon at one of the tables for the servants. I didn't want him to feel more marginalized than he was, and I promised to find ways to improve his situation in Winterfell.

"How are you feeling, Jon?" I asked as I took my seat.

"You shouldn't sit here, Robb. I'm just a bastard," Jon said, trying to ignore Catelyn's gaze.

"You're my brother, Jon, and you have Stark blood. That's enough for me."

Jon ran his hand over his eyes, and I tried to ignore the tear stains on his sleeve.

"Let's eat, and after my conversation with our father, we'll go train. How does that sound, Jon?" I asked him as I began to eat.

The diet of the North was quite repetitive due to the lack of gold, the climate, and the difficulty in farming in the area.

I needed to start my training to become the Lord of Winterfell, show my intelligence to my parents, and hope to obtain permission to travel and continue my plans.

As I ate, I thought of ways to improve the North while also watching through my beetles how the dungeon breeding was going, making a mental list of what I had at my disposal.

- 2 pairs of normal wolf spiders, 2 males and 2 females. They were natural insects that I controlled to mate as much as possible. The advantage of these spiders is that every time they lay eggs (which can happen as quickly as an hour after mating), they lay 100 to 600 eggs per cluster.

- 3 ice spiders, 2 females and 1 male. They were also natural insects I found while practicing my powers outside Winterfell. Thanks to my control over them, I didn't have to worry about the females killing and eating the males. I instructed them to mate whenever possible, in addition to feeding and resting.

- A small colony (300) of Northern ants, naturally originating from the region and with a fur layer on them.

- A large colony (12,000) of cryptic ants adapted to live in underground environments and were found in the Winterfell crypts.

- A pair of Northern beetles, 1 male and 1 female, adapted for cold climates. Like the spiders, they were intended to mate as quickly as possible. This beetle is the basis of my modified beetles to see through them. Modifications can be hidden thanks to their original size so they do not stand out from natural insects.

- A flock of forest butterflies, found on the outskirts of the Wolfswood.

After finishing the mental list of the natural insects at my disposal, I made another list of the modified and created insects with my power.

- Seismic ants: these created ants allow me to predict my enemies' movements by detecting muscle tension through their improved sensory system and neural adaptations that process information quickly. They can climb onto my opponents and sense when they tense their muscles before moving (a dozen).

- Seer beetle: these beetles act as my additional eyes. For now, I only had five pairs, which, when not in use, were dedicated to mating. I changed their gestation form so they could have more offspring quickly, although they needed more feeding.

- Sharp flies: these eight flies were created to enhance my archery skills. Modifications include neural adaptations to process information quickly, an increased vibration sense that allows them to detect wind speed, direction, and trajectory and communicate it to me rapidly, and a change in their wings to fly steadily even in strong wind.

For now, these were the only insects I had created. In the previous days, I hadn't focused much on increasing biomass consumption to create more insects; first, I wanted to increase the quantity available. I planned to send a substantial part of them to Wolfswood to consume biomass while a small part focused on defense and espionage.

With the orders set, I stopped thinking about the insects and prepared to improve the overall quality of life for the Northern population.

The North's economy was challenging, mainly because my family emphasized honor, loyalty, and support for our subjects.

Much of the income from taxes on other houses was used for the most brutal months of winter.

The Stark family sponsored most peasants when they ran out of food. Winters were harsh and long, creating hardships for Northern families. Only some had the advantage of savings; most peasant families could survive with one gold dragon a year, but only a few could earn that much.

I had different ideas to improve the economy with my powers, from creating insect-based fertilizers (modified insects would produce nutrient-rich excrement, increasing nitrogen or phosphorus production) to warding off pests affecting plants. However, I would have to wait a while to propose these ideas to my father.

In addition to focusing on agriculture, creating alcoholic beverages would be an excellent investment for the North. Potatoes, one of the main crops in the area, are used to make vodka, and many of the wild berries found in the North could be used for winemaking in appropriate quantities.

The last idea I had to improve life overall in the North was creating insects to use as bait in fishing. By modifying their pheromones, I could increase the amount of fish caught when the oceans and rivers were not frozen. I would also have to review the preservation method used in the North, as I had yet to learn what they used or if they had one, but keeping food frozen could help keep it edible for longer.

After finishing my meal, I stood up and followed my parents to the solar, thinking about how to start this conversation so that everyone would be satisfied.

"I want to up my training to become the next Lord Stark, father," I said seriously. It was the most important thing right now: for my father to accept, teach me to handle the house's finances, and teach me various subjects with which I could surprise them with how quickly I learned. That way, they would trust me more to implement my plans.

There were five years left until the start of the series, and there was much to do, from improving the economy and quality of life to getting rid of enemies within the North to avoid conflicts in my territory when my father was arrested by the Lannisters.

I already knew I couldn't convince my father not to go to King's Landing; honor seemed more important than life for him. But I was sure that, with these five years, I could be prepared to get my entire family out of the Lannisters' hands.

With my insects, sneaking into the dungeons of the Red Keep without being detected would be a piece of cake. I would also have to have my insects ready with morphine in case my father suffered any injuries beforehand. There were many things to prepare, but I was confident I could do it.

"Are you sure, Robb? It's not an easy training," my father said, although I noticed a small smile of pride on his face.

My mother remained silent for the moment, but it seemed she didn't want me to start this training so early and wanted me to enjoy my childhood. I would like to live in a perfect world where I could do that, but it was a pity that Planetos wasn't like that.

"Yes, father. I need to start now. I need to learn to lead and manage finances. I want to be a great Lord Stark (and King after)," I said, reciting the last part inside my mind. "That's why I want to up my training from now on," I told my father.

"Very well, Robb. Catelyn, love, leave us alone," my father said to my mother, who was getting up from her chair.

"I love you, dear, and I trust you will do a great job in the future," said Catelyn.

"Thank you, mother. I promise not to disappoint," I said with a smile, delighted that my plans were progressing.

When my mother left the solar, my father got up from his chair. Taking the ancestral sword of House Stark (Ice), he approached me and indicated that I should kneel.

"One knee on the ground, son," my father said, with a voice colder than the climate in the worst winter months.

Surprised, I did as he said and knelt, looking him in the eyes.

"What are we doing, father?" I asked him, needing clarification.

"Silence," said Ned, raising his sword.

"Robb Stark, heir of Winterfell and future Warden of the North of the Seven Kingdoms, do you promise to protect your family and home with honor and courage?"

"Yes, father. I promise," I replied, swearing to do what was necessary to survive the chaos approaching us.

"Do you promise to rule with justice and compassion, always listening to the advice of wiser people than you and respecting the laws of our people?" my father asked again.

"Yes, father. I promise."

"Do you promise to defend the ideals of the Starks, loyalty, honor, and honesty, without deviating from the straight path even in the darkest moments?" he asked again, with his eyes fixed on mine.

Apologizing mentally for lying to him about something important, I kept my face serious as I said, "I promise, Father."

My father looked me in the eyes for a moment longer and, without saying anything else, rested his sword on my shoulder.

"Then rise as a true Stark, my son. May your actions always be guided by the oath you have made today."

Standing up, I approached and hugged him, making the inner promise to protect everything important to me in this new life.

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I hope this chapter captures the development of Robb's character and his commitment to his future role. It's clear he has ambitious plans and a strong sense of duty.