CHAPTER 283 Returning to the Outpost

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CHAPTER 283

297 AC

POV THIRD PERSON

Aermir turned his attention to the giant ice spider. Skadi's ice spells bombarded it, but its carapace was really hard, and she could only inflict minor wounds. Seeing his master destroyed, the ice spider started to charge toward Aermir, ignoring the ice shards raining down on it. 

Just as the spider was coming close to him, Aermir waved his hard and summoned Artio right between them and cast a shield spell on her. Ice Spider hesitated for a second, seeing a giant black beast appearing in front of it. Raising its front appendices, it reared back and flailed in a defensive manner, trying to keep this new enemy at a distance until it could understand if it was prey or a threat.

Aermir ignored the beast and started walking toward Ghost. He could see it was poisoned. He cast a poison resistance buff on it and started healing, but he didn't have a direct way to treat poison. He could boost his resistance to it, but Ghost had to fight through it himself.

Artio didn't wait for the spider to attack and charge at it. The spider tried to resist with its appendices, but Artio ripped its front legs like they were made out of taffy. The beast screeched in pain and tried to push its venomous fangs into Artio, but her natural defense and Aermir's buffs had made her hide impenetrable to its fang.

Aermir would want to have one of those as a familiar, too, but he realized it would be impossible. He focused on his magical sense, and the beast didn't have any connection to nature. Like the white walker, it was alive, but it didn't have any life force connected to nature. So Aermir concluded they came from the same or a similar source as the white walkers. 

Seeing that it was impossible to tame it, he signaled Artio to finish it off. She raised on hind legs and unleashed a strong swipe to the head of the spider. Her long dagger-like claws cut and rushed its head like a melon, killing it instantly.

Seeing that they were safe, Sam fell on top of his ass and started having a panic attack. "They... They are real, ha...ha...ha...!" He was having a hard time breathing. "The Age of Heroes and Long Night... Does that mean all of that happened?"

Aermir turned to him and, with a collected voice, said, "Most likely yes. Old Gods send me to this world to bring balance to it, and I would like to think walking deads are certainly an imbalance."

He had closed Benjen's wound, but he looked more tired than Ghost, who was still fighting through the poison. Benjen managed to get up and gave Aermir a greeting. "Thank you for saving our lives and not forsaking us, we have to return to Castle Black and inform the Lord Commander Mormont and Ned about what is happening."

Aermir nodded his head, but first, he wanted to do some experiments before they were on their way. From his fight with the Night King. he knew fire was their weakness, and in his arrogance, Night King had let another weakness slip his lips: dragon glass. He picked up the decapitated head of the wight. It was still full of dark magic. He could feel this dirty mana with all of his being. It felt foul and disgusting to his touch.

He put the head on its shoulder. He wanted to see if decapitation was enough or if they needed to burn the body. They stood there and watched what Aermir was doing. None of them had the guts to question him about what he was doing, so they silently watched.

As soon as the head touched the neck, he could see the foul energy inside the wight started to wriggle like worms, and then that unholy icy blue light returned to the wight's eyes as it sprang to its feet and charged at Aermir. He put his arm forward, and the wight bit his arm, trying to wound him, but his magic was more powerful than whatever unholy thing was keeping that thing up. 

Aermir shook his head and said, "So, decapitation is only a temporary solution. We need to end the unholy magic inside their body." He raised his hand, and flames burst out of it, consuming the wight.

....

After waiting for Ghost to collect his strength, Aermir told them to get on top of Artio. Artio was big enough to carry three people, so Edd, Sam, and Jon mounted her. He would love to summon Sith, too, but it would raise many questions in Jon's head if he could summon Lord Drasil's bond. So, Aermir summoned Berus. He was big enough to carry one person easily. This way, Benjen could mount him.

They passed through the mountainous terrain really fast. Even though Artio was carrying three people, she wasn't fatigued. She was definitely slower than a horse, but her high stamina allowed her to run at a constant speed for a long distance, even if it was slow. Berus had no problem carrying Benjen, too, and Aermir was following them through the sky. 

With the first lights of the morning, they had reached the forward base at the Fist of The First Men. When they got there, Aermir realized the men of the outpost and the Free Folk around the region were about to clash with each other. 

The reason for this was the spectacle Aermir had caused a few days ago. Upon seeing the light pillar, all the Free folk around the region took this as an invitation from the Old Gods. 

After the light disappeared they had tried to come to the Fist of the First Men but they were stopped by the Night's Watchmen. Upon this, some of the healers and shamans among the Free Folk had instigated them to retake the historical site.

Poe informed Aermir that Free Folk was collecting soldiers right outside of the scouting scope of the outpost in a hidden basin.

...

The outpost was led by Commander Harald Stone, a seasoned and weathered man who had seen his fair share of battles against the wildlings. He was a man with a tragic background. As his surname stated he was a bastard from a Vale house. 

His mother was a noble and got raped by mountain raiders. She died during childbirth, and his grandfather hated him for it; if he was not afraid of being called a kinslayer, he would have killed Harald long ago. When he killed a man by accident, he was going to execute him, but Harald chose to take the black.

As Aermir approached, the Night's Watchmen exchanged wary glances, having heard tales of the Druid from both minstrels and ravens.

Commander Stone stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the imposing figure of Aermir. "You're the Druid they speak of, aren't you? The one with the power of the Old Gods?" He wasn't a believer in any god. His thinking was if there were gods they wouldn't allow a child to live a wretched life under his accursed grandfather.

Aermir nodded solemnly. "Aye, I am. I've come to ensure that no unnecessary strife arises between your men and the Free Folk. There are greater threats that demand our attention."

The Night's Watchmen, though still wary, listened as Aermir explained that he had received a divine mission from the Old Gods—a mission that required unity beyond the Wall. The green light that had filled the night sky was a testament to the Druid and Old Gods' power. 

Harald wanted to have an amicable relationship with this powerful being: " Druid, for your sake, we will try not to fight the Free Folk unless they attack, but in the other case..." Commander Stone studied the Druid. "...The Old Gods' will, you say? That is not something I can decide and how could we truly know that is what happened?" As the words got out of his mouth he realized the man had transformed into a human from a bird right in front of them. 

He realized what he said could be taken as an insult, so he made himself clear, "Don't get me wrong, Druid. We do not question your power, but you can not expect our superior to believe you without any proof."

Some of the Night's Watchmen started to nod their heads, supporting their commander's comment. Harald continued, "After seeing that light pillar, I

can be convinced to believe anything you say, but how can I convince others that the long night was coming and the dead were walking?" 

"Right now, I cannot provide you with hard proof other than my and your men's words." After Aermir said that a confused look appeared on Harald's face. Aermir continued, "I have saved a group of your ranging watchmen. They will reach here in the evening, my familiars are bringing them but I have to come faster since there were things needing my attention. They will tell you what they experienced."