Part 16 - Truth about his powers

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I read some comments that weren't 'happy' about me killing Joanna off. I'm man enough to admit that I'm nowhere near smart or good enough to come up with an entirely new plot should canon be ruined.

But the death of Joanna was something I planned and I came up with a reason for her death. It's going to be important in the future and I promise I'll write about it.

I apologise to those that wanted to have her present in the story. But I'll add new things to the story soon enough. Please have some mercy.

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(Omni POV)

281 AC

"Varys ... in the red group.", Tywin asked as he read the new addition to the highest threat group in Escanor's profile collection. Escanor started to call the groups colours to make it less confusing.

At the bottom is white. This represents everyone that is no threat to us and has a near-zero chance to change anything in the game. There are not that many in this pile surprisingly. Escanor explained that most of the common folk belong there but not all of them. Also surprising.

The fact that he would think of the common folk when creating 'the deck'. That's what he calls the pile of cards containing all profiles.

After Tywin had returned from King's Landing and settled he asked Escanor to bring 'the Deck' to his solar to have a look at it. Tywin was surprised, to say the least. When he saw the profiles a few years ago, they were not even closely as detailed as they were now.

It was a gold mine. Escanor said that information is power, which he had of course learned from Tywin, and Tywin couldn't help but agree. What Escanor had created was almost a battle plan with possible schemes and answers to those schemes. Simply beautiful in Tywin's eyes.

"Yes. Uncle Kevan told me about him when Mad-Lad had him shipped from Pentos in 278 AC. I asked Uncle about him and did a little research. He's definitely in the red category."

"Hmm, I want to hear your reasoning for that."

"Well, there are multiple reasons. First and foremost is that he deals in the most profiting business of all; Information. That alone is enough to warrant his place in the red group.

Another reason for me is that he's unknown. If I'm correct then he's some slavers boy, turned criminal, turned Masters of Whispers and we don't know anything about him.

He has no house whose interests he represents. Therefore he does this for his own interests. What are those interests? We don't know. And that makes him dangerous too.

Lastly, he is an eunuch."

"..."

"..."

"What?"

"What, what?"

"Why is he being a eunuch a reason that would warrant a place in the red category?"

"Well, it means that he is less focused on things that concern intercourse. Giving him more time to scheme as his thoughts will not be plagued by his sexual needs and can not be manipulated by a pretty face."

"This is surprisingly lucid. Explain why us not knowing his interests makes him dangerous."

"Hmm? Father, I'm sure you know th..."

"Yes I know, but I want to know whether you know or if you just wrote what you heard."

"Aha. Well, the reason why not knowing someone's interests makes them dangerous is that we don't know his motives. He's ambitious, that we know. So he must have plans and if we don't know those plans we can't create counterplay to them."

"Very good. Very good indeed. I applaud you for your creation of 'the deck'."

"Thank you."

There was a short pause. Tywin seemed to be in thought and Escanor was just waiting and drinking tea. It was his favourite beverage when talking with others. It was relaxing and he loved the taste of it.

Still, it was expensive somehow to have the tea leaves transported to Lannisport.

Tywin told Escanor that he'd not import tea leaves because it would cost more than it was worth. Escanor was the only one drinking tea in the family. For that reason, Escanor offered a deal to Tywin. He would still buy tea and Escanor would find a way to make money to pay for the costs.

This was also one of the reasons they were here. Escanor wanted to show his father the game he 'created'. Escanor was sure that it would become a hit in Westeros.

"So this is your idea to make back the money I spend on your tea leaves?"

"Yes."

"Are you trying to annoy me? How will this ... game make us any money?"

"Well, it's a board game about war and conquest. Who in the seven kingdoms doesn't like conquest and glory? Everyone who plays 'the game of thrones' will love this and the children will love it as well.

I coloured the board with the colours of the different Kingdoms and a lot of the smaller houses are also there.

Many will love it, I'm sure about it."

Escanor was right. He had changed the game to play in Westeros. The seven Kingdoms represented the different continents from the original game and the Houses with their lands represented different countries from the original.

It was a good idea that will surely make a lot of people want to buy it. Therefore he set the price quite low to have the smallfolk be able to buy it as well.

"To further increase the game's popularity, I thought of a way too. You could donate say ... 100 games to the smallfolk in Casterly Rock and Lannisport. That way you'll look generous and have them spread the word. It will spread like fire."

"Indeed. It might work. All right I'll see whether this works. Now it's time we talk about more important things.

You know the reason why I'm back here. Jaime's pathetic attempt to be close to his sister and shy away from his duties gave the King a chance to spite me and our house. I lost my heir that way.

You understand what this means, don't you?"

"Yes. It's my turn then. I'll become heir of Casterly Rock. It means more work primarily, too."

"That's correct. It also means that I'm going to focus on your teachings from now on. I'll have you learn all the intricacies of being the Lord of Casterly Rock and Lord Lannister. You will learn from all the business deals, our allies, and our enemies. You will learn everything that I tell you to so that you can one day take my place and continue the Lannister name."

"*Sigh* Very well then."

.

This marked the day that Escanor's workload increased greatly. He didn't like it but Tywin made sure it wasn't too much. His son's intelligence helped him learn new things fast so they didn't have to go over everything thousands of times.

Escanor spent his time talking with Cersei whilst drinking tea, playing and spending time with Tyrion, learning from Tywin and Maester Creylen and practising his magic.

Speaking of ...

His magic had changed. Or let's say it didn't change but Escanor only now realised something different. He felt that 'Sunshine' wasn't just simple magic ... it was something divine.

When he found out that he wasn't able to use his devil fruit offensively, he was outraged. He effectively turned almost entirely into a shackle for him. While it was true that it made it so that Sunshine was always active, it gave him many weaknesses.

He wasn't able to turn into his logia state and even have a weakness in water? AND he couldn't use his devil fruit to create moves? That was just unfair.

But he found out that things weren't as they seemed. 'Sunshine' is indeed a divine power. And devil fruits are not named devil fruits for nothing. They repel each other. This entire time since his birth, Escanor wasn't able to use the full potential of his devil fruit because 'Sunshine' suppressed it.

Those two powers were fighting against each other without Escanor knowing about it. It was a silent fight, behind the scenes and stunted Escanors growth and power greatly. That was the reason for all those 'nerfs'.

It wasn't the being that brought him here that did this. It was his own power.

So what now?

Well, there is very good news for Escanor. The devil in the 'devil fruit' is trying to fight against his power 'Sunshine' but 'Sunshine' is actually the stronger power of the two and is therefore winning the fight.

This is also the reason why Escanor could use Sunshine from birth but not his devil fruit.

As time passes 'Sunshine' will fully defeat and destroy the devil in the fruit, leaving nothing but the power it possessed behind and giving Escanor the entire power he should have possessed and more.

'Sunshine' literally burned away the weaknesses and 'nerfs'.