Chapter 122 - Departure / Emotions

"So, White Walkers are an artificially created race. And you are one of those who turned into White Walkers first....

You were transformed by a certain ritualistic magic; it's just that because you lost consciousness at the beginning, you don't remember the actions during the ritual...

You resemble Inferi or Dementors in my world; both types are created as a result of a wizard's mistake. But I don't think you look like the result of a failed experiment.

Inferi, Dementors, and the like have several common traits. They are all created as a result of unsuccessful magical transformations, the method of which gradually became widely known. Except for Dementors, they learned to reproduce naturally.

But here's the difference between you and them. As you said, you and your comrades who had magic endured for quite a while before going mad. Conversely, Muggles almost immediately began to lose their minds after transformation. This leads me to think that the original goal of the mage was to create such insane beings...

You are more akin to vampires in my world. You reason soundly, can use magic; it's just that your body differs slightly from the ordinary. But just like vampires, you have your problems. You must resist the destruction of your mind, and vampires without regular blood drinking will also start to go mad...

Well, let's set that aside and focus on why create a race that attacks all living things, if they are not undead, of course, but usually such things are done in order to become immortal oneself or, for example, to leave something for this race to protect.... You don't have anything like that?" - Asmodeus summarized after listening to Bellam's story.

"The sorcerer disappeared after we fell asleep, and since then we have never seen him. Just..."

"What?"

"I thought about what you said about protecting something... In the far North, Walkers were always building structures before I left. I don't know what's happening there now."

"Building? Like a castle?"

"Yes, as I mentioned before, they started dividing into hunters and builders. Hunters are supposed to create more Walkers, while builders were constructing some kind of building... A big one."

"Hmm..."

Asmodeus pondered why the dead would need a castle. If they retained their sanity, he would understand, but White Walkers only harbor hatred towards all living things; they have no ambitions in terms of building civilization or anything like that...

So, for what purpose? Or perhaps it's better to ask, for whom are they building the castle?

For that wizard...?

"Alright, you. I'll summon someone to teach you magic that will help you prevent and slow down the erosion of your mind. For now, we don't have any information that could significantly affect our future actions, but I understand your desire to find your friends and save them. I believe that if we find the one who created the race, we might find a way to restore the minds of the Walkers. But let me make it clear, I won't spare the Walkers during battle. They attack us - we respond in kind, especially since the core of their army consists of corpses that have definitely lost all sanity."

"I didn't intend to ask you not to fight the Walkers; on the contrary, I will join the war on your side. Based on what you've shown, you are a powerful mage, and perhaps you can find a way to free my wizard friends from mental control..."

Asmodeus patted Bellam on the shoulder and said,

"I can't promise to do everything I can, but I'll try. Especially since I have a friend who will definitely do everything possible if he learns about your situation, and he is one of the most powerful wizards."

Tyrion asked, "Are you talking about Lord Dumbledore?"

"Yes, how did you know?"

"His eyes, they had a different expression when we talked about war... He doesn't want to fight, but he understands that he must. Such a person probably wants to save the unfortunate ones who have lost their minds."

"You are partly right. So, what do you think about the other members of the council? About me, Grindelwald, Rowena?"

"Lord Grindelwald doesn't take life seriously; for him, our discussion of war seemed nothing more than a joke. He's not afraid to kill and not afraid to be killed... It's as if he thinks he's already fulfilled his dream and has nothing more to want; he simply enjoys life... and helps you."

"Haha, Gellert is truly like that. When everyone in my world learned magic, he achieved his cherished desire; now he just enjoys every day of his life. As for his disregard for life... He was once the most dangerous man in the world; he started the first wizarding war, he personally killed as many people as some of the wars in your world claimed lives."

"..."

"I didn't know the Supreme Council was recruiting former criminals..."

"Well, although his methods are radical, and many disagree with him... He did everything he could to ensure the safety of his people, so I don't consider him a villain. He's just a revolutionary who failed. Well then, what do you think about me? Don't worry, speak your mind; I'm not that sensitive."

"Lord Morningstar, you... I'm not sure. You seem to not want to kill too many people, but when you talk about killing the entire enemy army, I don't see any compassion or remorse in you... It's as if you don't consider yourself human..."

Asmodeus fell into thought.

First, he looked at his lineage in the system, and then remembered how he decided to initiate a magical surge that led to enormous losses among Muggles, losses numbering in the hundreds of millions...

He understands that subconsciously, he regards wizards as a higher race, and with the increasing percentage of unknown lineage and power, he seems to have begun to separate himself from humans... In his mind, he is first a wizard and then a human.

Perhaps this happened after the cleansings in the territories that initially resisted the magical circles...

Well, that's not bad. He truly is a wizard; most of his life he has lived as a mage, not a mere mortal. For him, it's natural to start looking down on Muggles and people without any authority...

Maybe the 0.003% of his lineage are playing a bigger role...

But honestly, he thinks it's even better this way. Rulers and those who want to build a stable future and protect their people have to get their hands dirty. Asmodeus understands why Primis chose him as a host. Deep down, he has something akin to a desire to rule, or rather, he likes the idea of building something that will last for millennia. A magical interdimensional empire!

Losing compassion for Muggles isn't bad for him. The first week after the magical surge, he felt morally burdened, but then the feeling of guilt seemed to disappear somewhere, gradually fading away... Besides, he regards wizards as his own people and protects all Muggles who become wizards...

Some might think he's becoming evil. Well, let them. Good people in a world where power prevails don't live long. Whether in the wizarding world or in this world of ice and fire. Sooner or later, everything ends tragically.

In the wizarding world, it would be Dumbledore who would die for his noble cause if not for Asmodeus, or Harry who would lose many friends along the way. Here, it's the same about Ned Stark.

Everyone who is too kind in the end either sacrifices their life for someone or gets killed. Asmodeus is greedy for life; if he was reborn once, it means that this time he'll try to live as long as possible.

"Lord Morningstar? Lord Morningstar!?"

"Huh? Oh, sorry, I was lost in thought... Well, Tyrion, you're right. I look at these soldiers and this war here a bit differently... um. Alright, let's call it a day for now. Tomorrow, we set sail, and we should get a good night's sleep. Your Highness Daenerys, I hope our new friend will be well received despite his appearance, and you, icicle—try not to scare people."

"....."

For the first time, Bellam heard someone refer to a White Walker as an icicle... He didn't even know how to react, but he didn't feel it was an insult from Asmodeus, just an expression.

Asmodeus left, bidding farewell.

Meanwhile, Daenerys wanted to learn more about White Walkers from Bellam. She had long realized that all the legends were true, and the enemy was coming from the north. But now, before her stood a rational representative of this legendary race of monsters—how could anyone not be interested?

On the next morning, all of Meereen bid farewell to Daenerys and her army.

Former slaves poured out onto the streets, praying for Daenerys's health and success in war.

The fleet of ships sailed towards Dragonstone with half of Daenerys's army on board.

When they arrived at Dragonstone, Asmodeus would open a portal so that the rest of the Unsullied and Dothraki could reach the island.

On the ship leading the fleet were Varys, Daenerys, Tyrion, Missandei, Grey Worm, and Bellam.

Daario Naharis stayed in Meereen. Daenerys decided it was for the best.

She couldn't choose her life partner after signing the treaty...

The only consolation was that the treaty clearly stipulated that the wizards must cure her infertility after she chooses a husband from the options provided by the wizards...

After signing the treaty with the Council of Wizards, Daenerys began to regard the throne differently.

As if now it's not the most important thing; anyway, the wizards won't let a whole continent exist that doesn't submit to their rule. That's why she decided that her only desire now is to avenge those who brought her family down and to have children... She doesn't care who with. Asmodeus assured her that the so-called witch's curse is nothing more than the result of poisoning, which can be cured in a couple of days with various potions.

That's why she's not as fixated on ruling as before; now, looking ahead, she thinks more about who the wizards might choose for her... She already understood from conversations between Dumbledore and Asmodeus, which they didn't hide, that there is a man in the North of Westeros whom they consider worthy of ruling these lands. Therefore, it's logical for her to assume that such a man they will offer her as a husband...

It will be interesting to see if she likes him...

"Roar!!"

From her musings, Daenerys was startled by the roar of a huge dragon flying overhead. It was Athena and Asmodeus flying above the ships, followed by three dragons of Daenerys.

Seeing how much fun Asmodeus was having on the dragon, Daenerys wanted to join in too, and as if sensing the hostess's desire, Drogon dived down and abruptly spread his wings when he was level with the ship's deck.

Seeing this, without hesitation, Daenerys ran along the dragon's wing and grabbed onto the handle on the dragon saddle. As soon as Drogon felt that Daenerys was firmly holding onto the seat, he surged upward, trying to catch up with Athena.

"Roar!!"

Seeing that Drogon wanted to compete with her in speed, Athena roared as if accepting his challenge and sharply accelerated, flying towards Dragonstone with Asmodeus on her back.