The Freedom of Flight

Smack!

At the entrance to the Dragonpit, Rhaenyra said nothing and slapped Aemon across the backside.

"Ah!" Aemon cried out in pain, yet still stared stubbornly behind him.

What had happened? They had said dragons simply ignored people.

Seeing his indignant expression, Rhaenyra's face flushed red with anger. "Aemon, you nearly got yourself killed just now!"

The dragon had made its refusal clear. Persisting any further was courting death.

"It didn't attack me."

Aemon's gaze was serious as he said with absolute certainty, "It didn't want to attack me either."

He had been nervous at first.

But when he stood before Dreamfyre, he had faintly sensed a sliver of thought within that enormous body.

It was: "Indifference."

Not only was she indifferent to his request to form a bond, she was indifferent to him entirely.

She had not even had the urge to attack.

Rhaenyra's chest heaved with anger as she said coldly, "You are not allowed to do something so reckless again!"

It was too absurd.

Even Daemon had faced setbacks when taming dragons, but he had never been as bold as this.

If something had truly happened, how was she supposed to explain it to Aemon's parents and her own father?

Seeing Rhaenyra's fury, Aemon lowered his head unconsciously and said guiltily, "Sorry. I won't do it again."

Not because he had touched Dreamfyre without permission, but because he had made her worry.

Thinking carefully about it, what he had done truly had been dangerous.

He should not have been so impulsive and followed his feelings completely.

"Forget it. As long as you understand."

Rhaenyra clutched her chest, truly not wanting to say anything more.

She needed time to calm down.

Aemon pursed his lips and drew circles on the ground with the tip of his shoe.

It had been dangerous, but it had also brought an unknown and generous reward.

Just moments ago, the panel's notification had sounded.

"Powerful lifeform containing special magic discovered. Obtained one portion of Burning Fire Magic."

Aemon stole a glance at Rhaenyra, who was no longer looking at him, and summoned the Magic Essence Panel.

Aemon Targaryen

Talent: Dreamer (Gold)

Bloodline: Ancient Valyrian Dragonlord (18%)

Skills: High Valyrian (Mastery), Arithmetic (Proficient)...

Magic Cards: None

Pet: Gold-Nosed Rat (Blue)

Status: "A human youngling developing well, with the potential to become a powerful warrior."

"My bloodline purity increased by 5% out of nowhere, and a pet slot appeared."

After pondering it carefully, Aemon guessed that the portion of Fire Magic Power provided by Dreamfyre had taken effect.

The brilliant panel flipped over, revealing the card panel.

Of the three cards, only Empty Handed remained, and his gaze swept past it automatically.

Beside the golden hourglass at the bottom: Essence Count: 168

The additional hundred points of Magic Essence clearly came thanks to Dreamfyre.

Aemon was no longer so easily impressed. Still, he was a little delighted. "Both my bloodline and essence bloomed. It was truly worth it."

"Prince, please leave first."

Unable to see the brilliant panel, the elderly Dragonkeeper had gone pale with fright and pleaded for the young prince to leave first.

If a Targaryen suffered an accident in the Dragonpit under his care, the consequences would be unimaginable.

The last time he had been this terrified was because of Baelon the Bold.

Aemon closed the panel. He wanted to leave, yet he was unwilling to do so, caught in great conflict.

Though Dreamfyre did not acknowledge him, he had received Dreamfyre's gift and did not want to part from her just like that.

Thinking he still wished to try again, the elderly Dragonkeeper wore a troubled expression. "Prince, your father was already four years old when he first mounted a dragon."

Aside from hatchlings that emerged from eggs in cradles, no Targaryen in history had tamed a dragon before the age of ten.

Most did so only after reaching adulthood.

In other words, an eight-year-old child could not even sit steadily in a saddle on a dragon's back.

Aemon shook his head, saying it was not about taming the dragon. He made another request. "Dreamfyre has an unusual temperament. Could you remove her chains and let her have a moment of freedom?"

"That would be dangerous."

The elderly Dragonkeeper spoke righteously.

After careful consideration, Aemon said, "She is merely solitary. She was once hatched in King's Landing as an auspicious symbol. Letting her fly one circle will do no harm."

At that, the elderly Dragonkeeper fell silent.

Dreamfyre was the oldest dragon alive besides Vhagar. The wisdom accumulated over the years was no less than a human's, and she had once traveled across the continent.

She held little hostility toward humans.

Aemon continued persuading him. "Even if Dreamfyre flies far away, the only place she can go is Dragonstone."

"That's true." The elderly Dragonkeeper nodded in acknowledgment.

Dragons were highly intelligent creatures, but they also possessed the racial trait of being homebodies.

Once they hatched in a territory, they generally would not wander somewhere farther away.

Just like the two Wild Dragons on Dragonstone, which only nested on the Dragonmont.

"There's nothing wrong with letting her return to Dragonstone."

Rhaenyra suddenly spoke.

Aemon was greatly surprised. He had not expected her to speak for him.

"Hmph!" Rhaenyra snorted.

She was not helping this little brat. She simply did not want such a magnificent dragon imprisoned in the Dragonpit forever.

That alone made Aemon happy enough.

With both royal children giving their word, the elderly Dragonkeeper reluctantly complied. "Please leave first, Your Highnesses. We will handle the matter."

"Alright!" Aemon agreed immediately.

Whether Rhaenyra was still ignoring him or not, he grabbed her soft little hand and gave it a shake, shamelessly leading her away by the hand.

Girls just needed coaxing.

When he was little and so difficult to please, Alicent would stop being angry after some coaxing, wipe away her tears, and continue taking care of him.

Rhaenyra had no choice but to follow him out of the Dragonpit.

Rumble!

The moment the bronze gates opened, a ray of sunlight fell across his face, and a gentle breeze brushed past his ears.

Aemon squinted, and his whole body and mind brightened with it.

"Don't do that again."

Rhaenyra clearly felt the same way. Turning her head awkwardly aside, she gave him a mild scolding.

Aemon's lips curved into an adorable smile as he answered brightly, "Alright, I'll listen to you."

As they spoke, the guard squad arrived.

The Dragonpit was an important site. Even Ser Steve had to stand guard outside.

"Prince, one failure is nothing. You are still young."

Ser Lyon smiled and offered his consolation thoughtfully.

At his words, Ser Steve and William finally realized that the prince had not come out riding a dragon.

"Ptooey!"

Gonsal looked unconcerned as he ate an orange and spat the seeds onto the ground.

Boom! Boom!

Just then, the sound of heavy footsteps came from inside the Dragonpit.

"Protect the prince and princess."

Worthy of the Kingsguard, Ser Steve hurriedly shielded the two royal children behind him.

"Easy, Dreamfyre!!"

The elderly Dragonkeeper's shout rang out as he soothed the restless dragon in High Valyrian.

Then everyone saw a shadow block out the sunlight.

An elegant pale-blue dragon slowly crawled out through the bronze gates, her head raised high as she half-squinted at the sun.

Having remained indoors for so long, she was adjusting to the sunlight.

"A dragon!!"

William cried out, nearly losing his footing and falling down the steps.

Ser Steve and Ser Lyon were equally shocked. It was the first time in their lives they had encountered a dragon from such close range, and their hands gripped their sword hilts tightly.

"Seven Hells!"

Gonsal was the most stunned. He stared wide-eyed at the dragon, and the half-eaten orange fell from his mouth.

A dragon did not seem like much from afar.

But now, only a few yards separated them. One clawed toe could crush him to death.

A sense of awe rose within him.

Aemon took in everyone's reactions, then retreated with Rhaenyra and said decisively, "Everyone, move farther away. Give her enough space."

"Yes!" The guards obeyed without question.

Soon, only a dragon long separated from the sky remained before the bronze gates.

Dreamfyre shook her head. The chains around her long neck had been removed, and she spread her pair of pale-blue wings wide.

Brilliant sunlight shone down, and the wing membranes reflected dazzling, dreamlike colors.

They happened to cover Aemon beneath them.

Aemon raised a hand to shield his eyes and praised her with a smile. "She's beautiful."

"Screech!!"

Dreamfyre raised her head and roared. A spark of life appeared in her slit pupils as she beat her wings like shuttles and shot straight into the azure sky.