Dreamwalker

Viserys patted his daughter's shoulder and said softly, "There's no rush. You still have a long way to go, and sooner or later you'll learn how to rule."

"I'm truly sorry, Father."

Feeling the deep love her father had for her, Rhaenyra's eyes reddened, and she threw herself into his arms.

"It's all right. A father should clear away every obstacle for his children and pave a smooth road for them."

Viserys smoothed her hair and gently comforted her.

Hearing her father's words made Rhaenyra feel even worse. She nuzzled against him.

"Heh, all right, all right. Don't let Rhaegar laugh at you."

Viserys teased her.

"Hmph. He wouldn't dare."

Rhaenyra snorted in displeasure, then obediently slipped out of her father's arms.

"What do you think?"

At the end, she shot Rhaegar a threatening sideways glance.

Rhaegar, who had no part in this at all: ...

He was truly speechless.

The family had been chatting just fine, and then the two of them suddenly got all sentimental. He was already awkwardly standing off to the side by himself!

What more did they want from him?

Viserys picked Rhaegar up and reminded Rhaenyra, "Don't bully your little brother. In some respects, he's much more talented than you."

Rhaenyra made no comment, turning her head away in defiance.

Viserys smiled and asked Rhaegar, "Tell your sister what you learned from this."

"Do I really have to?"

Rhaegar hesitantly glanced at his sister.

"Of course. A fine quality shouldn't go unrecognized."

Viserys said firmly.

Rhaegar nodded and said slowly, "A condensed phrase appeared in my dream. It was called 'kill with a borrowed knife'!"

"Kill with a borrowed knife?"

Viserys was taken aback. He pondered this unfamiliar phrase.

After a long silence, he smiled. "That's right. Kill with a borrowed knife."

"What a profound phrase, packed with wisdom."

Viserys turned to Rhaenyra. "Well? Do you see how wise your little brother is?"

"Everyone dreams. Rhaegar's dreams are just a little strange."

Her pride made Rhaenyra unwilling to admit that Rhaegar was better than her.

"No. Rhaegar's dreams are no ordinary dreams. Do you remember Daenys the Dreamwalker?"

Viserys spoke gravely.

"Daenys Targaryen, the girl known as the Dreamwalker. She saved the Targaryen family through prophecies in her dreams."

Rhaenyra easily recited her story.

Viserys stroked Rhaegar's forehead and said gently, "I paid little attention to you before. Only in the past six months did Illyric tell me that you often had nightmares."

"I think that must be the mark of a Dreamwalker."

Rhaegar didn't deny it. "Maybe. But I don't like this talent. The nightmares make me suffer terribly."

"Rhaegar, listen to me."

Viserys was especially serious. "Our family has produced many Dragonriders, but very few Dreamwalkers."

"Compared to the power of prophetic dreams, what does a dragon's might matter?"

"All your dreams, good and bad, could hold some kind of warning. You should welcome them and consider each one rationally."

Rhaegar leaned against Viserys's chest.

He could clearly feel his father's body trembling slightly. It was excitement he could no longer hold back.

When he looked up, he saw tears in his father's eyes. "When your sister was little, I had a dream that's forever etched in my mind. I've never forgotten it."

"I chased that dream relentlessly, and paid a terrible price for it, yet gained nothing."

At that, Viserys took a deep breath. "But now things are different. You're healthy, and you have the talent I've always dreamed of. I should be content."

"Rhaegar, remember what I've said. Don't let your talent go to waste. Don't treat it as a burden!"

Watching his father, who could no longer contain his emotions, Rhaegar said nothing. He raised a hand and wiped away his tears.

"I will, Father."

Rhaegar said silently to himself.

Having finished discussing his eldest son, Viserys realized he'd let his emotions get the better of him and had no wish to continue talking.

He told the siblings to return to their rooms and rest, wanting some time alone.

The siblings wandered aimlessly down the long corridor after leaving the study.

Rhaenyra suddenly asked, "Can your dreams really predict the future?"

"Most of the time, they're just strange, bizarre fragments that I can't understand."

Rhaegar answered honestly.

"Really? Then what have you dreamed about?"

Rhaenyra stopped and crouched down to meet Rhaegar's eyes.

Rhaegar shifted away, unused to her being so close. Then an idea struck him: he remembered what had happened last night.

Putting on a mysterious air, he said, "I had a dream last night. It was so frightening that I woke up."

"Tell me!"

Rhaenyra was eager to hear.

Rhaegar's eyes shifted as he considered his words. "I dreamed of a dragon that couldn't be seen or touched. It said it wanted me to become its Dragonrider."

"If you couldn't see or touch it, how did you know it was a dragon?"

Rhaenyra interrupted, puzzled.

"I heard it roar. It was really loud."

Rhaegar huffed in annoyance. "And don't interrupt me when I'm talking."

"All right, all right. Go on."

Rhaenyra couldn't be bothered to argue with him.

Rhaegar continued, "But the dragon said it couldn't meet me yet, because there was something in King's Landing that it hated."

"What was it?"

Rhaenyra couldn't help asking.

Rhaegar said solemnly, "The Dragonpit!"

"Why? The Dragonpit has been here for many years. Lots of dragons nest inside it, and Syrax is there too."

Rhaenyra didn't understand when she heard him mention the Dragonpit.

Rhaegar continued making things up. "The dragon said it belonged to the sky and the wilderness. The Dragonpit was cramped and confined, and would limit its growth."

"It also said it didn't want to wear shackles and chains like a slave."

"Did the dragon really tell you that? You aren't just making this up, are you?"

Rhaenyra eyed Rhaegar suspiciously, unconvinced.

"Believe what you want. That's what happened in the dream."

Rhaegar wriggled free of Rhaenyra's grasp and gave a little huff. "I'll tell Father about it. I'm sure he won't doubt my dream."

"Fine. But ever since the Dragonpit was built, the Maesters have cared for the dragons diligently. Nothing has ever gone wrong."

Rhaenyra pointed out the facts.

"How do you know there aren't any bad people among the Maesters?"

Rhaegar maliciously cast suspicion on the Maesters of Oldtown.

He had never liked those Maesters with their chains around their necks.

"Maybe you're right. Father said you should trust your dreams."

Rhaenyra didn't argue. Instead, she encouraged her little brother to take his dreams seriously.

The Dreamwalker's talent was ancient. No Targaryen who possessed it could be judged by ordinary standards.

She didn't want to discourage her little brother.

The siblings chatted for a while, then parted ways and returned to their rooms.

Rhaegar walked with his head lowered. His room was just ahead.

He was still thinking about the Dreamwalker matter.

The System panel displayed:

[Rhaegar Targaryen]

Talent: Dreamer (Gold), Long Life (Green)

Bloodline: Valyrian Dragonlord (12%)

Skills: Valyrian (Mastery)...

Relic: Blood of the Dragon (Fire Resistance +50%)

Evaluation: "A potent Dragonlord bloodline, outstanding even in the Valyrian era."

Viserys's greatest dream was to become a Dreamwalker and gain the ability to see the future.

That was because he had once dreamed that, amid the flames, he had a son who wore the Conqueror's crown.

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