The Possibility of Setting Sail

Return to the mine lake.

As they walked and talked, Daeren learned more about Elisha.

He hailed from the Thorne family, but was a collateral member.

He possessed great martial skill but no place to display it.

Daeren asked, "Sir Elisha, is your swordsmanship excellent?"

Elisha startled and subconsciously looked at the hilt of his sword, which he gripped tightly.

From the beginning, Daeren had noticed that the other man's hand had been clenched around his sword hilt, never letting go.

His palm was calloused, and his index finger bore the marks of constant archery.

This proved that his value was entirely tied to his skills.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Elisha's voice was firm.

As a collateral member of a noble family, while not as dire as a commoner or an illegitimate child, he had witnessed his share of human fickleness.

He disdained the noble-born gluttons and firmly believed that titles were earned, not inherited.

Through Elisha's performance in the trial by combat and the upcoming position Daeren would assume, he saw that Daeren had a bright future and could be someone worthy of his allegiance.

To gain an audience with Daeren, he had not hesitated to sell his only warhorse and use all his savings to bribe Lord Owen.

Daeren did not disappoint him, saying, "I am about to take office as the Deputy Commander of the City Watch. I intend to govern King's Landing's security well, but I am short of soldiers, Rear Admiral."

"Elisha Thorne, you pride yourself on your martial prowess. Are you willing to serve the nation?"

Thump!

Elisha immediately knelt on one knee, unbuckled his sword, and held it aloft with both hands, stating solemnly, "By the Seven Gods above, Elisha Thorne is willing to be the sharp sword in your hand that clears all obstacles."

"Good!"

Daeren took the sword, drew it, and then placed it flat on Elisha's shoulders and head.

He accepted Elisha's oath of fealty.

From this day forward, Elisha would be his first sworn knight, besides his sworn shield, Ser Jon.

Daeren personally helped him up and directly asked, "Sir Elisha, how much do you understand about Vitality?"

Still flushed with excitement, Elisha's expression stiffened. He said with shame, "I have tried to awaken Vitality, but without the aid of special crops, I have never succeeded."

Even the most common special crop could be inflated by noble lords to hundreds of Gold Dragons, far beyond his reach.

"I see."

Daeren nodded slightly and said, "Later, you will find Ser Jon. He will give you some supplements to help you awaken Vitality."

"Your Highness!?"

Elisha was incredulous.

Anything that could aid in awakening Vitality must be a special crop.

Prince Daeren was being so generous.

Daeren waved his hand, "Don't look at me. Whether you can awaken Vitality depends on your own potential. If your ability is insufficient, my help will always be limited."

He was willing to lend Elisha a hand.

Fighting to the last moment in the chaotic city defense battle showed his loyalty.

His position as an instructor at the Black Castle indicated his considerable combat strength.

He had the potential to become a top knight.

As the saying goes, a thousand gold pieces to buy a horse's bones.

Elisha was the first to follow him. Helping him awaken Vitality would also encourage more people to cast aside their reservations and join him.

Elisha departed with a heart full of excitement.

He couldn't help but think that his decision this time was absolutely correct.

Ser Jon soon arrived.

Daeren took out the large-mouthed bass he had just caught and asked Ser Jon to give it to Elisha.

An ordinary quality large-mouthed bass was equivalent to one Strawberry Seed.

But ten Strawberry Seeds could not buy a loyal knight.

"Your Highness, won't this be too valuable?"

Ser Jon held the large-mouthed bass, unable to refrain from persuading.

The special crops and collected items in Prince's hand each contained no small amount of Vitality.

A fresh Perch over half a meter long – he couldn't imagine how much Vitality its flesh would hold.

"He's the first, we can't be stingy."

Daeren re-baited his hook and cast again. "I'll call for Lord Owen later, and we'll drink a pot of fish soup together."

A ruler should not favor one over the other.

With few subordinates, harmony is precious.

Ser Jon nodded helplessly, secretly thinking that "Thorne" was lucky.

The mine lake quieted down.

Daeren began to focus, making plans for the changes in King's Landing.

The position of Deputy Commander of the City Watch was easy.

Count Manley Stockworth was a loyal servant of the royal family, steady in temperament, and knew how to advance and retreat. He wouldn't make things difficult for him.

As long as he showed goodwill, he would gain the other's support.

As for that unruly group of Gold Cloaks below, he just needed to beat them into submission.

"The position of Grand Maester is vacant..."

Daeren pondered silently.

The position of Grand Maester was important in a way, but also a bit of a chicken's rib.

It had low influence, but could offer advice to the king independently.

Many Grand Maesters in history had the support of powerful nobles behind them, whispering slanderous remarks to the king.

Such a position, rather than letting it be neglected and waiting for the Citadel to send someone to take over, it was better to install one of his own people.

"Maester Harvey... no, too young."

Daeren shook his head.

The other man's qualifications were shallow, and their relationship wasn't close.

After a short while, Daeren had an inspiration, thinking of an old man who was a perfect fit.

Elisha's arrival had given him inspiration.

On the distant The Wall, there was still a relative connected by blood.

His great-grandfather Aegon V's third brother, Aemon · Targaryen, Maester of the Nightfort.

Daeren would have to call him great-uncle.

When the main story began, Maester Aemon was already a centenarian.

And now, he was only 82 years old.

Let alone in Westeros, even in his previous life, 82 was a venerable age.

The deceased Pycelle was old, but only 64.

But Daeren knew that Maester Aemon was healthy and had another seventeen or eighteen years to live.

If he were invited back to King's Landing, he would undoubtedly be the best candidate for Grand Maester.

At this age, no one could use him anymore.

"If there is, it's only you and the family who need you."

Daeren sighed inwardly.

Maester Aemon absolutely had the potential to return to King's Landing and serve as Grand Maester.

In the main story, House Targaryen was destroyed, and he, far away on the Wall, was powerless, enduring unimaginable torment.

When he heard about Daenerys and her dragons, he was about to die from a chill.

He said: "Sam, Daenerys is our hope, go to the Citadel and tell them, make them understand, they must send a maester to find her, to assist her, to teach her, to protect her."

"For years I lingered in the world, waiting, watching, and when the dawn came, I was already too old."

"I am dying, Sam."

Once he woke up crying, saying, "The dragon has three heads."

He lamented, "But I am old and frail, unable to be one of them. I should have been with her, guiding her, but my body, alas, is too weak."

It was clear that he had a deep attachment to House Targaryen.

But he was too old then.

At the age of 102, coupled with the ravages of the chill, he would not live much longer.

He regretted not being able to assist his great-grandniece Daenerys, and not being able to contribute his last bit of effort to the family.

"Perhaps I should go to sea and bring him back."

Daeren deep in thought.

There was one thing he hadn't deliberately mentioned.

That was the Long Night and the White Walkers more than a decade later.

The time was too distant, and with his Dragon Tongue Farm, he didn't feel afraid.

But it was still very necessary to unite all forces that could be united.

"Three-Eyed Crow" Brynden.

Or he should be called Brynden "Bloodraven".

Daeren was certain that the dream in Shayani's room that night was not that simple.

The next day, he was dealing with the materials left behind by the dismantled Brynden "Bloodraven" and found Dragon eggs hidden within them.

Things wouldn't be so coincidental.

Brynden "Bloodraven" had noticed him and was trying to attract his attention.

Daeren didn't want to provoke him.

But the other party possessed something of great value to him.

One of the two ancestral swords lost by House Targaryen.

--"Dark Sister"

Perhaps he could find Dark Sister once he reached the Wall.

"But Bloodraven is dangerous, and the Three-Eyed Crow is even more wicked."

Daeren frowned.

Reason told him that he absolutely could not make contact rashly without complete certainty.

"But getting a boat is very necessary."

Daeren changed his train of thought.

Repairing a boat, going out to sea, and developing Ginger Island.

One of the main game loops in Stardew Valley.

He always had to go out to sea, find a place similar to Ginger Island, and expand his farming area.

"Then, could Dragonstone be Ginger Island?"

Daeren let his imagination run wild.

Rhaegar was truly a naturally cold-hearted person, having not replied to him for so long.

Did Dragon Mountain actually have Dragon eggs?

If he didn't reply soon, once he finished his current tasks, he would have to go to the island himself to see.