Killing intent

Beyond the Wall, inside the cave where the Three-Eyed Crow hid.

The only two remaining Skinchangers among the Children of the Forest were reporting to the Three-Eyed Crow on their patrols over the past few days.

"Several more small tribes joined the worshippers of the Cold God this month. They completed their sacrifices yesterday. Seven human baby boys in total were taken into the Lands of Always Winter by the White Walkers."

"Three White Walkers in total entered and left the Lands of Always Winter this month. All their trips outside were to bring back sacrifices."

After the two Children of the Forest finished their reports, they stood where they were and waited for the Three-Eyed Crow's reply.

"Keep watching," the Three-Eyed Crow said gravely. "There's never a shortage of fools among humans. As long as those few large tribes haven't fallen, things aren't too bad."

"Understood."

The two Children of the Forest were about to leave the cave when the Three-Eyed Crow spoke again. "Wind Spirit, stay. Green Grass, go fetch Leaf."

The Child of the Forest named Green Grass left the cave as instructed. Before long, Leaf came in alone.

The Three-Eyed Crow looked at them, his tone stern. "You've dragged your feet over Luke's affairs again and again. Do you really think I know nothing? I gave you five years, yet even now, you still haven't found out who killed Bingling, or who's teaching Luke magic?"

"Greenseer, why are you so concerned about Luke?" Wind Spirit asked in confusion. "He's stayed obediently in Winterfell all this time and never had contact with anyone suspicious. Besides, isn't it a good thing that he can learn magic?"

The Three-Eyed Crow lost control of his emotions and roared, "He must not learn magic! I sent him to Winterfell precisely so he would accomplish nothing and live an ordinary life."

He continued, "Now I have reason to suspect that Luke made a deal with a human Wizard, sacrificing Bingling to obtain the magic he has now."

Leaf, who knew the truth, immediately said, "Impossible! Luke isn't that kind of child."

The Three-Eyed Crow sneered. "Child? Do you even know what he is? Why have I never let you interfere with the Wildlings' sacrifices, yet risked my own life all those years ago, venturing deep into the Lands of Always Winter to rescue him?"

Leaf and Wind Spirit both shook their heads. They had discussed the question in private back then, but had never found an answer. As time passed, they had gradually forgotten about it.

The Three-Eyed Crow revealed the truth. "I once glimpsed a fragment of the future. Luke will replace the Night's King as the new King of the White Walkers. Under his leadership, the White Walkers will breach the Wall and turn all of Westeros into a kingdom of the dead."

"The new... new King of the White Walkers?" Wind Spirit stepped back in shock, looking incredulously at Leaf beside her.

Leaf's hands kept trembling. "Greenseer, why didn't you tell us this back then?"

The Three-Eyed Crow was silent for a moment before saying, "He was a living being, after all. I couldn't bear to watch him die in the snow, so I brought him back and entrusted him to you to raise."

Leaf had lived for thousands of years. She was hardly so easy to fool. "Your original plan must have been to raise Luke as a weapon against the Night's King. But when you discovered he couldn't awaken as a Skinchanger, you immediately abandoned him. Now that he suddenly knows magic and has slipped beyond your control, you're afraid?"

Motherhood made her fierce. The bewildered Wind Spirit could only stare blankly as the two confronted each other.

The Three-Eyed Crow did not deny it. "Anything can be sacrificed for our ultimate victory. Wind Spirit, I will drive Luke out of Winterfell. You... go kill him."

Wind Spirit could not bear it. He was, after all, a child she had watched grow up. "Greenseer, surely there's no need for that?"

Leaf gritted her teeth. "Greenseer!"

"Both of you, shut up!"

The Three-Eyed Crow was adamant. "Don't forget your mission. Destroying the White Walkers is the responsibility of you Children of the Forest."

Leaf's voice trembled. "Luke isn't a White Walker."

The Three-Eyed Crow looked at her coldly. "But he will be. Leaf, you've assisted so many generations of Greenseers. Has greensight ever been wrong?"

Leaf closed her eyes. "It never has."

The Three-Eyed Crow said no more on the matter. "Then what are you still hesitating for? Go. Wind Spirit, remember to choose a strong beast. Luke won't be easy to deal with now."

Wind Spirit smiled bitterly. "I understand, Greenseer."

They walked outside the cave, and Leaf could not help grabbing Wind Spirit's arm. "Wind Spirit, are you really going?"

Wind Spirit sighed. "Leaf, even if I don't go, the Greenseer will send Green Grass. And the Greenseer is right. The White Walkers are our responsibility. We're all atoning, aren't we?"

Leaf clung tightly to Wind Spirit's arm, refusing to let go. "Wind Spirit, I have a way. We can send Luke away, have him leave Westeros."

Wind Spirit was not so optimistic. "Luke has been deliberately distancing himself from me. He might not listen to me. Leaf, I... I'll do what I can."

You and I both bear heavy shackles. I once envied you for having a time of freedom when you could set yours aside. But no matter what, those shackles have always been there. Neither of us can escape them.

I'm glad you had that wonderful time as a mother. I'm sorry that I'm about to take your child away. But we have no choice. We can only accept our fate.

The White Walkers are a sin, a sin borne by all of us Children of the Forest. For the sake of the other living beings of Westeros, we must sacrifice everything to atone.

Leaf, I hope that one day, you can forgive the decision I made today.

Wind Spirit turned her arm to embrace Leaf. Resting her chin on Leaf's shoulder, she shed a crystal-clear tear from the corner of her eye...

The Three-Eyed Crow's consciousness space.

Though this was inside the Three-Eyed Crow's consciousness, a consciousness from outside was imprisoned here.

Countless vines rose from the ground, binding an immaculate snow-white dragon to the earth.

"Greenseer! How much longer will you keep me imprisoned?" The dragon raised her head and roared at the sky.

Despite the dragon's enormous size, her voice was that of a soft-voiced little girl. It was utterly incongruous.

The Three-Eyed Crow's consciousness suddenly appeared. He floated before the dragon. "Soon. In a little while, I'll let you out."

The dragon sensed something and hurriedly asked, "What have you done?"

The Three-Eyed Crow did not answer. "Bingling, we will all remember your sacrifice. Now that you've become a dragon, our chances against the White Walkers have improved further."

The dragon tried to break free of the vines, but her strength was still far from enough. "Let me out! You scoundrel! You want all the Children of the Forest to die with you? I won't let you get away with it!"

The Three-Eyed Crow said evenly, "There is no personal grudge between us, is there? Everything began with the Children of the Forest, and everything will end with the Children of the Forest. This is fate, a fate that cannot be changed."

The dragon was furious. "Brandon Rivers! I will kill you!"

The Three-Eyed Crow remained calm. "When your people perish, my destiny will also reach its end. When that time comes, I hope you won't carry your personal grudges over to the next Three-Eyed Crow."

Unwilling to give up, the dragon lunged at the Three-Eyed Crow, but the taut vines pulled her back again.

Just then, both of them heard a clear dripping sound, like droplets striking an eggshell.

Then came a woman's sobbing voice. "Bingling, it's been five years. Why haven't you hatched yet? I came to say goodbye tonight. The Greenseer has sent Wind Spirit to kill Luke. I have to save him. He's my child. I won't let anyone hurt him!"

Crack!

A fissure suddenly split open in the dome of the consciousness space, and the vines around the dragon slowly began to disintegrate.

The Three-Eyed Crow's expression changed. "Leaf?"

The dragon laughed aloud, revealing two neat rows of sharp teeth. "You rotten old man, you can't hold me anymore!"