The two reminisced about the past, talking about everything from their first impressions of each other to how Gary's black hair had turned white after a mistake while practicing magic.
"My hair turned white because I was badly injured in that dream..." Gary explained, but his explanation inevitably brought back memories of Bingling's sacrifice...
His spirits sank, and a trace of unconcealable sorrow showed in his eyes.
"By the way, Luke, where will you go after leaving the city?" Snow noticed the change in Gary's mood and immediately changed the subject.
Gary already had a plan. "I want to visit the Citadel first, then go to King's Landing."
"The Citadel? What for?"
Going to King's Landing made perfect sense. It was the center of power in the Seven Kingdoms. But why the Citadel? Did Luke want to become a scholar?
Gary touched his left eyelid, hinting at something. "The Citadel holds all the knowledge in Westeros. There are some things I want to investigate."
"Oh." Snow did not press him. He instinctively assumed Gary wanted to investigate his own origins.
The two talked for over another hour, and it was nearly time.
Snow tilted his head to look out the window, judging the time by the moon. "Luke, pack your things. We should head down."
Gary intended to travel light. "I've got my coin pouch, waterskin, and sword. There's nothing to pack. Let's go."
"All right, let's head out."
Winterfell, the south gate.
Something was very unusual that night. It was already past midnight, yet the south gate stood open, and there were no guards stationed nearby.
Gary asked doubtfully, "Why is no one on watch?"
"It's all thanks to Sansa. She drew the guards away." Snow stood with Gary at the gate, waiting for Robb to appear.
Gary was very surprised. "Sansa is involved too?"
Snow nodded and explained, "Yes. But don't worry, Sansa doesn't know about your situation. She's just helping Robb."
Still, Sansa could not stall them for long. They had to hurry.
Tsk, why isn't Robb here yet?
Anxious, Snow kept standing on tiptoe to peer in a certain direction within the city.
Time ticked by, and Robb finally emerged from the darkness.
Seeing him empty-handed, Snow hurriedly asked, "Where's the horse?"
Robb looked grim. "I don't know why, but Father has been in the stables the whole time. I couldn't find a chance to steal a horse."
Snow grew frantic. "Without a horse, Luke won't get far before he's caught and brought back."
Robb lowered his head guiltily. "I know."
Only then did Gary realize how much these two little kids had done behind the scenes. He smiled. "It's all right. Have you forgotten? I'm a wizard."
Robb looked up and asked, "Can you conjure a horse?"
Gary was momentarily lost for words. "Uh, no."
Clop, clop, clop...
Just then, Eddard suddenly appeared around a corner by the wall, leading a horse.
The children had no time to hide and were caught red-handed.
"It's so late. Why aren't you in bed?"
Eddard scolded them, his face stern.
Both Robb and Snow went deathly pale. "Father..."
"Go back, all of you. I'm closing the gate." As though he had not seen Gary, Eddard added, "By the way, remember to say goodbye to Luke. He's leaving for Castle Black tomorrow."
Robb answered stupidly, "Father, isn't Luke right..."
Eddard cut him off. "What are you waiting for?"
"Oh... all right, we're going!"
The two waved goodbye to Gary, then hurried away toward the Main Castle.
After they left, Eddard led the horse over to Gary. He offered him the reins and said, "Go. Manning the Wall is House Stark's responsibility in the first place. It has nothing to do with you."
Gary was puzzled. "You've changed your mind?"
Instead of answering, Eddard said, "You're very much like him."
Like whom? Brandon Stark?
Gary did not take the reins. "I can't take one of Winterfell's warhorses. I can buy an ordinary packhorse in a nearby village myself."
"Take it. You've helped me a great deal these past few years." Eddard forced the reins into Gary's hands and waved him on. "Go on. The gate is about to close."
Holding the reins, Gary hesitated briefly. In the end, he chose to accept the kindness.
He pulled the wooden stopper from the waterskin at his waist, then raised his left hand. A stream of water flew from its mouth, slowly gathering in his palm and freezing.
In an instant, an exquisite ice flower appeared in his hand.
He offered the ice flower to Eddard. "Give this to Arya."
Stunned by what he had just witnessed, Eddard took the ice flower in a daze. "You're... a wizard?"
In fact, he had long since heard the children discussing it in private, saying Luke was a wizard who could use ice magic. But he had not believed them, thinking it was merely the children's imagination.
Now, however, the truth was before his eyes. He had no choice but to believe it.
Gary hesitated for a few seconds. Feeling it was not quite right to give a gift only to Arya, he formed another ice flower. "This one is for Sansa. Both flowers bear my magic, so they won't melt for a hundred years. Consider them small gifts in return."
After handing both flowers to Eddard, he turned and mounted the horse, ready to leave.
Eddard could not help asking, "Were you really raised by the Children of the Forest?"
Sitting on the horse, Gary nodded. "Yes. I didn't lie to you."
Then he added, "Winterfell has been kind to me, and I have friends here too. I'll definitely come back..." To weather the hardships with you.
Gary had revisited the first season of Game of Thrones in his dreams. Bran Stark's age had been mentioned in the first episode of the first season.
He was ten at the start of the first episode, but this year he was only six.
In other words, Gary only needed to return within four years to prevent House Stark's tragedy.
Eddard, however, said, "You'd better not come back, or I really will send you to Castle Black."
Gary did not answer. He pulled on the reins, slowly turning his warhorse around.
"Goodbye, my lord."
He rode away, disappearing into the night.
Eddard stood where he was, watching his retreating figure, and murmured to himself, "So alike."
He turned to call the guards to close the gate, when a sudden, unexplained commotion arose nearby.
"Come out."
Steward Poole stepped out of the darkness. "My lord, a horse is missing from the stables."
Eddard nodded. "I know. I took it."
Steward Poole continued, "Not that warhorse. Another horse is missing, a gentle little mare."
"Hmm? Arya's horse? Or Sansa's?" Eddard asked.
In Winterfell, only the two girls rode gentle mares.
Steward Poole fell silent for a moment, then said, "It's Arya's horse."
Something occurred to Eddard. The two exquisite ice flowers slipped from his hands, fell to the ground, and shattered into shards of ice.
"Quick, saddle the horses! Come with me after Luke!"
Before you continue