Awakening Plan

The North, Sea Dragon Point Peninsula, Crystal's Scar, castle bedroom.

When sunlight shone through a gap in the curtains onto Eddard's face, he finally "woke" from the Dream World. After he fell asleep, his awareness would automatically enter the Dream World.

Although he had spent around twelve hours in the Dream World again, neither his mind nor his body felt tired, and he experienced no discomfort upon "waking." Eddard suspected this had something to do with his soul. After all, his body now housed at least two souls or so.

"Mmm..."

After waking, Eddard instinctively shifted his body. A captivating, richly alluring voice sounded beside his ear. Turning his head, he saw a pair of pale green eyes as clear as autumn waters.

"Good morning, Lord Eddard!"

"G-good morning!"

After giving Eddard a light kiss on the cheek, Sinvara greeted him, and Eddard responded somewhat shyly.

Soon, Sinvara rose and picked up the gemstone necklace from the bedside table, displaying her naked body before Eddard. Thinking of last night's "wildness," his body reacted once again.

Fortunately, the down quilt concealed him, or Eddard would have thoroughly embarrassed himself. Last night, after Sinvara completed her oath, Eddard had felt himself losing control, perhaps because he had suppressed himself for too long, or perhaps because Sinvara was simply too captivating.

In short, that night, Eddard had taken the opportunity of bringing Sinvara upstairs to change to experience his "first time" since coming to this world. Even now, thinking back on it left him wanting more.

Perhaps because certain memories were still rather frightening to recall, Eddard had also ordered Sinvara to undo the gemstone necklace around her neck last night. Once he discovered that her body underwent no changes, he completely cast off certain restraints, picked her up, and tossed her onto the feather bed.

After dressing, Sinvara pulled back Eddard's quilt, apparently intending to help him out of bed. But upon discovering his condition, she smiled and climbed onto the feather bed.

Forty minutes later, Eddard finally finished dressing with Sinvara's assistance. Today, he wore a gray robe beneath a black leather jacket. Once the white wolf-fur cloak was draped over him, his somewhat scrawny frame looked considerably more proportioned.

"Awooo..."

Just then, wolf howls and the roars of beasts came from the doorway. His animal guards were signaling that someone was approaching.

The beasts Eddard had experimented on had already grown beyond their original sizes under the influence of the Parasite Demons. Since they understood people quite well, they had taken over the guards' duties. In certain respects, animals truly were far more capable than humans.

Wolves and shadowcats had extremely keen senses of smell and could detect strangers' scents in advance. Swamp pythons could patrol the castle's perimeter and rooftops, while lion lizards could lurk in the garden pond. Brown bears possessed tremendous fighting strength and explosive power. Fitted with armor, one would be practically a tank.

With these successes, Eddard had also begun breeding new war beasts. The arms trade would undoubtedly account for a major share of House Flint's future business. Imagine it: when an enemy's weapons and mounts all came from Crystal's Scar, certain hidden measures could influence the situation in that region.

"Woo..."

As the door opened, Eddard and Sinvara walked out together. His four maids stood outside: the head lady-in-waiting, Mistress Aiju, the young maid Wild Rose, and the sisters Moli and Bohe, who possessed Valyrian blood.

Apart from the head lady-in-waiting, Mistress Aiju, the other three maids all glared sulkily at Sinvara. All three had hoped to be Eddard's first, never expecting this outsider, Sinvara, to steal the opportunity. Sinvara, however, felt no such thing and maintained her elegant, dignified bearing. If not for the faint kiss marks on her neck, anyone would have thought this beautiful woman was a noble daughter from a highborn family.

"Ahem... Sinvara will be living in the castle from now on. Like you, she belongs to our House Flint. Understood?"

"Yes, Lord Eddard!"...

After hearing Eddard's arrangements, everyone bowed respectfully to him. He then led them toward the dining room. It was nearly full daylight, and many laborers had already been working for a long time, but Eddard still needed some breakfast, because he would very likely be busy for a long time today.

Eddard's work last night had not consisted solely of "sampling" Sinvara. After entering the Dream World, he had conducted another round of "experiments." By now, research into demon B'lack's bloodline was nearly complete. After consolidating all the bloodlines' strengths and weaknesses, Eddard had conducted "Dream Awakening" experiments on the first batch of selected students.

Today's most important task was to screen these students, assign them to classes, and train them. The sooner they learned to control their powers, the better they could contribute to Eddard's magical industrial development.

Eddard's knowledge hall had been established with reference to China's education system. Students aged eight to sixteen received a standardized education in three stages. Those who were already over sixteen but showed considerable aptitude would also be placed in "literacy classes" to study alongside the others.

Eddard's teaching generally focused on literacy, with magical education as a supplement. Those with outstanding talent would receive personal instruction from him or Maester Albert. Even if some could not fully control these powers, they could still become teachers and administrators under Eddard.

As Eddard's "Dream Awakening" and "Dragonglass Magic Array Awakening" plans progressed, Crystal's Scar would transform from an ordinary domain into a powerful magical city where everyone could cast magic. Of course, there was still a very long way to go before everyone could conjure fireballs.

However, some of Eddard's later magical machines and items would have a great need for ordinary spellcasters with basic training. His priority now was to lay a solid foundation, then let everyone begin exploring step by step and gradually establish a complete magical system.

Eddard was unsure whether magic capable of destroying heaven and earth might emerge later, but he knew very well that all such things were built upon the foundations of a magical system. Without the first fireball spell, how could there ever be a meteor firestorm later on?

After eating the breakfast carefully prepared by the head lady-in-waiting, Mistress Aiju, Eddard took Sinvara to the Magic Academy's temporary training site, a temporary tent compound erected near the castle gates. Maester Albert had arrived early. As a maester from the Citadel, he had always hoped to become an archmaester one day, teaching and nurturing students and writing a work bearing his name.

The nobles of Westeros had grown accustomed to leaving the education of literate people to the Citadel. Or rather, few nobles understood the importance of knowledge. The nobles of the Seven Kingdoms cared more about their lands, gold dragons, power, and beautiful women.

Lords like Eddard were exceedingly rare. As someone who possessed and witnessed a new system, Maester Albert had never stopped feeling his blood boil with enthusiasm. After Eddard offered his proposals and plans, Maester Albert had relied on his robust body to stay up through several entire nights, putting everything into plans and lists.

He had spent a particularly long time discussing the selection of students with the White Holy Tree in the Dream World. Only after eliminating every unstable factor had he settled on these hundred-odd fortunate people. All had undergone Eddard's "awakening" ritual in the Dream World, and most possessed talent no less than that of Bran, "Housecat."

Moreover, several among them were even more talented than Bran. Most of this group were related in some way to the castle servants and had heard something of certain matters concerning Eddard.

Since northerners were seldom influenced by the teachings of the Seven, most could still more or less accept the existence of magic. This group would not merely form Crystal's Scar's future foundation; they would also serve as examples. When abilities beyond those of ordinary people could be acquired through study, it was a windfall from heaven for many who wished to advance further.

Once their abilities gradually revealed themselves, Eddard would progressively improve their pay and benefits. With both a path and an opportunity available, fear of magic's unknown nature would gradually disappear. Once everyone realized that magic was no different from a longsword, Eddard's transformation plan would have succeeded. Then, without any need for excessive publicity, his magical system would gradually begin spreading across the continent, and more people would come to Crystal's Scar.

When Eddard stepped onto the makeshift platform, everyone below cheered excitedly. Besides those who had already awakened in the Dream World, over a hundred volunteers had signed up. They included the old and young, men and women, and people from nearly every social stratum. Most had come for the opportunity to study for free.

In the notices posted near the castle gates, Eddard had specifically stated that, later on, the Alchemy Workshop would recruit only those who could read and write. Those who performed exceptionally well could even become officials at the Municipal Center.

Although Eddard's Municipal Center currently had only departments of construction, taxation, and commerce, many offices under these three departments still stood vacant. With so many enticing prospects laid out, Eddard refused to believe people would not be tempted.

Throughout the history of the Seven Kingdoms, many capable commoners had climbed step by step from the common people to become ministers on a king's Small Council. There was no need to look far into the past; events of recent years offered an example. The current master of coin, Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish, had risen step by step from an obscure tax official in Gulltown in the Vale to his present position.

Truly ambitious, talented people would never pass up such an opportunity to rise above others. Moreover, Eddard was famously generous toward his officials. Besides holding feasts every few days, he also took good care of their families. The very first batch of concrete housing had been specially allocated by Eddard to the families of the castle servants.

"Ahem... My dear people, you are the future of Crystal's Scar and the key to our House Flint's rise to strength and prosperity. You are different, blessed by the gods. At the same time, you will be among those I trust most. Clean, tidy houses and delicious, fresh food are only the beginning. In the future, you will possess much more-things and wealth beyond anything you could ever imagine. Work hard, my people! A wonderful life beckons!"

"Long live our lord! Long live Lord Eddard!"

"House Flint! As Strong as Stone!"

Amid everyone's cheers, Eddard concluded his speech. Maester Albert then began assigning classes: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Of the more than two hundred people, only thirty were assigned to the advanced class. This did not mean they were already close to graduating, but rather that their talents were outstanding and Eddard would teach them personally.

Sinvara had grown up in a temple of R'hllor, the Lord of Light, where she had also learned to read and write. Eddard therefore assigned her to teach the beginner class. Eddard had little experience in education, so he again drew upon certain Chinese educational models.

Language, mathematics, physical education, and moral education became the first subjects he introduced. Magic was designated as a free-study course, with no specific subject explicitly identified. Only later, once magic had become firmly accepted by everyone, would Eddard label it openly.

When Eddard had worked on Blue Star in his previous life, he had endured more than enough speeches and lengthy lectures from all sorts of managers. Since arriving here, he had consistently promoted a quick, straightforward working style. Thus, Maester Albert's work and speech also concluded swiftly. After a little over an hour, the students began entering their assigned tent classrooms in an orderly fashion.

Eddard's tents were rectangular structures with peaked roofs and wooden interior supports. Numerous hemp ropes secured the canvas. Concrete slabs had also been laid on the ground, and drainage channels had been dug around the tents, all to make the students more comfortable as soon as possible.

For this round of instruction, Eddard had also prepared lesson plans in advance. To help these exceptionally talented students quickly master their powers, he would teach them personally. Their language lessons could also be reduced accordingly, since most already possessed basic reading and writing skills.