10 B.D. | Arrival at Dragonstone
The wind smelled of salt… and fire.
Kael stood at the bow of the ship, his hands resting loosely against the dark wood as sea spray brushed against his face in fine droplets. In the distance, Dragonstone rose from the sea—black, jagged, almost alive, as if the island itself was breathing. Thin trails of smoke curled up from volcanic vents, blending into the heavy clouds above and painting the sky in dark, brooding shades.
Very different from the Arbor. Or… what it was called now. A faint grin crossed Kael's lips.
"The Amber Isle…" he murmured quietly to himself. "Sounds a lot better than that old name."
Soft music played in his mind—something only he could hear. Suzume (feat. Toaka) carried his thoughts back… through the years.
The mana towers were finally complete. The barrier wall nearly finished. The World Tree was growing… stronger than even Erlef had expected. And their people…
Kael exhaled slowly.
From barely ten thousand… to over one hundred twenty thousand. A small kingdom. Their kingdom.
A quiet, satisfied chuckle escaped him.
"Heh."
"So… what exactly are you smiling about like a creep over here?"
Kael blinked and looked down—straight into a crooked grin.
Erlef stood beside him, head tilted slightly, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"You look like someone secretly planning to take over the world."
Kael snorted softly.
"Thank you, my Forest Queen… very reassuring."
He pulled her slightly into his side, resting his head gently against hers.
"I was just thinking," he said quietly. "About everything we've built."
He gestured vaguely toward the horizon.
"The Amber Isle is nearly finished. The towers stand. The wall holds. The World Tree grows… and our people…" He shook his head slightly, a genuine smile forming. "We actually did it."
Erlef let out a soft laugh. "Yeah… and finally we can relax a little. Remember that night in the tavern…?"
Kael's gaze drifted.
Oh yes… he remembered.
And why that night had happened in the first place.
Forty years ago.
A small fishing village. Unprotected. Vulnerable.
The Iron Islands had found it. They came in the night. They took. They killed.And they had the audacity… to take women as "salt wives."
Kael had arrived too late.
Far too late.
Even now, he could feel the shift inside himself from that day. Something colder. Unforgiving.
The next morning, he had called for a war council. No one could stop him. The Iron Islands would pay. And they did.
Harlaw burned.
Not metaphorically.
The island itself had burned—days… even weeks later, the fires still raged, eating through land and stone alike. And when they returned…
They celebrated.
For the first time, Kael had let his music be heard by others—shared it with the world.
"A Toast of the Living and the Fallen."
A night of life.
And remembrance.
And the Peace followed, first the Reach and then Dorne. None harbored the desire for a second Harlaw, finding peace and a modest amount of trade much more preferable.
"You two look suspiciously nostalgic." Errine's voice pulled him back.
Kael lifted his head slightly as she stepped beside them, arms crossed, her gaze as calm… and calculating as ever. "Well then, Kael," she continued, "why exactly are we here at Dragonstone? And since when are you interested in Valyria… or rather, the Targaryens?"
Kael smiled faintly. "Ah… my Sea Queen."
A brief glance passed between the three of them—a quiet understanding forged over centuries.
"I told you before… Valyria will fall."
Errine raised an eyebrow, ever so slightly. "…When?"
Kael shrugged. "No idea. I'm not a damn calendar."
A crooked grin tugged at his lips. "But now that the Targaryens are here…"His gaze shifted back to the island. "…I'd give it ten. Maybe twenty years."
A short silence followed.
"And…" Kael shrugged again, "I wanted to meet our new dragon neighbors."
"THOSE ARE NOT DRAGONS!"
Luna's voice came from behind like a thunderclap.
"They're oversized, arrogant lizards!"
Kael, Erlef, and Errine exchanged a look.
And burst out laughing. The ship docked.
On the black shores of Dragonstone, a small group was already waiting. Six Valyrians. Dozens of soldiers.
Erlef smirked. "Oh, this is going to be fun."
Errine shot her a sharp look.
"Do. Not. Cause. Trouble."
Kael half-ignored them as he stepped forward.
His gaze fell upon the group… …and lingered. A girl, no older than fifteen. But there was something about her. The presence. His eyes narrowed slightly.
Interesting.
—
If he had looked at Luna in that moment…
…he would have realized everything was about to spiral out of control.
Her eyes were wide. Not with fear. With excitement.
As if she had just discovered the greatest treasure in the world.
—
Kael was just about to greet them.
When—
A crackle. The air tightened.
BOOM.
An impact like a boulder crashing from the sky.
Dust exploded outward, soldiers were thrown off their feet, some hitting the black sand hard. For a brief moment—pure confusion. And then…
…maniacal laughter.
"Oh yeeeees… yeeeeees!" The dust slowly settled. And there stood Luna. Right in the middle of the chaos.
Holding the girl. Not threateningly. But… excited. She spun around with her, laughing loudly, uncontrollably.
"YOU are my little sister now!""You are family now!"
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Kael stood there.
Hand covering his face.
Facepalm.
Errine beside him.
Mouth slightly open.
Eyes empty.
Errine.exe..... has stopped working.
Erlef…
…started giggling. Then laughing. Then completely losing it.
"HAHAHAHA— and I'm the one who causes trouble?!"
Kael sighed.Very slowly.
"…This is going to be a problem."