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Essos was the largest known continent in the Game of Thrones world. On a map it sprawled across roughly the same area as Eurasia back on Earth.
Dozens of different peoples lived across its vast, wildly varied landscapes. Because the continent was so enormous, when most people said "Essos" they really meant the western half—everything west of the Bone Mountains.
The most famous part of it was the Nine Free Cities: the coastal ports of Braavos, Myr, Pentos, and Volantis; the island cities of Lorath, Lys, and Tyrosh; and the inland cities of Norvos and Qohor.
Long ago a city called the Freehold of Valyria had risen here. Its people, the Valyrians, had mastered the art of controlling dragons and used them to conquer almost every kingdom around them, forging a mighty empire.
The forty noble families who could ride dragons were known as the Dragonlords.
The Valyrians also wielded powerful magic. Their legendary Valyrian steel blades—lighter, sharper, and nearly unbreakable—were forged with spells that no one could duplicate today.
Dragons and sorcery carried the Freehold to the peak of its power. For a time its Dragonlords even believed they were gods.
But nothing lasts forever.
The empire met its end in fire and blood.
Valyria had been built atop fourteen volcanoes. Legend said the Valyrians drew magical power straight from those fiery mountains. One terrible night all fourteen erupted at once. Flames, smoke, and ash blotted out the sky. Rivers of molten rock rained down like burning meteors, incinerating even the dragons that flew overhead. The earth split open. Mountains collapsed. The entire Freehold was swallowed in a single cataclysm.
Everything—their language, knowledge, history, dragon-binding secrets, and magical records—vanished in the flames.
People later called it the Doom of Valyria.
Many believed the gods had punished the Valyrians for daring to steal divine power and call themselves gods.
Twelve years before the Doom, a woman of House Targaryen known as a "dreamer" foresaw the disaster in a vision. She convinced her family to flee the Freehold and sail west across the Narrow Sea to Dragonstone. That single decision saved the last dragonlords from extinction.
Centuries later, Aegon the Conqueror and his two sisters would use their three dragons to conquer Westeros.
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"My lord, land is in sight!" Varyn's excited voice came through the cabin door. "We'll make port soon!"
Leo closed the book Customs and Major Events of Essos that Illyrio had lent him to kill time at sea.
After days on the water, he was more than ready to feel solid ground again.
His game-enhanced body had handled the voyage without a single bout of seasickness. Everyone else—Varyn, Brienne, Brule, and the five original men—had spent plenty of time hanging over the rail.
When the coastline of Essos finally appeared, the crew practically cheered.
Illyrio noticed Leo's steady stomach and seemed impressed. It helped sell the story that the young knight had crossed oceans before.
A few hours later the ship docked at Pentos, the closest Free City to King's Landing.
Pentos was a major trading port on the western coast. A prince sat in the Prince's Palace for show, but real power belonged to the wealthy magisters. Originally a Valyrian trading outpost, it had grown rich on commerce. After the Doom, merchants gradually took control.
Illyrio was one of those magisters—a true local powerhouse.
The moment his fleet tied up, servants, workers, and slaves swarmed the docks to welcome their master home. The display of wealth rivaled any great lord in Westeros.
As Illyrio's honored guest and "good friend," Leo got the full VIP treatment. He was carried off the ship on a luxurious litter lined with velvet cushions, surrounded by attendants.
At Illyrio's grand hillside villa overlooking the city, beautiful young servant girls offered to help him bathe. Platters of local delicacies, fresh fruit, and fine wines arrived nonstop.
Leo politely turned down the two girls who wanted to join him in the bath and sent them away with a smile. He enjoyed a long, hot soak alone.
It wasn't fake modesty. A man as connected as Illyrio had hosted countless guests here. Getting too comfortable could lead to trouble—especially in a world where medicine was primitive. Staying clean was the smartest move.
After bathing, Leo sipped Pentoshi amber mead on the balcony, looking out over the city below. From this height it really did feel like everything was laid out at his feet.
Rich people know how to live, he thought. No matter the world, the wealthy enjoy themselves.
If he wanted to keep enjoying this kind of life, he had to keep climbing—until no one could touch him.
Once he was sure no one was around, Leo opened his system and spoke softly.
"Catriona, I've reached Essos. Where are you?"
Onyxia's voice answered almost immediately.
"You're here? Good. Come find me in the Smoking Sea. I'll be waiting."
The Smoking Sea?
Leo's eyes narrowed sharply.