"Be clear. I don't understand what you're saying."
Daenerys knew perfectly well what he meant, but she chose to feign confusion. Who could tell if that man was lying to her again?
"I owe you an apology for everything I once did to you."
After offering a sincere apology, he began to explain slowly. "Tell me, what in this world is the most enduring, the most immortal?
Even Valyrian steel would decay if you stretched time across a million years.
The truth is, only the spirit and will can truly endure.
But only the purest, most steadfast, and most universally recognized spirit can be passed down through generations.
That is what the greenseer's legacy represents a lineage of spirit."
"The previous greenseer passes down all his mind, soul, memory, will, and talent to the next. For millions of years, one after another.During this process, individual memories and emotions gradually fade, until they are completely erased. What remains is only the purest and most essential will."
"The ever-strengthening core will of countless generations of greenseers forms a crown a symbol of authority, power, and the duty of kingship.
Those who wish to wear the crown must bear its weight.
That crown has existed for a million years. Individual wills and emotions are so insignificant before it that every greenseer crowned by it becomes sanctified
Like a god, like the very land of Westeros itself.
The divine has duties; heaven and earth are impartial.
A greenseer's responsibility lies not with a person, a family, a clan, or even a nation, but with the entire world and all living beings within it
To guard all life and the world itself."
"A greenseer who inherits the will of his predecessors becomes terrifyingly powerful almost godlike. Only by abandoning personal desires and emotions can that power be kept from corruption.
When I wore the crown, I was no longer Brynden Rivers. Only when I relinquished it did I regain my identity and emotions.
Memory never vanishes. What fades is merely Brynden Rivers' emotions and personal will."
Daenerys stayed silent for a long while, carefully mulling over the meaning behind Brynden's words.
It seemed that the greenseer's inheritance was not a simple case of possession.
If it truly were complete domination, Brynden wouldn't have regained his personal will after relinquishing the "crown."
Of course, it was still possible he was lying to deceive her.
Yet there was no obvious flaw in his logic. If the greenseer's inheritance was indeed a crown, then that crown was forged collectively by countless generations of greenseers.
Each had their own feelings and preferences, but when merged into one collective will, the individuality was bound to vanish.
For example, suppose one greenseer preferred sweet tofu pudding while another liked it salty. When the two fused, their love for tofu pudding would simply be erased.
Otherwise, the conflict between the "sweet" and "salty" factions would shatter the collective will.
After countless generations of such succession, every personal preference and emotion would be ground away, leaving only one lofty yet hollow ideal the will to "protect the world."That was the one belief every greenseer could agree upon, preserve, and continue to strengthen.
"So, you've retired now? Regained your humanity? Come to reminisce with me?" Daenerys asked dryly.
"In my final moments, I'd rather reminisce with Aemon, that young lad. As for you... heh, you're still far too wary of me, aren't you?You're cautious, but not sincere. A fine quality for a queen but not for a friend," Brynden said with a faint smile, as though he saw through everything.
Daenerys looked embarrassed and angry. "Only a fool would let down their guard in front of you."
"That's not wrong," Brynden sighed, then spoke plainly of his intent. "Daenerys, I hope you can come beyond the Wall. I have a favor to ask and a gift to offer."
"Go on," Daenerys sneered. "Try to convince me. Either make me believe you, or tempt me enough to lose my reason."
Brynden didn't take offense. He spoke calmly. "Your potential hasn't been fully developed. If you miss this opportunity, you'll waste hundreds perhaps thousands of years wandering in circles."
"Potential is an illusion," Daenerys said flatly. "And I'm perfectly content with my current pace of cultivation."
"At another time, a thousand-year delay might not matter. But this time is different. If you miss it, you'll lose the chance to become the protagonist of the next age.
Ah, perhaps I'm being selfish. After all, I'm a Targaryen. To see your empire thrive would fill me with pride and joy," Brynden said wistfully.
"Heh," Daenerys gave a cold laugh. "You were the one who led the Targaryens to their extinction."
"Led? No, no. I merely watched as the house decayed, fell into corruption, and destroyed itself.
Daenerys, a greenseer's timeline and existence are unlike those of ordinary men.
If I am allowed selfishness, then so are my predecessors. I was a Targaryen prince; they, too, were sons of kings. I can see the past, present, and future and so can they.
If I had helped House Targaryen, it would not have lasted even three hundred years, and it would never have had the chance to rise again.
Impartiality is the best course between heaven and earth," Brynden said softly.
Daenerys frowned, thinking it over. "You said you had a favor to ask. What exactly do you want me to do?"
She didn't need to ask, really. She could already guess it must have something to do with Jon Snow.
The timing was simply too coincidental.
"This place is still within the world. It's inconvenient to speak of such matters here," Brynden replied meaningfully.
Within the world?
Daenerys gave a sharp, mocking laugh. "You can't clearly tell me what benefit you're offering, and you won't say what you actually want me to do. Tell me why should I trust you?"
Brynden fell silent for a moment before speaking again. "The Three-Eyed Raven can command thousands of ravens. You, however, can only bond with one dragon's spirit at a time.
Now, the gift I offer can change that. It will allow you to bond with five dragons simultaneously."
For Daenerys, that was an unimaginably great temptation. Yet even the wildlings north of the Wall knew that there was no such thing as a favor without a price.
They once refused to sign her "Tripartite Accord" precisely because it seemed too favorable to them.
But…If it were for the sake of the prophesied child, perhaps that price was worth it.
The problem was could she bring Jon Snow back to life?
No. She couldn't.
Jon and the High Sparrow were different. The High Sparrow's faith was devout, and the center of his spiritual mind bore a "holy mark." Once his soul entered the realm of faith, it remained under the control of the "Holy Mother." He held no resistance, allowing himself to be molded and guided as she pleased.
Jon's soul, however, was independent and self-willed. She couldn't control him, nor could she easily grant him divine essence.
"Let me think about it," Dany said hesitantly.
"There's no time," Brynden replied helplessly. "My life is nearing its end. The next person you speak to will be the real Three-Eyed Crow exactly the same as the one before."
Dany asked, "Who is your successor?"
"Not my successor," Brynden said, "but the successor of the 'Crown.' He is the second son of House Stark Brandon Stark!"
Brynden did not hesitate, nor did he lie.
"Where can I find you?" Dany asked again.
At once, a map of Westeros appeared upon the mirrored surface. North of the Wall, beyond the Haunted Forest, a red dot flickered.
Then the red dot suddenly enlarged, revealing a snowy northern landscape.
Upon a snow-covered plain stood a hill crowded with weirwood trunks.
"My time is short," Brynden said in a low tone. "If you can't reach me within three days, then don't bother coming. Let everything follow the fate that has already been set."
"Old Maester Aemon is next door. Shall I ask him to come talk with you?" Dany suggested after a brief pause.
"Aemon… very well."
Half an hour later, the magical communication ended. Dany looked at the old man sitting dazed in his chair, his expression distant.
"Well?" she asked.
"What?" Aemon blinked in confusion.
Dany rolled her eyes impatiently. "Old man, don't tell me you thought that was just a casual chat."
"What else could it be?" Aemon asked, still puzzled.
"I mean, after that exchange, can you tell who he truly is the emotionless Three-Eyed Crow, or a Targaryen bastard?" Dany asked seriously.
"You were listening the whole time, weren't you?"
"It was my first time speaking with 'Brynden.' I couldn't judge. You've known him for decades you should be familiar with him. Compared to before, do you notice any difference?"
"Hm… it should be Brynden Rivers," Aemon said after some thought.
"Are you sure? If it truly is Brynden's will, then I'll head beyond the Wall," Dany said.
"This…" The old man hesitated immediately, knowing it concerned the Dragon Queen's safety. "Let me think again. Maybe he was pretending. I can't be sure. You'd best not go. I doubt Brynden has any treasure worth your risk."
"Well, perhaps he has Dark Sister but that sword would be useless to you, even symbolically," he added quickly.
The Targaryens once possessed two Valyrian steel swords Blackfyre and Dark Sister wielded respectively by Aegon the Conqueror and his sister Visenya.
King Aegon the Unworthy later bestowed them upon two noble bastards: Daemon Waters received Blackfyre and took it as his new name, while Brynden Rivers received Dark Sister, carrying it beyond the Wall where it vanished.
"It's not a sword," Dany said. "He mentioned a treasure that could enhance my bloodline's power."
"I think your power is already formidable," Aemon replied.
"I think so too," Dany admitted, "but if it can be made stronger…"
Aemon understood her intent and fell silent, deep in thought. Dany didn't speak either; she merely watched him.
The study grew quiet, broken only by the cries of seabirds outside the window.
After a long while, the old man said solemnly, "I'm seventy percent certain that Brynden is truly Brynden."
"Oh?"
"I asked him about Jon, Tyrion, and Aegon's identities about the secrets of the War of the Usurper. He refused to answer any of it.
He said he's no longer a greenseer and must not undermine their information advantage or certain plans.
If he were deceiving you, that would mean he is still a greenseer, and he wouldn't care about such details, since everything would already be within his design."
As soon as he finished, Aemon shook his head again. "Then again, perhaps he saw through my reasoning and deliberately led me to think that way."
Dany gave an awkward laugh. "Now you've lost me. Let's keep it simple let's consult an expert diviner."
In matters of state, the ancients always sought guidance from the gods before war or sacrifice.
Now, Dany seemed to be following that same path.
She turned to Quaithe.
"I haven't foreseen any danger," Quaithe said. "But prophecies are only references, not instructions. If you truly plan to go, think instead about how to go prepared."
Dany nodded in agreement, then asked, "Do you think it's worth risking everything for some mysterious treasure?"
"I can't decide for you," Quaithe replied. "People differ. Some would sell their souls for a single silver coin, while others would donate fifty million gold dragons to charity without blinking an eye."
"I blinked," Dany said with a grin, fluttering her eyes playfully.
(End of Chapter)
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