"So this is the inside of the necklace," Jon looked around. The place was somewhat empty; the floor was white and the ceiling was daylight. Jon knew this space had been created by Harry for training. The necklace wasn't actually as amazing as it seemed. Yes, it had a large space inside the jewel, but you could only enter it when you were asleep. You could train as much as you wanted, but you wouldn't gain muscle or increased strength, just muscle memory and perfecting movements. Although, since it was linked in some way to a person's soul, you could develop some spiritual power in forms like Observation Haki or Conqueror's Haki.
Jon walked to one side, where there was a space with a ceiling and some pillars supporting it. There were a couple of beds, tables, and also some not-too-thick books containing some training methods and how some things inside the necklace worked. After reading these books, Jon immediately ran to where there were some kind of mother dolls with arms and other sticks on various sides. Jon pressed a button and ran to the center. The puppets began to move in circles on their axis, causing the arms and sticks to move.
Jon jumped, dodging, but was hit in the head from behind.
"Ugh... this will be harder than I thought."
Jon continued like this. Dodging, jumping, blocking with his arms. Each blow hurt his body, but he was improving his footwork, making his movements a little more fluid. Spinning became a little less complicated when he had to block. That way, he trained for hours until he woke up.
"It doesn't hurt... Amazing!" Jon exclaimed a little, feeling his body. He knew he would have to train outside as well to be able to implement any new moves, but muscle memory was with him.
Jon got dressed immediately. He preferred to finish all his homework before he could do anything else, usually more training, but he didn't know he was in for a surprise. It was at the moment when he entered the hall to break his fast. His father had led him to sit with the rest of the family. Jon pressed his lips together as he sat down, not looking at Lady Catelyn, simply greeting her respectfully. Had he seen her, he would have noticed the different look the woman was giving him.
"Jon, I think it's time."
Jon's eyebrows moved slightly before he frowned and looked at his father in bewilderment.
"I'm sorry, Father. But could you be more precise?"
Ned looked at all his sons seriously before turning to Jon and saying, "Everything necessary will be prepared for you to move towards the New Gift soon."
"What?! Why does Jon have to leave?!" Arya was the first to speak, raising her voice in disgust at having to separate from her brother.
"Father... why this decision? If I may ask," Robb frowned sharply.
"It's necessary. Someone needs to be there to manage that place and help the wall."
Jon just let out a sharp breath before nodding determinedly.
"I'll do it, Father. I'll make you proud."
Ned just nodded vigorously.
"But... it's not fair!" Arya sat down grumpily.
"Arya, it's not like we'll never see each other again," Jon told her, smiling softly. "It's not too far away, either."
"Why does it have to be Jon?" Sansa opened her mouth for the first time. She usually kept silent in this kind of conversation, but seeing as her father was talking to them, she supposed she had the right to have her opinion. "What about Robb or Bran?"
"Sansa... your brother has his duties here at Winterfell. In addition, I will also begin to guide him in his duties as heir. Bran is still young, but he will also have his own duties..." Ned said seriously, looking at his youngest son with a final glance. "And that means no more games, Bran. No running away, no hiding, or climbing high places. Enough is enough. You need to focus more."
Bran gulped slightly at his father's look and nodded before speaking. "I understand, Father."
"Arya..." Ned paused for a few moments, trying not to smile at the seriousness of the conversation, but he knew his next words would change his daughter's mood.
"From now on, you will also train with the rest of your siblings."
Arya looked at her father in confusion for a long moment. Sansa was shocked, as were the rest of the siblings.
"Really?" Arya swallowed hard, not believing what was happening.
"Arya, this doesn't mean you'll neglect the rest. You will continue to attend the septa lessons with your mother. If you wish... you can put aside the lessons about the seven and pray in the ancient forest, but you will do so, and you will not play during those times."
Catelyn pressed her lips together for a few moments. She didn't like that last part, but she knew the things her husband had informed her yesterday were important. Between the lives of her children and the faith in the seven, she would choose the former.
"But Father, Arya... is there really a need for her to train? We... I mean, we can protect her. It's our duty, right?" Robb wasn't entirely happy with his father's plans.
"Hey!" Arya exclaimed, annoyed.
"I've decided," Ned said more forcefully, silencing any further arguments.
"By the way, Jon. Luwin will accompany you for a while, help you with some things. But remember, it's your job, not his."
"I understand," Jon nodded seriously.
With the conversation settled, everyone began to eat slowly, some thinking, others happier, like Arya and Jon. However, the latter, despite being happy for his father's trust, felt a little nervous about his new responsibilities.
If anything, things were getting more complicated for House Stark.
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"Ha~... Heuk~..." Breathing wearily, Jon Snow was sweating all over his body. The training place with the necklace Harry had lent him allowed him to feel pain and fatigue, even feeling everything as if it were the normal world. Days of training followed by weeks of doing the same thing. Learning more from his father, but with less time due to Robb's teachings. Training with Ser Rodrik, studies with Maester Luwin, then more sword training, and finally, rest until nightfall, where he trained while he slept.
His senses were improving every day; he could feel it. His King's Eyes were not to be underestimated. He had already tested them for their ability to detect potential; Jon could literally see a person's potential in the form of an aura around them. Surprisingly, Robb and Arya had auras surrounding them that were the same size but different colors. Robb had a golden one, while Arya's aura was gray. The lie-detecting ability of his eyes acted a little strangely, as he could literally see a slight ripple surrounding them when they lied, like a ripple created when a stone was thrown into water.
Thanks to the great visual ability of his eyes, his senses had improved by leaps and bounds. But he knew he couldn't always trust his eyes, so he heeded the advice Harry had left inside the necklace: wear a blindfold and simply trust the sound, the feeling of his entire body, and his instincts. That way, he took a step forward in terms of his senses.
Jon began to sense the presence of things around him. His ears began to pick up the sound of the dummies' knocking. He took a lot of knocks while trying to sense these things, but he was succeeding.
But, the moment he made this breakthrough, something appeared in the group chat. Specifically, something related to him. Although that was when he finally woke up.
[You just developed an ability!]
[Ability: Instinct (C+ Rank)] [Description: A skill that represents a human's arduous training and power of instinct. At this level, it is possible to read the flow of battle to a certain extent. Furthermore, it is possible to vaguely guess an opponent's intentions in order to determine whether confrontation is an appropriate course of action, or whether the opponent is an 'enemy to be fought'] [Note: Many of the skills leveled by rank are capable of increasing with training]
"Instinct... a different ability than what Harry told me about Haki. It seems to have a lower effectiveness," Jon said to himself quietly, thinking about his new ability. While it had a lower effectiveness than Haki, it could still continue to increase with time and proper training.
"But..." Jon sighed. Even with a new ability, he felt that it didn't make his day any better. While training didn't cause him to lack sleep, today would be a slightly sad day, but also a day of change. Jon felt torn between happiness and sadness.
Today, after all, would be the day he would leave Winterfell for the New Gift. After a few weeks of preparation, he would depart with Maester Luwin and some guards for what would be his new home. As he left his room, he glanced inside as the door remained open. This would be the last day he would sleep here for who knows how long. In the end, he shook his head, thinking that thinking like that wasn't good; he needed to focus on his new responsibilities and possible goals. From now on, he couldn't be a child anymore.
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The atmosphere was a little gloomy in the hall; even Sansa seemed depressed as she ate breakfast. Arya wore a constant frown as she picked at her food, and Robb let out a sigh every now and then. Bran seemed the only one more cheerful, but even the youngest Stark had a slightly lost look on his face.
"Are you ready, Jon? You'll probably go through some tough times and complicated situations."
"I'm ready, Father," Jon nodded as he finished his breakfast. Ned looked into his son's eyes, which, for some reason, grew clearer every time he saw them.
"Good..." Ned nodded before standing and looking at his entire family.
"We'll see Jon off, but it won't be forever. I'll be waiting for you outside."
Everyone watched Lord Stark leave with different looks, and Jon decided it was best to follow him. In fact, they all followed Ned outside. When they reached the courtyard, everyone was ready. The guards were on their horses, as was Luwin. A carriage was filled with supplies and pulled by horses, while another guard directed it.
Ned held a sword and scabbard in his hand before extending it to Jon.
"It's an ordinary sword, but beautifully forged. I would have liked to give you something much... better, but it's not possible," Jon took the sword and gripped it in his hands, looking at the hilt with a gray wolf's head.
"No... this is fine. Thank you very much, Father," Jon smiled more broadly than usual before placing the sword on his hip. He turned and smiled at his siblings. Arya jumped up and hugged him while crying and murmuring a variety of things: from training until she defeated him, to missing him and asking permission to visit him.
Jon smiled softly as he hugged his sister lovingly.
"I hope you can achieve good things. When I take the position of Lord Stark, we will be together protecting the North, brother," Robb said before hugging Jon tightly and patting his back a little roughly.
Then Bran followed... who walked over and hugged him.
"You have to become strong, Bran. Listen to what your father says, too."
"I will..."
"Jon..." Sansa, surprisingly to Jon, approached and extended her hands, revealing a gray handkerchief. But on this handkerchief was a shield with a black background and a white wolf howling upward. Jon was surprised by this before hugging Sansa tightly, taking her by surprise.
"Thank you, Sansa. It means a lot to me," Jon whispered.
Sansa just nodded, feeling a little embarrassed by the display of affection, but decided to hug Jon for a moment before pulling away.
Jon inhaled a little before letting out a breath and looking at Lady Stark.
"Lady Stark, thank you for... for..."
"Stop... please stop," Catelyn sighed sadly as she looked at Jon with a hint of regret. Now that she knew this young man was actually her nephew, she couldn't help but remember the way he had behaved. While she didn't know the truth, she still understood that it wasn't the right way to do things. She thought about it repeatedly, but she couldn't help thinking... things about Jon.
"I didn't behave on my best behavior, Jon," she said, looking him in the eye. "I won't give you a hug like the rest, because that would be awkward for both of us. However, I can offer you a few words."
"Now that you're leaving for a land you've never met before, you may hold uncertainties, even feel a bit of fear that you don't show. As someone who manages things like lands, jobs, and even people, you'll understand that it will be a constant weight on your shoulders. You'll need to know the troubles that afflict those people, the joys of those you lead, and also discern lies from truth. With all of that, chances are, at some point, you'll feel angry, upset, and even stressed... in those moments, remember that you have a family supporting you at Winterfell."
Jon looked at Lady Catelyn in shock, completely surprised, and could only resist and hold back the tears in his eyes. Perhaps she didn't know it, but Catelyn had managed to remove the chains of uncertainty from Jon's heart. He, who had never felt fully accepted, for the first time felt completely fulfilled.
"Thank you very much... Lady Catelyn," Jon bowed slightly, responding respectfully. He didn't notice the surprised looks on his brothers' faces or the pride in his father. He simply walked to the waiting horse and climbed on before taking one last look at his family.
"We shall meet again!" Jon smiled and raised his hand before the entire group began riding out of Winterfell.
Ned sighed a little as he looked at Jon's back in concern. The back of the young man he had always considered a son seemed small compared to the world around him. Ned couldn't curse the burdens Jon would have to bear in the future.
However, unbeknownst to anyone in the world, that small back would become a support that many would look up to with hope and wonder. At the gates of Winterfell, Jon Snow's story would truly begin.
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