So, Attia, half-truthfully, half-falsely, began to tell Gaia about his dream.
"When I was unconscious, I vaguely went to a place full of flames…"
"Those flames made me feel very comfortable, and they seemed to make me stronger…"
"I also saw a giant dragon crawling in the magma from afar, and a large bird with huge horns flying in the sky. They scared me awake when they looked at me!"
"A Dragon Dream and a Phoenix Dream?"
Gaia was immediately excited upon hearing this. As a princess of the Eastmoor Celestial Dynasty, she knew many secrets. Especially after associating with Daemon, she also learned some things about the ancient Valyrian Dragonlords.
"Attia, did you only see giant dragons and phoenixes? Our family has the bloodline of ancient Phoenixes, and some people will awaken the Phoenix inheritance by chance."
"Phoenixes were once as magical and great as giant dragons!"
"If you dream of them again, don't be afraid. Try to communicate with them, and there might be unexpected surprises."
After speaking, Gaia took out the Phoenix Blade in her hand, an exquisite long saber.
"Whoosh~"
In Gaia's hand, the Phoenix Blade suddenly burst into fierce flames.
"It was when I was seven years old that I awakened the practical method of wielding the Phoenix Blade from a Phoenix Dream. Our family's Phoenix Blade is a divine weapon, more magical than Valyrian weapons."
"The Phoenix Blades currently used by the Phoenix Guards are imitations of the original. Perhaps they are not as good as Valyrian weapons, but they have surpassed most sharp weapons in this world."
Thanks to the high temperature of Phoenix Island's volcano, the island's forge could produce exquisite equipment. The Phoenix Blades and Phoenix Armor of the Phoenix Guards were the pinnacle of Phoenix Island's forging technology.
This was also an important factor in their overnight fame in the war in the Disputed Lands. Relying on their equipment, not a single one of the more than three hundred Phoenix Guards fell, which completely shocked the world.
"Attia, do not reveal what you saw in your dream to outsiders. Some things are best kept to yourself; do not easily speak of them. People in this world often do not truly empathize, but it is a common trait for most people to be unable to stand seeing others do well."
"Understood, Mother!"
Gaia gently embraced Attia in her arms, feeling relieved.
"Your wound has healed quite miraculously. In just three days, it has completely healed, and it seems there won't be a scar."
"That's it?! I thought he'd get me a dragon egg!"
"It seems that with King Jaehaerys and Prince Baelon around, Daemon can't be arrogant at all!"
"This gold is worth some money, it should be about two pounds. Those two ruby eyes should also be quite valuable!"
Looking at the pure gold dragon model in his hand, Attia couldn't help but secretly estimate its value. But a brilliant smile appeared on his face as he said,
"Is this Balerion, Father?"
"Yes! Do you like it?"
"I do!"
In the following days, Daemon stayed on Phoenix Island.
In the mornings, he taught Attia Valyrian and the noble lineages of the Seven Kingdoms. In the afternoons, he would take Attia to hunt in the nearby waters, riding the dragon Caraxes. In the evenings, he would try every possible way to sneak into Gaia's seaside villa.
The back of Phoenix Island consists of thousand-meter cliffs, as if carved by a knife, and continuous mountains. A large river winds its way from the northwest of the island, flowing through more than half of the island before emptying into the sea in the southeast. The frequent rainfall in the Stepstones ensures that Phoenix Island is crisscrossed by rivers and has fertile land.
The east and west sides of the island are also low cliffs and precipices, now covered with various trees and pastures. The central part has flat terrain and numerous rivers, where large areas of fertile land and pastures have been cultivated.
To the south of the island is a wide, large port, which is also where Phoenix Wharf and Phoenix Garrison are located. Merchant ships flow ceaselessly every day, making it very prosperous.
The superior geographical environment not only makes Phoenix Island easy to defend and difficult to attack, but the large areas of fertile land and unique maritime conditions have also allowed Phoenix Island to accumulate a considerable fortune in just five or six years.
Phoenix Fortress is built on the highest peak in the northwest of Phoenix Island, behind which is an active volcano, planted with large areas of fiery red parasol trees. The secret land of the Phoenix Family is hidden within it.
To the east of Phoenix Fortress are large fruit orchards. To the northeast, a small path leads directly to the forge and the porcelain workshop. Attia was injured there last time.
To the west are seaside cliffs, and Phoenix Fortress is built on a huge platform on the cliffs, shaped like a Phoenix about to spread its wings and fly. Although not large in scale, with carved Phoenixes and painted beams, it is also very exquisite and elegant.
Attia's injury healed in less than half a month, and not a single scar was left. Daemon no longer had an excuse to stay, so he reluctantly left.
"Attia, don't worry, I will bring you your own dragon egg sooner or later!"
"Hmm! You've been making that promise for four or five years. It's so boring…"
Gaia grumbled impatiently, then returned to the castle without looking back.
After Daemon left, Attia resumed his daily lessons with Maester Farwin and Captain Ethan. In the afternoons, Gaia would personally guide him in practicing Phoenix Blade techniques.
That night, half-asleep and half-awake, Attia suddenly felt something calling him. So he walked barefoot, vaguely following the sensation in his heart towards the back mountain.
Passing through the dense parasol tree forest, Attia unknowingly arrived at the clan's secret land. He saw a discarded ship's mast, over ten meters high, standing majestically at the entrance to the secret land.
Upon reaching here, the feeling in Attia's heart grew stronger. So he walked into the family's secret land without hesitation.
The Phoenix Family's secret land is built within a large natural cave. Such caves are common throughout the northern mountains of Phoenix Island.
Moreover, the caves are all connected to the magma pool at the center of the volcano, just like the forge where Attia was injured before. So as soon as he entered, he felt a blast of scorching air hit him.
There was actually nothing unusual in this burial ground; it was just a stone shrine filled with red sandalwood tablets. All of them were inscribed with the names of the Phoenix family's successive emperors, written in Eastmoor script. These tablets were brought over by Gaia and her group from Eastmoor after enduring countless hardships.
"Eh?!"
As he approached the magma pool, Attia suddenly felt a very familiar aura coming from three huge rocks by the edge of the magma pool.
"This is?!…"
Attia instinctively placed his hand on the giant rock, but the rock seemed to reach a critical point and shattered directly.
And among the broken stones, there lay a shimmering stone egg, the size of a washbasin.
Just then, the other two giant rocks also exploded, and inside each lay a stone egg, one gold and one red, covered with fish-scale-like patterns.
"These aren't dragon eggs, are they!"
Attia laboriously gathered the three stone eggs together, then felt waves of sleepiness wash over him, so he fell asleep holding the three stone eggs.
"Clang~"
A high-pitched and clear phoenix cry suddenly echoed on Phoenix Island, where the sea wind was biting.
The Phoenix Blade in Gaia's room suddenly ignited on its own, and the lava pool on Phoenix Island also suddenly became agitated. The furnace fire in the forging workshop suddenly flared up, and a Phoenix Blade that was being forged suddenly developed self-generating runes and ignited with colorful flames.
Gaia was also startled awake by a surge of qi and blood, and she gasped in disbelief,
"Phoenix cry?!"