Chapter 9 – Fire and Name
The sky still roared with thunder.
Winds tore through the clouds as Aeryn clung to the back of the massive black dragon. Below him, Dragonstone shrank into nothing more than a jagged shadow against the sea.
For a moment—
There was no castle.
No politics.
No danger lurking in corridors.
Only sky.
Only freedom.
Aeryn laughed.
A real laugh.
Wild.
Unrestrained.
"Faster!"
The dragon responded instantly.
Its wings beat harder, cutting through the storm with terrifying speed. Lightning flashed around them, illuminating black scales that seemed to swallow the light itself.
This was nothing like sailing.
This was better.
Far better.
Because this time…
He wasn't riding the wind.
He commanded it.
Learning Control
But freedom came with danger.
The dragon suddenly banked sharply.
Aeryn nearly lost his grip.
"—okay, not that fast!"
He tightened his hold, pressing himself lower against the creature's back.
Think.
Edward Kenway had learned how to control ships in storms.
This wasn't that different.
Balance.
Weight.
Timing.
Instead of ropes and sails…
He had a dragon.
Aeryn shifted slightly.
Leaning into the movement.
Adjusting with the rhythm of the wings.
The dragon responded.
Not perfectly.
But enough.
The wild, chaotic flight began to stabilize.
Aeryn exhaled slowly.
"Alright…"
He leaned forward slightly.
"Let's try this properly."
The dragon roared.
This time the movement felt… coordinated.
Not forced.
Not random.
A connection.
The system flickered faintly.
[DRAGON LINK – ACTIVE]
Bond Level: 91% → 93%
Control: Unstable → Developing
A Name Worthy of Fire
Aeryn looked down at the dragon beneath him.
Massive.
Ancient.
Powerful beyond anything in this world.
A creature like this needed a name.
Not something simple.
Not something weak.
Something that fit.
He thought of the sea.
Of storms.
Of darkness and power.
Then it came to him.
A slow smile spread across his face.
"Alright…"
He leaned forward, placing a hand against the dragon's neck.
"From now on…"
The dragon growled softly.
"…your name is Nyxarion."
The creature let out a deep roar.
Not violent.
Not angry.
Something else.
Acceptance.
The system pulsed again.
[DRAGON IDENTIFIED]
Name: Nyxarion
Bond Level: 95%
Status: Loyal (Developing)
Return to Dragonstone
Eventually, they descended.
The storm began to fade as Nyxarion glided back toward Dragonstone.
But this time…
They were not unnoticed.
Guards shouted.
Torches lit up across the castle walls.
"DRAGON!"
"It's coming toward the castle!"
"READY THE SCORPIONS—!"
"WAIT—!"
Aeryn smirked slightly.
"Relax…"
Nyxarion landed heavily in the outer courtyard.
Stone cracked beneath its weight.
The impact shook the entire area.
Silence followed.
Then—
Chaos.
Guards stared in shock.
Servants froze in place.
Dragonkeepers rushed forward, completely stunned.
And standing at the front of them all…
Was
Daemon Targaryen.
The Confrontation
Daemon didn't look afraid.
He looked impressed.
Very impressed.
"Well…"
He stepped forward slowly.
"That explains the storm."
Aeryn climbed down from Nyxarion's back.
Calm.
Controlled.
Like this was normal.
It wasn't.
Not even close.
Daemon circled the dragon carefully.
His eyes scanned every detail.
"Where did you find this one?"
Aeryn shrugged slightly.
"He found me."
Daemon smirked.
"Of course he did."
He stopped directly in front of Aeryn.
"That is not a small dragon."
"I noticed."
"That is not a tame dragon either."
Nyxarion growled low behind them.
Daemon's smile widened.
"And yet…"
He looked directly into Aeryn's eyes.
"…you're still alive."
Aeryn met his gaze.
"Yes."
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Then—
Daemon laughed.
Loud.
Genuine.
"Gods, you're dangerous."
A Shift in Power
By morning…
Everyone knew.
The Ghost Prince had claimed a dragon.
And not just any dragon.
A massive black beast no one could identify.
Dragonkeepers whispered nervously.
"That dragon wasn't in our records…"
"Where did it come from?"
"It chose him…"
Servants spoke in awe.
"The prince rode the storm…"
"Like a god…"
Rhaenyra found him later that day.
Her eyes were wide with excitement.
"You actually did it."
Aeryn leaned casually against a stone pillar.
"Seems like it."
She looked toward Nyxarion resting in the distance.
"That dragon is huge."
"Yes."
"And it listens to you?"
"Mostly."
She grinned.
"That's insane."
Aeryn smirked.
"You wanted to fly."
She pointed at him.
"I still do."
"Then you should hurry."
Her smile faded slightly.
"Why?"
Aeryn looked toward the horizon.
The future weighed heavily in his mind.
Because he remembered what was coming.
War.
Fire.
Dragons killing dragons.
The
Dance of the Dragons.
"You'll need one," he said quietly.
The Rogue Prince's Interest
Later that evening, Daemon stood alone on a balcony overlooking the courtyard.
Nyxarion rested below like a living mountain.
Aeryn stood beside him.
Silent.
Watching.
Daemon spoke without looking at him.
"You've changed the game."
Aeryn raised an eyebrow.
"How so?"
Daemon smiled slightly.
"Power in this world comes from dragons."
He gestured toward Nyxarion.
"And that one…"
His eyes gleamed.
"…might be the strongest on this island."
Aeryn said nothing.
Daemon turned toward him.
"You're no longer just a curious child."
"I never was."
Daemon chuckled.
"No."
He leaned closer.
"You're something else entirely."
A pause.
Then—
"I think it's time you start learning properly."
Aeryn smirked slightly.
"From you?"
Daemon's grin widened.
"From the best."
A New Era Begins
That night, Aeryn stood once more on the highest tower of Dragonstone.
But everything felt different now.
He wasn't just the Ghost Prince anymore.
He wasn't just an assassin in hiding.
Now…
He was a dragon rider.
The system flickered one more time.
[LEVEL UP]
Level: 5
XP: 0 / 500
New Skill Unlocked:
- Dragon Combat (Lv.1)
Far below, Nyxarion lifted its head.
Golden eyes glowing in the dark.
Watching.
Waiting.
Loyal.
Aeryn smiled.
The game had changed.
And this time…
He intended to win.