Chapter 724: Chapter 724: The Mystery of the Sea Creature
Maester Shyren, originally known as Shyren Pyke, was a bastard from the Iron Islands, having lived about a century ago.
He was deeply engrossed in the study of marine life, standing out as one of the most specialized scholars in the field. He was dedicated to researching and finding evidence of ancient sea creatures' existence.
The creature described by Asha appeared in his manuscript "Strange Stones" and was named by Maester Shyren as the 'Deep Diver.'
Maester Shyren had discovered the remains of such a creature and believed them to be the prototypes of mermaid myths. Their ancestors, those marine beings, were believed to be the original subjects of the Drowned God's worship.
He also suggested that the ancient structures on Pyke, the foundation of the towering lighthouse, and the Seastone Chair were all constructed from a similar black stone. The origins of these structures remained a mystery, leading him to deduce that they were the creations of the Deep Divers.
However, his hypothesis was later refuted by another scholar from the Citadel. Maester Corlyon believed that while the Seastone Chair and the foundation of the towering lighthouse were both made of black stone, they were not of the same kind.
The Seastone Chair was an oily black stone with a greasy surface that seemed to absorb all light, whereas the foundation of the towering lighthouse was a dry black stone, distinctly different in texture and appearance from the Seastone Chair.
Moreover, the Seastone Chair was a naturally formed oddity. No one knew its creator, and legend had it that the stone had already been resting on the shores of Old Wyk long before the First Men set foot on the Iron Islands. Maester Corlyon speculated that it was brought and left behind by visitors from beyond the Sunset Sea.
On the other hand, the ancient structures on Pyke clearly bore signs of human craftsmanship and were similar to the black stone structures left by the Valyrian Dragonlords on Dragonstone and in various Free Cities.
It was suspected that long ago, dragon-riding visitors had come to Oldtown. However, current historical and archaeological evidence couldn't confirm the presence of Valyrians in such a distant place.
These findings provided crucial evidence pushing back the timeline of dragons' existence. The ancient structural remnants on Pyke could be traced back to before the First Men arrived in Westeros, supporting the theory of Valyrian origins.
Some maesters believed that the Valyrians originally hailed from the region now known as Oldtown in Westeros. They coexisted peacefully with the Children of the Forest, and the history of the Valyrians predates the arrival of the First Men.
Their priests had prophesied a looming crisis in Westeros, the onset of the Long Night, prompting the Valyrians to flee their homeland.
However, the theory of Valyrian origins still lacked concrete evidence.
While Maester Corlyon refuted Maester Shyren's theory about the black stones' common origin, he simultaneously affirmed the existence of the 'Deep Divers.'
He believed that the ancient structure remnants on Pyke and the mazes of Loras were crafted by the same people, as both structures resembled mazes. Yet, ancient legends from Loras spoke of these maze creators being annihilated by marine creatures, possibly the half-human, half-fish Deep Divers or mermaids.
The academic community remains divided on whether the Deep Divers are indeed mermaids or sirens, but some maesters hold this view.
"Am I being targeted by a mermaid?"
Asha Greyjoy, after hearing the High Priest Benerro's explanation, was momentarily stunned.
She had always been skeptical of tales of gods and spirits. However, the creature that attacked her the previous night was undeniably a monster. Recalling its appearance – sharp fangs stained with blood and flesh, scales covering its body, smooth skin, and a pair of blood-red eyes – Asha shuddered. It was hard for her to associate this creature with the beautiful and gentle mermaids of legends.
The Drowned Men believed that the ancient and greatest king of the Iron Islands, the Grey King, had married a mermaid and fathered a hundred sons. As a child, Asha had curiously asked her uncle Euron about the logistics of such a union, having sneakily observed adults in intimate moments and even playfully teased her brother Theon. Euron Greyjoy, caught off guard by his niece's innocent question, never told her stories again.
Now, recalling the mermaid tales her uncle Euron once shared and juxtaposing them with the monster she encountered, Asha felt a deep chill.
If mermaids truly resembled that creature, she genuinely admired the Grey King. Worthy of being the warrior who slew the sea dragon Nagga, he was indeed a fierce man.
"Nevertheless, it's alright, Lord Emissary."
"While the power of the false gods is fearsome, they can never rival the true gods."
The tall, slender High Priest of the Red Faith, with prominent facial features, spoke calmly.
He had sensed an evil aura surrounding Asha, suspecting that something malevolent was targeting her.
But Benerro hadn't expected the creature to act so swiftly, especially in the bustling upper city of Volantis, the heartland of the Red Faith. This creature seemed to underestimate him.
"You are being targeted by a servant of the false gods. You need the protection of the true god. Otherwise, once it heals, it will come after you again. By then, escaping might not be so easy."
Benerro spoke the truth. For such a half-human, half-fish creature, attacking on land, especially in a bustling city like Volantis, was not ideal.
Asha would eventually set sail, and once at sea, she would be on the creature's turf. It could attack at any time.
There might not be a Victarion to fend it off next time. Although Victarion had survived the critical phase, he was still feverish and far from recovery.
And the creature, having learned from its mistakes, would be more prepared. If it attacked again, Asha might not escape so easily.
"This..."
The raven-haired woman, upon hearing Benerro's words, appeared conflicted.
She realized he was trying to convert her to the Red Faith. Benerro, true to his position as the High Priest of the Red Faith, never missed an opportunity to preach.
But being of Ironborn blood and considering herself the true heir to the Iron Islands, she couldn't easily betray the Drowned God. If she did, even her followers might abandon her.
"I cannot betray the Drowned God."
Asha pondered for a moment, then firmly shook her head.
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