Chapter 51: Chapter 51
After my question, I soon received a response:
"Indeed..."
"Why did you want me to come here?"
"Have you not understood anything?"
"She wants to play games with me?"
"I'm not a big fan of riddles... especially not now."
"Haha, pity... Allow me to ask what you know about Prince Garin?"
"Red, why did you stop?" Aegon suddenly asked me.
"Just lost in thought about this place around me."
My explanations, albeit dubious, seemed to satisfy Aegon.
"Phew... I'll need to maintain some distance so that no one hears my whisper."
As I knew him, Prince Garin, also known as Garin the Great, was a Rhoynish prince of Chroyane. In Chroyane, under Prince Garin's command, an army was assembled, the likes of which Essos had never seen before—according to ancient chronicles, it numbered a quarter of a million warriors.
Garin split the army into three parts and led it from his capital down the river: one part marched along the left bank of the Rhoyne, another along the right, and between them moved a large fleet of war galleys.
The troops destroyed all Valyrian settlements in their path, including Seloris where they defeated a 30,000-strong Valyrian army, and Valisar.
At the walls of Volon Therys, Garin faced a 100,000-strong force with a hundred war elephants and three dragons. Here he also claimed victory, although the losses were heavy for the Rhoynars. After this battle, Garin earned the epithet 'the Great'.
At the mouth of the Rhoyne, in Volantis, the Valyrians took refuge behind the impregnable Black Walls and sent for help from their metropolis. Eventually, the Rhoynar army was destroyed by numerous dragons that arrived from Valyria—according to legends, there were as many as three hundred.
"Not exactly few..."
"Do you know what started the greyscale?"
"Only rumors... Rumors that the start of this epidemic was due to Garin's curse."
If I recall correctly, the story went something like, "Garin cursed his tormentors, and at night the river waters flooded the city, engulfing the invaders."
"That's not the whole truth, but there is some truth in it..."
"Are you going to keep dragging this out?" I asked, quite tired of divine beings pausing dramatically before continuing.
At that moment, I felt someone trying to establish a mental connection with me. Realizing it was Mother Rhoyne, I allowed her to do so. Afterward, I found myself in another place...
"Where am I?"
"Don't worry. This is all happening on a mental plane," whispered the voice of Mother Rhoyne.
But turning around and looking, I still couldn't see the owner of this voice.
"What do you want to do?"
"Show you what it's all about. You'll see for yourself what happened back then."
"I don't have that much time. My body is still in the material world. And in a very dangerous position."
"Don't worry, thanks to your incredibly strong magical reserves and strong mind. Because of this, not as much time will pass for you in the material world as here."
"Are you sure?"
To which I only received a dose of amusement and confidence.
"In that case... I'll trust your words."
Sarhoy — a Rhoynar port on the coast of the Summer Sea, one of the most beautiful cities on the Rhoyne, built of pink stone. Destroyed by the Valyrians to control trade in the delta region.
Sarhoy was founded long before the neighboring Valyrian city of Volantis, which thrived and grew from trade with the Rhoynars until space in the Rhoyne delta became too cramped for two trading cities.
The inevitable conflict ended about a thousand years ago, when three dragonlords intervened in the war, aiding their Volantene kin. Men captured in battle were slaughtered, children and women were taken into slavery, and the city was burned and salted.
After the destruction of Sarhoy, the Rhoynar princes decided to unite around Prince Garin and resist the growing power of Valyria.
"Where do I get these knowledges?! Rhoyne?"
"You need to know what sparked the war."
After which I seemed to be transported to another place. The entire landscape began to change to adjust to the needed scene. And then the changes stopped...
"Is this Chroyane at its zenith?"
"Yes, before your ancestors destroyed it..."
Ignoring Rhoyne's words, I watched as many people gathered around one person. From the attire of the arriving people, I could tell they were quite influential. The most surprising thing was that in addition to men, there were also women, possibly princes and princesses...
"This is the day when Garin gained the approval of other princes and princesses..."
The very man around whom everyone had gathered might well be Garin himself.
"Do you want them to capture you? Are you ready for that?!" the man shouted.
The commotion that arose apparently displeased Garin, and he decided to rile them up even more:
"What shall we do? Run or fight?"
"I don't understand what they are saying."
"Let me help you..." At that moment, knowledge of the Rhoynar language was infused into my mind.
"Thank you."
I then focused on listening to the man's monologue:
"I ask you... FIGHT OR FLEE?!" Surveying everyone and seeing what he wanted, he continued. "Please help me, help our people! Destroy all these Valyrians! They think Fire is stronger than Water? We'll prove them wrong!"
Apparently, this was the last straw, and almost all the princes and princesses accepted Garin's proposal. All but one...
"Prince Garin, we cannot hope to win this war."
"Princess Nymeria, do you want to betray your people?"
Nymeria clearly wanted to say what she thought about the thoughts clearly swirling in Garin's head. But seeing how the others were looking at them, she just clenched her teeth and said:
"My warriors will join you."
Prince Garin, smiling, said:
"I knew we could count on you."
After Garin's meeting with princes from other cities, Mother Rhoyne transported me to another location. I found myself on a battlefield strewn with numerous bodies.
"This was the moment when Garin believed in himself, the place where pride consumed him."
Another shift, and I was standing in a tent where Garin was explaining the tactics:
"Do you know where we are?"
The people, looking puzzled, glanced at each other, and after a few seconds, someone spoke up:
"We're near Sarhoy, the place that was destroyed by the Valyrians."
"Exactly! And do you know what we must do?!"
Seeing that none of his comrades responded, Garin continued:
"We must destroy Valisar! We must avenge our fallen brothers! Avenge them!"
"YES!"
Finally seeing the reaction he desired, Garin smiled proudly.
"You're not showing me everything."
Mother Rhoyne, after a brief pause, replied:
"You are right..."
The scene changed again, and I stood in another place... I was in a city of pink stone, Sarhoy, where the conflict between the Valyrians and the Rhoynar began.
"These blonds want to renegotiate our trade routes?"
"Hahah, these fools still think we'll share our profits with them?"
Apparently, these people were the rulers of the city, and judging by their resemblance, it could be said they were relatives.
Knock-knock
Hearing permission to enter, the person on the other side of the door came in and announced:
"Prince Avidit, an envoy from Valyria, requests an audience."
The prince and his relative reluctantly agreed to let the envoy speak.
"Hello, Prince Avidit," a girl of Valyrian beauty greeted melodiously, clearly impressing the prince.
Seeing a hint of lust in his eyes gave me an idea of what might happen next.
".... We would like to avoid bloodshed," the envoy concluded, discussing the need for a compromise.
However, Avidit seemed to ignore her words, as he was consumed by lust... And I watched as the prince, smirking at the girl's proposal, laid his hands on her. After satisfying his lust, Avidit decided to dispose of the body.
"So much for a compromise, everything here will belong to my city," he scoffed.
Time skipped again, and I observed as Valyrians destroyed the city... Amidst the battle, I saw a high-ranking man grimly watching as Avidit was bound.
"Where is my bride?" a silver-haired man demanded.
The prince, puzzled, stared at the man and, seeing the hatred in his eyes and a necklace he recognized from the woman... began to realize what was about to happen. The man, seeing the growing terror in Avidit's eyes, knew the prince knew much about the bride.
"Where is SHE?!" the man roared.
"I-I don't k-know..." Avidit stammered.
"Don't lie to me!" the man bellowed, stabbing a dagger into Avidit's leg.
A scream of agony filled the air, evidently Avidit was not accustomed to fighting or experiencing pain from wounds. He quickly confessed, and the Valyrian, having heard the confession, simply said:
"Destroy everything here."
Subsequently, not only those involved in the crime were killed but also innocent people. The Valyrians exterminated everyone and everything.
"That's what triggered the conflict," Mother Rhoyne said in a voice filled with pain.
Before I could respond, the scene changed again. And there I stood amidst the ruins of another city.
Valisar — a city on the western bank of the Rhoyne, north of Volon Therys, and south of Seloris. During the days of Old Valyria, the city was larger and more populous. As a result of wars with the Rhoynar, it was captured and looted by the Rhoynar prince Garin.
This very prince declared:
"Take everything from this damned city! KILL! RAPE! TAKE!"
Instilling such destructive thoughts in a crowd is quite easy, as there's a dark side in everyone. And if you let these intentions free... you can soon witness a terribly horrific scene.
After the city was plundered and those who couldn't resist were captured, I saw how Garin planned the next battle.
"Our next target is Volon Therys."
"Are you sure?"
"According to the information we've gathered, the city is defended by a 50,000-strong army and three dragons."
Garin, hearing this, merely smiled and said:
"Have faith in our water mages," he said, and I felt a surge of magical energy around him. "And believe in me."
His words worked, as no one harbored any skeptical thoughts or words any longer.
"Was Garin a mage?"
"Yes, he was one of the few Rhoynar princes who mastered the art of water magic."
Mother Rhoyne accelerated time, and soon we were in the midst of a battle at the walls of Volon Therys.
"RAAAAAAGH!" roared a fire-breathing lizard that had sustained wing injuries.
The wounds inflicted by the Rhoynar brought the dragon to the ground, where people were able to quickly kill it.
Meanwhile, Garin personally slew two sky rulers, drawing massive pillars of water from the river.
When the Rhoynar killed the three dragons, it could be said that they had triumphed.
"THE GREAT GARIN!" suddenly shouted one of the men who had witnessed the fall of the two dragons.
And then the entire army chanted Garin's name.
"It was the beginning of the end..."
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