Chapter 551: Chapter 551: Iron Islands
After the classification of the academies, the next step was the allocation of their respective regions. A matter that could have caused much contention was swiftly approved during the imperial council meeting.
The Kingdom's Military Academy, Medical School, School of Economics, and School of Theology were established in King's Landing, with the Raven Academy absorbed into the Military Academy as a subsidiary.
Schools of Literature, History, and Linguistics were merged into a single School of Liberal Arts. Suited for the crafting of elegant poetry and the recording of historical events, such as the number of steps in Oldtown or a scholar's lifetime bowel movements, they were best placed in the idyllic Oldtown.
Astrology, crucial for predicting seasonal changes and aiding in agricultural endeavors in Westeros, was separated from the School of Liberal Arts and established as an independent Astrological Academy.
The administrative hierarchy of both schools would be of equal rank, allowing them to share the resources of Oldtown.
As for other disciplines like Metallurgy and Architecture, they were ultimately situated temporarily between Lannisport and White Harbor, with the latter being chosen for now.
Viserys issued the decree to split the institutions, and the meek scholars clad in grey dared not resist, with a few even showing signs of elation.
They foresaw their newfound roles as deans bringing them unprecedented power, potentially rivaling the current High Seneschal of the academies.
Everyone has their own desires—power, wealth, beauty, fame, and so on.
With the King's will unyielding and orders issued, none dared to defy, reluctantly agreeing to the new terms.
The scholars left alive were those not stubborn enough to die. They exchanged glances; some were visibly pleased, while others were filled with worry.
Many were caught between joy and anxiety, uncertain of their future amidst such drastic changes.
"Your Grace."
"Your Grace."
Viserys then rose and left, and the scholars collectively bowed, accepting their fate, as they watched the young silver-haired king depart.
With the wars in the Riverlands concluded and the southern kingdom subdued, Viserys led his army back to King's Landing after a brief stay in Highgarden.
Meanwhile, the westerlands, from which no news had come, were aflame with conflict.
Before marching off, Oberyn had borrowed a fleet from Master of Ships, Jeffrey Brecken, and dispatched the survivors of the Iron Fleet— the last of the Ironborn.
Led by Euron Greyjoy, they stealthily returned to the deserted Iron Islands, which had been ravaged by the White Walkers.
Even after spending time clearing the remaining wights, they couldn't eliminate them all, for the threat of the White Walkers remained, especially in the areas north of the Neck.
Euron, having been in contact with Viserys, knew that the White Walkers would return. The power of the Others had not faded in the North; it was gathering strength for the next final battle between humanity and the dead.
Thus, Euron and his men landed at Pyke, scaling the near-vertical cliffs with ropes to enter the castle. They cleared out the wights, even finding Euron's brother, Aeron Greyjoy, who had turned into a horrifying creature.
However, there was no sign of his elder brother Balon or his niece Asha. They could either be dead, turned into wights, or still alive.
Euron did not kill Aeron to give him peace but chained him up like a dog in the Bloody Keep, ignoring his frenzied howls.
Euron claimed he would never harm a family member, not wanting to be a kinslayer like Stannis.
Therefore, Aeron was left alive.
After securing Pyke, Euron led the Ironborn towards the westerlands.
The Iron Islands had turned into a desolate land, and to rebuild it, they needed a large population.
And what was the closest densely populated area to the Iron Islands? Lannisport.
Following Oberyn's orders from long ago, the Iron Fleet set its sights on Lannisport.
The surprise attack was a massive success. Lannisport's navy was still recovering from the burning it had suffered five years ago during the Iron Islands' rebellion.
All their attention was on the external enemy—Targaryen forces were laying siege, dragons were soaring overhead, causing heavy losses to the Westerlands' army.
No one had expected an attack from the sea, especially not from the Iron Islands, which they thought had been turned into a land of the dead.
Booming sounds echoed as trebuchets launched flaming boulders into Lannisport, destroying all the ships and scorpions in the harbor.
Lannisport's airtight defenses were compromised.
Princess Rhaenys, riding her green dragon Rhaegal, was circling above, out of reach of any scorpions.
Targaryen forces had been in the Westerlands for months, yet Lannisport remained unconquered due to the stubborn resistance from the Westerlands' army.
Seeing the Iron Fleet destroy the scorpions and break the defense, Rhaenys was overjoyed.
"Rhaegal!"
"It's your turn!"
"Burn them all!"
Her smaller, bronze dragon roared and dived, breathing fire onto the battlefield below.
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