Chapter 127: Legacy of the Dark Sister
"Be quiet, Aemond," Rhaegar said calmly. "You can stay and watch, or you can leave."
Aemond stood frozen, his chest heaving as he watched Cannibal's violent spectacle. The sight of a dragon devouring another dragon was beyond shocking.
"Roar..."
As Sunfyre's head was engulfed by Cannibal's jaws, the smaller dragon writhed in terror, letting out a pitiful scream. Cannibal's eyes glinted with cruel amusement.
Instead of finishing Sunfyre quickly, it savored the moment, slowly closing its jaws and swallowing Sunfyre inch by inch.
Aegon stared in disbelief, paralyzed by the horror. As Sunfyre's long neck disappeared into Cannibal's maw, tears filled Aegon's eyes, and he snapped back to reality.
Desperately, he clutched Rhaegar's tunic, pleading, "Brother! I was wrong, I truly know I was wrong. Please, command Cannibal to let Sunfyre go, please..."
Tears streamed down his face, his voice choking with anguish. Targaryens had varying degrees of attachment to their dragons, and Aegon had spent years bonding with Sunfyre.
Rhaegar tilted his head, showing no mercy. If only you had thought of this earlier, he seemed to convey.
"Roar..."
Sunfyre's frantic flapping and cries filled the Dragonpit. Cannibal, annoyed, lifted its wings and used its front claws to shove Sunfyre further into its mouth, much like a child greedily stuffing snacks.
"No!" Aegon screamed, collapsing in despair. Paralyzed on the ground, he cried out, "Brother, tell me what I did wrong. I'll change, I swear! Just let Sunfyre go!"
Watching his dragon being devoured broke Aegon's spirit. As a young boy, he couldn't bear the tragedy unfolding before him.
He wanted to admit his mistakes, beg for forgiveness, and plead for mercy from Rhaegar.
Rhaegar looked down at his sobbing brother. His eyes, previously cold, softened slightly. He released Aegon's hair, cupping his chin, and sighed, "My foolish brother, you should be glad we share the same blood."
Meanwhile, Cannibal continued to swallow Sunfyre, only the hind legs and tail remaining visible.
"Cannibal!" Rhaegar called softly, patting Aegon's head.
"Roar..."
Cannibal paused, turning its head towards Rhaegar, still chewing on its "treat." Rhaegar smiled apologetically, meeting Cannibal's gaze.
A green dragon pattern emerged in Rhaegar's eyes, mirrored in Cannibal's pupils. They communicated silently, understanding each other perfectly.
After a tense moment, Cannibal retracted its wings, reluctantly turned, and spat Sunfyre out. The golden dragon fell to the ground, covered in sticky saliva, twitching in distress.
Rhaegar looked down at Aegon one last time. "Learn from this, Aegon. Next time, think before you act."
"Roar..."
Cannibal was unusually annoyed as its snack flew away. It flung its tail violently, sending the helpless Sunfyre flying far away. Cannibal had chosen to comply with its master's wishes.
Seeing that Sunfyre was saved, Aegon turned his sadness into joy and said excitedly, "Thank you, brother."
Rhaegar looked down at him calmly. "Aegon, you asked me where you went wrong. As your brother, I will remind you. Remember, no matter when, where, or in what capacity you and I meet, you must always show me the utmost respect."
"Otherwise..."
"I will, I will change," Aegon interrupted, eager to show his willingness.
"It's more than that," Rhaegar continued, shaking his head. "You are my brother, and it is my duty to teach and protect you. In return, you need to recognize your place and show respect."
"What I give you is yours. What I do not give, you cannot take," he added, pointing to the paralyzed Sunfyre. "The opportunity to learn this lesson only comes once. Do you understand?"
"Uh-huh," Aegon replied, overwhelmed by the oppressive atmosphere. He nodded vigorously, his smile more a grimace of fear than joy. The Seven Gods bear witness! He would never forget today's painful lesson.
"Good, it seems you understand," Rhaegar said, smiling. He beckoned to a few Dragonkeepers. "Return my younger siblings safely to the Red Keep."
With the messy dispute over, he still had to appease Cannibal. The dragon would surely harbor some resentment for being denied its meal.
"Let me help you up, Prince," a Dragonguard offered, assisting Aegon and the fallen Aemond.
Helaena had hidden behind a cluster of bonfires, watching the entire farce with endless emotions. Her mouth slightly open, she stared at Rhaegar's back, deeply impressed.
"Do dragons give people courage?" she wondered aloud. She didn't know why her big brother was so majestic, but the image of him commanding the dragon was etched into her mind.
"Princess, please follow me," a Dragonkeeper said, walking towards her.
Helaena covered her mouth, looking around in panic. Her eyes finally landed on the entrance to a crypt. She saw Dreamfyre, the dragon with light blue scales, walking inside.
Dreamfyre wasn't as large as Cannibal, but it was bigger than Sunfyre and Tessarion. Helaena's innocent mind whirled with thoughts. She believed that if she could tame Dreamfyre, she could gain the same courage as her big brother.
Rhaegar glanced at the girl. Seeing her dazed and confused, he assumed she was scared and instructed the Dragonkeeper to take good care of her.
...
Night fell on King's Landing.
In the sky above, a massive black dragon circled slowly, several cows and sheep in its claws.
In the saddle, Rhaegar closed his eyes tightly and tilted his head back to clear his mind.
He had just returned from Dragonstone Island, where Cannibal had spent a good half day indulging in some livestock.
As time passed, the bond between Rhaegar and Cannibal grew stronger, thanks in part to the contributions of his good uncle, Daemon.
Summoning the system interface, Rhaegar reviewed his past exploits.
"Dark Sister Exploration Progress: 100%."
"This exploration is complete. Please claim the lost treasure."
"Relic successfully retrieved. Recognition in progress..."
"Recognition successful. Detected as an epic relic: Knight's Glory."
The prompt continued, "Please choose a knight."
Without hesitation, Rhaegar selected Cannibal, binding them together as knight and dragon.
"Congratulations, Knight's Glory has been activated. You have gained..."
Knight's Oath
Grade: Epic (Purple)
Function: Unity of Mind
Evaluation: "Under this oath, life and death follow."
With the evening wind brushing against his face, Rhaegar slowly opened his eyes and drew the Dark Sister from his waist.
The ancestral sword had brought him an invaluable relic.
Cannibal became his guardian knight, bridging the gap between dragon and man with seamless communication through their shared thoughts.
And Rhaegar enjoyed the special effects bestowed upon him by Cannibal.
(Word count: 1062)
週次パワーステータス
-- 推薦
ランキング 
-- 推薦
チケット