Balerion Tower
Elaena Drakonar lay on her bed, attempting to sleep, but the damned sleep evaded her as usual. It had not always been like this—before the Doom, as the world now called it. Back then, Elaena had nothing to worry about and even less to think about. She was a prodigy, surpassed only by Argon—but Argon was not someone anyone could truly compete with.
A true prodigy, born with the blood of the Drakonar—the family closest to the pure Dragonlords, one could be. She had received everything she had ever wanted since birth; rejection and the word no were things she had not known until her first meeting with one named Laenor Velaryon.
And even at the moment, even though she was angry with him currently, she could not cast him from her thoughts—thoughts that refused to let her sleep. It had been weeks since that day when she stormed out, leaving him to attend his first council gathering. Since then, two more council meetings had been held, in which Laenor took part as Lord Velaryon, head of House Velaryon, one of the Forty Dragonlord families. Yes, with the return and reassimilation of the Targaryens back into the Freehold, the number was whole once more, as it had been before Aenar Targaryen left with his family.
In both gatherings, her father had told her that Laenor Velaryon had displayed his power and sent a clear message—that new lord and head he might be, he was not a Dragonlord to be trifled with. If the death of Maegor Gontaris had not been enough to instill fear in the other lords, then the rumbles of thunder—one striking so close to Aetharyon's dragon that both dragon and rider barely survived after the meeting—were more than enough to show who stood as the most powerful.
So, in short, Laenor Velaryon was acting as Elaena had wanted him to—or rather, as he should—with such power in his hands. Yet the man, as indifferent and uncaring as he was toward her feelings, had not come to her to express either his apologies for hurting her feelings or to thank her for the advice she gave that day. Not only that, but not a single word had been spoken to her when he came to her home for dinner after the third gathering. Elaena wondered if she should finally accept that nothing would ever happen between her and Laenor Velaryon.
But then the memory of that day resurfaced in her mind. It had been their first kiss—and from the look on Laenor's face, he had enjoyed it as well. Elaena tossed and turned in her bed, trying to suppress the foolish smile threatening to form as that damned memory of their kiss replayed over and over in her mind. Perhaps one or two more times, she thought—because Laenor might not understand it, but she did. Her family's records spoke of what happened if the dragon-blood bond forming between two was broken prematurely. And she did not wish to live her entire life with the feeling that half of her soul was missing.
So Elaena decided she would visit that aloof bastard, Laenor Velaryon, tomorrow at the Syrax Tower. Laenor had yet to rename the tower. All of his family had been there since the days following the marriage of Daemion Velaryon and Melisa. The last information they had received from Melisa was that the Velaryons were engrossed in training, rarely doing anything other than eating and honing their respective magics. At first, her father had been confused as to why the Velaryons would do such a thing. Her idiot brother had suggested that perhaps they intended to aid Valyria in reconquering what once belonged to the Freehold and rise to become the most respected and feared family—surpassing even the Drakonar clan. But she and her father had dismissed that notion the moment it left her brother's mouth.
Laenor and Lord Corlys did not care for the reconquest Valyria would soon undertake. No, it had to be something else. Elaena surmised that a threat was coming—a threat powerful enough to drive the Velaryons into such relentless preparation. Her father had agreed and even questioned Laenor about it, but he had merely waved the inquiry aside and told them they would know soon enough. After that, Melisa had sent one final letter, stating that she would repay their protection in other ways rather than betray her new family—and that was the last the Drakonars had heard from her.
Her father had considered visiting Syrax Tower himself but had refrained due to the increase in his duties. So perhaps it was the right decision for her to go instead.
Just as that thought settled, Elaena was pulled into sleep—and into a dream. As the most powerful sorcerer of Valyria after Argon's death, save for the exception of Velaryon, she immediately knew that this was no ordinary dream. She had not come here of her own will—someone had brought her.
But there was no worry or panic on her face. Why would there be? She was sleeping on her bed, which lay in her chamber, which in turn was located within Balerion Tower—a tower so heavily fortified that no willy-nilly sorcerer of Asshai or Sothoryos would be able to even scratch the weakest of its protections. So if someone possessed the power to drag her here of all people, then it meant either it was Laenor, or someone so powerful that running or panicking would lead her nowhere.
Instead, she chose to remain calm and look around. She was in the same clothes she had been wearing, and all around her stretched an endless white-gold expanse. It was so bright that it hurt Elaena's eyes; she even considered closing them, as the light showed no sign of waning.
Then came a warm sensation in her gut—a feeling she had only ever known when her mother had showered her with love and praised her whenever Elaena accomplished something.
A tinkling laugh echoed across the radiant expanse, and Elaena turned her head in every direction, trying to locate its source. She was about to call out for the unseen woman to reveal herself—the laughter was distinctly feminine—but before she could, a sphere of light materialized before her. This time, Elaena had to shut her eyes tightly, lest she blind herself, even if all of this was happening within a dream.
"It made me happy that you felt warmth and motherly love in my presence, Elaena. It proves that our blood still flows strong in your veins." Elaena heard the most beautiful voice she had ever encountered. Not even her own voice could compare to its melody and warmth. The tension coiled within her body eased, and she slowly opened her eyes, wary of the orb that had nearly blinded her moments ago. But fortunately, her fears proved unfounded, and she could now look upon it without harm.
"May I ask who you are?" Elaena asked politely. Oh, she had an idea of whose presence she stood in, but she still wished for confirmation.
The tinkling laugh sounded again. "At least you are more intelligent than the one I chose in the past. And to answer your question, Elaena—I have many names, but the one you likely know me by is the Maiden Made of Light. Though you may call me Light for short, or Lady Light."
At those words, Elaena bowed deeply at the waist. She stood in the presence of one of the oldest of the gods—one of the most powerful.
"It is the utmost honor to be in your presence, Lady Light," Elaena said, her head still bowed. The Drakonars were not like the Belaerys, who harbored disdain for Lady Light and Lord Night simply because they were not Dragon Gods. One of the reasons for Belaery's hate is also Yi-Tish, who claimed that Light and Night were greater than even the Dragon Gods.
"And we are pleased that the Drakonars are not the same," Lady Light replied. It did not surprise Elaena that her thoughts could be read; mortals such as her could not hide anything from a divine like Lady Light, but even so, she decided it would be wiser to keep her mind guarded and focus on why she had been brought here. "Oh, it is because I have an offer for you, Elaena."
"I accept, Lady Light," Elaena replied without even a heartbeat of hesitation.
She did not know how, but she could feel Lady Light sighing at her answer. "You at least should have heard me out before accepting, Elaena. I thought you to be smart," came the downtrodden voice of Lady Light.
"Forgive me, Lady Light. But I cannot, in my right mind, decline any offer of yours. You should not even use the word offer; you may command me, and I shall do as you wish," Elaena said, her tone a blend of respect and reverence. "The only exception being that your command must not entail any kind of betrayal of my motherland or the gods that I worship," Elaena added quietly.
"Still, I will explain it to you. My offer entails you becoming our champion—our child, our representative—in the war that is coming to the mortal plane between the champions of all the gods. Would you like that, Elaena? You may refuse, and I shall not—"
"My stance remains the same, Lady Light. I accept your offer," Elaena replied. There was no way anyone would reject Lady Light's offer of becoming her champion and child—unless… "Lady Light, you said that all the gods would choose champions. Would that mean that the Dragon Gods of Valyria will have their own champion as well? And would I be required to fight them too?" Elaena asked. Realization dawned upon her face a moment later—that was why Lady Light had given her the option to refuse. She would have to face the champion of her own patron god, Lord Arrax.
"Yes to both your questions. But do not worry, Elaena—there is no rule that states champions must fight to the death. And both champions may choose not to fight if their gods agree. So I do not think there will be any battle between their champion and you… more so after you learn their identity." Lady Light replied, a trace of mischief in her voice, followed by a soft giggle. Still, it eased Elaena to know she would not be forced to fight the champion of the Dragon Gods of Valyria.
"And may I ask who their champion is?" Elaena asked, curiosity rising within her.
At any other time, Elaena Drakonar might have pieced together the answer from a hint Lady Light had already given. But her mind was too shaken, and only Lady Light's presence—soothing and overwhelming—kept her thoughts calm and clear through one of the many aspects of her power, or else Elaena might have been panicking the next moment she heard of war and one between gods' children no less.
"Who else?" Lady Light replied gently. "The one who holds your heart in the palm of his hand, Elaena. Their champion is Laenor Velaryon."
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