When it came to Valyrian steel weapons, Aedric now possessed more than thirty of them — all shapes and sizes, longswords, shortswords, and daggers alike. But aside from Blackfyre and the Dragonglass Dagger, every single one of them was a mass-produced variant, incapable of channeling true dragonflame.
Even Eddard Stark's Ice and Lord Commander Mormont's Longclaw were no exceptions.
From Aedric's analysis, the true "masterwork" Valyrian blades — those imbued with ancient fire — were weapons only the Valyrian nobility themselves ever owned. All that survived outside Valyria were mass-production models; not a single perfect specimen remained.
In other words, after Valyria's destruction, only three genuine masterpieces still existed in the world: Blackfyre, the Dragonglass Dagger, and Dark Sister.
All three had once belonged to House Targaryen — relics carried from Valyria itself before the Doom.
So when Aedric heard that a wizard named Brynden Rivers — the "Three-Eyed Raven" — was offering Dark Sister as payment, he couldn't help but be tempted.
How could he resist completing the set of three legendary blades?
And so, he decided — it was time to go.
After exchanging a few words with his new bride, who was busy discussing yoga techniques with the "Highgarden Rose," and soothing the sulking little direwolf pup who wanted to come along, Aedric bid farewell to the increasingly amorous Lord and Lady Stark.
He silently recited a few prayers for Eddard's aging waist — Amitabha — then took young Bran Stark and set off toward the Wall. Their destination: beyond the Wall itself, to seek out the Three-Eyed Raven, Brynden Rivers.
Recalling the Raven's terrifying power in the show — the ability to perceive all of time and space — Aedric couldn't help but feel wary. The Three-Eyed Raven was probably the most overpowered "cheat" in the entire world, even more dangerous than the Night King himself.
After all, Aedric still had no idea how much of his own life had been "observed" through time by that ancient voyeur.
If not for the Raven's frail physical body, he would've been truly invincible.
When they finally arrived at Castle Black, Aedric and Bran met with Lord Commander Jeor Mormont.
In this altered worldline, Aedric had never joined the Night's Watch. Because of that, the wight attack had left the Lord Commander gravely injured but alive, recovering inside the stronghold rather than dying beyond the Wall as in the original story.
A blessing in disguise, perhaps.
Hearing that the two planned to travel beyond the Wall, Mormont asked them to investigate rumors of the Free Folk gathering in vast numbers — and handed over his family sword, Longclaw, for protection.
Aedric already had more Valyrian steel than he knew what to do with, but he didn't refuse the old bear's gesture. He accepted the sword and departed.
Once outside the Wall, he glanced down at the silver bear's head pommel — then, when Bran wasn't looking, he quietly stored his True Martial Sword away in his spatial ring and replaced it with Longclaw at his hip.
After all, against White Walkers, Valyrian steel worked far better than any sword from a martial world.
When he asked Bran whether the Three-Eyed Raven had contacted him again, the boy shook his head. So Aedric decided to use the time to scout for the Free Folk encampments first.
He wondered idly if he might run into that wildling girl — the one who'd "stolen Jon Snow's virginity" in the show.
And then, as fate would have it, he did.
Half a day's journey into the frozen wilderness, a dozen wildlings suddenly erupted from the snow, surrounding Aedric and Bran.
"We're not of the Night's Watch," Aedric said calmly, gesturing to his blue traveling garb. "We have no reason to fight."
"If you're human, that's reason enough!" the leader snarled and swung a heavy axe toward him.
Aedric sighed, caught the axe barehanded, ripped it away, and swatted the man aside like a rag doll. Then, with swift, effortless motions, he darted among the others — each received a single tap on the head before collapsing unconscious in the snow.
Just as he was about to strike the last one, a familiar-sounding gasp stopped him. He yanked off the person's hood — revealing a shock of fiery red hair and a pair of defiant blue eyes.
It was Ygritte, the wildling girl who'd once loved and fought Jon Snow.
Aedric blinked. "Seriously? What kind of absurd plot armor is this…"
Shaking his head at fate's ridiculous sense of humor, he released her and tossed the battered axe aside. Grabbing Bran, who'd been watching with wide-eyed amusement, he turned to leave.
He had no interest in killing her — or in sleeping with her.
"Wait!" Ygritte called out, sensing his mercy and realizing he wasn't her enemy. "Why have you come beyond the Wall? What are you looking for? Maybe I can help."
"The Three-Eyed Raven," Aedric said evenly. "Do you know where it is?"
Ygritte laughed incredulously. "Are you mocking me? That's just a legend!"
"Then you can't help us," Aedric replied flatly and turned to go.
"I don't know where it is," she said quickly, "but someone in our camp might. I can take you there!"
Aedric paused, sighed softly at the sheer absurdity of fate again, then turned to Bran. "It's your call."
He didn't know the Raven's exact location anyway, and in this endless white wasteland, Bran's intuition as the future Three-Eyed Raven was their best guide.
As for supplies, he had plenty stored in his space ring. And if things went bad, he could always use Earth Escape to retreat instantly.
Yes… as long as they didn't run into the Night King himself, everything would be fine.
Because Aedric had no desire to fight the final boss this early. Better to wait until Daenerys' dragons were fully grown — then bring his own invincible "pets" along for the final showdown.
~~--------------------------
Patreon Advanced Chapters:
patreon.com/YonkoSlayer