The atmosphere on the training grounds was scorching and hard. The sound of clashing metal, heavy footsteps, and the shouts of warriors never ceased. However, amidst this clamor full of masculinity and power, there was a quiet corner that seemed out of place.
Prince Rhaegar Targaryen was not focused on honing his martial skills like an ordinary noble.
Rhaegar sat alone on a low, weathered remnant of an ancient wall, his beloved harp resting elegantly in his arms. His slender fingers plucked the strings gently. The melody that flowed out was poignant and ethereal, seemingly carrying the ashes of Summerhall and the sorrow of a distant dream. It miraculously carved out a small, independent pure land immersed in the emotional world within this training ground filled with sweat and killing intent.
Lisa stood quietly not far away, listening, deeply attracted by the beautiful music. She had once been a young lady of a wealthy family and had appreciated the performances of many famous musicians.
When the song ended and the lingering notes faded, she couldn't help but sigh in soft praise, her tone filled with sincere emotion. "Your Highness, your skill with the harp... is truly extraordinary. It seems to touch the deepest strings of the human heart directly. It is very moving."
Rhaegar looked up. A faint glint of perhaps gratitude flashed in his purple eyes, which were always filled with melancholy.
He nodded slightly, showing no excessive joy at the praise, as if music to him was more of an inner necessity than a skill to please others.
"Thank you for your praise, Lady Lisa," his voice was as gentle as his music. "Sometimes music can speak of the unspeakable better than swords."
Compared to the fierce clashes on the training ground, he seemed more intoxicated by the brief, tranquil inner world constructed by these strings.
Lisa was very surprised. Prince Rhaegar did not look down on her because of her status as a handmaiden. Instead, he chatted with her very patiently and answered her questions about the song he had just played.
On the training grounds of Dragonstone, Euron Greyjoy underwent an unprecedented tempering.
His opponents were the three legends clad in white cloaks—the Kingsguard. They represented the absolute peak of martial prowess attainable in Westeros. Each possessed a battle record worthy of epics and unquestionable strength.
The training schedule was strict and efficient: swordsmanship in the morning, lances in the afternoon.
In the morning light, the cold glint of blades began to shine.
Holding two swords of similar weight and length to Oto and Kogarashi, Euron sweated profusely facing the exquisite offense of Ser Arthur Dayne's famous greatsword "Dawn," the mountain-like defense and counterattacks of Ser Gerold Hightower, and the cunning, experienced grappling of Ser Oswell Whent.
The sound of metal clashing was endless. Every block numbed his arms; every dodge was a matter of victory or defeat. Under the combined honing of these three masters, Euron's efficient and ruthless dual-wielding style, born from actual combat, was pushed to its limit, drawing endless nourishment from the pressure.
As the afternoon sun grew scorching, training shifted to the realm of the lance. Heavy jousting lances were held in hand, driving the warhorse again and again to charge at practice targets manned in turn by the Kingsguard.
Every collision was like thunder striking a shield, the recoil requiring his whole body's strength to absorb. Ser Gerold would point out subtle discord in his exertion; Ser Oswell would share secrets of controlling breath and rhythm; and Ser Arthur's incredibly precise interceptions and counterattacks made him deeply understand the absolute dominance a top knight possessed on horseback.
This day-after-day collision with the pinnacle of the White Cloaks was worth far more to Euron than any prize at Harrenhal.
During the rigorous training on Dragonstone, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen would often join in. Thus, Euron Greyjoy gained the opportunity to spar with him personally.
Whether in foot combat with swords or mounted with lances, Rhaegar's skills were impeccable. Every movement was precise and elegant, as if measured by the strictest standards. His strength, agility, and stamina were all balanced at an extremely high level—if measured by some cold standard, perhaps every attribute stabilized around 30 points, only slightly inferior to the inhuman strength of the "Sword of the Morning," Arthur Dayne.
However, after several exchanges, a glint of cold insight into the essence of things appeared in Euron's eyes—he discovered a fatal flaw in this perfect Prince.
Rhaegar's swordsmanship was textbook precise, but lacked the resolve for a killing blow. His lance charges were imposing, yet lacked the ruthlessness to unhorse his opponent at all costs. In all his movements, Euron felt no killing intent—that primal drive originating from the depths of the soul with the sole purpose of defeating or destroying the opponent.
Rhaegar's combat was more like completing a noble artistic performance than engaging in a life-or-death struggle for survival.
Euron judged coldly in his heart: A sword without killing intent, a lance without the desire for victory... no matter how magnificent, on a real battlefield of life and death, they are meaningless. This was perhaps the fundamental difference between a Prince bound by prophecy and music, and a warrior who grew up in iron and blood.
How could Ser Arthur Dayne, the "Sword of the Morning" who guarded Rhaegar year-round, not know the flaw Euron perceived? He saw it all, yet drew a conclusion diametrically opposed to Euron's.
In Arthur's eyes, Rhaegar's combat style lacking fatal intent was not a weakness, but an extension of his pure kindness and noble nature. The perfect knight attributed it to the Prince possessing a heart that was unwilling to destroy life easily, holding a sliver of benevolence even for his enemies.
Not only was Arthur not worried, but he firmly believed this was proof that Rhaegar Targaryen would become a wise and benevolent King.
He had privately expressed this belief to Ser Gerold Hightower: "A monarch who finds it hard to bear killing intent even against enemies will surely treat his lords and commoners with ten times the empathy and kindness. His sword is drawn not for slaughter, but for protection and order. This is not weakness, Ser. This is a greater strength."
Arthur viewed this "flaw" as the cornerstone of future benevolent rule, a light to be cherished in a chaotic age. This almost stubborn belief made Arthur's guardianship of Rhaegar transcend duty, becoming a dedication colored with idealism.
Euron's rigorous daily training on Dragonstone lasted nearly a month. The constant collisions with top experts like the Kingsguard greatly squeezed and stimulated Euron's potential. Euron could clearly feel his strength tangibly improving through the confrontations. Checking the One Piece System, sure enough, his Strength and Stamina had each increased by one point.
[One Piece System Bound Host: Euron Greyjoy]
[Synchronizing World Laws — Adapting to Low-Magic Plane — Loading Complete]
[For every set amount of points consumed, free attribute points are awarded: 10,000 / 12,000 / 14,000 / 16,000 / 18,000...]
[Remaining Free Attribute Points: 12.]
[Current Progress: 400 / 10,000]
Basic Rewards: Digitized Character Panel
(Standard value for a normal adult male in Westeros is 10)
Strength: 13 (10)
Agility: 15 (10)
Stamina: 15 (10)
Spirit: 17 (10)
Command: 12 (10)
Charm: 18 (10)
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