Aegon watched the figure of the Iron Bank envoy disappear into the Throne Room.
He withdrew his gaze, walked back to the iron throne, and sat down once more on that menacing and uncomfortable iron chair.
His gaze turned to Melisandre.
She stood to one side, waiting quietly, her red robes hanging down.
"Melisandre, you traveled to the Narrow Sea Realm to assist Daenerys in hatching the dragon egg. What was the result?"
Melisandre stepped forward, walked to the center of the hall, and bowed.
"Following your guidance, using the blood of life and fire as a catalyst, the ritual was a success. The dragon in the stone has awakened. The newborn dragon is healthy and growing under the care of Princess Daenerys."
She paused.
"However, Your Grace, the complete hatching process takes considerable time and involves complex steps. I have recorded all the incantations and the essentials of the magic circle and handed them to Princess Daenerys."
"Remaining in the Narrow Sea Realm offers limited help for the subsequent hatching. But here..."
She raised her head.
"Prophecies reveal that the Long Night is coming, and darkness is surging. The reincarnation of Azor Ahai bears the heavy responsibility of saving the world."
"Compared to assisting with the hatching of the dragon, serving by your side to face the coming catastrophe is more critical. Please forgive me for acting on my own initiative and returning early."
Aegon nodded slightly.
To him, the process and form were unimportant; the result was the only standard.
Since the dragon egg had successfully hatched and Daenerys had the method, Melisandre's departure was indeed inconsequential to the big picture.
"No matter. It is good that the dragon egg hatched successfully; leave the subsequent matters to Daenerys."
His gaze fell upon Melisandre, carrying a sense of scrutiny.
And he did indeed have a use for this red priestess here.
Establishing a new belief system.
This thought had lingered in his mind for a long time.
Swords and laws can define borders and establish order.
But to unite the hearts of the people and solidify his rule, especially to erase the deep-rooted influence of the Faith of the Seven, he needed a more powerful weapon.
The Seven? That is a hollow faith that coexists and thrives with the feudal system.
Its doctrines, which maintain the system of lords and knights, run counter to the new centralized order he wishes to establish.
The lord of light? That is even more impossible!
Melisandre.
Her fanatical belief is a problem, but her organizational skills, manipulative methods, and familiarity with establishing doctrines are exactly the tools he needs right now.
As long as he replaces the core of her "lord of light" dogma.
Meanwhile, Melisandre, standing below the steps, gazed at the young monarch on the throne, her eyes hiding a near-obsessive certainty.
The battle reports from Westeros were like myths.
Aegon had swept through The Riverlands with unstoppable force, and the Northern army had been wiped out.
This achievement was a world of difference compared to the hesitation she had seen in Stannis back then.
She became increasingly convinced that this young monarch before her, who rode three great dragons, was the true reincarnation of the Azor Ahai from the prophecy.
Her gaze involuntarily fell upon the new sword leaning against the throne.
dictator, that is what Aegon called it.
Forged by melting down the Lannister ancestral sword, Brightroar... a sword recast from the flames of vengeance... Lightbringer!
Isn't this exactly a manifestation of the "sword pulled from the flames" in the prophecy?
Perhaps the fire in the prophecy is not necessarily a physical bonfire; it could be the flames of vengeance, the embers of the Doom of Valyria, or the furnace fire forging a new life...
And the place of smoke and salt is not necessarily a volcanic island like Dragonstone; it could also be the Valyrian Ruins, filled with eternal smoke and ash...
Her thoughts drifted further and further, almost falling into a religious epiphany.
"Melisandre."
Aegon's voice called her back.
Melisandre's mind snapped to attention: "Your Grace."
"The territory we currently control is not small."
Aegon's voice was unhurried.
"I have already laid out the framework for restoring order and establishing a governance system. The guard, taxation, and laws—these skeletons are growing flesh and blood. But now, one thing is still missing... the hearts of the people."
"Something that can truly unite people from different territories and different backgrounds, making them identify with the new order and pledge their loyalty to it."
Melisandre's heart skipped a beat.
"Does Your Grace intend to... establish a brand new faith?"
"I do not intend to follow the Seven any longer." Aegon confirmed her guess.
"I need you in King's Landing to design and promote a brand new faith for me. A faith that belongs to me."
Melisandre's heart was filled with ecstasy.
She spoke impatiently: "Does Your Grace wish to take the lord of light, the faith of R'hllor..."
"No."
Aegon interrupted her before she could finish.
"The faith of the lord of light has a source too distant, and its doctrines are too different from the soil of Westeros. What I need is something that can take root here, be quickly understood and accepted, and be used by me."
He paused.
"Use dragons, use swords, use the thunder and fire that we have seen with our own eyes and felt with our own bodies to establish the core of the faith."
"Weave doctrines, shape rituals, and unite the hearts of the people around the power of the great dragons. I intend to call it—the Faith of the Ancient Dragons."
Melisandre was stunned.
Not the lord of light, not R'hllor.
But... dragons?
But her mind immediately began to race.
Using "dragons" as the totem of faith?
Yes, dragons are the symbol of the Targaryen, the undisputed source of Aegon's power, and the entity of fear and awe for the people of Westeros.
By using "Ancient Dragons" as the name, it can naturally bind itself to the restoration of the Targaryen Dynasty, and also quickly establish sanctity by leveraging the might of the dragons.
And the dragon in the stone... doesn't this secretly align with the ancient prophecy?
Perhaps Aegon does not intend to abandon the true god, but rather to pave the way for the coming of the lord of light in a gentler manner?
It must be so.
The flames reignited in Melisandre's eyes.
She bowed her head deeply: "I understand, Your Grace. Your foresight is far beyond my reach. Please rest assured, Your Grace, I will do my utmost to promote and establish this Faith of the Ancient Dragons, with dragons and burning swords at its core, in King's Landing and across all your territories, to unite the hearts and strength of the people for you!"
Aegon looked at Melisandre, who seemed to have instantly realized something and was radiating the brilliance of a martyr, and raised his eyebrows imperceptibly.
He didn't know what she had imagined for herself, but the effect seemed quite good.
"Very good."
He nodded.
"You may draft a proposal for the specific details."
"The doctrine should be concise and powerful; the core is strength and order, and most importantly, 'loyalty'."
"Awe and following toward the dragons and also toward the Targaryen..."
"The rituals can be grand, but need not be overly complex. Let us use King's Landing as a testing ground first."
"As you command, Your Grace!"
Melisandre bowed deeply, her red robes trailing on the ground.
She seemed to have already seen the new faith spreading like Wildfire under the dragon banner.
And the one who ignited this flame was none other than the dawns son from the prophecy, whom she followed.
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