11 Chapter 11

Jon humbly lowered himself, showing respect to the presence of Xerneas. He avoided direct eye contact, fearing it might be disrespectful, and hoped that Xerneas would forgive any unintentional ignorance. Meanwhile, Xerneas, observing Jon's demeanor, silently noted, "Good."

With a gentle voice, Xerneas addressed Jon, calling him "My Champion." Jon slowly raised his head to acknowledge Xerneas. Xerneas continued, "I have seen you even before your birth. You were the prince that I promised to humanity, the one destined to defeat the darkness." However, the mention of his birth triggered memories of Jon's mother, causing a noticeable shift in his expression. Sensing Jon's thoughts, Xerneas reassured him, saying, "Child, I granted every individual in this world the freedom to choose and bear the consequences."

Jon lowered his head, trying to conceal the pain that surged within him. After gathering his emotions, he lifted his head once more, only to see the ethereal figure of his real mother, Lyanna, appearing as a translucent ghostly form. She gently lifted Jon's chin with her hand, offering him the warmth he had always yearned for but never fully experienced in his life. Xerneas had departed, leaving Jon with the lingering presence of Lyanna, summoned by Xerneas to fill the void in the young man's heart. Though unable to speak, her mere presence was enough for Jon.

Soon, Rhaegar, Jon's father, approached, a sense of remorse evident in his posture as he knelt before Jon, seeking forgiveness for his failures in protecting his children. Xerneas observed the scene from afar, knowing that his role in this moment was fulfilled. Without delay, Xerneas redirected his attention to Storm's End, where seven dragon eggs lay hidden, entrusted to Stephon Baratheon by the Mad King Aerys. Then, his gaze turned to a mysterious dragon lurking in the far corners of the world.

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While in a dark cave on a remote island, a creature with gleaming green eyes stirred at the call of Xerneas. Its black scales shimmered under the moonlight as it unleashed a burst of green flames into the sky, signaling its readiness for action after a long slumber. The creature's mighty roar echoed across the desolate island, where only bones and wreckage remained scattered across the barren island.

In Storm's End, all was well until the vibrant aurora in the sky began to fade, casting a shadow of unease over the castle. Suddenly, an unexpected horde of rats swarmed inside, causing chaos and forcing everyone to evacuate. Little did they know, it was a clever distraction. Meanwhile, beneath the main keep, near the dungeon, a group of rats diligently dug holes in search of a concealed black box.

Men and women gathered outside Storm's End, bewildered and frightened by the sudden influx of rats into the castle. They couldn't understand why the rats were behaving so strangely, not dispersing to attack farms as they normally would. Instead, they congregated inside the castle, barring entry to anyone. Ravens joined the scene, their cawing adding to the eerie atmosphere of the night. Some believed it was a sign of bad omen toward their Lord. Those who attempted to approach the castle were met with attacks from the aggressive ravens, making it nearly impossible to get close at night. To add to the chaos, a large number of snakes appeared, causing the people to retreat in fear. Strangely, the snakes didn't attack the rats but stood guard alongside them outside the castle, further puzzling the onlookers.

Inside the castle, rats struggled to push a large, unmarked black metallic box through the passages leading to a smuggler's cave. Soon, snakes joined them, lending their strength to move the box. As they reached the water connected to the sea, a solitary boat drifted towards the shore in the cave, propelled by a stream of small fishes. The snakes helped guide the boat closer using their long bodies. Then, the rats pushed the heavy box onto the boat with a thud. With the box securely on board, the snakes released their grip, and the boat began to drift out of the smuggler's cave. Gradually, the rats, snakes, and ravens that had gathered inside and outside Storm's End began to disperse, having completed their hidden task.

Confusion gripped the onlookers as they hurried inside the castle, puzzled by the sudden turn of events. They noticed the holes made by rats but found no other damage, not even to the emergency rations stored in Storm's End. Despite their search, they couldn't uncover any clues. Meanwhile, the lone boat drifted out to sea, propelled by the stream of fishes. As the sea grew turbulent with the brewing storm, a giant whale emerged and shattered the boat with its immense size. The black box plunged into the depths, swallowed by the same whale before disappearing beneath the waves.

The whale journeyed ceaselessly towards the Shivering Sea, traveling through day and night until it neared the shores of Skagos. There, it surfaced to bask in the sun's warmth. Suddenly, a colossal shadow eclipsed the whale, and sharp claws descended upon it. Despite the whale's struggles, the grip remained firm as it was carried towards the towering peaks of Skagos. That day, many of the Skagossi witnessed a dragon, black as night and larger than several mammoths combined.

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In Pentos, Daenerys gazed at the sky, longing for the beauty of yesterday to return. When she questioned her brother about the strange happenings, he claimed it was a sign of the dragons' return. Daenerys found it hard to believe, but deep down, she hoped it was true. She yearned to encounter a living dragon, tired of constantly fleeing. Surveying the servants around her, she pondered their status as "free men," though they seemed no different from slaves. She couldn't help but feel like a slave to her own destiny as she continued to search the sky.