Beneath the Red Dragon

”Ice and fire. Hate and love, bitterness and sweetness, female and male, pain and joy, winter and summer, evil and justice. Death or survival. Opposition has existed since ancient times, and wars are everywhere.”

The red-robed Witch Nalia circled the massive bonfire, scattering powder from the wide sleeves of her robe.

She had a heart-shaped face and red eyes, with copper-red hair under her red hood.

Before the flame, she resembled another flame burning on her head, the ruby necklace around her snow-white, slender neck amplifying her glory.

At the moment the orange flames rose, they turned into crimson flames like the robe on Witch Nalia’s body, blazing intensely.

Witch Nalia, serving the Flame and the King of Light R’hllor, turned toward the gathered nobility surrounding the Great Monarch’s Fortress of the Fortress of Freedom.

This is the Fortress of Freedom, the highest authority in the city of Valerian, and officially presides as the ’Great Monarch’ over the entire Fortress of Freedom.

Now, at the request of all the temples worshiping the King of Light R’hllor in the Fortress of Freedom, these self-important Dragon Kings, relying on the power of Demon Dragons, have been gathered.

These Dragon Kings, with pale skin, have hair of gold, silver, or platinum, and eyes of purple or light blue.

The Dragon Kings can wield powerful magic, control Giant Dragons to use Dragon Flame to melt stone and shape it with magic into various forms.

The Fortress of Freedom believes in religious freedom, but the Dragon Kings do not worship any divine spirits; in their eyes, they are mightier than all gods, considering religion a ’lie for the poor, barbaric tribes, and slaves.’

Yet in the Fortress of Freedom, where no truly mature and complete political structure exists, these Dragon Kings will still value the teachings of the King of Light spreading across the Essos Continent for the stability and control of their power.

Red-robed Witch Nalia scanned the indifferent Dragon Kings, with the House Targaryen’s chieftain wearing a Valyrian Steel Sword named ’Black Fire,’ his expression calm, seriously awaiting her speech.

However, the representatives from the Orion Clan, Belerys Clan, and all other Dragon King clans displayed no importance toward her speech.

On the contrary, those lowly attendants who manage daily duties on behalf of the Dragon Kings appear more like wise rulers, earnestly listening to her words.

Nalia furrowed her brows, raised her voice, and shouted loudly: ”But in the face of the descending enemy, even the God of Fire, the True God of life and warmth, must reconcile and unite with his eternal enemy, the Cold God, who brings eternal cold and darkness to the world.”

”A God of Light who brings love and joy and a dark god who brings evil and fear must also let go of everything for the sake of facing that common enemy.”

The Great Monarch, one of Valerian’s forty Dragon Kings ruling the Fortress of Freedom, adorned with a Valerian crown set with gold and gemstones, sat high on the throne and smiled lightly at these words, instantly causing laughter among most surrounding Dragon Kings.

”The old civilization, the Ghis Empire, ruled the Essos Continent for nearly centuries; we Valerian destroyed it with just a few dozen Demon Dragons,”

The Dragon King spoke with a contemptuous tone, which was unmistakably displayed in the noble false accent, as he laughed: ”The previous Loynar People had countless cities and powerful Water Magic, but Valerian needed only three hundred Demon Dragons to evaporate the water, the civilization perished; even the mighty Loynar People still howl below our mines today.”

”Even if the enemy is stronger than both the Ghis Empire and Loynars, we have not just dozens but thousands of Demon Dragons,”

The Dragon King overlooked the red-robed monks and the red-robed Priestess Nalia present and said: ”What enemy can withstand the Valerian Demon Dragon army? What enemy can resist our magic without being burned to ashes and molten rocks.”

The Dragon Kings present laughed, the mocking laughter echoed endlessly.

Red-robed Witch Nalia waited solemnly for the Dragon Kings’ laughter to subside before she bowed to the Dragon King and numerous Dragon Kings: ”Please, esteemed Dragon Kings, allow my demonstration.”

The Dragon King, gazing at the beauty of the red-robed witch’s face, nodded, ”After all, you are a disciple of the King of Light, the God of Dragons, you possess such qualification.”

The red-robed monks were permitted and shoved a bound slave beside them into the blazing flames.

”Ah, I regret it, let me go, let me go,”

The slave in the flames, though ’voluntarily’ serving as a sacrifice, let out a piercing scream from the pain of the flames burning him.

Yet everyone present remained indifferent.

Because even the God of Fire and Light, to perform miracles, must use human life fire as a price.

Even the eternal enemy of the King of Light R’hllor—the Cold God, when his miracle descends upon servants, like the Others who tread through the rumored Long Night, also require life as a cost.

The disappearance of one life exchanged for the birth of a magical life; although, whether the Cold God’s servant counts as a true life, remains to be seen.