NOVEL NEXT Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Let's Begin
< Madara POV >
Looking at the two siblings who came at the early dusk of dawn, I nodded in recognition.
"If you can keep this perseverance up, you can stand alone in no time." I couldn't help but say.
Daenerys looked excited but also nervous, unsure where to put her hands. She was wearing short pants and a short-sleeve shirt, prepared to get dirty.
Viserys demeanour changed; he no longer looked arrogant but looked serious.
"I will construct a training plan for the next couple of years; you must strictly follow it. If you give up halfway, even if you come back, I will not help you, but if you work your hardest, you will definitely be able to protect yourself from harm." These words would linger in their minds like an order.
"Ye-yes. I will follow what you say, brother." Daenerys responds with a cute smile and a serious look, her clenched fists showing she is ready.
"If this helps me to become a true dragon, I don't see why not," Viserys says.
Although I may have sealed that dragon temporarily, his speaking habits have been said for so long that he will still sound a little obnoxious.
My Sharingan activates, giving an oppressive fear over the two of them.
"Very well...
Let's begin."
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Calendar Year: 290 AC (1 Year Later, Madara is 7)
< Madara POV >
*Brush*
I saw two silhouettes run past me. This was their third lap of running, and the training area I had allocated and renovated had been made a mile long in each direction.
I can already see the tiredness, but they still push forward.
Daenary's childish face is starting to show a childlike heroic face.
Viserys was becoming physically stronger. His scrawny frame started to show some toned muscle. This year, he has had the most prominent visual change.
The first couple of months were hell for them, and there were some altercations with Viserys feeling noble, but I slapped him into a sense.
At least now, when he looks at me, I see more respect than fear and jealousy. Meanwhile, Daenerys has grown closer to me than Viserys.
Maybe it's because we're the same age or because she idolizes me, but even when we are not training, she wants to spend most of the time together.
'Boring' those childish games she wanted to play, but I never humoured her. However, I could not deny her existence in my new life.
Her company felt nice. I was alone for so long and then fighting most of my life in the Ninja World. It's nice to have this peace while I can, and I am unable to change anything anyway at present.
I stop thinking of this and focus on my own training task
Wearing my new black leather armour, with a tanto on my back and kuna on my waist, I started to practice the feel of ninjas again; instead of stone-throwing, I used shurikens and kunai instead of a short sword, I used my Tanto. I will start engraving these feelings into my body to better use them in the future.
Sitting on a tree about 20 feet high, I freefall backwards. As I fall, I open my Sharingan; I have four shurikens in each hand.
On the way down, I start throwing them in precision, throwing the first two at an upward angle at a slow speed to let it free fall drop, the next two go to another angle, and then I use the remaining four shurikens to hit the exact handle tip of the first four, and with the rebounding force, I watch as all eight land different locations. Not before I safely fall and roll.
Feeling a slight strain in my foot when I landed only showed how much more I needed to work on my physical aspect.
'Without Chakra, I feel so fragile.' I could only comfort myself that this problem was not me but that I didn't have chakra to protect my fall.
However, it was still not time to leave. My sharigan gleamed brightly under the sun.
'I still need more time,' I thought, my mind turning to those enemies I may fight.' The mortals wouldn't need to care too much about, but those on the magic side would be my biggest enemy, especially the tales of the white walkers, an undead army.'
My thoughts were cut short by the panting noise of Daenerys and Viserys. Daenerys just lay on the ground without caring for her image, catching her breath and breathing heavily.
"Stand up and walk. Laying down is bad for you," I sternly reprimanded this lousy behaviour and habit.
She grimaced at me but still got up shakingly and walked around in a circle.
Viserys was not too much better, either. Seeing me look at him, he got up on his own with a bitter smile and also walked in circles.
"You have started to get a feel and repetitional pattern. Now, I will focus on your individual training." I looked at them both, calmly stating what would come next.
"Daenerys, you will focus on your endurance aspect, which means more of this running."
"Ahhh... just kill me now." She said, wailing in annoyance.
"No, you will do it or leave," I said, leaving no room for denial.
I then looked at Viserys, I had a different plan for him entirely.
"Visery's, since you are a lot older, you will be training in carrying rocks and running beside Daenarys." I could see he had a hint of dissatisfaction, but I didn't care. He can either listen to my orders or go away.
"This will be your current training. I will also fill in more here and there, but we have the time to spare and spend it, so we shall do it. Now... start again." With this, I turned around and left.
**************
Calendar Year: 291 AC (1 Year Later, Madara is 8)
< Daenerys POV >
With sweat falling down from my face, I used all my strength to carry a basket of rocks and walk around the estate. I felt myself getting tired, but I gritted my teeth and kept moving forward.
'Since Daemon could do all of this, why can't I?' I would think stubbornly to myself. This same stubbornness has pushed me, and I also enjoy this feeling of getting stronger.
I know I am way stronger than I was before I started. I remember when I could barely run and catch up with my brother Viserys. Now I am alone.
Viserys was given a different lesson. He would train swordsmanship with sellswords.
Daemon has his own ideas on this, so I wouldn't ask why. I just needed to listen to him.
My eyes become firm as I make my way up the hill to see Dameon,
I see in the training area of the estate where the unsullied usually use to keep themselves from rusting.
Viserys was swinging his sword while being trained by a sellsword Illyrio brought.
Illyrio initially brought two, but one of them tried to train Daemon and me before and even tried to make advancements on me.
I felt nervous at that time and wanted to run, but before he could touch me, I saw a sharp metal weapon in his neck, and then he fell and died. Looking back, I saw Daemon casually swaying on top of a tree; what he did seemed casual to him, but I felt my heartbeat.
At that moment, I felt Daemon was the Prince Charming I had read stories about.
The other sellsword didn't seem to care about the person he came with's death. He didn't leave or enact revenge but swore allegiance to Daemon. It can be said that he isn't a sellsword anymore but now works as an instructor for Viserys on Daemon's orders.
In the past two years, I have better understood my new family. Daemon is a cold person on the outside but clearly cares on the inside, although he acts like he doesn't.
In my heart, he was already better than Viserys. Although ever since Viserys apologized, he hasn't hurt me anymore; he feels more isolated. He always seems to be thinking of something or doing another thing with Illyrio.
When we aren't training, I learn more about this world's history and better understand things I might not have before.
The world and history of the Targaryen house and what it has become today leave me perplexed, especially the rumours I heard about my father. I was not sure what to believe.
Coming out of my thoughts, I see Daemon sitting on a rock and looking off into the distance. He does this a lot and says he is constantly thinking and revising his future plans.
I always think it's funny and mention that we are only eight days old, but secretly, I think he is handsome and cool.
"Done today?" he says without looking at me, but he somehow knows I am behind him, even when I try to sneak.
"Yes." Placing down the basket of rocks, I felt myself exhausted, and with a smirk, I fell into Daemon's arms, but he caught me expressionlessly like he always did.
"Why do you act like this?" I felt angry and aggrieved. I wanted to play around with him, but he always seemed too serious.
It's either training or planning. I don't know why he does all of this, but he constantly tells me that I should "keep following his training plan as it will only benefit my future."
'So I can only do what a good family member would do, and that is obey,' I thought proudly. 'Well, what only you, Daemon, tell me to do?' I quickly added that if Viserys told me something, I would now scold him back because I knew Daemon would protect me.
Daemon ignored my questioning but just said it in that tone of indifference.
"Good. You have a strong muscle foundation. It's time to train your flexibility and movements; the next year will be more difficult. But It wi-"
"it will only benefit my future." I finish what he will say, then stick my tongue out mischievously.
I only see him leaving a dazed expression before returning to that serious, taciturn expression.
"Good." He turns around and does not show me anything. We shall start tomorrow; take a break today."
"Then can we go to the theatre that's in town today? I heard it's something about King's Landing," I asked in hope. After a long silence, I surprisingly heard him say, "Yes."
My smile could not be contained, "I am gonna go change and let's go!"
Back in my room, I dressed in nice, beautiful clothes. I could only think of those princesses who would get the envious looks of the crowd, and I would daydream about wearing a gorgeous dress to show off to them.
Having these beautiful thoughts, I imagined Daemon by my side and holding my hand... 'Hand holding,' I would blush at this thought.
I shake my head to stop thinking of these. These thoughts felt impure: 'Dany, what are you thinking? You are only Eight.' I can only tell myself, but my eyes inadvertently look at those love stories I had asked Illyrio to buy me. Blushing, I change into different clothes. I always felt precocious about things. I would read these stories and get mad at those children in the story my age, being oblivious.
'I am not surrounded by those oblivious kids; maybe that's why I have changed.' Daemon and Viserys were not normal. One was my age, already stronger than those unsullied guards, while Viserys would act differently than a kid his age would.
Daemon claimed my situation as adapting to the environment, to which I agreed.
Putting on a cute, tiny dress, I walked briskly to the front and met with Daemon, who brought four unsullied guards. I was a little confused, but I saw him point to them and explain.
"They have a different task than us when we go to the theatre." Then, no more. He was always one who would say little if he didn't have to say more.
I just nodded, expressing my understanding, even if I didn't.
Upon arriving at the theatre and finding a spot, Daemon leaned against a side wall with his eyes closed. I pouted at this, but soon, my attention was attracted to the sounds of cheers. My eyes looked towards the stage. I wanted to know more about King's Landing, where my family used to rule.
***PLAY BEGINS***
"Ahhh, I am King Aeyers, Second of his name. But these treasonous usurpers are trying to take my claim." Watching the person portraying my father with a crazy look and then listening to the poem recited, I couldn't help but feel indignation for my father. He must have felt so betrayed.
Another bald man appeared. "Lannister army at our gates, their intentions untrue."
This is followed by an older man who is already starting with a hunch: "Don't believe his words, your grace, as they are clearly here to help you."
"Enough, Enough. Let them through, I want to speak to Twyin and make our relationship anew."
"To ask him why he only comes now in my time of need. Or was he too scared before he came down from Casterly Rock that he frighteningly peed?" my father's actor finishes
The crowd laughed, but I was just feeling nervous. I heard this broken-down story from my brother, and I didn't realize this play would be about my family. I looked at Daemon, who still seemed unbothered and unfazed.
"Go bring in my newly acquired squire-" Suddenly, a messenger ran in. "Oh no, my lord, the city is on fire!"
"This can't be! I am the King, does he dare?!. My heart is suddenly having thoughts that are too much to bear."
The scene starts to change. The bald man and the hunched-back man leave. A young blond man in armour appears, and so does another ugly, deformed-face guy covered in a cloak.
"Jaime Lannister, your father coming here is as good as dead; see it for me that you cut off his head."
"Rossart, make sure all the wildfires are in place. We have not much time left, so we must make a quick haste."
"Your Highness, we are ready, but this will be Kings Landings' downfall, " the man in the cloak said with grief.
"Shut up, Rossart. This King demands that we burn them all!"
The crowd gasped, and some even looked nervous, but soon an untimely voice broke this tension.
"Ha, you two fools, I have been biding my time. Once I slay you both, this kingdom will be mine." The young blond man steps forward with a smirk and loud laugh.
"Those who rebelled have been waiting for me, for I shall answer their prayer. Now, I shall kill you both and become the kingslayer." I take it all in as he kills my father's actor, and then everyone gets up and bows to the crowd as clapping erupts.
"We will continue next week, so please come back," the announcer said happily.
***PLAY ENDS***
My fists clench, and tears start to roll down, but I feel a hand stop the tears. I see Daemon looking at this and whispering.
"You are stronger than that. Take this all in and fuel it for revenge." I felt comfortable and wanted to double my training and kill that kingslayer.
As we left, I didn't feel happy at all. In fact, I felt like this play was a lie. Viserys always told me that my father was not wrong.
I wanted to call them liars, but I could only look over and ask Daemon for answers.
"Daemon," with my head down, I continued, "Is that play true." I looked up with hope in my eyes. Only to see Daemon look back at me and say,
"History is written by the victors, not the vanquished. If it were that way, then this world would be a lot dirtier and have a lot less kindness."
His words put me in contemplation. "Then, if we take back the throne, could we say these were all lies?"
"Yes, " he smiled at me. "Yes, we will be able to say whatever we want."
My head bumped into Daemon's back as he stopped walking, and I saw him staring into the sky and saying.
"Daenerys, my goal has never been the throne but to be above everything. Only when I am strong enough to dominate the entire world will my goal be accomplished. That's why I don't stop training." He turned and looked at me with strong, confident eyes. This look almost made me faint. I had never seen him look at me like that before, and I felt so many emotions flare inside of me.
"As long as you keep up with me, you will see greater heights, and at that time, maybe we can sit down together, and I will tell you everything." After saying that, he turned around and headed back to the estate.
I felt a real goal start to form in my heart. I want to become stronger, strong enough to have an important place in this world, and strong enough to help Daemon.