We Bleed Silver(GOT/ASOIAF Fanfic)

Not sensing any blood fluctuations akin to the worm monsters in the city, Draezell signaled for everyone to follow him as they advanced toward the ruins.

The path to the ruins wasn't far. After all, during the height of Valyria's prosperity, although the dragonlords rarely concerned themselves with mundane matters, public facilities were well-built. Despite the cataclysm that destroyed everything, the remaining Valyrian roads were still remarkably smooth.

If it weren't for the toxic air in the ruins making it impossible for horses to survive, they might have moved faster.

"Draezell, I can feel the magic's effect fading," Valar remarked, sensing a slight warmth around his nose and mouth, a characteristic of waning protective magic.

"I feel something's off too. Drink the second dose of the potion if you're feeling it," Draezell replied, aware of changes in his own blood. It seemed they couldn't venture too far into the ruins; even just reaching this point, the magic was already on the verge of failing.

The group understood and promptly drank the potions. Some of them could hold out longer, but out of caution, everyone took the potion.

"The magic lasts about seven days," Draezell commanded. "Our search range is this city. Lynn, you and Argo stay with us. Sebastian, Aslan, Amos, Hoffa, you four lead separate teams. We'll camp at the ruined tower and split up. Search for any valuable items. Don't touch anything that glows or gives off heat. If you find anything, return to camp and report back, understood?"

"Understood."

The Red Priest stood quietly by Draezell's side, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

The group systematically set up a simple camp at the designated location, and Draezell's team was the first to depart. They had the strongest magical protection in their group, tasked with expanding the search area and ensuring safety.

"Master, it's clear that this is most likely the legion that disappeared years ago," Malak said. Having spent twenty years studying at the Great Temple, Malak was not only familiar with theology but also had some basic knowledge of the East Continent.

The Priest carefully examined a humanoid-shaped rock, calling Draezell over to see his discovery.

"Malak, what is this?"

Malak didn't touch the rock but pointed to two protrusions on top of the humanoid figure's head. "If I'm not mistaken…" His voice had regained its usual calmness since entering the ruins, and Draezell attributed this to the dense magical energy in the area.

"This is the black mountain goat cavalry of Qohor," Malak continued. "The dragonlords wouldn't allow colonial soldiers to appear at their doorstep, so these soldiers must have come from outside."

"My gods," Draezell muttered, staring at the dense humanoid figures carved into the rocks. "What exactly happened here?"

"The time is too distant," Malak sighed, regret in his tone. "The magic can no longer affect the rocks."

"Have you found anything?" Draezell called out to the others still scouring the ruins.

"Brother!" Rey called back eagerly. "Come help! We found something good!"

Lynn and Valar were also there assisting, while Argo cautiously supported a strange, humanoid-shaped object that was unrecognizable, its original form hard to determine.

"That's..." Draezell immediately noticed what Lynn and Valar were picking up.

It was a suit of black plate armor that resembled a mirror.

"Valyrian steel armor, a complete set of Valyrian steel armor!" Valar exclaimed excitedly.

"This should belong to a commander who served Emperor Aelon at the time," Malak speculated. "It's likely from a branch of the Vaelaeys family. Given the arrogance of the dragonlord families at the time, it was quite common for them to equip their trusted allies with Valyrian steel armor and weapons."

"Brother, look at this." Rey, eager to show off, dragged a longsword over to Draezell.

"A Valyrian steel sword?" Draezell took the longsword that had been buried in the ruins for hundreds of years. The blade was marked with strange red and black streaks, likely the result of magical contamination when this legion was destroyed, yet it did nothing to diminish the sword's sharpness.

A gryphon, also carved from Valyrian steel, roared with its head raised on the sword's crossguard. Its eyes were made of rubies, its teeth from amethysts, and traces of gold remained on its wings.

"It seems that even if we can't find any dragon eggs or clues about dragons, we can still make a decent profit from this," Draezell said with a smile, helping the others remove the armor. They continued their search.

They were rewarded for their efforts.

Argo found a simple but sturdy arakh scimitar made of Valyrian steel next to a cavalryman whose body had exploded entirely.

Rey's good luck brought the group a set of Valyrian steel mail armor, along with a Valyrian steel spearhead, though the shaft was long gone.

After searching around the outer perimeter of the ruins, they began to move towards the direction of the giant dragon's remains.

When they finally reached the bones of the giant dragon, they realized just how massive the body was, even though it was shattered and broken beyond recognition.

Even in its ruined state, it was as large as a mountain.

"The family chronicles record that Emperor Aelon dragon was a 140-year-old cunning red dragon. Our ancestors rode it to wipe out the remnants of the Rhoynars and won twelve dragon duels against other families," Draezell murmured, staring at the giant dragon. "I didn't expect it to be this big."

"Maybe our ancestors are still on its back," Valar joked.

"It seems like it really is there." Rey's voice trembled as he pointed to the dragon's back.

There, a pile of ashes, its original shape no longer recognizable, clung to a set of shimmering scales that barely held its form.

A pure silver Valyrian steel longsword was embedded beside the ashes, with two dragon heads roaring on either side of the crossguard, their wings overlapping, and a large ruby set into the pommel, dripping a red streak that resembled blood down the sword's blade.

It was the Vaelarys ancestral sword, "Silverblood."

There was also a spear, made of the same Valyrian steel, stuck into a dragon's saddle, now so mangled that its original form was unrecognizable.

"Forgive me, ancestors, forgive me," Draezell silently prayed. "It's all for the family."

Then several "bandit" monkeys climbed onto the giant dragon's carcass and looted Emperor Aelon's ashes completely.

"Didn't find any dragon eggs?" Rey, still not giving up, began asking one by one as he climbed down from the dragon's back.

"Our ancestor wouldn't be foolish enough to bring dragon eggs into battle," Draezell said with a bitter smile, pressing his hand to his forehead. "Let's search the area a little more."

"Master, we can switch to the next group now," Malak reminded him. "Everyone needs rest, and you need time to recover your magic."

It was then that Draezell realized his blood had begun to feel slightly cold.

That was not a good sign.

He agreed to search around the dragon's remains a bit longer before heading back.

In an unseen corner, a rough stone suddenly gleamed with a flash of light.

Then, it settled back into silence.