[Chapter Size: 3600 Words.]

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Third Person POV

Arctic, 297 AC.

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“Let’s go, boy! I think you don’t need to work in the forge anymore.”

A dwarf appeared in the middle of the workshop, where flames and molten lava still illuminated the place.

The sound of hammering continued for a while, as a man, around his thirties, struck forcefully against the sword he was working on. He was forging it from Eldenmetal, his specialty.

“Leave him be, lad… he’s quite excited today…” Another dwarf approached the first while wiping his hands on a somewhat dirty cloth.

“I’m not a lad,” the man replied without stopping his steady hammering.

“I’m five times your age. So, to me, you’re a lad,” the first dwarf responded. “But fine, just don’t leave the forge running for too long, and make sure to clean everything up.”

“Yes…” was all the man answered. He was none other than William, the man Jon had hired in the city of FrostRoar, in the lands of the Glovers.

He was one of those who had come with Jon from south of the Wall, having played a part in the founding of Artica. While Ducken had become the commander of Artica’s army, William followed the path he knew best—working the forges.

Since the integration of the dwarves into the kingdom, he had joined them and had been working on all kinds of forge-related tasks for the past nine years. By now, he was a master blacksmith, achieving that title both among the dwarves and through his work with Jon, as well as the dwarves, his closest colleagues.

He was preparing a weapon as a gift for Ducken, his old friend, as he had more contact with the army commander than with the king of Artica himself. Not that he wasn’t friends with Jon either. After all, Jon crossed paths with him every week and often spoke to him whenever he visited the forge, usually on his way to the king’s greenhouse or other massive buildings near where William worked daily.

But their bond was not as it once had been. While William and Jon had shared a journey from south of the Wall to the north and had founded Artica together, Jon now had other priorities. He had a family to care for and an entire kingdom to govern. Even William now had his own family, along with his work as one of the finest blacksmiths in Artica. He spent every day working alongside the kingdom’s best smiths.

His life in the kingdom had changed considerably. Although he was not the best blacksmith in Artica—Jon and even thousands of dwarves were ahead of him—he was involved in many projects and couldn’t complain about his role in the kingdom’s construction. His name was even recorded in books detailing the early days of the king’s journey.

He remained alone in his workshop for a while longer, finally finishing the blade and beginning the tempering process. As he plunged the sword into the water, a massive steam cloud rose into the air. William wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at his work, nodding slightly. He decided to finish it the next day.

After that, he began organizing the workshop, ensuring everything was ready for the other blacksmiths to work the following day. He extinguished the forge’s fire, wiped his sweaty clothes, and donned a fresh tunic, preparing to leave.

Night had fallen by the time he left the workshop, and the city was bustling. Even in the crafting district at this hour, the movement was intense. The overwhelming majority of people in the area were workers, many rushing home, while others headed to the kingdom’s central plaza, where a grand event was to take place that night.

Retrieving his horse from the workshop’s stable, he mounted up and rode toward the city’s urban area. The journey took a little longer due to the increased flow of people. Boats traveling along the city’s inner rivers were packed—some carrying excited citizens, while others served as gathering spots for those already drinking and celebrating.

As he arrived home, William dismounted from his horse and led it to the small stable in the courtyard. His residence was not a castle, but it was comfortable—better than anything he had ever imagined having in his life before meeting Jon.

At the entrance of the two-story house, he saw his wife waiting for him, holding their son in her arms. A smile appeared on his face as he approached. He placed a kiss on her forehead, then another on the baby’s.

“Enka,” William greeted her softly.

He had met his wife four years ago. They married two years later, and now, they had a one-year-old son.

“How was work?” Enka asked, looking at her husband with affection.

“Exhausting, but I managed to make good progress on the project. In any case, let’s get ready. I’ll change clothes so we don’t miss tonight’s event. I’m sure Jon will love it,” he said, referring to his son, named after the bravest and most incredible person William had ever met.

The Hour of the Wolf was approaching as William headed to the plaza with his wife and child. All of Artica had gathered there. The place was so crowded that he could barely see what was happening ahead. However, he decided not to venture into the middle of the crowd, as his wife was carrying their child. Instead, they stayed a little further back.

At that moment, the event began. A platform had been set up, where the kingdom’s ministers stood. Brynden stepped forward and, with a firm voice, began his speech.

“People of Artica!” he called out with some effort as the crowd started to quiet down. “We are here to celebrate what the king has planned for years for this kingdom and will finally put into practice tonight.”

The crowd listened attentively, though many still continued to celebrate amongst themselves. Young people like Lilka, Dominique, and Vlad stood in a corner with their families, savoring honeyed bread and other sweets purchased from the stalls scattered around the plaza. They listened as Brynden spoke about the Jon Project and the Light Crystals—or, as they were popularly known, the Magic Crystals.

This development had been a project in the making for years. The crystals had the ability to generate light and, at the same time, could be recharged by solar energy. It was an advancement that only became possible when King Jon traveled to the other side of the world and finally found the perfect tree to create the first flawless crystal—the secret behind this magical technology.

In recent months, the king, the engineers, and the forest children had been working to create a system that would allow these crystals to be installed throughout the city, illuminating the streets and public spaces. Furthermore, citizens would also be able to acquire these crystals for use in their homes, obtainable through kingdom credits or coins. This was one of King Jon’s initiatives to strengthen the kingdom’s economy and stimulate the newly established monetary system.

The speech continued for a few more minutes until Brynden paused and declared:

“The king is not present here, but he will certainly initiate the event. At this very moment, he watches us from one of the castle towers. Once he extinguishes all the stone lights scattered throughout the kingdom’s public spaces, he will ignite the core crystal, and all of Artica will shine.”

Brynden then fell silent and returned to stand with the other ministers. The entire plaza murmured among themselves, and all eyes turned toward the castle. Hundreds of thousands of people fixed their gaze on the towers beyond the Great Weirwood, wondering when the king would begin.

Inside the castle, Jon stood in the left tower overlooking the plaza. The king’s castle stretched further than the massive sacred tree, giving him a complete view of the gathering and all of Artica illuminated before him.

He was on the tower’s rooftop, where, before him, a grand table had been prepared for a feast. Jon sat beside his wives and children, while the royal guards stood positioned around them, ready to assist him in whatever was needed.

“Daddy, everything went silent. They’re waiting for you.”

Loki looked at Jon with expectation, while even his other children seemed to wait anxiously. His wives—Seryna, Ygritte, Daenerys, Rhaenys, and Hiyori—who were around him, also watched him closely.

Jon simply gave a small smile. “Well, it seems so.”

With that, he rose from his seat at the head of the table and walked toward a small altar where several crystals rested. At the center of them was a special one—the Core Crystal.

Jon picked it up in his hands. He had designed this crystal to activate all the others simultaneously, allowing them to shine at his command instead of merely turning on automatically at nightfall. He wanted this moment to be unique, something for the entire kingdom to witness together.

With the crystal in hand, he walked to the edge of the tower, looking directly at the plaza. Not just the plaza—he and his family had the privileged view of the entire kingdom stretching before their eyes, beyond the Great Weirwood, which partially blocked their vision of one section, though they could still see the square where thousands eagerly awaited.

“Where are you going, Jon? Don’t run like that!” Seryna exclaimed, worried, as she saw her son jump from his chair and run toward his father.

Loki immediately approached his father, excited. Even Lyanna ran to her father.

Jon’s other wives also rose, moving closer with their two other children. Rhaenys and Daenerys, who carried heavy bellies, and Hiyori, whose belly was still small—only two months along—watched the scene quietly.

Jon knew all of Artica was waiting for him. The silence in the plaza was absolute. He gave a faint smile and said,

“Let’s begin by turning off all the lights.”

He raised his left hand, the one not holding the crystal, and snapped his fingers.

Immediately, all the torches and bonfires around the tower where he stood extinguished at once. The effect began to spread, reaching other public areas of the kingdom. One by one, the torches and fires went out, taking the crowd by surprise as they watched the darkness ripple outward in a wave. In mere seconds, the entire city was plunged into darkness, except for the lights still shining from the houses.

This was a trick Jon had acquired after his encounter with the Red God.

The plaza erupted with stunned exclamations. Even though Brynden had told them this would happen, they had never imagined it would be so magical. Even Jon’s children looked around, slightly startled.

“Don’t worry. The show is about to begin,” Jon reassured them.

Then, he lifted the Core Crystal.

The people in the plaza began murmuring among themselves, confused by what was happening. Some looked toward the tower with a hint of panic, unsure of what Jon was doing.

Then, a small glimmer appeared above the tower under everyone’s gaze. And before anyone could react—it happened.

With a massive exclamation from the crowd, the castle tower was bathed in an intense, vibrant light, drawing all attention. For a moment, thousands of eyes were locked on it, marveling at the spectacle.

The Core Crystal was now alight, radiating its energy across the castle. The sight from the plaza was breathtaking: the towers began to glow, not with the red of flames but with vibrant colors, and from the tower, the entire castle started to shine at numerous points.

Then, just as the torches had extinguished earlier, the effect began to spread outward. The castle was the origin point, and the light cascaded through the city like a ripple effect, illuminating everything in its path.

The street lamps began to glow, revealing the Light Crystals. It was as if a surge of energy had swept through Artica, awakening every corner of the city in a spectacle of lights.

The brilliant glow reached the plaza, illuminating it completely. Exclamations and cries of admiration spread throughout the crowd.

“This is so beautiful…” Lilka murmured in the middle of the crowd, mesmerized.

Even Dominique and Vlad had shocked expressions, just like their families, who gazed in awe at the breathtaking sight before them. The Light Crystals, glowing in various colors, illuminated the city with far greater intensity than torches, creating a magical effect that left everyone fascinated.

“So beautiful…” William’s wife murmured beside him as they both stood enchanted.

That feeling spread throughout all of Artica.

“It’s so pretty, Daddy!” Lyanna exclaimed with dreamy eyes as she looked at the city in its newfound glow.

“Jon, this is magical,” Daenerys couldn’t hide her admiration either, stepping closer to her husband as she took in the spectacle of lights beside him.

“Yes, it truly is,” Jon replied, watching Artica shine.

His goal had finally been realized. Now, he quite literally had a magical kingdom under his hands. And no one in the world could take that away from them.

Beyond the Wall, deep in the desert, an entire city glowed like no other in the world. The inhabitants of that land stared toward the region, bewildered, as the light reached the sky unlike any night before.

Even on the Wall, the Night’s Watch gazed into the distance, their eyes wide with shock, watching as the glow filled the horizon. They wondered what it was, and panic quickly spread among them—unaware that this would become a sight they would witness every night from atop the Wall.

The night continued, and the festival carried on. People spread not only through the plaza but all across the city, enjoying the dazzling light display. From the top of the tower, Jon continued to observe his kingdom. The view from there was even more impressive than for those walking the streets of Artica.

The city did not sleep that night, and the celebration lasted until dawn.

…

Jon woke up a little earlier than everyone else and quietly left his chambers, informing the guards that his family should not wait for him for the first meal of the day, as he had a meeting with three ministers that morning.

In the castle courtyard, only his white dragon remained, watching him curiously as it opened its eyes. Jon simply shook his head at the beast.

In the past few moons, all dragons had been relocated from the castle due to their immense size. Keeping twenty-eight dragons there was no longer feasible.

His children’s and wives’ dragons were still housed within the castle, but those without riders had been moved to the mountains, where the dwarves had begun constructing a conical nesting ground—a permanent home for the great fire-breathing reptiles. All dragons accepted Jon as their master, and he had to be with them every day, though this was hardly an issue since he could fly with Eragon in mere minutes.

Jon then mounted his horse and departed with his Royal Guard toward the Senate.

Upon arrival, he was greeted by three ministers waiting for him in the grand meeting hall.

“Your Majesty.”

The three ministers—the Ministers of Economy, Foreign Affairs, and Trade—bowed their heads in respect as Jon entered, followed by a few of his guards.

“Well, I’m here. We couldn’t hold this meeting earlier due to responsibilities in Artica over the past few days. But now, let’s address our pending matters,” Jon said calmly as he took a seat at the table.

The ministers nodded, but their expressions carried concern. Recent reports indicated that problems were arising with trade in Essos, particularly rumors of a new threat.

Jon took some documents and placed them on the table.

“First, explain to me in more detail about the Twelve Keyholders and the Sealord of Braavos. From what has been reported, they seem a bit worried. It appears that a force is rising in the desert… and its target is entirely focused on us,” he said, looking directly at the ministers.

The Minister of Trade took a deep breath before speaking.

“The Free Cities we trade with are also concerned, my lord. The rumors about this force are growing more alarming by the day.”

“In the midst of all this, could they even suspend trade with us?” Jon asked, thoughtful.

“I don’t believe it’s quite that, my king,” the Minister of Foreign Affairs interjected, then continued, “They still want our goods and will position forces to defend their cities, but at the same time, they expect us to handle the problem, claiming that it is our responsibility.”

“They can’t simply do that!” the Minister of Economy exclaimed, outraged.

Jon raised his hand, cutting off the discussion before it could escalate.

“It’s fine.”

He tapped the table with his fingers as he pondered.

“Certainly, this has to do with me and my choices. If they want to handle it this way, so be it.”

The reports contained numerous complaints about a growing threat from the Dothraki desert. According to the gathered intelligence, Khal Drogo, the most powerful of the khals, had declared that he would assemble an army to fight against the Articans. He was expanding his khalasar and advancing toward the sacred Dothraki land, Vaes Dothrak.

Once he returned from there, he would march upon his targets with an unparalleled force, becoming the most powerful Khal in the history of the world.

His plan? To sweep through all the cities where the Articans had trade relations. He promised war against Volantis, Pentos, Myr, and Braavos—all coastal cities. Tyrosh, being an island in the middle of the sea, seemed to be the only one safe, as the Dothraki traditionally avoided crossing large bodies of water.

“All of this… because I stole his supposed bride,” Jon commented in a slightly amused tone.

Daenerys had been promised to Khal Drogo through an agreement made with Illyrio Mopatis. However, before she could be taken to the khalasar, Jon had found her in the desert and taken her for himself. Now, she was his wife and the mother of his child, whose presence was evident in her growing belly.

Obviously, this was a war Jon could not avoid.

“What are you planning, my king?” the Minister of Economy asked, noticing that Jon had already made a decision.

Jon gave a slight smile before responding.

“Simple. If all these cities are worried about an enraged Khal because of my actions, then I will handle it myself. It’s time to take Artica’s army beyond the kingdom and test it on the battlefield.”

“You plan to march to Essos, my king?” One of the Royal Guards asked.

Jon nodded. “Of course. I’ll lead them myself since that man is coming after me directly. Let’s show the world that Artica is not just about trade.”

He stood up, looking at the ministers.

“We still have some time before Mance and the united Free Tribes or the Dead Army arrive here. In the meantime, I will take part of the army with me. In a few moons, I will return.”

He then turned to one of the guards and gave an order.

“I want you to summon Ducken immediately.”

The guard nodded and quickly left to carry out the command.

The ministers exchanged glances, surprised by the sudden decision.

“You intend to leave this soon?” one of them asked.

Jon simply nodded, resolute.

“Yes, I won’t take long in the Dothraki desert, and it’s best if I return before our real fight begins against the monsters in the north. Besides, I already needed to invade Vaes Dothrak at some point, so I’m just moving the plan forward.”

He spoke while analyzing the part of the map where the sacred Dothraki city was marked.

“It’s time to settle this once and for all.”

Ducken arrived, his expression urgent, clearly already aware of Jon’s plans.

“You’re here, Ducken. Good. Let’s begin.”

Jon then started planning the military campaign with the General of Artica, discussing strategies to confront the Dothraki armies while ensuring that the kingdom’s main forces remained intact under Ducken’s command.

“I need you to have all the men ready in the coming days. I will depart in a week and a half, right after I finish speaking with my family and the other ministers to explain the situation.”

Jon was making his decision swiftly—perhaps too swiftly—but he wanted to resolve this matter as soon as possible.

“One more thing.”

He continued, catching everyone off guard.

“I plan to head south of the Wall in three days.”

The ministers exchanged confused glances. Ducken furrowed his brow before asking,

“Are you thinking of going to Winterfell, my king?”

Jon shook his head slightly.

“No. I know there are concerns about movements in the south, but I’m not going to Winterfell or the kingdoms beyond the North. I need to visit someone in the southern North, so I will be leaving soon. I will only stay for a day and then return.”

He paused briefly, looking at the ministers and generals around him.

“The kingdom has been self-sufficient for a long time now. We only need to make a few adjustments to ensure its next phase of development, but that will be a long-term process. Before you even notice, I’ll be back.”

Finally, he looked at the map one last time before speaking, his tone serious and definitive.

“I’m going to the Dothraki desert… and I will return with Khal Drogo’s head.”

————-Nexts Chapters —————-

Chapter 234 – The She-Wolf of the North 04.

Chapter 239 – Destroying Khal Moro.

Chapter 249 – Discussion at Mance’s camp.

Chapter 258 – Uncle Benjen.

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