Chapter 113: Graduation Test

Clap, clap, clap. The sound of applause echoed from the edge of the training ground. Renly walked across the arena, casting healing magic on the three of them. Robb and Jon were both stunned, watching as the other frozen Renly gradually disappeared.

"Master Renly, when did you cast illusion magic on Jon and me? We were really paying attention during the battle," Robb asked.

Renly approached Ashara, his magic glowing as he shattered the ice on her body and helped her up. "You were focusing on me, which is correct. But my illusion magic was cast on Ashara, and it was from her that you were affected."

Only then did they remember Ashara's eyes glowing purple earlier.

"Remember, the enemy will never stick to the same pattern, especially someone like me, a Five-School Mage," Renly said with a smile. He had intended to make an impression in front of Eddard Stark. Fortunately, he had studied the illusion-based chain release technique left behind by his brother, Wright.

Facing Ashara's reckless, all-out attacks, Robb's steady defense, and Jon's fast-paced strikes with illusion magic, he had almost lost! Renly felt a little nervous inside, but thankfully, he won. He straightened up and said seriously, "All three of you have passed. You are now ready for the final graduation test!"

Eddard and the others walked over, looking at the three children. "I never thought any of you would walk the path of magic. I am proud of all of you."

"Father!" Ashara, Robb, and Jon said in unison. The three of them had different mothers, but Eddard was their father.

Renly continued, "Ashara, are you going back to Dorne's Starfall?"

"Yes, Master Renly, I need to return home and win the duel to earn the title of Dawn's Sword for this generation," Ashara replied, drawing the two swords she had used earlier. After being ravaged by lightning and fire, the swords were now filled with cracks. After being exposed to high heat and freezing temperatures, the blades were now warped and useless.

"I need Dawn. Only it, along with Valyrian steel, can withstand my magic."

Eddard's guards were waiting outside the magic school. The Valyrian steel sword, Ice, was strapped to his back, and Ashara knew that this sword would eventually be passed down to her brother Robb. She would have to find the Dawn Sword to use.

"Can women hold that title?" Sansa asked, as the title of Sword of The Morning was well-known across the continent.

Ashara had spent some time living in the North with Sansa and understood her traditional character. She explained, "In Dorne, men and women have equal inheritance rights. The title of Dawn's Sword isn't for the family head; it's the title for the house strongest. After winning a family duel, one must challenge a knight appointed by the Prince of Dorne. After defeating them, one can be granted the title of Sword Of The Morning and gain the right to wield the Dawn. In the past, men held the title because their physical strength was naturally superior, but I am different."

Ashara didn't go into the full history of the title, but it originally belonged to the kings of House Dayne before Dorne was unified under the Martells. Those stories were too old and too long to explain in detail.

Renly took out a scroll and handed it to Ashara. "Your graduation test, the three of you, is a shared task. You'll be passing through Dorne, so you can travel together."

He handed the scroll to Ashara. "Open it on the road, read it, then burn it. Spend some time with Eddard. You'll depart in two days."

"For this graduation test, you will be acting as mages. The school will give each of you ten gold dragons. You can bring weapons and armor." Renly turned to Eddard and added, "No attendants."

Eddard awkwardly replied, "I had planned to assign attendants and guards to them, but after seeing their magic earlier, I've changed my mind. I think they're capable of handling it themselves."

Renly laughed, "You don't need to worry about their safety."

Eddard replied, "I just hope they don't cause any trouble."

Renly gestured for everyone to leave the school together. Eddard had a residence in King's Landing that was more luxurious than the magic school, and his meeting with the children would be more convenient there.

"Like knights, we mages also place great importance on honor. Once they complete their trials, the kingdom will officially recognize them as mages. At that point, they can choose to stay at the magic school and continue their research, become hired mages for the kingdom, or pursue any other path they wish. There are too few mages right now, and the kingdom treats them very well," Renly explained as they walked together, giving Eddard an overview of the children's future options.

Eddard understood immediately. Once they became mages, people would be eager to recruit them. He no longer had to worry about the futures of his two illegitimate children, which made him happy as well.

Two days later, the three mage apprentices left the magic school and stood on the streets of King's Landing, looking confused. The oldest, Ashara, was only fourteen years old. Until now, everything they did had been arranged by the adults. Now, they would have to rely on themselves.

"How do we get to Starfall? By boat or by horse?" Jon asked.

Ashara replied, "By horse!"

Robb asked, "Then we should buy three horses first. Sister, do you know the way?"

Ashara nodded. "Yes, head south and cross the border of Dorne, and we'll be there."

That didn't explain much. Robb frowned. "Then we'll need a map."

The three of them had already looked over the letter Renly gave them. The instructions were simple: find Asha and Theon Greyjoy on the Stepstones and bring them to Renly. Asha and Theon hadn't come to King's Landing; Eddard's forces were only stationed in the Riverlands and wouldn't go to the Stepstones. The two of them weren't able to travel with others. They had joined Jorah Mormont's small fleet as Eddard's adopted children and were now on their way from the western coast of the continent to the Stepstones.

The task seemed simple but was actually quite difficult. The news of war on the Stepstones had spread across the continent, and going there meant participating in the war. The three would have to navigate through various armies and locate Jorah Mormont's fleet

Having bought a map and horses, the three of them reached the city gates. Dressed in armor and with long swords at their sides, they were ready to shout to the heavens, but they had to return to the city to buy provisions first. Without attendants, they had to handle everything themselves.

"What else do we need?" Robb asked, leading the horse.

"Map, horses, provisions... is that enough?" Jon asked uncertainly.

"Water! We need to buy three water Bags," Ashara suddenly remembered.

The three of them wandered around the city again.

"Is that a Dorne caravan?" Robb asked, seeing a group preparing to leave the city.

Ashara looked back. "The spearheads are adorned with House Martell's sigil. Quentyn Martell must be returning to Dorne. We can travel with them."

Quentyn Martell was sitting in a carriage when his servant knocked on the door. "Eddard Stark's eldest son, Robb Stark of Winterfell, Ashara Dayne of Starfall, and Jon Snow, Eddard's bastard son, wish to see you."

Quentyn immediately left the carriage. He had met Robb Stark at a small council meeting and confirmed his identity. It was clear Robb was likely to become the next Lord of Winterfell. Ashara Dayne was also from a prominent house, and while Jon Snow was a bastard, he, like the others, was now a mage apprentice with a promising future.

The four of them, not far in age, quickly struck up a conversation. When they mentioned they were headed to Starfall, Quentyn invited them to travel together, offering them seats in his carriage, but the three insisted on riding horses.

A few of Quentyn's peers, unable to endure the boredom, left the carriage after a while to ride with them.

Quentyn Martell, whose father, Prince Doran Martell, had yet to arrange a marriage for him, couldn't help but take an interest in Ashara Dayne. His polite demeanor slowly shifted to a more attentive and courteous attitude whenever she was around. Robb and Jon occasionally teased Ashara about it.

However, Ashara showed no interest in Quentyn. Her thoughts were entirely consumed by the title of Sword Of The Morning and the legendary Dawn itself.

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