The Fire Mages

Perhaps it was the loss of Jaime's precious right hand that had changed his state of mind. Whatever the reason, after Robert captured King's Landing, he immediately began expelling the fire mages.

Except for a rare few, most of them now lived in fear and anxiety.

Others might not have felt it deeply, but to the fire mages, the change was unmistakable—they could no longer flaunt themselves as they once had during Aerys's reign.

Back then, some among them had been close advisors to the king. One even served as Hand of the King.

Now, under Jaime's purge, even the Alchemists' Guild—built for them under Aerys's orders—had been torn down.

Yet even the remaining fire mages in King's Landing had heard the rumors: Viserys might be a dreamwalker.

Though they didn't necessarily believe it, they discussed among themselves and decided that, as the son of the Mad King, Viserys might share the same fascination with their "fire tricks."

More importantly, Viserys had already secured his foothold on Dragonstone.

And King's Landing was not far from the island. So, a few dozen fire mages gathered some small boats and sailed for Dragonstone.

They were hoping for fortune and power.

When Ser Willem heard that those damned fire mages had come to enchant his king, he rushed to warn Viserys without a moment's delay.

"Your Grace, these fire mages bring nothing but disaster! In the time of Aegon IV, they nearly burned half of King's Landing to the ground. Under Aegon V, they caused the tragedy at Summerhall.

And Your Grace… you must not forget your own father, Aerys! You must not trust them!"

Willem's voice trembled with urgency, terrified that Viserys might follow in the footsteps of the previous Targaryen kings who had embraced the flame.

Yet Viserys's expression revealed hesitation.

He turned to the man beside him and asked, "Ser Gerold, do you also think I should drive them away?"

The question caught Gerold off guard.

Viserys had always struck him as decisive in matters of importance. By all logic, he should've ordered these pests removed without a second thought.

Was this another Targaryen thing—this love for fire?

"Of course, Your Grace. Those fire mages bring no benefit to the realm. You must be cautious!"

But Gerold's plea didn't seem to sway the young king. He still hesitated, almost as if he was reluctant to cast them out.

"May I ask my mother first?"

When Viserys said this, both Gerold and Willem exchanged glances, alarm bells ringing in their minds.

If he needed to ask his mother, something was wrong.

Still, they decided to let him go. They believed that Rhaella—having seen firsthand the havoc those fire mages had caused—would never allow them to remain.

She had suffered greatly from their influence. Aerys had often taken out his twisted desires on her after watching fire executions.

There was no way she would agree to let them stay. The two knights could only hope Rhaella would talk some sense into her son.

After Viserys left, Gerold and Willem grew anxious.

"He seems interested in them," Willem said, frowning.

Just when they had finally secured a foothold on Dragonstone, now these parasites appeared.

"We'll speak to Arthur and Oswell. The four of us will present our case to His Grace together."

"Yes!"

When Gerold said "the four of us," Willem felt a small surge of pride.

Though all four of them were members of the Kingsguard, Willem had yet to earn any particular merit.

He was the weakest in martial skill among them, and despite the equal trust Viserys showed him, he often felt a distance between himself and the other three.

Gerold's words made him feel a sense of belonging.

And in that moment, Willem swore to help eliminate the fire mages completely.

When Arthur Dayne and Oswell Whent heard the news, they quickly gathered with Gerold and Willem. The tension on Dragonstone rose palpably with their meeting.

After some discussion, they agreed that the fire mages posed a real threat to the realm.

If Viserys refused to act, then one of them would have to make the sacrifice.

"If His Grace won't drive them out, then I'll kill them myself. You three can bring me to him afterward for punishment!" Arthur said, his tone resolute.

He couldn't bear the thought of their long-awaited restoration being tarnished.

"I'll go. I'm the captain," said Gerold, extending his injured right hand. "You all stay."

He felt it was his duty. He was the oldest among them, and he had once been wounded for the king. If a sacrifice had to be made, it should be him.

With the weight of his authority as captain, Gerold persuaded them all.

Afterward, a strange feeling washed over him.

Back when Aerys burned Lord Rickard Stark and executed his son Brandon, when he defiled Queen Rhaella, Gerold had done nothing—just stood and watched.

And yet here he was now, ready to defy his king if necessary.

"A king's men are but his shadow."

The phrase, spoken once by Viserys, echoed in Gerold's mind.

He knew now that he served a different kind of king—a just and noble one. And it was changing him.

Together, the four Kingsguard made their way to Rhaella's quarters, waiting for Viserys to make his final decision.

Meanwhile, Viserys was playing with young Daenerys.

"I am Daenerys Stormborn! Doo doo doo doo~"

The little girl didn't understand what was going on, but gave a toothless smile all the same.

When Viserys had heard of the fire mages' arrival, his first thought had been to kill them and absorb their essence.

Although they had always been more ruin than help in the Targaryen dynasty, Viserys knew better.

He knew they possessed real power.

When the red comet appeared in the sky and dragons returned to the world, their true strength would be revealed.

He couldn't let the opportunity slip by.

Especially since fire magic might be tied to the hatching of dragon eggs.

But the four Kingsguard were ever-vigilant, always guarding against the possibility of their young king becoming another mad Targaryen. So Viserys had to proceed with caution.

Last time, he had sold the prisoners as laborers in Pentos to buy time. This time, he would appear to retreat by hesitating—then strike swiftly.

Watching his siblings play, Rhaella felt more content than she had in years.

She gazed at Viserys, her eyes full of love and something more—pity.

She knew her son would soon leave again, venturing far to find a haven for their family.

No one in Targaryen history, she thought, had ever carried such a burden at so young an age.

If only he had a few more years. He didn't even need to be a grown man—just look like one. He should still be clinging to his mother's arms, not facing blades and death.

After a while, Viserys looked up from the swaddled Daenerys and said to Rhaella:

"Mother, the fire mages have come to Dragonstone. I intend to kill them all."

Rhaella said nothing.

She simply nodded, firmly.

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