Chapter 62 - Aenar Targaryen, First of His Name (I)

“Someone told me that manipulation was a subtle art, but I think otherwise, manipulation is a simple art and with a little knowledge, you can make other people fall for your manipulations without too much difficulty. Humans love to hear what they want to hear.” Aenar Targaryen watching the crowd below him waiting for his words.

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“Princess Arianne and Prince Oberyn, due to previous events, we will all rest and break our fast in the morning.” Aenar handed Dawn back to Leda, who was following him loyally, and spoke in a casual, relaxed tone, as if he hadn't just burned a gourd suspected of being a death god.

Arianne and Oberyn didn't know what to say and just nodded, remembering the scenes that had taken place just a few moments before.

Even with all his experience, Oberyn didn't know what to say at the moment. According to Aenar's words, the head was the Many-Faced God, the god of death worshipped by many places in Essos and especially by the Black and White House of Braavos.

After speaking a few more words with Aenar, Oberyn took his entire family and left for the rooms prepared for their stay in Volantis. Right now, all he wanted was a good drink and maybe a night of sex.

Seeing his guests disappear, the smile on Aenar's face vanished, making Benerro, Moqorro and Kinvara feel like they were stepping on hot coals.

“One day. One day I want all the information about the House of Black and White and all the places that worship this damned god of death. I'm going to exterminate his religion in this world and make him forgotten by everyone.”

Aenar spoke each word with a cold, unquestioning tone, his purple eyes not hiding the murderous intent in his gaze.

“Yes, your grace.” The three of them answered at the same time.

After answering that, the cold look on his face disappeared and Aenar smiled warmly at Daenerys, who had just arrived at his side. “Dany, let's go to sleep, I just want to feel my comfortable bed right now.”

Daenerys was speechless at how quickly her adorable nephew's expression changed. One moment he had an expression capable of frightening the bravest of men and the next he was smiling warmly with a gentle gaze.

Suddenly, feeling her body being lifted, Daenerys let out a small cry of surprise and looked at Aenar with an angry expression.

“You looking at me like that only makes me want to bully you even more.” Kissing her cheek, Aenar commented with an amused laugh as he walked towards his room. Behind him, Titus, Sigismund, Ser William and Leda followed with their hands placed on the hilt of their swords, ready to be drawn at any moment.

Resting her head on his shoulder, Daenerys asked in a soft, genuinely confused tone, “Aenar, what's going on? Why did you call that talking head the Many-Faced God?”

Stroking her hair, Aenar smiled and replied in a soft tone without hiding or lowering his voice. “In this world there are gods, many are evil and want the end of the human race.”

Aenar continued speaking while Titus, Sigismund, Ser Willem and Leda listened to every word with extreme attention.

“Every five thousand years, an eclipse will cover the world for decades or hundreds of years. This was called the Long Night by the civilizations that survived the last Long Night. At this time, due to these gods, the land can no longer be used for cultivation and nature has become hostile to the human race. Man-eating monsters have emerged from the shadows and will bring even more chaos and death.”

“When Kinvara calls me the Son of Light, it's because I really have been chosen by the Red God, or as I like to call him, the Omnipotent and Omniscient God. I was chosen to save humanity in the dark times to come.”

“But because of this, many gods who want the destruction of the Human Race are hostile to me. The God of Many Faces, for example, sensed the death of one of his believers and used his body as an Avatar to reach the material world.”

“Are you in danger?” The first thing Daenerys asked was not about the human race's chance of survival, but Aenar's safety.

Hearing those words, Aenar felt an unfamiliar feeling bubble up in his chest with an intensity he had never felt before.

He really felt that he was falling in love with this girl who loved him with all her might. Caring more about him than about herself. How could he not fall in love with someone like that?

Showing a surprisingly warm smile, Aenar replied with a gentle tone. “Don't worry, my queen. If gods were allowed to walk the earth, this planet should already be destroyed and all life on it. They need a powerful vessel to withstand his coming, and even if they come to the mortal world, they can't wield all their power and could be killed.”

Daenerys sighed with relief at those words. The thought of her beloved being threatened by gods was too much pressure for her young heart.

Behind Aenar and Daenerys, all four also sighed with relief. Fighting men was one thing, they could fight entire armies without fear of death, but fighting gods was something else entirely.

How could mere mortals harm gods?

“My king, I will protect you even if the gods try to hurt you.” Leda said, making Aenar smile and reply. “I'll be counting on all of you to protect my little life.”

Even if he didn't need protection, Aenar knew he couldn't kill the loyalty and determination of his subordinates, what kind of king would he be if he made such a suicidal move?

How would he protect his kingdom without these people? How would he maintain order at a time when human life was worth no more than a few grains of food? How could he maintain hope without people's determination to move on?

In short, he needed extremely powerful and determined legions for what was to come; man-eating monsters were the last thing he had to worry about. Gods were much more dangerous than a million monsters, especially gods like the God of Many Faces, who was especially cunning and intelligent.

Aenar's words seemed to inject gigantic amounts of adrenaline into the bodies of the four people. At that moment, all four of them had never felt so proud to fight and die for Aenar, the man who would save humanity from evil monsters and gods.

Seeing the fanaticism growing in each of their eyes, Aenar let out a mental sigh and continued walking forward. Although he knew it would happen when he spoke those words, he underestimated how crazy the faith of a determined man or woman could be.

He knew that if he asked, all four of them would give their lives if he did.

“Willem, I will perform your enhancement ceremony and then Leda's, both of you must be prepared to suffer the worst pain you have ever felt.” Aenar left these words before entering his room with Daenerys in his arms.

Willem knew what the king was talking about, he had personally seen the brothers transform from skinny boys into tall, strong young men in less than a day. It excited him, there was nothing more glorious for a Kingsguard than to protect a king worthy of their protection.

Aenar was that kind of king that every Kingsguard wanted to protect, any Kingsguard would give their life to a king like Aenar without any hesitation.

Suppressing the emotions in his chest, Willem saw the confusion on Leda's face and replied with a respectful tone. “Lady Commander, the Enhancement Ceremony is something the king uses to strengthen our bodies to an inhuman level in the eyes of all.”

Leda's eyes lit up hearing Willem's words, she remembered the speed of Titus and Sigismund, she finally understood why they were both so fast!

Knowing she could become even stronger to protect her king more effectively, Leda couldn't help the smile on her lips, although her smile wasn't pretty, it was a cold smile with no warmth, just like her eyes.

Willem couldn't help but twitch his lips unnaturally at the sight of that terrifying smile. The new Lady Commander of the Kingsguard was frightening when she smiled.

Inside the room, Aenar took off his clothes and changed back into a pair of baggy white silk pants. He picked up the glass containing the Water of Life and gazed deeply into the turquoise liquid.

Although he said that the gods wouldn't attack him soon, Aenar didn't want to let his fate be decided by others and for that, he needed power. Enough power to make the gods wary while he gained time to grow.

“Is drinking that stuff dangerous?” Daenerys, wearing a transparent lace camisole, asked as she lay down next to Aenar.

“It's not dangerous in itself, but it will awaken quite powerful powers in me, albeit at a cost of pain that is simply impossible to describe.” Aenar replied with a smile.

Knowing she couldn't change Aenar's mind, Daenerys lay down on his chest and spoke with a slightly worried tone. “I will be with you.”

“Thank you, my queen.” Aenar smiled and gently kissed her lips.

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Note: This chapter only introduced a few gods and their purposes with the Long Night, but these things involving the gods only happened at the end of the first phase of the story. Before that there will only be mentions and a few short stories explaining more about the Long Night.