Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Exchange of Interests
Wright had never been fond of the smell of horse manure and had never really learned how to fight on horseback. Apart from traveling, he rarely rode horses. Now, faced with a few White Walkers on horseback who were also skilled in swordsmanship, he struggled to adapt to the battle, but his strength, stamina, and life force far exceeded that of an ordinary human.
He blocked an incoming ice sword with his shield and used Fire Tongue to shoot flames at the White Walkers. The flames lacked the explosive power of the Fireball spell, unable to instantly kill the White Walkers, but the continuous burning still caused significant damage.
The fire continued to burn, while the White Walkers counterattacked with their swords. Their swordsmanship was exceptional, and while they endured the damage from the flames, they spread out around Wright. His magical shield could only protect one side, and his ice armor was beginning to crack, with several new wounds on his body.
One White Walker finally couldn't withstand the fire and shattered into ice. Then, the second one followed suit.
With the siege lifted, dealing with the remaining two became easier. Wright urged his skeletal horse forward, creating some distance, and then threw a Fireball, exploding the next White Walker.
The wights were now approaching, but with four White Walkers dead, most of the wights had lost control and collapsed along the way. Only a few made it to Wright, and he shattered them with a wave of his magic shield.
As one last White Walker thrust his sword toward him, Wright deflected the blow with his magical shield, freeing up one leg for a powerful side kick. The force shattered both the ice armor on his boot and the White Walker's armor, sending him flying off his horse, landing several meters away and rolling. Wright had kicked so hard that he nearly fell off his own mount.
"It's over!" The sound of another explosion echoed as the final White Walker shattered into ice.
With all the wights fallen, Wright was left alone, surrounded by dead corpses. His magicka reserves were nearly depleted, so he ignited the three Fireballs on his back for warmth. Two would slowly help him recover, while one remained to balance the consumption.
If more White Walkers arrived, he'd surely be drained and perish here. This battle had been won by both sides unknowingly, but for the time being, the wights were unlikely to return in large numbers. When they did come again, though, their numbers would surely be greater, and the White Walkers would likely find new ways to kill him. It was time to leave.
Looking around, he saw large piles of corpses scattered in the area, and there were no other White Walkers in sight. Only Wright remained, riding his skeletal horse, dressed in ice armor and holding an ice sword.
---
After half a day's hurried travel, guided by the Raven, Wright finally arrived at the entrance of a hidden cave.
Before approaching, he could already sense the dense magical energy gathering there.
A dark-skinned little girl stood at the entrance of the cave, wearing clothes woven from leaves. Her eyes and ears were large, and her hair was tangled with twigs. She had a beautiful face, and her lifespan was several times that of a human.
"You must be Leaf, right?" Wright thought, recognizing the image of the Children of the Forest, the original intelligent beings of this land before humans arrived.
When the three eyed Raven had made arrangements with Wright earlier, he mentioned a Children of the forest named Leaf, who had lived in the human world for two hundred years. She could speak the common tongue and was literate. It was Leaf who had written the letters exchanged between the two of them.
The little girl said something into the cave, and Wright couldn't understand it. Another Children of the forest, with golden-green eyes, emerged from the cave.
"You're mistaken. I am Leaf!" she said.
Wright awkwardly rubbed his nose. Based on the TV show and the real-life figure, he had misidentified her. After living in Westeros for more than ten years, many things had started to blur in his memory.
"Come in. Put out the flames on your back," Leaf said, then walked into the cave.
Wright had only lit one Fireball due to the large magic consumption from the battle earlier, and now he kept it lit for warmth.
Upon entering the cave, he immediately felt a magical barrier. Wright instinctively began to analyze the flow of magic within it.
"This is a different way of using magic. Completely different from mine. It's worth studying," he thought.
"Stop sensing it. I'll explain it to you later," Leaf urged.
The walls of the cave were covered with vines and branches, and the path wound and twisted. Eventually, they reached a large cavern where tree roots were entangled, with a white-haired elder at the center, his body now fused with the roots.
Wright cast a light spell, "Finally, we meet, three eyed Raven. It hasn't been an easy journey."
"I too wish to see you in person, Wright," the three eyed Raven said in a hoarse, slow voice. "I've already learned of your necromancy and summoning magic from others in the future. Evil and justice, it all depends on who wields them."
Wright formed a chair from ice and sat down, sensing the magic flowing through the three eyed Raven's body. "It's easy to talk to you," he said. "I thought I would need to explain everything first. Today, let's not discuss the Targaryen and Baratheon. Instead, let's talk as two powerful magicians of Westeros. I'm curious about something. Your magical flow is slow, and it's filled with the essence of life, yet your body, that of Brynden Rivers, is on the brink of decay. It's a strange state. Are you Brynden Rivers, or are you the three eyed Raven?"
"The knowledge of the past has gathered in me, so I am both Brynden Rivers and the three eyed Raven," He said.
Only one out of a thousand can become a Skinchanger; of those thousand Skinchangers, only one can become a three eyed Raven. A Skinchanger can transform in animals, similar to the Druids from other magical worlds. This magic doesn't exist in Wright the Elder Scrolls 5 system, but it shares similarities with Alteration magic.
"Now, let's talk about the Night King. Do you think I can defeat him now? Some of my magic works effectively against undead creatures," Wright said, contemplating how to potentially kill the Night King before his army of the dead fully formed.
The ability to resurrect the dead, especially permanently, was a grave concern. Though the army was made up of broken skeletons, the longer the dead were left unopposed, the more numerous the army would become.
"I can't spy on the Night King and you. Where will you go to find him? And even if you do find him, he can still outlast you in this icy wasteland," the three eyed Raven retorted.
"The Night King is an undead creature; he doesn't need to breathe or fear the cold. He could stand at the bottom of the sea or dig a hole and hide in the earth. The snow-covered lands of the North are vast, and it would be difficult to find him if he wants to hide," Wright analyzed, stroking his chin. "As for your ability to glimpse others, I believe both the Night King and I possess greater magical power and technique than you, which is why you cannot see us," he added.
"You are unique. When someone tries to glimpse you, they are watched by dragons," the three eyed Raven said flatly, without any visible emotion.
Wright, however, had his own thoughts. Like the three eyed Raven, he was a special kind of mage — a dragonborn. With seven dragon souls within him, it was no surprise that others might feel watched when attempting to perceive him.
In truth, the three eyed Raven could see the location of the Night King but could not see his past or future. Moreover, if he attempted to peer into the Night King's presence, he would be found in return. The same applied to Wright — he could not be seen by the three eyed Raven. They both avoided making unpredictable moves, for their kind never took risks they couldn't foresee.
"Let's return to our deal," Wright said. "Communication through your crows has been difficult. First, I won't interfere with the three eyed Raven's legacy, and as for Jojen Reed, he will be entrusted to me. Does this deal sound acceptable to you?"
The three eyed Raven locked eyes with Wright. "Because of you, their fate has already changed. Even Bran's future shifts with each passing moment," he replied, his expression unreadable.