Chapter 2: I’ve Already Been Found?!

  —

  Seven Kingdoms, one ti. Westeros was an enjoyable p the s but a harsh pce to live in. Especially for a modern man who’d just regained his memories.

  In hindsight, Essos was better. Sure there was svery, but svery’s on your side if you had the money. I had a pouch of gold s, and using that I could buy sves and spend my days in luxury until the end. Unfortunately, my pride as a Targaryen remained ragie regaining my memories. I had lived as the fool that was Viserys Targaryen for 22 years, and the blood in my veins demanded I return to Westeros and recim “my” throne.

  But pride was ohing, logiother. I didn’t have the ambition of ruling the seven kingdoms. I didn’t have the ambition for anything right now, nor did I know what I wanted. Nonstop horse riding for the st two weeks had left me fused and hungry, and the only thing I knew was that I didn’t want to die. Aurning to Westeros and fighting for the throne was certaih.

  In that case, wasn’t it better to just stay here?

  A nd where the old Gods have long since lost their influence, and the new ones reigned supreme. That was Essos, a ti almost double the size of Westeros.

  “...Fuck,” I cursed, swallowing my saliva. I couldn’t hold baymore. I yanked out the water skin strapped to my side and poured it down my throat. The half a mouthful of remaining water fell into my throat, and I gulped. I sucked on it till the st drop and coughed when nothing more fell.

  It’s not as if vilges did here where I could have refilled the water. But the problem was that stopping anywhere meant the ce of beiured by the Dothraki would grow higher. It was too dangerous to take the ce.

  I hoped Daenerys hadn’t sold me out, but I didn’t trust her not to.

  I had just ridden my horse in a random dire. Thankfully, it wasn’t the Red Waste that I ended up in; otherwise, I’d have died from dehydration by now. No, I think I was making my way toward the sea.

  “e o moving,” I sighed and patted my horse. That thing had been carrying me for far too long. The short breaks during the night were mostly to let it rest, as much as it was to catch myself some sleep.

  I couldn’t stay in Essos.

  There was no way I could. Game of Thrones was one of those worlds where a butterfly effect could cause immense ge iire world. A man might survive if the wind blew the wrong way, and that man might charge an army to King’s Landing a week ter, writing the pages of history anew. It was that type of world. And now that something objectively major has ged—where the Targaryen trademark didn’t remain under Daenerys’ sole existehe world might gh a whole different plotline just because of this.

  For example, Khal Drogo might not die. In that case, the Dothraki would certainly tinue searg for me forever. And the day they find me, and they definitely will someday, for a man could only hide for so long, they’d tie me behind a horse and ride into the horizon. I wasn’t ready to have my balls mutited by cobblestone roads.

  If I remained in Essos, death was immi.

  Oher hand, I could survive ieros as long as I didn’t gun for the throne. I was five years old when I left Westeros; nobody would reize me. I’d even cut my hair and grow a beard for additional certainty.

  [Ding! END + 1 for staying strong on ay stomach.]

  Ah, and there’s this thing too. In the worst-case sario, I had this to rely on. I’d pyed my fair share of games ba my st life, and if this System thing wasn’t my mind pying trie, it meant I had a genuine shot at building myself into superman.

  ===

  Viserys Targaryen

  22 Years Old

  Level 2

  -

  2 STR

  4 END

  2 DEX

  7 INT

  7 LUC

  ===

  It was a game-like system window. The Gamer System. Although it cked much of the inal’s features, which robably the reason why it called itself the Dragon System, I could see myself rising high with its help. I had gained one level during this horse ride, and all of my stats increased by 1 through that.

  I definitely couldn’t survive a sed against a huhousand Dothraki though.

  Yep, I had to leave Essos. The decision was made. The inal Viserys could never have taken this decision without an army, or else his balls would have jumped to his shoulders, but I was different. I khe plot, and I had a [System]. I also had a new [Quest].

  [Quest: Waking the Dragon.]

  It was about the dragon egg I stole. There were much more details in the quest, some advi how to hatch it, but I couldn’t focus on that yet, so no point in wasting time thinking about it.

  I had yet to decide on a true goal, but for a start, I had to grab a ship to cross the seas.

  Wait…

  “Hah, is that another mirage?” I bli the sight in the distance. After leaving the Dothraki Grass Sea, I stumbled upon a nd mostly barren with stones and hills. For the first time sihen, I saw rge signs of human civilization in the distance.

  There were high walls, and there was a sea. Was I seeing things again, or did I actually stumble upon a port city? I could see the light at the end of the tunnel!

  Then I fell.

  My horse wavered underh me, falling on its knees, as I was sent tumbling forward, rolling on the soil. I coughed, rising up, “Argh! Shit, stupid little-”

  I cursed the poor horse and sighed. I went silent and sloroached it, hand reag out to pat it. “Neigh…” It looked worn out. Its majestic white fur was darkened from the week’s journey. It had brought me here so far, so I couldn’t bring myself to be harsh at it.

  I looked into its eyes and sighed. “Fine, we’ll rest for a bit. Don’t die on me.”

  It was risky, but I couldn’t really walk from here even if I could see the city. The distance was too much, and it’d take hours. I should just rest for those hours instead.

  ****

  The rhythmic drum of hooves was the only sound breaking the stillness of the barren pins. The sun hung low, casting a dull e hue across the horizon, while the distant outline of Vontis City slowly came into view.

  My eyes glinted i the sight. I roag a real medieval city. The city rose like a sleepi, its a branches sprawling, its walls t above the ft ndscape. A slight breeze stirred the dry grass, carrying with it the st of saltwater from the nearby river, mixing with the dust that g to everything.

  I could make out the silhouette of the Long Bridge, arg high above the Rhoyne like a spine, eg the two halves of the city. It seemed peaceful from a distance, but I knew better. In Vontis, peace was a lie. Vontis was a city inhabited by mostly sves.

  Vontis. One of the oldest cities in Essos, a pce where the s of the past opped rattling. Stupid old people loyal to old traditions ruled this nd.

  As for how I knew for sure that it was Vontis City? The mini-map floating in the er of my vision showed the name. Vontis City.

  Even though I, as Viserys Targaryen, hadn’t seen the pce before, I remembered seeing it in the show. The system wasn't just handing me game stats; it was giviher useful tools too, like this map. The faint glow of the name made me reize it.

  The clot, the more fresh the empty air felt. I had finally left the Dothraki Sea, the wastends. But while the smell was fresh, the sight wasn’t light. Sves, more than I could t, milled about even outside the city walls. They stood with their heads lowered and colrs ed tight around their necks.

  Human property. A on sight in Essos… Huh, I don’t feel disgusted. I thought I would, given my modern side. But I was surprisingly fih it. In this world, I was a high-born; what did it matter if sves died around me?

  The guards spotted me as I approached the gates, their eyes narrowing, hands resting zily on the hilts of their ons. They weren’t tense, just bored, for they must have seen a huravelers today already. “Calm,” I said to my horse and pulled the reins, and my Dany White snorted in respos exhaustion mirr mine. After riding for what felt like ay, we were both about ready to colpse.

  “You there,” one of the guards grunted, stepping forward. His armor was dented and worn, but his eyes were sharp. “State your business.”

  I could smell alcohol from his breath even from here. How unprofessional. I swung my leg over and dismounted, my boots kig up the dust that coated the ground. My hair, now short, barely brushed my colr. I had cut it earlier while resting with the horse—a small ge, but ohat might keep the wrong people frnizing me.

  Not that anyone here would care too much about a stray Targaryen, st seen 17 years ago by the public.

  “Just passing through,” I said, wiping the sweat from my brow. “How much for entry?”

  The sed guard chuckled. “Gold ,” he said, extending his hand expetly. His fingers wiggled in the air as if trying to pluck it straight from my pocket.

  Of course, it’s gold. I fished out a from the pouch at my side, tossing it to the guard. He looked it around and bit into it with a grin before wavihrough. “Aye, rich man. Wele to Vontis.”

  I ighem and led my horse inside, walking beside it as we ehe city proper. The streets were busy, thrumming with the noise of traders, merts and the dull hum of sves moving about, doing their masters' bidding. Colrs of iron and bronze around their necks marked their status. Some had tattoos branded on their faces—symbols indig their role in this twisted system.

  I fot what the different tattoos mean. I wondered, barely notig a sve approag me until he spoke. “Ser, would you like me to take care of your horse?” he asked, his voice low, eyes glued to the ground.

  I nodded. “Ah yes, see to it.” I gave the permission. There was o worry about the horse being stolen. Sves didn’t have the luxury of making those kinds of mistakes.

  With my horse handed over, I wandered deeper into the city. The air smelled of sweat, sea salt, and roasti. Shouts from market stalls filled the streets, mixed with the g of metal from nearby smithies.

  Yet, what stood out the most was the sight of so many sves, their branded faces aen-down expressions so on they were part of the sery.

  As I walked, a man sidled up beside me, rubbing his hands together like he’d just been handed something precious. His eyes gleamed, wearing a vulgar grin. “Looking for something, friend? Maybe a few girls to keep you pany? We got the best bed sves in all of Vontis. Harpies with thighs so soft you’ll fet where you are. Or, if you’re more the w type, we got boys who’ll carry your loads or build you whatever you need. We mark ’em good here.” He ughed, spping the ass of a thick girl standing beside him. She gasped, shooting me a fearful look.

  I g him, and then at the girl. This is bad, I don’t feel disgusted at all. As Viserys, I was 22 years too old to be disgusted by sve whores.

  I almost pohe offer seriously for a minute.

  He kept talking, painting vivid, vile pictures of what he could offer. “Seems you’re not from here. You see the tattoos? Eaeans somethin’. Fish for the docks, hammer for the ones who work steel, fly tattoo indicates dung shovers, and tears for whores. You , I get it.” He added, “Got fresh ones. Girls, young, untouched if you know what I mean…”

  In the end, I shook my head. “Not ied,” I muttered. I didn’t feel as disgusted by svery, but that didn’t mean I’d give in to Viserys’ lust. The man tried to persuade me further, but I excused myself a him there, tinuing toward the heart of the city.

  Whores could go fuck themselves. I needed food. Rest. Anything that’d stop this trembling of my starving, sleep-deprived body.

  After a while, I found a small inn tucked into a er of the marketpce. It wasn’t grand, but it would do. I didn’t tention. I stepped ihe dull hum of versation filling the air as I found a table he babsp;

  Before long, a boy, no older than twelve, scurried over. His clothes were threadbare, and he looked half-starved himself, but his eyes were sharp.

  “ I get you something, Ser?” he asked, his voice crag slightly.

  “I’m no Ser. Bread, meat, and water,” I said, hunger gnawing at my stomach. “Anything fresh will do.”

  He nodded and disappeared into the back. When the food arrived, I tore into it like a man starved for months, which wasn’t far from the truth. The bread was stale, the meat chewy, but I didn’t care. The food was mediocre at best, but I ate it all the same. It was the first det meal I’d had in days. I ate until my stomach hurt.

  When I finally leaned back, sated, I reached into my pouch for another . Fuck, I wanna give him all the gold. That was delicious. Mediocre food tasted divine on ay stomabsp;

  I got up from the table and walked over to the ter. I should ask about a ship, too. I stopped before the scruffy man at the ter, “How much?” I asked.

  “Hm?” The man looked at me and shrugged to wave me off. “Nay he er over there already paid for your meal.”

  “What?” My spiiffehe hairs on the bay neck standing on end. I turned slowly, eyes sing the room until they nded on a figure in the er, draped in red. A hood cealed their face, but there was no mistaking the fact that they were watg me. They raised a hand and waved in a slow, deliberate motion.

  I swallowed hard. Have I been found out already? I had cut my hair and hidden myself as best I could. Yet somehow, someone had noticed. And they were sitting across the room, calmly watg me.

  My fingers itched toward the dagger at my side, but I didn’t make a move. We locked into a silent stare-off. The hooded figure stayed silent, and the air around us grew heavier.

  Who the hell was that?

  She lowered her robe slightly and smiled at me. Ah, yes. I blinked, l my dagger. A fug Red Priestess, no wohey could reize me even in hell.

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