The living room was designed in a classical European style. The entire southern wall was carved from a single piece of obsidian into the shape of a black dragon lying prone on the ground. The fireplace formed the dragon's mouth, now filled with stacked firewood, flames blazing fiercely inside.
On the eastern wall beside the fireplace stood a massive floor-to-ceiling window made of glass. Firelight passed through the glass, illuminating the lush cedar trees outside, lightly covered in snow.
Farther to the east lay a stretch of darkness, with the faint sound of waves drifting in.
Dany took a cup of lemon black tea from Missandei, leaned comfortably against the couch, and said, "Now that you've exposed yourself, are you planning to seek refuge with me?"
"That's not the main reason."
The great raven perched atop the obsidian dragon's horn and spoke slowly, "Because of your appearance, the mission of the Three-Eyed Raven has changed.
The Three-Eyed Raven is not an independent lifeform. We have no personal emotions. We are merely a will that protects the world.
It is precisely because this will is pure enough that the Three-Eyed Raven can become the sky of Westeros.
For countless years, within the limits of our understanding and abilities, we have done our utmost to make the world a better place."
Seeing the Dragon Queen's indifferent expression, the great raven paused before sighing, "I understand that in this process, individuals, families, and even entire kingdoms may be harmed.
But humanity is merely one species living within the world. Compared to the world itself, humans are insignificant, let alone a single kingdom.
Humans are insignificant. Kingdoms are even more so. Families and individuals can be entirely disregarded.
The essence of the Three-Eyed Raven is a collective of will, an accumulation of countless greenseers' determination to protect Westeros and the world.
As long as it benefits the world, any of us can be sacrificed, even the chosen child of an era. As long as it prevents the world from falling into the abyss, we can cooperate with anyone, even the evil god R'hllor you speak of.
Let me repeat, do not regard the Three-Eyed Raven as a human. It is merely a pure will of protection.
Now the situation has changed. You are an individual. You have a family. You have built a kingdom.
But your power is too great. It is enough to alter the course of the river of destiny. Because of that, the individual, family, kingdom, and even humanity centered around you are no longer insignificant.
There is a high probability that you will lead humanity to dispel the Long Night without the help of gods. There is also a strong chance that you will prevent the world from falling. And though the possibility is extremely small, you might be the true Child of the World, ultimately leading it to ascend.
So, from a certain perspective, you are equivalent to this world.
Therefore, the Three-Eyed Raven, which serves the world, has not changed its original intent, but it has changed the object it serves."
"In the eyes of the Three-Eyed Raven, if you are not the greater whole, it will force you to sacrifice yourself for it. Just like before, Brynden had been protecting the destiny planned by R'hllor, sacrificing you to fulfill it. But once you become the greater whole, anyone can be sacrificed for you."
Dany froze for a moment, then hesitated, "How could you think like this? I mean, I've always known I am the greater whole, that the world should prioritize me, but you didn't have such correct awareness before."
Bran did not mock her self-praise. Instead, he said in a complicated tone, "Recently, I've been growing as well. I now roughly understand some of Brynden's arrangements before his death."
"What arrangements did Brynden make?" Dany asked curiously.
"Do you think he could have foreseen that I would disobey his instructions and refuse to merge with the Mark of the Greenseer?" Bran asked.
"Well…" Dany said uncertainly, "In theory, he should have foreseen it. But if he knew you would neglect your duty, he likely would have made arrangements to force you to fulfill the responsibility of the Three-Eyed Raven."
At the end, she emphasized, "Brynden has no emotions. He's capable of anything."
"You're right. Brynden is the Three-Eyed Raven and would show me no mercy. With the Long Night approaching, the previous Three-Eyed Raven would never allow the next one to lose omniscience.
But the result is that he seemed to have no schemes at all, nor did he make any arrangements, as if he knew nothing.
I still have worldly attachments and was unwilling to sacrifice my independent will. I successfully avoided my responsibility. Why is that?" Bran said.
"Maybe something went wrong with his mind? Stop keeping me in suspense. Just say what you mean," Dany said impatiently.
"Because he never intended for me to merge with the Mark of the Greenseer at all!" Bran dropped the shocking revelation coldly.
"What did you say? Are you crazy?" Dany exclaimed, wide-eyed.
"I'm not crazy. On the contrary, I've never been as clear-headed as I am now, clear enough to finally perceive the true arrangement of the Three-Eyed Raven."
"What arrangement?"
"Sacrifice everything for the greater whole. Sacrifice himself for you alone." Bran's emotions churned as he spoke word by word, filled with shock and resentment. "The Mark of the Greenseer was meant for you!
Even I myself am an assistant reserved for you by the Three-Eyed Raven!
The Three-Eyed Raven has no emotions. It is the coldest and most ruthless will of protection. For the sake of the world, it can sacrifice anyone, even itself.
After you successfully reversed the predetermined fate and displayed the ability to replace R'hllor and save the world from the Long Night, it may have glimpsed a future in the river of destiny that I cannot see.
Then it decided to become the fertilizer for your growth."
"You're not joking. You're going to—"
Before Dany could finish speaking, she froze.
In an instant, Bran transferred 80% of the remaining fragments of the Mark of the Greenseer to her.
"I currently have only 9% of the Mark fused within me, just enough to maintain the ability to enter the river of time through the trees. The rest of the Mark now belongs to you.
From now on, everything of the Three-Eyed Raven is yours, including the Green Spring and the power of the Old Gods' faith.
I am also a greenseer. I am the Three-Eyed Raven. Even if I am still human, I will not defy the instinct to protect the greater whole.
This is my fate, and the fate of the Three-Eyed Raven," Bran sighed.
"This…" Now that she actually had it in hand, Dany felt no joy at all.
The Mark of the Greenseer floated within the space of faith like a dazzling green sea of stars, beautiful and captivating.
But looking at it, Dany's mood grew heavy.
For the second time, she thought of her uncle Ben's famous words: with great power comes great responsibility.
The first time was when the gate guardian had handed all his legacy to her. That enormous gift had forced her to truly take ending the Long Night as her mission.
"I feel a lot of pressure," she said frankly, setting down her teacup.
"Hearing you say that makes me feel much more relaxed," Bran replied honestly, letting out a long breath.
Dany gave a bitter smile. "Why didn't Brynden say this directly?"
"You should ask why I only understand his arrangement now," Bran said.
"Why?"
"Because you changed the predetermined fate. Before this, the river of destiny was completely chaotic, impossible to see clearly.
It was like a river breaking its banks and spreading across a vast plain, winding unpredictably, with no one able to tell its final direction.
But not long after Casterly Rock fell, while I was immersed in the river of time, I suddenly glimpsed a ray of dawn in destiny."
Bran looked at the Dragon Queen solemnly. "Above time, a new river of destiny is about to take shape."
"No matter how much turbulence there was, rivers eventually calm down. What does that prove?" Dany asked, puzzled.
"You're right," the great raven nodded, his tone turning strange. "The key is that I was the first to observe that glimmer of destiny, and I am the only one.
For the gods, the river of destiny remains chaotic, with no sign of being reshaped."
"Are you sure you saw that dawn? Could it be you've been too tired lately and are hallucinating?" Dany asked with suspicion and concern.
She had heard that Hodor Stark had already been born. Bran's soul followed her around in search of the White Walkers, while his body had to satisfy his long-neglected wife. He must be exhausted.
He was only thirteen, even younger than Arya, still a child.
There was now a trace of sympathy in her gaze toward the great raven.
Bran felt uncomfortable under her strange look and tilted his head. "It's not a hallucination. In the new river of destiny, I even saw—"
He hesitated, then changed his words, "You have the ability to end the Long Night. You have the potential to bring rebirth to the world.
You are a Child of the World beyond the protagonist of an era. The existence and operation of the Three-Eyed Raven will change accordingly. I support a new world centered on your will.
You only need to understand this. Whether I've gone mad or not, what I'm doing now does you no harm."
"Is that why you made Arya the 'Bride of the Stranger'?"
Bran spoke bluntly, "As long as you do not fall prematurely, after gaining the full support of the Three-Eyed Raven, the Seven Gods can at least become the new sky of Westeros.
As long as you can sing the complete Song of Fire, it is not impossible for the Faith of the Seven to unify the beliefs of the entire world.
Serving the most powerful deity in existence has far more prospects than being the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms.
Moreover, she swore in Winterfell that once she became a demigod, she would join the Stranger's pantheon. This merely fulfills her oath ahead of time."
"Very good!" These flattering yet honest words greatly pleased the Dragon Queen.
"I agree to take you as a White Knight. Arya will also serve under the Stranger as a wealth-bringing spirit. No, that's not right, she should be a Black and White Warden," the Dragon Queen said cheerfully as she handed out appointments.
"What are Black and White Wardens?"
"Soul reapers. Helping me… ahem, helping the Stranger collect the dead."
Bran frowned. "I think you should send her to Yi Ti."
"Yi Ti?" Dany narrowed her eyes.
"I know you want to arrange for a follower of the Seven to go to Yi Ti and seize divinity—"
Dany waved her hand and cut him off stiffly. "You're a very unqualified White Knight. You don't even know how to phrase things properly."
"May the Mother show mercy. Arrange for a holy child of the Seven to go to Yi Ti to save all beings and relieve suffering," Bran corrected woodenly.
"Not bad. You've got potential." Dany leaned back on the couch, deep in thought. "Your suggestion is quite good. Initially, I planned to send Tyrion to Yi Ti, but he absolutely refused.
If the High Sparrow were still alive, he would be the most suitable. That man is devout, adaptable, and skilled in political maneuvering.
Saint Matthew lacks flexibility. He is simple and honest, suitable as a model monk in peaceful times, but unable to handle the complex and ever-changing situation in chaotic times.
If I really sent him alone to Yi Ti, I fear I would lose my only angel."
"These days I've been training Matthew and even considered sending a group of Warrior's Sons with him.
But now it seems that three useful disciples are more valuable than thousands of troops. Arya can be one of them. As for the remaining…"
A plan gradually began to take shape in Dany's mind.
(End of Chapter)
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