"So it's a valyrian steel sword after all!" he thought, recalling that he had previously tested the steel and sharpness of the Rose Sword.
He knew it was a sword of the same quality as a valyrian steel sword.
"But which family ever lost such a precious item in a dragon's den and still hasn't come looking for it? They're really clueless!" Mufasa thought.
"Mufasa, I caught it—this old cat missing an ear! Let's go, back to the Tower of the Hand together, and meet Silio!" Arya said, carrying the old cat toward Mufasa.
"Alright, let's go. I also want to meet that Water Dancer."
When Mufasa and Arya arrived at the Tower of the Hand, they happened to see Catelyn Tully escorting Baelish out.
Baelish boarded a carriage and left; Catelyn watched him go, then turned and saw Mufasa and the others.
Catelyn furrowed her brow, then returned to her usual demeanor.
"Arya!"
"Mother, I've brought Mufasa to study Water Dancer swordsmanship with Silio," Arya said.
"Lady Stark!" Mufasa saluted her.
"In that case, don't keep the master waiting!" Catelyn said before leaving.
Arya led Mufasa to the place where she and Silio practice swordsmanship.
Mufasa saw a middle‑aged man of modest height, only a little taller than Arya, sitting on a carpet.
He sat cross‑legged, a wooden sword resting on his knees.
Seeming to notice the footfall, Silio opened his eyes.
He first glanced at Arya, then fixed his gaze on Mufasa.
"Silio, this is Mufasa. He's here to study Water Dancer swordsmanship with me. Would you be willing to take another apprentice?" Arya asked.
"Mufasa Lannister, I've heard your name. Though you've never been to Braavos!" Silio replied.
"Reputation comes with both praise and criticism! I don't care about hollow titles; as long as they know who I am, that's enough," Mufasa said.
The more people who know him, the higher his popularity rating. But popularity isn't the same as righteousness, so he doesn't care much about others' opinions.
"Do you also want to learn the Water Dancer?" Silio asked.
Mufasa nodded.
"First, answer me this: what kind of cat is the one Arya is holding? Is it a dragon‑blooded dragon cat, or just an ordinary cat?"
Mufasa was momentarily stunned, then replied without hesitation, "Just an ordinary cat! But I have an extraordinary cat, Silio—would you like to see it?"
He was referring to Hraka the White Lion.
"You mean the exotic beast Hraka from the Dothraki Plains? I've heard it's said to be three times the size of a normal male lion—though I'm not sure if that's true," Silio asked.
"Now it's grown to a size comparable to a woolly mammoth, with three horns and a pair of flesh‑like wings."
"What!" Silio showed genuine surprise, a first for him in front of others.
"Take me to see it!" Silio said, grabbing Mufasa's hand.
Mufasa felt heat radiating from Silio's palm.
"Analyze Silio's data."
"Name: Silio"
"Identity: Arya's swordsmanship instructor, former chief swordsman of the Braavos Sea King's throne"
"Occupation: Assassin, Water Dancer"
"Strength: 15"
"Speed: 26"
"Intelligence: 25"
"Spirit: 24"
"Magic: 13"
"Talent: Mastery of the sword path, reaching the pinnacle of swordsmanship, with a heart as still as water."
"Rating: A peerless grandmaster of the Water Dancer."
"Although his skill and level are lofty, he is still mortal flesh; an ordinary blade can kill him," Mufasa thought.
He then led Silio into The Red Keep, where he showed him Hraka.
Upon seeing Hraka, Silio clicked his tongue in amazement.
"A triceratops head, pterosaur wings, a lion's body—no matter how you look at it, it's a complete oddity!"
"It is said that in the southern world, on the Sosros continent, there are dinosaur‑like beasts akin to great dragons. They don't breathe fire, but they're even more ferocious."
"When I served under the Sea King in Braavos, I saw small toothless pterosaurs in his menagerie," Silio said.
"You lion, if the Sea King saw you, he'd surely make an offer to buy you."
"I'm afraid he can't afford the price!" Mufasa said.
"Hahaha, true to the Lannister family, the lion opens its mouth wide! Hahaha!" Silio laughed.
"If you want to learn Water Dancer swordsmanship, let me first assess your foundation!"
Silio tossed a wooden sword to Mufasa, and the two began sparring.
When Mufasa's blade struck Silio's, he felt a surge of force that smoothly redirected his own sword's momentum.
"It's like flowing water, almost like Tai Chi. I wonder if he can use the opponent's force against him," Mufasa thought.
His attacks grew fiercer; although Silio could deflect the force in Mufasa's sword, one strike could overwhelm ten techniques, shattering countless arts.
When he exceeded his own limits, Silio also had to endure damage.
The duel was bizarre: Mufasa attacked like a battlefield soldier, while Silio danced like a ballroom performer.
Gradually, Mufasa altered his attack style, beginning to move in the Water Dancer's manner.
"Excellent! It seems you're even more talented than Arya! I'm thrilled!" Silio exclaimed excitedly.
In the end, Mufasa lost the fight; Silio, using some unknown technique, vanished from Mufasa's sight and reappeared behind him.
Silio pressed his sword to Mufasa's throat, forcing him to surrender.
"From now on, training will move from the Tower of the Hand to The Red Keep. Arya, please come to my place for training then!" Silio said.
"So, are you planning to stay at my place?" Mufasa asked, noting he hadn't invited him.
"What, not welcome? Apprentice!" Silio replied.
"Um, welcome! But could you also help train the others?" Mufasa said.
"Who? What are their talents like?"
"Their talent isn't remarkable, but they're of noble birth—princes and princesses."
Mufasa intended to have Silio train Joffrey, Myrcella, Tommen, and others.
"Whether it's herding a single sheep or a whole flock, it's the same."
"Status means nothing to me. Even the Sea King's son from Braavos, after training with me, will return exhausted. I never hold back," Silio said.
"All right! But don't be too harsh; they're not training to become assassins or killers, just to learn some self‑defense," Mufasa said.
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