The Dothraki Sea.
The grass grew tall and thick, rolling in the breeze like waves of the ocean, which is why this place, originally a grassland, was called the Dothraki Sea.
The nomadic Dothraki roamed across this vast land, burning, killing, and looting, asserting their absolute dominance over the territory.
Night.
After a full day of raiding, the Dothraki set up camp to rest and recuperate. The neighing of horses, the sizzling of roasted meat, and the moans of mating were constant; this Khalasar of forty thousand warriors was full of vitality.
Inside a tent, Daenerys Targaryen, who had become the khaleesi of this tribe, lay obediently like a kitten in her husband's strong embrace, squinting as she enjoyed the pleasure of their recent intimacy.
Currently unclothed, she looked with bedroom eyes at the powerful man beneath her who had promised to conquer Westeros for her, whispering sweet nothings meant only for the two of them.
"Drogo, my Sun and Stars..."
Feeling her slightly bulging abdomen, a glimmer of maternal light flashed in Daenerys's eyes.
"Our child will surely become the greatest king in the history of Westeros."
"He is 'The Stallion Who Mounts the World.' I want to name him after my brother—Rhaego. Do you like that name?"
From an innocent girl to an experienced young woman, Daenerys's role transition was very rapid. She skillfully asked for her husband's opinion in Dothraki, her eyes full of beautiful aspirations for the future.
"I respect your decision, moon of my life."
Also naked, Drogo looked dotingly at the small woman on top of him; his robust muscular lines were enough to win the favor of any woman.
Turning over gently, his braid, which reached down to his thighs, displayed his bravery.
In Dothraki custom, a braid is only cut when a Dothraki warrior is defeated in battle.
And Drogo had never lost... "You are so good to me, my sun and stars."
Daenerys tilted her head proudly and climbed onto Drogo's body again, already possessing a hint of the Khaleesi's poise.
Just three days ago, her useless brother Viserys had finally died under a crown of molten gold, which also convinced her that he was definitely not a true dragon.
And she, Daenerys Stormborn, was the true dragon who did not fear high temperatures.
"But... if Jaina were here..."
She lightly touched the wound on Drogo's chest, which he had received that morning while protecting her.
Although the culprit had been neatly decapitated by Drogo, she had still caringly asked a female herbalist she had rescued to apply an ointment to her husband... even though Drogo didn't care about such a small injury, he complied for his wife's peace of mind.
"If Jaina were here, she would probably be able to heal your wound instantly."
Stroking the wound with heartache, Daenerys murmured softly. Thinking of Jaina's mysterious and powerful magic, she couldn't help but miss the sister who was born with her.
"Jaina... Jaina again..."
Dotingly stroking his wife's head, Drogo asked with great confusion:
"I must remind you, moon of my life."
"It is fine that you always mention your sister's mysterious magic to me."
"But the Dothraki do not welcome maegi; they are considered cursed, evil, and soulless things."
"So, when I am not by your side, it is best not to say these things outside."
Facing her husband's concern, a heartwarming smile appeared on Daenerys's beautiful face:
"Don't worry, my sun and stars."
"I still have to give birth to Drogo's child and wait for Jaina to return to give her a surprise."
"She said that the next time we meet, she will come to see me with 1,000 ships!"
"...Who... exactly is she?"
Aboard the great challenge, all the crew members gathered around, looking at Jaina lying quietly on the deck with uncertain and suspicious gazes.
Under the absolute power suppression of the water elemental, the pirate fleet surrendered quite readily.
But Euron, as the captain, had jumped into the sea the moment the water elemental swung its fist at him and vanished.
"That hair color, that age..."
Barbossa, who had luckily survived, had eyes that flickered. Looking at the girl's clothes, he had long understood that she was the thin youth who had been disguised as "Daelin Proudmoore."
But her iconic long gold and silver hair allowed Barbossa to recognize her at a glance as the Targaryen princess for whom the Sealord had secretly issued an assassination order.
"Hey, big guy!"
Regardless, she had saved the lives of the thousand people in his fleet. Having made up his mind, Barbossa walked into the cabin, picked up a waterskin, and shouted loudly toward the upper deck.
Ever since Jaina had fainted from exhaustion, this giant water elemental had been like a loyal guard dog protecting its master; no one could get within half a step of her.
However, if this continued, her situation might become dangerous.
"She needs to drink water, drink water, do you understand!"
Waving the waterskin in his hand, Barbossa kept shouting, his hands constantly making drinking motions toward his mouth, trying to make the water elemental understand his meaning.
But no matter how hard he tried, the big guy remained between them and Jaina, refusing to budge an inch.
"fuck, brainless thing!"
Barbossa was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, pacing back and forth on the deck with a limp.
"Let... him... come over..."
Just then, a weak voice sounded. Jaina, who had been unconscious, twitched her dry lips and issued a command to her summon.
Receiving the command, the water elemental immediately split a passage within its body, and after Barbossa passed through, it quickly closed back up.
"Jaina..."
Looking at the girl's exquisite face, Barbossa confirmed her identity once again.
But now was not the time for such thoughts; he quickly walked to Jaina's side, unscrewed the water bottle, and held it to her lips.
Moistened by the source of life, Jaina's pale complexion instantly improved significantly.
"You... are called Jaina, right? That girl from House Targaryen."
After her condition had slightly recovered, Barbossa asked in a trembling voice, using a tone that only the two of them could hear.
"That's right."
To Barbossa's surprise, Jaina admitted her identity very openly without any concealment.
"I am Jianna Targaryen."
"What, do you want to take me back and trade me for a reward?"
A playful smile appeared on the corner of her mouth. Jaina was now like an ordinary weak girl, leaning quietly against the railing and slowly sitting up, as if Barbossa could end her life with just a reach of his hand.
"No, of course not!"
Barbossa shook his head resolutely. Not to mention the water elemental eyeing him greedily behind him, Jaina had saved their lives earlier; he couldn't possibly do something so ungrateful.
"Then... Old Man Barbossa."
Looking with relief at this man who finally didn't backstab her, Jaina gave a rare, heartfelt smile and slowly extended her slender palm toward Barbossa:
"Where is my reward as the victor?"
Not expecting the girl to still be thinking about her prize from the martial competition, Barbossa smiled knowingly and hurried to his cabin to bring out the box containing the dragon egg.
He gently handed the box to the girl with both hands, and her fair, scallion-like fingers slowly covered the top.
The moment Jaina's palm touched the box, a familiar magical power came from within. She quickly opened the box to see a blue, oval-shaped dragon egg lying quietly inside.
The scales on the eggshell seemed to breathe, opening and closing. Under Barbossa's surprised gaze, the girl's white palm covered it, and a stream of pure azure energy constantly flowed between her and the dragon egg.
"Is it you..."
Feeling the magic power gradually filling her body, Jaina couldn't help but murmur softly.
She was all too familiar with this magical power.
"Jaina... Jaina..."
She gradually fell into silence, seemingly in a daze. Barbossa waved his hand in front of her eyes, interrupting Jaina's memories.
"I must remind you, although you have revealed your true face, the others shouldn't know that the previous Daelin Proudmoore was your disguise."
"So you'd better accept the position of captain of the great challenge as Daelin; that would be safest for you."
"With this bunch on the ship, there's no telling when a traitor might emerge for the sake of money."
Looking at the bearded man in front of her who was full of concern, for some reason, Jaina actually overlapped his image with that of her old father, whom she had indirectly caused to die.
A warm current surged into her heart, and tears flickered in her eyes. Even after many years, even though she had long grown into the most powerful mage in Azeroth, she couldn't help but want to go back to being that Little girl who acted spoiled in her father's arms.
"I know, Old Man Barbossa."
"But I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint you again."
Gently closing the box, although she knew he was concerned for her, Jaina did not intend to hide her name and become the captain of this single, lonely flagship.
As the former leader of the Kirin Tor and the former leader of Theramore, she knew very well that sometimes when one is out in the world, one's identity is self-given!
Even if it was the identity of someone being secretly hunted.
Feeling the incredibly abundant magic power in her body, she slowly stepped onto the palm extended by the water elemental and stood proudly at a high point.
With a gentle wave of her hand, under everyone's shocked gazes, two equally massive water elementals slowly condensed and rose from the side of the ship with an aura of infinite pressure.
"I am Jianna Targaryen, Stormborn!"
"Twin sister of Daenerys Targaryen, captain of the great challenge, and Daughter of the Sea!"
"I now command you, my crew."
"Raise the sails and set course for Braavos!"
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