Dragonstone, AOT World
Year 846
He awakens submerged underwater and yet he does not drown. The temperature is perfect despite alternating between cold and hot, and a sense of peace surrounds him unlike anything he has ever felt in his two lives. It is inviting without insisting, tempting without any of the negative connotations associated with the word, and above all soothing like the embrace of one's most beloved. Golden and silver lights flow around his person, converging upon him and seemingly caressing his skin upon contact, like a caring mother comforting her child.
Were he devoid of responsibilities and ambition Aemon would not mind spending much of his time here. However, he is full of responsibilities and ambition runs through his veins. As such it is with slight reluctance that Aemon gathers himself and swims to the surface.
As his head breaks through the surface Aemon finds himself in a space illuminated in naught but golden and silver lights as if the sun has been replaced. With a slight frown he looks up, finding himself of golden leaves upon silver branches. Following the branches his eyes land upon the biggest tree he has ever laid eyes upon.
Standing as tall as twenty and six story tall building and wider than many city streets, the tree's branches cover the entirety of Aegon's garden and even beyond, blocking the sunlight from reaching the space below yet filling that space with the golden and silver light of valinor. Its wood, branches and trunk, glow silver while its leaves shine gold. Upon those branches are fruits that shine in both colors, the silver and gold fading in and out and at times blending together as one would see in an aurora.
Wrapped around the tree and sleeping as if it were his nest is none other than Caraxes, the dragon having seemingly deemed the tree his new sleeping ground. However, that is not what draws Aemon to the dragon. Rather it is the fact that it seems as if the dragon has grown once more. In addition all the white on his scales, from the Dragon Communion with Albion, has turned into silver with hints of gold in it, no doubt the dragon has taken a drink from the pools. The same pools that Aemon finds himself staring at with wide eyes once his attention turns away from the dragon.
For at the base of the tree is a massive pool that is created by the merging of two smaller pools. It shines silver and gold while the two smaller pools only shine one color, silver and gold respectively. It is in this massive pool that Aemon finds himself waking in, a pool that should not have reached such a size for many years. So big is the pool that it takes Aemon a minute or two in order to swim to its edge where he finds Ghost also taking a nap.
Similar to his dragon, Aemon has no doubt that his direwolf has also taken a drink from the pool(s); for his fur was once white as snow, now it gleams with the silver of moonlight. Though it makes Aemon wonder, did Ghost drink only from the silver pool? For where Caraxes' silver scales also possess a hint of gold in them, Ghost's silver fur has no hint of gold whatsoever.
It would not surprise Aemon to be honest, for Caraxes has always been a prideful and greedy one. Though that is not to say that Ghost is without pride, however there is a certain restraint to Ghost unlike his draconic counterpart.
Still, that is not the end of the changes.
While the massive tree and the Well of Light make up the center of what was once Aegon's garden, the surrounding area has also seen some changes.
Where only soil lay while Aemon conducted the ritual, there is now a field of grain that has grown and looks ready to be harvested. This is the result of Aemon's second purchase from the DCG Store.
[Food of the Divine (200 CP)
This gift has three parts; a basket of woven, white straw containing grain from Valinor, a pouch containing the seeds of flowers from the West, and a small flask containing a golden-hued, sweet cordial, both of which will replenish once every month.
To begin with the flowers, these flowers bloom strong and beautifully, so long as they are given sunlight, and yield strong dyes from their petals. Their nectar is where their true virtue lies, however, and it can be distilled by a recipe you know into the miraculous cordial known as Miruvor. A sip of this cordial will revive the tired and speed healing, though distilling a flask requires many flowers to be harvested.
The grain, meanwhile, comes from that given by Yavanna to the elves to help on their long journey to the West. You have a basket woven of the white straw of this crop, touched by no blade, and inside a goodly portion of the grain itself, enough to plant a large field. Planted in the earth in any season, save winter, and shielded from the shadows of other plants, the corn will sprout quickly and strong, partaking of sunlight, multiplying its virtue and giving it back in the grain. By itself this is a strong and valuable crop, but if the grain is harvested and baked by hand it will produce food which is supernaturally nourishing to both the body and the spirit; this is the source of the fortifying nature of lembas-bread, which you also know how to make.]
This is why Aemon had Aegon's garden uprooted the day of the ritual, for the purpose of planting the grain here where the light from the pools would aid in their growth, nourishing, and fortifying properties. Though the flowers themselves have not been planted here and instead will be grown in his fort in Westeros, on the Isle of Faces.
Still, Aemon did not expect such a massive growth when he conducted the ritual. Not from the Well of Light, not from the tree that grew from Hera's Apple of Immortality, and certainly now from the grains that were planted that same night. However, looking at the tree, the Well, and the crops grown from the grain Aemon easily understands what has happened.
To begin with, the Well of Light is not stationary but rather flows throughout the entire island of Dragonstone through small stream-like passages that formed while the Children sung their song of the earth and Aemon sung his song of fire and ice. The resulting harmony not only fostered growth from the planted Apple of Immortality, but also within the planted grains. In fact it would not be wrong to call the harmony between the Children's song and Aemon's song a Song of Life. A song that not only fosters growth, but also life itself. A song that has been imbued into the Well of Light giving them properties beyond its simple healing and blessed ones. With the Song of Life imbued into the Well of Life, Aemon would not be surprised if they are now able to resurrect those who have recently died, similar to the Lazarus Pits from DC.
With the waters from the Well of Light constantly coursing through the garden, the grains now grow almost overnight regardless of the lack of sunlight, for they are constantly being bathed by the silver and golden light of the massive while being flowered by waters of the Well of Light.
This is a pleasant surprise that Aemon had theorised happening only if everything went beyond perfectly. No doubt there will be more unforeseen results from this that is truthfully looking forward.
"Your majesty." Hersam's voice calls out, shaking Aemon from his thoughts.
Looking towards the voice, Aemon finds Hersam waiting for him at the entrance of Aegon's garden with a pile of clothes in his arms.
"Hersam." greets Aemon as he pulls himself out of the pool. "How long has it been?" he asks, gently caressing Ghost's fur while passing by.
"Seventy and two hours." replies Hersam as Aemon reaches him and he begins to dress him.
"Anything of worth happen during that time?" he asks.
"Much, your majesty." replies Hersam. "To begin with, the mine is now fully operational and as a result of the waters from the Well seeping into the entire island the soil is now rich and fertile. As of this day Dragonstone is now entirely self-sufficient."
The mines, the third of Aemon's purchases from the DCG Store. Dragonstone has no mines other than the dragonglass mines, and outside of decorative properties it is entirely useless. One may argue that it holds magical properties due to its ability to slay an Other, however that is a special case that is not replicable outside of Westeros. As such Aemon saw fit to make such a purchase.
[Mines (100 CP or 200 CP or 400 CP)
You know of a place where the earth has given up its treasures - and have a workforce happy (or at least willing) to excavate it for you. This mine will yield up only so much material at a time, but you can always be sure that there will be new veins to be discovered, if you dig a little deeper.
For 100 CP, this mine is fruitful, but yields only mundane but practical materials such as iron, copper, coal or good stone. Valuable and useful certainly, especially if one is in the business of smithing or masonry, but hardly a wonder of the world.
For 200 CP, your mine will additionally yield far rarer treasures; gold and silver in great quantities, as well as fine gems which could be sold for wealth, or made into beautiful things. The quantities of mundane materials are increased as well, such that your mine could equip a decently-sized host as fast as the smiths could work the ore.
For 400 CP, your mine is the equal of that found beneath Khazad-dûm, yielding up strange and mystical materials, from veins of precious mithril to ancient meteors bearing the star-iron that forged Anglachel, to perhaps even the strange, unbreakable crystals of which the Silmarils were made.]
Naturally only the best is good enough for Aemon and as such he purchased the most expensive option, the 400 CP one.
With the minerals and precious metals and stones from the mine Aemon is effectively as rich as House Lannister and House Velaryon. Of course such wealth would mean nothing if it is not put to good use, which is why he has commanded various projects to be undertaken using it. Some of those projects include the making of arms and armors with mundane metals using the non-magical methods of the Unseelie Court.
Naturally those weapons and armors will mean nothing in the supernatural community, however in Westeros only Valyrian Steel will be better in terms of performance. And even still his weapons will have more value than the magical metal for they will be mass produced. An army outfitted with such will hold a major advantage over its opponent.
In addition, with the mine now in operation he can finally begin to properly arm the demigods. That atrocious combination of jeans, t-shirt, and chestplate will be the death of many of them and Aemon will not stand for it.
"Is there anything else?" asks Aemon.
"During those seventy and two hours you have had many guests. Some have returned to their homes while others have decided to accept our hospitality and are currently being housed within the guest rooms." says Hersam.
"Who has decided to stay?" asks Aemon.
"The scientist, the warrior with the metal arm, and the demigod." replies Hersam. "Though I feel I must warn you in advance, the demigod has brought a guest with him."
Doctor Hamilton, Anakin, and Percy. Though that begs the question, who exactly has Percy brought with him.
With Hersam finished dressing him, Aemon begins to make his way out of the garden only to stop as he catches a glimpse of his clothes.
"Hersam?" questions Aemon with a raised eyebrow. "Have you been watching Lord of the Rings?"
"Whatever could you mean, my liege?" asks Hersam with a tilt of his head that is o doubt meant to convey innocence, yet only serves to further confirm Aemon's suspicion; for how else could he have thought to dress Aemon in the same garb as Elrond, though his clothes are black with red accents of dancing dragons unlike Elrond's beige-like robes.
With a slight chuckle Aemon drops the conversation and continues on his way.
…
…
…
Of course of all the people Percy could have brought with him, it is Annabeth that he brings. How predictable, Aemon thinks to himself as he regards Percy with a raised eyebrow, the demigod fidgeting all the while under his gaze.
"How predictable." Aemon voices, earning a glare from the demigod.
"Whatever dude." replies Percy, causing Doctor Hamilton to chuckle.
"Ah, the joys of youth." sighs the scientist.
From the side Annabeth observes the interaction between them with narrowed eyes while Anakin does the same with a frown and his arms crossed over his chest.
Just from their expressions Aemon can already feel that the time for him to rest is over. Things will most likely never be as tranquil as they have been recently for a long time.
Author's Note: Here's the latest chapter. We are officially past the point of Aemon being passive, from now on he's going to be making use of his knowledge. As usual, tell me what you guys think. If you want to support me or read ahead, you at my patreon: patreon.com/servantambrosius