**The Red Keep - Prince Aemon's Private Chambers, Three Hours Past Midnight**
The moon had reached its zenith and begun its slow descent toward the horizon when Aemon finally emerged from his storage dimension with arms full of impossibly advanced materials that definitely shouldn't exist in a medieval kingdom. Nth Metal gleamed with that distinctive otherworldly sheen—like someone had taken starlight, compressed it into solid form, and then convinced it that gravity was more of a suggestion than a law.
Beside it, his carefully hoarded Vibranium samples sat with their characteristic patient stubbornness, radiating that sense of "I am perfectly balanced and nothing you do will change that" energy that made them simultaneously fascinating and frustrating to work with.
And scattered across his workbench—because he'd apparently decided that tonight was the night to commit fully to the concept of "advanced materials experimentation that would make maesters question reality"—were his notes on Valyrian steel creation, accumulated through months of careful research, strategic questioning of smiths who thought they were just entertaining a precocious prince, and liberal application of his Book of Infinite Knowledge.
*Right then,* Aemon thought with the sort of focused intensity that preceded either brilliant breakthroughs or spectacular explosions. *Time to see if my theory about combining Nth Metal's gravity manipulation with Vibranium's kinetic absorption and Valyrian steel's magical resonance actually produces something useful, or if I'm about to discover exciting new ways for matter to violently disagree with my suggestions.*
Pyrion had claimed his usual observation post on the windowsill, the dragon's golden eyes tracking every movement with the sort of fascinated attention that suggested he was either deeply invested in Aemon's success or really hoping to witness an entertaining catastrophe. With Pyrion, it was often difficult to determine which.
*Your commitment to pushing material science several centuries beyond its natural development continues to concern me,* the dragon observed with characteristic precision. *Though I admit, the theoretical applications are intriguing enough that I'm willing to overlook the considerable risk of accidentally transmuting yourself into something unfortunate.*
*I've taken precautions,* Aemon replied, gesturing to the elaborate safety arrays he'd drawn around his workspace—transmutation circles designed to contain failures, emergency dispersion patterns that would redirect explosive energy safely, and what he privately called his "oh shit" protocol that would freeze all active alchemy if things started going catastrophically wrong.
*Your precautions look like they were designed by someone who's read too many books about theoretical safety protocols and not enough books about actual catastrophic failures,* Pyrion noted dryly. *But I suppose that's the price of innovation. Someone has to be the first person to discover exciting new ways for matter to misbehave.*
"Thank you for that vote of confidence," Aemon muttered, beginning the delicate process of preparing his materials for transmutation.
The Nth Metal came first—he needed to understand its properties before attempting any kind of combination work. Unlike Vibranium, which maintained stable atomic structure through sheer stubbornness, Nth Metal seemed to actively *want* to do interesting things. It was eager, almost playful in how it responded to alchemical examination.
He drew a simple analysis array and channeled energy through it, watching as the Nth Metal's molecular structure revealed itself with surprising willingness. Where Vibranium had required patient negotiation and careful convincing, Nth Metal practically volunteered its secrets—showing him the strange gravitational distortions that occurred at the subatomic level, the way it manipulated localized space-time to achieve effects that should have been physically impossible.
*It's beautiful,* he thought with genuine awe. *Like someone took Einstein's field equations, translated them into matter, and then taught that matter how to argue with gravity about the proper definition of 'down.'*
*You're anthropomorphizing exotic materials again,* Pyrion observed. *Though I'll admit, that's a more accurate description than most maesters could provide. The metal does seem to have... personality isn't quite the right word. Intentionality, perhaps? It behaves like it's making active choices about how to interact with surrounding matter.*
*Because it is,* Aemon realized with sudden clarity, his enhanced understanding of alchemical principles crystallizing around this new information. *Nth Metal isn't just exotic matter—it's matter that's been exposed to enough exotic energy over millennia that it's developed something approaching agency. Not consciousness, exactly, but... directed behavior. It wants to manipulate gravity because that's what it's been doing for so long that doing anything else would feel wrong.*
He looked at his Vibranium samples with new understanding. *And Vibranium wants to maintain perfect stability because that's its natural state—the configuration it's most comfortable in. Both materials have preferred states, but they express those preferences differently. Vibranium through passive resistance, Nth Metal through active manipulation.*
*So your challenge,* Pyrion said, following his logic with the ease of long practice, *is figuring out how to convince two materials with completely different approaches to existence to work together rather than fighting for dominance.*
*Exactly. And that's where Valyrian steel's creation process becomes relevant.*
Aemon pulled out his notes—months of accumulated knowledge about how Valyrian steel was forged, the specific combinations of mundane metals, the precise temperatures, the magical rituals that accompanied the physical work, and most importantly, the fundamental principle that made it all work:
*Valyrian steel wasn't just metallurgy. It was negotiated reality.*
The ancient Valyrian smiths hadn't forced materials into submission. They'd convinced them that working together produced a superior outcome. The dragon fire, the specific metal ratios, the incantations—all of it was designed to create circumstances where disparate materials would choose to integrate because integration made them *more* of what they already were, not less.
*If I can apply that principle to Nth Metal and Vibranium,* he thought with growing excitement, *I might be able to create something that combines gravitational manipulation with kinetic absorption. A material that not only absorbs impacts but actively redirects them through gravitational distortion. Armor that doesn't just stop attacks—it makes them never happened in the first place by manipulating local space-time.*
*That sounds simultaneously brilliant and like the sort of thing that could accidentally create localized time paradoxes,* Pyrion noted. *Which I suppose is why you're experimenting with small samples rather than immediately trying to forge full suits of reality-warping armor.*
"Wisdom learned through reading about other people's catastrophic failures," Aemon confirmed, carefully measuring out precise amounts of both exotic metals.
The transmutation array he drew for this experiment was considerably more complex than his usual work—incorporating not just material restructuring principles, but also elements borrowed from his study of Constantine's magical theory (acquired through his new assimilation storage), concepts from the Philosopher's Stone Fragment about maintaining atomic coherence during transformation, and his own hard-won understanding of equivalent exchange.
*This is either going to work beautifully,* he thought with a mixture of anticipation and healthy fear, *or I'm about to discover why ancient Valyrian smiths had a reputation for occasional spectacular deaths.*
He placed the carefully measured samples of Nth Metal and Vibranium in the center of his array, then added the third component—traditional steel that had been through the first stages of Valyrian processing. Not full Valyrian steel yet, but metal that had been prepared to accept magical enhancement, that had been brought to the edge of transformation and then held there, waiting for the final push that would complete the process.
*The mundane metal acts as a bridge,* he explained to Pyrion through their mental link. *It's already halfway between normal matter and magical material. It can speak the language of both Nth Metal and Vibranium, help translate their different approaches to existence into something compatible.*
*Like a diplomatic intermediary who speaks both languages fluently,* Pyrion agreed. *Clever. Though I notice you're using considerably less exotic metal than mundane steel in your ratio. Trying to maintain structural stability?*
*Trying to avoid accidentally creating a sample that's so exotic it refuses to interact with normal matter at all,* Aemon corrected. *I need this to be usable, not just theoretically perfect.*
He took a deep breath, centering himself the way Edward Elric's memories suggested—finding that mental space where understanding of material properties intersected with willingness to work with them rather than against them, where human intention met natural law and they negotiated terms of cooperation.
Then he activated the array.
Power flowed through the geometric patterns with that distinctive sensation of reality being politely asked to consider alternative arrangements. The three metals began to glow—not with heat, though temperature was definitely involved, but with something deeper, more fundamental. Light that came from matter reconsidering its basic assumptions about existence.
The Nth Metal responded first, eager and curious, its gravitational distortions spreading through the mundane steel like ripples across water. Aemon could feel it testing boundaries, exploring possibilities, asking what-if questions about how gravity might work differently if circumstances changed.
The Vibranium was more cautious, maintaining its perfect stability while carefully evaluating whether this new arrangement might actually enhance that stability rather than threaten it. It was listening, considering, not yet committed but not closed off to the possibility.
And the mundane steel—prepared through ancient Valyrian techniques to be receptive to magical enhancement—acted as the meeting ground where these two very different materials could interact without immediately rejecting each other.
*Come on,* Aemon thought with desperate focus, pouring his understanding of equivalent exchange into the transmutation. *You don't have to give up what you are. Just consider that working together might make you both more of what you already want to be. Nth Metal—your gravitational manipulation becomes more precise, more controlled, when it's anchored by Vibranium's stability. Vibranium—your perfect kinetic absorption becomes even more effective when you can redirect force through gravitational distortion rather than just absorbing it.*
For a long moment, nothing seemed to happen. The metals glowed, the array pulsed with power, but no actual transformation occurred. Just three separate materials sitting in close proximity, considering their options.
Then—so subtly Aemon almost missed it—the Nth Metal's gravitational field began to stabilize. Its usual wild fluctuations settled into something more controlled, more directed, as though it had recognized the value of Vibranium's influence. And in response, the Vibranium's atomic structure began to accept slight modifications, allowing Nth Metal's gravitational properties to integrate without disrupting its perfect balance.
*It's working,* Pyrion breathed with genuine awe. *They're actually choosing to integrate. You convinced exotic materials to cooperate through nothing more than creating circumstances where cooperation was advantageous.*
The mundane steel served as the matrix where this integration occurred, its molecular structure rearranging to accommodate both sets of properties. And as the three materials merged—slowly, carefully, with the deliberation of artists creating something genuinely new—Aemon felt his Edward Elric integration deepen.
**[CHARACTER ASSIMILATION PROGRESS UPDATED]**
**Edward Elric: 28% → 35%**
**Accelerated integration through practical application of advanced transmutation theory**
**New Understanding Unlocked: Negotiated Reality - The principle that matter can be convinced to accept changes when those changes align with its natural preferences**
The transformation completed with a soft chime that seemed to come from the metal itself rather than any external source. In the center of his array sat approximately fifty grams of something that definitely hadn't existed five minutes ago—material that gleamed with Nth Metal's distinctive otherworldly sheen but maintained Vibranium's characteristic stability, all bound together with the subtle magical resonance that defined Valyrian steel.
Aemon picked it up carefully, feeling its weight—which was somehow both heavier and lighter than it should have been, as though it couldn't quite decide how gravity was supposed to work and had settled on "situationally dependent."
*Test it,* Pyrion urged. *We need to know if it's actually functional or just theoretically interesting.*
Aemon placed the sample on an anvil he'd transmuted for exactly this purpose, then struck it with a hammer—not hard enough to damage normal metal, just enough to test response.
The sample absorbed the impact completely—Vibranium's contribution—but Aemon felt something else occur. A slight gravitational distortion, barely perceptible, that seemed to redirect the force of the blow somewhere else. Not eliminated, not stored, but... relocated. The energy of the impact didn't disappear; it just got rearranged through space-time manipulation until it was no longer his problem.
*Oh, that's spectacular,* Pyrion said with genuine admiration. *You've created material that doesn't just resist damage—it makes damage retroactively irrelevant by ensuring the force never fully arrives in the first place. That's not just advanced metallurgy, that's weaponizing causality.*
"Which means," Aemon said slowly, his mind already racing through implications, "armor made from this material wouldn't just protect the wearer from impacts. It would make impacts functionally impossible by ensuring the force gets redirected before it can actually cause harm. And weapons made from it..."
*Would cut through conventional defenses because the force of the blow would bypass normal physical interaction entirely,* Pyrion completed. *You could swing a sword made from this material and have it strike your target through gravitational manipulation rather than physical contact. The blade wouldn't need to physically reach them—it would just need to be close enough for the gravitational distortion to work.*
"I've accidentally created matter that argues with physics and wins," Aemon said, staring at his creation with a mixture of pride and mild horror at the implications. "This is either going to revolutionize civilization or get me accused of witchcraft so thoroughly that even sympathetic observers will have trouble defending me."
*Probably both,* Pyrion agreed cheerfully. *But that's tomorrow's problem. For now, you've successfully proven that your theory about combining exotic materials through Valyrian forging techniques actually works. That's a genuine achievement.*
**[ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: "Master Metallurgist"]**
**[Successfully create entirely new material through advanced transmutation]**
**[REWARD: 1,500 Points]**
**[NEW MATERIAL DISCOVERED: Gravitic Valyrian Alloy]**
**Properties: Combines Vibranium's kinetic absorption with Nth Metal's gravitational manipulation, bound through Valyrian magical resonance**
**Applications: Armor that makes impacts impossible, weapons that strike through space-time manipulation, structural materials that actively resist damage through gravitational distortion**
**Warning: Material is exotic enough to require careful handling and storage**
Aemon carefully stored his sample in his dimensional inventory, already planning future experiments. Fifty grams wasn't enough for practical applications—he'd need to scale up the process considerably if he wanted to actually forge weapons or armor. But it was proof of concept, demonstration that his theory worked, foundation for future development.
*Your capability for materials science continues to exceed anything this world has seen in centuries,* Pyrion observed. *The question becomes: when do you reveal this to your family, and how do you frame it in ways that don't immediately make them question your fundamental humanity?*
"That," Aemon said with a yawn that reminded him he'd been awake for approximately twenty hours and conducting high-intensity alchemical work for the last three, "is definitely tomorrow's problem. For now, I'm going to sleep before my enhanced stamina gives out and I collapse face-first into my own transmutation arrays."
*Wise decision,* Pyrion agreed, already settling into his usual sleeping position draped across Aemon's bed. *Tomorrow you can tackle the truly difficult question: which character assimilation to integrate next.*
That thought followed Aemon into his bed, his mind already cataloging options even as exhaustion pulled him toward sleep.
Thirteen stored assimilations, each one representing capabilities that could reshape his approach to problems. Some were obvious choices—Superman's power, Batman's tactics, Captain America's leadership. Others were more nuanced—Constantine's magic, J'onn's empathy, Deathstroke's pragmatism.
*The question isn't which one is most powerful,* he thought as consciousness began to slip away. *It's which one I need most right now. Which capabilities will serve immediate objectives while building toward long-term goals?*
His last coherent thought before sleep claimed him was a mental note to review all thirteen options in the morning, weighing their relative merits against current strategic needs and future challenges.
*Because choosing wrong could mean the difference between preventing catastrophe and becoming one,* his increasingly tactical mind observed. *No pressure or anything.*
And with that comforting thought, Prince Aemon Targaryen—cosmic accident, materials science revolutionary, possessor of capabilities that would make gods question their career choices—finally surrendered to exhaustion and the promise of a few hours' rest before the next impossible decision demanded his attention.
---
**The Following Morning - Prince Aemon's Private Chambers**
Sunlight streaming through his window woke Aemon approximately six hours after he'd finally managed to fall asleep. His enhanced physiology meant he required less rest than normal humans, but even supernatural stamina had limits, and he'd definitely found them last night.
Pyrion was already awake, perched on the windowsill and apparently conducting his morning routine of judging everyone in the castle courtyard below. The dragon had developed what could charitably be called "opinions" about various nobles' fashion choices, and he wasn't shy about sharing those opinions through their mental link.
*Lord Beesbury is wearing that doublet again,* Pyrion observed with aristocratic disdain. *The one that makes him look like a very round bumblebee that's lost a fight with a tailor. I've told you before—someone needs to have a word with that man about color coordination.*
"You realize I have literally zero authority over Lord Beesbury's wardrobe choices," Aemon replied, pulling himself out of bed with the sort of determined effort that suggested his body would have preferred several more hours of unconsciousness.
*You're a prince. You could make it a royal decree. 'By order of House Targaryen, Lord Beesbury is hereby banned from wearing yellow and black simultaneously. Violators will be subject to fashion intervention.'*
"I'm not issuing royal decrees about clothing."
*Your loss. The man looks like he's cosplaying as an angry bee.*
Aemon decided not to pursue that particular conversation further. Instead, he moved to his workbench where he'd left his notes about character assimilations, carefully organized into categories that made sense to him even if they'd probably seem arbitrary to anyone else.
"Right then," he said aloud, settling into his chair with the focused intensity of someone about to make a decision with potentially civilization-altering implications. "Time to review the options and make an actual choice instead of just hoarding possibilities."
*Finally,* Pyrion said, abandoning his fashion critique to join the more interesting discussion. *I was beginning to wonder if you'd just keep acquiring assimilations without ever actually using them. Very dragon-like behavior, honestly. Hoarding powerful things and then never deploying them because you're too concerned about optimal timing.*
"There's wisdom in waiting for the right moment," Aemon defended.
*And there's paralysis in never choosing because you're afraid of choosing wrong,* Pyrion countered. *At some point, you have to commit. Tyrion's integration is nearly complete—you're at seventy-three percent now. In another few weeks, maybe a month, that slot will open up. Time to decide what fills it.*
Aemon pulled out his carefully maintained list of stored assimilations, organizing them by various criteria:
**TACTICAL/LEADERSHIP:**
- Steve Rogers (Captain America) - Peak human capability + tactical genius + inspirational leadership
- Scott Summers (Cyclops) - Military coordination + strategic command + team leadership
- Lelouch vi Britannia - Strategic manipulation + political maneuvering + long-term planning
**SCIENTIFIC/INTELLECTUAL:**
- Tony Stark (Iron Man) - Engineering genius + technological innovation + creative problem-solving
- Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) - Scientific theory + universal adaptability + research methodology
- Senku Ishigami - Practical science + resource optimization + civilization rebuilding
**COMBAT/PRAGMATIC:**
- Wade Wilson (Deathstroke) - Military tactics + combat mastery + survival focus
- Shikamaru Nara - Tactical intelligence + shadow manipulation + lazy genius approach
**INVESTIGATIVE/ANALYTICAL:**
- Bruce Wayne (Batman) - Detective work + preparation + tactical paranoia + working within systems
**MAGICAL/MYSTICAL:**
- John Constantine - Occult magic + supernatural negotiation + cynical wisdom
- Stephen Strange (Doctor Strange) - Mystical arts + dimensional awareness + cosmic understanding
**PSYCHOLOGICAL/EMPATHIC:**
- J'onn J'onzz (Martian Manhunter) - Telepathy + empathy + psychological insight + form adaptation
**POWER/CAPABILITY:**
- Clark Kent (Superman) - Ultimate physical capability + moral framework + near-unlimited power
"Thirteen options," Aemon said, staring at his categorization with the expression of someone who'd just realized that having choices was its own form of curse. "Each one fundamentally different from the others. Each one valuable in specific contexts. How am I supposed to choose?"
*Process of elimination,* Pyrion suggested. *Start by removing the options that don't serve immediate strategic needs, then narrow further based on long-term objectives.*
"Right. Okay. Let's think about this systematically."
Aemon began analyzing each option through multiple frameworks:
**Immediate Tactical Needs:**
- Enhanced combat capability for self-defense and family protection
- Improved strategic planning for preventing historical disasters
- Better understanding of supernatural/magical systems
- Enhanced leadership capabilities for future governance
**Long-term Strategic Objectives:**
- Preventing the Dance of Dragons through comprehensive family stability
- Optimizing kingdom infrastructure and governance
- Developing capabilities that remain useful across multiple scenarios
- Maintaining humanity while acquiring superhuman abilities
**Current Integration Balance:**
- Geralt: Combat instincts + enhanced senses (18%)
- Edward: Alchemical mastery + matter manipulation (35%)
- Tyrion: Political cunning + strategic planning (73%)
"I'm currently heavy on political/strategic thinking thanks to Tyrion," he observed. "Moderate on technical/scientific capability through Edward. Light on direct combat beyond enhanced senses. Completely lacking in magical theory, supernatural awareness, and empathic capabilities."
*So the question becomes,* Pyrion said thoughtfully, *what fills the most critical gap in your current capabilities? What do you need that you don't have?*
Aemon stared at his list, really considering the question. What was he actually *lacking*?
"Magic," he said slowly. "I understand physical matter through alchemy, I understand political systems through Tyrion, I understand combat theory through Geralt. But magic—actual mystical practice, working with forces that don't operate on physical principles—that's completely outside my current framework."
*And the supernatural is becoming increasingly relevant,* Pyrion noted. *You're acquiring items like the Helmet of Fate, dealing with dragons who are fundamentally magical creatures, operating in a world where the Wall in the North is held up by ancient spells. Understanding magic isn't just useful—it's necessary for comprehending the world you're trying to optimize.*
"Which suggests either Constantine or Doctor Strange," Aemon said, narrowing his focus. "Both provide magical knowledge, but through different frameworks."
He pulled up his notes on each:
**John Constantine:**
- Practical occult magic focused on survival and negotiation
- Experience with demons, gods, and cosmic entities
- Cynical worldview that expects betrayal and hidden costs
- Street-level magic—dirty, effective, morally flexible
- Focus on wards, bindings, and protective rituals
**Stephen Strange:**
- Academic approach to magical theory and mystical arts
- Mastery of dimensional travel and cosmic awareness
- Structured magical system with clear rules and limitations
- Focus on understanding magic as science with different laws
- High-level capability but requires significant study/practice
"They represent completely different approaches to the same fundamental capability," Aemon realized. "Constantine is the pragmatist who learned magic to survive in a hostile universe. Strange is the scholar who studied magic to master its principles. Constantine would teach me how to stay alive when dealing with supernatural threats. Strange would teach me to understand those threats well enough to negotiate with them as equals."
*Both valuable,* Pyrion agreed. *But which do you need more right now?*
Aemon thought about his current situation—three years old, possessing capabilities that made him relevant to political power structures, dealing with family members who were becoming increasingly aware of his supernatural nature, facing a future where he'd need to prevent civil wars and optimize kingdoms while maintaining enough humanity to remember why those things mattered.
"Constantine," he decided with growing certainty. "Strange's approach is too academic for immediate needs. I don't have years to dedicate to studying magical theory. I need practical magical capability that I can integrate quickly and deploy effectively. Constantine's street-level magic, his cynicism, his understanding of working with supernatural forces while maintaining clear boundaries—that's what I need right now."
*Plus,* Pyrion added with approval, *Constantine's cynicism will balance your optimistic tendencies. You keep assuming people will make rational choices when presented with optimal solutions. Constantine will remind you that people are messy, irrational, and frequently choose self-destruction even when better options are available.*
"That's... actually a really good point," Aemon admitted. "I do tend toward assuming rationality. Having Constantine's worldview integrated would force me to plan for irrationality, betrayal, and the fundamental messiness of human nature."
*And his magical knowledge will complement your alchemical capabilities perfectly,* Pyrion continued. *Alchemy manipulates physical matter. Magic manipulates forces beyond the physical. Together, they cover most of what you'd encounter in this world. Plus, Constantine's experience negotiating with demons and gods will be invaluable when dealing with ancient entities or supernatural threats.*
"Right then," Aemon said with decisive finality. "When Tyrion's integration completes—probably in the next few weeks—I'm integrating John Constantine. Practical magic, cynical wisdom, supernatural survival skills. That's the next step."
**[INTEGRATION DECISION LOGGED]**
**[Next Assimilation: John Constantine]**
**[Estimated Availability: 3-4 weeks pending Tyrion Lannister completion]**
**[Integration Priorities: Practical magic > Cynical worldview > Supernatural negotiation]**
*Good choice,* Pyrion said with satisfaction. *Though I should warn you—Constantine's memories include a lot of trauma, betrayal, and making impossible choices that haunt him for decades. Integrating his consciousness won't just give you magical knowledge. It'll give you psychological baggage that might take years to fully process.*
"Everything has costs," Aemon said quietly. "The question is whether those costs are worth paying for the capabilities gained. And in this case, I think they are. I need to understand magic, need to learn how to work with supernatural forces, need to develop the cynical pragmatism that prevents optimism from becoming blind faith in rationality."
*Then it's decided,* Pyrion confirmed. *In a few weeks, you'll add practical magic to your growing collection of impossible capabilities. This should be interesting.*
"'Interesting' is certainly one word for it," Aemon agreed. "Though I'm starting to think my definition of interesting and normal people's definition might have diverged somewhere around the point where I started transmuting exotic materials and negotiating with cosmic entities."
*Probably,* Pyrion said cheerfully. *But normal is overrated. Besides, you're a Targaryen. Your family's relationship with normal diverged approximately three hundred years ago when Aegon decided conquering an entire continent with three dragons was a reasonable afternoon activity.*
"Fair point."
Aemon began organizing his notes, filing away the Constantine integration plan alongside his other strategic preparations. In a few weeks, he'd have magical capability to complement his alchemical mastery, cynical wisdom to balance his optimistic planning, and supernatural survival skills to navigate the increasingly weird situations he kept finding himself in.
*The Dance of Dragons,* he thought with renewed determination, *doesn't stand a chance.*
Though even as he thought it, part of him—the part that was learning cynicism from Tyrion and would soon be enhanced by Constantine's worldview—quietly observed that overconfidence in preventing catastrophe was itself a kind of catastrophe waiting to happen.
*But that,* he decided, *is tomorrow's problem. For now, I've made a decision, created revolutionary materials, and successfully integrated more capabilities. That's progress.*
And sometimes, in a world as complicated as his had become, progress was the best you could hope for.
---
**[CURRENT STATUS UPDATE - PRINCE AEMON TARGARYEN]**
**Age:** 3 years, 1 month, 2 weeks
**Character Assimilations Active:**
- Geralt of Rivia: 18%
- Edward Elric: 35% (Accelerating through practical application)
- Tyrion Lannister: 73% (Approaching completion)
**Stored Assimilations:** 13 (Next planned: John Constantine)
**Recent Achievements:**
- Created Gravitic Valyrian Alloy (revolutionary material combining Nth Metal, Vibranium, and Valyrian steel)
- Acquired comprehensive DC Universe capabilities through Ultimate Selection Protocol
- Made strategic decision regarding next character integration
**Current Projects:**
- Scaling up Gravitic Valyrian Alloy production for practical applications
- Preparing for Constantine integration (magical theory study)
- Continuing optimization of family dynamics and political stability
**Gacha Currency:** 4,347 Points (After recent achievement bonuses)
**Overall Assessment:** Capabilities expanding in controlled manner, strategic planning proceeding according to enhanced calculations, no catastrophic failures in recent memory. Success metrics remain positive despite increasing complexity of undertakings.
And with that satisfying summary, Aemon turned his attention to the day's actual responsibilities—which included attending family breakfast, demonstrating sufficient normal childhood behavior to avoid additional scrutiny, and possibly finding time to experiment with his new power ring without accidentally creating energy constructs that would require explaining to concerned adults.
*Just another day in the life of a supernaturally gifted toddler trying to prevent civil wars and optimize civilizations,* he thought with dark humor.
*Your life continues to be absurd,* Pyrion observed.
*Wouldn't have it any other way,* Aemon replied, and meant it.
---
**The Red Keep - Septon Barth's Chambers, Dawn**
The smell hit Aemon before he even entered the room—not decay, but absence. That peculiar emptiness that came when someone who'd occupied a space for decades simply... stopped.
Septon Barth lay in his bed, hands folded peacefully over his chest, looking for all the world like he'd simply decided to take a very long nap. Except his chest wasn't moving, his skin had taken on that waxy quality that came when blood stopped flowing, and the room itself felt somehow smaller, as though reality had contracted slightly to acknowledge the loss.
*He died in his sleep,* Pyrion observed quietly through their mental link. *Peaceful end. Better than most get.*
*He knew,* Aemon realized with sudden clarity, studying the septon's face. *He knew he was dying. That's why he spent the last month organizing his library, updating his correspondence, making sure all his research was properly documented. He was preparing.*
On the bedside table sat a sealed letter with Aemon's name written in Barth's distinctive careful script. Beside it, another letter addressed to King Jaehaerys. And a third, surprisingly, marked for Otto Hightower.
*Well that's ominous,* Pyrion said, eyeing the letters with draconic suspicion. *Dead men leaving letters is historically either very helpful or absolutely catastrophic. No middle ground.*
Aemon picked up his letter carefully, breaking the seal with hands that trembled slightly despite his enhanced control. The parchment inside was covered in Barth's neat handwriting:
*Young Prince,*
*If you're reading this, then I've finally managed what I've been attempting for several months now—dying at a dramatically appropriate moment. I do hope the timing isn't too inconvenient. I tried to hold on until after the Great Council, but my body had other plans.*
*You are exceptional, Aemon. Dangerously so. The capabilities you possess could reshape civilizations or destroy them, depending entirely on choices you haven't made yet. I've spent our time together trying to teach you wisdom to match your power. Whether I've succeeded remains to be seen.*
*A warning: Otto Hightower will move for the position of Hand. He's been preparing for months, building alliances, positioning himself as the obvious successor. He's brilliant, ambitious, and genuinely believes his methods serve the realm's interests. He may even be right—his tenure could bring unprecedented stability and prosperity.*
*Or it could concentrate power in ways that make future conflicts inevitable.*
*The choice of who replaces me isn't yours to make. But the choice of how you respond to whoever is chosen? That's entirely in your hands.*
*Trust your instincts. Question your assumptions. Remember that the most dangerous enemies are the ones who think they're heroes.*
*And for the love of the gods, stop conducting alchemical experiments at three in the morning. You're going to transmute yourself into something unfortunate, and I won't be there to help you fix it.*
*-Barth*
*P.S. The third letter is for Otto. It contains advice he'll need if he's going to serve effectively. Make sure he gets it. Even if you disagree with his appointment, he deserves the wisdom I accumulated over decades of service.*
Aemon stared at the letter for a long moment, feeling the weight of what Barth was really saying between the lines: *I know what you are. I know what you're planning. I can't stop you, so I'm trying to give you the tools to do it wisely instead of catastrophically.*
*Otto Hightower as Hand,* Pyrion mused darkly. *That's... complicated. He's competent, no question. But his ambition—*
*Will make him effective or dangerous depending on how it's channeled,* Aemon finished. *Barth knew that. That's why he left instructions rather than warnings. He was telling us: work with what you'll have, not what you wish you had.*
The Great Council was three weeks away. Succession would be determined, the realm's future direction set, and someone would need to guide that future with wisdom and capability.
And apparently, that someone was going to be Otto Hightower.
*This is going to be interesting,* Aemon thought grimly.
*Your definition of interesting continues to concern me,* Pyrion replied.
But there was nothing to be done about it now. Barth was gone, Otto was positioning himself for power, and Aemon was three years old with the wisdom of ages and absolutely no official authority to do anything about any of it.
*Just another day,* he thought with dark humor, *in the life of someone trying to optimize history while everyone else keeps making it complicated.*
---
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