In the heart of the fire, where the flames remember time
The flames do not only show the future.
They also remember what has already happened.
In a circular chamber carved beneath Asshai, seven braziers burned, forming an incomplete star. At the center, an obsidian mirror reflected not faces, but overlapping lives, repeating again and again like shattered echoes.
A figure appeared in the fire.
A bastard child.
A young man with tired eyes.
A king who never was.
"Jon Snow."
"Aegon Targaryen."
"The traveler."
The voice that spoke was not human.
"He has lived this before."
A priestess bowed deeply.
"We know, Lord of Light. He remembers fragments. He knows too much. That is why he believes he is special."
The fire showed scenes that did not belong to this world: chained dragons, a silver-haired queen walking through flames, a throne made of swords melting.
"He is not the objective."
Another priestess, younger, hesitated for a moment.
"But he fulfills the prophecy… born amidst smoke and salt, died and returned…"
The fire roared.
"Prophecies are tools. Not destinies."
The obsidian mirror changed.
Now it showed Daenerys Targaryen.
Naked among ashes.
Dragons being born from fire.
The red comet reflected in her violet eyes.
The flames rose violently.
"She is the axis."
A trembling voice asked:
"And the traveler?"
The flames dimmed briefly, as if the world were holding its breath.
"He will be used."
"He will be guided."
"He will be sacrificed."
The truth they will never tell Aegon
The red priests always knew.
They knew that Jon Snow did not fully belong to this world.
They knew his soul was displaced in time.
They knew he had seen the end… and failed.
That is why they pushed him.
They showed him fire when he needed hope.
They spoke to him of destiny when he doubted.
They called him the prince that was promised when he was broken.
Not to crown him.
But to prepare the ground.
Every decision Aegon made had to open paths.
Every war of his had to weaken another traveler.
Every sacrifice of his had to feed the fire.
Until he was no longer necessary.
The version Aegon will never hear
In another flame, in another temple, a priest spoke in a low voice:
"If he survives… he will be an obstacle."
"If he dies… the fire will grow."
"In both cases, we win."
The old man nodded.
"The traveler believes he fights for the Iron Throne."
A cruel smile formed in the fire.
"But in truth, he fights so that she may sit upon it."
The true center of the prophecy
The flames returned to Daenerys.
The dragons were no longer small.
The red comet circled above her head like a crown.
The shadows bowed before her.
"The world does not need a king who remembers the past."
"It needs a queen who burns it all."
A priestess whispered, enraptured:
"Mother of Dragons…
Breaker of Chains…
Living Flame…"
The old man closed the ritual with final words:
"Jon Snow is the sword."
"Daenerys Targaryen is the fire."
"And fire… always consumes the sword."