Rhaegar's gaze grew sharper as he became highly vigilant toward the massive dragon he had never seen before.
Any dragon not under Targaryen control was a potential disaster.
The aerial battle above the clouds intensified, with dragonfire streaking across the sky.
Rhaegar felt a chill in his heart as he tried to shift his perspective.
He possessed the **Dream Sight**, allowing him to explore hidden truths in his dreams.
However, no matter how he adjusted his view, it remained stuck below the clouds.
It was as if some unseen force was preventing him from seeing the truth above.
**"Screech!"**
**"Screech…"**
At that moment, several dragon roars echoed, converging from two directions.
Rhaegar turned his head, scanning his surroundings. Massive dragons of varying sizes soared toward him, spitting flames at each other.
These dragons clashed fiercely over the vast and boundless sea.
**"Screech!!"**
Suddenly, a gigantic dragon swooped over Rhaegar's head, spewing a pillar of fire from its maw.
Startled, Rhaegar instinctively raised his hand to shield himself.
**Boom!**
A deafening explosion shook the horizon as storm clouds gathered, and the sky abruptly darkened.
When Rhaegar opened his eyes again, the dragons had vanished.
"Dragons…" he muttered in confusion, scanning the surroundings for any trace of them.
A meteor shower blazed across the sky, appearing like clusters of fireballs plummeting toward the earth.
At the same time, a single snowflake drifted down, landing on Rhaegar's long eyelashes.
In an instant, heavy snowfall blanketed the sky, and the sea froze into solid ice.
The meteors crashed onto the frozen surface, sending ice shards and freezing water surging into the air.
---
### Outside the Dream
#### Outside the Hot Spring
"Princess, the prince is bathing inside. You cannot enter."
A frustrated voice attempted to dissuade her.
"Step aside. There is no place in Rhaegar's domain where I am not allowed."
The protest fell on deaf ears as the speaker was promptly pushed aside.
At the white-stone entrance, a beaded curtain obscured the view inside.
**Rustle…**
A small hand lifted a corner of the curtain, sending tiny droplets of water cascading down.
A slender, fair leg stepped over the threshold, the moisture on her smooth skin glistening in the dim light.
Rhaenyra slowly walked into the bathhouse, tilting her head as she ran her fingers through her loose hair.
She wore a sheer, gauzy robe that clung to her figure, partially obscured by the swirling steam.
Turning her head, she spotted Rhaegar submerged in the steaming water and called out softly, **"Rhaegar~~"**
She had heard the roars of the Devourer and had come specifically to **Thousand-Faced Isle** to find him.
At that moment, Rhaegar was trapped in a nightmare that had begun as a dream. His pale face showed traces of fear.
"Snow… fire…"
He murmured in his sleep, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as his body tensed, shaking his head as if resisting.
His movements grew more intense, disturbing the hot spring's surface, sending ripples through the water.
Sensing something was wrong, Rhaenyra stepped forward barefoot, concern evident in her voice. **"Rhaegar, wake up."**
Rhaegar had been plagued by nightmares for years, his nerves wound tighter each day.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have taken up the harp to soothe his troubled mind.
At the sound of her familiar voice, Rhaegar's eyes snapped open. A hoarse, guttural growl escaped his throat.
**Splash!**
He abruptly sat up in the hot spring, scanning his surroundings warily.
**"Rhaegar, it's me."**
Rhaenyra stepped closer, gripping the edge of her robe, her gaze filled with concern.
Rhaegar's eyes were bloodshot, his chest heaving violently. The sudden motion had left him lightheaded and disoriented.
He clutched his spinning head, his unfocused gaze landing on Rhaenyra. The redness in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a sheen of moisture.
Swallowing hard, he hesitated before softly murmuring, **"Sister."**
Hearing that, Rhaenyra was momentarily stunned, then quickly moved to the edge of the hot spring where Rhaegar sat.
It had been a long time since he had called her that in such a vulnerable manner.
The last time was when he was a child, waking from a nightmare, trembling in her embrace.
"Don't be afraid. Another nightmare?"
Rhaenyra's eyes were filled with concern as she knelt beside the hot spring, pulling Rhaegar into her arms.
Rhaegar instinctively adjusted his position, resting his dizzy head against the warmth of her chest, his arms wrapping around her waist.
His head throbbed, his heart pounded wildly.
The weight of the nightmare still pressed on his chest, making it hard to breathe.
He wasn't sure if it was lingering fear or just the dizziness from poor circulation.
"Rhaenyra, I had a dream… a terrible dream."
His voice was weak as he nuzzled against her, seeking comfort.
Rhaenyra gently patted his back, pressing a light kiss to his forehead. Her voice was warm yet firm. **"Don't worry, I will always be by your side."**
She didn't know how to ease his fears or take away his pain.
But she could stand beside him, be his refuge.
"Rhaenyra, I dreamed of a child dying… riding his dragon when they were attacked… falling into the sea."
Rhaegar tightly shut his eyes, recalling a similar dream from three years ago. He spoke without thinking.
Rhaenyra pressed her forehead against his, stroking his cheek gently, murmuring, **"Don't be afraid. It was just a dream. No one is going to be attacked by a dragon."**
**"No! You don't understand. I saw it happen!"**
Rhaegar's reaction was intense, his trembling eyes snapping open. His voice wavered. **"That child… he looked exactly like me when I was little."**
Rhaenyra froze, staring at him in shock.
Rhaegar pressed his lips together, his expression tense. **"And in the dream just now, another child was fighting on dragonback… and it started snowing heavily."**
As he spoke, his breath came out in warm puffs, his legs stirring the water absently.
Beneath him, a thick tree root extended outward, its bark dry and withered.
Rhaenyra hesitated, unsure how to respond. Carefully, she asked, **"Do you think there's a connection between these two dreams?"**
Hearing that both children were in danger one after another made her previously calm heart tighten suddenly.
**"My dreams don't appear without reason—they must be prophetic."**
Rhaegar felt a chill run down his spine. Uneasy, he voiced his suspicion, **"Those two children… they're mine!"**
**"If they're in danger… what will happen to them?"** Rhaenyra was completely absorbed in his words, her emotions stirred.
**Whoosh…**
Rhaegar shifted his body slightly, turning to face Rhaenyra directly, his violet eyes staring intently into hers.
A few meters away, a leafless weirwood tree took root, its gnarled branches resembling menacing claws.
On the tree trunk, a terrifying face with bleeding eyes watched the closely huddled siblings.
Rhaegar's expression turned blank, and in a daze, he murmured, **"They could… lose their lives."**
He knew better than anyone how terrifying dragon battles could be.
One moment of carelessness, and one could perish in dragonfire.
Two connected dreams—one following the other—had to be a warning from his Dreamer's gift.
Upon hearing this, Rhaenyra's face darkened, her wide eyes flickering with distress. She instinctively reached toward her flat abdomen.
Rhaegar's children… wouldn't that mean—
She remained in uneasy silence for a long time before finally breaking free from her apprehension.
Rhaenyra's eyes flared with anger as she locked her gaze onto Rhaegar's, biting her lower lip. **"Whose dragon was it in the dream? Aegon's or Daemon's?"**
For a threat to Rhaegar's children, the only ones she could think of were her half-brother and her scheming uncle.
Especially Daemon—he was her prime suspect.
Rhaegar and Daemon had a deep-seated grudge. They never got along.
Rumors had been circulating that Daemon was stirring up trouble in the Stepstones, seemingly planning something big.
Rhaenyra couldn't afford not to be cautious.
This wasn't just a nightmare—it could concern her bloodline.
**"I'm not sure, but I don't think it was them."**
Rhaegar tilted his head, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.
In the dream, he had seen two dragons—one with green scales, the other with deep red scales.
Neither resembled Sunfyre or Caraxes.
Frustrated by the lack of answers, Rhaenyra clenched her teeth and suddenly pulled Rhaegar into her embrace.
Only this closeness could offer her a shred of comfort.
**Whoosh—**
A gentle breeze lifted the beaded curtains, swirling the rising mist and shrouding the weirwood's grotesque face.
Rhaegar rested against her softness, whispering, **"Rhaenyra, I feel like a curse looms over House Targaryen. The end of one nightmare is merely the beginning of another."**
That feeling had begun the moment he failed to stop his father's wound from festering.
And now, it had taken firm root in his mind.
Rhaenyra cradled Rhaegar as if he were a child, her chin resting against his silver hair. She bit her lip and whispered, **"Shh… No one can harm us. Dragonfire will drive away the darkness."**
**"You're right."** Rhaegar's voice softened, his anxious heart gradually settling.
The blizzard and the falling stars in his nightmare had shaken him, prompting him to blurt everything out.
These prophetic matters… Rhaenyra wasn't supposed to know.
It would only burden her with unnecessary worry.
After a long while, they parted from their embrace.
Rhaenyra sat at the edge of the hot spring, dipping her slender legs into the warm water.
Rhaegar rested his head on her lap, recounting all the troubles he had learned about recently.
After a moment, he nuzzled against her, pinched a corner of her gauzy robe, and muttered, **"Rhaenyra, why are you wearing this sheer gown? It's disrespectful to the hot spring."**
**"Go away, stop thinking about nonsense."**
Rhaenyra rolled her eyes and snapped, **"You took over the Isle of Faces. That green man fancies himself the island's guardian and blocked my entry."**
If there weren't outsiders present, she wouldn't have bothered wearing this sheer robe.
Under the thick mist, it would soon get damp and cling to her skin—completely uncomfortable.
Rhaegar chuckled awkwardly. **"Don't be mad. Garl does have some skills—he's a rather brilliant healer and gardener."**
**"Hmph!"**
Rhaenyra huffed and kicked at him forcefully under the water.
**"Ow, Rhaenyra, that hurt!"**
Rhaegar clutched his leg pitifully, refusing to let go.
Rhaenyra turned away proudly, though the tips of her delicate ears flushed red.
---
**Driftmark.**
**Crackle…**
The fire crackled in the hearth, illuminating the dimly lit room.
The space was lavishly furnished, carrying the sweet, heavy scent of burning sandalwood.
Above the fireplace sat a round table and two chairs.
The Sea Snake lounged in one of them, close to the warmth of the fire, a blanket draped over his shoulders.
His expression was solemn, his gaze lowered. His long, silver-streaked hair cascaded over both shoulders.
Three years had passed, and his external wounds had long since healed.
But the wounds inside… remained unhealed.
**"The Three Daughters are still restless, trading vast amounts of goods and slaves. They're building their strength."**
A deep, magnetic voice spoke from the other side of the room.
The Sea Snake picked up a log and fed it into the flames, his eyes fixed on the flickering fire as he spoke in a low voice, **"In the last war, the dragons' fire sowed the seeds of enmity. Now, the Nine Free Cities all despise House Targaryen and House Velaryon."**
Or rather… they despise dragons.
His companion didn't respond immediately, only chuckling with quiet amusement.
The Sea Snake extended his hand toward the fire, letting the heat seep into his dark skin as he murmured, **"What we sowed wasn't just enmity… but also an unprecedented opportunity."**
**"Seize that opportunity, and the entire world will change… and tremble before it."**
As he spoke, the Sea Snake slowly turned his head, his sharp gaze turning icy.
Across the round table, a man lounged against a wine cabinet, legs crossed, a smirk playing on his lips.
Under the flickering firelight, Daemon's roguishly handsome face came into view.
His fingers were steepled together, his expression unreadable as he sank into deep thought.
*(End of Chapter.)*