Brynden Rivers. Or rather, the Three-Eyed Raven.
He was smiling, but that single eye held no human emotion. Only an all-seeing depth.
Lynn said nothing. Just studied this legendary figure who'd long since merged with the weirwood.
Jon Snow and Ygritte stood behind him, barely daring to breathe.
What they were seeing had shattered their understanding of reality.
Especially Ygritte. Her legs still felt weak. Only survival instinct kept her from collapsing.
"This place is safe."
The Three-Eyed Raven seemed to see through their fear.
"As long as this tree stands, as long as the Old Gods watch over us, this land is protected by nature itself."
Natural magic's protection.
Lynn's heart stirred.
He closed his eyes and slowly extended his mental awareness.
The next second, he saw it.
Countless pale green lights—like fireflies on a summer night—drifted through the massive cavern.
They emerged from glowing moss on the walls, rose from strange plants, and ultimately flowed into the giant weirwood at the center.
The weirwood's roots spread like a neural network throughout the mountain, absorbing this energy, transforming it, releasing it.
Forming an invisible barrier that sealed out the outside world.
In this space, he couldn't even feel the bone-chilling cold beyond the Wall. Only spring-like warmth and peace.
More shocking—when his mental awareness touched those green lights, unprecedented comfort flooded his body.
Days of exhaustion, tension from facing the Night King—all of it smoothed away in an instant.
Good stuff.
No wonder wights disintegrated when they entered this cave in the show.
A completely new kind of magic!
Lynn's eyes snapped open, heat flashing in their depths.
"You're Children of the Forest?"
Lynn's gaze turned to Leaf standing nearby.
"We are the last singers."
Leaf looked at him with those golden-green cat eyes, voice like wind chimes.
"Our songs soothe wounded souls and awaken sleeping earth."
Sound magic!
So that faint singing earlier—these little creatures were behind it.
Magic that acts directly on the soul. If used against enemies...
"The Night King seems eager to kill you?"
Lynn didn't beat around the bush. Asked the key question directly.
"Because he resents the Children of the Forest. This is my fault. His desire to kill me is justified."
"I can see the past. I can see what's happening now."
The Three-Eyed Raven's voice carried a trace of weariness.
"In his eyes, I'm an obstacle."
"I'm like a thorn stuck in the river of time, preventing him from fully controlling it."
"He wants to erase all memory of the Old Gods. Let eternal winter descend completely. Let this world have only one voice—the silence of death."
"He wants to kill us, just as he wants to kill you."
Lynn didn't fully believe the Three-Eyed Raven's words.
These old foxes were definitely hiding things.
Each had their own version of events. Though the Night King hadn't spoken at all.
Trusting them completely would be suicide.
None of them are good.
The Night King's "gift" felt more like an investment.
A way to use Lynn against another enemy.
For now, neither ancient monster could be trusted.
"What can I do for you?" Lynn asked.
"I need you to find me a new body."
The Three-Eyed Raven said it without hesitation.
Find a body?
Jon and Ygritte felt their skin crawl.
This didn't sound like a good thing. More like some evil demonic ritual.
"This shell has decayed."
The Three-Eyed Raven looked at his limbs merged with tree roots.
"I've been trapped here too long. My power fades day by day."
"I need a new vessel. One with the gift of greensight to carry my knowledge and power."
"In return—"
His gaze shifted to the quietly standing Children of the Forest.
"They will teach you natural magic."
"And of course, their prized sound magic."
Lynn's breathing quickened.
This is what I want!
Ice magic was powerful but too focused on destruction and killing.
Natural magic and sound magic held infinite possibilities!
Imagine.
If crops could grow faster, the long winter wouldn't be so terrifying.
If songs could control minds, it would be a weapon more terrifying than any conspiracy!
"What kind of vessel?"
Lynn forced down his excitement.
"Someone with First Men blood. Bonded to a wolf spirit. With skinchanger potential."
The Three-Eyed Raven spoke slowly.
"Of course, someone with mental strength as powerful as yours would also work."
Jon's heart sank.
First Men blood. Bonded to a wolf spirit...
He immediately thought of his brother, Bran Stark!
Jon's face went pale.
"No!"
The word burst out before he could stop it.
Lynn glanced at him. Jon realized he'd lost his composure.
He opened his mouth but didn't know how to explain.
He couldn't tell Lynn that the "vessel" might be his brother.
"I... I just think this is... too evil!"
Jon struggled for a lame excuse.
Lynn ignored Jon's turmoil. He looked at the Three-Eyed Raven.
"I agree."
"But wolf-bonded people are off-limits. They're my friends."
"I can find you someone with strong mental power instead."
"But I have one condition."
"Speak."
"I learn the magic first."
Lynn said bluntly.
"Once I confirm you're not lying, I'll find your vessel."
He wasn't some naive fool to be manipulated.
No rabbit, no hawk—that was a transmigrator's creed.
"No."
The Three-Eyed Raven seemed to have anticipated this. No surprise in his voice.
"There's something strange in you. I clearly taught you only basic greensight, yet you've mastered it to far greater depth on your own."
Lynn felt awkward. Looks like fooling him would be hard.
This old bastard wielded greensight and could easily see through his abnormalities.
But he still hadn't discovered the system.
The system must be something higher-level. Beyond his perception.
"But I can let you experience it first."
The Three-Eyed Raven tilted his head toward Leaf.
Leaf understood.
She and several other Children of the Forest approached Lynn.
They didn't speak. Just formed a circle and closed their eyes simultaneously.
The next second—
An ethereal, distant song beyond any language emerged from their throats.
No melody. No lyrics. Yet it seemed to contain the most beautiful rhythm in existence.
Breeze brushing cheeks.
The scent of growing grass.
The sound of melting snow.
The joy of all things awakening.
Lynn felt his soul leave his body, floating in this wondrous world woven from song.
Then he saw it.
Saw a seed, driven by natural force, break through frozen earth, sprout, bloom, wither in an instant, and return to dust.
Saw mountain streams, guided by song, merge into rivers and rush toward the sea.
Jon and Ygritte beside him froze.
Jon's inner conflict and pain smoothed away in the song, leaving only unprecedented peace.
Ygritte's face—usually stubborn and wary—now showed pure serenity.
She seemed to return to childhood.
Lying in her mother's arms, hearing ancient lullabies, all fear and anxiety melting away.
She unconsciously hummed an old free folk song, harmonizing with the Children's voices.
Lynn took a deep breath, burning this wondrous feeling into his memory.
His mental strength, baptized by the song, was condensing and purifying at an incredible rate!
More effective than any treasure!
An effective way to restore mental power!
Lynn's heart soared.
Just as Lynn immersed himself in this experience, the Three-Eyed Raven's voice—like cold water—yanked him back to reality.
"Do you feel it? This is the power of life."
"Bring me the person, and this power will be yours."
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