Chapter 235 [Vault]

Title - HOTD: Reborn as a Dragon | Chapter 2 | Female

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[3rd POV]

”Walking” around the basement that she was in, Haera soon found that there wasn’t much else there in terms of food. There wasn’t anymore Valyrian steel or other weapons or eggs to consume. All there was was books, books that she couldn’t even do anything with until she got a human form.

Although, she did realize that learning Valyrian magic might be very very powerful for her, considering she was a literal dragon.

So with that thought in mind, she began to make her way up the long stairs, and soon began to reach the end. Walking through the doorway which had no door, Haera realized she was in some sort of castle. Except, the castle was completely destroyed in various areas. Worn down and covered in rubble and brick.

‘…Definitely Old Valyria’ Haera thought, as she began to glance around, deciding to explore the castle. As if her assumption was right, then there was going to be a lot more Valyrian steel and other artifacts inside.

Her exploration of the castle didn’t take long before it had born fruit, as in one of the bedrooms - or what she thinks is a bedroom - she found a small jewelry box. All of the jewelry inside was glistening and completely unbothered by the destroyed castle.

And just by glancing at it, she knew that it was all Valyrian steel. Several rings, 3 large bracelets, 2 beautiful necklaces, and some sort of collar.

Looking over them all, her dragon face morphed into a grin, as she opened her mouth and began to consume them all without hesitation, notifications blaring in her vision as she ate the Valyrian steel.

[Valyrian Steel Teeth - 86%]

[Enchanted - The art of enchanting is an ancient art involving inscribing magic onto objects, imbuing them with special power and abilities. By consuming enchanted objects, those enchantments have now been transferred to you. This only applies to the Valyrian steel parts of you. Cannot be evolved further…for now]

[Current Enchantments - Minor Protection, Minor Healing, Poison Detection, and Magic Boost]

[Minor Protection - Grants the user increased durability]

[Minor Healing - Increases the users healing factor by a small percent]

[Poison Detection - Allows for the user to detect poison]

[Magic Boost - Strengthens the users magic]

Because the enchantments only applied to her teeth, they were…pretty much useless at the moment. But if she were to strengthen her other parts with Valyrian steel, like her bones, claws, and skin, then this could get very powerful.

Pleased with the “Food” Haera began to move around the castle, finding more and more objects of note.

After what was likely a couple of hours of searching, Haera had gotten quite the haul.

[Valyrian Steel Teeth - 100%]

[Valyrian Steel Claws (I) - Some of your claws are now made of Valyrian steel, increasing their durability and sharpness by a lot. You can now cut through certain objects and magical objects that you previously couldn’t. 33% of your claws are converted]

[Enchantments Obtained]

[Sharpness - Grants increased sharpness, around 50% more]

[Greater Healing - Greatly increases the users healing factor by around 50%]

[Poison Resistance - Resists most basic poisons]

[Greater Magic Boost - Greatly strengthens the users magic]

[Fire Damage - Imbues the object (in this case the users Valyrian steel converted parts) with fire, allowing them to catch them on fire on command, and burn things easier]

[Dragon Bones (II) - The bones of a dragon are immensely durable and very sought after. Your bones are now strengthened, after consuming a meaningful amount of dragon bone. Strengthens the users overall physique, durability, flexibility, and minor boost to healing factor | Progress Towards Evolution - 10%]

[Dragon Scales (II) - The scales of a decent sized dragon, obtained after consuming a meaningful amount of dragon scale. Can now withstand steel with little difficulty | Progress Towards Evolution: 2%]

{ - Status - }

Haeraxes, The Last True Dragon

Age - 5 Hours

Gender - Female/Feminine

Year - 50 AC

Traits - Newborn Dragon Physiology, Valyrian God Protection, Enchanted.

Perks - Devourer (I), Dragon Scales (II), Dragonflames (I), Dragon Sight (I), Dragon Blood (I), Dragon Stomach (I), Minor Immortality (I), Valyrian Steel Teeth (I), Valyrian Steel Claws (I).

The amount of Valyrian steel and dragon objects within the castle made it very clear that evolving might not be as difficult as she was expecting.

But after a few hours of traveling around the castle, Haera couldn’t find anything else. Which made her understand that this castle likely wasn’t one that was that rich, or it had maybe been a minor house or something.

So, with that in mind, she decided to leave, traveling out of the large castle.

Glancing around, she noticed the large towers in the distance, the destroyed rubble and destruction laying everywhere.

‘…What happened that could cause all of this?’ Haera wondered, as she began to slowly move out of the castle, towards the greater city in front of her. She imagined there were going to be a ton of shops and stores with Valyrian steel and jewels that she could consume.

As most of the objects she had eaten so far, were just pure Valyrian steel, so nothing like diamond or anything.

But as she stepped onto the stone ground walkway, she paused as she heard…something.

*Crack* *Tap* *Crack* *Tap*

It sounded like something was coming, causing her to pause and move out of the way, ducking behind rubble as she stuck her tiny dragon head around the corner, only to pause in fear as she saw what it was.

…It was a human…or something of the sort. It had a disgusting looking growth surging from it, multicolored, like some sort of infection. It was almost like a zombie or undead.

And she was beginning to think that that is exactly what it was.

‘…I think I know why the Valyrians fell now’ Haera thought, as she gazed to the right. If she had human skin, she’d be pale as she saw thousands upon thousands of these same creatures, all mindlessly wandering the streets of the destroyed city, thoughtless, aimless.

‘Okay, alright, looks like I cannot go on the streets right now. Instead I need to find castles and houses out of the way and look into them. Maybe stores if they’re far enough away. And…if this is anything like what I am thinking, then I need to find a proper home for nighttime’ Haera thought, imagining that the night was far, far worse.

When she was an actual fullgrown dragon she wouldn’t need to worry so much, but as a tiny little lizard? She’d get torn apart.

Worse than that, there was no way this was all. Balerion the Black Dread had come here and was forced to flee after something harmed him, something that helped him die faster.

Remembering that particular event, Haera paused as she realized something.

‘…Wait, if it’s 50 AC, then…that means that Aerea and Balerion will be coming here within 4 years!’ Haera realized, as that also meant that whatever had happened during their time here…it would be something she herself could see.

‘Maybe…maybe I can save her? The poor thing didn’t deserve what happened to her, and…I can’t help but think that maybe if I help her, then the future could be changed, the Dance could be changed’ Haera thought, deciding that this was what she was going to do.

She’d do her best to save her.

That and she really wanted to meet Balerion in person, the largest dragon in the world, at least, the largest living one. A dragon that had seen Valyria before its doom, a dragon that was basically the “King of Dragons” the Apex of the Dragons of this world.

A dragon that she wanted to overcome.

With that in mind, Haera scurried off, deciding to find a safe place to eat more, for she needed more power, a lot more.

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That’s the end of the chapter!

So genuine question: When should she appear in Westeros? When Rhaenyra is older or in her teenage years?

Honestly I was half tempted to have her appear during Rhaenys’s younger years and make her the love interest, but I’m not sure how people would feel about that.

Previous chapter - Chapter 193 [Vault]

Anyways, have a good day!