A few days after Sansa Stark sought refuge in Draco, another noble arrived seeking shelter.
Lady Shella Whent of Harrenhal.
She was an elderly woman on the verge of death, her face covered in wrinkles and her hair snow-white. Yet her eyes still held the pride of nobility.
Luke personally received her, treated her with courtesy, and arranged for her to stay in Draco.
Harrenhal — that colossal castle once belonging to Black Harren — had now been occupied by Tywin Lannister.
The last blood of House Whent had no choice but to seek refuge here.
After seeing Lady Whent off, Luke received a secret report from the Web.
His eyes lit up as he read it.
An SSR-tier character.
He went out personally, arranging a seemingly coincidental "encounter."
Draco First Welfare Orphanage.
It was a clean and tidy building. The courtyard was planted with flowers and grass, and many children were playing.
Their laughter was clear and bright, echoing in the afternoon sunlight.
Luke stood not far away, his gaze fixed on one person.
It was a white-haired old man.
Though advanced in years, he still stood tall and straight, like a drawn sword.
Barristan Selmy.
"The Bold" Barristan.
A legendary knight in the original Ga of Thrones. He had witnessed the fall of the Targaryen dynasty and the rise of the Baratheon dynasty, and in the end gave his loyalty and life to the Mother of Dragons across the Narrow Sea.
In a world of conspiracy, betrayal, and bloody power struggles, he represented honor, loyalty, and righteousness.
He once told Daenerys: "I did not serve the king. I served the realm. Not any particular person, but the entire kingdom."
He was not ignorant of the ga of thrones. In his youth, he had seen countless palace intrigues. Yet he chose to spend his entire life upholding the knight's vows and defending the honor he believed in.
He was like a mirror, reflecting the ugliness of those who played with power, while preserving the brightest part of humanity.
In the world of ice and fire, honor often led to death — as with Ned Stark. But Barristan proved with his life that while honor might make your path difficult, it could also let you walk it with dignity.
After Joffrey ascended the throne, Cersei and her foolish son forcibly "retired" Barristan.
They stripped him of his white cloak, stripped him of his position, and stripped him of the honor he had guarded for decades.
Barristan was heartbroken, yet helpless.
At his lowest point, he thought of the last Targaryen princess across the Narrow Sea — Daenerys.
He had intended to go to her and find his final purpose.
But after leaving the Red Keep, he accidentally ca across a book.
The Legend of the Holy Knights.
He was deeply moved by the protagonist "A-Gan Xu Sanduo" and his character and legendary journey, and was captivated by the concepts of "sword and magic" in the book.
He also heard many people praising Luke Jaqenion and the God-blessed land of Draco.
Almost as if guided by fate, he ca here.
He had been in Draco for three days.
In those three days, he had walked everywhere and experienced the local customs and atmosphere.
He had to admit — this was a miraculous place… perhaps it truly was blessed by the gods. Otherwise, too many things here could not be explained!
Never mind the "magical items" that seed like miracles.
Just the existence of this "welfare orphanage" and "nursing ho" was enough to deeply move him.
Looking across the entire Seven Kingdoms and the history of Westeros, he had never seen any noble lord undertake such a feat.
Selflessly taking in and raising orphans, selflessly caring for the elderly.
At this mont, he stood in the orphanage courtyard, watching the playing children, his eyes shining with complex emotion.
A commotion ca from behind him.
Barristan turned and saw a procession slowly approaching.
Banners fluttered, guards cleared the way, and in the center was a massive coal-black warhorse. On its back sat a young man of extraordinary bearing.
Luke Jaqenion.
Barristan knew his identity had been exposed.
He stepped forward and proactively saluted.
"Greetings, Lord Luke."
Luke dismounted, dismissed his entourage, and walked with Barristan through the orphanage.
His smile was sincere and warm.
"Well? What do you think of Draco?"
Barristan hesitated for a mont, then spoke slowly.
"Draco is truly a miraculous place. The rumors were not false. This really is a land blessed by the gods. It is clean and orderly. Everyone lives in peace and contentnt, with no hunger or disaster. Even orphans can feel warmth and not freeze to death on the streets. The elderly are cared for, and there are hospitals to treat illnesses…"
He paused.
"It is like a place from legend."
Luke looked into his eyes.
"Children have education, the working have inco, the sick have dical care, the elderly have support, everyone has shelter, and the weak are protected."
He spoke the twenty-eight characters one by one.
"This is the mission of House Jaqenion. The Celestial Dragons receive the Mandate of Heaven…"
He looked straight into Barristan's eyes.
"I, Luke Jaqenion, sincerely invite you to join my family. Help realize this great vision and spread it across the entire continent of Westeros."
His voice was calm but resolute.
"Ser Barristan, will you help ?"
Barristan was stunned.
In that mont, the young man before him seed to transform into a towering mountain, radiating dazzling light.
Those words, that familiar yet strange vision…
He had lived for over sixty years, seen countless nobles, and served three kings. He had never heard such words before.
Children have education, the working have inco, the sick have dical care, the elderly have support, everyone has shelter, and the weak are protected.
What kind of ideal was this?
He remained silent for a long ti.
Then, with a shing, he drew the sword at his waist.
He dropped to one knee and raised the sword with both hands, tip pointing down, blade horizontal — the ancient ritual of a knight swearing fealty.
"I, Barristan Selmy, hereby swear my loyalty to you."
His voice was old but firm.
"I will use my sword, my honor, and my life to defend your ideals and protect your family until death."
Luke accepted the sword with both hands, then returned it to him.
"Rise, Ser Barristan. Welco to House Jaqenion."
Barristan stood up.
He looked at the young man before him, and a long-lost light shone in his eyes.
That light was called hope.
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