Experiment of Madness

21-Fight of the Bird-Aerra

I take a moment to glance a Dag.

"Issi ao jorrāelā riñīrty se?"

Dag's eyes meet mine, and for a brief moment, there's a hint of being taken aback, surprise etched on his face.

"I asked what's on your mind."

Dag's curiosity is piqued, his focus shifting to the language question. "What was that language you just spoke?"

I can't help but smile. "It's High Valyrian," I explain, a hint of pride tinged with a bit of amusement. "In my family, we speak it. No one expects us to know it."

Dag cocks his head to the side, a hint of surprise and curiosity in his expression. "High Valyrian?"

I nod, a hint of amusement at his confusion. "High Valyrian, it's the language of Old Valyria, the ancient civilization known for their dragons, gold, and magic, to which my ancestors belonged."

Dag's amusement grows as he shakes his head at the mention of dragons, gold, and magic. "Dragons, gold, magic? What?" he repeats, disbelief evident in his voice.

I smile, acknowledging his skepticism. "Sounds like a fairytale, doesn't it? But dragons and magic were part of their world."

Was part of mine.

Dag remains skeptical, his expression skeptical and amused. He responds with a teasing tone, "Are you trying to tell me dragons were real?"

I chuckle at Dag's skepticism, his disbelief adding to the amusement. "Oh, dragons were very real," I reply, a hint of amusement in my voice. "They were powerful creatures in Old Valyria. They were the symbol of power and greatness."

I quickly catch myself, realizing I might reveal too much. I pause, the words cut short. A wave of caution settles in, the need to maintain some secrets and not give away my family's secrets becoming more prominent.

"Issi isse se zirȳ eptaqo nykāse, syz ñelly issa nys Vēdrossa syor riña hen perzys."

That is my legacy and I will not put my loved ones in harm's way.

Dag looks at me again, his eyes piercing, his curiosity still piqued.

Dag's curiosity grows stronger, his voice firm as he probes further. "What did you just say?" His eyes lock onto mine, searching for more information.

"I said that I love waffles and chocolate too much."

Dag, still suspicious, reaches for a notebook. He starts writing, recording my words, perhaps noting the sudden change in topic.

Dag continues writing, keeping his focus on the notebook, but looks at me with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. "How did you learn it?" he probes, his pen moving deftly across the page as he jots down notes.

Seeing his persistence, I reluctantly decide to offer some explanation. "I was taught it by my family," I admit.

Kind of.

Dag writes it down, his eyes on the notebook. He wants more details.

"It was the responsibility of being a part of the family Targaryen to know how to speak it." I pause, the weight of my lineage and upbringing evident in my tone. "Being a princess means being fluent in High Valyrian, excellence in it."

"Who other knows it?"

I hesitate for a moment, considering who else might share my knowledge. After a pause, I answer, "I think only my family and their closest people know it." I speak carefully.

"How come no one else knows it?"

I take a deep breath, considering the question. "Well... because we don't usually share it," I explain hesitantly. "We keep it private, a matter for family and select others." I hesitate, my voice cautious and guarded, not wanting to reveal too much.