Chapter 21: Chapter 20

Once I stopped letting my fear of uncertainty and ego do the thinking, it became clear almost instantly that reining people in by their horns was just not worth my time. Selective intervention was far more effective and profitable. 

[I could have told you that on day one. This is exactly why Zelretch only intervenes at the most crucial moments of time to create the largest butterfly effects in his favour.]

Yeah. I guess the Kaleidoscope does allow you to do that. In that way the Kaleidoscope is just extremely overpowered isn't it.

I mean, you can see the future, you can time travel, world travel, access divine realms, have infinite mana regeneration among the myriad of other things it can do. 

I turned my attention to PK and grinned with excitement.

Now that we're done with the basics, let's start my Kaleidoscope training, shall we?

[I thought you'd never ask! Let's do this.] PK cheered.

Itching to be free from me are we? 

I chuckled when my stomach grumbled. I rubbed my stomach and thought for a moment.

Alright. Let's do it like this. You start the lecture and in the meantime I'll go meet Lord Stark and get some food. I'll keep listening to you while I get breakfast sorted.

[Fine by me. Let's start with relative motion and celestial influences on dimensional boundaries.] PK started, [You know how in fiction you see certain celestial alignments that cause dimensional boundaries to weaken and release some sealed monster like Aku in Samurai Jack, or cause some mystical event that connects worlds like the Harmonic Convergence in Avatar or the Confluence Of The Spheres in Witcher?]

Yeah. 

[There is a reason behind the commonality of such things. Celestial bodies have a certain influence, a pull and push so to speak with the concept of boundaries and dimensionality. Sometimes it is colored by perception, and other times it is an inherent part of the nature of the world but it is undeniable that there is a connection. Since you pull on the foundation of mysteries, accessed by the connection established via magic circuits, this concept and relation is even more important for you to understand. 

Legends, perceptions and beliefs feed into mystery and you carry a part of that world line's foundation, and note the wordplay there, within you. It's a like the image of a miniature system of magic, of a different world in a sense that resides in your soul. So by using the Kaleidoscope you're not just transporting yourself to another world, you're also transporting that image of the foundation of your magic with you. Taking a world to another world, in a way.]

Oh, so that's why it's important to understand how worlds converge and cross over. Because that's what I have to do, just on a far smaller scale?

[Now you're catching on. The Kaleidoscope works not on any one concept or mystery. It works on the principle of the Operation Of Parallel Worlds.]

Like a divine authority?

[Yes. The Kaleidoscope is an Absolute Truth wrenched from the Root, the source of all creation in the Fate verse. It works kind of like a divine authority, but it doesn't give you a straightforward understanding and power over a certain domain, but it gives you the freedom to access many domains at once without any power over said domains. Because it's not an authority per se. 

The best way to explain it would be that the Kaleidoscope is like a Plantium Elite Credit Card from a bank. You can use it in all sorts of places, in a coffee shop, in a H&M, in the hospital, in another country even. It can even grant you access to exclusive events or some private functions that you would otherwise not be able to get to. When people see that card, they recognise that you are important, but that doesn't mean you can go to a bar and tell the owner to strip naked and do the mamba. It lets you buy a ticket for a baseball game, even a VIP pass and a balcony seat or private room. Hell with enough money, or in this case mastery, you can even buy the team or stadium, but you can't dictate the rules of the game for others.

You can get better rates on loans or extend your line of credit, but that card doesn't entitle you to make decisions on what the bank that issued it does with its institution. You can't dictate the interest rates the bank issues to it's customers or how much liquid cash the bank holds in its reserves. 

A divine authority on the other hand is like being made the Chairman or Director of the Bank. A director can determine what interest rates the bank gives out, who gets the loans, what their company policy is. But he can't use your card to buy himself that stadium or team. He can't use the customers' money as he wants. He can, however, freeze your account if he wants, if it falls under his purview. Which is something to keep in mind. 

A god with a divine authority that gives him power over space, time or possibility, could mess with your use of the Kaleidoscope. They can't take away your ability to use it, but they can change the rules to make it harder for you to use it in the first place. The same way a bank director can freeze or audit your account and make it difficult for you to take out your money. The money is still yours and you can cancel your account with them and leave with your money if you want. But while you are in their domain, they can make life hell for you.

The Kaleidoscope is freedom to operate in parallel worlds, pick and choose possible futures to interact with, manipulate chance and create butterfly effects, while a divine authority is the ability to fundamentally alter the rules of that world's creation, like permanently changing the speed of light or the coefficient of gravity. 

They make the rules, you can operate within them or you can circumvent them for a place with better rules. With enough skill, you can even find loopholes in the rules they have made.]

Like a tax lawyer.

[Exactly. Once you master the Kaleidoscope, you can do things like offshore that cash to escape taxes, or find weird ways to deduct expenses that make the tax rules worthless, making them not even apply to you. But you can't change the tax laws themselves.]

But what if I bribe the gods with the right authorities to change the laws for me? Lobbying exists for a reason after all. 

[Or that. Yes. Of course you'd think of that.] PK laughed.

Playing the system is what I'm good at.

I shrugged as I arrived at the kitchen and picked myself a healthy helping of breakfast.

[Alright. Now that you understand the concept, let's move on to the math. First, the formula for calculating star paths. Take the example here.......] 

.

"Lord Stark." I found the man in the crypts, getting the mess from earlier cleaned.

"Herald." He turned to me with a reverent look as his pup ran over to me, yapping at my heels. 

I picked up the little fluff ball and scratched its head causing it to wag it's little tail expressively as a smile bloomed on my face.

Such a cutie pie!

Who's a good boy?

You are, yes you are!

"Call me Ardwyll. No need to be so formal." I said as I cooed to the little puppy.

Nex Stark relaxed, and smiled. A rare sight.

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"How may I be of service?" 

"I just came to inform you, I will be leaving in two weeks, just before the King arrives. I have been called to an urgent missive in Essos."

"Must you go?" He asked, "The children have grown fond of you. The people of Winterfell need you as well."

"It is the will of the gods. All peoples must be united to stand against the coming darkness, or none shall survive it." I said, "But before I leave, I want to talk to you about certain matters. If I may have a moment in private?"

Ned Stark looked around at the workers cleaning the place and nodded.

"Follow me." I said, leading him to the Godswood.

Passing by the training grounds on the way, I picked Robb and Jon up as well, just to be sure. 

I plan on having Ned Stark killed in the capital in due time, after all. Better to have witnesses to my innocence now so that I can say I warned him.  

"This should be private enough." I nodded.

"It is." He assured, "What did you want to talk about?"

"As you already know, once I leave the King will arrive in Winterfell to offer you the position of the Hand of the King. That you must accept. Both your lives are in danger, so I can understand if you want to reject his offer. The south isn't for you. It is too corrupt, a game of masks and lies, each man for his own."

"Then why does father have to go?" Robb asked.

"He doesn't." I replied, "He can choose to stay behind, reject the offer. But if he does so, King Robert will meet the same fate as Jon Arryn and I don't think Lord Stark will be able to forgive himself if he let it happen."

"Then it is true what Lysa said? The Lannisters had something to do with Jon Arryn's death?" He asked.

"You need to learn to ask the right questions if you intend to survive the south, Lord Stark." I wagged my finger, "The Lannisters had Jon Arryn killed. That much is obvious even to the blind and deaf. The question you must ask is - why? What did Jon Arryn do? What did Jon Arryn know that was so crucial to the Lannisters that they would so blatantly poison the Lord Hand?"

"You know of what it is." Ned Stark realised. 

"Yes. But I will not reveal it to you. You must learn to find the answers for yourself Lord Stark. The south is not kind to good, honourable men. Become sharper, like Valyrian Steel. Reflect upon your actions. Consider what your words and actions will prompt the others around you to do. Not everyone is simple and honourable. Some will do things completely opposite of what you expect. Some will kill for love, set fore to the world to protect themselves, even if it means they are the only ones left alive. Even if it means that they have to rule over the ashes of what's left." I said with emphasis, "It is your job now to prevent the fire from catching in the first place."

"I don't understand." Ned Stark looked puzzled.

"You will, Lord Stark. You will. Once you begin to ask the right questions." I assured him, "Just remember. Trust no one. Not even the ones who claim to be on your side. Especially the ines who claim to be on your side. Because that is the easiest place for them to stab you in the back from." 

Ned Stark considered my words for a moment and nodded.

"I will keep that in mind." 

"Good. Now, the king won't just offer you the position of the Hand, he will also extend an offer of marriage for Sansa. You cannot accept it. Under no circumstances are you to accept any offer of marriage from the King. Even if it means offending him. Even if it means upsetting Sansa. Tell him you can reconsider it once the girls come of age. That King's Landing is no place for children. You cannot take any of them with you. They must stay in Winterfell, where it is safe. I will even bless the walls of Winterfell before I leave so no harm comes to those living within them. So make sure to tell them this as well. They cannot leave Winterfell, no matter what, come hell or high water." 

This had more than just one purpose. Not only would it hide my machinations from the eyes of the Stark children, it would also provide me an easy pool of young adults to manipulate the North with. 

And with Sansa free for marriage, I can have Robb create a marriage alliance with the Reach for her hand. This, alongside marrying Margery to Gendry, will give me an iron grip over Westeros. Then I can begin expanding to Essos with this as a launching ground. 

"If it is as you say, I will heed your advice." Ned Stark nodded.

"Thank you." I said and gestured at Robb, "Now Robb, once your father leaves for King's Landing, you must keep your family together. Do not be quick to make judgements. As the Lord of Winterfell, you will need to learn to be courteous. And remember, do not let your mother leave Winterfell, no matter what she says. All Starks except Jon and Lord Eddard must stay within Winterfell. That includes you as well."

"Why?" Ned Stark raised an eyebrow.

"Lady Catelyn is too kindhearted and trusting. There are those who would abuse those virtues to lead her astray. Once you have left for King's Landing, a letter will arrive from the Eyrie. Once she reads it ...." I shook my head, "Lysa Arryn might be right about the Lannisters, but she isn't in her right state of mind. She cannot be trusted. If Lady Catelyn goes to the Eyrie, I'm afraid, she might not return unscathed."

"I will keep that in mind. Mother will remain in Winterfell.

"Finally, I have something for Jon." I turned to face him, "I have made it no secret by now that you are the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen. You need to remember this, Jon. Once the King legitimizes you, you must join the Night's Watch and rise to the position of Lord Commander within the next six years. There must be a Stark manning the Wall when the White Walkers come." I put an arm on his shoulder with a firm but comforting grip.

"You are destined for greatness, Jon, and this is your path to it. To help you on this path, the old gods have sent you a gift. You will find the gift beyond the wall when you swear your oath. Accept the gift. Cherish it. And remember who you are. What your destiny is. 

You must become a capable leader. Learn to empathize with the ones who serve with you. They will come from all sorts of places, with lives far more tragic than yours. 

They will not like you. Some will outright hate you. But remember, they are going to be your brothers-in-arms. Don't grate against them, but rather learn to love them like your own. Raise them to your level instead of looking down on them. They didn't have the privileges you had. They weren't raised in a castle, trained by maesters and knights. Listen to their stories. They will open up to you if only you would go up to them and ask. Teach them what you know, and learn from them what you don't. If they question your decisions, explain it to them. It takes but a moment, and it saves you a lot of pain later. 

Lastly, take your responsibilities with grace. You might not always get what you want, but the gods chose this for you for a reason. Trust in their judgement and have faith. They won't lead you astray." 

Jon nodded, a resolute look in his eyes. 

"Good, good. That is all. Now if you'll excuse me, I have walls to bless and faithful to heal." I cracked my knuckles and gestured to the exit as I left.

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