Arthur pushed open the orphanage gate with his free hand, the other still clasped in Mira's while bundles of food and gifts swung from his arm. He led Mira through the gate, her fingers tightening around his as they approached the door, he could feel her excitement and nervousness as they stepped through the threshold. He opened the door and stepped inside. "I'm back," he announced simply as he set the bundles down on the nearest table.
The response came immediately as the younger children who played near the hearth turned their heads, their faces lighting up as they scrambled to their feet and ran toward him in a rush. Meggie reached him first, wrapping her arms around his legs while Ben and Thom crowded in behind her, all talking over each other in a jumble of questions that filled the air.
"Where were you?" Meggie demanded, tugging at his tunic. "You were gone all night!"
"Did you fight more bad men?" Ben asked, jumping up and down. "How many this time?"
Thom pushed forward. "Did you bring us anything? Jory said you might!"
Arthur smiled down at them, raising his hands to calm the swarm. "Easy, easy," he said. "I will tell you everything at supper like always, but you have to wait until then. No stories without full bellies."
Lena hung back a step but peered up at Mira with wide eyes. "Who is the pretty woman?" she asked quietly, pointing at Mira who stood beside Arthur with a warm expression.
Arthur glanced at Mira and pulled her forward gently. "This is Mira," he replied. "She is my wife, and she will stay with us now. Be nice to her she has traveled really really far to get here."
The children turned their attention to Mira then, curiosity replacing some of the excitement as they studied her. Mira knelt down to their level and gave them a warm smile. "Hello," she said softly. "I am Mira, I'm happy to meet all of you. Arthur has told me so much about everyone here."
Meggie stepped closer first, tilting her head. "You are really pretty," she said. "Do you like stories? Arthur tells the best ones about knights and dragons."
Mira nodded eagerly. "I love stories," she replied. "Especially about dragons. Whats your favorite?"
Meggie grabbed Mira's hand without hesitation. "The one where the knight saves the princess from the tower! Come see my drawing I made one just like it!"
Lena took Mira's other hand. "I draw too," she said shyly. "I can show you mine."
Ben and Thom exchanged glances before Ben piped up. "We have a fort in the yard," he said. "Want to see it? We built it with sticks and mud."
Mira laughed lightly, standing up with their hands still in hers. "I would love to see everything," she said. "The drawings and the fort lead the way."
The girls pulled her toward the back door, chattering about colors that Arthur had made them, while Ben and Thom trailed behind adding details about traps they set for enemies. Mira listened to each one, asking questions that made them talk faster; Meggie about her favorite part of the story, Lena about what she liked to draw most, Ben about how they built the walls. The children warmed to her quickly, their initial shyness giving way to excitement as she knelt to examine a stick figure drawing Lena fetched from under a bench or nodded seriously at Thom's explanation of mud that held everything together.
Arthur watched with a smile, calling out over the noise. "Hold on," he said. "We have presents for everyone, so come to the main hall first. You can show Mira everything later."
The word "presents" stopped them instantly, eyes widening as they turned back. "Presents?" Meggie repeated, releasing Mira's hand to run toward the table. "What did you bring?"
The boys crowded around too. "Is it swords?" Ben asked. "Or sweets?"
Arthur handed some of the bundles to Jory, who had appeared from the kitchen with flour on his hands. "Take these to the table," he said. "We will open them together."
Jory nodded and carried the packages over, the children following in a noisy group while they speculated loudly about what lay inside. "I bet it's toys," Thom said. "Or maybe knives!"
Alys emerged from the kitchen then, wiping her hands on her apron as she saw the commotion. Lunk sat at the far end of the table, his massive frame bent over a small bird perched on his finger that he cooed at gently. Alys approached Arthur with relief clear on her face. "You're back," she said, pulling him into a quick hug. "We worried when you did not return last night." She turned to Mira next. "And you must be Mira, my aren't you a pretty one, I am Alys, the one who runs this place."
Mira smiled warmly and extended her hand. "I am," she replied. "I'm very happy to meet you Alys, Arthur told me how you saved him. I can never thank you enough for doing that."
Alys took her hand firmly. "He has done a lot more for everyone here to pay that debt a hundred fold... especially for me... in any case he is family now," she said simply. "As are you."
Lunk looked up from the bird then, his eyes settling on Mira with slow recognition. "Pretty lady," he rumbled, a smile spreading across his broad face. But his attention shifted back to the bird almost immediately, which hopped along his arm while he chuckled deeply.
Arthur glanced around the hall, noting the usual clutter of toys and half-eaten bowls that spoke of a busy morning. "Everything okay here?" he asked Alys quietly.
Alys nodded as she moved to quiet a scuffle between Ben and Thom over who sat where. "All fine," she replied. "Just the usual kids being kids."
Jory set the bundles down and approached Mira with a blush creeping up his neck. "Hello," he said, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
Mira looked towards him and smiled kindly. "You must be Jory," she said. "The one my husband trains every day. He says you learn fast."
Jory's blush deepened. "Yes, my lady," he mumbled, staring at his boots.
Mira giggled softly. "Thank you Ser Knight but I am not a lady," she corrected gently. "Just Mira."
Jory nodded quickly, embarrassment making him retreat toward the kitchen without another word.
The children swarmed the table then, voices overlapping as Alys tried to organize them into seats. Meggie climbed onto a bench while Lena tugged at her sleeve. Ben flicked a crumb at Thom, who retaliated with a shove that nearly knocked over a cup, prompting Alys to step in. "Enough," she said firmly, separating them with a hand on each shoulder. "Sit properly or no presents."
The hall settled somewhat, though whispers and giggles continued while Arthur unpacked the bundles. He asked Alys casually, "Where is Cassie?"
Alys glanced toward the corridor that led to the sleeping rooms. "In her room," she replied. "She's been in pieces ever since you left..."
Arthur nodded before he looked at Mira. "I'm going to talk to her," he said quietly.
Mira met his gaze with understanding in her eyes and nodded. "Go," she replied softly.
Arthur left the table amid the children's chatter and walked down the narrow corridor to the room that Cassie shared with Alys, the door closed at the end. He knocked gently, waiting for a response that did not come. He tried again, rapping his knuckles against the wood, but silence greeted him once more. Concern creasing his brow, he opened the door slowly and stepped inside.
The room was dark with shutters half-closed, Cassie sat on the edge of her cot with her back to the door, her shoulders hunched while she stared at the floor. She did not turn when he entered, though her body tensed slightly at the sound of his footsteps. Eventually she turned around slowly from where she sat on the edge of her cot, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand while fresh tears threatened to spill over again. She looked sad in a way that tugged at Arthur's heart, yet happiness flickered through her expression when she saw him standing ther. She rose quickly and came over to him, wrapping her arms around his waist in a hug that conveyed relief she could not hide.
"Arthur," she whispered against his chest, "I am so glad you are here and safe."
Arthur held her tightly, his concern growing as he felt the tremor in her embrace. "What's wrong?" he asked gently, pulling back enough to look into her eyes. "You look as if you were crying."
Cassie hesitated for a moment, her gaze dropping to the floor before she met his again. "I was worried for you terribly," she said, her voice breaking slightly. "Each moment you were gone, I wondered if the guards had caught you, if they had thrown you into the black cells or worse."
Arthur hugged her tightly once more, his hand stroking her back in soothing circles. "I am fine," he assured her. "Everything went well, better than I hoped."
Cassie looked up at him then, searching his face. "So... you succeeded?" she asked quietly. "You found Mira?"
Arthur nodded, a small smile forming. "I did," he replied. "She is in the main hall right now, meeting everyone."
Cassie breathed a bit heavily at that, her eyes flicking past him toward the door as if she could see through it to the hall beyond. She felt guilty in ways that consumed her thoughts, the shame of having shared Arthur's bed now amplified with his wife so close, a reminder of what she had taken that did not belong to her. She turned around abruptly and moved to the small chest where her clothes lay folded, beginning to pack them into a bundle with hands that shook slightly.
Arthur watched her in confusion, stepping closer as he saw what she did. "What are you doing?" he asked, concern lacing his words. "Why are you packing?"
She kept folding her tunic without looking up. "I cannot stay here," she said simply. "I have to leave."
Arthur reached out to stop her hand gently, turning her toward him. "Why?" he pressed, searching her face for answers. "Tell me what is going on Cassie, whatever it is, we can fix it together."
She pulled her hand away, continuing to pack while guilt kept her from meeting his eyes fully.
Arthur stopped her again, his hands on her shoulders as he made her face him. "What's going on?" he asked firmly. "Please, talk to me."
At that moment, a small knock sounded on the door, and it opened slowly to reveal Mira stepping inside with a concerned expression. "Is everything okay?" she asked softly, glancing between them.
Both Arthur and Cassie went silent, turning to look at Mira who stood in the doorway with light from the hall framing her.bCassie choked a laugh that carried sadness, wiping her eyes again as she saw Mira fully for the first time. "You must be Mira," she managed to stutter out, smoothing her clothes with nervous hands. "You are more beautiful than Arthur ever described," she added with a sad smile that did not reach her eyes.
Arthur tried to speak. "Cassie—"
Cassie walked forward toward Mira before he could continue. "I am so sorry," she said profusely, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her face. "For tempting Arthur away from you, for lying with him when I knew he was married. I should not have done it, but I did, and for that I can only beg your forgiveness."
Mira stood shocked at the words, her eyes widening as she processed the confession.
"I am packing my things now," Cassie continued, gesturing toward the bundle on the cot. "You will not have to see me again, I will not shame you by having to see my face everyday."
Mira grabbed her hands before she could turn away, holding them firmly with kindness in her expression. "You are not going anywhere," she said gently. "You have more than earned your place in Arthur's heart, you saved his life and cared for him at a time where I could not, and for that I accept the love you have for Arthur, it is my hope we can all find happiness together."
Cassie looked shocked, her gaze shifting to Arthur who smiled reassuringly from behind Mira.
"I... I do not deserve that," Cassie said, her voice trembling as she tried to pull back. "I knew he loved you, and I still let it happen... how can you forgive me so easily? It will only cause problems, with me here every day."
Mira held on tighter, shaking her head. "You saved his life," she replied. "You cared for him when he had no one else, and that means more to me than I can say. Your happiness matters as much as my own, we can make this work."
Cassie felt choked up at Mira's kindness, tears flowing freely now as the weight of her guilt lifted slightly under the genuine warmth. Mira saw the emotion breaking through and pulled her into a hug, wrapping her arms around Cassie tightly. "Do not worry," Mira whispered. "We will all be happy together I promise."
Cassie smiled through her tears and nodded, returning the hug tentatively at first, then fully. Arthur joined them then, his arms encircling both women in a group embrace that held for several long moments while emotions settled in the room.
After a while, Mira pulled back slightly and looked at Cassie with a gentle smile. "Kiss him," she suggested softly. "I can see you want to."
Cassie felt unsure, her eyes darting between them, which led Arthur to step forward and claim the kiss himself. His lips met hers tenderly at first, then deepened as she melted into it, her hands rising to his face while the connection they shared reignited in the quiet space. Arthur pulled back after a moment and turned to Mira, giving her a kiss as well that she returned with equal warmth. He put his arms around them both then, holding them close. "Let us go back to the main hall," he suggested lightly, "before Alys thinks we are doing something indecent in here."
They giggled at that, the tension breaking into shared laughter while Cassie fixed her hair and smoothed her tunic before stepping toward the door with Wrrhur and Mira, starting what was hopefully her new life with them.
____________________________________
A few months had passed since Mira had come to live at the orphanage, and the days had settled into a pattern that brought stability and happiness to everyone within its walls. Mira had integrated smoothly into the daily routines, her presence welcomed by the children and adults alike as she helped with chores and meals without complaint. The younger ones took to her quickly, with Meggie often trailing after her to ask for help braiding hair or telling stories, while Lena shared her drawings all the time. Even the boys, who usually caused the most trouble, listened when Mira spoke, perhaps because she treated them with the same patience she showed the girls. Alys relied on her in the kitchen, teaching her recipes that kept the pots full despite limited coin.
Mira grew closest with Cassie out of everyone, apart from Arthur himself. The two women shared tasks without needing many words, Cassie showing Mira the best stalls in the market for fresh bread or cheap cloth while Mira assisted with the evening cleaning. They sat together by the hearth after the little ones slept, talking about the day or what they may do tomorrow. Cassie had worried at first Mira would change her mind about their shared affection for him, but soon that fear eased and the three of them found a balance that worked.
Arthur maintained his training regimen with discipline that bordered on obsession, rising early most mornings to run forms in the yard before the children woke. He practiced both Falling Star Style and Water Dancing Style in alternation, switching between heavy two-handed strikes and light thrusts that emphasized speed and footwork. Jory joined him faithfully for these sessions, the boy's skill improving as he learned as much as he could.
The tourney approached in less than two weeks, banners had already been already appearing along the kingsroad for weeks as knights and lords arrived in the city. Arthur knew that if he wanted a real chance at winning the melee, he needed to raise Water Dancing Style to at least Apprentice level before it began. That style, combined with the Falling Star which he continued to refine through endless repetition, would give him a good chance to win it. Victory in the melee carried a prize of one thousand gold dragons for the champion, enough to secure their future comfortably, and even if no knight noticed him enough to offer service, the coin alone would help immensely.
They needed it, since Arthur had spent a substantial portion of Willem's gold on the building next door. He purchased it outright after negotiating with the owner, then hired masons to connect the two structures with new doorways and a shared courtyard that expanded the space for the children. Furnishings followed, such as a proper bed for the room he shared with Mira and Cassie, sturdy tables and chairs, lockable chests for valuables, and smaller items like rugs and lamps that made the home feel lived in. The orphanage itself received an overhaul too, fresh stone to replace the walls that had cracked, a new roof patched against leaks, expanded sleeping areas with new bunks for the children Alys. The work took weeks but when finished, the connected buildings formed a large compound.
The spending left Arthur with far less gold than he started with, but he regretted none of it. They had a real home now, one with room for growth and comfort that Flea Bottom rarely offered.
To his surprise, the system acknowledged the achievement with a quest completion he had forgotten entirely, one triggered when he first arrived in King's Landing.
_____________________________
[Quest Completed]
A ROOF OF OUR OWN
_____________________________
Description:
King's Landing is no place to sleep in alleys. Buy a home and plant your flag.
Objective:
- Purchase a house inside the city walls (deed or year-lease)✅
Bonus Objectives:
- Negotiate the price down by at least 15%❌
- Avoid paying any bribes or "gate fees" ✅
- Furnish the home with a bed, table, and lockable chest within 48 hours ✅
Rewards:
- +1 Perception ✅
- Otherworld Token ✅
- Rest Bonus: Safehouse ✅
(recover faster while resting at home)
- [Skill] Haggling (0/100) (Novice) ✅
- +150 XP❌
Failure:
- Homeless and vulnerable to theft and sickness
________________________________
Rhaella visited several times over those months, her arrivals always causing a stir among the children who gawked at the princess in their yard until she won them over with small gifts or games. She used the excuse of delivering charity for the needy but most of her time went to Mira, with whom she talked for hours in the garden or the new sitting room Arthur had furnished. Arthur and eventually Cassie joined these conversations, Rhaella including them without hesitation. Arthur understood why Mira valued her so highly, Rhaella possessed wit and humor that surfaced in unexpected moments, and she never acted as if her blood made her superior. Once past the initial shock of her status, she proved easy to talk with, sharing stories of court that made them laugh or listening to orphanage tales with genuine interest.
Arthur trained himself to exhaustion in those months, pushing through drills that left him sore but stronger. Progress showed clearest in Dexterity and Perception, stats that climbed a lot easier than the others. It seemed the flashes from his past life gave temporary boosts to Dexterity, while Perception grew for reasons less clear. Odd moments occurred where lost items turned up quickly or he sensed where someone hid during games with the children, subtle nudges that proved accurate almost without fail. Arthur wondered if this connected to The Shining, but without more information he accepted the help and focused on readiness.
All he knew for certain was that he stood prepared as possible for the tourney. The melee called strongest and victory there would secure coin or notice... or both. With less than two weeks remaining he had done all he could've done now he just had to wait.
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STATUS MENU
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Name: Arthur of Harrowfield
Class: Farmer
Heritage: Valyrian / Stormlands
Age: 16
Level: 6
Unallocated Stat Points: 1
Title(s): Fledgling Hero
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COMBAT ATTRIBUTES
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Strength: 16
Dexterity: 13
Constitution: 17 (+45%)
Intelligence: 5
Perception: 9
Luck: 8
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TRAITS
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[Comely]
You've got the kind of face that gets you smiled at, flirted with, and forgiven for things you probably should not be.
[Sword Prodigy]
You wield a blade like it belongs in your hand—faster learning speed, tighter reflexes, and better execution with swords.
[Sharp Ears]
Your hearing is unnaturally acute. You can detect faint sounds, whispers, and movement even from across the room.
[Blood of Valyria]
Your veins run silver and fire. Whether by birth or by bed, the Old Blood knows its own. Grants heightened affinity with magic, dragons, and Valyrian relics. Also makes you just a little more unhinged than you'd like to admit.
[Dexterous]
Your hands and fingers are exceptionally nimble. Tasks requiring precision, balance, and control are performed with greater ease. You are less likely to fumble, and you can learn skills involving fine motor work—such as swordplay, crafting, or stealth—with increased speed and efficiency.
[Linguist]
You possess an instinctive grasp of language. You can understand and communicate in any spoken tongue once exposed to it, even those long thought extinct. You also possess a natural affinity for learning magical languages, runic systems, and coded enchantments, allowing you to interpret and pronounce them with uncanny precision.
[Gift]
You may transfer one of your traits or skills to another individual. The recipient will receive a weaker version, but the skill or trait will be permanently removed from you. No duplication is possible.
[Inventive Genius]
You gain the instinctive ability to imagine, design, and improve tools, weapons, structures, and mechanisms far beyond the understanding of your time. Your mind naturally sees flaws and solutions. You feel a compulsion to tinker, adapt, and create. Every item you hold, every structure you see whispers possibilities of how to make it better.
[Demon Back]
The secret to overwhelming strength lies in the back. When the body is pushed past its limits, your muscles lock into a terrifying alignment that resembles the form of a demon. Strikes delivered in this state carry far greater force, and your strength briefly surpasses human limits.
⚠ Overuse places extreme strain on the body and risks permanent injury.
[Weapon Bond — Sword]
Your first true blade has become an extension of yourself. Each swing flows more naturally, precision improves, and your connection to sword styles grows stronger over time.
[Arcane Script]
Your mind deciphers any written language, rune, or script as if it were your mother tongue. Ancient texts, foreign codices, and enchanted glyphs reveal their secrets at a glance.
[The Shining]
Your mind is attuned to subtle impressions left behind by thoughts, emotions, and significant events. Places feel different to you, heavy with what once occurred there.
[Ambidextrous]
You can use both hands with equal skill, suffering no penalties for off-hand actions.
[Hypermobility]
Your joints and musculature possess an unnatural range of motion, granting increased flexibility, improved evasion, and reduced injury from falls or awkward movements.
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SKILLS
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[Observe]
[Carpentry] (6/100) (Journeyman)
[Conditioning] (45/100) [+45% Constitution]
└─ Recovery (Sub-skill)
[Novacaine] (60/100)
[Cooking] (40/100) (Expert)
[Tracker] (8/100) (Legendary)
[Axe Mastery] (49/100) (Novice)
[Carnal Knowledge] (85/100) (Adept)
[Shibukawa-ryū Jujutsu] (42/100) (Apprentice)
[Lumbering] (55/100) (Novice)
[Falling Star Style] (17/100) (Journeyman)
[Water Dancing Style] (80/100) (Novice)
[Herbal Insight] (Unique)
[Horse Riding] (10/100) (Novice)
[Poison Resistance] (12/100) (Journeyman)
[Massage] (8/100) (Master)
[Mathematics] (56/100) (Adept)
[Acrobatics] (72/100) (Journeyman)
[Haggling] (0/100) (Novice)
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(AN: So we are in the tournament saga which will be a little shorter than most of the other arcs I'm hoping, anyway this is where our boy finally starts to rise up in society. Anyway hope you enjoyed.)
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