The Box you have Opened Part 1:
The Citadel was as you have heard of it… and it was still an intimidating place to look at, even with the High Tower being a far more intimidating building as a lighthouse. The Repository of knowledge has always survived everything that has been thrown its way. From the Ironborn, civil wars, the Reach Unification Wars under the Gardener King's, and every which way in between.
Even Dragons, some would say, could not topple this place. Not that you wanted to try, of course, there is so much there that only the gravest fools would wish.
But even now, Ebrion sailing through the air and the city below you, and the mass of people heading out across the ancient city that wanted to see the large beast flying. It was captivating across the way, the entire city in a sense held together through your hands.
Yet you had no desire to destroy the city, nor cause it any harm, as you reached the courtyards of the Citidel.
Ebrion clearly did not like this place, and as you dismounted, you were could understand why. Powerful magics… the Barrier between the known and unknown world were strong, yet weak as well. As if they were torn apart and restricted together.
"Your Grace." A voice sounded as you stroked the scales of your Dragon, who was looking at the men who were coming towards you with angered eyes. The curious glances of the Maesters were far too curious. You had seen the awe before from the Smallfolk and other men of your court.
Yet here it was not awing you saw. It was fear. Fear and indifference, as if they had seen it before. And that troubled your mind more than you cared to admit.
The Archmaester MArwyn was standing in front of the rest of his cadres a thick neck and a strong jaw. He is short and squat with enormous hands, a thick chest, and a hard ale-belly. He has white hair coming out of his nose and ear. But what was evidenced was that he was the only one who was both not afraid, and not curious. His smile was without question. He was glad to see you, even as you could not get a good read. As if he knew and could see it. "Welcome to the Citidel."
You nodded and took the man's hand, as others bowed, as he understood clearly you were here on personal business. "Marwyn right? Maester Bill told me that I was to be expecting you."
The old man nodded. "Indeed your Grace, I did inform my pupil that I would return to Westeros to Greet his grace?" He smiled. "Come."
"Don't touch the dragon." You stated to his companions who were… edging ever closer. "He'll eat you."
The Maesters then quietly backed up, as you followed Marwyn into the Citidel.
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"Why are you bringing this to my attention?" You asked.
"Acolyte Samwell is perhaps the most brilliant engineer that the Citidel has seen in a long time." Marywn stated as he continued to walk forward. "The moment he built this, he earned himself several chains."
"I thought engineering was not something the Citidel taught?" You asked.
"We do not have links for the craft, but we do hold weight in its importance, and we have hundreds of works that would have been destroyed were it not for Samwell's genius," Marwyn stated as you approached the large machine that Samwell was working on. "Samwell, we have a guest, a very important one."
Samwell Tarly was a large man, heavy and fat, but he looked strong, as he seemed to be very well fed here at the Citidel, and from the usage of the machine he made, seemed to be growing a lot of muscle in his arms.
The boy then seemed to stop what he was doing and looked at the Mage. "I'm sorry Maester Marwyn, but i-" He then saw you. "Your Grace." He bowed his head lowly.
"It is I who should be bowing to you, Samwell." You replied. "What you have created is nothing short of miraculous. Not even the height of Valyria could create something of this magnitude of importance for information."
Samwell blushed. "Oh thank you."
"How does it work, if you don't mind me asking." You asked, and Samwell jumped at the occasion.
"Well actually, it was rather simple. The metal plate holds the type letters, and on every page, I remove the type and do another page. On a good day, I can get 20… 40 pages, and well over half a dozen books too, if they were prepared. Though I don't know how to get the illustrations. And that is me working alone. I haven't worked alone in days, we can get multiple books."
You looked at Marwyn. "Incredible. How many books per day?"
"Well Samwell hasn't been keeping up with the records on that front, and he's been hammered by requests by nearly every institution and faculty member of the citadel. To say nothing of foreign requests that we must consider for more funding." Marwyn stated.
"This is an operation that the citadel has never found itself in. and we are finding it hard to not keep up."
You frowned. "Thank you."
"The arch Maesters will now see you. Your Grace."
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You were shocked at their… arrogance. "Do you not see how important this piece of equipment, this technology is? This can cement Westerosi civilization in the world? And you would not try to expand it?"
"The citadel is well aware of the possibility of this, but the current catalog must be seen to before we can make larger decisions about expansion."
"Yet you could build more, Samwell has the knowledge to do this, The Crown can pay for everything if need be. You have an obligation to knowledge itself!"
"Proliferation of this technology may have undue consequences, and we do not fully understand them at this time. We thank His grace for his concern, but we believe it is well and important to take this slowly and make sure the citadels archive is complete before we expand."
You felt anger. "Then what is there to talk about?"
"Nothing your Grace." The Arch Maester of the citadel replied. "If you have a request, please have Maester William make it."
AN: Enjoy Part one.