Building an Empire in Game of Thrones (REWORKED VERSION)

Current year - 290 AC

In the courtyard of the Palace, Prince Viserys was currently being trained by one of the Warmongers of the Imperial Guard. He was at the age of 13 and had been studying at the Academy of Excellence, which is one of three Academies in Heaven's Reach.

The other two were the Imperial War Academy and the Academy of Mystical Studies. The Imperial War Academy is where officers go to train and become leaders in the Imperial Union's armed forces, while the Academy of Mystical Studies delves into the magical arts, recruiting only those extremely loyal and who prove to have some type of magic aptitude.

To be accepted into any of the Academy's was considered a privilege and paved the way towards a brighter future for all who attended.

The entrance age of each Academy generally started at ages 12-13 and would take students through 6 years of courses teaching advanced knowledge to those who are deemed worthy of attending. Primary and Secondary school lasted till the age of 16 teaching regular citizens basic knowledge of the world, including the kingdoms and their history, and as much basic education as the people of this world could handle.

The sun had just set, as Prince Viserys swung his wooden sword against his instructor, Ser Alaric. His movements were still clumsy, but determination filled his eyes as he trained to master the technique that he was being taught.

"Focus, little Lord! Your body moves faster than your mind!" Ser Alaric barked, parrying Viserys's attack. He stumbled back a step, then quickly regained his posture, readying himself for another attempt. Each clash of wooden swords echoed throughout the courtyard.

On the other side of the courtyard, Queen Rhaella watched alongside 6-year-old Daenerys who clutched the small doll given to her by Maximus. Her purple eyes watched in fascination as she absorbed the sight of her brother's training. While she was worried about her brother, she also knew how strong the witches were and knew that if anything happened, her brother would be healed in an instant.

"Will I be just as strong as my brother one day, Mother?" she asked, her tiny voice overshadowed by the sounds of the wooden swords clanging against each other.

Queen Rhaella smiled tenderly at Daenerys, brushing a lock of her hair behind her ear. "If you work hard enough, my sweet Dany. You will find your own way to shine." Her heart was filled with both pride and protectiveness towards her children as they were, as far as she knew, the last members of her ancient household.

Unlike when she was in Kingslanding, here in Heaven's Reach within the Emperor's Palace, she always felt safe and was allowed as much freedom as she wanted without having to worry about her safety. The Kingsguard members who fled to continue serving her were given a barracks near where she was staying and allowed to carry swords within Palace grounds under the Emperor's Authority.

The Kingsguard were renamed to the Queensguard since they now serve a Queen rather than a King, and they took their oath to protect not just Rhaella but also her children with utmost loyalty. Every day, they trained rigorously, ensuring that they were prepared for any threat that might arise, even though they were in one of the safest places on the Continent.

"Do you think I could wield a sword like Viserys?" Daenerys continued, her eyes wide with hope. She didn't yet know the weight of the steel or the balance of a blade; all she knew was that her brother was becoming strong.

Rhaella knelt beside her daughter, bringing them eye to eye. "Strength is not solely measured by the ability to wield a sword, my dear Dany. There are different kinds of power." Her voice was soothing yet firm, with the knowledge only a mother could possess. "Your strength may come from your heart or your mind."

Just as she spoke, the clattering of wooden swords was reaching an end as Ser Alaric ducked under Viserys's wild swing and countered. Viserys staggered back, panting heavily as Ser Alaric planted the tip of his blade into the ground and rested his hands on it.

Viserys knew what this meant and sheathed his sword signaling the end of his training. "Good work today, Prince Viserys," Ser Alaric said, "You've improved since last week, though you still have miles to go."

Viserys straightened his back as he declared, "I won't stop until I can best you, Ser Alaric,"

"Ambition is admirable," Alaric acknowledged with a nod. "But remember, raw power is nothing without control. The moment you let your emotions dictate your actions, that's when your enemy will find their opening."

Viserys took these words to heart as he knew it would only help him improve. Returning to the palace, the three Targaryen's were walking through the halls as they encountered Maximus and Merlin.

Seeing Maximus, Daenerys ran towards him and latched onto his leg hugging it tightly as she looked up at him, "Your Excellency," she shouted with a big smile on her face.

Maximus reached down and ruffled her hair, smiling back, "You're getting bigger and bigger every day, little dragon. Soon you'll be the one to challenge your brother in swordplay."

Daenerys giggled, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Maybe we can have a tournament!" she suggested, releasing his leg and spinning in a little dance as she envisioned herself dressed in armor, ready for battle.

"Easy there," Maximus chuckled, kneeling down to her level. "Let's wait until you're a bit older before you start challenging knights. Besides, we wouldn't want your brother getting too cocky, would we?"

Viserys smirked at the exchange between his sister and Maximus. "I would never be too cocky! I'll be the greatest knight in the whole world," he boasted, crossing his arms as he tried to appear regal.

Merlin, standing slightly behind Maximus, couldn't help but interject with a grin. "The greatest knight, eh? And what of strategy? A knight without cunning is merely a sword on a battlefield." she said clearly teasing Viserys who simply ignored her.

"Maximus," Rhaella called out, "I must say, this place is the greatest place I could hope for my children to grow up in. They get to go attend classes with other kids, socialize, learn skills, and have a straight path towards a better future should they chose it."

"That's what I am aiming for, and this is what we agreed upon. To allow your children to form their own paths." he replied.

"I just wish there was something that I could do to help out," for the past three years she has felt a little guilty as she did nothing to repay everything that Maximus has done and will do for her and her children.

Hearing this Merline interjected, "I have something for you to do, my lady if you want to help out."

"Do you really?" asked Rhaella.

"Yes," Merlin replied as she turned to Maximus. "We could allow her to teach in the Academy of Excellence, allowing her to do something other than sit within the Palace walls, and she can share her past with the students if she wishes, showing them how she used to live."

Rhaella's eyes widened at the suggestion, "Teach at the Academy? You think they would benefit from my experiences?" she asked.

Merlin nodded eagerly, "Absolutely! Your life in Westeros is rich with stories and lessons. It will provide a perspective they haven't encountered before. You could share tales of courage, resilience, and the struggles of ruling, as well as the strength that comes from love and family."

Maximus stepped closer, placing his hand on her shoulder. "You should do it; you possess knowledge that many here would find invaluable."

She gazed at her children, thinking about her decision for a second. In her heart she wanted to do it, but her mind didn't know whether or not she could do it. But at the same time, it would allow her to do something, so ultimately, she accepted.

"I would love to teach at the academy if you would allow it then," she answered.

"Good," Maximus said turning towards Merlin. "I'm sure you can handle all the paperwork and such."

Merlin nodded as it was settled. The group continued to chat for a little while longer, with Maximus greeting Ser Barristan Selmy the Commander of the Queensguard. Ser Barristan had great respect towards Maximus and the way he ruled his empire, often thinking how he would probably have joined the Imperial army if he wasn't already sworn to his Queen.

He had travelled into the city multiple times and saw how lively the atmosphere of the city was compared to Kingslanding. The people loved their Emperor and while he slightly considered some of them to be fanatics, he understood the things that Maximus had done to make himself seem like a deity to them.