After two grueling weeks at sea, Asher finally felt solid ground beneath his feet. He stepped off the creaky wooden floorboards of the ship and onto the sturdy wooden slats of the landing boat.
The ship, too large to navigate the shallow waters, had dropped anchor offshore, forcing Asher and the others to transfer to smaller boats to reach the shore.
As Asher's feet touched dry land once more, he felt a sense of relief wash over him, the sound of the waves and the cries of seagulls replacing the incessant creaking of the ship's floorboards.
This was the same place he met the golden rider but the mighty trees that once crowded his sight were almost gone.
Few were left giving the forest an aesthetic look. The shares sprawled over the forest, allowed a little bit to sunlight to pierce through.
The fallen trees were laid on one side, hundreds of 10 foot wide trees articulately arranged, awaiting the day for the construction of the city ship.
Up ahead, Asher could see few houses, attached to these trees and in the courtyard of one house stood a young girl holding the reins of a black horse.
Asher approached her, a smile on his face as he waved his hand at her.
Her eyes grew wide yet she remained stuck to the grassy field beneath her feet. Asher approached and squatted before her.
"Little lady, are your parents in?"
The little girl gulped hard. The sight of the huge yet handsome man and the company of golden armoured men with frightening glaives and weird horned horses shook the foundations of her knowledge.
This white haired man looked so big that she feared her father might not have grown properly!
"Annie!" A brown haired man pushed the door open, rushing out of the house with a rake, his eyes fierce but the moment it adjusted to the sight of hundreds of golden armoured soldiers on imposing war horses, his fierce gait faltered.
Just then, the man squatting before his daughter rose up. Although his face was calm, the knees of the 5 '7 tall man crashed into the soil, dirt rubbing against his pants.
He lowered his body, tilting toward the ground in reverence. No one could mistake the lord of Ashbourne Dukedom because he was too iconic to be misjudged.
Many say he is as tall as a giant, with eyes that burned like the sun itself, skin kissed by the moons and a hair so white that women tends to get jealous.
The rumours about this man were countless, but once the exaggeration were taken out, one could see that this was him.
Duke Asher Ashbourne in the flesh!
"Your daughter looks at me like she's seen a monster." Asher chuckled softly.
The man's pupils trembled. "M-My Lord, I-I…"
"There's no need to panic. A cargo ship loaded with the carcass of four dragons will be at the shores in a month's time. I want you to be my eyes, pick out the odd ones and report to those I send you."
Josef, the man bowed his head. "I shall do as you have commanded."
Asher's lips curled into a subtle smile. Right now, his domain was infested with countless spies from other houses but the news of the dragon corpse will have to he of utmost secrecy.
The decomposition of a dragon's corpse was a phenomenon that had long fascinated scholars. Due to the immense energy stored within their bodies, a dead dragon's remains would remain intact for three months or more.
This peculiarity, combined with the crucial role dragon parts played in forbidden alchemy, would send shockwaves throughout the land.
Asher could envision the chaos that would ensue, especially given that dragons had been considered extinct for eight centuries – ever since Zenas Ashbourne's legendary battle with the beast that made the Ash Mountains its lair, marking the end of the Glorious Age.
As Asher mounted his majestic steed, Sirius, he turned to Josef once more.
"See to this task with loyalty, and your reward shall be a coveted plot on the city ship."
Josef's eyes widened in awe; a favourable spot meant a prized parcel of land near the city ship's core.
With a final nod, Asher held the reins as Sirius began to walk, its paws sinking into the snow."
As the first week of the first month of the year 536 on the New Age calendar drew to a close, Asher knew that winter's grip would soon loosen.
This was the perfect time to embark on his ambitious project. However, he was all too aware that the mortal scroll had become increasingly demanding.
Unless he met its exacting requirements, it would no longer grant him free upgrades as it had in the past.
For the city ship, Asher needed to assemble a staggering array of materials: trees, stones, ropes, metal ores, nails, and countless other essentials.
The sheer scale of the project was daunting, with astronomical quantities of each material required.
"I mean no disrespect, My Lord but hy did you chose someone like him for such daunting task?"
Asher shot a sidelong glance at Nero, his lips curling upward.
"Because I see what you can't see in him."
Nero's eyebrows arched. "Oh. I see."
Asher chuckled inwardly.
[Talent: Mirror Eyes (B)]
Talent Description: [Mirror Eyes is a talent that grants the power to see through the eyes of another.]
It was the reason the man knew that there were people around his daughter but he didn't look close enough to know who it was because he was focused on being there.
With this talent, Asher was sure the man could have eyes all over the place. He could use the eyes of another without them knowing!
A noteworthy talent that he sought to recruit. This assignment was a test, should Josef pass, he would work directly under him, the lord of this dukedom!
Mere moments later, Asher and the 200 Adeptus Paladins caught sight of the breathtaking evergreen olive tree, its towering trunk piercing the clouds like a colossal pillar.
The tree's expansive branches stretched out in every direction, casting dappled shadows on the ground below.
Even from a distance, the branch canopy loomed above them, a testament to the tree's enormity.
This natural wonder was the lifeblood of the domain, the crowning jewel of the Ashbourne dukedom.
"It's stunning," Simon breathed, his eyes wide with awe.
Asher nodded, his gaze fixed on the tree. "We shall rest in Nineveh," he announced, his voice carrying across the landscape.