Meanwhile, inside the Whispering Cove, the main room was spacious and airy, illuminated by the warm glow of lanterns hung from the ceiling, creating a welcoming atmosphere. Simple wooden furniture, carved with tribal motifs, dotted the room, providing seating for meetings and discussions.
Within this room, Asher sat at the head of a long, rough-hewn wooden table, surrounded by his old and new subordinates. Shadows danced along the walls as candlelight flickered, casting an eerie glow over the faces of those gathered.
Seated to Asher's right was Darren Aliester, a vampire from the influential House Aliester, known for their expertise in the enchantment arts.
He was not the eldest son, but he was a prodigy in enchantment, mastering spells at a pace that left his peers in awe. His House was the vassal of House Thorne and was their main source of enchanted weapons, contracts, and so on.
Beside him sat Leonidas Stormrider, a dracovore hailing from the formidable House Stormrider.
Dracovores were mostly minotaur with a fraction of draconic blood in their veins. Their origins date back to ancient times, shortly after House Drake came into the picture. It was said that they were not a real race but artificially produced using draconic blood. However, as generations passed, they had grown in numbers and strength and had become a formidable and respected race that were still loyal to House Drake.
Because of having a fraction of draconic blood in their veins, they were considered to be the strongest warriors and one of the main combat force of the kingdom.
Leonidas had a striking appearance that commanded attention. Standing at an impressive height, he had a strong, muscular bull-like build that spoke of his prowess in battle.
His crimson eyes burned with intensity and intelligence, reflecting his tactical acumen. His hair was a deep shade of red, falling to his shoulders in thick waves. His horns, a testament to his demon lineage, were long and sharply curved, while his skin had an ashen hue, accentuating his otherworldly origin.
As a skilled warrior and tactician, Leonidas had a reputation for his fierce combat skills and strategic acumen. His House was responsible for the kingdom's military forces, training, and commanding soldiers to protect their lands and uphold their honor.
Finally, to Asher's left was Caelum Nightshade, a charismatic vulpini from the esteemed House Nightshade, which was a vassal to House Valentine.
Caelum was the embodiment of grace and poise. He had elegant, fox-like features, with delicate, shimmering lines adorning his cheekbones, forehead, and the bridge of his nose.
Caelum's eyes were an enchanting silver hue, reminiscent of molten silver, and they held an air of wisdom and mystery. His black hair cascaded down his back in a silken waterfall, reaching his waist, and was often adorned with intricate braids. His brown skin had a certain glow to it that surely would make him an eye candy among women.
Known for their cunning diplomacy and mastery of intrigue, the Nightshades were instrumental to House Valentine in maintaining the balance of power and furthering the interests of the kingdom.
Caelum's silver tongue and vast network of informants had proven invaluable to Asher in foreign bonds with the local tribes and spreading his influence.
Asher had these two become his vassals by coming upon them in the Tower of Hell. He got acquainted with them through Darren, and these two were looking to prove their worth by working for someone influential.
They weren't the star descendants of their respective Houses, but they were good at specific things that Asher felt would be useful to him.
And just like any other young noble, these two were competing with their siblings to make sure they get to be the next lord of their Houses.
So they took a leap of faith by becoming the vassal of the royal consort, who was far from being the most influential person in the kingdom.
However, they were aware of his potential and his strengths and so they decided to take a chance by becoming his vassal early on so that if the royal consort did gain enough power and influence in the future, their rise in status and power would be assured as well.
The more he grows, the more they will as well.
However, Asher had another reason to take them in, which was nothing other than the fact that all three of them had ties to the three Great Houses.
To stay in the loop, Asher felt he had to form such a network and not get lost behind in the game.
And right now, Asher furrowed his brow, occupied by the thought that had been nagging at him for a while as he looked at Nereon, the chief of his tribe, "You had mentioned how there has been growing unrest among the people here? Are things really becoming worse that much? It just feels strange that this is happening all of a sudden."
Nereon's expression had a look of distress as he answered respectfully, "Your Highness, I share your thoughts as well. But most of the tribes in our lands depend on the sea for our livelihoods and survival. And with the waters starting to become poisoned, we are burning through our reserves, and there is no telling what is going to happen to us. Not even the noble Houses or House Thorne has yet figured out the reason why our waters are getting poisoned. If the waters become entirely unusable…I dare not imagine what is going to happen. It's not like we can afford to go deeper into these chaotic seas."
Darren, his voice gentle but tinged with concern, responded, "These are indeed harsh times for the people here. But the nobles here should be doing something to help the people here rather than act as if they have no idea what to do. I wish my House could have done better."
Nereon let out a tired sigh but looked at Darren with an appreciative look, "You have been a great help to us, my lord. And we do wish all the nobles here were like you. But we can't dare anger the nobles and risk losing our only support. However, they did mention that due to the difficulties we are facing now, they were going to introduce a few initiatives to support us till they figure out what is really going on. So we have no choice but to be hopeful."
Caelum, who had been keenly listening, added, "I believe there may be more to this mysterious poisoning of the seas. What if somebody was doing this on purpose to put pressure on the northern lands for their own gains. Because if this keeps up, then there might be an uprising here."
Asher's gaze hardened upon hearing his words, and he felt that he couldn't turn a blind eye to this theory.
Leonidas's expression hardened as he considered the implications, "If that is the case, we need to identify the instigators quickly and put an end to their machinations. The longer this continues, the more difficult it will be to restore order."
Nereon also couldn't help but have his expression become grave hearing that. Still, he couldn't help but ask, "But who here would do it on purpose? It doesn't serve any purpose, and they only risk getting the severest punishment. Nobody in their right mind would dig their own grave."
Darren nodded slowly with a look of contemplation, "That is what makes this even more puzzling. Ignoring that, I can't even think of anyone in these lands who is capable of poisoning the waters near our lands. If somebody here did it, we would have definitely noticed."
Caelum hummed as he nodded, "Then it could only mean an outsider is probably doing this, and that…makes it even worse if they truly have the capability to manipulate our waters while we watch helplessly," He said as his tone became serious.
Asher listened carefully to their words, his mind racing with the possible consequences of the situation at hand, "Hmm…it does seem like there are few possible theories as to why this is happening, but I also feel like what Caelum proposed is the most probable one. However, the best we can do now is keep our ears and eyes open to everything that is going on in these lands, no matter how trivial. Perhaps all we need is a clue to find out the root cause."
Nereon firmly nodded as he said, "I will definitely tell my people as well to be vigilant. Thank you, Your Highness and my lords, for lending us your ears in these difficult times," Nereon said with a moved look. He never imagined he would get to address his troubles personally with such powerful people. They were his biggest source of hope.
Asher waved his hand as he said, "You all are still part of our kingdom. So it is our duty to make sure our kingdom stands strong at all times, including our queen. Now…"
Asher's gaze shifted to Leonidas, his eyes filled with curiosity and determination, "Leonidas," he began, his voice carrying a sense of urgency, "how is the progress with the Dragon Legion? You know how important it is for us to assemble an elite force who could quell any troubles in case of emergencies."
Leonidas straightened up, his expression resolute, "Your Highness," he replied, his deep, authoritative voice reflecting his years of experience as a seasoned warrior, "the training of the Dragon Legion has been coming along quite well. We have already handpicked a number of skilled individuals who are currently undergoing rigorous training, honing their abilities to become unmatched on the battlefield."
Asher's eyes narrowed slightly, impressed yet cautious, "That's good to hear, Leonidas," he said, his tone a mix of satisfaction and concern, "But you understand that the process cannot be rushed. Each member of the Dragon Legion must be molded with great care, for they will serve as the backbone of our forces in these tumultuous times."
Leonidas nodded, his eyes full of understanding, "I am well aware, Your Highness. Rest assured that I am personally overseeing their development, ensuring that they meet our exacting standards. The Dragon Legion will become a force to be reckoned with, capable of improving stability and order in our beloved kingdom."
Leonidas was feeling quite enthusiastic and happy about this since if he managed to build a successful legion, then not only would it make the royal consort happy, but also his father, who might understand his worth and reconsider who should be his heir. And so he couldn't help but feel grateful to the royal consort for giving him such a perfect opportunity.
Asher nodded, a flicker of a smile appearing on his lips, "I trust your judgment, Leonidas. I look forward to the day the Dragon Legion stands ready to serve our realm."
Asher's gaze shifted to Caelum, curiosity brimming in his eyes as he inquired, "How are our earnings fairing for Devil's Brews?"
This venture into the world of potion-making was Asher's brainchild, with Caelum appointed to oversee its operations.
Crafting high-quality potions and offering them at appealing prices had been Asher's strategy to rapidly expand the business and solidify its reputation in the kingdom. So far, this approach has been yielding promising results.
Caelum's face broke into a confident grin as he replied, "The profits are pouring in like a well-crafted potion, Your Highness. Your ingenious concoctions and competitive pricing have turned heads in every corner of our kingdom. Our clientele is expanding by the day, and so are the coffers," Caelum couldn't help but feel excited and satisfied about this since he had also got to earn a lot more than he initially expected.
He had long since realized he had underestimated the royal consort's talents which not only included being a genius potion master but also having great ideas on growing a business.
Asher's lips curled into a satisfied smile. He knew he had chosen wisely in entrusting Caelum with the responsibility of managing Devil's Brews. Caelum's charisma and tactful mind were invaluable in driving the business toward success.
For now, most of the profits he had been getting from Devil's Brews were being invested into building the Dragon Legion.
Asher's gaze shifted to Darren, his curiosity piqued, "How is your research on enchantment arts coming along?" he asked, the question hanging in the air, laden with expectation.
Darren's face lit up with a warm smile, his eyes sparkling with gratitude. "It has been progressing remarkably well, thanks to you, Your Highness," he replied sincerely, his voice brimming with enthusiasm, "Your generosity in providing me access to such rare and valuable resources has been a tremendous help in advancing my knowledge and skills in the enchantment arts."
He paused for a moment, allowing the weight of his words to sink in before continuing, "In fact, I believe it won't be long before I can equip the Dragon Legion with some of the finest enchanted weapons and armor available," Darren's voice grew more animated, the excitement evident as he spoke of the future possibilities.
Asher's eyes widened, a hint of a proud smile forming at the corner of his lips. He knew he had made the right decision in supporting Darren's research, even if it cost him a bit, and the fruits of their collaboration were now starting to show.
He slowly got up from his chair, making the other three get up as well as Asher said, "That will be all for today. I will be looking forward to a good amount of progress within a month from you all."
"Of course, Your Highness," All three of them bowed with a firm gaze.
However, right as Caelum and Leonidas took their leave, Darren's expression became a bit difficult as he approached Asher.
Asher furrowed his brow and could see that something was greatly troubling him and asked, "What is it, Darren?"
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