A few days later.
Perched atop the grandiose Shamrock Peak, Aksai’s three-story palace stood proudly, commanding the attention of all who beheld it.
Built over the largest plateau of the mountain, the palace boasted an impressive view of the surrounding landscape, with the vast expanse of the Zenith Ridge stretching out beneath it.
Apart from the mortal workers, a batch of skilled Spirit cultivators were sent by Nuya to help Aksai in making his residence. They had already been paid in the Spirit stones by her. So Aksai didn’t need to pay them from his end.
At the front of the palace lay the Spirit farm, where rows upon rows of fertile soil awaited the planting of Spirit crops.
Skilled cultivators, both low and mid-stage Spirit Refiners, worked tirelessly to prepare the land, weaving intricate earth-element Spirit spells to nurture the soil and enhance its fertility. Mortals from the nearby village lent their hands in the labor, aiding the Spirit cultivators in their task.
To the rear of the palace sprawled the Spirit Garden, a lush oasis of vibrant flora and fauna.
Here, delicate Spirit herbs and exotic flowers would soon bloom, filling the air with their intoxicating fragrance. The garden was still in its infancy, with young saplings and seeds taking root in the rich soil under the careful guidance of the cultivators.
Nestled a bit further from the burgeoning Spirit garden, a sprawling vineyard began to take shape on the palace property. Rows of sturdy grapevines stretched across the fertile soil, their leafy tendrils reaching eagerly toward the sun-drenched sky.
Skilled cultivators, both mortal and Spirit Refiner alike, labored diligently to tend to the young vines, carefully nurturing them as they took root in the earth.
With each passing day, the vineyard grew, its verdant expanse expanding to encompass more and more of the landscape. Some Spirit spells were used to expedite the growth of these vines.
The promise of bountiful harvests hung heavy in the air, as clusters of plump grapes began to form on the vines. Soon, the vineyard would yield its first harvest, offering a bounty of succulent grapes to be transformed into fine wines and spirits.
To the left of the palace, a tranquil Spirit pond shimmered in the sunlight, its surface rippling with the graceful movements of Spirit fish gliding beneath.
On the right side of the palace, the Spirit Ranch awaited completion, its spacious enclosures ready to house a variety of animals and livestock. Soon, the grounds would echo with the sounds of bustling activity as the ranch came to life with the presence of its new inhabitants.
As for the palace itself?
Constructed with locally quarried stone, Aksai’s palace boasted a timeless design that blended seamlessly with the rugged beauty of its surroundings. Despite its grandeur, the palace exuded an air of understated sophistication.
The three-story structure rose gracefully against the backdrop of the mountain peak, its imposing silhouette softened by the gentle curves of its architecture.
Inside, the palace’s interior exuded a vibe of minimalism, with spacious rooms and high ceilings creating an atmosphere of openness and tranquility.
Sunlight streamed through tall windows, casting warm pools of light upon polished stone floors and simple wooden furnishings.
Each room was appointed with care, with only the most essential furnishings and décor adorning the space.
In the main hall, a grand staircase swept upward, leading to the upper levels of the palace where Aksai’s private chambers awaited.
The construction workers had started giving finishing touches to the palace. The low-stage Spirit Refining cultivators had finished most of their work in Spirit Farm and Spirit Garden as well.
A definite picture of Aksai’s residence was getting created with each passing moment.
As the construction of his palace and its surrounding amenities progressed, Aksai observed the bustling activity from the sidelines, his lone figure silhouetted against the backdrop of the mountain peak.
Despite the flurry of activity around him, he remained in solitude, his thoughts drifting in quiet contemplation as he watched his vision take shape before his eyes.
“Twelve years ago, this would have been impossible to even dream about. But look at this place now. I’m no longer a rental Spirit farmer anymore. I… I am an island owner.”
Aksai murmured to himself as he looked at his land from a distance, his face full of complicated expressions.
Aksai felt proud of himself for making this much progress. He also felt a bit sad that his father wasn’t here with him to see him in his current form of success. Then he felt nostalgic about the farmhouse he had set on fire before leaving the Lakir estate– the same farm he had grown up on for the first 18 years of his life.
To Aksai, this land on Emerald Cove held more importance than the property he had in Martial World Sharang. This was obviously because it was much more difficult to find his current footing in Dadangar World than it was for him in Sharang.
While Aksai was lost in his thoughts, a figure approached him from behind.
“Fellow cultivator Aksai, I thought you could use this,” a familiar calm and graceful feminine voice rang in Aksai’s ears, which brought a smile to his face.
He turned around to see Nuya approaching him with a bottle of wine in one hand and a pair of saucers in the other hand. These were the wine saucers with light runic engravings in which the Spirit wines were usually served in, in flat-cup-like shapes.
Nuya possessed a captivating aura as she approached, her appearance exuding an air of both elegance and authority.
Her waist-length smooth black hair cascaded down her back, framing her delicate features with a striking contrast against her fair, pinkish-hued skin. Her piercing blue eyes, like icy sapphires, held a depth that seemed to peer into one’s soul.
Draped in a long robe, Nuya’s slender form carried an undeniable grace, accentuating her apt feminine curves with every movement.
Despite the coldness that emanated from her aura, there was a certain calmness in her demeanor.
Aksai couldn’t help but sense a subtle care hidden within the icy facade she presented to others, a warmth reserved only for those closest to her.
The Spirit farmer gave a casual nod to Nuya before chiming in.
“Haha, thanks for the wine, fellow cultivator Nuya. And for sending over the extra hands. Things would’ve been slower without them,” he said, taking a wine saucer from her.