Watching these 6.5-foot-tall men unsheathe their swords and go on one knee, pledging their loyalty and gratitude with sonorous voices, made Asher feel a little proud.
He felt proud that he could make men feel this great and privileged.
It was an honor.
A lord’s honor!
“Shall we?”
Kelvin gestured toward the castle’s interior.
Asher smiled and walked in, his steps echoing in the hallway.
Afterwards, he could be found approaching the sacred hall. His smile grew wider and wider until the door was opened.
A white streak came from within the sacred hall. Asher squatted, allowing it to hit his chest.
With smiles, he ran his fingers through the creature’s white fur.
‘How have you been?’
The response he got from Sirius made him chuckle. In this size, Sirius looked like the pup he was when he was chosen as Asher’s pet beast.
“Has there been any disturbance?”
“Some. Sirius took care of it.”
Asher rubbed Sirius’s head. “You’ve been doing your job quite well.”
“He has. He protected Nimrim, Nineveh, and Silverleaf in your absence. Every stray beast has been slain before anyone could sight them.”
Asher lifted up his right eyebrow. “Then how did you know?”
“While he does kill the beasts, he leaves their corpses and the surroundings stained with blood. We have to clean up the mess.”
Kelvin smiled wryly.
Asher suddenly got to his feet. “So… You mentioned something about a graveyard below the Ashbourne graveyard. Is that true?”
“Indeed. It’s a tomb for the butlers who served the house loyally. They’re called Salvatores.”
“Salvatore.”
Asher sat on his throne. His eyes flickered as he searched his memory, trying to figure out if he knew about it from his past life.
In the end, he discovered he had never heard of the Salvatores.
“Why haven’t we seen a record of them?”
“There is. It’s right next to the Ashbourne records. It’s called the Salva records.”
Asher frowned.
Seeing this, Kelvin coughed. “I found it yesterday, my lord.”
“Never mind. At least seeing how vibrant you are, you’ll surely live longer.”
Kelvin’s lips twitched.
“I forgot to send a letter, but I need recruitment posters all over Nineveh, Goshen, and Ashkelon. We need recruits for the Frontline Legion.”
“I’ll do that immediately.”
“Go ahead.”
….
After a week, 8,000 willing recruits joined the army. Since the barrack was in Ashkelon, all of them were sent there.
5,000 joined the Frontline Light Infantry, and 3,000 became Bladebreaker cavaliers, finally boosting the heavy cavalry to a staggering number of 4,000 strong!
During this period of time, Asher was busy with paperwork and meeting high-class people in his domain. As his domain increased, classes of people were slowly forming.
The old woman who once stood in the farms with coarse clothing was now garbed in a luxurious silk garment, and her skin glistened like that of a youth.
She was amongst the highest class of civilians as she was the head of the agricultural department of the dominion!
The fact that her daughter was the lord’s personal maid and also the female version of Butler Kelvin made others revere her.
After all, there was a probability that Cynthia would bear one of the lord’s sons, legitimately or illegitimately.
During this week, Asher got to know about the progress of the Evergreen olive oil and Westfall Restaurant. These two were magnets for gold coins.
In fact, it was high time Goshen was called the city of wealth, luxury, and gold!
The treasury had millions of gold coins, waiting for the new year’s projects!
For a count, he was truly wealthy.
Unfortunately, during this same week, Sapphira fully recovered but refused to leave her temple; neither was anyone allowed in.
Tapk! Tapk!
Two men were walking in the hallway of the grand castle. It was Asher and Kelvin.
Candles lit up the hall as it was already late.
“My lord, won’t you visit the grand priestess? The people are concerned.”
Asher paused.
“What?”
He turned his head toward Kelvin.
“Many want to see her, and her temple is one of the most visited places in the domain. Since it’s on lockdown, the people are not able to see her; even most of the priests and the priestesses are not available.”
Asher’s eyes flickered. “Kelvin, send a report… The Olive Expanse is on lockdown. Those who are not natives should leave in the next three days.”
Kelvin’s eyes widened.
“My lord…!”
“Make sure everyone knows of her deeds in battle. I can’t force her to come out because of some people who are there for their gains. I’ve also given Nero leave. Those that faced death would have to choose to return; I won’t force them. Enforce my orders and make sure the people know the reason.”
Asher turned and walked away.
Kelvin sighed. “I see.”
….
Hours later, when the night was deep and the streets silent as a graveyard and the cold wind of the northern mountains blew, causing people to wrap themselves with fur quilts, footsteps rang in a silent hallway.
Knock! Knock!
A pair of golden eyes snapped open upon hearing the knocks on his door. His eyes first went to Euodia’s before veering back to the door.
He left the bed, calmly walked to the door, and swung it open. Standing outside the door was Kelvin.
“We have a problem.”
….
Asher, along with 50 King Swordsmen, rode through the snowy plains. Asher could remember something similar a year ago.
They kept riding until they arrived at a plain close to the Ash Mountains.
“My god. What happened here?”
Alex exclaimed as he gazed at the corpses of Abyss creatures. Hundreds of them!
All of them were slaughtered by an unknown creature.
“What could have done this?”
A King Swordsman gasped as he placed his on his sword’s handle.
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All of them followed their lord into the bloodstained scene. Ahead of them stood Asher, looking at the corpse of an Abyss worshiper.
He sunk into the ground. It was almost as if a mighty hammer slammed him into the ground, breaking his bones in the process.
Asher squatted, examining the scene from a closer view.
“What killed them was a beast… a large beast.”