My Trash Talent Is Actually OP!

Once the sun had come up, even in the slightest, the second the forest had a bit of light, the group began packing up their things.

The air was cool, fresh as always, with not a single scent of burnt meat or ashes in sight. Everything was gone, but no one needed to ask, because it wasn't a new thing.

Asher stood by a tree, watching as his soldiers helped around, while Nova stayed above, doing a quick scan of the area to ensure they weren't being followed.

His fists were tight around his phone, forcing himself not to break it as a result of what he had just discovered.

Zain, on the other hand, sauntered off without telling anyone. Although Asher could easily locate him or summon him back, it was a very stupid thing to do, and everyone knew that.

Sinnett, who had been devastated about the news from last night, sat beside Asher, cross-legged, while his locs danced around restlessly.

Worse, they hadn't gotten good food to eat, especially when there was nothing in sight.

Once everything had been packed up, Nova descended and shook her head when she faced Asher, giving him the answers he needed. He replied with a nod.

"Guys, we're going to have to split up!" he announced, causing everyone to pause and turn around to face him.

Tay's brows curved. "What do you mean by that?" he asked, placing a box into the back of the van. Cinder poked her head out from inside, also wondering what the change of plans was.

"Unfortunately, we're being followed, and it's possible I'm the target... or maybe someone gave a tip about dragons moving with us," he said, reaching into his pocket to take his phone.

"Worse news, Velcrest seems to be having issues with Caer District, and since I can't go back, we'll have to go forward."

"Slow down," Tay uttered, stepping forward with disbelief etched across his face. "How do you know all this?"

"I have my soldiers there, and they send me messages..." He paused and then continued. "The Master Guilds began recruiting, and for reasons I do not know, the academy was closed."

Tay and Cinder froze. There was only one explanation for that.

The organisation's Master Guilds never, ever came out unless something triggered them. As for recruitment, it was only done when they found potential in certain students... especially the final year.

But from the records, no one was able to beat the outstanding records of the last set.

Which only meant something was wrong, one way or another.

Or one city was trying to take control of the other. And that was also strange, because Velcrest and Caer District never had issues.

Aside from the race difference, with Velcrest harbouring mixed races, and the District having humans and other races hidden.

Then again, something was very wrong, and no one was happy about it.

Cinder managed to speak up first. "I suggest we postpone our journey to the dragon city. We should go back home and see if we can help..."

"No..."

Sinnett said, cutting her off before she could finish. He raised himself up from the ground with much effort that got Asher a little worried.

Nevertheless, Sinnett slipped his hands into his pockets and glanced at the tower far north. "Let Velcrest and the District handle themselves. The first-year students have more to handle than their conflicts, especially with the Master Guilds making their move."

He continued, "The fact we are being followed obviously means they want to recruit one of you, and they won't stop till they do. So unless you want to be strapped and controlled to do as they say, I suggest we get to the city faster."

He concluded, now pointing at a stable deep in the forest, opposite from where they had been camping. Nova, who had been silent since, finally heaved a little, loud and heavy sigh.

"This seems a little too soon."

Asher shrugged. "I wasn't even certain they would start now. I just hope my family is safe."

"They are. Everyone is," Sinnett answered. "I just don't know how long they will be."

It was one thing that Sinnett knew everything, even that which he wasn't supposed to know. And it was another thing that he didn't know.

It only meant something was terribly wrong, or Sinnett's plans were rigged till he couldn't know what would happen next.

Conflict between Caer, Velcrest, and the Master Guilds was not a new thing.

Yes, the organisation might have her soldiers working for Velcrest, but the founder was not a citizen of their city.

And given his history with Caer, he was also not a citizen, but a mere inhabitant. That said, the Master Guilds, as well as the organisation as a whole, stood alone with their laws, rules, and lifestyle.

The strict laws of each guild, the rank differences, as well as how they picked their members.

Assuming Asher had successfully joined Saint Liora, he would have been figured out and killed by the Archimage Council.

Or treated and judged by the Draconic Vanguard— the guild in charge of studying dragons and finding easy ways to kill them without sacrificing souls to the Necromancer-based guilds.

Yes, it also existed, but no one ever heard of them because there were once a lot of necromancers— but once they got too weak, no one needed them.

However, the guild still functioned, beyond the city barriers, right at the top of the Velcrest Tower— the same spot Ria had told Asher a strange woman wanted to meet him.

Then the master guild above the Outcasts was the Black Veil, a more advanced guild for outcasts or strange talents.

Where people like Sinnett, Cinder, and Nova would be considered for. Asher could be nominated, but they were yet to confirm what exactly he could use his necromancy to do.

That aside, he was bothered deeply about how to raise undead purely, and not dragons or souls that acted like humans.

Asher had read from the books in his room that necromancers raised undead skeletons without souls to bend to their will.

His case was quite rare, because the undead he raised were more like living ghosts— with souls and their bodies intact.

"Asher, do a headcount of these things before we leave. You might have to raise non-dragons later. I know a spot," Zain's voice came from behind Asher as he pulled a black horse to him. "How's she?"

Asher glanced at it, then scoffed lowly. "I'd rather take a grey horse. Give that one to Nova."

"About her..." Zain said, and leaned in to whisper. "What I did to her yesterday is still affecting her, so you wouldn't mind her riding with you, right?"

"Hm?" Asher shifted his gaze to Nova, who watched everyone unload what they needed and strap them to the horses. He just nodded. "No problem."

As Zain left to get another horse, Asher called all his soldiers back, even the ones he hadn't called out and watched as they lowered themselves before him.

Each one taking their humanoid forms. He wanted to count manually, but sighed. "Give yourselves numbers."

Zero frowned deeply and tilted her head. 'Master, there are seventy-five of us, including Nova and Zain. We had already been given numbers from the time you raised us.'

Asher raised a brow. "Is that so?"

She nodded.

"How many matured?"

"Twenty-five."

"Immature?"

"Thirty-two."

"Hybrid and abnormal?"

"Seven. Including me, Nova, and Zain."

"Infants?"

"Ten."

Asher's brow curved in confusion. "That should be all. Which one is left?"

'We are generally undead, but there's one left, a Silver.'

He frowned even more and pinched the bridge of his nose, breathing between his teeth. "Zero?"

She bowed.

"I'm finding it very impossible to understand you here. What do you mean a Silver Dragon? That thing doesn't even exist."

'Wrong. She does, and half of her lives under your roof.'

"Ria? She's not a Silver Dragon."

'Not yet. She's an infant. Her real body is with the Guilds, but I doubt we could reach her before Velcrest falls.'

"What are you talking about?"

Zero sighed lowly. 'We need to get to the Land of the Lost, as you promised your mother, or else you wouldn't be able to actively control the dragons and the dead.'

Asher breathed heavily. Of course, she was right. Zero might look like someone with a screw loose, even when she couldn't quite talk physically.

He knew she was right, but then, it was coming as a shock now because he was just finding out, even when none of it had been mentioned.

It just came like a rainfall, unmentioned and so unexplained, and he hated that.

How was Ria even a Silver Dragon?

"Master."

Asher froze. "Orin?" He quickly closed his eyes to focus. "What is the matter?"

"Nothing, Master. Just checking on you. Is everything alright?"

"Yes, yes. How is Emma?"

Orin whispered, "Good enough. We overheard something about Velcrest and the Master Guilds. Vorgath and I could return if you need help."

"No. Check in with the others at Velcrest and tell me if my family is alright. Ria..."

"I know. I will do everything in my power to protect your sister and find the Silver Dragon."

Asher smiled. He could at least rely on the few he knew. "Thank you, Orin."