Peaceful Life System: I only need to live peacefully-Chapter 158: Dreadspire

Riku just held her, patting her back as she vented all of her misgivings.

Soon, Sherry calmed down. She took a step back, her face now red as she stole glances at Riku. Her face was flushed, and her eyes were red. She hastily wiped her cheeks with the back of her sleeve, a flicker of her usual guardedness returning.

Riku let his arms fall, giving her space.

"Thank you," she mumbled, not looking at him.

"Anytime," Riku replied softly.

Soon, they restarted their journey. The jagged peaks of the Frostfang Mountains grew larger on the horizon, a formidable wall of stone and ice separating the known world from the one that had been stolen from her.

"Sherry," Riku began, his voice even, "that kingdom... the trail we’re following for Rennan leads straight into it. Where exactly are we heading?"

She took a deep breath, composing herself. "My homeland is vast. The central province, where Nocturne is, is ruled directly by the Emperor. But the outer territories are divided into vassal states, each governed by a Darklord who swears fealty to him."

She pointed towards a specific cluster of razor-sharp peaks to their northeast. "Beyond that pass lies the vassal state of Ashvail. Its capital city is... Dreadspire. Based on your visions from earlier, that should be the place where your friend is. It’s the primary seat of power for this entire border region."

Riku nodded, processing the information. A Darklord. A vassal state. The political structure seemed highly complex, just like a medieval empire.

He risked a gentle question. "And your parents, Sherry? Are they still in Nocturne? You said they were sentenced to the Soul-Forge. Do you... ever think about going back for them?"

Sherry’s reaction was immediate and visceral. She shook her head fiercely, a fresh wave of fear flashing in her eyes.

"No," she said, her voice sharp. "Absolutely not."

She turned to him, her expression a mask of hard-won resignation. "Riku, you don’t understand. The Emperor isn’t a king you can challenge. He isn’t a corrupt vestarch you can expose. He is an absolute. His power is woven into the very fabric of that kingdom. To go against him is not a fight; it’s suicide."

Her voice cracked, betraying the very emotion she was trying to suppress. "My parents made their choice. They played a dangerous game. They lost."

She looked away, towards the unforgiving mountains, but not before Riku saw a single, defiant tear well up in her eye. "I... I have a new life now. A chance. I will not throw it away chasing ghosts."

Riku watched her, saw the pain she was trying so desperately to hide behind a wall of cold logic. He wanted to argue, to tell her that no power was absolute, that he could help. But he knew it wasn’t the right time.

He gave her a simple, reassuring nod. "I understand."

As he turned his gaze back to the path ahead, a familiar blue panel shimmered into existence in his mind’s eye.

Ding!

[New Quest Issued: The Soul-Forge]

[Objective: Infiltrate the Dark Emperor’s capital of Nocturne and rescue Kael and Sorina from their eternal servitude.]

[Reward: +50,000 Goodwill Points, ???, ???]

Riku’s lips curled into a faint, private smile. He looked at the system’s prompt, then thought of Sherry’s tear-streaked, defiant face.

A bit redundant, don’t you think, System? he thought to himself. I was going to do it anyway.

He felt a spark of something he hadn’t experienced in some time— the feelings of true excitement.

In his old life, in the game of EverRealm, the world map had ended at the borders of the Korvan kingdom. The Dark Emperor, the Shadowfen Wastes, the city of Nocturne—none of it had existed.

The developers had never finished it.

This was new. A new area, new enemies, and most importantly, a new adventure.

Though the Crimson Creep was very different from what he had played in the game, he could not call it an adventure. For the gamer Riku, it was just a different quest in the same area.

This was something different. This was a new, uncharted territory that he had to explore.

However, he kept his plans to himself. Sherry had enough ghosts to deal with. She didn’t need the burden of a false hope he might not be able to deliver on. Not yet.

For now, one step at a time. First, save Rennan and Clover, and then go to Nocturne to visit the Dark Emperor and Sherry’s parents.

They flew on. Hours passed. The sun began its slow descent, painting the icy peaks of the Frostfang Mountains in hues of orange and deep purple. The air grew colder and the wind sharper, carrying the scent of snow and a dark foreshadowing.

Finally, they reached the mountain pass Riku had seen in his vision.

Riku and Sherry slowed their flight and started moving towards the surface. Below them, nestled in a vast, shadowy valley, lay the city.

It wasn’t like Luxia, sprawling and bright. This was a city built to defy gravity. Towers of dark, volcanic rock clawed at the sky, impossibly thin and sharp. High, arched bridges of black stone connected them, forming a web of pathways against the twilight.

A faint, purple haze clung to the streets. It was not smoke. It was a soft, ambient glow emanating from countless runes carved into the very stone of the buildings. The city hummed, not with life, but with a low, constant thrum of contained, dangerous power.

At its heart stood a single, monolithic citadel of black iron. It’s dome was so dark that it didn’t reflect the light of the sun, but absorbed it instead.

It was a fortress of pure shadow and intimidation. For the people of the Church, it might even be called a spike of malice aimed at the heavens.

Sherry felt the chill in the air, pulling her dark robes tighter. The sight was slightly nostalgic; however, it felt much foreign after the warm days at Elowen.

"There it is," she whispered, her voice a mixture of awe and old fear.

"Dreadspire."

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