Chapter 9:The Price of Peace

Chapter 9:The Price of Peace

Under the spirit's gaze, Peter instinctively began considering various ways to fight it in case a confrontation became inevitable. He analyzed all the known variables that could influence the battle's outcome—from his own limitations to the potential abilities of his opponent. Reflexively, he adjusted his grip on the familiar hilt of his sword, feeling its weight in his hand, a sensation ingrained in him after hundreds of hours of training. The perfect balance of the weapon was achieved through an extended hilt and a heavier pommel.

It was neither a short one-handed sword nor a massive two-handed blade. It was something in between—a bastard sword. It could be wielded with one hand, but its full potential was only revealed when gripped with both. Measuring nearly one and a half meters in length, it was slightly wider than typical swords of its kind, requiring a longer hilt to maintain balance. It was also heavier than standard human-forged swords, which had forced Peter to learn two-handed combat—its sheer mass made it too unwieldy to use effectively with just one hand.

As countless possible battle scenarios flashed through his mind, he realized that he had not come here to slay the spirit. His goal was to gather useful information.

He loosened his grip on the sword, letting it rest along his leg, angling it slightly to the right so that the blade itself did not touch the ground. This was a stance he had practiced with his master. At first glance, it projected vulnerability and a lack of hostility, yet after countless hours of training, he had mastered transitioning from this stance into an attack or a block. His muscles were strong enough to deliver a lethal strike or deflect an incoming blow in a fraction of a second. It was a risky trap.

Then, he began moving toward the spirit. As he walked, he took note of details he hadn't had time to observe before. It was a woman in her late twenties, with long hair reaching her shoulders, wearing light clothing. She was the same height as Peter. Her face was expressionless, but her eyes betrayed pain.

When the distance between them shrank to a few meters, Peter stopped, gazing silently at the dead woman. She stared back at him, wordless. After a long moment, she finally spoke, her voice slightly hoarse yet still beautiful.

"You are the first being to see and hear me, let alone enter this place."

"Are you even human? Or are you something else, merely wearing a human body as a disguise?"

The specter's voice remained emotionless, yet her eyes showed both curiosity and concern. After a brief pause, Peter answered.

"I can see you because of an ability I acquired under my master's guidance. As for your question… I was human once, but I am no longer sure if I can still be considered one."

After speaking, Peter thought to himself:'Can I really consider myself human when I have no hesitation in taking another person's life, and when the only thing keeping me going is revenge?'

Before the dead woman could respond, he added:"But I did not come here to talk about myself. I came to obtain information from you—such as where exactly we are within the Ether's territory, or what magical beings inhabit this part of it."

The specter stared at Peter in silence for a moment before replying, her tone still devoid of emotion.

"I do have such information, but I have no reason to share it with you. And I doubt you have anything to offer me in return."

She had a point—nothing Peter owned could be of use to a wandering soul. But there was one thing she could not expect from anyone else. A release from the material world and a chance to journey to the afterlife.

"You're right. Nothing material would be of value to you. But I do have something you won't find anywhere else—" he paused briefly before continuing,"—the ability to send you to the afterlife and free you from the world of the living."

Peter declared with more confidence than he actually possessed. He wasn't entirely sure if he could truly send a soul to the afterlife. He had an attribute that technically allowed him to do so, but he had never used it for anything other than perceiving the dead.

Shock and disbelief were the first emotions to appear on the woman's face since the beginning of their conversation. Her reaction made Peter feel a twinge of sympathy for her fate.'To drift endlessly through the world of the living, unseen and unheard. No purpose. No rest. Just an endless existence in the shadows. How long has she been like this? How many others share her fate?'

Peter thought just before the spirit finally snapped out of her shock and replied,"If what you say is true, then I will give you the information you seek. But how can I be sure you're telling the truth?"

That was a problem as well. Peter had no way of proving to the spirit that he possessed such an ability because if he sent her to the afterlife, she wouldn't be able to confirm it or give him the information.

After a moment of thought, Peter answered,"As long as you lack the ability to tell whether I am lying or not, You can't ever be sure I'm telling the truth. But if I were you, I would consider this offer very carefully. You have no one else to turn to. This may be your only chance to finally rest. Isn't that worth the risk?"