Peaceful Life System: I only need to live peacefully-Chapter 105: Freeing Clara (2)

"This charm," Riku said, showing it to Clara, "can serve as a new, temporary anchor for your soul, Lady Clara. It would allow you to accompany Elara, to be near her. Later on, we can make you a new body."

"However, I must tell you the risks. If this charm were to be destroyed, your soul would dissipate instantly, and you would disappear. Another potential solution could be that you wait here till we make a new body for you, and then we can tether your soul to the new body."

Clara looked at the charm, then at Riku, and then at Elara. Then she smiled.

"Please, young man. I would rather stay with my daughter than rot in this graveyard. Go ahead and do what you must."

Riku looked at Elara once more, who looked at him with hopeful eyes. he gave her a slight smile and then prepared to cast his spell.

Soul Tether (-20 Goodwill Points)

Necromantic runes appeared all over the ground, covering Clara’s soul and her underground remains with an ethereal light. The process was surprisingly quick, a testament to his inherent skill. Clara’s luminous form pulsed, then seemed to contract, drawing inwards towards the charm in Riku’s hand. With a final, soft sigh, her ethereal light flowed into the dark threads, and the charm pulsed once with a gentle, green luminescence before settling.

The charm now felt warm in his hand, thrumming with a gentle, ethereal energy.

"Are you all right? Maa?" Elara asked.

"I am here, Elara. And... I am free from my remains," Clara’s ethereal form slowly appeared before the trio once again. However, this time it looked a bit feeble, as if it had lost some of its earlier intensity.

Riku turned and offered the charm to Elara. "Your mother, Elara. She’s with you now."

Tears of gratitude streamed down Elara’s face as she reached for the charm, but just before her fingers touched it, she hesitated. She looked at the warm, gently glowing object, then up at Riku.

"Riku... can... can you keep her for me?" she asked, her voice small and uncertain.

Lila and Riku both looked at her, surprised.

"I... I’m not strong enough," Elara explained, her gaze dropping. "I don’t understand these things. What if something happens? What if I lose her again? You’re powerful. You know how to protect her, how to... speak with her properly. Please," she looked at him, her eyes pleading, "will you keep her safe for me? Until I’m strong enough?"

Riku looked at the earnest trust in the young girl’s face. He understood her fear. "Of course, Elara," he said softly, closing his hand over the charm. "I will keep her safe for you. I promise."

"But Riku, why does her form appear a lot duller than before?" Lila asked, puzzled.

"I feel that due to severing the connection to the graveyard, which had a lot of inherent undead energy, Lady Clara lost some of the strength in her soul. Don’t worry, though. There should be plenty of ways to strengthen her soul. It is just that it is a bit.... inconvenient now," Riku said thoughtfully as he glanced at his goodwill points.

[Goodwill Points: 30]

With her mother now safely with them, Elara’s emotions significantly improved. She chatted with her mother for some more time before she turned to Riku with a fresh wave of hope. "Riku... my father... his soul... Can you find him too? Like you found Mother?"

Riku’s expression turned somber. He looked at the empty shell in the casket, then met Elara’s hopeful gaze with gentle sadness. "Elara," he said, his voice quiet, "I’m sorry. The only reason why I was able to secure Lady Clara’s soul was because she had her soul tethered to this world in the first place. However, I cannot say the same for your father."

The fragile hope in Elara’s eyes shattered, and she let out a soft sigh. Clara’s soul also appeared emotional as she gazed at the casket of her now deceased husband.

However, at this moment, Riku got a new message.

Ding!

[Quest Issued: The Body and the Soul]

[Objective: Find the soul of Marden Robinson]

[Hint: Severed threads still yearn for their weave. The Controller’s ’workshop’ and the love of the ’dead’ might hold the key.]

[Reward: 10,000 Goodwill Points, ???]

Eh? What is this now, System?

[A Quest, Host]

But how come the rewards are so good? And is Marden Elara’s father? Why did you not give the quest earlier?

[Yes, you are correct, Host. That person is indeed Clara’s husband and Elara’s father - Marden Robinson.. The mission was not available previously because the Host was missing critical information. Just like how you would unlock missions only after completing specific parts of the story.]

The system replied in a flat tone.

Riku was stuck speechless for a second, but finally, he spoke again mentally

You know what, system...

[What is it, dear Host]

You are the best :)

--------------------

Riku and the others finally buried the body of Elara’s father and returned to The Respite. The mood was much better than when they had started for the graveyard. Elara had a slight smile on her face, and Lila was accompanying her, chatting about all sorts of things. Lady Clara had gone back into the charm, resting to preserve her energy.

Riku had not told the girls about the mission. If anything, that place would be extremely dangerous for Lila and Elara. Though with enough goodwill points, he could neutralize almost any threat below the divine level with ease, he would rather be safe than sorry.

Plus, the Creep was still a mystery to him. Even if the creep was unable to do anything to him, apparently, it ran much deeper than just being a mere disease. He had to be on high alert when investigating areas with the creep.

As he was walking down the cobblestones, lost in his thoughts, he got a mental message that he wasn’t expecting at all.

’Hello, Riku.. Is it fine if I call you that?’