Because he noticed that many standalone houses had been ’sealed off’.
Every opening in the houses was blocked, fixed by so iron construct; no one could get in, and no one could get out.
Like one grave after another.
The whole city was a vast cetery.
"What on earth happened here?"
Driven by the kind of curiosity that could make him one of the first users of the Pioneer Space, Aina couldn’t wait to enter the city of Steep Ridge Fortress to see what was really going on, but after all, he had a mission to fulfill.
So, filled with imnse confusion, Aina arrived at ’Steep Ridge Fortress’ as quickly as possible.
As the na implies, Steep Ridge Fortress is where the Duke of Steep Ridge resides. It is not towering but very ordinary—just a typical palatial castle with a circular do and four towers. Its foundation was cast from black iron rock, resembling a small mountain.
It is sturdy, with nothing particularly special about its shape—just slightly larger, about two hundred ters high, which is unremarkable for the wonder-level structures On Terra.
[Aina]
When Aina arrived at the gate of Steep Ridge Fortress, he still didn’t see a single ’person’, not even a ’shadow’. The entire city and the whole palatial castle were empty.
That’s when the voice of the Duke of Steep Ridge ca from deep within the castle: [I didn’t expect you to be the Emissary... really didn’t expect it, does he have a twisted sense of humor, or did you volunteer for this?]
[If it’s the latter, that’s quite interesting]
"Bokang Elster..." Aina softly repeated the na of the Duke of Steep Ridge. He shook his head and said, "I’ve delivered the item, but what’s going on here, how is the entire Steep Ridge Fortress a..."
[Enough]
Bokang interrupted Aina’s inquiry: [Your task is complete; leave the item at the gate, and you can return.]
[Of course, if you want to know the answer, you can stay.]
[But don’t say I didn’t warn you, Aina... the answer might be beyond your imagination.]
Had it been ten years ago, Aina would have confidently scoffed—what answer could possibly be beyond his expectations? As a mber of the Setal Imperial Family, the mysteries and truths he knew far surpassed what many ordinary people encountered in a lifeti.
But since the incident with Ian Silverpeak, he didn’t dare say that anymore... the things these Prophets conjured up were more than anything anyone on Terra had created in years combined!
So, he frowned and put down the ’Silver tal Ingot’ in his hand, preparing to leave and reassess the situation.
Then, Aina widened his eyes, stunned to a halt.
The silver tal ingot suddenly quivered silently, decomposed, then turned into countless droplet-like particles, which rapidly disintegrated into silver dust invisible to the naked eye.
This dust swirled, scattered, contracted, and finally coalesced into a distinct humanoid shape.
A shape he was incredibly familiar with, the outline of a young Prophet!
’Ian Silverpeak’ erged from the silver dust; his physique was perfectly proportioned, and at the mont he appeared, the Lord’s Attire he usually wore materialized.
Though the simulation was entirely from a layer of vibrating tal dust, Aina felt as if he were seeing a real person...
No, that’s not right.
It wasn’t a real person!
After a mont of shock, Aina imdiately recognized the discrepancy.
Because Ian Silverpeak was always smiling. Smirking. Chuckling. His lips subtly upturned, possibly sneering or scoffing. His sincere and genuine expression also exuded friendliness, with an innate, captivating charm that made it hard to look away, invoking admiration for everything about him.
But this silver humanoid was calm, indifferent.
It was chilling, like death, like steel, like a grave.
An absolute coldness.
’Ian Silverpeak’ glanced at Aina, then stepped forward and pushed open the door.
[I am the Heart of Terra]
Stepping into the profound darkness, the light emitted by the silver humanoid illuminated the deep recesses of Steep Ridge Fortress devoid of any light source, causing the Monarch on the Brass Throne to slowly raise a mottled head and crown: [Heart of Terra, loaded with Ian Silverpeak’s communication module, is a humanoid terminal for interaction with humans.]
[You may consider as Ian Silverpeak. Or rather, as his heir.]
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