"Anybody who gets invited by the owners can enter. For example, you invited us, and we could enter. Similarly, Omar had permission from the Scott ancestors." Lucinda spoke politely.
"Permission from the Scott ancestors?" Arella didn't know what to think of it. The only surviving Scott members are Adrian and herself. She hadn't met Omar before, and Adrian wasn't here. The Scott ancestors were long dead. And Omar was too young to have met them before.
"I can see dead people." Omar, who was happily gnawing at the snacks, spoke with a mouthful of bread.
Arella's eyes widened! Omar could see dead people! Was it something to be so calm about?
"They asked me to tell you that they are happy with you and will come visit when they have time." Omar continued without any concerns.
"Umm, tell them they are welcome anytime." Arella's mind crashed, and a plethora of queries surrounded her.
"Seeing and talking to the dead is his blessing. He could do it since his birth. The forest is under the care of Scott family ancestors. We live in a place near the forest. We try to keep him away from the unknown places but as you can see, he has his own mind." Aaron heaved a sigh and shared the pathos of being a father.
"When Omar received his gift, the Soothsayers were overjoyed. But to be honest, I would have wanted to have an unblessed child. In that way, he could have lived a free life." Lucinda shared her deep wishes. Aaron hugged her to show his support.
"I beg your pardon, what are Soothsayers?" Arella didn't want to interrupt the scene, but now her interest was piqued.
"The cat clan is known for its affinity to the divine. We are blessed by the Beast God and receive various gifts upon birth. Among us, some people are closer to the Beast God and hence can perceive the future and decipher the will of God. Such people are called Soothsayers." Lucinda spoke calmly.
"So, can you also read my future?" Arella's mind was in shambles. Why did the cat clan have so many powers when all other beast clans only had either physical or psychological respite?
"No. The mirror of your future is fogged. It has been obscured. It happens when you do something that was not intended by fate." Lucinda spoke firmly.
Arella thought maybe marrying Adrian was really not in her fate. But it happened. And she was glad. Other than that, she couldn't think of any other fate defying event in her life. If marrying Adrian could make her future uncertain, then be it so. She doesn't mind it at all.
"What's wrong with Omar?" Keeping aside her future, Arella shifted the focus back to Omar. To think that a parent could ask for an unblessed child! Was being blessed so troublesome?
"When Omar was born, we discovered that he could see the dead. At first, we were glad, but then…" Aaron stopped in between and looked at the gnawing child. He looked just like any other child. But nobody knows what kind of horrors he has to deal with every day.
"When I was little, the dead wanted to occupy my body. Had it not been for my mother's spiritual prowess, I wouldn't have survived till date." Omar stated unperturbly.
Listening to it, Arella didn't know how to react. She raised her hand and started stroking his little head. Omar's eyes squinted in satisfaction. He really liked her warmth.
"So, that is why, you shouldn't wander till you gain a proper spiritual foundation. Don't you know how the first cat beast died?" Aaron asked sternly.
"She was curious and went into a dangerous area. In the end, curiosity killed the cat." Omar answered sheepishly.
"And what did you do? Running off to the boundary like that! Do you know how concerned we were?" Aaron's sharp voice penetrated Arella's ears. The pity she felt for the child evaporated in minutes. Yup, the child was reckless.
"Sorry. I won't do it again." Omar lowered his head and apologized meekly.
The sun was beginning to set. The talks, drinks, and snacks were coming to an end.
"We should leave now. We have to head back before dark." Lucinda voiced her plans.
"Arella, we cannot thank you enough for your and Scott family's patronage. As our gratitude, please accept this." Aaron took a rectangular paper from his pocket and gave it to her.
"No. No. It was my pleasure. You don't need to do this." Arella politely refused.
But Aaron insisted upon giving it to her. So, she took it. She looked at it and gave an awkward smile to the person.
'What am I supposed to do with it? It's blank! What should I do?' Arella's mind churned, and a soft chuckle rang near her.
She looked up and found Aaron trying to stop himself from laughing hard. Even his shoulders started trembling!
'Oh shit! He could hear her thoughts!' Arella found herself in a fix.
"I am sorry. But you are so honest in your heart! Not everybody I meet is as clear and pure as you. Ahem. This is a blank talisman. It can help you avoid danger. In a crisis, it can conjure up whatever your heart desires ardently. But, I am still learning. So, it can only be used once. Hope, you are satisfied with it." Aaron shared his thoughts.
"Oh! This is too much. Please I appreciate your feelings, but you don't have to give anything in return. Omar was well behaved. He didn't cause any trouble at all." Understanding the value behind the blank talisman, Arella found it too much to take for free.
But the couple insisted, and she could do nothing but keep it.
"Remember, don't invite people from the forest area inside the barrier. Also, one permission works for one time. Omar and we won't be able to enter a second time without another invitation. Be careful." Lucinda bid adieu to Arella by sharing important knowledge with her.
Omar hugged her, and then, thanked and apologized before going away. He even smiled and said goodbye to the cook, gardener, and cleaner. The cook was satisfied with it and gave some edible tidbits to him for the journey.
When Arella entered her house, she was met with silence. The helpers had gone back, and the cook was busy preparing the dinner. She really should thank Omar and his family.
Their presence helped her in shifting her focus from Adrian's absence.
But now, the silence, longing, and the emptiness were back.