"And you can see me, that is indeed a blue whale, simply passing through," my guardian replied, its voice a low rumble.
"What does that mean?" i asked
"It means you are not alone, you are not the only one who can see beyond the veil."
I looked at Dove, a flicker of hope igniting within me. If she could see the whale and my guardian, then perhaps my "schizophrenia" wasn't a delusion after all. Perhaps there was a hidden world, a realm of magic and wonder, that only a select few could perceive.
A wave of excitement washed over me, mingled with a healthy dose of fear.
"So, are you really... a Seer?" I asked, hesitant to use the unfamiliar term.
Dove sighed, a hint of exasperation in her voice. "It's not called 'Seer,' but 'The Unveiled.' And it seems you don't even know what that means, considering your guardian is still outside your body. You're truly sealed."
Her words confirmed my suspicions. She knew more than she was letting on.
"Tell me everything," I pleaded, desperation edging into my voice.
Just then, my guardian interrupted. "Something is approaching."
We both looked up to see a small, glowing fish descending from the sky, its movements erratic and menacing.
My guardian took flight, intercepting the fish with a swift, decisive strike. The creature disintegrated into a shower of sparks, leaving behind a faint, sulfurous smell.
"Another lost soul... The Veil is thinning, and the creatures of the Otherworld are growing restless," my guardian murmured, returning to our side.
Dove turned to me, her eyes wide with concern. "We need to find a safe place, these creatures are drawn to the Unveiled, and they won't hesitate to attack."
I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. This was no longer just about uncovering the truth; it was about survival.
"We have to get back to your grandma!" Dove yelled, grabbing my hand.
I nodded, and we took off running. The flying fish, now a swarm of them, buzzed around us like angry hornets. My guardian soared through the air, slashing through the creatures with its ethereal blade.
The truth hit me like a lightning bolt: I wasn't hallucinating. These creatures were real, and so were my abilities. I wasn't schizophrenic; I was something else entirely.
We reached the house, bursting through the front door, panting and breathless.
"Goodness, why are you two running?" Nagisa Grandma asked, her eyes wide with concern.
Uncle Antony, who was relaxing on the balcony with a cup of coffee, leaned over the railing. "Was there a robbery or something?"
"Dear, what's going on?" Manda Grandma added, her voice laced with worry.
"N-Nothing..." Dove and I gasped, trying to catch our breath.
I leaned close to Dove and whispered, "Is it safe here?"
"Of course, don't you see the pictures of horses in this house?"
"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.
"Pictures of horses signify that this house is protected by angels," she explained.
Angels? Who were these people, my family?
I stared at her in disbelief.
Just then, the shadowy figure appeared beside me, its presence a comforting weight in the midst of the chaos.
"The creatures are gone, for now." it said in a low voice.
I let out a sigh of relief, the tension slowly draining from my body. But the questions remained, swirling in my mind like the remnants of the otherworldly storm that had just passed.
We both rose to our feet, our hearts still pounding.
"W-Well, we came back because... it looked like it was going to rain," I stammered, desperately trying to come up with a plausible excuse.
"Y-Yeah, true," Dove chimed in, her voice equally shaky.
The two grandmothers exchanged a knowing glance, their eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Well, then," Nagisa said, her voice laced with a hint of amusement, "why don't you two come join us for some tea? It's getting a bit chilly out there, and the rain might start soon."
We hesitated for a moment, but the warmth of the house and the promise of a hot cup of tea were too tempting to resist. We followed the grandmothers back inside, the unsettling encounter with the flying fish and the shadowy figure momentarily forgotten.
As we settled back onto the mats, Manda leaned towards me, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "So, Xian Ying," she began, her voice barely a whisper. "What did you and Dove talk about out there?"
I glanced at Dove, who was staring intently at her teacup. "Oh, nothing much," I replied, trying to sound casual. "Just... getting to know each other."
Manda chuckled. "Well, that's good," she said. "It's important for young people to connect with their roots and learn about their family history."
I nodded, taking a sip of my tea. But even as I made small talk with the grandmothers, my mind kept returning to the mysterious events of the day. The shadowy figure, the flying fish, the cryptic messages... it all seemed like a puzzle, and I was desperate to find the missing pieces.
***
Later that evening, as I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was on the cusp of something monumental. The encounter with Dove, the revelations about my grandfather's past, and the looming presence of the shadowy figure had all converged to create a sense of urgency within me.
I knew I couldn't ignore these signs any longer. I had to uncover the truth, no matter where it led me.
Ting!
My phone buzzed on the bedside table. I picked it up, my heart skipping a beat when I saw a message from an unknown number.
[Unknown Number: Xian, it's Dove.]
I quickly opened the message and typed a reply.
[Me: Hey Dove, what's up?]
[Dove: Since you're one of the few in our generation who can use that power, I think I should tell you the truth.]
[Me: About what?]
< Chapter 010 > Fin.