[Dove: Many of our relatives can actually see those creatures. Some of them can even use their powers through their eyes.]
By their eyes... That's why my guardian wanted me to unleash the seal, so I could harness power through my own eyes?
[Me: How does that work?]
[Dove: What do you mean, how does it work?]
[Me: I mean... how do you unleash power in your eyes?]
[Dove: Well, I'm not entirely sure. I don't have that power, at least not yet...]
[Me: So, what should I do? What can I do?]
[Dove: Wait, let me add you to the group chat.]
I waited, my curiosity piqued. A group chat? They have a group for this?
[You have been added by Dove to The Unveiled Family]
[Aca: Huh, who is this, Dove?]
[Dove: The one we've been waiting for, Xian Ying.]
[Irune: Woah, so he's the one?]
[Vill: Oh, so he's the one Grandpa talked about?]
[Yolan: Welcome...]
I opened the group chat, my heart pounding as I scrolled through the list of members.
There are seven people here, including me... so six other members of my family have the same power?
I took a deep breath and typed a hesitant greeting.
[Me: Hi...]
A flurry of messages filled the chat, welcoming me and asking questions about my abilities. It was overwhelming, but also oddly comforting to know that I wasn't alone in this.
[Aca: Hey Xian Ying! Welcome to the family!]
[Irune: So, what kind of powers do you have? Can you see ghosts like us?]
[Vill: Have you been training your Eye of the Unseen?]
[Yolan: We can help you, Xian Ying. We're all in this together.]
I took a deep breath, trying to process the flood of information. It seemed that my family had a long history of supernatural abilities, and they were eager to help me unlock my own potential.
[Me: Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone. I'm still figuring things out, but I'm definitely interested in learning more about our abilities.]
[Dove: That's great! We can meet up tomorrow and talk more in person. We have a secret gathering spot where we can practice our powers safely.]
[Me: Sounds good. I'm looking forward to it.]
I closed the chat, a sense of hope replacing the fear and uncertainty that had plagued me for so long. I wasn't alone in this. I had a family, a community, who understood what I was going through.
Suddenly, I remembered that tomorrow was the anniversary of my grandfather's funeral.
[Me: We can meet at my grandma's house. We're all going there, right? For Grandpa's memorial.]
[Dove: Yeah, he's right.]
[Yolan: Well... sure, but I don't want to go inside.]
[Aca: Haha, Yolan is scared of the sheep skull.]
[Yolan: It's disgusting!]
[Irune: Anyway, there's actually one more person who can see the spirits, but she doesn't want to admit it.]
One more person... Who could it be? I wondered, a new wave of curiosity washing over me.
Click!
The door to my room creaked open, revealing my mother.
"Hey, hun," she said, a gentle smile on her face. "Are you skipping school tomorrow?"
"No," I replied, sitting up. "But you can tell the teacher I won't be there. We're going to Grandpa's memorial."
She nodded. "Good! I'm going out for a bit. Do you want me to pick up anything for you?"
"Hmm... just some snacks," I said, thinking of the long day ahead.
She chuckled. "You really are just like me! We both love our snacks."
She closed the door behind her, leaving me alone with my thoughts once again.
I lay back on my bed, the soft glow of my phone screen illuminating the room. The Unveiled Family group chat buzzed with activity, but I couldn't bring myself to join in. The revelations of the day weighed heavily on my mind.
Who were the Unveiled? Had I encountered others like me before, without even realizing it?
I closed my eyes, trying to envision the shadowy figure, its chilling voice echoing in my memory.
▇▇▇▇... I whispered the name silently, a shiver running down my spine. Why couldn't I speak it aloud? What was the significance of that name?
A sudden thought struck me. My grandfather's collection of artifacts... could they hold the answers I sought? Perhaps the old Javanese prayers and rituals he practiced contained the key to unlocking my true potential, to understanding my place among the Unveiled.
I resolved to explore his collection at the memorial service tomorrow. It was time to delve into my family's past, to embrace the destiny that awaited me. The Unveiled were calling, and I was ready to answer.
***
The following day, we arrived at my grandmother's house, a somber atmosphere hanging over the familiar surroundings. My parents and I stepped out of the car, greeted by a gathering of relatives I barely recognized. However, my eyes were immediately drawn to Dove and the other girls from the Unveiled Family group chat. They were all strikingly beautiful, their unique styles and personalities radiating an undeniable charm.
If they weren't my relatives, I'd probably try to marry all of them.
One of the girls waved at me, a warm smile on her face.
I nodded in response, feeling a mixture of shyness and curiosity.
Dove approached me, her hand reaching out to grab mine. "Let's go," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
The other family members watched us as we walked away from the house, their eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and concern. All except one girl, who lingered behind, a thoughtful expression on her face.
"Where are they going?" my father asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"Oh, it seems they've become quite close," Manda chuckled, a knowing glint in her eye.
Outside, the group formed a circle around me, their faces a mix of eagerness and apprehension.
"So this is Xian Ying?" a girl with dark wine hair asked, her voice laced with a hint of skepticism.
"I think we should introduce ourselves first, don't you think?" Dove suggested, her gaze sweeping across the group.
< Chapter 011 > Fin.