"Relax your eyes, I will try to unleash—" Suddenly, he stopped, a sharp gasp escaping his lips.
Bzzzzt! A jolt of electricity surged through his body, causing him to recoil in pain.
I opened my eyes, startled by the unexpected reaction. The old man stared at me, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and wonder. "...?"
"Child... don't reject it," he rasped, his voice hoarse.
Reject it? I didn't do anything.
"I don't..." I began, but he cut me off.
"You don't... that means your eyes rejected me. That's... fascinating."
The old man took a deep breath, his eyes still fixed on me. "It seems your seal is stronger than I anticipated, It is not merely a matter of unlocking it; your eyes possess a will of their own."
It's weird... if that local healer could seal my eyes, anyone should be able to unseal them... but why couldn't he?
I looked at him, bewildered. "What does that mean?"
"It means your power is not meant to be controlled by anyone but you," he explained, his voice growing stronger. "It means you are destined for a greater purpose than anyone could have imagined."
He paused, his gaze piercing into mine. "But it also means that your journey will be fraught with danger," he warned. "There are forces in this world that will seek to exploit your power, to twist it to their own ends. You must be vigilant, Xian Ying. You must trust your instincts and never lose sight of your true purpose."
I nodded, the weight of his words settling heavy on my shoulders.
"For now," the old man continued, "return to your friends. I sense that they have much to teach you. But remember, Xian Ying, the path of the Unveiled is a lonely one. You must always be prepared to face the darkness alone."
I rose to my feet, my heart filled with a newfound resolve. "Thank you," I said, bowing my head in gratitude. "I will not forget your words."
I turned to leave, but the old man's voice stopped me. "One more thing, Xian Ying. Remember the name ▇▇▇▇. It may hold the key to your destiny."
▇▇▇▇? What name? I strained to hear, but the word seemed to dissolve into the air before it reached my ears.
"W-What did you say?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
"The name ▇▇▇▇," he repeated, his voice clear and strong.
But again, I couldn't make out the word. It was as if a veil had descended over my ears, blocking out the sound. A wave of frustration washed over me. What was happening? Why couldn't I hear the name that supposedly held the key to my destiny?
"Have you understood?" the old man asked, his voice firm. "Now go. Find your own path to strength."
I nodded, a mixture of confusion and determination swirling within me. We took our leave, walking back towards the house in silence.
I caught up to Hana, who had lingered behind. "How did it go?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"He couldn't do it," she replied, her tone dejected. "The seal is too strong."
"What now?" she asked, her eyes searching mine for guidance. "Should we continue the investigation?"
"No," I said, shaking my head. "Not yet. I need to go back to school."
"What about me?" Hana asked, her voice small and uncertain.
I looked at her, my heart aching with empathy. "Can you... go to heaven?" I asked, tilting my head.
"I don't know," she replied sadly. "I can't seem to. I think I need to stay here until... until everything is resolved."
I nodded, understanding dawning upon me. I had a new mission now, a dual purpose. I had to help Hana find justice, and then, somehow, guide her to the afterlife.
It was a daunting task, but I knew I couldn't give up. Not until Hana could finally rest in peace.
I found myself back at the school gates, my mind racing with the information I had just learned.
The guard was clearly irritated. "You... were you skipping school?" he demanded, his arms crossed over his chest.
"N-No," I stammered, trying to keep my composure. "My father needed me to run an errand for him. I apologize for the inconvenience."
The guard looked around skeptically. "There wasn't any sound of a car arriving," he pointed out. "What do you mean you were with your father?"
"He dropped me off a little way away," I explained, my voice shaking slightly. "He had something else to take care of."
The guard sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Fine," he grumbled. "I'll let you off this time. But don't make a habit of it."
"Th-Thanks," I mumbled, hurrying past him and towards the school building.
Hana, who was still following close behind me, asked, "So, what are you going to do now?"
"I'm going to do some research when I get home," I replied, my mind already racing with possibilities.
Hana nodded, her ghostly form fading slightly as she retreated into the shadows.
I continued my walk back into the school, my thoughts consumed by the mystery surrounding my grandfather's death, the Harbinger, and the hidden knowledge of the Unveiled, the Seer.
Everything was overwhelming.
When I arrived at the front of my classroom door, my head was still spinning with everything I had learned.
Thud! I opened the door and saw everyone enjoying a free period.
"Oh! Xian!" Marcel called out from the back of the room, where he was lounging on the carpet.
I walked over to him, my mind still racing.
"What's this?" I asked, eyeing the plush new carpet that covered the classroom floor. "New carpet?"
"Yeah!" Dinda chirped from her sprawled position on the soft surface. "Roro bought it for us!"
I glanced over at Roro, a well-off classmate known for his generosity and easygoing nature. He was surrounded by a group of admirers, his face beaming with a smile.
< Chapter 020 > Fin.