The five idols crowded into the room, their gazes darting around, searching for any sign of the spectral presence I had mentioned. But, of course, they couldn't see Alicia. Their eyes, untrained in perceiving the ethereal, could only see the physical world, leaving them oblivious to the shy ghost hiding behind me.
"Where is she?" Cherry asked, her voice hushed with a mix of curiosity and trepidation.
"She's right here," I said, gesturing towards the empty space beside me. "But you can't see her, can you?"
The girls shook their heads, their expressions a mixture of disappointment and fascination. "I wish we could," Hanna pouted, her eyes still scanning the room hopefully.
"Don't worry," I reassured her with a smile. "She's a friendly ghost. She just gets a little shy around new people."
I turned to Alicia, who was peeking out from behind me, her eyes wide with apprehension. "It's okay, Alicia," I said softly. "These are my friends. They won't hurt you."
Alicia hesitated for a moment, then slowly emerged from her hiding spot. She hovered a few feet away from the group, her translucent form shimmering in the soft light of the room.
I stood behind Alicia and placed my hand on her head, gently reassuring her. "Here, I'm putting my hand on her head. She's right here, below me. Don't look around, she's not moving."
"Ohhh..." The five idols exclaimed in unison, their voices filled with a mix of awe and disappointment.
"I still can't see her," Sophia said, her brows furrowed in concentration as she strained her eyes, trying to catch a glimpse of the ghost.
"That's because she's a ghost, silly," Hanna giggled, nudging Sophia playfully. "Only Xian can see her."
"But I really want to see her too!" Cherry pouted, her eyes pleading.
I chuckled. "Maybe someday," I said, a mysterious smile playing on my lips. "But for now, let's just enjoy Alicia's company, even if you can't see her."
I turned to Alicia, who was still hovering nervously beside me. "Don't worry, Alicia," I reassured her. "They're all good people. They just can't see you yet."
Alicia took a deep breath, mustering her courage. "H-Hello..." she said softly, her voice barely a whisper.
The five idols gasped in surprise, their eyes widening as they heard the disembodied voice.
"Did you hear that?" Charlotte whispered, her eyes darting around the room, searching for the source of the voice.
"Yeah, it was like... right beside us," Annie replied, her voice hushed with a mix of awe and fear. The realization that there was an unseen presence in the room sent shivers down their spines.
Hanna's face lit up with excitement. "It's the ghost, isn't it? Xian, is that her?"
I nodded, smiling at Hanna's enthusiasm. "Yes, that's her. Say hello, Alicia."
Alicia took a deep breath, her spectral form shimmering slightly as she gathered her courage. "H-Hello," she repeated, her voice a little louder this time. "My name is Alicia."
A wave of hushed whispers filled the room as the girls processed the reality of a ghost speaking to them. Their initial fear gradually gave way to curiosity and wonder. The air crackled with a sense of the extraordinary, the boundaries between the seen and unseen worlds blurring before their very eyes.
"Wow, it's really a ghost!" Cherry exclaimed, her eyes wide with amazement.
"It's so cool!" Hanna squealed, clapping her hands in delight.
"But... how can we hear her if we can't see her?" Sophia asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.
"It's because of my power," I explained. "I can bridge the gap between the physical and spectral worlds, allowing you to interact with Alicia even though you can't see her."
The girls' faces lit up with understanding, their curiosity piqued.
Hanna's mouth dropped open. "You can do that?"
I chuckled and nodded. "Yeah... kind of." I lied, knowing that I was actually using my imagination manifestation to allow them to hear Alicia clearly. If I hadn't, they would only hear faint, eerie whispers.
The girls, their initial awe subsiding, were now brimming with questions for Alicia. They bombarded her with inquiries about her ghostly existence, her memories of the living world, and her experiences in the hotel. Their voices, filled with a mix of curiosity and empathy, echoed through the room, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
"Alicia, how long have you been a ghost?" Cherry asked, her voice gentle.
"I... I don't know," Alicia replied, her voice tinged with sadness. "It feels like a very long time."
"Do you remember how you died?" Annie inquired, her curiosity piqued.
Alicia shook her head, her translucent hair swaying gently. "No, I can't remember anything before waking up here in the hotel."
"Do you ever get scared being a ghost?" Sophia asked, a hint of fear in her voice.
Alicia hesitated for a moment, then shook her head again. "Not really," she said softly. "It's just... lonely sometimes."
Hanna reached out, as if trying to touch Alicia, but her hand passed through the spectral form. "It must be hard, being all alone," she said, her voice filled with empathy.
"So, you're going to CartoonLand tomorrow?" Charlotte said suddenly, changing the subject.
I nodded, a smile returning to my face. "Yeah, Alicia really wants to go. I thought it would be a nice way to cheer her up before she moves on."
"That's so sweet of you, Xian," Cherry said, her voice filled with admiration.
"Well, sure... but, I don't know how to make it work..." Hanna said, a thoughtful frown creasing her brow. "Since we can't see her, it's hard to have fun together..."
A thoughtful silence fell over the room as everyone pondered the dilemma. It was true that Alicia's invisibility posed a challenge. How could they interact and enjoy the amusement park together if only I could see and communicate with her?
"Maybe... we could pretend she's there?" Sophia suggested tentatively. "We could talk to her, even if we can't see her, and include her in our activities."
"That's a good idea," Annie agreed, a hopeful smile spreading across her face. "We could describe everything we see and do, and make sure she feels included."
I nodded, a sense of warmth spreading through me at their willingness to accommodate Alicia. "That sounds like a great plan," I said, my gaze shifting to the young ghost beside me. "What do you think, Alicia? Would you like to come with us, even if they can't see you?"
Alicia's eyes lit up, her translucent form shimmering with excitement. "Yes, please!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with childlike joy. "I'd love to go to CartoonLand with all of you!"
A chorus of happy cheers erupted from the girls, their initial hesitation replaced by a genuine eagerness to include Alicia in their adventure. The room buzzed with energy as they started brainstorming ideas on how to make the trip as enjoyable as possible for their invisible companion.
As I watched them, a smile tugged at my lips.
I nodded, a sense of warmth spreading through me at their willingness to accommodate Alicia. "That sounds like a great plan," I said, my gaze shifting to the young ghost beside me. "What do you think, Alicia? Would you like to come with us, even if they can't see you?"
Alicia's eyes lit up, her translucent form shimmering with excitement. "Yes, please!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with childlike joy. "I'd love to go to CartoonLand with all of you!"
A chorus of happy cheers erupted from the girls, their initial hesitation replaced by a genuine eagerness to include Alicia in their adventure. The room buzzed with energy as they started brainstorming ideas on how to make the trip as enjoyable as possible for their invisible companion.
As I watched them, a smile tugged at my lips.
< Chapter 172 > Fin.