Meditating for three hours under a tree, right after the classes were over, Sarah prayed that she would be able to see the sparkling dots soon. Nearly everyone that walked pass her looked at her as if she was crazy.

She wouldn't blame them. In fact, she felt utterly ridiculous. This was supposed to be easy, since spirits were wandering around during the Hungry Ghost Festival.

Gu suggested that being close with nature would sharpen her sixth sense and she took the initiative to meditate under a tree. However, it was hard to calm her mind when she could feel his presence around her.

"Gu, can you please go away?"

"I can't." He said.

"Why not? Your presence is too mighty for a normal girl like me." Sarah tried to stay as polite as possible. After realising that she'll be stuck with him for a while, she decided that it was better to avoid angering him.

"I'm sorry. Right now, I need to stay within forty-nine metres from you. If I stray too far, I can't absorb your energy and I can't regain my body. If we are apart for a long time, I might start to disappear."

"Hmmm... what will happen to me if you disappear?" Sarah asked.

"Death by lightning for breaking the blood contract."

Sarah stayed silent and looked at the blue sky. She couldn't run away from this. It was too late. All she can do was try her best to survive.

She took a deep breath and started to meditate. She tried to accept Gu's presence as a natural part of herself.

"Sarah... are you angry?"

She blinked open her half-closed eyes and looked at Gu in confusion. Why did he think I am angry?

"I couldn't hear your thoughts. I thought you were angry because I'm always around you." Gu sulked.

Sarah smiled serenely.

"After that day, I didn't look at you when you are showering or changing because you didn't like it. I tried to stop talking to you when you are in public," Gu said, "I don't come from this era so my values are different. But I'm trying my best."

Sarah realised that she saw sparkling dots around Gu. With the sparkling radiance, he looked like a creature descended from the heaven. For a majestic naga to care about her feelings, it seemed that this 'business partnership' meant a lot to him.

"I wasn't particularly angry. Just contemplating my fate," she smiled, "and it looks like I'm able to see the sparkling dots now."

"Good." Gu smiled proudly.

The sparkling dots looked pretty. Sarah couldn't believe that all those dots were particles of spirits. She was grateful that she wasn't able to see the real look of the spirits. She wasn't sure if her heart would be able to handle the horror.

She sneaked a look at Gu. He was in a good mood. She felt relieved. She was exhausted, even though she was only training her mind. At least she gets to rest and he wouldn't make her look at the real face of the spirits.

Being too happy with her success, Sarah didn't look where she was going. Suddenly she felt as if she had knocked something down.

She looked at her feet and gasped. She had accidentally knocked down a temporary altar by the roadside.

Her face paled considerably when she saw that the sparkling dots were becoming more concentrated, as if the spirits were ganging up on her. As the spirit particles came closer, she could feel her hair standing on end.

Suddenly, the spirits particles disappeared from her sight. She sighed in relief and glanced at Gu for confirmation.

"They are still there. You can't see them because you broke your concentration." Gu explained patiently.

What should I do? How can I commit such an offence towards them?

"Apologise to them." Gu said.

Sarah nodded her head. That made sense. She tried to concentrate and soon, she could see the sparkly dots again. She turned her body towards the direction of the spirit particles and bowed her head.

"This young miss apologise to the ancestors. I did not mean any disrespect." Sarah tried to be as polite as possible, even though she didn't know about the etiquette with the dead.

At that moment, she regretted not learning more about the Chinese etiquette, even though her own late father was of Chinese ethnicity. She was brought up as a Malay and she was completely familiar with Malay customs and etiquettes.

Maybe she would be more balanced if her parents were alive. She smiled sadly.

The problems of people with mixed descent.

After chuckling lightly to herself, Sarah looked at the sparkling dots and it looked less concentrated. She guessed that the spirits forgave her.

"Good job." Gu praised her.

Sarah looked at Gu in suspicion. Why was he especially nice to her?

"You finally have a basic foundation. Now, practice every day for a week. The mental exhaustion will strengthen your mind."

Sarah was speechless.

*****

This chapter is dedicated to Rosanna, @Jesuis01. If you like paranormal stories with angels, you might want to check out her book, 'After Death'.

Music: Sairai - ACE Fantasy Ver. by 福原善勝   (from the game Deemo)

What is Sarah's real mind power???

Hehe, if you like, do click on the star and make it golden (Just like Gu!) :D

Love,

Eireen x