Ch. 5: Ethereals

TW: Censored r@pe

Xu Qinran felt the familiar pain that she would never get used to from her nether region.

Xu Qinran can't even cry and just decided to accept her faith, biting her lips till it bleed.

"Dear daughter, I want to hear you," the man's hurried voice said as he licked the blood trickling from her mouth.

'Qiqi!'

'Qiqi! Wake up!'

'Chirp! Chirp!'

Sharp pain was felt from her nose. Making her open her eyes suddenly.

She saw the sparrow from earlier was pecking her nose. 

Xu Qinran suddenly breathe in, not knowing when she held her breath.

Feeling her whole body stiff and cold despite the warmth of the water, she flexed her hands and body a bit. She seemed to hear it creak as she moved.

After calming down, she pet the sparrow and muttered thanks to the spirit calling out for her.

Xu Qinran smiled and took a deep breath.

"I should meet Elena now, thank you for waking me up."

Xu Qinran took a deep breath again to release the remaining tension in her. Changing her clothes quickly.

'I'm going with you!'

'Me too! Me too!'

It is unknown how many spirits joined with her, but it doesn't matter.

After 10 seconds, she saw Elena. 

It seems that Xu Qinran kept walking into some warp in space, else, why would she quickly find her way? It is not even within her line of sight, but still quickly got there.

But, Mount Banahaw is mystical enough, so Xu Qinran won't question it whenever she encountered something insane.

"Elena..."

"You are here." Elena greeted her and pat at the seat beside her

Xu Qinran sat beside her and bowed her head to others to greet them, in which they coolly responded.

"Look at her, ain't she suitable to join us?"

The moment Elena said it, Xu Qinran felt goosebumps all over.

As if it's not just 7 pairs of eyes watching her but a thousand.

"That's weird..." Lindo, a human that seems blind since his eyes are white and blank and yet seem to be able to see, commented.

"She is indeed weird," A woman with vines growing at every part of her body, seeming giving her a dress and some accessories unintentionally, said.

"She seems to be incomplete, don't you think?" a man with tattoos all over his body frowned.

Elena rose a brow, "Her soul?"

"Yes, quite a sight. Usually, incomplete souls would die before they reincarnate to this world, not to mention, this dimension we're living in. Not to mention she spent quite some time here, it's a wonder why her soul ain't dispersing yet." a man that resembles a tree commented.

"If her soul managed to absorb the spiritual power here, it will get stronger, but sooner or later it will break and cause her to die forever," a man that holds his spear in clothes patterned with ethnic symbols like the locals said.

"Like a balloon..." Xu Qinran softly muttered.

Elena frowned, not expecting it's much more serious than she thought.

"Not even some chants or charms can help her?" Elena asked.

They shook their heads.

"I know you want to help her due to what she experienced and being a friend for our lively spirits, but... this is quite beyond help." Lindo sighed sadly, looking at Xu Qinran sympathetically.

Elena frowned and turned her head towards Xu Qinran. Looking apologetic.

Xu Qinran just smiled gently and optimistically, "That's alright. I am truly grateful for the help you've already gave me. It's more than enough... The worst thing that can happen is me dying anyway. I already accepted that long ago."

"No... Is there anything that can help her?" Elena pursed her lips, feeling indignant for the unfairness Xu Qinran is experiencing.

They all frowned, feeling helpless at not being able to help a kind human.

One of the local-looking individual shyly raised his hand, "I have a suggestion."

The others turned towards him in which he continued, "I heard that there's an organization of Ethereals that found the solution for healing incomplete or broken souls."

The man paused again in which made one of the muscular local woman irritated, "Just spit it out."