In the midst of this turmoil, Mr McVeigh saw Ansel smiling broadly, a rare and genuine smile that lit up his face. Ansel hugged Rhea gently. And in that embrace, he looked calm almost peaceful.
Mr McVeigh said softly. His voice carried a hint of warmth. "You're luckier than Hansel. Hansel couldn't bring back his cold feeling at all. But you're different. Your feeling, your heart has been returned."
The words were simple, but they carried a weight of hope and renewal. It was as if Ansel was reclaiming a part of his feeling that had been trapped in darkness.
Mr. McVeigh moved toward the kitchen, his steps steady and purposeful. Ansel noticed him preparing two plates with care. The sight brought a small smile to Ansel's lips.
Ansel said, his tone gentle but firm. "Grandpa, from now on, you must prepare one more plate. It's for Rhea."
He carefully placed Rhea on a chair. He treated her with the same tenderness one would show to a cherished companion. Then he stood up and took a plate for Rhea. He gave her a plate of chicken.
"Rhea, take your meals." He said kindly, encouraging her to share in the moment.
As they settled, Mr. McVeigh looked at Ansel with a mixture of pride and concern. "What about Fayfiend in Japan, have you beaten him?"
Ansel's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Literally I have nothing to say. You know that I lack skills. I don't know how to unravel everything behind. Am I just lucky? Or someone helped me secretly."
Mr. McVeigh nodded, but his expression grew serious. "I see... Well, for whatever happened it's just the beginning for you. After this, there will be another fayfiend will appear. You have to practice more if you don't want to lose your life."
Ansel met his grandfather's gaze with steady determination. "I know. Anyway, I will not die easily. After all, I do not see my own death. But, I saw the death of another person."
Beneath his heart. He didn't want to fight. He didn't want to be the same way as Hansel or his grandfather. He didn't want to be an exorcist.
Hence, he no longer wanted to learn about witchcraft or metaphysics. He didn't want to know anything about another world.
All he wanted to do, was just live without any burden or task. Even if he got a vision, he hoped just to watch it. He would not get interrupted further. Like he did when the vision of bloody marriage happened.
He choked on all of this stuff.
Thus, he chose to put those dark visions aside. He focused instead on what mattered most to him now. "Grandpa, do you know how to make Rhea turn into a human?"
The question hung in the air, filled with hope and promise. Ansel had vowed to help Rhea become human, to give her a life beyond the extraordinary. He would do anything for her, no matter the cost.
In that quiet kitchen, surrounded by the warmth of family and the promise of new beginnings.
Ansel felt a renewed sense of purpose.
The battles, the visions, the fears, they were all part of the journey. But with Rhea by his side and the support of those who cared for him, he believed he had someone who supported everything he decided about.
Mr. McVeigh settled into his chair, his eyes thoughtful as he began to explain the mysterious nature of Guardian Spirits. "For a spirit like her, it is easy to disguise herself as a human."
He paused, his gaze steady. "But not all spirits have this gift. Some cannot take on a human form."
Ansel listened intently, his heart pounding with hope and anxiety. He asked quietly. "In your opinion, can Rhea turn into a human?"
The question hung in the air, heavy with longing. Ansel desperately wanted to believe that Rhea was one of the spirits who could cross that boundary, who could shed her ethereal form and live as a human.
Mr. McVeigh's expression softened, but his answer was cautious. "I can't answer it. Only she can answer it. When the spirit has the master, it will become the Guardian Spirit. Its strength will be closed and limited. Because, she must prioritize the safety of her master. It's all that I know. For the rest why she cant transform into a human, the reason is inside herself."
Ansel absorbed the explanation, feeling a mixture of relief and frustration. At least he still had hope. He pressed. "Do you know the way to help her?"
Before Mr. McVeigh could answer, he shifted the conversation. He asked, suspicion flickering in his eyes. "Why do you want so badly to turn Rhea into a human? I just said she was the only one who could answer it."
The question struck Ansel harder than he expected. Why did he want this so desperately? Was it just for companionship, or something deeper? A desire to give Rhea a life that was free from the constraints of spirithood, to make her truly part of his world?
Ansel said quietly. His voice was tinged with both determination and doubt. "I have promised Rhea. But I don't know how to do it."
Mr. McVeigh regarded him with a steady gaze. "Then, you have to look deeper. Maybe you can seek the answer."
Mr. McVeigh's gaze shifted to Rhea, who suddenly took flight. Her ethereal form shimmered as she returned to Viorenving. The old man's expression hardened with understanding.
Ansel ignored. He simply turned and left, his mind made up. He knew what he had to do. He whispered to himself as he walked away. "I don't care about the reason behind. Anyway, I have to be able to make Rhea's wish come true."
Though the road ahead was uncertain and fraught with emotional turmoil. Ansel's resolve burned brighter than ever. He would find a way, not just to fulfill his promise, but to bridge the gap between spirit and human, between longing and reality.
No matter the cost, he would not give up on Rhea.