Seven Devils and a Rose

Like usual, I shifted my attention to the necklace dangling around my neck. Since the night I had found it in the hot spring pool back on St. James Island, I had never taken it off. It looked antique, and it was probably something very important and valuable to someone. I didn't want to be careless and lose it. When I managed to return home, I'd be searching for the owner for sure.

I touched the pendant resting against my chest and brought the thing closer to inspect. Once again, I was awed at how beautiful it was. It had a grand design of roses made of gold, along with a large red gemstone, which I assumed was ruby, surrounded by smaller ones.

"Must have cost the earth to get this," I said, smiling. "Whoever owned it must be wealthy."

If I were to put a date to this piece of unique jewelry, I would say it was at least two to three hundred years old or more, because the design didn't look like it was recent. More so, though, I could feel its qi. I mean, I had no idea if objects such as a piece of jewelry should contain qi or not, especially one that originated from Earth, but I was very sure that I could detect some, though very minute and weak, in this one. Or maybe it was just the fact that it had gotten transferred between realms along with me, and during the process, it somehow obtained qi. Then again, I was also from Earth, and the fact I had pure, white qi was something that I hadn't yet been able to wrap my head around.

I shook my head and decided that I didn't want to think about that right now. Thus, I rested the pendant back against my chest and proceeded to chillax some more.

It was some twenty minutes later that I raised my head. My body now felt full of life and vitality after a long soak. I was about to go and rinse myself when I remembered something.

I rushed out of the pool and raided my toiletry basket looking for that little bottle Lord Noah had given me. When I found it, I rushed over to the shower and turned it on. Then I undid the lid of the bottle and poured the contents into my palm. I was about to start washing my short hair with it when I frowned.

There wasn't a lot there at all, and I wasn't sure it would even be enough to properly wash my hair. Needing more, I squeezed the whole lot out and then started washing my hair. It smelled nice, though I must admit that there wasn't a lot of foam forming, even though I rubbed the lotion like the normal shampoo back home. But, oh well. Beggars can't be choosers. I'd just have to use what I was offered.

Once I was done with shampooing, I rinsed my head and body and then turned off the shower.

After drying and dressing myself, I headed out of the bathing chamber, a pile of dirty clothing in my arms.

Back in my bedchamber once again, I dropped my laundry in a basket and then flopped myself on the queen-size bed, face down. I proceed to fall asleep, my head spinning with ideas of the types of dishes I should cook for Sunday lunch. I wanted to please the lords, after all.

I didn't know how long I slept, but the next thing I knew, I heard rapid knocking on my door. My eyes fluttered open, and I looked around in confusion.

"Alfie?" It was Aria's voice.

I jumped when I realized what was happening. Shoot! I was so tired that I'd forgotten about Aria.

I went over to the door and opened it. I said, rubbing my sleepy eyes, "I'm so sorry, Aria. I fell asleep."

Aria, still in her elegant gown, said, "It's fine, Alfie. You look very tired, after all."

A few moments later, I found myself lying on my bed again, as instructed by Aria, while Aria herself sat on a chair facing me. Then she started to explain the process of sending a message via dreams to those areas where there was no WIFI connection.

Apparently, it was simple. The sender needed to lie down and go into a sort of alpha state where their inner qi could align and connect with that of the universe, the wavelength that governed communication, connection, and relationship. Currently, this was the exact time when this wavelength of qi was strong and prominent. Next, the one sending the message must be aided by a high-level mage who had a unique blue qi, which had the ability to connect and transfer communication and information, such as Aria. That was why she could raid my mind and go through my memories when I had first arrived here.

Third, the sender must know who the receiver was, especially their qi, for connection. Fourth, the receiver on the other side must be in the alpha stage as well in order to connect and receive any messages.

Of course, I had no idea what type my parents' qi were, let along their wavelength or whether they were meditating right now and were in their alpha mode. Regardless of the condition on the other side, I was going to give this a shot and simply hope for the best.

"Now," Aria said. "Please relax, Alfie, and try and get into the alpha stage."

"Hm," I replied with a nod of my head. Then, as usual when meditating, I started counting from sixty-four down. The lower the number got, the slower my breathing became, as well as my counting and brainwaves. Once I got down to number one, my whole body was in that very relaxed mode and my mind was completely cleared.

At this stage, I felt Aria lean over me. A moment later, I felt a warmth above me, glowing and caressing my skin.