Chapter 18
“The lady just now brought the body here because she wanted me to help this young woman move on to the afterlife. It’s precisely because of your obsession that her soul continues to linger in this world.”
them. He asked, “So you’re saying that Naomi is still alive?”
The priest’s words struck James heavily. He caught onto something
ething in them. He a
The priest explained, “She’s dead, but a remnant of her spirit still lingers. The lady’s prayer was one to help with her rebirth. But you interrupted her.”
The moment the priest finished speaking, Janes was filled with regret, and his heart softened.
He did not expect Jocelyn to be truly praying for Naomi’s salvation. Thinking this over, he felt like he owed her an apology.
But now, clinging to the faintest glimmer of hope, he pressed the priest for an answer. “Sir… is there a way to bring Naomi back?”
The priest was taken aback and immediately shook his head. “That’s impossible”
The light in James‘ eyes dimmed. He had expected this. He looked bitterly at Naomi’s body on the ground. “I really can’t see her ever again, can I?
The priest said nothing. Instead, he handed James a thin booldet and turned to leave.
James remained silent as he stared at the rebirth prayer in his hands. He wasn’t willing to let Naomi just vanish from this world.
But as he flipped through the pages, he suddenly found a note inside
It read, “The manifestation prayer is the first necessary step to the rebirth prayer. It carries a small chance of allowing a spirit to reappear and converse with the living.”
James read and reread the line in disbelief, joy blooming across his face.
Clutching the boolder, he ran outside–only to find the priest still nearby, sweeping leaves at the entrance.
The priest remarked, “Sir, countless people tried and failed this step: Do you know why?“!
“I don’t know, but I must give it a try,” James said, his tone unwavering
The priest looked at him solemnly before saying, “If she must suffer the pain of being burned, you will have to endure that pain as well. Will you still go through with i
Just as the priest asked this, Naomi’s floating spirit had come to the doorway and overheard the conversation, hand and say, “I will. I only want to see Naomi one more time.”
A tear slid down James” cheek. It seemed that he had cried more after her death than ever before.
But even so, Naomi didn’t understand the point of meeting again.
She saw James earnestly grip the priest’s
At this moment, she found that such an obsession seemed meaningless. She didn’t even want to see him anymore.
“But that burning pain can it be delayed?” James asked coldly. There are still some things I need to confirm.”
“The sooner, the better. Her soul has been detached for far too long. It will hinder her rebirth,” the priest warned. After a moment’s hesitation, he added, “And it would be best not to move her from here.”
With that, the priest lowered his head and resumed sweeping
James made a bold decision. He summoned Simon to the shrine. He wanted to witness the autopsy firsthand.
However, the room was too small, so James decided to find a more spacious, better–ventilated area to prepare.
While searching, he saw Jocelyn still in the middle of the rebirth prayer
“Stop the prayer, Jocelyn. I don’t want Naomi to move on just yet.”
But Jocelyn looked as though she were in a trance. Her e
reyes were shut tightly, her lips moved quickly, and large drops of sweat dripped from her forehead. James leaned in and finally heard what she was actually muttering
“Stay
by away from me. Stay away from me.
“Jocelyn Mentley!”
He slapped her shoulder. She looked at him with wide, terrified eyes, trembling all over. Her mouth hung open in fear. She looked shaken entirely
mes found her reaction rather strange
She urgently asked, “Did you talor the body away?”
He shook his head, feeling confused. Seeing this, Jocelyn let out a sigh of relief.
“Good. That’s good.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that you brought Naomi here to guide her spirit to a rebirth?”
Now calmer, Jocelyn forced herself to push down her inner panic and replied, “It wouldn’t have made a difference. You wouldn’t have agreed anyway, right?
She was right. If it had been about helping Naomi move on to the afterlife, James wouldn’t have consented.
Regardless… Thank you,” James said seriously with genuine sincerity.
Hils words Jett Jocelyn stunned for a moment, her mouth wide agape in disbelief. She was surprised, but soon forced a bitter smile and said stiffly, There’s no need for that.”
It wasn’t over yet. It was too early for him to thank her.
Meanwhile, near the corpse, several men were stacking dry hay around Naomi, forming a circle.
The priest sighed heavily and shut the door.
With rosary beads in hand, he began praying again, his rhythm quicker than before. He was clearly unsettled. He seemed guilt–ridden.
