Secret World of Occultists-Chapter 11: Supernatural

Located on 3 Pinkerton Street just a short walk from the gothic-style buildings of the University of Newport, Graves' Coffeehouse was a well-known gathering place for students, professors, and intellectuals.

It was housed in a weathered red-brick building with large, multi-paned windows. Inside, the walls of the coffeehouse were lined with dark oak shelves stacked with books, newspapers, pamphlets.

Some customers sat here alone, hunched over their books, while others engaged in heated debates about politics, literature, and philosophy.

Past the lively front room filled with chattering students, there was a row of small, half-curtained booths designed for privacy.

Luke and Henry had occupied the fifth booth from the left, closest to the rear exit. Henry had gotten himself a cup of tea, whereas Luke had ordered a black coffee.

Henry took a sip from the tea before setting it down on the small porcelain plate. He then carefully observed Luke.

The youth's hair was disheveled, there were dark circles under his eyes, and his cheeks had sunken in. Seeing the state he was in, he couldn't help but heave a helpless sigh, "The past few days have not been particularly kind to you, have they?"

Luke stared at the dark-haired youth with bloodshot eyes, ignoring his question. "Tell me, how did you know about those damned visions! Please, tell me I'm not going crazy!"

Henry couldn't help but lightly chuckle at his response, "Rest assured, Mr. Bishop, you are entirely normal. While the manner in which you have awakened your spirit energy is rather... antiquated, I can assure you there is nothing amiss."

"Hold on a damn minute!" Luke raised his hands, gesturing for him to pause. "What do you mean spirit energy? What awakened? What antiquated? Like, what... what are you even talking about?"

Spirit energy? That sounds like something straight out of shonen manga! Is this guy fucking with me?

Luke couldn't help but think to himself incredulously. Regardless, he felt slightly better in his heart, hearing from someone else that he wasn't going insane.

Even if the other person might be lying, he felt a momentary sense of relief. The last few days had been truly hellish for him, and he really thought that he was gradually sinking into madness.

Henry couldn't help but sigh, wondering where to even begin explaining. He reached into the inner pocket of his coat and retrieved a pipe and a small leather pouch filled with finely-cut tobacco.

"I hope you do not mind?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

Luke shook his head. "Go ahead."

Although he was impatient to get answers, he thought it would be better not to urge him on. After all, Henry was the only person he knew who could tell him just what was going on with him.

With practiced ease, Henry pinched a measure of tobacco and packed the bowl. From another pocket, he produced a box of matches. He then struck one and brought it to the pipe's bowl, lighting the tobacco, and inhaling gently.

He exhaled slowly and watched the plume of smoke meld into the dim light. "Mr. Bishop, whatever I am about to tell you, I must ask that you hear it with an open mind," he began.

Luke couldn't help but involuntarily gulp. Finally... Finally, I'll be able to get some answers!

He paid rapt attention as he saw Henry place the pipe on the table. The youth then rested his elbows on the table, and then crossed his fingers, looking at him with a rather mysterious aura around him.

"Have you ever wondered why some people survive ordeals they by all reason should not?" Said Henry with a solemn tone.

"Like a man falling three stories and walking away without a scratch. Or a woman vanishing into a valley, only for someone to swear they saw her streets away, at the exact same moment."

Henry leaned forward, his voice low, "There is a reason for this, Mr. Bishop. Beneath the world you know lies another—one hidden in plain sight. A world where individuals possess abilities that are supernatural."

Luke went through a series of complicated emotions, and it showed on his face.

People with supernatural abilities? If you had told me this in my past life, I wouldn't have believed you—thought you were trolling me.

But...

Luke couldn't help but reach out for the wound on his forehead.

Could there be anything more supernatural than my transmigration?! And then there's that...

His gaze was then drawn to his pants pocket. However, the next moment, he immediately shifted his gaze forward, afraid to draw attention from the young man sitting before him.

Henry, on the other hand, let his words settle and allowed Luke to digest this newfound information. After a few moments, he continued, "Most people go their whole lives blind to it, but some of us... we wake up!"

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He tapped two fingers against his temple and spoke with a smile, "And once you awaken to this truth, there is no returning to ignorance."

Henry took another puff from his pipe, studying the blue-eyed youth sitting before him. Needless to say, Luke was quite shocked.

"And whether you like it or not, you are about to open your eyes, Mr. Bishop."

"What... What do you mean I'm about to open my eyes?" Luke asked nervously. The next moment, he couldn't help but mock himself, "In truth, I'm actually struggling to keep my eyes open."

With that said, he took a large mouthful of black coffee from the cup, hoping the caffeine would do its trick.

Henry looked at Luke's dark circles under his eyes, and the restless way his fingers tapped against the table.

The smoke from his pipe floated between them like a thick curtain, one that held mysterious truths.

"You have been seeing things, have you not?" Henry asked, his voice a whisper. "Visions of fire, and you being consumed by it. Shadows where none ought to be. And that feeling... the one that lingers, like someone is watching you."

Hearing those words, Luke stiffened. It was indeed as he had said. Since the past couple of days, he had been seeing shadows flicker quite a lot, and the feeling of being watched always remained.

He was completely at a loss for words.

This guy might truly be able to help me out, he thought, both excited and a little fearful.

Henry gave him a knowing nod. "You are not imagining things, nor is this some idle dream." He leaned in, the amber light of his pipe casting a faint light across his face.

"You are waking up."

He then leaned back in his chair and cleared the burnt ash in the small tray. After he placed the pipe on the table, he looked back at Luke and continued, "You sleep more than any man should. Sixteen, eighteen hours, was it? Yet, you wake up exhausted."

Luke nodded with his eyes wide in shock. "How did you..."

Henry revealed a sincere smile, "That is because I too have gone through what you are going through now, Mr. Bishop. Well, not so drastic, to be honest."

"You have?!" Luke's voice turned up a notch and he almost shot up to his feet. His voice drew the attention of a few people nearby who couldn't help but slightly frown at him.

Luke settled down awkwardly, and only after he'd confirmed that no one was looking, he spoke in a hushed voice, "I, uh... Everything you've just said, all of it is true! Tell me, why is it happening?!"

"The night we first met, you were on the verge of death," Henry began. "However, through sheer willpower you managed to stay alive."

Verge of death? I literally died! Twice, if you include Abel's death as well," Luke scoffed inwardly.

"Due to that near-death experience you were able to awaken a mystical power within you—a type of power that runs through every living being in this world. The vast majority, however, are ignorant of how to awaken this power that lies dormant within them."

Henry paused for a moment before solemnly stating, "We call this power spirit energy!"

"...And these visions, and everything else I'm experiencing, it is directly co-related to me unlocking spirit energy?" Luke couldn't help but ask, no matter how ridiculous it sounded.

"Indeed, Mr Bishop." Henry nodded. He took a sip of tea and washed down the taste of tobacco in his mouth before continuing, "I too have gone through a similar experience not too long ago."

"You did?!" Luke asked, his eyes shining with a bright light. Seeing how fine and healthy Henry appeared now, he figured there was still hope for him.

I'm truly not going insane! He thought, overjoyed.

"Yes." Henry nodded with a light smile. "And if you can find it within yourself to trust me, I will guide you through what comes next."

Luke thought for a long time, his hands clenching and unclenching several times. Although Henry was practically still a stranger to him, did he have any other choice but to trust him?

He and his grandfather did save my life four nights ago... They shouldn't be bad people, right? But, what if...

No, I don't have the luxury to think about such things. Something tells me that something big is gonna happen to me. And soon!

I don't know if this is my instincts or something else... but I can feel it!

He looked at Henry and asked anxiously, "You said there's a world where people with supernatural abilities exist? Have they, uh, all unlocked their spirit energy?"

Henry's lips curled up into a faint, self-explanatory smile.

"I see." Luke nodded in understanding. He then thought of something else and couldn't help but ask, "These people... what are they called?"

Henry's smile grew deeper.

"Occultists."