(#When the show ur watching is so mediocre that u would rather update the fanfic that u get no reviews on than watch the next episode of said show)
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The green leaves of the trees, I decided, look better against this cloud-spotted sky than the solid blue sky yesterday.
I looked around me lazily. Nothing much had changed about the scenery from the day before, but it had the same calming effect. Calming, not because it cleared my mind, but because it allowed it to wander from my normally somewhat-rigid thinking pattern. Pearl had told me while we were setting up that spirit mediums trained in places of nature because it was easier to commune with spirits there, but I wondered to myself if it also hindered the focus that was apparently so important to keep unbroken. At least for me, sitting quietly while I listened to the waterfall did anything but help me focus… which, at least for the moment, was a good thing. I found my two books much easier to study after taking a break to watch over Pearl.
On the subject of Pearl, I thought to myself, she seems to fit the scenery as if she was painted right in. True, she might not fit most people's definitions of beauty, but alongside the grass and the running water, I thought her plain looks aided her. She was but another piece of nature, breathing and living along with the rest. Her hair even matched the light brown bark of the surrounding trees.
Somewhat tired of the stillness that had proceeded for the past forty minutes and wishing to perceive something in motion, I turned my attention to a bird that had landed nearby me on a rock. I silently watched it with a growing childish excitement as it hopped nearer and nearer to my resting place. If this bird hops on me, I'm quitting my job as a lawyer and becoming a princess, I thought jokingly to myself. The bird suddenly noticed my presence, looked up at me, and peeped as if it was questioning my thinking. I was about to see if I could communicate with it telepathically when it suddenly fled to the sky, startled by a sudden noise behind it.
"Okay, I've finished for today," Pearl said, coming out of the river. "You mentioned while you were placing the candles that you wanted to ask me some things?"
"Huh?" I asked, trying to refocus my thinking after the disappointment of the bird's rejection. "Oh, right. I had a few questions about your training practices, and I'd like to jot down your responses, if that's all right. Nahyuta won't be very happy if I return to Khura'in with nothing to show for my time spent here," I chuckled, with a sort of half-joking half-serious laugh.
"Of course," Pearl said, bowing politely. "I'll try to answer the best I can."
"Great," I replied, pulling out a small notepad and pen I'd stuck in my pocket. "First question: What's the significance of the prayer hands you make when you're about to contact or channel a spirit? That is to say, why do you position them like you do?"
"Why do you point your finger when you yell 'objection?'" Pearl responded.
"Um— sorry, what?" I asked, blinking. "I don't… I was asking you the question?"
An unfamiliarly strong look of fear suddenly welled up in the spirit medium's eyes. "I-I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to be rude, I just—"
"No, no, you're fine," I said quickly. "I was just confused, that's all. And, to be honest, I don't know why I point my finger. I guess I've always watched other lawyers do it, and… well, it just feels right."
Wiping her eyes and clearly trying to bring her nerves back down, Pearl sniffed and nodded. "E-Exactly. It's part tradition, and part instinct. Some say that the praying hands help them focus, but to me it's just something I've always done. And, um," She blushed a little. "I think it makes me look kinda pretty, too."
I grinned. "Hey, no shame there. I think the finger-point looks cool."
Pearl nodded eagerly. "Oh, don't worry, it does. Even Mystic Maya thinks so."
"Right," I laughed. Then, remembering I was supposed to be professional, I went on. "Second question: In Khura'in, different kinds of incense have different meanings, so the scents used vary based on the occasion. Do you have the same practice here?"
"Hmm…" Pearl paused and tapped her chin. "I don't think so. At least, not that I'm aware of. I don't use incense on normal training days, and I always use the same stuff for ceremonies… You could try asking the other villagers to see if they know something I don't, though."
"Okay," I said, pausing to record her responses on my notepad. Then I continued, "As a side-note, why don't you use incense in all your training? I read that it was a fairly common practice."
"It used to be," Pearl clarified, "back when incense was made of flower petals and wild berries. Now it's a lot more expensive. Maybe city girls can afford to wear perfume all the time, but…" she sighed. "Here, incense is for special occasions only."
"Ah… That makes sense," I said, jotting down the words "incense = expensive" on my paper. Underneath the note, I added "b-day gift?" for future reference. I'd been stuck too many times unsure of what to buy for people I only sort of knew, so I'd begun a habit about a year ago of taking special notice when people talked about things they wished they had.
"Last question for now: You mentioned yesterday that you were talking with spirits, if I remember correctly. Is that a normal type of training leading up to spirit channeling?" I asked.
"Oh, yes, it's very common," Pearl replied. "It's a little different than speaking to a person, but not as much as most people think… it's really very hard to explain. Um, it's like if you were to talk with an imaginary friend, only you have to learn how to clarify your thoughts into dialect or they won't understand you. That's why many amateur mediums— like me— have habits like mumbling or mouthing their words as they're communicating. It helps us clear our signal, but it's very unprofessional and can be troublesome if you ever need to channel a spirit without making any noise. I hope that's not too long of an answer." The girl bowed her head slightly.
"No, that's all right," I replied, writing down her response. I almost foolishly asked why anybody would ever need to channel a spirit without making noise… then I remembered what happened to Ms. Fey. I quickly pushed the thought out of my mind. Nope, I'm not thinking about that incident right now.
"Well… I think that's all I need for today," I said, standing up awkwardly fast. "I'll be sure to write down any more questions I think of while researching tonight."
"Of course. How is your research, anyhow?" Pearl asked, although she then looked anxious about having prolonged the conversation. She'd probably mistaken my abruptly fast movement as an attempt to cut off communication with her instead of an attempt to cut off my thoughts about a past I'd rather forget.
"It's going well, thanks. Not too thrilling, but there are a lot worse alternatives," I said. "And honestly, I think these two sessions of watching you train have been very conducive to my studies." By giving me a brain break, but hey, whatever works, right?
"Oh! I'm very happy to hear that!" Pearl said in a delighted voice. "Then, it won't be too boring to continue helping me?"
"I still don't see how I'm helping much, but no, it doesn't bother me at all," I said, giving her an affirming nod. "Although I'll be honest, I do hope I get an update on the situation in Texas…" I frowned slightly, and Pearl did the same.
"I do, too… But you know Mystic Maya and Mr. Nick. They're probably scurrying around in a big hurry to collect all the evidence they need." Her face lightened up a little. "And then when the trial day comes, BAM! They'll crush the prosecution's case into dust!" She clasped her hands together in delight, and I took a small step backwards.
Note to self: she really IS related to Maya. As sweet as she is, I don't want to get on her bad side. I brushed myself off and tucked my paper and pen back into my pocket. "You're probably right. I shouldn't worry too much. I'll see you tomorrow, same time, same place?"
"See you tomorrow, and thank you again!" She nodded and headed down the path, her basket of candles in hand.
I took a different route, although it probably would've been about equally as fast if I'd gone with Pearl, and hummed to myself as I walked back in the direction of my little house.
When I got back, nothing about the study had changed, but the thick ancient book in front of me didn't seem half as tiring as before.