An Interesting Meeting

Percival had just woken up in the morning. School was out for the summer, and he wasn't going to college until the middle of August. He had no summer job or anything lined up, so he had about a month and a half to kill. It was early in the morning-about 7:30, and he had just left his house to go for a walk. Yes, he could sleep in, but what was the fun in that? Percival had things to do-namely, finding something worthwhile to do.

So, as was common for him when he had the extra free time, Percival was in the woods, just wandering the areas near his home. He didn't have anything better to do, after all. The morning was cool for the summer, leaving a nice and relaxing air. It was a good time to clear his mind and prepare himself for college.

Of course, he wasn't completely alone. He had greeted a few of the mysterious people he had come across. Throughout the years, there were even a couple he had made friends with. They weren't the same as his other friends. They didn't have phones, so he couldn't exactly call them. Nor could he go to a cafe, or a movie, or a sporting event, or really even do any of the things that he did with his other friends with them. Still, Percival talked to them often enough, and got along with them well enough, and knew if not their pasts, than at least their personalities well enough to say that they were his friends.

It was during this time, while he was out in the woods, that something strange happened. Right in front of him, the air and atmosphere began to warp. It began to shift and distort, and then it began to glow. Out of nowhere, a light appeared, increasing gradually in intensity. It increased, and increased, until it was blinding.

That's when it began to take the shape of a person-a woman. Immediately, Percival knew that whoever this was, they would be one of those mysterious people that only he could ever see. The people were different-a breath of fresh air from his social life, and the rest of society. They were always interesting-so strange when compared to everybody else he knew. He was excited to see who this would be.

When the light died down, he could finally fully see the person. And while all the women that only he could see were beautiful, this person was different. They were straight up stunning. The woman had long blond hair that sparkled and shone, even when the sunlight was shaded away by the trees. Her grey eyes were like a vortex that swallowed him in. She stood slightly taller than him, and possessed a perfect figure. A slim hourglass body with J-Cup breasts and a massive ass cut a sexy figure that would attract the eyes of any straight male.

Her outfit looked like something right out of a fantasy game-a silver form-fitting breastplate that accentuated her cleavage and had a hole showing her toned stomach. Armored gloves that ended at her elbows, and armored boots with heels that ended at her knees. A short miniskirt just barely covered her privates, giving Percival a good look at her thighs. Just like the rest of her body, they were attractive. Percival always considered himself a polite person, but he couldn't help but want to rest his head on them.

It was as he was taking her in that he noticed that she didnt seem to be in a good state-she had several cuts enveloping her body, and blood all over her. She had several bruises too, and as soon as the light died down enough for her to take a physical form, she knelt to the ground and clutched her side in pain.

Percival rushed over to her. "Are you okay?" He asked, panic creeping into his voice. He prepared himself to call a hospital, but had no idea if it was possible to treat someone that only he could see.

"Do I look like I'm-" she started, but then cut herself off. In an instant, the woman was on her feet, several yards away from where Percival had knelt down to help her.

"You an see me..." she muttered. Then she followed up, louder, shouting at him. "I won't become your spirit!" She raised her hands in front of herself defensively, getting into some sort of fighting stance.

The statement gave Percival pause. Of course, he could take note of the fact that she seemed defiant and paranoid. He could've recognized that she still needed help, but seemed to be rejecting his, or that her situation was bad enough that she assumed he was after her. He could even take note of the possessive way she had referred to how he expected him to react, as if people were trying to make her some sort of . But none of that leaped out at him. Instead, he only thought of one thing.

"Spirit?" He asked, standing up and turning to fully face the woman. "You mean like ghost? You're a ghost?"

"No I'm not a ghost you idiot, I'm a-" She paused again. This time, she stayed silent for a minute or so, and so did he. This was the first clue he got as to who these people were, or why only he might be able to see them. He didn't want to do anything that could scare her off. So Percival remained silent and motionless, watching, and waiting.

Then, finally, she spoke again. "You can see me?"

To this, Percival nodded.

"But you don't know what I am?"

Percival shook his head, to confirm that no, he didn't know what she was. Before she spoke again, he elaborated. "I only know that you appeared before me in a flash of light. I have no idea who you are, or what you are. The only clue that I have as to that, is that you seem, based on your almost fantasy-like clothing, if nothing else, to be one of the women that only I seem to be able to see, and who refuse entirely to tell me who or what they might be, or give me any personal information besides a name."

She hesitated, and then glared at him. For a moment, he thought she was preparing to attack him-perhaps thinking that he might be lying. But after a moment, she decided against it, and relaxed her stance. She blinked, and then backed up against a tree, slumping to the ground once more. At this, Percival began to walk over to her, slower this time, so as not to cause alarm.
"I also know," he continued. "That you seem to be injured. I presume that, seeing as only I can see you, that a hospital won't have any way to treat you?"

At that, she shook her head, confirming his statement.

"Then is there anything I can do to help," Percival asked, finally reaching her and the tree he was at. He knelt down to look her in the eyes.

"I'll be fine," she said, looking him in the eyes for the first time. "Look."

At this, she pointed to one of her cuts, which began closing up right before his very eyes. "I'm already healing. It'll be a while before I recover my energy though."

Seeing that she'd be okay, he backed off a few feet, sitting on the ground himself. They sat there awkwardly for a couple minutes, neither sure what to say. Then, Percival spoke.

"You said you were a ghost?"

She cracked a smile for the first time since appearing, and it was the most beautiful smile Percival had ever seen. He couldn't help but smile back in response.

"No, I said I was a spirit. We spirits are manifestations of reality, formed of magical and spiritual energy. You really had no idea that I was a spirit?"

Percival blinked owlishly. Then he cocked his head. He wasn't entirely certain whether or not to believe what she said when she began to talk about magic and spiritual energy, but ultimately he decided not to question it. After all, he had expected that such a thing must be the reason for a long time. He simply couldn't see any other explanation why nobody else would be able to see these people.

"No. For as long as I can remember, I've been able to see people...women...that nobody else could see. But family and friends believed I was somewhere between odd and crazy when I bring it up, and the people never specify who or what they are, beyond a name. Are the others that only I can see spirits?"

"Yes. And only you can see them because of everybody else you've met, you're the only person with enough spiritual power to be able to see spirits. Those who can see and interact with spirits are called spiritualists. You are a spiritualist."

"...Is there anything that I'm supposed to do as a spiritualist? I mean, you say that like it's a profession."

The woman paused for a minute. She gained a look of hesitation and concern. To the best of Percival's interpretations, it looked more like she was debating on whether or not to answer the question, rather than what debating on what the answer actually was. Just as Percival was prepared to not get an answer, she spoke up.

"To most. But it doesn't have to be. In fact, you'd probably be better off just pretending you never see any of us in the first place."

Percival nodded. He would've loved to know more, but she had already answered more of his questions than anyone before, and he wasn't going to push her if it made her uncomfortable, like the last question seemed to. So he remained silent for a little bit more. So did she, for a few minutes anyways. But this time, the spirit was the one to break the silence between them.

"You have a name, Unknowing Spiritualist?"

Percival cocked his head once more at the odd title, but responded anyways. "Yes. I'm Percival. Percival Arkus. You?"

"You may refer to me as Pallas."

Finally having a name, the young man let the air settle between them once more. This time, he was happy to let the silence draw out between them. It no longer seemed awkward just sitting there. Occasionally, he sent a palace a glance or two. With all the blood and damage having cleared up at this point, she was undoubtedly the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.

That said, all good things must come to an end. And so did the peace and quiet, when his stomach began to rumble. "While you're still answering my questions, you mind letting me know whether or not spirits ever get hungry?"

She looked at him strangely. It wasn't really surprising-of all the things to ask, it was really not what either of them would've expected his next question to be. But she answered Percival seriously none the less. "Only occasionally, but yet. I must admit, I am a bit starved myself. It's been a couple months since I last ate."

At this, Percival finally got up. "How about coming over to my house then. Nobody'll question it seeing as I'm the only one that can see you and a lot of the house's food mysteriously goes missing between me and my siblings anyways."

She smirked. "I don't see why not. Actually..." The smirk disappeared. "I thank you for the offer. And if you don't mind I'd like to talk with you afterwards. After that, I'll answer any questions you might have."