Chapter 81 Reading Destiny?

The Tower of Tellers was an ancient organization said to have been formed by the will of the God of Prophecy before the Gods were sealed inside the Time-Space Continuum barrier.

It was said that the purpose of this entire organization was to inform the world of eminent calamities and disasters.

This organization was one of the only truly neutral forces in Akarxia, not involving itself in mundane worldly matters such as politics and power. For this reason, the organization was well respected throughout the world.

Unlike the Church which claimed to be righteous and just but harbored ambitions well-known to the entire world, The Tower of Tellers did not seek any kind of recognition or power.

Mainly proficient in the art of divination, prophecy, and fate reading, The Tower of Tellers only came forward to tell the world of important foretellings and predictions made by the Elders.

Apart from that, The Tower also assisted individual patrons to make predictions or divinations for them. One of their services was the Art of Destiny Reading.

Albaer had specifically spent a hefty sum to ask for a high-ranking Elder from the tower to come and read Ethan's Destiny. And thus, the blind old man had come to the banquet as well.

Although much to his dismay, Ethan was told that every child who went through an Early Awakening had to have their destiny read by the Tower of Tellers.

This was simply to gauge the individual's potential and see what kind of path the person would take in life. Although it wasn't particularly a rule, it had become a common practice that had been done throughout the course of history.

Ethan thought it was ridiculous to reveal one's strength mindlessly. Suppose that the so-called Destiny Reading predicts that Ethan would conquer the entire world, then wouldn't the entire world become his enemy? Perhaps it was a deliberate tradition specifically designed to nerf such characters who had great potential.

Regardless, Ethan was not worried at all. In fact, the situation was his plan to create a hazy impression of himself shrouded in the fog of uncertainty.

Ethan wanted people to perceive him as someone significant but not a major existential threat to them. Ethan knew that laying low too much wouldn't be helpful at all.

…

The banquet was near ending as everyone had finished feasting to their heart's content while conversing with each other. The food was delicious and made one ecstatic as soon as the various delicacies went into one's mouth.

The agile, elegant dance of the beautiful women was akin to celestial fairies descending upon land tempting everyone's hearts along with the accompaniment of the heavenly tune of the soothing zither and cordial flute made one cheer happily with bliss.

Everyone was wasted in the extravagance of the banquet and Albaer's main intention had been successful. Ethan was introduced to numerous esteemed personalities and it could be said that he left a long-lasting impression on everyone by showcasing his intelligence and grace.

Just as everyone was forgetting themselves in luxury, a blind old man who was with the Royal Physician silently staying at one corner merging with his surroundings stepped forward and approached Albaer.

"Your Grace," Elder Aries gently called out.

Seeing Elder Aries in front of him, Albaer immediately remembered that the main event of the banquet had yet to commence. He beamed with anticipation and with a smile replied, "Elder Aries, please accept my gratitude for journeying here on short notice. I think it's time…"

Elder Aries nodded with a slight smile and wordlessly gestured for Albaer to begin. It could be seen that he was a man of few words.

Albaer immediately moved to the stage and knocked on the table gaining everyone's attention.

"Excuse me, everyone! I hope that you all are enjoying the banquet. However, now it's time for the Destiny Reading of my son, Ethan. As everyone knows that he has Awakened the Ancestral Blessing earlier than usual. I wish to know what his destiny entails. Elder Aries has especially come to perform the reading from The Tower of Tellers.." Albaer announced.

Everyone in the hall finally remembered as their gaze wandered to find the blind old man. Alier also raised his head, slightly narrowing his eyes.

Naenna moved to Ethan's side enthusiastically, looking forward to the results in anticipation.

Aisha looked at her son with an anxious gaze. She did not care even if Ethan was destined to do great things, that would only increase the danger in his life. As a mother, Aisha only hoped that Ethan would lead a peaceful life.

Different people expected various things. Aisha's father, coming from a military background hoped for Ethan to become a general unparalleled under the heavens. While Old Lady Catelyn thought that it would be great even if Ethan were to become a great Duke and increase the glory of the White Family.

The guests thought differently, as it was well-known that someone who had awakened early had unimaginable prospects, most only thought to curry favor with him no matter the outcome.

Everyone watched the proceedings with great anticipation as Albaer gestured to Albert and two servants shortly walked out from the side hall carrying something covered with a red silk cloth.

Ethan, Elder Aries, and Albaer all got on the stage standing before everyone as the crowd moved closer together to get a good view.

The object that was brought out by the servants was placed on the table and Ethan wondered what the object was.

Albaer removed the silk cloth from over the object as a large, curved, and half-translucent container in the shape of a hexagram with soft, yellow sand inside creating a miniature Dune and intricate, mysterious runic patterns outside, was revealed before everyone's eyes.

The observers began murmuring faintly seeing the strange artifact. Most people had heard of this precious artifact however it wasn't every day that the chance to see it work in person came.

"What's this?" Ethan asked curiously as he suspiciously looked at the container.

"Child, This artifact is called The Dune of Destiny Reading. I will be using it to read your destiny." Elder Aries said calmly.

"I don't believe in something like destiny," Ethan muttered probingly, looking at the old man.

"Child, Fate is something that transcends even time. You may deny it however you like but know this—to defy destiny one must acknowledge it first." Elder Aries said with no change in his expression.

Ethan nodded nonchalantly neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Ethan carefully scrutinized the artifact from all angles but did not find anything unusual other than the strange markings on the artifact along with the sand inside it which glowed with an ethereal shimmer of gold.

"How does this work?" Ethan asked narrowing his brows slightly.

"It's better to show you." Elder Aries said as under all the gazes of everyone in the hall he moved closer to the table facing the artifact.

"Child, come closer and give me your hand." He said.

Ethan sighed inwardly seeing Albaer's urging expression and did as he was instructed.

Elder Aries opened the lid of the container revealing the Sand Dune inside that, despite being in a tiny space, looked to be as boundless as the ocean. It really made one doubt their eyesight.

Elder Aries grabbed Ethan's hand as he moved it above the artifact, his palm facing downward.

Suddenly, Ethan felt his thumb being pricked by a sharp needle as a few droplets of his blood dropped down into the container, immediately mixing in with the sand.

The blind old man smiled at Ethan reassuringly and let go of his hand. Ethan pulled his arm back and curiously looked at the artifact.

Elder Aries's expression became solemn as he closed the lid of the artifact and placed his hands on the sides of the artifact, with his eyes closed he began muttering an inaudible chant under his breath.

Soon Ethan's eyes shone as he saw an ethereal faint starry aura appear over the elder's body. As if countless stars were twinkling around him resonating with the sky above in the night sky.

The Artifact suddenly began trembling slightly as the starry resonance touched upon it through Elder Aries's hands on the side.

As the Artifact was semi-translucent, everyone could see clearly what was going on inside the container.

The sand was stirring violently as if a storm was raging inside. It created a strange yellowish-golden haze of sandstorm with a hint of red, presumably due to Ethan's blood.

A few moments passed and the artifact began trembling even more violently as Elder Aries's expression abruptly became grave, sweat gradually forming on his temples.

Ethan smiled inwardly seeing what was going on as everyone else could also sense that something was not right.

As more time passed, Elder Aries's complexion became even more severe as the artifact began trembling violently and the sand inside churned turbulently as if trying to escape from misery.

Everyone wore doubtful, concerned, and confused expressions on their faces not understanding completely what was happening even though they felt that something wasn't right.

When a tiny stream of blood flowed out from the corner of Elder Aries's mouth, The Royal Physician stepped forward with a grave expression on his face and said warily, "Something's not right!"