Reborn To Change My Fate-Chapter 188 - Hundred And Eighty Eight

The noise of the market was a chaotic symphony of shouts, clattering carts, and the braying of donkeys, but for Ashlyn, the world had narrowed down to the small, still space around the blind priestess. The woman stood like a monolith in a rushing river, her simple grey robes unmoving in the breeze.

"Your husband bears the destiny of a commander," the priestess whispered. Her voice was low and raspy, like dry leaves skittering over stone, yet it cut through the din of the market with startling clarity. She leaned closer, the scent of old incense and earth clinging to her clothes. "The stars have aligned for him. He will surely acquire all that is his—the power, the title, the glory. It is written in the tapestry of fate."

Ashlyn’s heart soared. It was true. It was all true. The validation was like a sweet wine, intoxicating her senses. She had been right to trust her instincts,right to choose and push Carlos, right to mortgage everything.

But then, the priestess’s expression darkened. She tilted her head, as if listening to a distant, ominous sound that only she could hear. Her brow furrowed beneath the veil.

"But," the priestess warned, her voice dropping to a grave, vibrating tone, "he is surrounded by bad energy. Shadows cling to him. Envy. Malice. These dark forces are thick, like a fog. They might be an obstacle for him. They could block his path just as he reaches for the sword of his destiny."

Ashlyn’s smile faltered. The cold fingers of dread touched her spine. She thought of Marissa, with her calm, calculating eyes. She thought of Derek, with his unyielding strength.

Of course. They were the bad energy. They were the ones standing in Carlos’s way, the ones who would do anything to see him fail.

"Do you have a solution, O wise one?" Ashlyn asked, her voice urgent, almost breathless.

She gripped the priestess’s sleeve, desperate for an answer. "Please. Tell me how to clear the path. I will do anything. I will pay any price."

The priestess nodded slowly. She reached into the folds of her robe and pulled out a small, smooth stone. It was dark, almost black, but it seemed to hold a faint inner light. She turned it over in her hand, her blindfolded face turned toward the sky.

"On the fifth day of the coming month," the priestess said, her voice taking on a prophetic cadence, "there will be a rare occurrence. The moon and the sun will share the sky in a way that happens only once in a generation. A bright, pure energy will be at its peak. The heavens will open, pouring out fortune upon the earth."

She turned her face back to Ashlyn, her expression serious.

"You must harness that energy for his fortune," the priestess instructed. "You must capture the light to burn away the shadows. If you do this, his path will be clear. The obstacles will crumble like dust."

Ashlyn listened intently, memorizing every word, afraid to miss a single syllable. This was the key. This was the secret weapon.

"What do I do?" Ashlyn asked. "Please, enlighten me. How do I harness it? Do I need a ritual? A sacrifice?"

The priestess smiled. It was a serene, knowing smile that seemed to understand the deepest desires of Ashlyn’s heart.

"Host a banquet," she said simply.

Ashlyn blinked. "A banquet?"

"Yes," the priestess confirmed. "A banquet for all guests. Invite everyone—nobles, commoners, friends, and enemies. Gather them together to amplify his fortune. The energy of the crowd, the well-wishes, the joy... it creates a wave of fortune that can sweep away any curse."

Ashlyn frowned, her mind racing to calculate the dates. The fifth. The fifth...

"The fifth?" Ashlyn spoke, her brow furrowing in confusion. "But the fifth is the day my husband leaves for the audience with the generals. It is the day of the assessment. He will not even be there."

She looked at the priestess, uncertainty clouding her eyes.

"Are you saying I should host the banquet before the results are announced?" Ashlyn asked. "Shouldn’t we wait until he has won? Until he returns victorious? What if... what if he fails? It would be a humiliation."

The priestess shook her head slowly. She reached out and placed a hand on Ashlyn’s shoulder. Her touch was light, but it felt grounding.

"You need not worry, child," the priestess said soothingly. "The banquet is not a celebration of victory. It is the cause of victory. You are not celebrating what has happened; you are creating what will happen."

She gestured to the bustling market around them, her hand sweeping over the heads of the people.

"More guests means more power," the priestess explained. "Each person is a spark. Together, they are a fire. The more luxurious the banquet, the more success your husband attains. Gathered together, blessings multiply, ensuring he succeeds. If you wait, the moment will pass. The celestial alignment will shift, and the opportunity will be lost forever."

Ashlyn’s eyes widened. It made sense. It was like an offering to the gods. A display of confidence so bright it would blind fate itself. It was a spell cast with wine and song.

"I see," Ashlyn whispered, awe in her voice. "I must create the victory before it happens. I must show the universe that we are already winners."

She smiled, a look of fierce determination settling on her face. The doubts vanished.

"Thank you, priestess," Ashlyn said. "I will do it. It will be the grandest banquet the estate has ever seen. I will invite the whole city."

The priestess nodded. She patted Ashlyn’s hand.

"Don’t waste this opportunity," the priestess warned, her voice stern and final. "Seize it well. The fifth comes but once. Do not let fear hold you back."

The priestess bowed her head and turned away. She tapped her staff on the cobblestones, melting back into the crowd, her grey robes disappearing among the colorful stalls as if she had never been there.