I walked through the lavish banquet hall, following Morris as we made our way toward the center of attention—the psychic fortune teller, Salena. She was seated at a grand table, adorned with candles, incense, and tarot cards, her presence commanding an eerie sort of respect.
People whispered as they greeted her, their eyes filled with a mixture of awe and curiosity.
I observed her carefully. She wasn't a fraud—that much was clear. Her aura was different. Real.
But what intrigued me more was the question: How much could she see?
Could she peer into my past—the truth of my second life? Could she foresee my future?
I wasn't sure, but I was curious to find out.
As I scanned the room, my gaze landed on Abigail, who had been watching me as well. The moment our eyes met, she quickly turned away and strode toward Salena's table.
At first, I assumed she wanted the psychic to read Joshua's future, to confirm her investment in him—to see if he would become successful and powerful.
But then she spoke.
"Madam Salena, I want you to read the future of my husband, Mr. Samuel Gebb."
A wave of silence washed over the room.
I raised an eyebrow. Not Joshua? That was unexpected.
Morris and a few others looked at me, clearly intrigued by her choice of words.
Salena lifted her gaze toward me, and for a brief moment, a strange glimmer passed through her ancient eyes.
She studied me for a long moment before speaking in a low, measured tone.
"Such a man… it is as if the gods themselves sent him here."
Her words sent a shiver through the room, a weight settling over everyone listening.
I said nothing. I merely walked forward and extended my hand.
"Please take a look and advise what you see, Madam Salena."
Abigail stood beside me, her expression unreadable, but I could feel her curiosity, her unease.
Salena hesitated, then slowly reached out, taking my hand in hers.
The moment her fingers touched my palm, her body stiffened.
Her pupils dilated, her breath hitched, and suddenly—
"AHHHHHH!!!!"
A piercing scream tore through the banquet hall, silencing every conversation, freezing every movement.
People turned, eyes wide, as they watched Salena recoil, clutching her head as if she had seen something unspeakable.
The entire hall fell into stunned silence.
And then, with trembling hands, she spoke the words that sent shockwaves through the room.
"I… I saw nothing."
Her voice was hollow, shaking.
"No past. No future. He is… hollow. A walking corpse of death."
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Murmurs. Uneasy whispers.
Even I was slightly taken aback by her reaction. But I didn't let it show.
I calmly withdrew my hand and gave a slight nod.
"I apologize if I caused you any trouble, Madam Salena. I will take my leave."
I turned away, walking toward the exit, ignoring the stunned expressions of the people around me.
Aftermath – Salena's Shocking Revelation
The moment I left the banquet, Salena clutched the edges of the table, her breath ragged.
Morris leaned forward. "Madam Salena, what did you see?"
Salena shook her head violently, eyes wild with fear.
"He is the Conqueror… a very powerful one."
Her hands trembled as she gripped the table.
"The darkness inside him is vast… uncontainable… ever-growing."
A heavy silence fell over the banquet.
Abigail's voice wavered as she stepped closer. "What… does that mean, Madam?"
Salena turned to her, her expression filled with something Abigail had never seen before—pure dread.
"He is a king like no other… a ruler with no limitations. And the more he grows, the more the darkness inside him expands."
Abigail's breath hitched. She had never heard anything like this before.
A ruler? A conqueror?
Salena placed a hand over her chest, as if trying to calm the rapid beating of her heart.
Then she uttered something that made Abigail's blood run cold.
"I am not charging you for this reading, Ms. Bardot."
Abigail frowned. "Why… why not?"
Salena's horrified gaze locked onto her.
"Because what I witnessed tonight… was not a prophecy."
She swallowed, her throat dry.
"It was a miracle."
Abigail felt a chill crawl down her spine, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts.
"What… are you saying?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Salena exhaled sharply, her fingers digging into the wooden table.
"There is endless darkness within him."
Her eyes darted to the banquet doors where I had just exited.
"He does not have limitations. He does not have an end."
A beat of silence.
Then she finished with a whisper that sent fear rippling through everyone present.
"He is not walking toward death… He is death itself."
The tense silence in the banquet hall lingered long after Salena's chilling words. The weight of her revelation hung over everyone like an unseen storm, thick and suffocating.
Then, a mocking scoff shattered the silence.
Joshua.
He crossed his arms, his lips curling into a smirk, trying to mask his unease behind arrogance.
"Hah! This is all rubbish!" he scoffed loudly, rolling his eyes. "Like someone like him is this 'big thing'? Please. He's just some guy who got lucky."
The guests shifted uneasily, but no one dared to speak. Some believed Salena's words. Others weren't sure. But Joshua? He was a fool.
Salena, who had been preparing to leave, suddenly froze in place.
Slowly, she turned back, her piercing gaze locking onto Joshua.
And then, without lifting a finger, the entire room shook.
A sudden force filled the air, an invisible pressure that made the chandeliers sway slightly.
Then—
All the utensils on the dining tables lifted into the air.
Knives. Forks. Spoons. Plates. Even wine glasses. Every single object hovered ominously, turning toward Joshua.
A few guests gasped in terror.
Joshua's smirk disappeared instantly. His face paled as the utensils hovered in front of him, their pointed ends aimed at his body like floating daggers.
He staggered back, sweat forming on his forehead.
"W-What the hell—"
But before he could move, Salena spoke, her voice thick with authority.
"You insolent child," she hissed, her tone dripping with scorn. "You dare to question my power?"
Her eyes glowed faintly, her presence radiating something ancient—something beyond human understanding.
The floating utensils lunged forward slightly, making Joshua flinch violently.
A few guests screamed.
But—
They stopped mid-air.
Everything froze, hovering inches away from impaling him.
The entire room was deathly silent.
Salena smirked coldly, then slowly lowered her hand. As if responding to her silent command, the utensils floated back to their original places, settling as if nothing had happened.
Joshua remained frozen in place, his breath ragged.
Salena turned away, flicking her wrist as if he were beneath her notice.
"He is death itself," she declared. "A man with limitless darkness. And you…" Her gaze flicked to Joshua, her lips curling in contempt.
"I can see it clearly—you are terrified of him."
The words hit Joshua like a slap.
His mouth opened, but no words came out. He had no comeback, no arrogance left.
The room's atmosphere had completely shifted.
For the first time, Joshua wasn't the center of attention.
Samuel was. Even though he had left, his presence still loomed over everyone like a shadow.
Salena turned, her flowing robes sweeping behind her as she made her way toward the exit.
Before leaving, she paused beside Abigail, who stood still, her face unreadable.
"Ms. Bardot," Salena said, her voice softer now but still carrying weight.
Abigail slowly looked at her, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.
Salena sighed, shaking her head slightly.
"You had something priceless… and you destroyed it."
Abigail's fingers twitched slightly.
But she said nothing.
Salena left the banquet without another word, leaving Abigail in silence and Joshua humiliated beyond repair.
The whispers began immediately.