35 The Fortune Teller

Chapter 25: The Fortune Teller

-Charm's POV-

It's been like hours since we left that jewelry store and went for different booths and stores displayed in this village for the festival. I almost ran out of breath but Aurora here sure is super hyper and seems to have an unlimited supply of energy.

"Awww look at that monkey! Isn't he cute and smart?" I heard Aurora said while pointing at the said monkey.

We are currently standing and joining the multitude as we all watch a street performance featuring a guy with his pet monkey doing some tricks. I looked at the monkey and then whispered at Aurora.

"Mambo is more superior than that monkey." I said to her.

"Who's Mambo?" she whispered back.

"You know… Deity Roku's guardian animal."

"Ahhh…"

By the end of the show, all of the bystanders gave gold and silver coins to the street performer. Even I gave two pieces of gold coins to this lad who looks the same age as we were, with skinny built, messy dark brown hair, and has tan skin.

"Nice show." I smiled at the lad when I noticed him being sad in his place. That's the time he looked at me and Aurora then smiled at us.

"Thanks." he beamed.

He started to pack his things and then walked away along with his pet monkey.

By the time the boy is now out of our sight, I heard my stomach growled.

"I'm kinda starving from all that walk we made earlier. Let's go back home--"

"Ooohh! Look at that Charm!" Aurora cuts me off and points her index finger somewhere.

When I decided to follow where she's currently pointing at, I immediately saw a booth that says 'Know Your Fortune' at the top printed in bold letters. My gaze went back at the girl beside me, and I immediately saw her eyes sparkle.

"I thought you're not into superstitious beliefs?" I arched one eyebrow at her.

"I do not believe in curses, was what I said earlier…" Then she paused for a moment and pointed again to the mentioned booth just now. "But I do believe in fortune telling though…well, only a little."

"Well then, let's go." I said.

I was about to walk towards the booth, we heard again my stomach growled for the second time around.

"But not after we get ourselves something to eat." Aurora commented.

With that being said, we looked for a place where we could buy ourselves delicious meals. It didn't take that long before we found a small restaurant at the far end corner of the street slightly packed with people.

"May I get your orders please?"

A grumpy looking woman greeted us with two menus placed at our table and with her flat tone. I picked it up and read what's written on their menu. All of it is not familiar to me, so I decided to wait for Aurora to order and whatever she'll order...that would be my order as well.

"I would like to have this pork and green chile stew please, and water also." Aurora said after seconds of reading the menu.

"You know what, it seems that I can't decide what to eat… so my order would be the same as my friend over here." I nervously smiled at the woman who's waiting for our orders.

She picked up the menu once again and started to repeat our orders.

"Two bowls of pork and green chile stew and two glasses of water coming right up."

And with that, the woman left without uttering any other word.

As we waited for our orders, I suddenly thought about the whole gang being here as well with us. Yet I wasn't able to invite them since those two lads from earlier were busy doing a favor for Gran-gran. Johanne was still asleep in his room, Elena is helping Gran-gran with chores, and we surely can't let a talking tiger lurk around a restaurant for heaven's sake.

I noticed the table next to ours had temporarily been empty for a while, until I saw two women sitting in the previous customers' place and the same grumpy woman from earlier took their orders.

"What did Aunt Ming say about your fortune earlier?"

As soon as the grumpy woman left the two, I heard them started talking about fortune telling and this mysterious 'Aunt Ming'.

The lady with an ebony black hair tied into a bun, who was asked earlier about her fortune, suddenly smiled passionately while her cheeks were tainted with red.

"She said I will be married to a noble man and we will have two children." that lady answered almost dreamily.

I almost arched my eyebrow at the lady. Who would believe in such things as fortune-telling anyway? They are not real, I tell you.

"What about you?" The lady with a bun asked in return.

"Well…" Even with the back of her friend facing me right now, I can definitely tell that she's also blushing.

"Aunt Ming said I will be married to a rich man, and we will prosper all throughout the land." she answered.

"Oh my gosh, that is amazing!" her friend said quite dramatically.

It seems that I was not the only one listening to their conversation, since I saw Aurora smiling at me right now.

"Interested to do a fortune telling right now, aren't we?" she teased. I only arched one eyebrow.

"No, I'm not." I replied.

"Yeah… yeah… save your denials for later as soon as you'll get to know the good fortune that awaits both of us." she said.

Later on, our orders finally arrived and we then soon started eating until our tummy was finally full.

***

"Here we are again, in the famous fortune teller's place."

I only gave a bored look as we both stood in front of a booth that was made from light wood. When Aurora made several steps towards its entrance, I also chose to follow after her.

"Welcome visitors. I am Ariella, the fortune teller's assistant. Who would like first to have her fortune read by the great Aunt Ming? It would be for 2 silver coins only."

A young lady looking in her 20's who wore a pink silky dress that reached the wooden floor of this booth greeted us with her bright smile as we entered.

"Err.. I guess my friend over here should go first." I said while pointing over my friend who looks super excited for her fortune to be read.

"Well then, come along and I'll show you where to find Aunt Ming."

Aurora didn't hesitate to come with this girl and eventually they are now out of my sight. While I waited, I started to hum a song so that I will not get bored easily around here.

It didn't take that long though for Aurora to come out of Aunt Ming's room and went back to see me with a devastated look on her face.

I wonder what's wrong…

"Wahhhh…" I was a bit surprised when Aurora stared at me wide-eyed, and suddenly hugged me out of nowhere.

"W-what's wrong?" I dared to ask.

"Aunt Ming said I will be single for the rest of my life!." Aurora said as if sucking the life out of her.

I tried to suppress my laughter while thinking of what to say for my friend to feel better.

Well….didn't you say you don't 100% believe in fortune telling?" I said while patting her back. "Don't stress out yourself too much because of that."

A few moments later, Aurora finally pulled away from me while pouting.

"Life is so unfair with me." I heard her murmur.

Our attention was diverted to Ariella once again as we heard her speak for the second time.

"You…" she said, pointing at me. "Would you like to know your fortune as well?"

I hesitated a bit but then in the end I agreed. "Yes, why not?"

We eventually left Aurora in the waiting room as Ariella brought me to Aunt Ming's chamber. Upon entering, Ariella immediately closed the door behind me and I was left with no choice but to look at the old lady with short, curly white hair sitting in a cross-legged manner in front of a table that is level to her chest, and a crystal ball placed on top of it.

"Have a seat over here darling." The old lady motions for me to sit in front of her, and so I did.

The moment I sat, Aunt Ming started to close her eyes and raise both of her hands on top of the crystal ball, as if she was feeling its energy.

I was curious for a moment if she's also a deity like us, but as I checked for any signs of magical force around her, I can't feel anything at all… thus confirming that she is a mere mortal.

"ALAS!"

I almost jumped out of my skin the moment I heard her exclaim all of a sudden.

"I can see a dark path ahead of you. This path contains countless trials, suffering, and even death." she stated dramatically, especially on the word 'death'.

Yeah...yeah…. I kinda expect it anyway. What's new with my life?

I thought that's all she has to say and so I prepared myself to stand up from here. But as I was about to do so, I heard her speak once again… with her eyes still shut.

"However, the good thing here is... I can also see a faint light of hope for your future…" she continued, which made me sit straight once again.

"You are going to find yourself a true love from a man who is willing to do anything for you… Whoever gives you a red rose first tomorrow night, he's the one who shall fulfill my words." Aunt Ming added. And that's the time she opened her eyes and smiled at me.

My eyes went round upon hearing what she said.

T-true love?! What the heck is she even saying?

I didn't bother to ask anymore questions and simply walked away from her chamber after extending my thanks for her service. After I saw Aurora still waiting for me outside, I immediately went near her.

"What did Aunt Ming say about your fortune?" she curiously asked. I just shrugged the thoughts away.

"Forget what Aunt Ming said. Let's go back home, maybe Gran-gran is already looking for us." I said instead of answering her.

After paying Ariella for the fortune-telling, we immediately left the booth and walked back home. But Aurora wouldn't leave me until I tell what Aunt Ming said about my future.

"It doesn't matter what Aunt Ming said.." I turned to look at Aurora with a serious expression plastered on my face.

"...but remember this: how we shape our own destiny solely relies in our own hands."

I gave her a quick smile after saying that and walked ahead of her, which left the girl dumbfounded for a while.