"Julian!" Ruby shouted, her voice cracking as she ran toward him, her heart hammering wildly against her ribs.
She dropped to her knees, not caring about the dirt, and gently lifted his head onto her lap.
Her hands shook as she patted his cold cheeks, trying to get a response.
"Julian, wake up! Can you hear me?!"
Her chest tightened painfully, a sharp, unfamiliar fear sinking deep into her bones.
It felt like her soul was being sucked out of her body.
Like she was experiencing the worst moment of her life—
Because seeing Julian , injured, unconscious, vulnerable in her arms—
Her fingers brushed against his blood-streaked hair, and something inside her snapped.
What the hell happened to him?!
Her anger burned like fire, but right now he needed her.
Without a second thought, she wrapped her arms around him, effortlessly lifting him into a bridal carry.
Thank the gods witches in this world were naturally stronger, because otherwise, she would have never been able to carry him .
"Please open your eyes, Jules!" she whispered, her voice breaking. "Please!"
But he remained limp in her arms, his breathing weak.
She turned her head, eyes blazing with anger, and shouted at the people who were just standing around, watching like it was some kind of show.
"Stop staring and help! Someone, lead me to a healer! NOW!"
The crowd stiffened at the strong power of her voice.
A few witches quickly stepped forward, pointing down a path.
"T-There’s a healer nearby, just down that street!"
She tightened her grip on Julian and ran.
The healer’s clinic was located near a children’s clothing shop, its small wooden door shut tightly, with only a faint glow of light visible from inside.
The streets were silent, swallowed by a thick fog that clung to the ground. Above, the sky burned a deep, dark red, heavy and eerie, making everything feel especially creepy.
Ruby’s arms ached from carrying Julian, but she didn’t care.
Her heart pounded painfully, fear gripping her tighter with each second that passed.
"Open the door!" she knocked, her voice uneven, urgency spilling through every syllable.
There was no immediate response.
She knocked harder, shifting Julian slightly in her hold. "Please! Someone—open the door!"
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the door creaked open.
A grumpy-looking healer, her gray hair slightly disheveled, peeked through, her expression clearly irritated at being disturbed so late at night.
"Who the hell—" she started, her tone sharp.
The blood smeared on Ruby’s hands.
She didn’t wait for an answer. She pushed the door open fully, stepping aside to let Ruby in.
Ruby rushed in without hesitation, quickly moving to the nearest examination bed, where she carefully placed Julian down.
The room was brightly lit, clean but cluttered, with shelves of glass bottles and cabinets filled with potions and herbal remedies. The scent of medicine and disinfectants filled the air.
Ruby’s legs felt weak as she stood beside Julian, taking in his pale face, his disheveled blue hair, the dried streaks of blood near his temple.
Her chest tightened painfully.
"What happened to him?" the healer asked, her voice laced with authority as she grabbed her tools, moving with swift precision.
Ruby swallowed, her voice shaky.
"I don’t know!" she admitted, her breathing uneven. "I found him in the market—he’s my husband!"
Her fingers gripped his hand tightly, almost as if afraid that if she let go, she’d lose him.
She lifted his cold fingers to her lips, pressing a delicate kiss against them.
"Please be okay!" she whispered, her entire body trembling.
This fear..this awful, consuming fear was something she wasn’t used to.
She had faced worst situations and pain without blinking.
Seeing Julian , helpless and hurt, made her feel like she was being torn apart from the inside.
The healer Amie glanced at her with a calm but firm expression.
"Hey, it’s alright. Don’t panic."
But how could she not?
How could she be calm when he looked ?
Ruby nodded stiffly, but her hands still shook.
"Give me space," Amie instructed, already moving toward Julian, inspecting his wounds.
Ruby hesitated before finally stepping back, but the moment she let go of his hand, a wave of emptiness hit her.
Her eyes never left him.
His face looked too pale.
His lips were slightly parted, barely breathing.
His clothes were dirty, stained with dust and blood.
Something tightened in her throat, and she clenched her fists.
"Don’t just stand there—go wash your hands!" Amie ordered, not even looking up as she worked.
Ruby blinked, forcing herself to move.
She walked to the small sink in the corner, turning on the tap.
The cold water ran over her fingers, washing away the blood, but it didn’t wash away the panic twisting inside her chest.
What the hell had happened to Julian tonight?
Who had done this to him?
She washed her hands quickly, drying them on a towel before moving back to the room, standing silently in the corner.
She didn’t want to disturb the treatment.
But she also couldn’t look away.
After Healer Amie finished treating Julian, she turned toward Ruby and let out a deep sigh.
"Have a seat, child," she said, her voice softer now.
Ruby glanced around and finally noticed a small seating area in the corner of the clinic. There was a wooden bench with a few cushions, meant for patients’ relatives or those waiting for treatment.
She nodded numbly and walked over, sinking onto the seat, her legs finally giving out from exhaustion.
Her mind was still spinning, her hands gripping the edges of her robe tightly.
Healer Amie sat down across from her, stretching her tired limbs before exhaling deeply.
"You brought him at the right time," she started, rubbing her temples. "His breathing was faint when you arrived. If you had been even a little late... it could’ve been worse."
—To be continued...🪄