That day Ruby and Julian stayed at the inn for the night...
Ruby wore a light pink robe with white borders and golden embroidery, carrying her bag.
Her white hair was tied loosely behind her neck, and across her shoulder.
Julian followed close behind, dressed in a soft blue robe that made his warm expression look even gentler in the misty morning light.
"Don’t be nervous, wife..." Julian muttered softly, trying to reassure her as they walked together.
And Ruby nodded, her fingers clutching her bag a little tighter. "Yeah... you’re right. It’s just... I feel a bit worried knowing they carry weapons," she admitted, glancing at him. She wasn’t scared for herself but having Julian with her made her more cautious.
"Don’t worry, wife! Everything will be okay," Julian said calmly, his gentle mossy eyes holding quiet confidence. "If we sense things aren’t going well, we’ll come back, alright? It’s not like your life depends on that fabric."
Ruby chuckled lightly, his calmness grounding her. "Thanks, Jules... really."
Then her lips curved into a small smile. "Let’s buy you some breakfast."
Julian’s face lit up. "Alright... thanks, wife. I’m starving."
Then Ruby drove into the village, and the change in scenery was so clear, it almost felt like a different world.
The grass here was a light, almost pastel green—soft to the eyes and unlike anything she’d seen in other villages. Among them, tall red grasses swayed gently in the breeze, their tips blooming with small white flowers that looked like they were made of silk. The colors blended beautifully, like a painting brushed with soft warmth.
And the trees... Ruby slowed the car a little just to admire them. The trees were tall with rich red leaves, glowing under the morning sun. They looked like something out of a fairy tale, elegant and mysterious, each one telling its own silent story.
Compared to her desert village with dry winds and pale earth, this place was bursting with life and color. It felt refreshing. Peaceful. Almost like the land was welcoming them.
As soon as Ruby spotted a more populated part of the village, she slowed the car and pulled over to the side. The narrow dirt road was shaded by the tall red-leafed trees, and small wooden homes stood clustered together in the area. It looked like the village square.
She turned off the engine and looked at Julian. "I think we’ve reached the center... we should find the village head here."
Julian nodded, adjusting the blue robe around his shoulders. "Let’s go together."
But the moment Ruby stepped out of the car, her shoes clicking softly on the uneven ground, a sharp voice cut through the still air.
She turned and saw an elderly witch staring at her. The witch had heavily wrinkled skin like crumpled cloth, and her sharp nose poked out from under a crooked black cap. Her blue robe was worn out, almost faded to grey, and hung loosely from her bony frame. Her fingers trembled as she pointed at Ruby and Julian’s car, suspicion written all over her face.
"I’m Ruby," she said in a calm, respectful tone. "And this is my husband, Julian. We’re here to meet the head of your village."
The old witch’s eyes narrowed further, clearly not liking strangers. "Why? Do you want to shift here?" she asked, eyeing the car again like it was some kind of threat.
Ruby shook her head gently. "No... We actually came to talk about business."
The moment the word "business" left her lips, the air around them shifted.
The old witch’s face twisted in anger. "Business? Business?!" she barked, her voice rising like a sharp crack in the air. Her eyes turned red—literally red with rage, and her bony hand curled into a trembling fist. "You foreigners always come with your sweet tongues and golden lies! You want to steal our land! Our traditions! Our peace!"
Julian stepped slightly in front of Ruby protectively, his gaze calm but watchful.
"Wait, we don’t mean harm—" Ruby started, but her voice was cut off by the old witch’s furious scream.
"Get out of our village!!!" she roared, causing nearby workers and villagers to rush over in alarm.
"Old Uma, what happened?!" a ghost in dusty work clothes came running toward them, holding a basket of red fruit.
"She’s here for business!" Old Uma snapped, pointing a trembling finger at Ruby.
That was all it took.
Within seconds, more villagers gathered, drawn by the rising voices. They weren’t physically attacking, but the atmosphere grew heavy with tension. Murmurs broke into angry shouts.
"They want to take advantage of our village again!"
"She’s probably from that last company that tricked us!"
"Get out! Get out of our village!!!" many voices cried out in unison.
Ruby stood her ground, her expression composed even as their anger grew.
Julian gently touched her arm. "Maybe we should go, wife... They’re not listening right now."
But Ruby slowly raised her hand to stop him.
"I didn’t come here to deceive anyone," she spoke loudly, her voice cutting across the noise. "I know what happened before... and I’m not here to do the same. I came because your village makes the most beautiful fabric I’ve ever seen and I want to work with you, not use you. I want your vilage talent to be seen by the world."
The villagers went quiet for a moment, murmuring among themselves. But the distrust in their eyes didn’t vanish.
Old Uma scoffed, her wrinkled face twisting with bitterness. "We’ve heard those words before," she spat, folding her arms. "You speak pretty, girl. All of you do. Promises, smiles, contracts. But where were your kind when our hands bled weaving your fine cloth? Where were you when our people stayed hungry, waiting for the gold that never came?" Her voice cracked slightly with old pain.
"Our weavers worked day and night, and what did we get in return? Nothing but dust and silence."
She looked Ruby up and down with heavy judgment. "Don’t expect us to trust you just because you wear clean robes and carry a sweet voice."
—To be continued...🪄