When both returned to their room, Ruby placed her bag on the table and pulled out the phone. She sat on the edge of the bed and dialed their home number with hope in her eyes.
At the same time, back home...
Karl was lying on the couch, intensely focused on his fish game. His eyes were glued to the screen as he chased after a glowing golden fish with his virtual net. Suddenly, a number flashed across the screen.
"Huh? Why is wife’s number showing up? I didn’t call her..." he grumbled with a frown.
He didn’t know how to receive a call—he only ever used the green button to call her. So in his confusion, he casually pressed the red one.
"Someone cut the call!" Ruby said, her brows furrowing. Her fingers gripped the phone tighter. "Why would they do that? What if something happened?"
Julian sat beside her, his face growing tense. "Are they okay? Why didn’t they pick up?"
"I don’t know," Ruby murmured and immediately dialed the number again.
The phone rang, but this time... no one picked it up.
Julian and Ruby exchanged worried glances, their good mood from earlier completely gone. The silence in the room felt heavier now.
"Try one more time..." Julian said softly, his voice filled with concern.
Now Karl was lying on his stomach on the living room floor, legs swinging in the air like a lazy kid enjoying vacation. His face was just inches away from the phone screen, and his eyes were wide with concentration.
"Come on... come on... just a little more—yes! Got you, you glowing golden fatty fish!" he shouted with excitement, tapping furiously. The game played cheerful bubble sounds as his points increased.
Milo, sitting nearby with his book, peeked at him with an exhausted expression. "Brother Karl... you’ve been playing that fish game for three hours now..."
Karl didn’t even lift his head. "Shhh! This is serious business. I’m close to beating my record! Look at this fat fish—it’s worth a thousand points!"
Suddenly, the phone buzzed and Ruby’s name flashed on the screen.
Karl groaned. "Why is wife’s name popping up? I didn’t call her!"
Without thinking, and still focused on the virtual ocean on his screen, he hit the red button.
Then he went right back to chasing fish like nothing happened. "Yes! Another one! You can’t escape me, you shiny scaly beast!"
Meanwhile, Ruby and Julian were staring at the phone on the other side, completely unaware that Karl had just rejected the call... because of a fish.
"It’s okay, they might be busy," Ruby said softly, placing the phone down and turning to Julian with a gentle smile. Her voice was calm, trying to reassure him even though she was a bit worried too.
Julian nodded his head, but his expression was a little disappointed. "Our day is going to waste..." he muttered, his shoulders slumping.
"Who said it’s going to waste?" Ruby raised her brows and cupped his cheek lightly. Her eyes had that warm, comforting look that made him feel better right away. "Let’s explore the local market instead. We’ll buy some gifts for everyone at home—something special from here."
Julian’s face lit up with excitement, his eyes twinkling. "Really? That sounds fun!"
Ruby nodded and smiled. "Yes. Let’s make this day count."
The market was just ten minutes away, nestled between rolling hills and surrounded by red-leafed trees that shimmered gently in the afternoon breeze. The neighboring village near Dreadmire was also surprisingly charming, and despite the tense situation earlier, Ruby found herself exhaling softly as the peaceful energy of the place washed over her.
Colorful stalls lined both sides of the cobbled path, and the scent of fresh herbs, sweet spices, and burning incense hung in the air. There was a soft hum of laughter and music, and woven flags fluttered overhead.
Julian’s eyes sparkled the moment they stepped into the market. "Wow..." he breathed out, his gaze darting around as if he didn’t know where to look first. "Wife, look at those wooden animals! And oh—what is that? It’s moving!"
Ruby followed his gaze and smiled as she saw a carved wooden toy rocking on its own.
They passed stalls with handwoven mats dyed with natural colors, small pouches embroidered with runes, delicate jewelry made of blue stones and twisted silver, and tiny music instruments that looked like flutes and bells merged together.
Julian picked one up and looked at Ruby with wonder. "What is this?"
Ruby took it from him gently, her fingers brushing over the worn edges. "It’s called a ’wind chime flute.’ You blow through it and it makes a sound," she said, the memory suddenly playing in her mind—one from the original Ruby who used to hear this as a child during festivals.
Julian blinked. "That’s... really cool. Should we get one for Milo? He might love this."
Ruby nodded with a soft smile.
They continued strolling, their hands naturally finding each other’s as the crowd thickened.
"Do you ?" Ruby asked, holding up a small violet-colored bag with golden thread stitched in swirling patterns. It looked elegant yet simple—something she thought might suit Julian’s gentle style.
Julian tilted his head and gave it a quick glance before shaking his head with a sheepish smile. "No... it’s pretty, but it’s not really my type, wife."
Ruby nodded and quietly set it back on the table.
They moved along the stall, checking other purses, but most were in dark or floral designs...beautiful, but nothing felt right. There weren’t many color options either. Julian glanced at the next row, saw another series of violet and pale green bags, and gave a tiny sigh. "It’s okay. Let’s not force it."
"You sure?" Ruby asked gently.
"Yeah," Julian said, squeezing her hand softly. "I think I’ll wait until I find something that feels more like me."
So they left the bag section and continued exploring the rest of the market, now with a new goal—finding something that Karl and Adrian would like.
—To be continued...🪄