Julian stood quietly behind Ruby, his fists clenched. Ruby stayed calm on the outside, but inside, her blood was boiling.
"How can someone do this and still sleep at night..." Ruby whispered under her breath.
The witch looked at her. "You wouldn’t understand," she muttered, and turned back to the crowd.
But Ruby’s mind was already working fast.
She understood more than they thought.
Ruby glanced around at the tense, worried faces. Then she cleared her throat softly, lifting her chin just a little to show calm confidence. The murmurs died down. All eyes turned to her, most of them frowning with suspicion. She smiled gently, not showing even a hint of fear.
"Actually... I might know what you all can do," she said, her voice calm but filled with something mysterious. It wasn’t pride—it was assurance, as if she had seen this situation before and already knew the way out.
Leader Kerry narrowed her eyes. "What idea do you have?" she asked firmly. Her voice held exhaustion. They had been discussing this since morning, and nothing had seemed strong enough. All Kerry could think of was assigning more guards to the fields... and that wouldn’t stop Them.
Ruby stepped forward, her long robe flowing behind her lightly as the wind picked up. "Look," she said seriously, "that company is desperate. Since you’ve cut all ties with them, they’re running out of your fabric. That’s why they’re stealing your crops now because they’re still trying to meet demand. Which means..." Ruby paused and glanced at Julian beside her before continuing, "They’re definitely coming again. Probably tonight. So why not... take advantage of that?"
The villagers murmured, unsure. Leader Kerry frowned again. "Take advantage how? Even if we catch them, they’re too powerful. It won’t change anything."
Ruby nodded. "Yes, I know they’re dangerous. But I didn’t say we fight them head-on. I mean... outsmart them. Punish them without fighting. Scare them. Hurt their ego. I have an idea that can protect your crops, punish the thieves, and even trap that company witch in a way she won’t expect. A way to make her fall face first into the dirt."
Now that got their attention.
The air shifted. Curious eyes blinked toward her. A few heads tilted. Someone asked, "What idea?"
Ruby took a breath, then leaned forward and whispered something into Leader Kerry’s ear. Kerry’s eyes slowly widened. She turned and whispered it to the witch beside her. That one gasped and covered her mouth.
Then, like sparks lighting up dry grass, everyone’s expressions began to change, suspicion turned into surprise, surprise turned into excitement.
"...That might actually work," someone muttered.
"It’s clever. No blood. Just fear."
"She’ll regret ever stepping here again..."
Ruby stood straight, arms crossed gently, a calm smile resting on her lips. She didn’t need to say more. They understood.
Julian stared at her with wide eyes full of admiration.
And Ruby’s thoughts were clear: Let’s see how powerful your pride feels when you’re the one running scared.
"So, Ruby! We will provide you everything you need," Leader Kerry said firmly, her voice no longer suspicious, but filled with admiration and gratitude. "If you help us this time... we’ll owe you a great debt. Truly."
She looked at Ruby like she was no longer an outsider, but someone important. Someone they had been waiting for without even knowing it.
The crowd around them slowly began to nod in agreement. A few of the older witches muttered their blessings, and even some of the men who had looked angry before now had hopeful expressions.
Julian smiled proudly, his eyes shining as he looked at his wife.
Ruby gave a calm nod, her voice gentle but steady, "Then let’s prepare. We don’t have much time before night falls."
As the villagers began to move quickly to gather the things she needed, Leader Kerry remained by Ruby’s side.
"We’ve been trying to fight them with violence and words... but you gave us something more powerful. A clever mind," she said quietly.
Ruby smiled, her eyes full of fire.
Ruby walked beside the fence, eyes wide as she took in the beautiful red flowers stretching across the field like a sea of crimson silk. The flowers glistened slightly in the sunlight, their soft petals curled delicately at the edges, and every now and then, a dewdrop shimmered on their surface like a jewel. Beneath the petals, glowing softly, were streaks of white that looked like light captured in threads.
She reached out but didn’t touch—only admired.
"They’re beautiful..." she whispered.
Julian, standing beside her, blinked in awe. "It doesn’t even look real... it’s like something from a painting."
An old witch, her long braid grey and streaked with hints of rosewood red, chuckled beside them. "Of course they look magical. They are magical," she said, her wrinkled eyes crinkling with pride. "We’ve raised these fields for generations. See that white glow under the flowers?"
"Those are threads," the witch explained, voice warm and slightly wheezy. "The heart of our fabric. We pluck them gently, then dry them in rooms with controlled air. No sunlight, no fire. Only cool air and patience. If dried right, they become as soft as clouds and as strong as silk."
Julian leaned closer to the fence, peering in. "What about the petals? You just throw them?"
The old witch laughed, patting his arm gently. "Throw them? Oh no, no. Nothing is wasted here. These petals can be eaten. We make oil from them—used for cooking and healing. Some dry them into flakes and fry them into crunchy snacks. Very popular during monsoon. And for special rituals, we use the fresh ones to make tea. Tastes like honey and smoke."
Ruby turned her gaze back to the flowers, her brows lifting. "That’s amazing... You mean this one crop feeds you, clothes you, and heals you?"
"Yes," the witch said, with pride in her tone. "It is our soul. The Dreadmire flower. This is why we fought so hard when that outsider tried to steal it. And this is why we protect it like it’s family. Because to us—it is."
—To be continued...🪄