Her frail frame slumped back into her chair, and her old hands shook violently. She tried refreshing the screen again and again, her motions frantic, almost feverish, but the results didn’t change. The message on the screen was clear: there was nothing left.
It felt like the ground beneath her had been pulled away. She clutched her chest, her breathing shallow, as panic threatened to overwhelm her. The entire office watched her with wide eyes.
"Ma’am, don’t tell us you are joking..." one of the younger witches whispered, her face pale with fear.
"Why should I joke at a time ? Look at the screen, everything is gone!" the old witch snapped, holding her head in stress. Her usually steady voice was trembling, betraying just how dire the situation was.
"What are we going to do now?" another voice quivered from the back.
"I think... I think we’re going to lose our government jobs," a middle-aged witch said, her voice barely audible, but her words sent ripples of panic through the room.
"I’m scared!" another witch blurted out, clutching her pendant.
The murmurs grew louder, mixing into a loud noise of fear.
"If we can’t recover it, how will we explain this to the central council?"
"The minister will have our heads for this!"
"Do you know how much time it took to gather data from ten villages? Years! YEARS!"
"The entire population’s records are at stake! Birth certificates, work permits, residence documents—everything!"
"And what about the census data? That’s due next month!"
The consequences of losing the data weighed heavily on everyone. Without it, government funding for their region could be slashed. Villagers would lose access to vital services like healthcare, education, and food rations. Corruption rumors would spread, blaming the office for inefficiency or worse, fraud.
The air felt heavy with fear, each whisper making it worse. The old witch tried to ignore the growing panic, pressing her hands to her temples as she muttered, "Think, think... there must be a way to fix this."
But deep down, she knew how big the disaster really was.
"Ma’am, I think we should confess to the council and explain the situation. Maybe they have a solution," another witch suggested hesitantly, though the tension in her voice was evident.
"Yes, yes, that’s a good idea," another employee chimed in, nodding fervently as if hoping to lighten the heavy atmosphere.
However, the old witch’s expression darkened. Her brows furrowed deeply as she gritted her teeth. "We can’t tell them—not yet. Not before we try something ourselves," she said firmly, her voice carrying the weight of responsibility.
"Ma’am, why don’t we hire a computer expert who can handle this?" a witch with brown hair proposed, her tone hopeful, though her fidgeting fingers betrayed her nervousness.
"Does anyone know of any computer expert?" the old witch asked, scanning the room.
A heavy silence fell over the room. Heads shook, and nervous glances were exchanged. No one dared to meet her eyes.
Just as the silence became unbearable, a hesitant voice broke through. "Ma’am... I think I know someone," said a witch standing at the back. Her voice trembled slightly, but the room immediately turned to look at her, hope flickering in their eyes.
The old witch’s sharp gaze landed on her. "Who is it? Speak up!" she demanded, her tone a mix of urgency and impatience.
"You want to talk to me?" Ruby asked as Julian stepped into her room. His face was calm, but there was something hesitant in his expression as he looked at her.
"Can I sit next to you, Ruby?" he asked softly, his voice quieter than usual.
Ruby blinked at his tone. It felt odd to hear him call her by her name. She nodded after a moment, and Julian sat beside her, his hands nervously resting on his knees.
"Speak," Ruby said, noticing how unsure he seemed.
Julian glanced at her, then down at his hands before reaching out and holding hers. Ruby froze, startled.
His hands were cold, rough from years of work. When his eyes met hers, there was a strange emotion in them, like he was trying to gather his courage.
"You said you were going to send us to study," Julian started, his words slow and careful. "But... we didn’t even graduate from school." His gaze stayed on her, searching for something in her expression.
Ruby felt her fingers stiffen in his grasp. She didn’t like the closeness, it made her feel little bit uncomfortable. She gently pulled her hands away, trying not to make it obvious, and folded them in her lap.
"Studying doesn’t mean just going to school or college," Ruby replied, keeping her tone calm. She had remembered something from the original owner’s memories. "There are lots of other courses—business, marketing, even writing. These are short-term courses, like six months to two years. You don’t need a school degree for them, and they can help you find work without needing to start over in school."
Julian’s eyes widened slightly as her words sank in. He looked surprised, like he hadn’t even thought about other possibilities.
"Really? You mean we could still study without..." He trailed off, his voice uncertain but hopeful.
"Yes," Ruby said simply. "If you’re serious about learning, there are plenty of options. It’s not about what you didn’t finish in the past-it’s about what you’re willing to do now."
Her words were clear and firm, but there was also a quiet encouragement in them. Julian looked down at his lap for a moment, then nodded slowly. Ruby could see a little relief on his face, as if the burden he carried had just gotten lighter.
Julian was worried because he wasn’t graduated from school, and now after coming out of the shock that his wife was going to divorce him, another thing she had said entered his mind. She wanted to make them independent, and it scared him.
They weren’t even graduates, let alone skilled enough to be independent.
"But wi.. I mean ruby..." Julian’s voice was hesitant as he looked up at her. His brows furrowed slightly, worry clouding his face again. "We still don’t know how to write and read properly."
—To be continued...🪄