"I thought she had changed," Julian sighed, his expression growing lifeless as he glanced at the other three. He felt like all hope had slipped away. All he ever wanted was a simple house he could call ho. Unlike the others, he wasn't even properly educated.
"Thankfully, I didn't raise my hopes too high," Karl sniffled, rubbing his nose. His eyes were still puffy from earlier.
"I still believe our wife has changed," Milo said softly, his voice Sweet as always.
Adrian, uninterested in the topic of Ruby, cut in with a frown. "Let's not talk about her right now. We've got sothing more important to deal with. Karl, you didn't break that Ecto bike, right? So how did it end up broken?"
"I don't know!" Karl cried, his voice trembling. "I hid the bike behind the tree so no one would find it. How could it have ended up broken?" Tears welled up in his eyes again, his frustration evident.
"Maybe Sam did it himself," Milo suggested as he softly rubbed his cheeks, finding so dirt on his face. He lifted the edge of his robe and wiped it away with gentle care.
Adrian shook his head, frowning. "No, he wouldn't. That Ecto bike was his favorite. His mom gave it to him on his eighteenth birthday," he said, thoughtfully rubbing his wrist, clearly deep in thought.
Milo shrugged, still unsure. "Then how did it get broken if none of us touched it?"
"I think soone plotted against Karl," Julian said thoughtfully, glancing at Karl. The whole situation reminded him of those famous soap operas he used to watch when he lived with his aunt. They didn't have a SoulStream—the TV equivalent in this world—because it was far too expensive. But their neighbors were better off and occasionally let him sit in to watch for a while.
Ever since he got married and moved to this village, he hadn't watched a single show. Almost no one here had a SoulStream, except for a few families like Sam's, the village head, Madam Louis, and maybe one or two others. Every ti he heard soone talk about the latest shows or movies, a small pang of jealousy crept up inside him.
"I don't think I have any enemies," Karl sniffed, wiping his nose with the back of his hand.
Adrian, rubbing his jaw thoughtfully, narrowed his eyes as he watched Karl. "What about your family?" he asked, his voice calm but probing.
Karl froze, his stunned expression showing that the thought had never crossed his mind. He stared down at his hands, his fingers trembling slightly as he processed Adrian's words. "Maybe..." he mumbled softly, a hint of doubt creeping into his voice. "I an, I guess it's possible."
His mind started racing, rembering the distant looks and half-hearted conversations he had with his family before he left.
🪄
Ruby, while lost in thought, started piecing together more mories from the original owner. She now recalled that the market Milo often went to was the largest in the surrounding area. It was the bustling area for trade and comrce, where villagers from nearby towns would gather for supplies. The place was full of all kinds of goods, from food to handmade items, but it wasn't a place she was eager to visit given her current situation.
The village itself, Hollow Wood Village, was one of the smallest around. Its na suited it well — the place felt empty, almost forgotten by the rest of the world. The houses were old and worn down, and there were hardly any green plants around. It felt isolated, tucked away in a corner of the world where no one paid much attention. The people here had their routines, and anything new or different wasn't easily accepted.
The mories kept flooding back into Ruby's mind, painting a clearer picture of the life the original owner had lived. Originally, the owner ca from Mage Village, which was the largest and wealthiest village in the area. But everything changed when her aunt cruelly kicked her out, taking their family ho for herself. From then on, Ruby and her husbands had been scraping by in the far more modest Hollow Wood Village.
In this small village, there weren't many rich people. One notable figure was Healer William. Despite his wealth, he didn't act like it. With his dical skills, he could easily live a luxurious life in any big town, village, or even the capital. But he chose to stay here, living as though he were just another common villager. Ruby found this interesting—soone with the ans to escape choosing to stay behind.
Then there was Mada shades, the other wealthier resident. She was more mysterious, keeping to herself in her hidden lab. Nobody knew what kind of experints or products she worked on, and no one dared go near her area. Her presence was a constant source of unease in the village, but nobody questioned her. Ruby realized sothing—wasn't Madam shades the mother of that fat ghost Louis she had beaten up, the one who had been chasing Karl for debt?
Another problem to deal with.
Finally, there was Sam's mom, who worked for the governnt. She was one of the few who had a well-paying job, making her the third rich person in this village. Though she wasn't involved in strange experints or dical care, her stable salary allowed her family to live comfortably.
Surnas in this world were nothing like those in her previous life, The most common surnas she recalled were like Mortis, Blackmoor, and Tombson in this world, and her surna was grave in this world.
"Ruby Graves," she muttered, testing the sound of her own na here. It actually fit in well, which was a strange relief.
—To be continued...🪄
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