Chapter 4 Change for the better

Julian's words sank in, and Ruby's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean, they've taken Karl?" she asked.

Julian's eyes filled with tears. "The debt collectors came. Karl tried to stop them, but they took him away because we couldn't pay our debts."

"...and he even stole someone else's bike to save you." Julian said, his eyes darkening as he stared at her.

Ruby glanced around, realizing she was in an unfamiliar room.

The room was warm and smelled faintly of herbs and incense. Shelves lined the walls, filled with jars of dried herbs, tinctures, and mysterious concoctions.

A wooden table in the center of the room held various instruments and a flickering candle.

As Ruby sat up in bed, she straightened abruptly. "Where am I?" she asked, her voice groggy from fainting earlier.

"You fainted, so we brought you to the healer's house," Julian replied impatiently, his hands clenched at his sides. He wasn't certain if she would be of any help.

Ruby climbed out of bed, adjusting her robe as she looked around the room. "Where is he?" she questioned, her gaze locking onto Julian.

His expression turned to one of shock upon hearing her words. "Are you serious?"

"Where is he?" Ruby asked urgently as she hurried outside, drawn by the sound of loud voices.

Julian followed closely behind her.

As Ruby stepped outside, she spotted Karl sprinting towards her, sweat glistening on his face and a slap mark visible on his cheek. His baby-blue eyes were brimming with tears.

"Stupid wife, help me!" he cried out, grasping the edge of her robe, his gaze fixed on a menacing, bulky ghost charging towards them.

"Where the hell are you hiding, you little bastard? Thankfully, now we'll take all of you," the fat ghost said in a menacing tone, his angry eyes blazing as he glared at them. Behind him stood four other ghosts, poised to confront them.

He charged towards them angrily, summoning his inner strength to deliver a powerful kick towards Ruby. He had heard rumors that this witch lacked inner strength and skills, so he didn't even take her seriously.

Her eyes flashed with coldness as she sidestepped, grabbing Karl's hand. Seeing his fat body teetering, she swiftly kicked his rear, sending him sprawling to the ground. He landed face-first, and she heard the sickening crunch of a few teeth breaking on impact.

The other four ghosts' eyes widened in surprise. They hadn't expected the witch to still wield such power. But they couldn't retreat without Madame's son, Louis, or else face her merciless wrath. So, together, they rushed towards her.

Although Ruby spent most of her time managing company affairs and working behind a monitor, she had learned martial arts and boxing out of necessity, given her many enemies.

When she found the time, she would practice boxing with some of her male boxer friends, honing her skills to a proficient level.

In mere minutes, she swiftly incapacitated all four ghosts, leaving them sprawled on the ground.

With her feet tightly pressed on fat ghost Louis's hands, Ruby asked Julian and Karl, who were looking on in shock, "How much do we have to pay them?"

"Let me go!" Louis shouted in pain. "You don't know who my mom is; she will never let you go."

"One hundred gems," Julian replied quietly.

Ruby frowned, her brow furrowing in thought.

In this world, gems were blue, crystal-like, thin round coins equivalent to one hundred regular coins.

There were five types of coins made of silver and copper: 1 coin, 5 coin, 10 coin, 20 coin, and 50 coin.

Notes, on the other hand, were of high spiritual power and valued at 100 gems each.

"Don't shout," Ruby said firmly, exerting pressure on his hand until he screamed in pain.

"I will pay your debt within a week. But if I catch you trying to trouble any of my husbands, don't think I will let you go... I will bury your body alive." she said coldly, stepping back.

Louis's eyes widened in fear as he quickly retreated, followed by the four ghosts he had brought with him, all of them limping away in haste.

"I see you've changed, Ruby." came a warm, elderly voice. Ruby turned to see an old man in a beautiful white silk robe with delicate embroidery walking towards her, his hands clasped behind his back.

From her memories, she recognized him as Healer William, a renowned figure known for treating all kinds of diseases with his vast experience.

"Thank you, Healer," she replied, smiling warmly. "I've realized I was on the wrong path and have decided to change for the better." Of course, she couldn't live as the original Ruby did, but she knew that changing too abruptly would raise suspicions.

This was a world filled with ghosts and many powerful beings, a world very different from her own. Although the technology here wasn't as advanced as on Earth, it wasn't primitive either.

Ecto bikes are typically airborne bicycles, and there's the Cloud Carriage, which can glide through clouds like a plane but resembles a Victorian car. Skiffs are boat-like vehicles used in oceans and rivers, while gliders, akin to motorcycles, are designed for land roads.

The world also boasts numerous academies and courses for various studies, along with advanced devices like the Spectral Communicator and many more intriguing inventions.

She shook off her thoughts about exploring this world later, focusing instead on the old healer, William, who looked at her with a kind smile.

"That's good, that's good. You should change now and try to give your husbands a better life," Healer William said, nodding approvingly.

"I will," she replied, unaware of the profound effect her words had on her two husbands, who looked at her as if seeing her for the first time.

"Okay, you can go home now and rest. Everything is fine with you, just drink less alcohol." William advised, turning to walk back into his house.

Karl and Julian scrutinized her face, searching for any signs of deceit.

"Are you serious about changing? Was that the truth?"

—To be continued...🪄