CHAPTER 414: CHAPTER 414 GOSSIP

A week passed, and Julian still hadn’t found anyone he could truly talk to. The weight in his chest lingered, and though he smiled when his family was around, inside he felt more and more alone. Most of the days slipped by quietly, filled with him waiting at home, his thoughts circling like restless birds.

"Julian!!"

The sudden call jolted him. He looked toward the doorway and hurried over. Pulling the door open, he found Healer William standing outside, slightly hunched, his white hair falling messily around his shoulders. In his hands, he carried a woven basket brimming with fresh herbs, his breath a little uneven from the walk.

Julian quickly stepped aside to let him in. "What’s wrong, Healer?" he asked.

"Can I come in?" William asked, his voice calm but tired. His eyes softened in the way elders often looked at younger men they worried about.

Julian nodded at once. "Of course. Please come in." He guided him inside and set the basket down carefully on the table. They both sat opposite each other, the room feeling lighter now with someone in it.

William patted the basket. "Actually, I went to gather some herbs for Milo. My age slows me down, but I still managed to collect a fair amount." He paused, looking at Julian intently. "I wanted to ask if you could help make them into medicine potions. Don’t worry—I’ll tell you each step. It’s simple enough once you know it."

Julian blinked in surprise, his heart tightening at the unexpected trust. "Healer... you don’t need to worry about that! You’ve already done so much for us by going to the trouble of gathering these yourself. Let me help however I can." His voice carried a spark of eagerness he hadn’t felt in days. "Wait here—I’ll get my notebook and pen."

He dashed into the other room and returned quickly, notebook clutched in one hand and a pen in the other. He sat down again, leaning forward, ready to catch every word.

William gave him a small approving smile and began speaking slowly. "First, clean those leaves thoroughly. Wash them until the water runs clear. After that, put them in a pot and boil them gently—wait until you see a light foam rising, but don’t let it boil over. At that point, add the crushed root I placed at the bottom of the basket."

Julian scribbled the notes eagerly, his head bobbing as he repeated each step under his breath. "Clean the leaves, boil until foam, add crushed root... got it."

"Good," William said, nodding. "Then let it simmer until the color darkens, and strain it while still warm. That way the medicine keeps its strength. The ratio and the boiling point must be exact, otherwise the potion won’t work properly."

Julian looked up, his eyes shining with determination. "I got it! I’ll follow every step, Healer."

William’s smile widened, a rare warmth in his lined face. "That’s good, lad. But once you finish, bring it to me to check. Even if you follow the steps, little details matter. We’ll make sure it’s perfect before Milo uses it."

Julian nodded gratefully, closing his notebook and hugging it close. For the first time in many days, he felt like he was trusted with something important, something that mattered. "Thank you, Healer. Really. I’ll do it right."

And William, seeing the flicker of purpose in his eyes, only patted his shoulder and said, "That’s all I ask."

***

Meanwhile, Ruby held her phone between her shoulder and ear as she stood near the construction site, checking the workers setting beams in place. On the other end, Karl’s lively voice spilled into her ear, carrying the same energy he always had.

"And you know—listen to this, wife—one of the witches from set, she was actually sneaking behind her husbands back! And guess what? Her first husband caught her red-handed. Can you believe it?" Karl’s voice rose, dramatic and animated, like he was narrating some play.

Ruby chuckled softly, shaking her head as she flipped through her blueprint. "Karl... you and your gossip. You’ve only been on set for months, and you already know everyone’s secrets."

"Well, it’s not my fault, wife!" he protested quickly. "Some of the backstage staff really like me. They just tell me things, and I can’t keep them in—so of course I have to tell you!" His voice had a hint of pride, like it was some special achievement.

Ruby’s lips curved as she watched a worker carefully hammering in place. "And what will I do with all this gossip, hmm?" she teased.

Karl gasped dramatically. "Wife! Gossip is food for the soul! You don’t know? It’s valuable entertainment!"

That made Ruby laugh again, the sound light against the busy hum of construction around her.

Then his tone softened, curiosity sneaking into his voice. "Wife... how’s your work going?"

Ruby’s gaze swept over the half-built structure, her chest swelling with quiet pride. "Great! I’m looking through the construction work right now," she replied warmly, her smile carrying into her voice.

Karl sighed happily on the other end. "That’s my wife. Always amazing. One day, when it’s finished, I’ll brag to everyone on set that my wife built it all."

Ruby’s heart softened, her smile lingering as she whispered, "I’ll be waiting for that."

And just like that, the tiredness of her day felt lighter, the sound of Karl’s voice filling her with a comfort no construction noise could drown out.

"Wife, I am sorry to say I have to go for costume fitting... woooo, I know you’re going to miss my talk," Karl teased dramatically, making Ruby roll her eyes even as a small smile tugged at her lips. "But don’t worry, let me pass the phone to Kai."

Ruby blinked, caught off guard. Her heart skipped as she straightened slightly, suddenly aware of the dust on her robe and the workers’ chatter behind her.

"Hello," she said, her tone softer, uncertain.

"Hey," came the reply, that familiar voice smooth and confident, carrying none of Karl’s playfulness.

Ruby’s fingers tightened slightly on the phone. "How is your work going on?" she asked quickly, trying to push away the awkwardness.

To be continued... 🪄