The Almighty God, surprised to see a demon praying with such humility, noticed something special in the Ghost God’s sincere devotion. Touched by this unusual show of faith, the Almighty God chose to give the Ghost God a part of his divine power. Now, the Ghost God held the bit power of creation.
He crafted his own world—a strange, crimson-hued planet that would be a reflection of his own spirit, the Red Planet.
But as he looked upon it, he found it empty and lifeless. Sensing his struggle, the Goddess of Nature decided to help. Together, they breathed the first life into this eerie world. A small plant sprouted, and soon more plants and trees followed. However, due to the planet’s unique atmosphere filled with red ectoplasmic particles, the plants and trees turned dark and twisted. In the intense summer heat, the trees would shed all their leaves, only regrowing them during the monsoon and winter seasons.
Rain brought a strange phenomenon as well; when it touched the ground, a faint sizzle arose, not exactly harmful but uncomfortable on bare skin.
The first creature with the power of movement was a crow. Initially, they had wings to soar through the sky, but the imbalance in the world created storms and fierce rain. Many crows lost their lives to these relentless downpours, and those who survived evolved—they lost their wings yet retained an unexplainable love for the sky.
The world continued to change. Life continued to grow, each species adapting to the harsh elements and strange forces. Then, a great disaster struck, plunging the planet into turmoil once more. Desperate to restore balance, the Ghost God and the Goddess of Nature joined forces once more, giving rise to two unique kinds of beings—ghosts and witches.
The witches were powerful and wise, but there were only a few of them. The ghosts were gentler and had a special gift—they could create life. Stories began to spread, saying there was a strange connection between these beings and the crows, who were believed to be their ancestors. This might be why ghosts, like birds, would lay eggs, each one symbolizing the bond between the Red Planet’s first creatures and their magical descendants.
Ruby chuckled to herself, amused at the thought that maybe that’s why so many here preferred flying vehicles and found land driving awkward. This world had a peculiar charm, one that left her both intrigued and entertained. She flipped through a few more pages, but the warm afternoon began to tug at her eyelids. She glanced at the small clock on her table—it was already 2:34 PM.
She glanced at the thick book in her hands, feeling its weight, then let out a long yawn.
Yawning deeply, she could feel the heat from outside creeping in, even though her fan was doing its best to keep the room cool.
It was quiet, almost too quiet, and perfect for an afternoon nap. Setting her book down, she stretched and settled onto her bed, the soft, cushy feel of the "cloud bed" wrapping around her as if she were sinking into a dream itself.
She yawned again, her eyes tearing up with sleepiness, and with one last sigh, she drifted off. It was her first real rest here, and the cloud bed made her feel like she was floating, letting her whole body finally relax as she fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.
Julian could hardly believe it—he finally had a place he could call home. It felt unreal, like a dream he might wake up from at any moment. For so long, his life had been a series of temporary places and constant worries, and now here he was, standing in a real house with walls that felt sturdy and a roof that wouldn’t leak. And it was all thanks to his wife, Ruby.
He’d admit, at first, he wasn’t fond of her. She had a habit of drinking too much, always lost in her own world, and it worried him. But she’d changed, surprising him in ways he never expected. She’d given up drinking, put her focus into working hard, earned enough money to buy this home.
Still, a part of him couldn’t help but feel a bit cautious. What if, in all her excitement, she forgot about the debt? As her husband, he knew he’d have to remind her.
"Let’s go see our room," Karl said, tugging Julian by the arm. Julian followed with a smile, taking in the sight of the simple yet cozy room. Their shared grave bed stood out with its soft mattress and fresh white sheets. Since Karl also preferred the grave bed, Milo had reluctantly taken the moonlit bed in the other room.
Julian glanced around, noticing a wardrobe and a basic table with drawers. They’d forgotten a dressing table, but he wasn’t too bothered. He still had the small, cracked mirror they’d used back in the slum house.
"Wow! Julian’s here—Brother Adi and Milo are already settled in their room," Karl said, pulling him further inside. He flopped down on the bed, sinking into its softness with a big grin. Julian joined him, feeling a rare sense of ease.
"It’s soooo soft!" Karl said, eyes wide with excitement.
Julian nodded, his voice warm. "Thanks to wife."
Karl’s face turned sour. "I still can’t fully trust her... I feel like she could go back to how she was, the way she used to..." His voice grew quieter as his expression darkened, sadness welling up in his eyes.
Julian’s own gaze softened as he felt a sting of sadness. "Don’t remind me," he said, his eyes slightly red. "But I really believe she’s changed. She deserves a second chance, Brother Karl."
Karl didn’t respond, but Julian understood. After all, Karl had been through more than most, and trust was hard for him, especially after being sold by his own family. Julian knew it would take time, but he hoped this new start might help them all heal.
—To be continued...🪄