CHAPTER 396: CHAPTER 396 FIRST DAY ON SET

Few weeks later...

"I’m not scared!" Karl huffed, tugging at the hem of his soft yellow robe with deep square pockets. The robe was cheerful—bright like sunshine—and it suited him far too well. His cheeks were a little flushed, but he stood tall, puffing his chest with pride. "Why would I be scared? I’m brave!"

Ruby raised a brow and tilted her head slightly, eyes trailing down to his legs. "Ah, I see. So your knees are just dancing out of happiness, right?" she teased, watching his legs tremble ever so slightly.

Karl glanced down and immediately straightened them. "They’re... not trembling! They’re warming up!" he said quickly, then muttered under his breath, "I’m just not used to wind here."

Ruby chuckled softly, her red eyes full of amusement as she adjusted the soft silk scarf tied around her neck. The sun was gentle today, casting a calm glow over the busy Soulstream set. It was Karl’s very first official day.

Of course, everything important—like contracts and company discussions—had already been taken care of. Ruby had handled it all, calmly sitting through hours of negotiation and agreement drafts while Karl sat beside her, wide-eyed and confused, barely understanding half the words. All he had done was sign where she pointed. And to her surprise, his signature was unexpectedly elegant.

She had blinked when she saw it.

"You practiced?" she had asked.

"Three weeks," Karl had whispered proudly, "with glitter pen."

Now, as they stood near the reception tent of the Soulstream set, Ruby smoothed out the collar of his robe and gave him a nod. "This is it. You’re officially part of this world now."

Karl grinned nervously, rocking on his heels. "Do I look like a star?"

"You look like a scared little beast in star pajamas."

Before he could pout back, a tall witch approached. She had a clean, straight-cut gray robe, black boots, and a clipboard clutched in one hand like a sacred weapon. Her glasses were perfectly aligned, and her expression said she hadn’t smiled in years—at least not at work.

"Karl," Ruby said, stepping aside slightly. "This is your manager."

The witch stopped in front of them and gave a short nod. "I’m Miranda Holloway. You may call me Manager Miranda," she said crisply. "I’ll be in charge of your scheduling, your rehearsals, your costume fittings, your diet monitoring, your media behavior, and of course, preventing any unnecessary drama outside the screen."

Karl blinked. Then blinked again.

"Uhh..." he finally extended his hand. "Hi! I’m Karl. I... brought snacks. Is that allowed?"

Ruby slapped her forehead softly.

Miranda didn’t blink. She simply noted something on her clipboard. "We’ll discuss dietary restrictions later."

Just then, another figure approached—a short witch with round glasses and frizzy hair tied into a messy bun. She was holding a small satchel, two scrolls, and a nervous smile.

"I’m Penny," she said, bowing slightly. "I’ll be your assistant. I’m still learning but I’ll try to be helpful!"

Karl looked at her, then leaned toward Ruby and whispered, "Can I call her Tiny Penny?"

"No," Ruby muttered.

"I heard that," Penny said, pushing up her glasses and smiling anyway.

"Well!" Karl clapped his hands. "Then let’s make this the best drama ever! I want people to cry, laugh, and faint at my acting!"

Manager Miranda raised a brow. "You’re playing a supporting role with ten lines."

"Then I’ll make those ten lines unforgettable!" Karl declared proudly.

Ruby sighed but couldn’t hide her smile. "Good luck, Miranda. I’ll pray for your patience."

"I’ve already doubled my stress tea dosage," Miranda replied dryly, flipping to the next page on her clipboard.

As they walked toward the dressing area, Karl threw a wink at Ruby and gave her a thumbs-up.

"I’m gonna be the most famous ten-line actor ever!"

She just shook her head, laughing softly to herself. And deep down, she believed he just might be.

After leaving Karl with his manager and giving him a few last-minute reminders he immediately forgot, Ruby sighed and adjusted her robe collar before turning toward the east section of the Soulstream studio. That area was dedicated to editors and behind-the-scenes staff, and she had to check the set blueprint and meet a few of the production heads regarding upcoming visual effects.

But just as she rounded the corner of the hallway—she felt her shoulder hit someone else’s.

She immediately stepped back, her red eyes narrowing. "Can’t you see while walking?" she muttered, brushing her sleeve where he had touched her.

The ghost who had bumped into her blinked once, then gave a slow, amused smirk. "Well, well," he said, his golden lashes lifting over deep blue eyes that glinted with recognition. "Hey... I know you."

Ruby stared at him for a second, lips slightly parted. And then her eyes narrowed further as her memory clicked.

Kaelan.

His blond hair was messy in that intentional way, like a rebellious prince who never followed orders but always got the spotlight anyway. His jawline was sharp, posture relaxed yet annoyingly confident, and his golden earrings glinted under the studio lights as he tilted his head, clearly enjoying her reaction.

"I didn’t expect to see you here," he said, flashing a grin that belonged on magazine covers. "What are you doing in my kingdom?"

Ruby crossed her arms, her lips curling slightly into a smug smirk. "Your kingdom? Wow. Didn’t know the Soulstream building was for sale."

Kaelan chuckled lowly, like he didn’t mind being challenged. "Feisty. So? What are you doing here? Visiting someone?" He leaned closer, eyes dancing with curiosity. "Or lost, maybe?"

"I’m the lead editor here," Ruby replied smoothly, taking a calm step back to reclaim her space, her voice as graceful as ever. "I came to discuss a few key scenes. You know, the ones people actually want to watch."

"And I’m the lead actor," Kaelan said with a dramatic flourish, flipping his golden hair and placing one hand on his chest like a stage prince accepting flowers after a grand performance. "Looks like fate just pulled us into the same orbit again."

Ruby arched a brow, unimpressed. "I didn’t know narcissism was part of your contract."

Kaelan laughed. "It comes naturally. I like to stay in character."

To be continued... 🪄