27 - Street Dwellers
The longer Valrion stared at the group of people, the more the cheerful market sounds faded into the background. Several were visibly ill, their faces pale and drawn with exhaustion. Others curled asleep on the uncovered ground while flies buzzed around their feet. The sight of a frail child shivering and clutching a tattered blanket made his chest tighten.
“You know, V,” Sergius sidled up to Valrion, following his gaze. “Even I feel bad that I just stand here and watch all this. Aren’t we so fortunate?”
Valrion glanced up at Sergius, his eyes narrowing with concern. “Shouldn’t we help them?”
Sergius stepped back toward Valrion’s mother, who was still happily chatting with a scarf seller nearby, unaware of her son’s observation. He reached out and gently poked her arm, drawing her attention.
“Those street dwellers,” he said, nodding in the direction of the group. “Valrion wants to know if we can give them some food.”
She turned to face the huddled figures, her expression shifting from one of contentment to a more pensive one before she stared at Valrion. “What is it, my son?”
Valrion pointed toward the group, his small finger as straight as it could be. “Can we give food to them?”
His mother’s eyes grew tender. She should have known how genuine his wish was. She glanced back at the group, clearly contemplating the request. Valrion watched as her gaze lingered on those people, and the tension in her brow revealed a hesitation. Her fingers twitched at her side as if caught between reaching out and holding back.
Why did she even need to think this over?
This was the first time he felt a spark of anger toward his mother. He studied her, searching for signs of compassion, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that she was trapped in the same mindset held by many Eruvians: “If you want to eat, you have to work.”
He understood the reasons why some struggled to find jobs—whether due to physical or mental illness, family responsibilities, or the harsh realities of life that seemed to punish so many. This truth had become clear to him during his time in Heaven, where he witnessed the sufferings of humans and found himself unable to intervene significantly.
One thing he couldn’t grasp about mortals was their tendency to find reasons to dislike one another. While he recognized that providing a house might be too much to ask, why couldn’t they spare a small amount of coins, just enough to buy some food for the day, especially those who were wealthy? Even back then, he had tried to help by creating some coins, just enough to buy the poor food for the day.
“Please, Mama?” Valrion insisted, refusing to give up.
After a moment’s pause, his mother heaved a sigh. “All right. Let’s see what we can do.”
“Thank you,” Valrion said, smiling, though he couldn’t let go of his disappointment. Was his mother actually one of those people who didn’t care about others far beneath her? He had only seen how she acted around the workers at the house, so he might need to keep watch over her from now on.
With Sergius trailing closely behind, Valrion’s mother led him back to the previous area where four bakers had set up their stalls, each vendor begging for attention beside and across from the other. She stopped by one stall in particular, where an older baker stood with a warm, inviting demeanor, overseeing his array of baked creations.
A rustic wooden table displayed crusty rolls neatly arranged in woven baskets, while sweet pastries, glistening with honey and dusted with sugar, were temptingly arranged on a cloth-covered tray. Valrion’s eyes lit up with delight at the sight, and the rich aroma caused him to drool slightly, but he quickly reminded himself of the task at hand.
“What do you want to get for them?” his mother asked, her gaze sweeping over the baked goods. Valrion had assumed she knew this particular seller, but it seemed that was not the case.
“Anything is fine,” he replied. He didn’t know the price of any of these breads, and he understood if his mother would opt for the cheapest option. What truly mattered to him was that the hungry were fed.
His mother pondered for a moment before deciding, “Okay. Sir, I’ll have some rye buns.”
She remained where she was as the baker offered her a wide, toothy smile. With careful hands, he picked a few of the golden-brown rye buns and placed them into a paper bag. Meanwhile, she reached into the pouch at her waist and pulled out some coins. After the baker set the bag on the table before her, he accepted the payment, the coins disappearing into the pocket of his flour-dusted apron.
“Thank you, madam. Please enjoy,” the baker said.
“Can I carry them?” Valrion asked, raising his hands eagerly. His mother glanced at him for a second before handing him the bag. Immediately, he felt a comforting warmth radiate against his palms.
As they made their way back, excitement overwhelmed Valrion so much that he almost skipped steps along the way. Thankfully, he quickly reminded himself to be careful—the last thing he wanted was to trip and send the buns tumbling to the ground, where they would be dirty and unfit for sharing with humans.
If everyone in the market knew he was actually the oldest among them, they might have made fun of how his heart brimmed with joy at the mere thought of helping others. He wouldn’t mind because he knew he wouldn’t have cared much about their opinions.
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As the distance between him and the impoverished group lessened, Valrion broke into a run, skidding to a stop before them. He thrust the bag of rye bans toward the man seated at the front. “Do you want some food?”
Eyes filled with curiosity and hope turned toward him, their expressions brightening the somber atmosphere. Even those sleeping got woken up, jaws dropping at the unexpected offer. The man’s hands trembled as he accepted the gift and set it down among them.
The children sitting at the back leaped forward, their faces radiating pure gratitude. Loud “thank yous” and other grateful exclamations echoed through the air as they reached inside the bag, eating the bread while sharing it with the others in perfect harmony.
Contentment spread through Valrion’s chest as he witnessed the glimmer in their eyes. Something deeper than mere joy stirred within him—a knowing that he did something kind and right. Yet even as he basked in the warmth of giving, an unsettling thought crept in when he looked around the place: how could this bustling market, overflowing with abundance, leave not a single food for these people?
Glancing at his mother, he noticed how she looked like she didn’t want to be here any longer. A troubling question arose—were these poor individuals actually despised by society? Even so, he wouldn’t understand that since even the most evil souls still deserved life’s necessities, such as daily meals and decent shelter.
“Let’s go, Valrion,” his mother called soon after.
Valrion sighed. Just as he was about to leave, a familiar voice emerged from the shadows of the market stalls. “It’s been a while. How are you all?”
Stepping into the view was a hunched elderly man, his threadbare coat hanging loosely over a frail frame. Deep lines carved into his face and his sunken eyes made Valrion’s heart sink. It took him seconds to recognize the man—the very one who had tried scamming his family years ago. It felt as if it was just yesterday when that happened.
The elderly man halted after he was just a few feet away from Valrion and his family, his eyes reflecting longing and nostalgia. Valrion expected Sergius to move in front of him, to shield him from the man, but the guard remained still. Valrion’s mother, however, seemed tense and guarded.
“I didn’t expect to see you all here,” the elderly man greeted, his gaze settling on Valrion. “You’ve grown so much. You look just like your father.”
An awkward silence enveloped them, heavy with unvoiced thoughts. Sergius and Valrion’s mother exchanged quick glances as if urging one another to speak, but neither could find proper words. Sergius even tipped his chin, clearly encouraging his mother to do something about the situation.
“How—how are you, Sir?” Valrion’s mother finally asked.
“Just about to buy some groceries for dinner. How are you all?” the elderly man replied.
Another uncomfortable pause stretched between them. Valrion’s mother and Sergius looked at each other again, and Valrion considered helping by randomly talking about some toys or something.
“I—” the elderly man began, lowering his gaze. “I’m still sorry for what I did that time. I was desperate for my grandson’s medicine and didn’t know what else to do. It’s not like we have a radiance wielder around to help us for free.”
Valrion’s mother’s eyes fluttered before her expression softened. She smiled gently toward the man, her hands coming together in a clasp as if seeking balance amid the uncertainty. Valrion watched them, learning a reason he had never known and wondering if he should consider the man’s information regarding the radiance eidolon. Elemental users weren’t obliged to help anyone who asked them, so this might not mean anything.
“It’s in the past,” Valrion’s mother cooed. “We all make mistakes, especially when we’re left with no other options.”
The elderly man curled his lips. “I understand, but—”
“You also sent us those berries, and I really appreciated that,” she added.
Those berries that you burned? Valrion thought.
Gratitude was evident on the man’s face—his expression mellowed, and he struggled to suppress a grin. The air grew heavy with another silence, but this time, the man offered a small, respectful nod toward Valrion’s mother, a silent acknowledgment of their shared history.
“Well, then, I will take my leave now,” he said, his voice steady as if he were closing a chapter of an old book. Without waiting for a response, he walked away, blending into the ever-shifting sea of people.
It took a moment for Sergius to shake off the tension by laughing aloud. Valrion’s mother couldn’t help but join in, but her laughter was more gentle than the man’s.
“Wow, I didn’t expect that at all! I haven’t seen him in a while!” Sergius stated.
“Well, shall we just move on?” she suggested. Valrion looked at the people around him who had almost finished their food before nodding toward his mother, ready to explore more of the market’s offerings.
His gaze landed on a candy stall where a man around Sergius’ age worked with precision. His hands moved swiftly as he pulled and twisted golden strands of heated sugar hanging on an iron hook. Steam rose from the copper pot beside him, sending out a sweet, calming scent. Valrion might finally ask his mother to buy him some packs to bring home and share with the others.
“Wait a moment!” Valrion’s mother gasped even before they took another step forward. Her hand instinctively reached for her side. The smile faded from her lips as panic crossed her face.
Sergius frowned. “What’s—”
“My pouch! It’s gone!”
Valrion’s stomach dropped as Sergius let out a startled “huh”. Could this really be happening? It didn’t seem like his mother was just joking around as her eyes darted around, trying to find the culprit. The whole thing felt like a scene torn straight from the pages of a fantastical tale, not something he ever imagined experiencing in his own life.
Observing his surroundings, his gaze locked onto a little girl among the people he had just helped. She clutched a rye bun tightly in one hand. Her round eyes jumped nervously between Valrion and the scenery behind him. Her lips parted as though she wanted to say more but didn’t know how to.
Soon, she pointed toward the far end of the market with her other hand—the area where they had come from after buying bread. A child dressed like them was running that way, quickly disappearing into the mass of people.
Valrion tugged at Sergius’ sleeve and gestured toward the girl. Understanding dawned on Sergius’ face as he followed Valrion’s indication. With a click of his tongue, he sprinted off in that direction, pushing through the crowd.
[Limited Quest unlocked: Retrieve Mother’s Lost Purse]
[Time left: 08:00]
Valrion’s jaw tightened in disbelief as the Handbook materialized before him. A limited quest?
The timer ticked down by three seconds before the display vanished, leaving him breathless. He had never encountered anything like this before, and that was precisely why it urged him to act. Who knew what kind of reward would be given to him? The word “limited” wasn’t there for no reason.
Without a second thought, he bolted forward, driven by an instinctive gut feeling before doubts could intervene.
“Valrion?” His mother’s voice cut through the chaos. “Hey!”
“Wait there, Mama!” he shouted over his shoulder, glancing back just long enough to see the worry on her face. He shifted his attention to Sergius, who was moving further away.