The Orphans

Ethan sighed as he walked through the bustling streets of Greystone, trying once again to find his way. After the ordeal with the thugs, all he wanted was a place to rest. Staying at Kaelar's tower felt strange without him there, and the idea of finding a nice, quiet inn seemed perfect—if only he could figure out where to go.

Luckily, as he wandered through the city, he spotted a familiar face: Jak, the sharp-eyed boy who had shown him around before. Ethan waved him down, and Jak jogged over, grinning.

"Lost again, huh?" Jak teased, clearly used to Ethan's frequent directional mishaps.

"Yeah, seems like it," Ethan admitted with a small laugh. "I'm looking for a place to stay. You wouldn't happen to know a good, cheap inn, would you?"

Jak's grin widened. "You're in luck. I live and work at an inn that's real cheap. I can take you there."

Ethan nodded in relief. "That'd be great. Lead the way."

They walked together through the winding streets, and soon enough, they arrived at the inn Jak had mentioned. It was a modest building, not too run down, but clearly not in the nicest part of town. As they entered, the atmosphere inside felt off—there was a tense undercurrent to the place.

Ethan's eyes caught sight of the children, several of them moving about, cleaning or tending to guests. And then he noticed the inn's guardian, a harsh-looking woman who seemed to bark orders at the kids. As she raised her hand to one of the children, about to strike, she noticed Ethan standing at the entrance. In an instant, her demeanor changed, her face softening into a syrupy smile, clearly hoping to impress a potential paying customer.

"Welcome, sir!" she cooed, her voice suddenly sweet. "What can I do for you today?"

Then Ethan noticed a familiar face, his eyes darted to the girl from earlier—the one who had led him into the trap. She stood in the corner, looking down at her feet, a bit guilty, but Ethan understood. She was just a kid trying to survive, and it didn't seem like she had much of a choice. He let it go, feeling sorry for her.

"I'll need a room," Ethan said, keeping his tone neutral. "One bed."

The woman's smile faltered for a second, replaced by a sinister smirk, though it was brief, disappearing as quickly as it came. "Of course!" she said sweetly. "But since you've got two people," she glanced at Greg, "I'll have to charge you extra."

Ethan blinked, surprised. "Greg's a golem. He doesn't need to sleep."

The woman's expression didn't change. "It doesn't matter. You've got two people. It'll be extra."

Ethan stared at her, feeling the frustration rise again. What rubbish. He sighed, knowing it was pointless to argue. He reached into his pouch and threw down all the copper coins he had, hoping it would be enough.

But the woman shook her head, still smiling. "No, no. That won't do. One silver coin."

Ethan's jaw clenched. What?! This was supposed to be the cheapest inn in the city, and now she was squeezing him for more. Still, he held back the retort that was burning at the back of his throat. He didn't want to cause more trouble, especially not with Jak and the kids around.

With a frustrated sigh, he reached into his pouch and placed a silver coin on the counter.

The woman's smile widened as she took the coin and handed him a key. "Enjoy your stay."

Ethan, shaking his head, took the key and walked toward the stairs, Greg following silently behind him. As they climbed the stairs and found their room, Ethan muttered under his breath, "Cheapest inn my butt."

Once inside the small, cramped room, Ethan sat on the bed, still feeling a little annoyed by the whole situation. He glanced at Greg, who stood silently in the corner.

"At least it's somewhere to sleep," Ethan muttered, lying back on the bed and staring at the ceiling. "But tomorrow, we're finding a better place."

---

Ethan couldn't help but grin to himself as he lay on the bed. The frustration from earlier quickly faded as an idea sparked in his mind. He sat up, glancing at his pouch and the missing silver coin he'd just handed over. But then, his smile turned cheeky. He had mana, after all, and with it, the power to create.

He focused, summoning the energy inside him. With a bit of concentration, he shaped the mana into a small, solid silver coin, the edges smooth and gleaming just like the real thing. It spun in the air for a moment before landing in his palm, cold and tangible.

"Infinite money," he muttered with a quiet laugh. "Muhahaha." The idea of being able to create wealth at will was too amusing. No more worrying about being overcharged at inns or cheated by merchants. He could just make whatever he needed.

Pocketing the newly created silver coin, Ethan leaned back with a satisfied smile. "Guess I didn't really lose anything after all," he said, glancing over at Greg, who, as usual, remained unmoved.

With that little trick up his sleeve, Ethan felt like the world had just become a lot more manageable. He closed his eyes, ready to finally rest, knowing that he had just outwitted the system. Tomorrow could bring more challenges, but at least money wouldn't be one of them anymore.

The next morning, Ethan woke up extra early, feeling more energized than ever, his mind set on one thing—teaching that rotten innkeeper a lesson. He spent the first hour of his day quietly creating a bunch of silver coins, forming them one by one with his mana, filling his pouch slowly but steadily. With each new coin, a grin spread wider across his face. Today was going to be fun.

After he had enough, Ethan made his way downstairs, the innkeeper spotting him immediately. She smiled her sickeningly sweet smile and waved, probably hoping to wring even more money out of him. But this time, Ethan didn't even acknowledge her. Instead, he walked right past her and straight up to Jak.

"Jak, gather the kids," Ethan said, his voice low but filled with purpose. "We're going on a feast, and it's all on me."

Jak's eyes lit up, clearly excited by the idea of a grand meal. "Seriously? That's awesome!" he shouted, running off to round up the other children. Ethan watched him go, his smile returning as the innkeeper's expression slowly turned from confusion to horror.

The children—six in total, including the girl who had tricked Ethan the day before—came rushing in, all of them eager and smiling. But before they could head out, the innkeeper stepped forward, her face red with fury.

"You can't just take them!" she shouted, her voice trembling with rage. "I'm their guardian, not you! You have no right to—"

Ethan's eyes narrowed, and he didn't even let her finish. "Shut up," he said, his voice cold. And then, Greg stepped forward, towering over the woman, his stone form casting a large shadow over her. The innkeeper's eyes widened, and she visibly shrank back, her mouth clamping shut in fear.

"These kids deserve a break from you," Ethan added calmly. "So stay out of it."

The innkeeper, terrified by the sight of Greg looming over her, couldn't find the words to argue. She stepped back, shaking slightly as the children, emboldened by Ethan's defiance, smiled and gathered around him.

With the innkeeper effectively cowed, Ethan led the kids out of the inn and into the streets of Greystone. The mood was light, the children excited and chatting eagerly about the feast. After walking for a while, they arrived at a decent restaurant, one with warm lights and the smell of fresh food drifting through the air.

As they all sat down, Ethan smiled at the group, watching their eyes widen at the menu.

"Order whatever you want," Ethan said, sitting back and placing his coin pouch on the table with a grin. "It's all on me."

The kids looked at each other in disbelief, smiles spreading across their faces. As they began excitedly placing their orders, Ethan quietly started creating more coins in his hand, slipping them into the pouch. It was a slow process, but the restaurant was patient, and he had plenty of time.

With each meal that arrived, the kids' faces lit up, and Ethan couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. He'd given them a day they would remember—a break from the harshness of their everyday lives. And, at the same time, he had made sure that innkeeper understood one thing: she wasn't in control anymore.

As the food kept coming and the laughter filled the restaurant, Ethan leaned back in his chair, creating another coin with a sly smile.

As Ethan sat at the table, surrounded by the cheerful chatter of the kids, the girl who had tricked him earlier quietly slid into the seat beside him. Her eyes were downcast, and she seemed nervous, as if she had been carrying the weight of guilt since that day.

"I… I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I shouldn't have trusted those men. I didn't know what they were going to do."

Ethan turned to her, seeing the genuine regret in her eyes. His heart softened. Without hesitation, he smiled and gently patted her head. "It's okay, really," he said, his voice calm and kind. "There's no need to apologize. You were just trying to survive."

The girl's lip quivered, but she managed a small, grateful smile through her tears. Ethan reached into his pouch and pulled out a silver coin, pressing it gently into her hand. "Here," he said, "take this. You shouldn't have to go through that again."

Tears welled up in her eyes, but Ethan wiped them away with his sleeve, his smile never fading. "Sometimes money doesn't bring happiness," he said softly, "but without it… it can ruin someone." The girl nodded, clutching the coin tightly as if it were the most precious thing in the world.

On the other side of the table, Ethan noticed something that made him chuckle. The children were gathered around Greg, their wide eyes fixed on the golem as they chattered away, trying to get him to talk. Greg, of course, remained silent, his stony form towering over them, but there was something different about him today. He seemed to be paying attention, his usually blank expression almost… softer.

And then Ethan felt it—a familiar, comforting warmth. The link between him and Greg, the one he had always sensed but hadn't felt in a while, pulsed gently in the back of his mind. It was faint, but unmistakable. Greg felt... happy.

Ethan's smile widened, a sense of quiet joy filling him. Even if Greg couldn't speak, the bond between them was strong. He could feel the contentment radiating from the golem, and it filled him with a deep sense of satisfaction.

Leaning back in his chair, Ethan watched the kids laugh and eat, feeling more at peace than he had in a long time. He didn't need magic or power in this moment—just the simple happiness of knowing he had made someone else's day a little better.

With a final glance at Greg, Ethan smiled to himself and continued eating, content in the knowledge that today had been a small victory in more ways than one.