Preparations and Shadows Looming

As the morning light filtered through the broken slats of their shelter, the children of the slum gathered in a loose circle. Their eyes, still groggy from sleep, focused on Seraphina as she stood up, clasping her hands together.

"Now that we have money, we need to prepare for food and clothing," she announced.

Excited murmurs rippled through the group, but Seraphina's gaze landed on Luke. "Since you were the one who made the tool, you should have the silver we earned from selling it."

Luke's sharp eyes narrowed as he turned to Seraphina. His face twisted into an expression that all but called her crazy. "If I wanted it, I would have asked! You idiot," he scoffed, crossing his arms.

Seraphina blinked at his reaction. She had expected resistance, but not outright annoyance.

Luke huffed, looking away. "You think I'd take it for myself while everyone else is struggling? We're family. I'd rather see it used for all of us."

The children around them nodded in agreement, even Lucian gave a slight approving nod.

"I didn't mean it like that…" Seraphina scratched her cheek, suddenly feeling a little awkward. "It's just that your tool impressed the guild master, so I thought you deserved a reward."

Luke's expression softened slightly, though he still rolled his eyes. "If you really want to reward me, get me some precious metals. I need better materials to work with."

Seraphina's lips curled into a grin. "Deal."

She then turned to Jonny. "What about you? You helped me a lot. What do you want as a reward?"

Jonny hesitated, his small fingers twisting together. His eyes sparkled with excitement, but there was a hint of nervousness in them. "A book… Any book is fine."

Seraphina smiled. "Done."

With the rewards settled, she shifted gears. "Now, let's move on to the real problem—food."

She reached into her pouch and pulled out four silver coins, placing them in Rose's hand. "You'll handle the food. I trust your knowledge to get the best deal."

Rose beamed with pride, puffing out her chest. "Of course! Count on me."

Seraphina smirked. "Luke, go with her. She'll need help carrying everything."

Luke groaned but didn't refuse. "Fine."

With their first task set, Seraphina turned her attention to the rest of the group. "We need to make sure everyone has warm clothes before winter gets worse."

She stepped back and examined the children, motioning for them to line up by height. Ralph and seven others were around the same size, while Rose, Luke, and Seraphina stood at a similar height. The twins were grouped together, and Lucian stood a little taller than them.

She took a mental note of the measurements before glancing at Lucian. "I'll handle the shopping this time. You stay here and keep watch."

Lucian didn't argue. He simply gave her a nod, his sharp eyes already scanning the slums as if he sensed something amiss.

Inside the guild, Seraphina approached Chloe and handed her the merchant card. "I need to withdraw two gold coins."

Chloe raised an eyebrow. "That's quite a bit. What do you need it for?"

Seraphina hesitated before answering. "Clothes." She kept it vague on purpose. The fewer people who knew, the better.

Chloe frowned slightly. "You're carrying a lot of money around. That could get you in trouble." She paused, then sighed. "Come on, I'll help you find a shop. That way, you won't have any problems."

Seraphina considered her offer. It was true that a child shopping for expensive goods might draw unwanted attention. Having Chloe with her would make things easier.

"…Alright. Let's go."

The shop they entered was nothing extravagant, but it was decent—better than what Seraphina expected. The shopkeeper greeted Chloe warmly, clearly familiar with her.

Seraphina wasted no time. "I need warm clothes. Two sets per child."

Chloe's eyes widened. "That much?" she whispered.

Seraphina nodded. "There are a lot of us."

She selected thick woolen sweaters and coats—nothing fancy, just warm and durable. Each child would get something practical, something they could move in easily.

When the shopkeeper tallied the price, the total came to 95 silver coins.

Seraphina narrowed her eyes. "I'm buying in bulk. You're really not going to give me a discount?"

The shopkeeper hesitated, then forced a polite smile. "For such a large order, I can offer a two-silver discount."

Seraphina's lips twitched. "Make it 90 silver, or I walk out."

The man sighed dramatically, but he gave in. "Fine, fine. 90 silver it is."

Satisfied, Seraphina and Chloe gathered the clothes. Before leaving, Seraphina spotted a small pile of books and picked one for Jonny.

"20 silver!?" she blurted out.

Chloe chuckled. "Paper is a rare commodity. Books are expensive."

Seraphina sighed but bought it anyway.

As she was about to leave, something sparkly caught her eye. A few small metallic stones sat in a basket near the counter.

She picked one up. "What is this?"

The shopkeeper shrugged. "Some kind of mineral. Not worth much—five coppers each."

Seraphina's mind clicked. This might be useful for Luke. She bought ten of them for five silvers and tucked them into her pouch.

Chloe suddenly glanced at the large clock on the wall. "I need to get back to the guild. Urgent matters."

Seraphina nodded, watching Chloe rush off.

With her arms full, she turned toward the slum—only to see Lucian standing there, waiting.

He silently picked up the bags and gestured for her to follow.

Seraphina smiled. She didn't need words to understand the gesture.

By the time they returned, Rose and Luke had already come back with enough food to last a month. The children cheered as they saw the supplies.

For the first time in a long while, they had enough to eat.

But as Seraphina set down the bags, a sudden chill crept up her spine, an unshakable sense of unease settling over her. She glanced around, but the streets were empty, the slum as quiet as ever. Just paranoia, she told herself.

Unbeknownst to her, Lucian's sharp eyes flickered toward the shadows. A figure lingered there, watching. He saw them—but said nothing.

Deep in the Slums

A hunched figure moved through the winding alleys until he reached a lavish tent—one that looked completely out of place in the filth and squalor.

Inside, a fat man draped in expensive fabrics lounged on a well-furnished bed, biting into a rare fruit.

The figure knelt before him. "Boss, I found those brats. They've got food and clothes."

The fat man's chewing slowed. His dark, beady eyes gleamed with greed.

"…What?"

"I saw it myself. They must've gotten money from somewhere."

A slow, sinister grin spread across the gang leader's face.

"Hah… Looks like it's time we teach those kids a lesson."

He tossed the fruit aside, his fingers tapping against his knee.

"Round up the boys. We're paying them a visit."