Orphanage

The city square slowly emptied.

The nobles returned to their carriages, murmuring incomprehensibly. Commoners drifted back to their stalls and courtyards, their conversations trailing off. But one thing was clear, the happy atmosphere from before was no longer there.

Only the trio remained beside the cart, along with a small group of children — eight of them in all, wide-eyed and smudged with dust, still gathered near the edge of the plaza.

The boy who had been pushed — now revealed to be the eldest among them — stood holding his younger sister's hand. His other hand gripped a matcha bun, which Lila had given her like it was the most precious thing he'd ever owned.

Riku quietly surveyed the tray.

"Still about fifty left," he said, more to himself than anyone else.

Lila tilted her head. "Trust the church to foul a good mood. Anyways, we can always take them back."

Riku, however, looked toward the kids.

"Nah. I think I know what to do with them."

He stepped out from behind the cart and knelt down near the children.

"Hey," he said, offering a gentle smile, "I've got a problem. I've got too many buns and no one left to eat them."

The youngest boy, who couldn't have been older than four, blinked up at him. "So, what is the problem?"

Riku grinned. "It is a serious one."

He held out a soft, warm mochi. "Think you can help me out by eating some of it?"

The girl with the braid giggled, nodding eagerly.

And just like that, the tension from earlier melted.

The children huddled around the cart, taking careful bites, some licking their fingers, others humming in delight. Even the quietest of them broke into grins as the rich flavors melted on their tongues.

"This is the best thing I've ever eaten," one of them whispered with wide eyes.

"No, this one's the best!" argued another, clutching his bun like a treasure.

Riku leaned against the cart, watching them fondly. Lysaria joined him, arms crossed, but her face softening.

"I think they'll remember this longer than the nobles will," she said quietly.

"Good," Riku replied.

Lila, meanwhile, had knelt beside the eldest boy — the one who'd been pushed earlier.

"So… where do you all stay?" she asked gently.

The boy hesitated, glancing at the others. "We live at the old chapel… up near the north ridge. It's an orphanage, sorta. Lady Alia takes care of us."

Lysaria turned toward them. "Is it under the care of the church?"

He nodded. "I don't know, but Lady Alia often reads to us the preachings of the Flame Matron. I really enjoy listening to her."

"That's rare," Lysaria murmured, more to herself than anyone else.

The boy went on. "She doesn't get much help. The orphanage only gets funds from the main temple once every six months. So, we have to be strong the rest of the year."

"Huh?" Lysaria was surprised. Once every six months did not seem to be the correct cycle in which money was sent to the places under the church. In fact, she was sure that it was not the case for the church in Vinotress.

Then why was it different for the orphanage?

The smallest girl held up her half-eaten bun. "Can we take the rest home for her?"

Riku smiled. "You're all going home now?"

The boy nodded. "We walked here. But it's not far."

Lila exchanged a glance with Riku. "Shall we go with them?"

Riku stretched his arms lazily. "Not like we've got another royal inspection waiting."

Lysaria chuckled. "Let's walk them back."

Soon, the cart was packed up, and the group of children were skipping along the cobbled streets with full bellies and warm hands. Behind them, a girl giggled as she walked forward with a spring in her step. Her brother, acting like the mature one, was attempting to slow her down.

Riku wheeled the cart with one hand, the other still gripping the pouch of coins they'd collected.

"Fifty buns sold," he said casually. "Roughly a hundred gold."

Lila had a slightly upset face. "We could have earned double this amount if those stupid church people hadn't shown up."

They passed a busy street corner, where a flower vendor handed a child a wilted blossom for free. A baker called out prices too high for his flat loaves, and a dog barked as they passed.

Ahead, the road curved toward the northern ridge — and the quiet silhouette of a worn chapel nestled between stone homes. Soon, they arrived at the entrance of the Orphanage.

The orphanage stood atop a slight rise, where the cobbled path narrowed and weeds crept through the cracks like quiet companions. The building itself was modest, framed in old stone and sun-faded wood, with a small spire rising from one side — a remnant of the old chapel it once was.

A faded sign above the door read, "Sanctuary of the Dawn."

Though the place bore no fresh paint or grand banners, it exuded a kind of warmth. The windows were clean, the curtains neatly mended. Small pots of wildflowers stood on the sill, though half of them looked more determined than alive.

"It looks old," Lila whispered, "but kind of cozy."

"That's usually the best kind of place," Riku said quietly.

The children ran ahead and pushed open the heavy wooden door, letting the scent of warm air and dried herbs spill out into the breeze.

Inside, the walls were lined with rows of donated books, old chairs with mismatched cushions, and a handmade prayer tapestry hung over a small wooden altar. Everything was clean. Organized. But unmistakably worn.

Footsteps echoed from within, soft and slow.

And then the caretaker of the inn appeared.

A slender woman — older than the bricks that held up the chapel, perhaps — walked into the front hall, her simple robes trailing behind her. Her back was slightly bent with age, her hair tied into a loose silver bun. But her eyes were bright, and her smile was the kind that made children feel safe before she even spoke.

"Welcome back, little ones," she said, her voice soft but rich like aged parchment. "I see you've made new friends."

The children swarmed her immediately.

"Big sis Alia, come meet big brother Riku. He gave us tasty buns!"

"And the lady too! She had tasty tea!"

"They came with us! Look!"

The woman's eyes fell on Riku and his companions, pausing at Lysaria. Her gaze briefly swept over the gold-and-amber lining of the Vestal robes.

She dipped her head respectfully.

"Greetings, nice to meet you, Lady Vestal and her companions."