Seeing Samantha's expression, I knew that she was having an internal battle within her; knowing that this conflict in her mind could go on for days, I decided to change the topic and asked, "now, where do you want to go? A one-star Inn or the streets?"
"Let's sleep on the streets. It is quieter if the right location is chosen," Samantha said, snapping out of her thoughts.
"Alright" As I followed behind her for a place to stay when we passed by the radiant church, it was then a thought came to my mind, and I asked Samantha, "By the way, if my memories serve me right, doesn't the radiant church offer free lodging?"
Turning back, Samantha looked at me with a are you stupid expression on her face and said," You are a Lich, and I am a wanted person by the church. Do you think they would allow us to stay the night?"
"Oh, right. I forgot," releasing that what I asked was indeed a nonsensical question. I kept my mouth shut as I quietly followed Samantha behind. As I walked, I looked around, and the more I looked, the more I felt strangely at peace as if there was something here calling me, whispering sweet nothings into my ears and muttering about something or someone here for me.
Despite that, I decided to ignore it as I am my own person now, not someone who answers the Lord's call and its people.
It was indeed, as Samantha had said, the better alleys and shelters had all been marked and secured by local homeless. No, even the worst of spaces had been occupied and marked. Having walked around and explored every nook and cranny of the port, I suggested sharing a room with others. After all, we are just here for the night and would not intrude on them much.
Samantha agreed as we looked for a place to crash the night. Luckily as the sun was setting, we didn't have to continue wandering anymore as a frail, malnutrition old man with six children about 7 or 8 years old welcomed us into their alley. This old man introduces himself as Old Eddie. From what I have seen, it seems that he provides food and shelter for orphans living in the streets away from human traffickers. However, since he himself does not have much money, what they eat is known as mud cookies.
Mud cookies are mud mixed with a small amount of salt from the sea and dried in the sun. It may not be much, but it still helps fills the stomach; ultimately, beggars can't be choosers.
Watching as they ate the mud cookies pains my heart; seeing such young children suffer from such living conditions as I thought back about the days I was a child. Although I did not remember much, I did not remember ever feeling hungry. The only thing I felt at that time was the happiness of a child playing in the sun and studying hard for exams.
Never did I need to learn survival skills or eat meals that were tasteless and not filling, only having to eat what the body needed and not what the body wanted.
Looking at them made me want to give them some food to eat, but I withheld myself, knowing that it could end up doing more harm than good. Feeling some movement by my side, I turned to look at Samantha, realising that she also felt bad about the situation and wanted to give them some food. Seeing that she was digging through her space pouch for food, I quickly grabbed her hand to stop it and looked her in the eye, telling her that what she is doing may end up doing more harm than good.
With a look of defiance in her eyes, she still tried to take some food out of her pouch, but my grip over her hand was too firm for her to break free, causing her to groan in frustration.
"Listen to me, if you give them food now, although it may alleviate their conditions today, what about tomorrow or the day after tomorrow? Are you going to feed them for life? Secondly, by doing so, you might incite the greed in their hearts, and who knows if the next day they decide to go around stealing food or, worse, kill each other for the food you gave? You must understand something; your intentions might be pure and good, but sometimes doing the right thing may not lead to a good outcome," I whispered softly into Samantha's ears, ensuring that the people around did not hear us.
"But- "
"Listen, if you want to help the children, go and make the mud cookies with them and eat it with them tomorrow for breakfast," I cut her off and replied.
Samantha lowered her head in thought before stopping to resist me and went over and helped them make the mud dough for tomorrow morning. Seeing her helping the children make mud cookies, I went over to help out and see if I could be of any service. With extra pairs of hands helping out, a smile appeared on the children's faces thinking about the additional cookies they could eat for breakfast tomorrow.
As the sun fully set and the lonely moonrise, the older children came back with nothing but sweat-filled clothing, clearly having just finished their work of manual labour jobs.
"Brother!"
"Sister!"
The younger ones stopped what they were doing and ran towards them, clearly didn't mind that they were dirty and urgently needed bathing. Seeing the little ones running toward the older kids, the older kids had a smile on their faces and carried them up, asking them about their day and if they had caused any trouble for Old Eddie.
With a wide smile on their face, the younger ones explained and informed the kids about their day. It was all fun and laughter until the older ones heard of our arrival and immediately looked at us with a stern and vigilant expression as if wary of our intentions.