Lyra's heart felt lighter than it had in a long time as she walked through the winding alleys toward the small marketplace. The two coppers rested in her palm, cool and weighty—a reward for her efforts. It wasn't much, but as she looked at the coins, Lyra felt a glimmer of hope. She knew exactly what she was going to do with them.
The marketplace was starting to fill with morning shoppers and vendors. Stalls lined the cobbled streets, their tables overflowing with fruits, vegetables, bread, and trinkets. Lyra's stomach tightened as the smells of freshly baked goods wafted through the air. She felt a pang of hunger but quickly pushed it aside. This isn't for me, she reminded herself.
Keeping her gaze low and moving with purpose, she searched for a stall with something she could afford. Her eyes eventually fell on a cart stacked with small, golden-brown rolls—slightly misshapen but warm and fragrant. The vendor, an older woman with a kind smile, glanced over as Lyra approached.
"What can I get for you, sweetheart?" the woman asked.
Lyra hesitated, the coppers warm in her fist. She almost felt self-conscious handing over her small earnings, but she straightened, her mind resolute. "I'd like two rolls, please," she said, trying to sound confident.
The vendor's smile softened as she took the coins. She carefully selected two of the warmest rolls from the top of the pile, wrapping them in a piece of cloth before handing them over. "Here you go. Enjoy," she said, her eyes warm.
Lyra nodded, clutching the rolls close to her chest. "Thank you," she murmured, before turning and weaving her way back through the crowd, heading toward the hidden nook under the archway where Emmy was still sleeping.
When she arrived, Emmy was just beginning to stir. Her little sister stretched, rubbing her eyes as she looked up at Lyra with a sleepy smile. "Morning, Lyra," she whispered, her voice thick with sleep.
"Good morning, Em," Lyra replied, smiling as she knelt beside her. She pulled out the cloth-wrapped rolls from beneath her cloak, holding them out with a small flourish. "Look what I got us for breakfast."
Emmy's eyes widened, her face lighting up with a joy that tugged at Lyra's heart. "Real bread?" she whispered, as if it were something too good to be true. She reached out, her small fingers trembling as she took one of the rolls from Lyra's hands.
Lyra laughed softly, nodding. "Yes, real bread. Fresh and warm."
Emmy took a cautious bite, her expression shifting to one of pure delight as she chewed. "It's so good," she murmured around the mouthful, her eyes shining.
Watching her sister's happiness, Lyra felt a warmth settle deep within her chest. This moment—seeing Emmy smile so freely, so purely—made every hardship they'd faced worth it. It was the reason she kept going, kept fighting.
As they ate, Emmy looked up at Lyra, her mouth still half-full. "How did you get this?"
Lyra paused, unsure if she should tell Emmy about her trip to the adventurer's guild. But she didn't want to keep secrets from her sister, so she nodded. "I got a job at the guild," she said quietly, careful to keep her voice casual. "It wasn't much, just picking some herbs for a healer. But they paid me for it."
Emmy's face lit up again, her admiration clear. "So you're an adventurer now?"
Lyra chuckled, shaking her head. "Not quite. I'm just doing little jobs—safe ones. But it's a start. And it means we might have more days like this. Days with real food."
Emmy's gaze softened, and for a moment, Lyra thought she saw a flash of worry cross her sister's face. "But… it's not dangerous, right?" Emmy asked, her voice small.
Lyra reached over, brushing a piece of bread crumb from Emmy's cheek. "No, nothing like that. I'm careful, Em. I'd never do anything that would put us in danger."
Emmy nodded, relaxing a bit as she took another bite of her roll, though her gaze lingered on Lyra with a seriousness that felt out of place on her small face. Lyra knew Emmy worried about her just as much as she worried about Emmy. They had only each other, and neither wanted to imagine a world without the other.
They finished their breakfast in companionable silence, savoring every bite. Lyra glanced up at the sky, noting the sun's position. She'd have to head back to the guild soon if she wanted to find more work. But for now, she was content to stay here, watching Emmy's contented expression as they shared this rare moment of peace.
After breakfast, Emmy was in high spirits, humming a little tune as she folded up the cloth that had wrapped the rolls, carefully tucking it back into Lyra's bag. Her energy lifted Lyra's spirits, too, and Lyra felt a renewed determination settle within her. She'd gotten them this small moment of happiness—now it was time to keep that momentum going.
As they packed up their belongings, Emmy glanced up, a thoughtful look on her face. "One day, do you think we'll have a home? Like a real home with walls and a roof? And maybe even a bed?"
Lyra's heart ached at the longing in her sister's voice. She forced a smile, nodding firmly. "Yes. I promise, Emmy. One day, we'll have a place of our own. And it'll be warm, with food and blankets. And you can have your own little bed."
Emmy's eyes sparkled with hope, and she hugged Lyra tightly, pressing her cheek against her sister's shoulder. "I believe you," she whispered, her voice muffled.
Lyra hugged her back, feeling the weight of her promise settle onto her shoulders. She had no idea how long it would take to make that dream a reality, but she would do whatever it took. For Emmy's sake, she would work as hard as she needed to.
As they made their way through the winding alleys of the town, Emmy held tightly to Lyra's hand, skipping alongside her with a newfound lightness. Despite their difficult circumstances, Emmy's smile stayed bright, and Lyra felt a surge of pride at her sister's resilience. No matter how hard things got, Emmy's spirit remained unbroken.
They passed a row of bustling vendors, their stalls filled with colorful goods. Emmy stopped in front of one, her gaze fixed on a small, hand-carved wooden bird. It was nothing special—just a simple trinket. But Lyra saw the wistfulness in Emmy's eyes as she looked at it, and her heart ached. Someday, she promised herself, she'd be able to buy her sister little things like that, things that would bring her joy.
Emmy gave the wooden bird one last longing glance before allowing Lyra to guide her away from the stall. As they continued down the street, Lyra felt a surge of determination. She would keep working, keep saving every bit of coin she earned, until she could give Emmy everything she deserved.
With the sun climbing higher in the sky, Lyra led them back to the edge of town, where she could leave Emmy in the relative safety of their usual spot under the stone archway. Emmy settled down with a sigh, watching as Lyra prepared to head back to the guild.
"Be safe, Lyra," she said, her voice soft but filled with a fierce protectiveness that made Lyra's chest tighten.
"I will," Lyra promised, ruffling her sister's hair. She straightened, a determined smile on her face. "And when I come back, maybe I'll have enough to get us something else nice."
Emmy's eyes sparkled, and she nodded. "I'll be waiting."
With one last wave, Lyra turned and made her way back into town, her heart heavy with both hope and responsibility. She had her sister's smile to protect, and she would stop at nothing to keep it bright.