Eran woke before dawn, the chill of the morning air biting through his thin clothes. Marla had made it clear the night before that he could not stay long unless he contributed. With no money, no home, and no clear plan, he decided to explore the village further, hoping to understand how to survive in this new world.
The village square was already lively by the time he arrived. Farmers hauled their goods to the market, merchants argued over prices, and children darted between stalls. Though it was a small settlement, it buzzed with an energy that reminded Eran of his estate's bustling kitchens—only far less orderly.
As he wandered through the market, he noticed a commotion near an alley. A small, sharp-faced girl with a tattered cloak darted out, clutching a loaf of bread to her chest. Behind her, a burly baker shouted curses as he chased her.
Eran watched, torn between his instinct to act and his realization that he was no longer the Duke with authority or power. The girl disappeared into the maze of alleys, leaving the baker panting and cursing at the edge of the market.
Curiosity got the better of him. Eran followed the direction she had fled, weaving through the narrow passages until he found her. The girl was crouched behind a stack of barrels, tearing the bread in half and handing a piece to a smaller boy who couldn't have been older than eight.
"Eat fast, Sam," the girl whispered. "Before anyone finds us."
Eran stepped closer, and the girl's head snapped up. Her sharp green eyes glared at him, full of defiance. "What do you want? Get lost!"
"I saw what you did," Eran said calmly.
"Great. Go tell the baker. See if he gives you a reward," she snapped, shielding the boy behind her.
"I'm not here to cause trouble," he said, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. "I just… wanted to see if you needed help."
The girl scoffed. "Help? From someone who looks like they crawled out of a ditch? No thanks."
The boy, Sam, peeked out from behind her and studied Eran. "Mia, he doesn't look like a bad guy."
Mia sighed and handed Sam the rest of the bread. "Fine. Say whatever you want, then leave us alone."
Eran crouched down to meet their level. "I don't know much about this place, but I'm trying to figure out how to survive. Maybe we can help each other."
Mia raised an eyebrow. "You don't even know how to survive, but you want to help us? Sounds like you'll just slow us down."
Sam tugged at her sleeve. "Come on, Mia. He looks hungry too."
Mia hesitated, then sighed. "Alright, but don't think this means we're friends. If you mess up, you're on your own."
The rest of the day, Eran followed Mia and Sam as they navigated the village's underbelly. Mia was street-smart and quick, teaching Eran how to spot opportunities for food or small jobs without drawing attention. She showed him which vendors were easiest to steal from, though Eran found himself reluctant to resort to theft.
"Get over yourself," Mia said when he hesitated. "It's not stealing. It's survival. The nobles and merchants take everything from us anyway."
Her words hit harder than she realized. Eran thought of how he had once been part of that system—blind to the suffering of people like Mia and Sam.
As the day wore on, Eran noticed something peculiar about Sam. Despite the boy's frail frame, he had a sharp intuition. He often pointed out guards before Mia noticed them or suggested alternate routes to avoid trouble.
By evening, the three of them sat on a rooftop overlooking the village square, sharing a small meal Mia had managed to scavenge.
"So, what's your story?" Mia asked, breaking the silence. "You're not from around here, are you?"
Eran hesitated. He couldn't exactly tell them he was a reincarnated duke from another world. "I… lost everything. I'm just trying to start over."
Mia snorted. "That's vague. But fine, keep your secrets. Just don't drag us into your mess."
Sam smiled. "You can stick with us if you want. We look out for each other."
Eran felt a pang of something he hadn't felt in years—belonging. These two, despite their rough exterior and difficult lives, had a bond he envied.
As the stars began to fill the sky, Eran silently vowed to protect them. He had failed to save those who depended on him in his past life, but here, he had a chance to make a difference.
"I'll do what I can," he said softly, more to himself than to them.
For now, survival was his priority, but deep down, Eran knew this was just the beginning.