When I got back to the shack and found Herald standing in the doorway, smiling at me hardly able to stand still.

“You got it! Thank god.” He said, as he walked over.

“Yea, pretty easy when he was so focused on you. Good job, you looked pitiful enough to even make me feel sorry for you l.” I said poking fun at my smaller friend.

“Sure, sure, now hurry up and open the pouch. I want to see how much loot we got. .” Herald said eyeing the pouch at my waist.

“It’s pretty heavy, feels like a good haul. Let’s go inside to avoid prying eyes.” I replied untying the bag and tossing it to him.

He promptly caught it and walked through the door. We made our way to his bed and sat down, Herald was unable to wait any longer dumping the bag upside down.

Coins poured from the bag and Herald threw down the bag and yelling out in joy. I jumped to my feet and hugging him.

A small pile of silver and gold coins were spread out on the bed with a small blue sphere. I was already thinking about what I wanted to buy first, as celebrated our new-found wealth. With this Herald could get an education and start his life right, while I could make sure the rest of the orphans never went hungry.

A tear fell from my eye. Up until this point everything had been so hard. I had pushed myself again and again to keep going in order to survive. Because of the money I could finally stop for a bit and relieve some of the exhaustion and wound up stress I carried daily. I just knew everything was going to be okay.

After celebrating for a few minutes we looked at each other and simultaneously said.

“Let’s get something to eat!”

Both of us had big grins, it had been a while since we were able to shop for food.

I quickly grabbed a few silver coins and hid the rest of the money under some rubbish and cloth in my room. The future was looking bright for us now.

I ran over to the sheet separating the rooms, and tore it aside.

“What do you want to eat, say anything?” I said to the kids. Some were out, but the younger ones were still here. They rushed over after they heard my announcement, instantly shouting out their favorite foods.

“Meat buns” “Fruit!” “Eggs” Requests were flying at me faster than I could process them.

Herold saved me by yelling at them to speak one at a time.

After calmed down I was able to start making notes on what to get. Most of the food was pretty basic and not too hard to get. Eventually we were down to the last person in line.

It was Avery, the most timid and shy out the whole lot. A couple months ago, she had lost her older brother who was taking care of her. The poor girl had stumbled upon his corpse in one of the alleyways where one of the gangs had left him. I heard her crying and sitting there next to her dead brother running down her face. I took her in and she joined our group, but traumatized by the incident she barely spoke.

I saw she wanted something and but struggling to say it.

“Could you, maybe, get me a sweet bread? I have seen people eat it and I want to taste it.” She asked with the tiniest bit of light in her eyes.

I reached out and rustled her hair, reassuring her we would buy a loaf of sweet bread for everyone. Announcing we would be back soon, I left with Herald. I passed him one of the silver coins and told him we should split up and start shopping in the vendor market.

I made my way to the bakery in search of sweet bread.

I decided to go to the best bakery in the city. I wanted the sweet bread to be the finest available. If I could get Avery to smile it would be worth every copper.

The bakery was a decent sized building with a large window displaying a wealth of fresh baked cakes and breads. As I got closer to the door I could smell the wonderful fresh bread and sugar.

I walked through the door and the smell was amplified three-fold. My mouth watered just thinking about eating anything from here.

The store was still empty due to it being quite early in the morning when. There was a large man standing at the counter who smiled as he heard the small bell on the door chime. His smile quickly turned into a scowl as he noticed my appearance.

“Scram kid we don't give handouts here” he said menacingly. He reached down grabbing a small wooden club showing me he meant it.

“Wait I can pay” I said as I flashed the silver coin.

The man’s scowl instantly morphed back into a smile upon seeing the coin. He put the club back and beckoned me forward.

“Sorry about that, what would you like?” He said in a warm voice while his arm motioned towards the shelf containing the food.

“Could I have a sweet cake big enough that it could be shared with five people?” I asked as I put the silver coin on the counter.

The man coughed in surprise before saying. “Are you sure you don't want basic bread or something cheaper? I could give you enough to last a couple weeks for that.” The man was obviously confused on why a street mongrel like me would blow through money to buy something only the wealthy normally bought.

“Yea, I am sure.” I said slightly irritated. I disliked when people looked down on me even though I understood why. I have had to work hard my entire life to survive and they look at me like it's my fault I am poor and dirty. The man thought I was a half-brain just because I wanted to buy sweet bread.

“Alright lad it is going to take some time, I'll have to make it from scratch because we don't have any that large.” The large man said shrugging his shoulders. If the street brat wanted to waste his money it wasn't his problem.

“Alright then, I'll be back later then when it's finished.” I told him walking out of the store and back it towards the market. People were getting up and out now and there was more foot traffic.

I had some time before the bread was baked and Herold would be done, so I sprinted to the shack. I ran back to the hiding spot and grabbed the pouch of money. If I was going to be spending money today why not go all out. I picked out a gold piece. I made my way back to the market, in search of a tailor shop. I found a small shop with prices that weren't too bad and bought everyone a new set of clothes. I shelled out a bit more money to have a set made for myself. By the time the tailor finished my measurements I assumed the sweet bread was most likely done.

I gave my thanks to the tailor and made my way back to the bakery. Inside a decent sized line had formed and were waiting for the baker to come out of the back room. As I moved towards the pick-up counter, a hand grabbed onto my collar pulling me back harshly.

I tumbled to the floor helplessly and looking up to see a rat faced man staring at me.

“What do you think you're doing in here beggar? Trying to steal?” The man said kicking me in the side.

I cried out and grabbed the man's foot before he could swing it back to strike me again.

“Stop, I am picking up an order!” I yelled.

“Yea right, like you could afford anything here. Street urchins like you are a waste of a life.” The man shook me off and kicked me again this time in the head. I instinctively lashed out with my small pickpocket knife to try and stop him. The blade slashed into his offending leg’s calf and creating a small, but deep cut.

The man stepped back swearing.

“You fucking trash! Now you've done it” he said as unsheathed a sword from his waist. I tried to scramble away but the last kick had scrambled my mind. I wasn't able to get to my feet. I looked at the other people in the store hoping someone would help, but they all just looked away not caring about what would happen to me. The man raised the blade and I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to see it coming.