Dusk glanced hesitantly at the coins slipping through his fingers, counting them once more just to be sure: 103 fins in total. It was the sum he had painstakingly gathered over the past— scavenging, selling scraps, and taking part-time jobs whenever he could. Every coin had weight, not just in metal but in meaning.
After carefully paying 40 fins for the carriage to Ram City— a discounted fare only granted because the driver pitied two scruffy children— and purchasing a little food, only 53 fins remained in his pocket.
He tucked 25 of those coins into the small shoe of his little sister, Dawn, and slipped the rest— 27 fins— into his own pocket. Carrying fewer coins was safer; the city streets were known to breed thieves and pickpockets, and he couldn't afford to lose what little they had.
Dusk knew that survival here required more than just money— it required a place to call home. Shelter from the biting night chill. A fortress against the endless threats lurking in shadowed corners. But where could two children, freshly arrived, find such a refuge?
In their previous city, under the shadow of the church's authority, Dusk and Dawn had been granted a small shack— meager, but at least a roof over their heads. Perhaps the Radiant Church here would offer the same mercy. But Ram City was different. Even outsiders struggled for scraps, and slum children like them were the most vulnerable of all. In their old slum, they had been the ones bullying newcomers. Here, they were the outsiders. And Dusk refused to let Dawn suffer that kind of humiliation.
With a steadying breath, Dusk led his sister toward the imposing cathedral at the city's heart. The two knights guarding the tall, carved oak doors blocked their path the moment they approached.
"Where are you going? Go play somewhere else," one grunted, his rough voice carrying the weight of authority.
Dusk drew a breath and forced a polite smile. "We are new to the city. We want to pray to the Radiant God."
The guards exchanged a look.
Moments later, Dusk and Dawn found themselves kneeling before the glowing symbol at the front. Neither of them was particularly religious; faith was a luxury rarely afforded in their line of hardship. But the church offered one certainty: a daily meal for those in need.
The cathedral soared high above them, vaulted ceilings arching like the heavens themselves. The air was cool and heavy with incense. Sunlight filtered through narrow stained-glass windows, scattering brilliant colors across polished stone floors. At the center of it all hung a massive golden sun— the emblem of the Radiant God— casting shimmering beams that danced like fireflies.
Dawn tugged on his sleeve, her wide eyes reflecting the colored lights. "Brother… it feels like the sky is trapped in here," she whispered.
Dusk smiled faintly. "Maybe it is."
According to the teachings of the Radiant Church, the Radiant God had no form. It was not a figure, but a force— the light of mercy, the power to heal, the hope for a better tomorrow. Even the blazing sun was said to be only a faint reflection of this divine radiance. That was why they worshipped the sun as their symbol.
After offering their prayers, the children turned to leave. But one of the knights— Richard— stopped them.
"Hey, kid. You looking for a job?" he asked, his gleaming armor contrasting with the unexpected warmth in his eyes.
Dusk's heart leapt. "Sir Knight, yes! I'm new to the city. I've worked as a paperboy, loaded and unloaded goods, and done odd jobs in Lightrest City."
Richard listened carefully, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Oh… Alright, alright," Richard said at last. "There might be work in the church. But understand this— the church isn't keen on taking slum folk into their service."
Dusk's eyes dimmed, but Richard's next words reignited his hope.
"But, if you can find a place to live— somewhere outside the slums— and prove you're not homeless, then come back and see me. Remember, you have only three days."
"Thank you! Thank you, Sir Knight!" Dusk said quickly, joy brimming in his voice as he pulled Dawn away.
"Name's Richard. What about you, kid?" the knight called after them.
"I'm Dusk, and this is my sister Dawn!" he shouted back before hurrying off.
Renting a home, however, was far more difficult than he imagined. In theory, money could buy shelter. In practice, Ram City was ruthless. Prices were staggering, landlords cold and dismissive. The city thrived on wealth and influence, and for children like them, even dreaming of a safe roof was like trying to scale a mountain with bare hands.
At one brick-fronted tenement, the landlord sneered the moment he saw them. "Two brats? No parents? No coin worth a damn. Get lost before you stink up the place."
"I have money," Dusk insisted, pulling out the fins he had.
The man spat on the ground. "Fifty-three fins wouldn't rent you a broom closet in Ram. Try the gutters." With that, the door slammed in their faces, leaving Dawn clutching her brother's arm in silence.
He moved from one landlord to the next, enduring sharp rejections and scornful looks. Slum dwellers were shoved into the fringes, forced to take what little they could in the city's decaying outskirts, where crime and misery festered like an untreated wound.
Exhausted, Dusk and Dawn eventually found respite near the church's food distribution point.
"Don't worry, brwother…" Dawn mumbled around a mouthful of food.
It was nothing more than rough bread and a thin sauce with green peas floating in it. But neither Dusk nor Dawn had ever been picky. Choice was a luxury they'd never known. They were simply glad to eat on time.
Dusk even bowed and thanked the Radiant God aloud in front of the attendant who handed out the food, which earned them an extra serving. Dawn giggled, cheeks stuffed, while Dusk patted her head with a small smile.
When they left, he deliberately steered them toward a crowded street, avoiding the shadowed alleys. No way would he risk the dangers lurking there.
But fate wasn't so kind.
A bald man with a crooked grin suddenly blocked their path. Dusk instantly tightened his grip on Dawn's hand, the other hand slipping into his pocket where a small knife lay hidden.
"Hey, kid… There's a job waiting. Come with me into the alley," the bald man said, pointing at the shadowed passage.
Tension gripped the air.
Dusk straightened and answered firmly, "It's alright. I already got a recommendation from Knight Richard at the church."
The bald man froze, his smirk faltering. After a moment's hesitation, he waved them off. "Alright… Alright… Go."
Dusk wasted no time pulling Dawn away.
"What happened?" another man with a moustache asked the bald one as the children vanished into the crowd.
"That kid… seems to know a knight from the church," the bald man muttered.
"Maybe he's lying," the moustached man scoffed.
"Oh yeah? Then you go catch them." The bald man sneered.
The moustached man backed off immediately. What if it were true? Angering the church was something neither of them could afford.
In the end, Dusk realized just how much he had underestimated Ram City. Finding a safe, affordable home here wasn't just difficult— it was nearly impossible.
And with Richard's words echoing in his ears, a new weight settled on his chest.
Three days. That was all the time the knight had given him. In Ram City, three days felt shorter than a single breath.