[Regret Quest Activated]
Save the children from starving—not temporarily, but permanently.
- Reward: Luck +0.5
- Failure Penalty: The title of Baron will be revoked
[Accept] [Decline]
A sharp pain tugged at his heart. Hunger. He knew it too well.
Memories surged nights spent curled up in darkness, his stomach twisting in agony. Cold floors. Empty bowls. Silent tears. Each pang of hunger had etched a resolve into his soul.
That same pain now reflected in the eyes of these children.
“I accept.”
The system’s glow faded, but the weight in Rin’s chest only grew heavier.
“Rin?” Elysia’s soft voice broke through his thoughts.
He turned, but his eyes were distant. “Cain,” he called one of his knight, his tone sharper than usual. “Go to the Adventurer’s Guild. Buy as much meat as you can.” His jaw clenched. “Lucien will give you the mana stones.”
Cain, sensing the urgency, gave a curt nod and disappeared.
Rin’s gaze shifted to another knight,'Darius'. “Get oil, spices, and bread. Enough to feed everyone here.”
Darius bowed and rushed off.
As they carried out his orders, Rin stood in the courtyard, his eyes fixed on the children—fragile souls who had learned to hide their pain behind forced smiles.
This wasn’t just about feeding them tonight. This was about giving them something they had long forgotten—hope.
A Feast of Hope
The knights returned with sacks overflowing with food. Rin wasted no time.
“Light the fire,” he commanded, his voice steady but laced with emotion.
Flames roared to life as mages chanted softly. The air grew thick with the aroma of roasting meat and sizzling spices.
Rin didn’t just order—he worked alongside them. Elysia kneaded the dough for bread, her hands moving with gentle care. Lucien stirred the stew, his usual smugness replaced by quiet focus. Even Madam Elira, her tired eyes glistening, joined them.
The children watched from a distance, their small bodies frozen between hope and disbelief.
The sun had long set, and the courtyard of the orphanage was bathed in the warm glow of the bonfire. Sparks danced upward, carried by the breeze, as the scent of roasted meat and fresh bread filled the air. The laughter of children echoed softly, but beneath it lingered a quiet hesitation—one born from years of hunger and neglect.
Rin stood near the flames, his gaze lingering on the children. Their eyes, wide with awe, flickered between the food and the nobles standing before them. Fear still gripped their hearts—fear that this was just another fleeting kindness that would vanish with the night.
But not this time.
“Eat,” Rin said softly when the feast was ready. His voice was barely above a whisper, but it echoed like a command.
“Eat as much as you want,” Rin said softly, his voice warm and encouraging.
For a moment, no one moved. The children hesitated, their small hands trembling as they glanced at Madam Elira for reassurance. She nodded gently, tears already welling in her eyes.
It was a brave boy—no older than seven—who took the first bite. His cheeks hollowed from days without food, his lips cracked. But as the flavor of roasted meat touched his tongue, his eyes widened in disbelief. A single tear rolled down his cheek.
“It’s… warm,” he whispered.
That one word was all it took.
One by one, the children reached for the food, their small hands grabbing hungrily yet carefully, as if afraid it might disappear. Silent tears fell as they ate, their fragile hearts unable to contain the emotions surging within.
Madam Elira wiped her eyes, her voice a trembling whisper. “They’ve… never had a feast like this.”
Rin’s chest tightened, but he forced a smile. “They will… from now on.”
A Song to Light the Night
As the night deepened and the food filled their bellies, the air grew lighter. The tension that had bound the children slowly melted away, replaced by the soft murmurs of contentment.
But Rin knew… the night wasn’t over yet.
Stepping closer to the fire, he looked toward the children and villagers who had gathered to watch from a distance. A quiet hush settled over the courtyard.
And then, Rin began to sing.
“When the night is cold and long,
We gather close, we sing this song.
A little light, a spark so small,
Can guide us through… can warm us all.”
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His voice was soft, almost a whisper, carrying warmth and promise. His eyes reflected the fire’s glow, but it was the flame of hope that shone brighter.
The children paused, food forgotten, as they watched Rin sway gently to the melody.
Lucien, standing by the fire, smirked. “You’re not doing this alone, Rin.”
He stepped forward, his deep voice harmonizing as he joined the next verse.
“A hand to hold, a heart so true,
Together strong, we’ll make it through.
Though shadows fall and winds may sigh,
We’ll keep the flame… burning high.”
Elysia’s laughter chimed in as she spun toward Rin, her voice light and joyful. “If you two can sing… so can I.”
She twirled near the flames, her voice adding a touch of softness to the growing harmony.
“Light the way, light the way,
Chase the night and bring the day.
No more tears, no more fear,
Hope and joy will keep us near.”
The children’s eyes lit up, their fear forgotten. One by one, they stood, their small voices joining in. The knights and mages, grinning from ear to ear, clapped their hands to the rhythm.
“Light the way, light the way…”
Laughter filled the air as the children grabbed each other’s hands, forming a circle around the bonfire. They began to dance—hesitant at first, but soon their steps grew bolder, freer.
A Moment of Hesitation
The song echoed through the courtyard, carried by the warmth of the fire and the joy of voices rising in harmony. Children danced around the bonfire, their laughter filling the night, their fears momentarily forgotten. The knights and mages clapped along, their smiles wide as they watched the little ones find happiness in a world that had once been cruel to them.
But not all the children joined.
In the shadows, near the edge of the courtyard, a small group of children stood apart.
Their eyes watched the others with a quiet longing, their tiny hands clutching each other in hesitation. Tears shimmered in their eyes—tears that spoke of fear too deep-rooted to let go.
These were the children who had been hurt the most. The ones who had learned that happiness was fleeting, that kindness often came with a price.
Rin’s gaze softened as he noticed them. Their faces were pale, their bodies tense, as if they feared stepping into that circle of warmth would shatter the fragile hope they barely dared to hold.
“They’re afraid,” Elysia murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lucien, standing beside her, nodded grimly. “They don’t believe it’s real yet… they’re waiting for it to disappear.”
Rin’s heart ached. He understood that pain all too well.
But not tonight.
Not this time.
A Hand to Guide Them
Rin stepped away from the fire, his footsteps quiet as he approached the hesitant children. Lucien and Elysia followed, their movements gentle, as if approaching frightened deer. The knights and mages, sensing their intent, moved closer as well.
Rin knelt before a little girl with tear-streaked cheeks and trembling lips. Her tiny body shook as she clutched the hem of her worn dress, her eyes downcast.
“Come,” Rin whispered softly, extending his hand. “Dance with us.”
The girl’s eyes flickered to his outstretched hand—filled not with command, but with warmth and understanding. Her lips quivered, but she didn’t move.
Lucien crouched beside another boy, his voice softer than usual. “It’s alright. No one will hurt you here.”
Elysia knelt by a pair of twins, her smile radiant. “Come on… it’s more fun if we all dance together.”
The knights and mages followed suit, kneeling beside the other hesitant children.
But still… they hesitated.
A Song to Break the Walls
Rin didn’t force them. Instead, he sang.
Softly at first, his voice carrying the gentle warmth of the bonfire.
“A spark today, a fire tomorrow,
Burning away all pain and sorrow.
A light so bright, it breaks the night,
Guiding us toward… what’s right.”
Lucien’s deep voice joined him, his tone steady, offering strength.
Elysia’s voice followed, adding a touch of sweetness and comfort.
The knights and mages added their voices next, their harmony filling the night with a promise—a promise that this warmth would not fade.
The hesitant children looked up, their wide eyes reflecting the flickering flames. Rin’s hand remained steady, his smile unwavering.
“Come,” Rin whispered again, his voice barely louder than the crackle of the fire.
And this time…
The girl’s small hand slipped into his.
A Circle of Light
One by one, the other children followed.
Lucien’s hand was taken by a boy with hollow cheeks and uncertain eyes.
Elysia guided the twins, their fingers hesitant but their hearts yearning.
The knights and mages gently led the remaining children, their strength and warmth reassuring them that they were safe.
As Rin guided the girl toward the circle of dancing children, her tiny steps were slow, but she didn’t let go.
And then… as the chorus echoed again…
“A spark today, a fire tomorrow…”
Rin twirled her gently, her laughter breaking through her tears.
Lucien spun with the boy, his usual stoic face softening with a rare, genuine smile.
Elysia danced with the twins, her movements playful and full of joy.
The knights and mages twirled with the children they had guided, their armor glinting in the firelight as laughter and song filled the air.
Hope Rekindled
The hesitant children, who had once stood in the shadows, were now part of the circle.
Their steps were unsure at first, but as the song filled their hearts, their movements grew bolder, freer. Their laughter joined the others, blending into the symphony of hope that echoed through the night.
“A light so bright, it breaks the night,
Guiding us toward… what’s right.”
Tears still streamed down their faces, but this time…
They were tears of release.
Tears of hope.
A Flame That Will Never Die.
After children… the villagers joined.
Drawn by the sound, they approached cautiously, their eyes filled with wonder. But as the chorus repeated, their voices merged with the song, echoing through the night.
“Chase the night and bring the day,
No more tears, no more fear…”
They clapped, they laughed, and they danced. Young and old, noble and commoner—all united under one song.
The villagers, who had stood watching from the edges, had tears in their eyes.
Because they saw it too.
It was no longer just a song.
It was a promise.
A promise that no matter how dark the night became…
A spark could always become a flame.
“This night feels like the start of something greater", village chief of Brimwood village 'William' says.
A Moment of Pure Joy
Rin stood at the heart of it all, his golden eyes reflecting the flames. But it wasn’t the fire that warmed his heart.
It was them.
The children who had once been afraid to dream were now dancing with joy. The villagers who had lost faith in their future sang with renewed hope.
Lucien’s voice reached him, low but filled with meaning. “They’ll remember this night forever, young master.”
Rin’s throat tightened, but he forced a smile. “So will I.”
As the song neared its end, the voices softened, but the warmth lingered.
“Light… the way…”
The final words faded into the night, carried by the breeze. But the spark… that spark would never fade.
A Promise for the Future
As the last notes echoed into the darkness, Rin stepped forward. The flames crackled softly, the warmth of the night embracing them all.
He turned to Madam Elira, who stood with tear-streaked cheeks, her hands clasped tightly.
Reaching into his coat, Rin pulled out three medium mana stones and placed them gently in her trembling hands.
“This is the orphanage’s monthly allowance from the barony; he said firmly, his voice steady despite the emotions swelling within him. “I promise—under my rule, the children will never starve again.”
Madam Elira’s eyes overflowed with tears. She fell to her knees, clutching the mana stones as if they were the most precious gift in the world.
“Thank you… Lord Rin… truly, thank you.”
[Quest Completed!]
Luck +0.5
Rin smiled softly, though deep inside, he knew…
This was only the beginning.