Opportunity

The next morning, the camp was already buzzing with activity when Cint woke up. His father was speaking with other refugees, trying to find out where work might be available, while his mother was busy repairing a tear in one of their blankets. Cint could see the concern on their faces, though they tried not to show it.

"I’ll go explore," Cint told them after eating breakfast. His father gave a nod, but he was worried.

"Be careful," his mother said. "Stay close to the camp."

Cint nodded and set off, wandering through the busy streets of Limia. Everywhere he turned there were people, merchants haggling in the market, soldiers patrolling the streets, and other refugees trying to find a place in this crowded city. It was overwhelming, but also exciting. As the day gone by, Cint came across a small group of children, not much older than himself, playing near a fountain. They  seemed they had been on the streets for a long time. One of the boys noticed Cint watching them and waved him over.

"Hey, you new here?" the boy asked.

"Yeah," Cint replied. "My family just arrived from Yunt."

The boy said

"I'm Ren. Most of us are from Dalry. We came here after we heard Muyn Horde was coming. It's hard here, but we manage." He looked around, then leaned closer. "If you're looking to help out your folks, there are some jobs to be found in the lower part of the district. Not always easy, but it pays."

Cint was intrigued. "What kind of work?"

"It depends. Sometimes it's carrying goods for merchant, other times it's helping at the docks. You just have to be quick and know where to go. The population has gotten really big in the last 2 weeks, so it's really hard to find work."

The idea of helping his parents by finding work excited Cint. He thanked Ren for the tip and spent the rest of the day exploring. As the sun began to set, Cint made his way back to the camp. And he decided to talk to his parents about the tips that Ren had given him.  He found his parents sitting near their small tent, talking in low voices. His father looked frustrated, and his mother looked tired. Cint sat down beside them. "I met a boy named Ren today," he began, eager to share what he had learned. "He told me about some work down in the lower district. People need help carrying things for merchants and working at the docks." Cint’s father, Evenon, looked at him with a surprised face. "Good job finding us work," he said, his voice softening from the frustration that had been there moments before. "We asked around, but no one seemed to have any answers."

His mother, Lana, gave him a tired smile, reaching over to gently squeeze his hand. "Thank you, Cint."

Cint felt a sense of accomplishment. He saw his parents looking at him with gratitude.