Riku was gone for what felt like an eternity to the anxious dwellers of the Underbelly.
Elder Borin slumped onto a rickety stool, his face etched with worry. The burly Half-Orc paced restlessly. Korgin, still sniffling, hid his face in his hands. The small pile of contributed coins sat untouched on the rough-hewn table, a testament to their desperation.
"He’s gone to the guards, hasn’t he?" a young Dwarf whispered, his voice tight with fear. "We’re all doomed. Korgin, you fool!"
"Hush, lad," Borin said, though his own voice lacked conviction. He looked towards Lila and Elara, who stood awkwardly to one side. "Young misses... your companion... he is a man of great power. Surely, he wouldn’t...?"
Lila offered a small, reassuring smile, though a flicker of her own unease showed in her eyes. "Riku... he doesn’t like seeing people suffer. And he doesn’t like bullies. I don’t think he’d go to the city guard over this, not after hearing Korgin’s story."
Elara, remembering Riku’s kindness to her, nodded silently in agreement, though she still didn’t know Riku well enough to predict his actions.
The Half-Orc stopped pacing. "But he left so suddenly. And that look in his eye... it was like he was calculating something." He wrung his large hands. "If the guards come down here... it won’t just be Korgin they take."
Minutes stretched into what felt like hours. The silence in the small clearing was thick with unspoken fears.
Then, footsteps echoed from the passage Riku had taken. All heads snapped up. Riku reappeared, not with guards, but carrying a large, lumpy sack slung over his shoulder. He had the same trademark smile on his face with which he had left, which further alleviated the dwellers’ worries.
A collective sigh of relief swept through the assembled Dwarves and Half-Orcs. He hadn’t brought the law down on them.
"Master Mage!" Borin exclaimed, scrambling to his feet. "You... you have returned!" The Half-Orc eyed the sack curiously. "What’s in there, master? More... evidence?"
Riku smiled, a genuine, warm smile this time. "Not evidence, my friends." He walked towards the fire, setting the sack down with a soft thud. "I was thinking. We started off on the wrong foot. And it seems life down here isn’t easy for anyone."
He met Borin’s gaze. "In fact, I come here to offer my friendship."
"Huh?" Bornin was stunned, not knowing what to say. Out of all the things he had been expecting, this was not even the last.
"Master, it is enough for you to forgive us. We don’t need anything else..." The Half-Orc said with a still-wary smile.
The other Dwarves and Half-Orcs exchanged puzzled, slightly disbelieving glances. Friendship with a surfacer? A mage, no less? It was unheard of.
"Sigh, I knew that something was going to happen. Good thing that I got you guys a nice present."
Slowly, Riku opened his sack.
He reached into the sack and pulled out a small, round, golden-brown bun, nestled in a fresh green leaf wrapper. The faint, sweet aroma of matcha and roasted rice began to permeate the damp air
He offered it to Korgin, who stared at it with wide, tear-filled eyes. "For... for me?" Korgin stammered. "For you," Riku said gently. "And for your sister. I hope she feels better soon."
Korgin hesitantly took the bun. He sniffed it, his eyes widening further at the unfamiliar, delightful scent.
He stared at the bun, and then back at Riku. "But... I stole from you, Master Mage. Why... why would you give this to me?"
Riku chuckled lightly. "Everyone makes mistakes, Korgin. And everyone deserves a little sweetness in their life, especially when times are tough." He gestured to the bun. "Just consider it a reward and an investment for the better person you will become."
Tears welled in Korgin’s eyes again, but this time, they weren’t tears of fear. "Thank you. I will not disappoint you" he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
Then, he took a small, tentative bite.
And another quick one.
And then another slightly larger one.
He chewed slowly, processing what he was eating, and then suddenly,
The fear and shame on his face melted away, replaced by an expression of pure, unadulterated bliss.
"So Delicious! This is the best thing I have ever eaten."
He took another, larger bite, savoring the taste. Then, his eyes lit up. "My friends! My sister! Master, can... can I with them too?"
"Of course," Riku said, his smile widening.
He looked around, his eyes bright. "Everyone! Friends! Come quick!" he called out, his voice clearer now, filled with an excitement that was infectious. "You have to try this!"
Hearing his call, a few curious faces, mostly children who had been hiding in the nearby shanties, began to peek out.
"Mana, Kelda, Dregan, come out quick. Call the others too. Here, take this. You will love it." Kogrin signalled animatedly as he waved his hands with a childlike simplicity.
Seeing Korgin’s joyful expression and the bun in his hand, the kids, slowly and hesitantly, began to emerge.
Riku chuckled. He reached into the sack again and again, pulling out more leaf-wrapped buns. "There’s plenty for everyone. A specialty from my village, Elowen. Consider it as a gift from someone who wants to be your friend."
One by one, the wary Dwarves and Half-Orc children accepted the buns. The initial disbelief on their faces slowly transformed into surprise, then delight, as they bit into the soft, sweet treats.
"I have never had something before."
"I must with my Mama."
All the kids started laughing and enjoying themselves, delighted at the unexpected treat they got.
"Elder Borin, please have one as well, they are really good." Korgin urged the elder, who was just looking around, still in a bit of confusion.
"Eh, I don’t need it. We cannot take too much of his bread." The elder was still hesitant.
"Oh, come on, elder. Are you still hesitating? Here, have one." This time, Lila took one of the buns and shoved it into the elder’s hands.
"Well, okay. SInce you insist..." Slowly, Borin took a small bite.
"What? This bun is so smooth and sweet! Master mage, can we really have it? This doesn’t look like something even the inner district people would have." Borin asked, though his hands were tightly clutched around the bun.
"I insist. In fact, none of you are allowed to leave till you eat and distribute all of the buns." Riku smiled once again.
"Thank you so much, Master. Truly. I do not know how we can reciprocate this show of kindness." Elder Borin bowed before he turned to the Half-Orc who had been standing with him.
"Give everyone here one each. and distribute the rest among the other dwellers. God knows when we will get something as good to eat again. Master mage, would you mind if I took some time to spread this treat around the village?" Elder Borin cried out spiritedly.
The sweet bun had seemed to revitalize his old self and filled him with renewed energy.
Riku just kept smiling.