RAIWAN AGAINST THE DIVINE

Chapter 21: A Tailor

After exacting their vengeance on the Dragon Head gang, the children gathered around Raiwan, showering him with gratitude. Some even brought gifts, but Raiwan refused to accept them.

"You guys should calm down. I didn't do anything extraordinary—this is something you should have done long ago yourselves. If you keep allowing things like this, every unworthy bastard will try to bully you. You have to learn to depend on yourselves."

The children mistook Raiwan's actions for heroism, but in truth, he had only intervened because he refused to take a longer route just to avoid a group of thugs. And more importantly, they had hurt someone who had become important to him.

At his words, the children looked ashamed, but Raiwan could tell that his message had at least reached them. Maybe next time, they wouldn't allow something like this to happen again. Maybe.

"Alright, let's go. These idiots have already wasted too much of our time," Raiwan said, turning toward his sister and friends.

"Brother! You didn't tell us your name!"

"Raiwan!" Sulail answered for him before he could respond.

They continued walking until they reached the shop, bought what they needed, and left. Their only stop was at Abril's home, where they rested briefly before heading back to Malina's.

The moment they stepped inside, Manika's voice rang out.

"Where have you all been? I've been waiting for you for over half an hour!"

"We bought threads for Abril's mother," Raiwan answered.

"Alright, the rest of you can go, but you wait here, Raiwan. We're going out."

"Alright."

While the others settled in the parlor, Manika went upstairs.

Soon, she returned, carrying her side bag and a leather bundle. She handed it to Raiwan, and the moment he touched it, he could tell it contained some sort of clothing, though he couldn't determine what kind.

Manika walked ahead, and Raiwan followed behind her.

They strolled along the white, marbled road, their steps steady and graceful.

As they walked, Manika's eyes narrowed in curiosity. The street was more crowded than usual. Children were running and playing as if trying to capture the world's attention. She couldn't recall the last time the streets had been this lively.

Then, one by one, the children started stopping around them.

"Good morning, Miss Manika! Greetings, Raiwan!"

More and more children greeted them, and it started to feel strange.

Sure, some of the kids had been well-raised and would occasionally greet elders when passing by, but never to this extent. Never like this.

And another thing—how did all of them know Raiwan? He had only stepped outside a few minutes ago. There was no way he had become familiar with them all in such a short time.

What exactly had happened here?

Manika glanced at him and asked, "Raiwan, tell me what happened here?"

Raiwan looked around and shrugged.

"Ahh? With them? Well, we just passed by. They seemed nice, so we had a little chat, that's all. By the way, where are we going, Mom?"

Manika scoffed.

'Hmm, is this kid trying to change the subject? How old does he think he is?'

"Good morning, Miss Manika! Good morning, Raiwan!"

Another child greeted them, bowing slightly.

"Good morning, kid. Can you tell me what happened here? Why isn't the Dragon Head gang bothering you anymore?"

The girl jumped with excitement.

"It's all thanks to Raiwan, Miss Manika! He single-handedly taught the Dragon Head gang a lesson. It'll take them weeks to recover. He's our hero!"

"Thanks for the information," Manika said with a nod.

She turned to Raiwan, who was suddenly avoiding her gaze, scratching the back of his head as they walked.

"So, Raiwan is now a hero, huh?"

"That's a way of spoiling my sacred name, Mommy."

She laughed. "Fair enough!"

They continued walking, no longer interrupted, having left the Dragon Head gang's territory behind.

This part of the street was mostly deserted, with only a few children scattered along the road.

After a while, Manika spoke again.

"By the way, we're going to my sewing house. You'll meet my friends soon."

"You're a tailor?" he asked.

"Not your typical one, but yes."

As they walked, the scenery around them shifted. The houses became more densely packed, with shops lining the streets and more horses and other steeds filling the road.

Soon, they stopped in front of a building with a symbol painted beside the door.

Unique Dress House was written in green and red.

Manika knocked, then stepped back. Five seconds later, a middle-aged woman in a white dress opened the door.

She smiled at Manika, lingered her gaze on Raiwan, then stepped aside to let them in. She closed the door behind them and followed.

"Who's this young man, Mani? A customer?"

Manika wrapped an arm around Raiwan's neck as they walked through a narrow corridor before entering a spacious parlor filled with nearly thirty women—young, old, and middle-aged.

With a grin, Manika introduced him.

"Everyone, this here is my new son! I gave birth to him yesterday. His name is Raiwan."

Raiwan bowed slightly.

"Good morning, aunties. It's nice to meet you all."

"Ahh! So Malina finally has a little brother!"

"Oh, allow me to correct that," Raiwan said, raising a finger. "You see, my special mother here gave a special birth to me. As a result, I'm also special—I grew older than my elder sister in just a day! Who knows, maybe in a few more days, I'll be older than both of them!" He winked.

Manika pinched his side as the women burst into laughter.

She then took the leather bundle from him and handed it to an old woman named Amya before dragging him to an enormous table stacked with fabrics and silks, neatly arranged in bundles.

"You can choose any fifteen colors you like," she told him. "Your mother will sew them into nice, fitting clothes for you."

Raiwan hesitated. "Isn't that too much?"

Manika shot him a glare.

"Don't you dare."

Raiwan shuddered at the sight of that intense glare and obediently selected fifteen materials, with help from Manika and her friends.

After that, they moved to another table—this one smaller and bare. Using a magical dagger, Manika carefully cut the fabrics into pieces.

It took hours. By the time she was done, Raiwan had dozed off on a nearby couch.

She woke him, and together they entered another room, where she picked two sets of ready-made clothes for him.

Finally, they headed home.

The moment they arrived, Raiwan went straight to his room, collapsed onto his bed, and fell into a deep slumber.

Manika, on the other hand, went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

'What should I cook?'

She sighed. No rest for a mother.

Mothers really are the hardest workers!