As Ayane regained her consciousness, she sensed warmness seeps through her body. It feels very comfortable, more so softness beneath her. Ayane is tempted to stay like this for a little longer but decided to wake up instead.
Fragrant aroma tickled her nose, made her immediately looking at the bowl of soup beside her. There was also a cup of tea which evidently was prepared not long time ago. White steam still rising on top of the drink.
She moved her sight across the room; she knew that she ended up in yet another unknown place. She was unfamiliar with most of the stuff in the room. The bed she slept in was bigger and fluffier than the futon she usually used. There was also few plushies and doll on top of furniture she didn't recognize. Despite that, she somehow thought it fits very well with the room.
Having found a mirror hung in the wall across her, she stood up and slowly walked toward it. There she saw herself in the body of a 10 or 11 years old girl. She sifted through her body and find its similarity with her previous body when she was still a girl.
Her hair was silky black, down to reach her slender jade-like neck. It nicely complements her oval face make her beauty stands out more. She has a straight and sharp nose, pointy chin, and plump but pinkish cheek comparable with a meat bun.
The only difference is her dead-fish eye and flat board chest. This body clearly lacks of that department, not that she minded though.
What she found unacceptable was her body looks thin and weak and obviously not well trained. Her hands and legs look frail and delicate.
'Maybe, I am some kind of princess or noble in this lifetime.'
Ayane thought it was silly and let out a little chuckle. Now, she fully accepted that she might be reborn in her new life.
'Is this world still the same world I live in before I die?'
'If it still my old world, can I meet Kotone again?'
A sudden creaking sound heard behind her attracted her attention.
"How is your body?" a clear voice like oriole came from the opened door.
'Here it comes, the fairy!'
Ayane had expected that the platinum hair woman would come soon to check on her. Looking closely at the figure that appeared from the door, she once again realized that her benefactor might be one of the most beautiful women she has ever seen.
"Thanks for saving this little one from that precarious situation. This little one will do anything to pay this debt in this lifetime." Ayane said while bowed respectfully.
"Nevermind. I only did the most right thing to do," replied Selena while urging Ayane to rise.
"I am Selena, and this is my home in the Arlene Kingdom, so you can relax. Can you tell me more about you and how you ended up in that cave?"
Selena asked while pulling two chairs for both of them to sit down. Following Selena's lead, Ayane sat down and spoke.
"My memory is a bit fuzzy. What I remember is my name is Hojo Ayane, you can call me Ayane. I came from town of Edo. For how I ended up in that confinement, I honestly don't know. When I opened my eyes, I've already chained down."
"Hmm, your name is strange. But you have a last name, maybe you're a noble?" Selena muttered and continue.
"I haven't heard of a town called Edo either. With how you are bowing when you speak, are you from Dragon Island?"
"I don't know," Ayane answered in a low voice.
Selena nodded. 'Maybe she really has no idea,' she thought.
Having heard many new names of places she never knew before, Ayane believes that this place is nothing like her previous world. To confirm her suspicion, she tried to inquired more information.
"It maybe presumptuous of me. But, can you tell me more about Arlene Kingdom and Dragon Island?"
Selena nodded and began her explanation.
"Hmm, okay. Where do I start? Arlene Kingdom is one of the biggest country in Midland Continent. This country is ruled by royal family of Arlene and have some nobles govern their land. Most citizens are human while other races live in city doing business or being affiliated with Adventure Guild. There are some trouble here and there but generally we are living together just fine."
This little bit of information shocked Ayane to the core, her last hope that this is still her world where she can once again reunited with her beloved childhood friend shattered.
"O-other races? Do you mean there are another race other than human?!" she asked once again whether she heard it wrong.
"Yes. You really don't know?"
Selena narrowed her eyes, looking at Ayane with disbelief.
"Y-yes, sorry. Can you tell me more?"
"You don't know, huh? How strange. Well, forget it. I explain them to you."
Sensing there was some sadness inside Ayane's voice, Selena decided not to pry too much and continue her explanation.
"Other than human, there are beastmen, alfen, dvarf, and draconia. Beastmen have animalistic features like tail, paw, or ear like a cat, wolf, or other animals. They have their own country on the island southwest of the Midland continent, called Andoria Nation. Mira, my apprentice, is a beastmen."
"Alfen race looks very much like a human, but they have pointy ears," she pulled her ears upward while her lack of expression make it looks adorable.
"People said they are race blessed by heaven because all of their people are either handsome or beautiful. They are so beautiful that there is a lot of case of abduction or slavery. Maybe because of that, they are very reclusive. Most of alfen race resided in their country, Alfen Kingdom, in Evergreen Forest's vicinity."
"Dvarf race can easily be recognized by their figure. Most of the dvarf is shorter than human even for the adult. They are an easy-going bunch but have very great pride in their craft. Their country is called Dvarf Kingdom in the north part of Midland Continent."
"Lastly, Draconia. Draconia race is what we called "humanoid dragon" because of their dragon-like trait. Some of them have scales on their skin, and most of them grow wings on their back. They hail from Dragon Island and have very different customs than other races of midland. There is a rumor that some human resided in there, and with your previous gesture, so I think you had live there once."
"M-maybe?" Ayane said while avoiding Selena's sharp gaze. Ignoring her reaction, Selena continued.
"Human, as the biggest population in Midland Continent, live mostly in the Arlene Kingdom and Rosegard Empire. The Kingdom has the biggest territory, second only to the Rosegard Empire. While our kingdom is friendly to other races, The Empire rarely accepted another race as equal often made another race as their slaves. Because of their aggressive nature, other kingdoms, including Arlene, constantly keep them in check. That's one of my duty as Arlene Kingdom's Sword Saint."
"You're Sword Saint?"
Hearing the word "Sword Saint," Ayane pupil flickered slightly, showing some fighting spirit in those dead-fish eyes. Selena matched her gaze with Ayane, thought that this kind of gaze is more suitable with this little girl rouse her interest in Ayane.
"Yes. Do you like swords?"
"Yes, very much so. If it doesn't bother you, I would like to request to exchange pointer."
Selena's confirmation that she really owns the title signifies the peak of the way of the swords she had tirelessly pursued in her previous life, light her fighting spirit even more. But, Selena's next words like pouring cold water to that sparking flame.
"Nn. But, you're weak. Maybe later. Do your best to train."
"Am I that weak?"
"Nn. Even random magic beast can kill you."
"Magic beast? What is that?" Ayane's interest picked up once again.
"They are monsters that have great strength and mostly have ferocious nature due to accumulation of mana particle or magicule inside them. They usually look like beasts, but some of them have humanoid shapes. They roam freely all over the continent and often bring harm or damage to the races live in continent."
"The forest outside also one of the places that host many strong magical beasts. So you need to be careful."
Selena abruptly stood up and ended this question and answer session when she walks to the door. Know that Ayane still has many questions in her head, Selena decided to hand her off to her cute apprentice.
"If you have more questions, talk to Mira later. Now, finish your breakfast before it's cold. Mira makes this food herself."
Without any chance to respond, Ayane saw Selene figure walking away from the room. She truly still has many questions that need to be answered but decided to shelves it for later. Now, she once again set her sight at the bowl of soup beside her.
She knew that spoon was what Westerners often used to eat, but she never used one before. She grabbed the spoon and tried to scoop some soup and sip it little by little.
'Delicious…!!'
The soup has a creamy texture that comfortable in her mouth. The flavor is not that strong but not bland either. There was a little bit of taste of spice that harmonious with sweetness from the corn and bean. It was a little bit different from the dashi she used to eat, nevertheless very satisfying. After a few trials, she already used to handle the spoon and finished the soup in no time.
After finishing her food, she then went outside the room and brought the dish to the kitchen. The house layout is simple enough for her to spot the kitchen easily. When she arrived at the kitchen, she saw a little girl with two big furry ears that look very fluffy, and tail wagging left and right. If her memory not wrong, this little girl must be Selena's apprentice, Mira.
The first time sight of beastmen made quite an impression on Ayane. She believes that whoever god in this world must be a better creator than her previous life's world for creating this super adorable being.
Sensing someone came to the kitchen, Mira looked around and greeted Ayane with a big sweet smile.
"H-hello there! I'm Mira. How is your food? Is it to your liking?"
When Ayane saw Mira's face, her impression of the girl adorableness up one level, her misty big round eyes made her cannot resist to teased this cat girl.
"It's very delicious, I can't help wanting for the second serve. Lady Mira surely makes a good wife."
"W-w-wifee…nya!!"
Mira's face suddenly blushing like a ripe peach. Her ears twitch with a hinge of redness on its tip. Her tail wagging back and forth uncontrollably.
'cute.'
Hiding her shyness, she pointed her finger at Ayane while try to speak with a haughty tone, albeit forcing a bit.
"hmmph, be thankful then! You can have second or third, so you'll always remember this lady greatness!"
"I'll accept the offer, then." Ayane chuckling.
Still glaring at Ayane, she made some scribble in the air and suddenly a fire ignited beneath the soup pot.
!!!
Saw the fire that came out of the blue, Ayane shake Mira's shoulder and ask with a higher voice than normal.
"Where is the fire come from?!"
Confused by Ayane's reaction, she answers with an unsure tone.
"Huh, this is fire magic?"