Hezborn knocked on the door in front of us. Soon after, it was opened by a girl about a head taller than me. She has blonde hair and gray eyes. We probably woke her up, she still looks sleepy. I'll l
"Grandpops! You're back!" she exclaimed happily, embracing Hezborn.
"Oh, I missed my lovely Iriya."
The Iriya kid looked at me, not letting go of Hezborn. "Grandpops, who is that?"
Hezborn let go of her and placed his hand on my shoulder. "Iriya, this is Mayumi. She'll be staying with us from now on."
Iriya stayed silent for a few seconds before extending her hand to me. "Nice to meet you. I'm 10, how old are you?"
'So handshake is also used for greeting here huh.'
"Nice to meet you too. I'm 7 years old." I said as I shook her hand.
I don't really know Helshyre's real age. It could be older or younger than I thought but based on her height and small frame0, she could be around 6-8 years old.
"Great! I'm older than you then. You can just call me Big Sister Iriya. Say it Mimi, Big Sister Iriya~" She grabbed both of my hands.
How can I refuse when she looks so cute with that huge grin on her face and a twinkle on her eyes?
"Big Sister Iriya." I replied with a smile.
"Aww~ how adorable Mimi." she said as she hugged me tightly.
"I'm glad yar both getting along well. It's nice since yar gonna be roommates from now on." I almost forgot Hezborn is with us.
"I'll show you my room!" Iriya dragged me inside and began blabbering about her room enthusiastically.
"This is my bed, it's not so big but we'll be able to fit since you're so small. This one is my baby bear Lucia, my mother gave it to me during my 7th birthday. It's almost half as big as you. This is my snowglobe, Grandpops gave it to me last spring. Oh! This one is my closet. I guess it's 'ours' now. And oh! This is the shiny rock Chase found. He gave it to me as a present. This one is...and..."
'Iriya, you're cute and all but do you plan on introducing me to each one of the items you own? Why not introduce me to the wall while you're at it.'
"I appreciate yar excitement for yar new roommate, however, Mayumi and I are really exhausted from our nonstop trip. It's already getting late, ya should sleep back too." Hezborn interrupted.
Iriya looked a bit disappointed but flashed a bright smile nonetheless. "I understand Grandpops, goodnight."
"Goodnight Iriya, ya too Mayumi. Just tell me if ya need anything okay? My room is just downstairs next to the kitchen." Hezborn said before exiting the room and closing the door, leaving Iriya and I alone.
"Did you meet the others already?" Iriya asked as she hopped on the bed.
I climbed to the bed and fixed the pillow. "No, not yet."
I have no plan of telling her about my WHOLESOME interaction with the MOST LOVABLE kid I have ever meet.
"They're probably asleep already. I'll introduce you to them tomorrow. Don't worry, they're all nice specially Julius and Rykan."
'Rykan? That kid with the sharp tongue? You sure we're talking about the same kid here?'
"How nice, can't wait to meet them." I said flashing a fake smile.
'Guess I still can't take a break.'
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'Oh, a dream again huh?'
It's the ruins again and that damn fog.
What's this smell? Is somebody roasting some meat?
These dreams are getting more and more vivid, my sense of smell is even functioning this time.
I followed the smell and eventually saw a light in the distance. As I approached the source of the light, I saw Helshyre sitting in a withered log and in front of her is a beast about quadruple her size that somewhat resembled a deer but uglier.
Helshyre has her hands held up in front of her as the beast is being roasted, no, more like cremated. How did she even catch it?
It's undeniable, she can really manipulate fire. I guess I'll have to try when I wake up.
I sat beside Helshyre as she continued roasting the beast. There's a big banana leaf beside the log and on top of it are some wild berries, unripe bananas and a goddamn roasted salamander.
"She really eat just anything does she?"
Helshyre then ripped off a piece of the beast's meat and placed it on the leaf.
"That was hot, you didn't get burnt?" I checked her hand but it seems to be fine.
Self-healing ability, Fire Manipulation and Immunity to Fire. What else does this Helshyre possess. She really doesn't fail to surprise me everytime.
"This is the 8th Fall, it's probably around the 47th day now."
8th Fall since what?
"Happy Birthday to us." She uttered before taking a bite of the meat.
"You're 8? You look like you're 6. And who's us?"
Is she referring to me?
"Wait! Can you see me?"
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'What is this? I can't breath. Anybody, help!'
I woke up gasping for air and saw Rykan laying on top of my stomach.
'This brat, is he planning to kill me on my sleep?'
"Get off!" I said as I tried pushing him.
He got up and rushed to the door.
"I've been trying to wake you up since earlier but looks like you're too deep in dreamland. Figured you'll only wake up the other way. Anyways, hurry downstairs. Everybody's waiting for you, you monkey with uneven bangs." He said before slamming the door.
'What did he say? That brat really doesn't run out of insult does he?'
I got up and checked myself in the mirror.
"Welp, isn't this nice?"
My bangs aren't really aligned. Shouldn't have trusted that lady's barber skills. Moreover, why didn't Hezborn told me anything about it? Oh, and is this a mole under my left eye?
I stared at my face in awe. 'Is this what it feels to be cute and pretty?'
I headed downstairs against my own will. I found an opened door on my left side.
'Must be the kitchen.'
I peeked at the door and saw Hezborn and four other kids sitting on the table. One thing I like about this world is the colorful hair and eye colors.
"There goes the star of today's breakfast. C'mere Mayumi, I'll introduce ya to the little fellas here." Hezborn said when he saw me.
I sat on the only vacant seat which is on the other end of the table across Hezborn.
"Mayumi this is Chase Ornellia, he's 11. The oldest one among the four." He said pointing at the handsome kid with the golden brown hair and baby blue eyes.
The kid grinned at me revealing his gummy smile. "Nice to meet you Mayumi."
I shoot back a smile at him.
"This one's Julius Sycamore. He's 8 and the youngest." Hezborn proceeded to introduce the cute one with the curly brunette hair and green eyes. He has a tanned skin and I think that's what they call a vitiligo on his left forehead down to his left eye and left upper cheek.
"Pleased to meet you Yumi. I'm really glad to have a little sister!" He cheerfully said which I also replied with a smile.
"And this two ya already meet last night are Rykan Lexus Everdale and Iriya Lyn Frost. They're both the same age."
"Tch"
'This Rykan brat's attitude is really getting on my nerves.'
Iriya just flashed a smile at me. I guess she doesn't mind me lying about not meeting anyone last night.
All the kids except Iriya have different surnames. Were they also adopted?
The whole breakfast was peaceful except the fact that Rykan kept glaring at me.
'Well, whatever. The foods are so delicious for me to give a fuck.'
After eating, Julius kept on pestering me to play with him. I had no choice but to follow him as he show me around.
"Yumi, let's go to that hill. It has a nice view of our farm." Julius said as he dragged me along up to the hill. Chase silently followed us behind.
The hill has a nice breeze. It did give me a better view of the farm and Hezborn's house. Now that I see it, Hezborn has quite a big 2 storey house. Their farm is quite big too it has some carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce and some other plants I don't recognize. Probably only native to this world or maybe I'm just ignorant.
"See that lake over there? That's where we take a bath and wash our clothes. That well over there is where we get water to drink and for cooking. Oh! I'm going to have to show you our five horses in the stables later. Behind that mountain is the neighborhood. They're all nice. It's a seven minute walk but if you run it's..."
There's one important thing I'm curious about.
"Where do you poop?" I blurted.
'Please not on the forest with leaves as tissue.'
"Oh, do you mean pottyhole?" he asked.
'Pottyhole? Whatever that is, it sounds concerning. It's not just some hole on the ground right?'
"Precisely."
"Come, I'll show you." I followed him until he stopped in front of a small rectangular thing with a hay roof beside the stable.
Julius opened the door and inside is a small square looking thing made of cobblestones and beside it is a pail with a fancy-looking pitcher.
"It's called a pottyhole. You know how to use it right?" he said pointing at the square looking thing.
It also has some water inside like the toilet I know of. Thank goodness!
"Probably not, he's from the mountains." Chase said.
'How did he know?'
"Iriya told us by the way." he added.
'That Rykan brat probably went around telling everyone I'm from the mountains.'
"No worries! I'll show you." Julius said as he patted my head.
He proceeded to reenact someone with a bad diarrhea. "You sit on this pottyhole, try your best so all your poop comes out, after that pour water on it so your poop will go bye bye. Then clean your butt with water. Don't forget to wash your hand right after with soap or you'll smell." he instructed.
'Worry not kid, I know damn well how to take a shit and make it go bye bye.'
"I got it." I replied with a smile.
"Now let's go pick some apples." Julius said grabbing my hand. But before he could pull me, Chase grabbed me by the other hand.
'What cliche love angle situation is this?'
"Your time's up Julius. My turn now." Chase said with authority.
"But..." Chase gave him a stern look.
"Fine..." Julius let go of my hand and pouted.
"But let me tag along." he added.
"Okay, but don't disturb us." Chase replied.
"Let's go Mayumi, I'll show you my stone collection." Chase said as he pulled me along with him.
'When will this end dear Lord? I just wanna lay down in bed browsing the net. How I miss my precious phone.'
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We entered the boys' room. It's much bigger than Iriya's and has 3 small beds. We approached the bed in the middle. Chase let go of my hand and took a small box from under the bed. He opened it revealing a bunch of colorful and shiny stones. It reminds me of my stone collection back in my previous world.
"What do you think Mayumi? They're pretty right? I usually find the pretty ones in the lake." Chase said as he proudly showed me his collection.
"I think they're pretty too." I answered honestly.
Chase smiled and grabbed my hand placing a shiny orange stone on it. "This is for you, it resembles your hair."
I grinned, "Thank you Chase."
"You're welcome~" he replied happily.
"Are you done Chase?" Julius asked, pouting on his bed.
'How adorable.'
"Not yet, I still haven't shown him my book collection." Chase grabbed a big box from under his bed this time. Inside it were lots of books.
"This one is my favorite. Stones and Gems, very educational. You can borrow it if you want." He said handing me the book.
I opened it curiously and can't help but chuckle.
'I can't believe it.'
I gave the book back to Chase. "I can't read."
It was full of weird symbols. It's probably this world's language. I'm pretty sure we're speaking English here though.
'I feel so pathetic being illiterate.'
Julius excitedly grabbed my hand. "Let me teach you!"
Chase pulled me away from him. "I'll do it, I'm the smarter one here."
This is such a hassle but I guess learning this world's alphabet is for the best.
"You can teach me both big brothers." I said with a smile.
Julius' eyes lit up and hugged me. "That's right! I'm your big brother."
"Group hug!" Iriya exclaimed appearing out of nowhere.
"Let's go to the farm, Grandpops is looking for you." she added.
"Let's go Mayumi!" Julius said as he pulled me along.
"He can walk Julius, you don't have to drag him." Iriya said.
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"Looks like ya already got close." Hezborn said happily as he's sorting out the apples.
"Yes Grandpops, I like him a lot. He's so cute and adorable." Julius replied, placing his arms over my shoulders.
"I agree, but Mayumi is not a boy." Hezborn replied.
Julius' eyes widened and looked at me. "You mean..."
"I'm a girl." I answered with a smile.
Julius swiftly removed his hands from my shoulder. "I'm really sorry for touching you without permission. I thought you're a boy. It's cause your hair is so short." he uttered, blushing in embarrassment.
Chase pinched his cheek. "That's what you get for being touchy."
"Why didn't you look surprised? Did you know she's a girl?" Julius asked Chase.
"I had a hunch. I mean, she has a nice sweet voice and a pretty face too." Chase replied, rubbing the back of his neck.
'Boy, I saw that blush.'
Hezborn laughed. "It's nice seeing ya boys flustered."
I looked up as a branch hit the top of my head just to see Rykan grinning sheepishly from the top of the aple tree.
"Oops sorry, I didn't see you there." he said, acting all sorry.
'What the heck is this brat's deal.'
"Watch out Rykan. Ya okay Mayumi?" Hezborn asked checking my head.
"I'm okay, thanks for your concern." I replied with a smile.
'Patience self, patience.'
We helped Hezborn sort out the apples and peaches. As Hezborn loaded the fruits to his carriage, he ordered Rykan to give us one apple each as a snack.
"Here vermin, take it before I change my mind." he said grumpily.
'This kid's starting to piss me off.'
I took it without thanking him. That kid doesn't deserve an ounce of my gratitude.
I rubbed the apple on my clothes and took a bite out of it. I quickly spat it out when I noticed it tasted funny. I looked at it and saw the rotten insides of the apple.
'I shouldn't have trusted that punk.'
I looked at Rykan and saw him smirking at me from the distance.
I don't wanna act childish but...
"Waaah!" I cried out loud.
Chase and Julius rushed into my side.
"What happened?" Julius asked worriedly.
"My...my apple." I sobbed showing them the apple.
Chase grabbed it, "You did it on purpose didn't you?" He asked Rykan.
"Why would I?" Rykan denied.
"But you said it was the sweetest apple in the farm." I lied.
"No I didn't!" he protested.
"Rykan, that was mean. Go wash the pots as yar punishment." Hezborn ordered, handing me a big apple.
I smirked at Rykan. He glared at me before heading inside.
'You asked for it kid.'