Dying in a car crash had been excruciating for Bae. At thirtyfour, she grappled with the weight of an unfinished life. She felt sick, tired, and weak, questioning the perceived comfort of death. However, her introspection was abruptly interrupted as her eyes flickered open to the gentle caress of a small hand on her face. A child, softly crying, uttered words that jolted her back to consciousness, "Mommy died; now I'm all alone, huah."

Bae struggled to make sense of her surroundings, feeling as though she had traversed a boundary between two worlds. The transition from her previous life to this new one was an indistinct, ethereal experience, leaving her disoriented and grappling with a profound sense of displacement.

The incomplete transition played tricks on her memory. The remnants of her past life lingered on the fringes of her consciousness, like mist dissipating slowly. The details of who she was and where she had come from eluded her, creating an enigmatic sense of detachment that persisted as she interacted with the small boy who claimed her as his mother.

"Kid, who are you?" she rasped, her voice groggy and weak. The boy jumped, staring at her with wide eyes. "Mom, you were pushed by mean aunty in cold water and did not wake up, and there was no medicine. Aunty and uncle said by morning you'd be dead," the boy wailed. "So, I think you're dead when I woke up," he finished, looking aggrieved.

Bae offered a reassuring smile, "Well, Mommy's alive, but I can't recall who I am or where we are. Maybe death tried to take me to the next life but failed, leaving me with no memories." The boy nodded in understanding, "Yes, that must be it." Bae laughed and struggled to get up; Kai, the small boy, helped her steady herself. "Mother, you call me Kai; I'm your son, 6 winters old. Our father died in war, Mom, after Father died on that army mission, everything changed," Kai recounted, his voice carrying the weight of the past. "The Lus, they said we had to split up. They took the money from Father's life insurance and gave it to Xio, the fourth son, for his marriage. They said we couldn't stay in the main house anymore."

Bae looked around their depleted home, confusion clouding her expression. Kai continued, describing the bad conditions they faced living with the Lu family, though they lived in an average village home. "The Lus were mean, Mother. They scolded us and took our food. Father was a dull guy, easy to use, and didn't stick up for us much. They forced us to split up, but they still treated us badly."

Kai painted a vivid picture of the heartless decision that tore their family apart. The Lus' actions seemed driven by self-interest, diverting the funds meant for supporting a grieving widow and her child to pursue their own goals. It was a cruel turn of events that left Bae and Kai fending for themselves in a world that suddenly seemed harsher than before.

As Kai led her through their modest dwelling, Bae discovered the harsh reality of their existence—wild greens, berries, water, and very little corn flour. It was a meager existence, and Bae sighed, acknowledging the bleakness of their new life. Determined to provide, she set about making pancakes, ignoring Kai's cries, "Mother, this is enough for two days, several meals; please don't spend it all."

Bae gently rubbed Kai's dirty hair and reassured him, "Mother needs it, or else there's no energy to find more food. If we eat this slowly, how can I find strength to go to the mountains all day?" The boy, though initially resistant, eventually understood the necessity.

Before heading out, Bae helped Kai gather firewood and fill the water, emphasizing the importance of waiting for her return. In her last life, Bae had indeed been a tomb raider, a seeker of ancient artifacts, a traveler of diverse landscapes. Now, tasked with the responsibility of caring for Kai, she embarked on a new adventure, navigating the wilderness with a determination to ensure their survival.

As they settled into their makeshift routine, a sense of camaraderie began to blossom amidst the challenges of their new life. One day, while preparing a simple meal together, Bae injected a bit of humor into their conversation.

Bae, with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, pointed to the wild greens and said, "You know, Kai, in my past life, I was a tomb raider, not a master chef. But today, I'm going to make these greens taste like a feast fit for a king!"

Kai, wide-eyed and curious, replied, "Tomb raider? What's that, Mother?"

Bae chuckled, "Oh, it's a long story, but let's just say I used to dig up old things, not cook them. But here we are, making a meal out of whatever we find."

As they continued cooking, Bae playfully added, "If I mess up these pancakes, Kai, we might have to recruit the birds as taste-testers. What do you think?"

Kai laughed, a sound that echoed through the small, makeshift kitchen. "Maybe the birds will appreciate your unique cooking style, Mother!"

With a grin, Bae handed Kai a wooden spoon, saying, "Well, my apprentice, it's time for you to stir the pot and add a dash of adventure to our meal. Remember, a little laughter makes everything taste better!"

As they shared a lighthearted moment, the challenges of their new life seemed to momentarily fade away. In the midst of the wilderness and the unknown, Bae and Kai found solace in each other's company, turning the ordinary tasks of survival into opportunities for laughter and connection.

In her last life, Bae had indeed been a tomb raider, a seeker of ancient artifacts, a traveler of diverse landscapes. Now, tasked with the responsibility of caring for Kai, she embarked on a new adventure, navigating the wilderness with a determination to ensure their survival.

Being tasked with feeding her and a child, she didn't think it too daunting, but she had no experience with kids, cooking family meals, washing, and being a parent. In her last life, she had a girlfriend but no kids, so things felt a bit awkward. Yet, she felt responsible for the child; he shared her blood and had no other, so she would do her best.

Bae, curious about their surroundings, turned to Kai, her young and eager companion, and asked, "Kai, could you tell Mommy more about this place? What's around us?"

Kai, with a sparkle in his eyes and an air of importance, began his explanation in a way only a child could:

"Okay, Mommy! So, we live in Emberidge, that's our village. It's like a tiny dot in Eldoria, the big country we're in. And Eldoria is so huge that you can't even see the end of it! In the middle of Eldoria is Celestria, the biggest city ever. It's like a mountain of houses and people! We've never been there, though. Too far!"

Bae nodded, encouraging him to continue.

"Then, there's Everstead. It's like Emberidge, but bigger! It has more houses and more people. Some say they have better pancakes there, but I think yours are the best, Mommy!"

Bae chuckled at Kai's sweet compliment.

"Beyond Everstead are lots of mountains, big and tall! And, way past the mountains, people say there are forests where magical creatures live. But it's scary, so we don't go there. We stay here in Emberidge."

Bae smiled, marveling at Kai's vivid imagination and the simplicity of his world. She couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and comfort in their quaint village, surrounded by the love of a child who saw magic in every corner of their modest home.

"That's wonderful, Kai! Thank you for telling Mommy about our little piece of Eldoria."

Kai observed his mother with wide eyes, sensing a subtle change in her demeanor—perhaps less fragile, more resilient. Contemplating whether to disclose a warning about the people she trusted before, he hesitated for a moment, uncertain about how to broach the subject. Bae, still grappling with the fragments of her past and the amnesia that clouded her memories, awaited his words.

"Mother," Kai began cautiously, "there are people, well, they say they are our family. But, they're not like you and me. They're different, not in a good way."

Bae furrowed her brow, "Different? What do you mean, Kai?"

With a troubled expression, Kai continued, "They're the Lus, the ones who said you were dead and pushed you into the cold water. They took everything from us, Mother, and now they want us to live in the old ancestral home outside the village."

Bae's eyes searched Kai's face for the truth, a mixture of confusion and concern playing on her features. "The Lus? Are they... good people?" she asked, sensing the gravity of Kai's words.

Kai shook his head solemnly, "No, Mother, they are not. They hurt us, took Father's money, and kicked us out. They lied about you being dead. I found you, and you're alive, but you don't remember. They did something bad to you, Mother."

As Bae tried to absorb the shocking revelation, a sense of protectiveness welled up within her. Despite the haze of amnesia, she felt an instinctive need to shield Kai from the malevolence of the Lus.

"We won't go with them, Kai. We'll stay here," Bae declared, a newfound determination in her voice. "Even if I can't remember everything, I can feel that we deserve better than what they want for us. We'll make our own way, away from the darkness they brought into our lives."

"Kai, what are their names? If people know, I can't recall, and they might start feeding me lies for their own gain. I only have and trust you," she told the small boy, smiling at the pride that shone in the boy's eyes.

Kai looked up at his mother, a glimmer of pride reflected in his eyes. With a sense of responsibility, he took a deep breath and began, "Mother, the Lus are... the patriarch, the one who claimed you were dead, is named Deng Lu. His wife, the one who always scolded me, is Mei Lu. The three living sons are Jie Lu, Han Lu, and Xiu Lu."

Bae listened intently, her trust in Kai growing stronger with every word. She smiled at him, grateful for the honesty and loyalty he exhibited. "Thank you, Kai. Knowing the truth is important, and I trust you to be my guide in this unfamiliar journey. We'll face whatever comes our way together."