Trough the lush green leaves a forest ending could be seen. Children's laughter could be heard and a woman's voice as well. Mikey unconsciously smiled as she saw two girls playing catching while their mother stood there and smiled brightly.
The house that they lived in couldn't even be called a house. It was more cottage. Made of random branches, not even logs. Mikey felt suddenly worried about their life even tho they had nothing to do with herself.
The woman smiled at her and just now Mikey could see clearly her face. Same mongoloid eyes on the whole family that showed Asian heritage but no strangeness or weird expression. Pure kindness.
She was not smaller than her and had a nice lean body, but the hard life could be seen in her dark circles under her eyes and few wrinkles around it, sprouting slowly.
''Welcome.'' A soft voice made her warm from inside out and Mikey flashed again her teeth making the two girls stunned.
''Mom, the strange woman is so pretty. Can't we keep her?'' One of the girls stared at Mikey directly with big eyes.
''You... How can you keep her? She is not a beast. Come, child. I am sure you are hungry. We do not have many tasty things but it will be fine for all of us to fill our stomach.'' She pointed at the table filled with all kinds of vegetables and foods.
Mikey suddenly felt hungry. Then she remembered. Since lunchtime, she had nothing to eat and it passed a long time. Looking at the food that smelled deliciously she accepted it.
''Then let me be thick faced and join you in. I anyway have few questions.'' She was really curious about this world.
''Mom, I have to warn you. She lost memory.'' Na'an just sat down and started filling his plate and the two girls joined him.
The woman sighed and then came closer. She rose her hands and warm light enveloped Mikey's body making her feel warm. It lasted only a moment and the woman shook her head.
''Your memory I cant replenish, only time can. But I heald somewhat that little coldness in your bones. It should make you feel warm for a long time. Luckily you have a healthy body. There was not much to repair.'' She pulled Mikey's hand and let her sit down on the table with children that were munching already happily.
''Then can you tell me what is this world, where am I and what are those powers I just saw?'' She ate slowly as she asked the quiet woman.
''This world contains nine continents. Two continents are without a name as there lives no one. They are wasted from a past war. No one can live there ever again. The other continents are Maal, Kouk, Samo, Maana, Feril, Paslo and this one Bibao. This continent contains six countries as it is the smallest continent of all. Asli, Oal, Peso, Sassky, Alixed and Mead. Do you remember your name? Maybe by your name, we can find your family.'' Her eyes were warm and made Mikey feel comfortable so she chose to tell the truth.
With deep inhale, she was about to tell the whole truth when she again heard a woman's voice. ''It's fine. just name.'' She completely could see on her face that she was faking her memory loss. But why did she let her join and why did she explain everything. Is this occurrence normal?
With a calm voice, she explained. ''I will tell you all. There is nothing to hide actually.''
But the woman just shook her head. ''You can tell me later. My name is Naalan Ko and these are my children. Na'an you met, Kiu and Mae. And now, your name, please.''
Mikey could only sigh. ''Mikey Shiri.''
Na'an stopped eating and looked at her with a big smile. ''We could call toy Mi Shi... or Shi Shi''
Kiu was the youngest and shook her head. ''Big sister Mikey, I like your name as it is.''
The other two just looked at each other and with resignation just shrugged.
On the other side, Mikey almost started laughing. -They almost called the name my father called me, Mimi...- On her face sadness fleeted for second and disappeared quickly but was caught in warm eyes of Nalan Ko.
''Mikey, as you are new here stay with us for a while so we can teach you everything you need to survive. I know our home might look small but it is fine as long we are together.'' Nalan Ko just simply offered and what could Mikey do. Of course, she accepted it, but looking at the house she smiled brightly at her.
''May I ask you a question, but don't get angry on me.'' Mikey tried to ask her carefully.
Nala Ko ate and just nodded. ''Of course, there is no question in this world that could make me now angry anymore.''
''How long do you live in this... place.'' She pointed at the house with her head.
''Oh, that... we came here a couple of days ago. There was no other lace that dared to accept us.'' Nala Ko smiled withs corn on her lips.
''Is it hard to tell me what happened?'' There must be a background story behind it.
She nodded. ''Later. I will tell you later. Now eat. You look so pale.''
Mikey touched her face and opened one of the bags. She took a small mirror outside and checked her appearance. Nope, the same as usual. Blue eyes, blond hair, small lips, crooked nose and pale face.
Yes, crooked nose. Not straight than with a small hunch on top of it. But she found it cute. It was the same as her father had and she never cared about current modern faces. So what if her face such a flaw. To her is something that made her a bit more, unique. Searching on her faces he found hse still looked fine.
As she rose her eyes she was about to speak when she found them all staring at the pink accessory in her hand in wonder. Even Nalan Ko was curious. ''What is that?''
''A mirror?'' Wait, what? They have powers and all kinds of strange stuff, but no mirrors?
Looking at her perplexed face Nalan Ko realized she really didn't come from these lands.
''What is the mirror used for?'' She asked carefully.
''To reflect back your image. You don't have such things?'' She was now even more perplexed when Nalan Ko shook her head.
''Wow. I think this world is not that forward as I thought. I guess we really need to talk.'' She packed the mirror back carefully. If they have no idea what a mirror is, she can't afford losing it. Definitely not.
She quickly filled her stomach a bit more and stopped. As she glanced at Nalan Ko she could see she was curious to talk to her as well. Before leaving the table she ordered kids to clean the dishes and went into the house to talk to Mikey.
Inside was just as she expected it. Two self-made beds with a couple of covers. Few packages on side hanging. Inside it seemed to be clothing and that's it. Literally. Boy, even those people living on street sin her city had more things than this woman and her children. How did they survive so far by now?
She sat down and as Nalan Ko started talking many things came in place...