'Where the heck am I?'

  Yuzuriha asked as she felt cold water run over her hands, pooling in her palms before slipping through her fingers.

  She leaned forward and let it splash against her face, feeling the sensation spread over her face, it was sharp and grounding.

  For now it allowed her to calm down.

  'If I didn't tell that crazy girl I needed to go to the bathroom, she might have kept wiggling me like crazy. This body's delicate! Doesn't she know that? She should, seeing as she's my older sister and all'

  'Also, how come she's so strong? Even for a girl, her strength is bizarre'

  Through Marcille's handgrip alone, Yuzuriha could feel the underlying strength she possessed. It terrified her.

  'This just made me even more curious to where I am. Being blind isn't doing me any favors either'

  Yuzuriha had already established that she wasn't in Japan anymore, she was in another country. Unfortunately, she wasn't well versed in the cultures of other countries, she couldn't even recognize the language they were speaking.

  'At least I can understand it. This would have been even more tricky if I couldn't. How I'm able to understand it is still a mystery but ah well. No use in trying to solve the unsolvable'

  The bathroom was quiet, save for the gentle trickle of water. She reached out blindly, fingers brushing along the porcelain sink before finding a towel nearby.

  She dried her face with it, the texture felt a bit rougher than she expected but she still continued using it. Set it aside once she was done and faced forward.

  'Like all bathroom sinks, there should be a mirror in front of me. Not that's going to be useful. I can't see anything'

  Yuzuriha thought back to the last time she looked at a mirror. Back then she was looking at a beautiful middle aged woman. If she could see, she probably would be looking at a child no older than 10 years old.

  "Are you done?"

  The voice came behind her. Yuzuriha turned her head slightly to acknowledge it. When she came here, she was accompanied by Willow, so those light approaching footsteps were hers.

  "Yeah, I'm done. Thanks"

  She said, caressing her delicate skin. Willow reached past her and the faucet squeaked, stopping the running water.

  'I could have done it by myself, you know'

  Yuzuriha wanted to say it but she left it in her mind for now. The little girl's only trying to help and she can fully understand that.

  'Still, having everything being done for you is a hassle. It makes me feel like a burden who can't do anything by herself'

  That must be how they treated the old Yor. Yuzuriha committed that to memory.

  Speaking of memory, a sudden thought struck her.

  "There done. Water's all closed up. Do you need anything else, Yor?"

  The little girl asked, her warm energy positively brimming from her voice. This did set her at ease to what she was about to ask.

  "H-hey, Willow, sorry to ask this out of the blue like this but…what do I look like?"

  There was a pause.

  Yuzuriha couldn't see the girl's reaction, but the slight movement of air told her that Willow had turned toward her and inhaled a breath.

  "For real? You want me to tell you?"

  "I just…I don't know. I never thought about it before. Can you do it please?"

  Yuzuriha forced a smile and waited for Willow's response.

  "Ok, give me a second. I need to look at you right"

  "Woah"

  Yuzuriha pulled herself back at Willow's warm breath, which had suddenly gotten closer.

  "Yor, you're kind of funny looking. Don't take this the wrong way. Your blonde hair's all messy, like you just woke up, all these little strands sticking out everywhere! It's like a bird's nest, but a cute one! Oh, oh! And your eyes? They're weird, but in a cool way! All white in the middle like little moons!"

  She paused, tapping her chin before adding.

  "We're the same age but you are smaller than me. I feel like I could just pick you up and carry you around"

  As she said that, Yuzuriha stretched out her small hand and wiggled her fingers, to get a feel of them. And then…a huge smile crossed her face.

  "Woah, that's incredible. What age is that?"

  "Um, 13!"

  There was a slight hesitation before she blurted that out. She was probably thinking about it.

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  "I'm 13 years old? I thought I was much younger than that"

  "Hmph, just because we're the same age don't think of getting any ideas. I'm still 4 days older than you!"

  "Alright, alright. I get it, big sis Willow"

  Whatever flame was ignited in her turned into a giggle, a cute one. Willow must have enjoyed asserting her dominance onto her, the youngest in the house.

  And then, Yuzuriha had a realization.

  'This kid, I can squeeze as much information out of her without coming off as being suspicious. That's if she isn't sharp.'

  "Yor! Willow! What's taking you guys so long?! Supper's going to get cold if you don't hurry up! And you know how cranky Leo gets!"

  "I don't get cranky!"

  Marcille shouted, but her voice was muffled by the thin walls. The same went for Leo.

  The time now was 18h30, way past dinner time, in her old world that is. She still didn't know how things worked in this country.

  "Big sis's calling us, let's hurry!"

  The little girl grabbed her small hand and hurriedly pulled her toward the door. Yuzuriha didn't resist but she couldn't help staggering around. She still hadn't gotten used to this body yet.

  'Aww man, I still had more questions to ask…'

  Indeed, she had. Asking Leo or Marcille over dinner would definitely raise some suspicion. So her only target was the innocent Willow.

  Even though she had more information about herself now, she still didn't feel fulfilled.

  It wasn't enough to set her mind at ease.

  "I didn't get the chance to ask what country I am in?"

  As soon as she asked, an answer came to her mind.

  "The Southern Kingdom of Tinsel"

  ***

  The Southern Kingdom of Tinsel.

  The Radiant Jewel of the Auren Continent.

  Where order is gold, manners are iron, and every soul plays their part in the great performance of society.

  Among common folk and nobles alike, Tinsel is seen as the most refined and dignified nation in the known world—the crown of civilization!

  A bastion of culture, etiquette and divine order. The streets are said to glimmer with polished stone, the air hums with soothing music and the law is as firm as marbles.

  Absolutely ridiculous!

  Yuzuriha didn't know where this sudden flood of knowledge came from, but from what she's seen—experienced, it's all bull.

  'The image the government projects on its people never changes.'

  From the moment Yuzuriha reincarnated into this life, she was thrown into what seemed like a mugging which resulted in the death of the little girl Yor.

  'But to be fair, I haven't seen this place all that much, so I could be judging it too early. Still…

  I wonder, should I tell them? I'm not their little sister, at that alleyway, the real one actually died'

  For a while, that thought had been plaguing Yuzuriha's mind. Say what you will about her, she was still human.

  Taking the role of their little sister and acting like nothing happened made her feel guilty, like she was some sort of imposter.

  Listening to them now—

  Marcille was going off like she was retelling a legendary tale.

  "And then this thing, right? This…disgusting, slimy crab-thing with way too many eyes in its mouth, it stank, I swear. Came crawling out of the sand. I took one look and went 'Not today, buddy!'. So I grabbed my spear and shwoom! Right through its nasty little mouth!"

  "Gross!"

  Willow squealed but at the same time laughing. She smacked the table once for dramatic effect which earned her a little giggle from Leo.

  "What kind of crab has eyes in its mouth?!"

  Leo asked in a voice full of innocent disbelief, and Marcille answered that with a mouth full of food.

  "The kind that deserves to get punted halfway across the dunes!"

  "You kicked it?!"

  Willow gasped.

  "With my spear!"

  Marcille must have winked when she said that because a burst of laughter filled the room. Everyone was laughing, excluding the blind girl, who was frowning.

  'A crab monster? What is she talking about? Could she be messing with them or something? Well, they are kids so she could be exaggerating. That said, what kind of job does big sis, uh…Marcille, work in to tell an absurd story like that?'

  Yuzuriha sat at the table with them, bowl in front of her and a spoon nestled between her fingers. Not only was she confused about what they were talking about, but she was also very interested.

  The air in this place was…peaceful. No, not peaceful. It was…

  "Warm"

  And she wasn't a part of it.

  Yuzuriha dipped her spoon into the bowl and felt the thick and heavy stew. She couldn't see the contents, but the smell was smoky, with that sweet undertone of roasted root vegetables.

  When she tasted it, the flavor bloomed across her tongue. It was soft meat, probably lamb, boiled tender and seasoned with something earthly.

  'It's delicious!'

  She almost blurted that out like last time, but she was aware of it this time.

  She ate it slowly while listening to more than their conversation. Since she couldn't see, her other senses had been heightened.

  Yuzuriha could feel every vibration in the wood through her fingers resting on the table's edge. Every footstep, every tap, every shift in breath—she could feel it all.

  It was almost like a super power!

  It's mostly how she was able to navigate her way through the dinner table without needing help. They probably knew that too, the reason why they weren't trying to assist her in eating.

  'Is this how it's like for blind people?'

  As she wondered that, Willow suddenly snapped her out her thoughts with a question.

  "Hey, Yor. Are you ok? You haven't said anything since we sat down"

  Yuzuriha hesitated for a moment, grip tightening on the spoon. She certainly couldn't tell them what she was thinking.

  How would they even respond to that? Would their reactions be good or bad?

  Well, considering these are kids so they would most likely lean toward the latter.

  Yuzuriha's lips parted then closed. A quick enough lie wasn't surfacing!

  The dinner table had gone silent. They all must have been staring at her with either curious or suspicious gazes.

  Say something!

  "I…"

  As she tried, her voice suddenly caught on something invisible, something coiled and cold inside her throat.

  'I can't speak!'

  No matter how much she tried, not a word was coming out. This almost made her panic, but she immediately redirected that energy in shaking her head vigorously.

  This motion didn't outright answer the little girl's question, luckily she didn't press. Nobody at the table did. They just went back to eating, the clattering of dishes made that apparent.

  "Willow, Stop bothering Yor. She is clearly tired, can't you see that?"

  Leo said in a snarky tone.

  "You're so mean. Yor would never get tired of me, you're just jealous she likes me more!"

  Willow proclaimed as she leaned her head against Yuzuriha's shoulder. She didn't move away, but she didn't lean back, either. Probably to not get involved in whatever was going on.

  Even though she was the subject of topic.

  "Whatever"

  Leo dismissed the little girl as he went back to eating his food. And Willow gave off a small giggle to celebrate her win, she must have been grinning at Leo too.

  'Heh. Cute'

  For a good moment, there was only silence. That was until Marcille cleared her throat.

  "Alright, alright. Enough storytelling for now. Eat up you two. Yor, finish up. It's time to practice"

  Marcille said as she stood up, the wood under feet creaking softly. At first, Yuzuriha didn't respond for obvious reasons.

  The first being the fact she hadn't gotten used to being called Yor, and the second, was the thoughts that welled up inside her mind whenever that name was mentioned.

  Yuzuriha knew very well that she wasn't Yor. That little girl had died in a dark alley. Yuzuriha had just…walked into her skin like it was some old dress left behind.

  Even if she pretended to play house with them, it still wouldn't change that fact.

  "Please don't give me that, Yor. You know it's important to practice controlling your astris. Now come on, let's hurry"

  When Marcille called to her again, Yuzuriha quickly pushed her chair back and stood up, walking up to her older sister.

  'Practice? Astris?'