Lofi Library

    ----     The week of graduation came and she was induced into labor. The pain of labor put into perspective how a goat or deer must feel when attacked by a large cat. Fear and excitement coursed through her veins as an unknown sensation burned and felt cold at the same time. The doctor calmly instructed Kaori to push. Kaori, clenching her fist and face turning read, pushed as hard as possible. The feeling of cold she felt earlier intensified while consuming and making the burn almost an afterthought. Her vision starts to fade until she hears a nurse yell, "Her blood pressure is dropping!" She wills her eyes open, but the world fades to black.

    The sensation of cold and heat leave her mind. There is no pain, and she feels as though she is floating. Her mind is completely blank. She hears a faint hum of the lights above her bed, but cannot hear the frantic voices she once heard giving status updates. After what seems like an eternity, the lights she had heard so clearly flashes in into her eyes. Her eyes open wide and she can feel tears flowing. She doesn't understand why she is crying since she doesn’t feel pain anymore. But her vision is also blurry so she can’t make out the doctors and nurses, but it seems as though they are also muffled to her ears. She closes her eyes again.

    Finally calming down and hearing the babies cry also slowing she is finally able to open her eyes. Across from her she sees a woman laying in a bed that can only be described as a worn down cot. Despite this Kaori can only focus on how beautiful the woman is. She has light brown hair, warm golden skin, but her eyes, green as they were, felt lifeless. Despite her eyes peering directly at Kaori, it was as if the woman wasn't looking at her at all. The woman was laying down in a bed, covered in tattered sheets. Kaori kept looking at her thinking to herself, "Why is she here? Why did the doctors let the woman rest in such a dingy place? Did I pass out? What kind of hospital has these conditions for patients?" She try's to look around to try and find her baby. Her body is still weak and her head falls back onto something soft. She can still hear the soft crying coming from right beside her. As she looks around, she sees a man above her. Her head is resting on his arm. She suddenly feels very small and finally notices that the man is holding her. She is finally able to grasp the situation. This place is not a hospital. Her baby is not anywhere around. She looks back at the man holding her. She sees the kind face of a stranger that is holding her. He is smiling at her, but she can see sadness in his eyes. Kaori try's to ask, "What is happening?", but all she can hear is a baby's coo. Then it finally dawns on her. She tries to raise her head again looking at her own soft plump hands. [I'm the baby.] ----     For the first part of her life Kaori couldn't do much. She was too small and not used to her body. Her lack of muscular strength was akin to having to go through physical therapy. She had to be particularly careful with her head. It also didn't help that there wasn't much to eat. In fact for the first week of her life she lived off a special liquid that her father had to continuously make from a mixture of nuts, boiled water, and herbs. Kaori reasoned that this mixture was the equivalent of a soymilk with added vitamins. It was for the most part tasteless, but did leave a bitter aftertaste that faded after a few minutes. During this time they traveled north. Or at least this worlds equivalent. When the trip was finally finished, they arrived at a church that her father seemed to be familiar with. At this church a number of children were running around in the main worship hall. It had stained glass windows with pictures of dragons and wizards on them. The children varied in age, from small but able to walk to young adult. There a woman clad in black clothing wet nursed Kaori once a week for a few months. The details from that part of her life, including those who helped, are hazy to Kaori. After about 6 months they had to leave. Kaori's lone father raised her as best as he could. Her mother had died during the birth and it seemed that Kaori, in her pervious life, had as well. She could only speculate as to how she had died in the other world. Hemorrhage was the most common cause and would account for the nurse's comment about blood pressure and the cold sensation that took hold of her body.     As for her mother, it was more probable that malnutrition led to anemia. Even the smallest amount of blood loss that happened could have been enough. By 4 years old it was an understatement to say she was different. She could stand, walk, run, and even articulate way above her father's capabilities. Originally she didn't understand the language, but it seems that in her current state she seemed to soak up knowledge pretty quick. The stories that her father had told her about him and her mother as a child gave her insight on the language. It is also how she came to the conclusion of her mother's death. Her father had told the story of a harsh winter that left many of the things they normally had eaten unable to properly eat.     Kaori had also wondered why her father had yet to name her. It seemed as though it was the custom of her father to not name a baby after it was born. The child was to give itself a name. Much to his surprise, Kaori became able to speak much earlier than any other infant he had ever heard of. When asked what she would like to be called, Kaori gave herself a name of an object she had never seen nor heard before. "Kaori," said Kaori. After hearing the name her father transitioned from relief that the name was a very pretty name to shock that she even came up with it. When his brain finally caught up to the surprise he felt, he asked, "How did you come up with that name honey?" Kaori instantly realizing her mistake came up with the only excuse she could think of appropriate for such a smart child, "I made it up. It sounds pretty!" Her father's face relaxes and he smiles, "Yes, yes it is very pretty. One day I would like to show you something that may make you like that name even more. There is a place where water goes beyond sight. There are objects there that are pretty. As pretty as your name. One day I hope to show you the ocean." Kaori blushes. She feels both happy, angry, and guilty. Though she looks like a child, she has the mind of an adult. She feels as though she is being talked down to. She knows she caused this by hiding her past life, but she knows she can't reveal this as it may cause unwanted consequences. How would he react? Would he understand? Would he take her seriously? She lets all these feelings stay inside of her, but she is still happy that her father actually likes her name. After being able to speak she started helping her father more. Communication between the two helped in coordinating hunts, gathering, and teachings. Her small size has helped her in this new world, but she was growing fast. ----     The world she is now experiencing is also extremely different. It's beautiful yet dangerous. It's astounding and intriguing. It looks straight out of a fantasy novel. It sets Kaori's mind ablaze at the different possibilities, yet she keeps the danger of the unknown at the forefront of her mind. There are familiar aspects that seem to not differ at all, like trees and some types of animals. That being said different races, animals, and even monsters exist, but... and this is a big but, this world has fallen into a zombie apocalypse situation. She is totally enthralled by it all. There are towns left empty of life, but people would be better off not going anywhere near them. Small farmsteads are the safest as long as you are prepared. You have to make sure to clear the houses first as well as make sure no-one else has taken occupancy. People are constantly on the move. Elves, dwarves, humans, different types of demi-demons, and other races coexist on a limited scale. This coexistence usually consist of bands of people in makeshift factions. [I know I should be scared and sad but , I've had more than enough time to morn my previous life. Now I have to embrace my new reality. The different cultures existing in this world are an amazing opportunity. Scared can come later or hopefully not at all.] Kaori becomes completely enthralled listening to her father explain the state of the world. Her father doesn't quite understand the excitement, but entertains her nonetheless. He is human and Kaori's mother was a wood elf. This makes her a "half-elf." He also explains that magic used to exist, but from what he could gather it is one of the reasons the world is in such a state. He explains that her mother is part of a race that lives a lot longer than his own. She knew a time when magic was part of daily life, but after a certain time it became feared. People realized they didn't quite understand the nature of it, and that if you messed it up, things could go wrong. If anyone knows how to use it now, Kaori's father hasn't seen it. She ponders what kind of magic existed. She doesn't quite understand how it caused the world to become how it is now, but if it truly is the reason she may not want to actually see anyone using it despite her growing curiosity. The people that they have encountered have been less than friendly. She knows it's a danger to even try to talk to anyone, but she would love a chance to actually get to know them and get to know who and how they use to be. ----     Her and her father sometimes have to dodge raiders and slaver type individuals. Most of them tend to be humans, but due to the region they are in, they don't tend to see too many humans either. The human nation was north of the fort that is north west of her father's hideout. The fort is a choke point between two mountain ranges and acts as a natural barrier to the forest, tribes, and cities to the southern part of the continent. Kaori's stature and speech get mistaken for a Fae. The Fae are this world's equivalent of a small forest type race. The only thing that distinguishes her from them is her fairer skin. While she is fair skinned compared to the Fae she would closer to the description of "tanned." Fae have a variety of skin colors but all are fairly dark or green tinted. They range from olive to a deeply stained wood color. Kaori hasn't seen any herself. Her father says they live inside of a tree network. It's a space where spirits can go. He told her stories of the Elves in this region and how the Fae were something of a messenger service. The life force of the forest is linked no matter which entrance the Fae used. So their rate of travel from tree to tree within a single forest was instantaneous. The Fae are extremely secretive of what is within the lifeforce and how they interact with one another inside of it. But this made the interactions with them and the Elves advantageous. Elves would ask them to pass along messages. As long as it was within the same forest it could be instantly transmitted once the Fae takes it. However each Fae is different. They require the elves to provide something that they personally want. This is the Fae's way of being used as a living cell phone. The message must be worth what you pay to send it correct? So when found in a forest people will assume that she is a Fae. Regardless her father says it helps to let people assume she is way older than she really is. It helps to deter thieves and the like because at any moment she could just pop into the lifeforce of the forest and bring backup. ----     Her father has also taught her how to move around in the woods quicker. His time with Kaori's mother taught him well. He tells Kaori stories of her mother during the quiet times. It helps break the silence as well as brings him joy. He explains how beautiful she was having olive skin, long light brown hair, and freckles. Kaori still remembers her faintly. Her mother was really thin, but since everybody is always moving, everybody is. Kaori's father also taught her how to forage the woods. Mushrooms are by far the most abundant and they grow really fast. Her father even has a section of the woods where he will knock over a tree or 2 every few months to give the mushrooms rotting wood to fruit on. When they have an abundance of them they dry them out. These create rations for when times are tough. That's usually when there is a dry spell. Moisture makes more mushrooms. Besides that, wild game such as boar, deer, and wild birds are still around. Wild birds provide eggs. Catching them or killing them is not practical. The eggs are much easier to gather, but they are small. They focus on smaller game such as rabbits and squirrels. These are easy enough to catch with traps. They trade their skins to traders that travel from southwest to north along the main road. They are from a neighboring country that was called Burg. It ruled over the southern half of the continent. Burg was where her mother was from. Her father was from the Northern Kingdom. I asked its name, but he just called it the Northern Kingdom. After some pushing I found out that the major capital of the Northern Kingdom is called Kreshk. Kaori and her father start to see less and less of the traders come through. They mostly get fabrics. Kaori is growing very quickly so she has to make new clothing almost every half year. She thinks she'll be as tall as her mother. ----     Kaori is fairly certain her mother was the reason her father survived as long as he has. He's not particularly fit. His lanky stature does help with climbing. For the first part of her life, they made camp in the trees. He isn't very good at fighting, so he became adept at hiding. When Kaori finally got the hang of her tiny new legs and could run, they could finally work together to create a few safehouses in the wilderness. This was around 1 and a half years old. Small towns aren't so bad to scavenge from, but larger towns and some forts are crawling with the undead. Some are even special types of zombies that act differently than the regular ones. However those same places do tend to hold better stuff that can be used for bartering. They have their eyes set on the fort a few miles north from one of their safehouses. It is particularly swarming with undead. That means that it is possible no-one has looted the place since the zombie outbreak started. They planned on sneaking in when Kaori got a little big bigger. ----     Most of the situations they've been in have been non-zombie issues. People tend to give them the most trouble. Her father, while not physically capable, has a way with words. Humans are simple. They want one of three things: safety, sustenance, or sex. Her small appearance and adult-like articulation usually turns them off to sex. This is because at such an age she wouldn't produce any offspring, but some see Kaori as a valuable slave. When she isn't mistaken for a Fae, they see her as an asset for the future. Her father always has food with him. Most people can't tell the difference between a poisonous mushroom and an edible one. The dried rations they have serve as a good deterrent for murder. They figure if they found them once they can find them again and that means they can get more food. However, Kaori and her father move too much to be found again, and they usually only encounter people close to the roads. The forest they live in has its own dangers. Zombies are silent. They don't breathe. They don't eat. Yes, they attack people but they don't eat them. It seems their only concern is the creation of more zombies. Which is quite ironic considering that's basically all humans can really concentrate on as well, besides food of course. Having a short lifespan compared to the other races means if they don't reproduce humans will go extinct, and it seems as though it was the human nations that the infestations effected the most. With all the conflict created by people in this wasteland, Kaori is honestly surprised she was even born.