Wounded Pride

"Oh my goodness, are you okay!?" She asks reaching for me. I let out a soft chuckle before saying "I'm fine, really. I just wasn't paying attention. That and I don't really get along with nature." She blinks in confusion and helps me up.

She looks at my appearance and cringes as she says "Your cheek has been scratched and you're bleeding. Are you sure you're, okay?" My smile twitches a little as I nod. I reach up and lightly tap my cheek.

I hiss a little but it's not that deep. It will heal just fine with proper care. Plus, I know a wicked potion that can heal all scars. Well, assuming they have the same plants and ingredients. I try to brush the dirt off my black pants but it's kinda a lost cause at this point.

She reaches up and plucks a few leaves out of my hair with an awkward smile. I smile back before asking "What's your name?" Her eyes light up as she bows and says, "My name is Li Mei, you can call me Mei if you want."

My smile grows as I nod my head and awkwardly mimic her bow before saying "My name is Lyra." She brightens even more as she says "It's nice to meet you Lyra. That's... a unique name." I look her in the eyes before silently nodding.

Her smile grows warm as she says "You really aren't from here. Are you like a deity? The ones we hear about in the stories?" I raise my eyebrows and shrug my shoulders. I don't want to lie but I also have no idea what a deity is.

When I look past her, I see a town further up ahead. When she sees me looking behind her, she turns and says "Oh, that's the town I live in. My family must be worried sick. We better hurry back before it gets dark!"

I nod and let her lead the way as I watch my footing. As soon as we're on an actual path, I sigh with relief. The town was actually a lot bigger and farther away than I had originally thought. I was so tired and thirsty; it wasn't even funny.

If I really did go to a new world, I need to find a way to survive. I wasn't off to a great start. As we reach the gate, I see carriages leave. Yeah, carriages! I look up at the large walls in wonder before sighing. Seeing the swords and primitive weapons the guards are using at the gate, I can tell I'm not in my world, or at least not in my right timeline.

She grabs my hand as everyone starts to stare at me. I then remember my outfit. I suddenly understand why the men acted that way when they first saw me. The women were wearing beautiful, bright dresses while the men wore long... shirts? It almost looked like dresses but that wasn't quite right.

She quickly pulls me along as everyone stops to stare. Some women gasp while others try to cover their husbands' eyes. I look down again, suddenly feeling very out of place. As we take another turn, I hear men yelling "It's the young Miss! She's back!"

Li Mei lifts her free hand and waves as she tightens her grip on me. She pulls me as someone on a horse comes charging our way. I want to back away or move but Li Mei just stops. I'm about to pull her to the side when the man riding the horse yells out "Little Mei!"

I watch as he effortlessly stops the horse and slides off it. In the blink of an eye, he's before us and grabbing Li Mei. He pulls her into a large hug and holds her tight. I try to pull my hand away, feeling awkward but I'm surprised by her grip.

He pulls her back and starts looking her over asking her if she's okay as I check him out. He definitely looks better than the men out in the woods. I watch them silently for a moment and then nod. Okay, he's actually really good-looking, whatever.

When he checks her arms, he notices our hands. Only then does he look at me. As soon as our eyes lock, he freezes. Oh, he looks even better when he's looking straight at you, especially with those pitch-black eyes and black hair.

Li Mei clears her throat and says "Brother Jie, this is Lyra. She saved me from the three men that were attacking me." Finally, he blinks. He looks at Li Mei with anger and fear before saying "We will discuss this inside."

Because Li Mei refuses to let go of my hand, he has no other choice but to grab her free hand. He leads us down a few streets before we come to a large... house? Li Mei squeezes my hand and says, "This is the Li Manor, our home."

I look at the large house and nod as her brother leads us further in. When we first enter, I hear a woman cry out "Mei Mei! My sweet girl, what happened!? Are you okay?" The woman rushes forward and embraces Li Mei in a tight hug.

I try to pull my hand away once again, but she tightens her grip. My hand is turning purple at this point! Okay!? I lean back, trying to pull away when I look up. I freeze as my eyes meet her brother's eyes. He looks at his sister before looking back at me. He can clearly see me trying to get away. Why is she so freaking strong!?