《Where The Tallest Tree Grows [Reincarnation Isekai]》


 Chapter 1 — Where It All Began

    I think I was dreaming before my consciousness arrived here.


    Not again¡­are the first words that come to mind when I finally see my new self¡ª-the girl staring back at me in the reflection of the estate''s pond. Maybe I died a few minutes, days or perhaps even years ago¡­I can''t remember. Only, this feels familiar in the worst of ways. But why?


    And I''m much shorter than what I expected when I first opened my eyes here.


    Around the pond the garden seems to stretch on for miles, filled with a scintillating glow and flowers blooming all around. There seems to be a manor not too far away. I wish I knew the reason for my existence, or even my name, but¡­


    Nothing.


    My mind is absolutely empty.


    ¡°Hazel! Hazel¡ªwhere are you?¡± a voice calls out to me in the distance. I turn to face a young woman in a maid¡¯s dress, her long ginger hair is an elegant sight as it sways in the wind once she runs toward me. I wonder if it¡¯s the stress from waking up, or if at some point I''ll realize this was all some bad dream and I''ll be able to laugh it off once I open my eyes, but observing her makes me dizzy. And soon, the world spins. Everything is dark again. It occurs to me that my skin is drenched, carrying the stink of pondwater. I wonder, briefly, if I was swimming before. But those thoughts are long gone when I sink into shadows that grab at my limbs, until I am dragged underneath the ground. ¡°Help!¡± I cry out, as I reach into the dark void that has surrounded me. ¡°Help me, please, I¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hazel, it¡¯s all right!¡±


    I blink, and turn my head to the side. I''m laying in bed now with my head pressed against what could possibly be the softest pillow in the land. Above me is a silhouette, and for a brief instant, the image of a woman I feel like I knew in a past life flashes in my mind¡ªuntil the blur in my vision clears, replaced by the maid from earlier, once more.


    ¡°H-Huh?¡±


    I reach out to her on instinct, and then¡ªtears stream down my face. I''m so confused, my voice is so high, I feel like I¡¯m a child all over again. I am a child. But I remember things.


    So many things.


    Tall buildings made of silver.


    Strange contraptions that could carry people to places at such fast speeds.


    I feel like I''ve lived a long life before this one, I just wish I could remember.


    ¡°Hazel¡­¡± The maid presses a cool cloth to my forehead, she looks genuinely worried for me; oddly, that is an expression I don''t ever recall seeing on anyone in my past.


    Without thinking too much, I find myself smiling back. ¡°You keep calling me Hazel,¡± I croak, as I continue to observe her, and how the sunlight bathes her pale skin in tangerine lights. How much time has passed since I arrived here? Is the sun already going down? ¡°Is that who I am?¡± I ask. ¡°Hazel?¡±


    The name feels wrong, but it''s better than being nameless, for now.


    ¡°Oh, honey.¡± The maid puts the back of her hand to my cheek this time, as if to check my temperature. Her brows arch up in pure concern again. ¡°It''s only a mild fever, and yet you¡¯re so confused¡­¡± The maid shakes her head. ¡°This won¡¯t do.¡± She gives my hand a reassuring squeeze, before she rises again from where she¡¯d been kneeling at my side. ¡°I''ll be right back, Hazel, I think we should call a healer just in case¡ª¡±


    My eyes widen. ¡°No! Wait!¡± I lunge at her. My voice is dry, I wish I had some water. Yet as my pulse rapidly beats inside my head, as I cling to my maid, the only thought that enters my mind is: I must stop her.


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    I must stop her.


    I must stop her.


    Because I feel like if she were to call someone right now, they would realize that I am not me, not Hazel. And gods only know what they do to outsiders here.


    First, before anything, I need to learn more about this world. And more about me. I¡¯d like to figure out how I got here, why I am here, and why I am a girl¡ªwhy it is familiar, and not, all the same.


    Has my soul been crafted from two people?


    Have I been cursed?


    ¡°I¡ª¡± I clear my throat as I raise my head. ¡°I mean¡­¡± I stare up at my maid apologetically, and muster the best smile I can, even when being in this vessel feels foreign. ¡°I think I feel a little better now.¡± I hope she doesn''t notice the lie in my voice¡ªin Hazel¡¯s voice¡ªbut what¡¯s done is done, this¡¯ll have to do. ¡°Could I just have some water and food, uh¡­¡± I zone out. ¡°Pretty please?¡±


    My maid¡¯s eye twitches.


    She looks over her shoulder, towards the long and seemingly endless corridor to make sure no one is around, before she stares down at me again and rests her hands against her hips. ¡°Pretty please?¡± she scowls, her golden eyes seem to glow and see right through me. ¡°Hazel never talks like you¡ªwho are you, really?¡± she asks me, and I freeze.


    ¡°Um¡­H-Hazel?¡± My voice squeaks as I force the name out past my lips.


    The maid takes a deep breath and observes me for another moment, before she finally sighs then pinches the bridge of her nose. ¡°Right, I sure hope that''s true¡­¡±


    My maid turns around once more. As her back faces my gaze, I wonder what sort of face she could possibly be making in this moment. Until her shoulders fall, once she takes another breath. ¡°Hazel would¡­always demand I be punished for even walking out of line. I¡ª¡± She sighs. ¡°I do not know what has gotten into you, or if it is the fever, but¡­¡± Hazel¡¯s¡ªor, I suppose, my maid takes another breath and looks to the ground. ¡°I am glad we''re finally getting along now, Hazel. I will¡­return with your water soon, thank you for being so merciful today,¡± she quickly tells me, before the heels of her shoes echo and tap against the marble flooring.


    I watch her leave in complete, utter silence and disbelief.


    Hazel sounds like she has a cruel streak for a girl her age, I feel sorry for that maid. But, more than that¡­ My head hangs low as I huff. Somehow, I¡¯ve managed to get away with being me in this strange world. ¡°...What now?¡±


    I frown, then look around and take in my surroundings, all the while I slowly walk back to the bed. I definitely think I was taller in the past¡ªhaving to struggle, to merely haul myself up onto this mattress that¡¯s slightly too high for me, does not feel like it is something I was used to doing. ¡°What a hassle¡­¡± I sigh again. ¡°Still though, this place is¡­¡± My voice trails off, the bedroom I''m in is rather luxurious, a chandelier towers above my head. Though I am likely no older than eight, it seems I have all I could ever want and more, I feel like it would take someone three lifetimes to even buy a quarter of all the toys, jewels and dresses in this room. And honestly, it kind of annoys me. For a kid that has so much, what¡¯s her deal with mistreating her maid? Yet, before I can ponder on the matter any longer, a shimmer in the corner of my eye catches my attention.


    Across Hazel¡¯s desk, is a necklace holding a glass artefact, that contains an iridescent glow in the shape of a star. I want to rise again to inspect it, but the fever makes my head feel heavy. I¡¯m too tired to get up. I¡¯ll check it out later. My heads falls against my pillow once more. This illness feels like an annoyance, though thankfully not a grave one. For now, I''m going to assume what happened back then was just¡­ stress, hopefully.


    I shut my eyes. If I truly did die in a previous life, and this is my new life now, then¡­I should make the most of it. I don''t know if I''ll regain any of my memories, I don''t know what this all means, but I know standing around and waiting for an answer won''t do me any good¡ªI must seek one out myself. As I wriggle into the covers once more and wait for my maid to return, I make a mental note of the things I want to do once I''m better:


    <ol>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Learn more about Hazel so that I can better act like her.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Educate myself on this world, its rules and its customs.</li>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Leave the manor, and explore its environs¡­</li>


    </ol>


    And, of course, I hope at some point I¡¯ll regain my memories and understand the true reason I¡¯ve ended up here, but¡­that is a question for tomorrow¡¯s sunrise.

 Chapter 2 — Light From The Stars

    The strange artefact seems alive as it glows kaleidoscope colors inside the palm of my hand.


    My fever died last night. After eating a rather luxurious breakfast¡ªthat appeared as though it was right from a fairytale banquet¡ª-I escape into the gardens again.


    My legs take me to a maze, where I lose myself inside the greenery on purpose, in hopes of gaining more time to think alone¡­before the manor¡¯s staff can find me.


    I''ve yet to meet Hazel¡¯s parents. From what I¡¯ve gathered from the whispers in the manor, it seems they are out for a meeting of some sorts. I am grateful they aren¡¯t home yet, these past two days have already been quite a lot.


    In the gardens, twittering birds soar above in the swaying trees. I stare down at the glass star whose edges have been sealed within a gold frame, hung around my neck. Within it, colors are shifting and ever-changing from dark maroons to lighter violets then blues. I can''t make sense of what this strange item is meant to be, yet, I feel¡­connected to it, somehow. I want to ask my maid about it, however I would also rather not raise her suspicions any further: it¡¯s clear this  item likely belonged to Hazel, considering how it was on display for all to see in her bedroom. But¡­ My nose scrunches up into a cringe, my brows furrow as I continue to observe the artefact. What does it do?


    I turn the artifact around, then snicker to myself. ¡°Wouldn''t it be funny if  this were some magical item and I were a mage?¡± I bring the shimmering star up to the light of the sun, yet¡­ ¡°That can''t be right¡­¡± The star¡¯s insides turn black, and I freeze. My eyes widen. ¡°Can it?¡±


    ¡°Hazel! There you are!¡±


    ¡°What¡ª¡± I turn my head toward the voice that calls out to me, then drop the artifact on instinct. The star hangs around my neck once more, lifeless, the darkness inside it gone. The sight of my maid¡ªAna-Lea, I heard the gardener call her this morning¡ªrunning to me is the first thing I see once I blink again. ¡°Oh,¡± I say without giving it much thought, ¡°you found me.¡±


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    ¡°Quickly,¡± Ana-Lea says, before she grabs my wrist and tugs me toward her¡ªtoward the maze¡¯s exit. ¡°The Madam and Sir have returned.¡± There is a nervous quiver in her voice. ¡°If you are not where you need to be by the time they enter the manor, they will¡­¡± She trails off as we continue to move. I expect my maid to either elaborate, or continue with her explanation, but she remains silent and does not speak another word.


    So¡­ I tilt my head to stare at her better, then ask, ¡°What will my parents do?¡±


    Ana-Lea squeezes my hand. I notice the way her jaw tightens, when she grits her teeth together. ¡°They will punish you, Hazel, as they always do.¡± Her voice sounds empty, devoid of approval for whatever punishment she speaks of. ¡°So, let us go home¡­¡± When her eyes meet mine her gaze is full of sorrow, and oddly enough, compassion, too. ¡°All right?¡±


    I don''t need to ask more questions to understand the severity of the situation. And now¡­ it suddenly makes sense, why such a young child would think to punish her maid for any small transgression. Hazel¡­ I think to myself with my head lowered, I stare at the gravel that crunches under my boots. Your life wasn¡¯t as easy as it seemed, was it?


    I don¡¯t know why, but I feel some sort of kinship with her hardships.


    As we make our way out of the maze, I look up now, to passing clouds in the sky abovehead. I had hoped this life would be full of the riches it seemingly had to offer, but of course, nothing is ever that simple, is it?


    I gulp. My pulse rises to my throat as we near the manor. I grip the glass star between my fingers, and hold onto Ana-Lea¡¯s hand just as tightly.


    Not too far away, the sound of a carriage and horse hooves fill the air. The two of us quickly rush inside, through a secret, back door reserved for the manor¡¯s servants. Ana-Lea leads me through a corridor I don''t remember ever seeing before. ¡°I know it''s not as fancy as what you''re used to, Hazel,¡± she tells me, as she holds up a candlelit lantern to light the servant¡¯s halls, that have started to decay with mold, ¡°but it is the quickest way to get to your bedroom without running into anyone else. So, please, bear with me.¡±


    I nod, silent. I start to wonder if these paths are the ones she must walk every day, and why she cannot step through the sunlight beside us. When we finally make it to my bedroom, Ana-Lea brushes my hair down, because she says mother doesn¡¯t appreciate when it is unruly like fire. ¡°But I think you look fierce, Hazel, worry not,¡± she tells me with a smile; and even if it is a small gesture, I feel this is her way of rebelling against her Madam without quite stepping out of line.


    When we are done, I dismiss her and thank her for finding me in time¡ªmy maid wishes me luck, and¡­ something tells me she doesn''t want to leave me be.


    But I assure her. ¡°I will be fine.¡±

 Chapter 3 — A New Plan

    I was not fine, but I will be.


    If there is anything I¡¯m grateful for, it is that my mind is much older than Hazel¡¯s. At least, I know this is wrong, I think as I ice the bruise across my cheek. I draft a new plan in my mind.


    <ul>


    <li style="font-weight: 400">Find a way to leave the manor, and never look back. </li>


    </ul>


    But¡­


    ¡°Urgh.¡± I groan then sigh whilst I sit on the steps of the wooden veranda. ¡°Leaving is way easier said than done.¡± And even if I were to leave, where would I even go?


    I don''t know anything about this place.


    However, if I stay¡­ I hug my knees close and look to the ground. ¡°I¡­¡± I don''t know how much more of this I can take, honestly. ¡°It''s so unfair¡­¡± I mutter under my breath.


    In the distance, cicadas sing. And I watch the birds fly again, so freely over my head in the gardens, that the irony isn''t lost on me.


    Around my neck, the artifact grows warm with my anger. But after a few minutes have gone by, I simply huff once more then rise to my feet. ¡°All right, I can''t sit around here forever!¡±


    The manor¡¯s doors seem a little more imposing than they were before. And much less welcoming. Still though, I step back inside, and peer past the entrance¡¯s wooden door.


    If I am not mistaken, the manor is empty, save for its staff.


    It doesn¡¯t take me long to find Ana-Lea and ask her where Hazel¡¯s¡ªwell, I suppose, my parents have gone to.


    ¡°Oh, they¡¯ve¡­¡± Ana-Lea turns to face me but her gaze, her voice fills with pain upon seeing the state of my face. ¡°They¡¯ve, um, gone again. I¡¯m sorry¡­ Hazel.¡± She bends her knees until we are eye to eye, then ruffles my hair with a sorrowful grin. ¡°I guess you¡¯re in my care again, huh?¡± Though she tries to appear cheerful, her forced laughter isn¡¯t lost on me. ¡°Is there anything I can do for you?¡±


    As a matter of fact, there is. ¡°L-Library!¡± I blurt. ¡°I want to go to the library!¡±


    ¡°Right now?¡±


    I nod. ¡°I''d like¡­to study.¡±


    Ana-Lea¡¯s features contort to a look of confusion and dismay. ¡°Hazel, are you certain you¡¯re feeling all right?¡± she asks me, after a few seconds of pausing, and being seemingly lost in her thoughts.


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    I laugh. ¡°Why wouldn''t I be?¡± I shake my head. ¡°It takes more than this, just to bring me down¡­¡±


    Does it? I wonder, as my voice trails off, I ponder on what I''ve just said. Honestly, I''m not exactly sure why I feel so used to dealing with such dire situations. I know, I''m in quite the predicament right now as I walk in Hazel¡¯s shoes, but this still feels like a dream. I can barely process that it¡¯s technically my folks who just hurt me this bad¡ªto me, they still feel like strangers I was meeting for the first time. And sure they sure acted like unpleasant ones, too. Parents? I think. Don¡¯t make me laugh. I don''t feel betrayed in the slightest albeit slightly worried for the future. ¡°So?¡± I ask Ana-Lea. ¡°Can you bring me to the library?¡±


    Ana-Lea seems rightfully confused. Yet, after a moment, she sighs then takes my hands in hers. ¡°Follow me¡­¡±


    For the first time in a while, we walk in silence. Ana-Lea is holding my fingers tighter than she usually does, a solemn expression washes over her features. In the background of my thoughts, our footsteps, the sounds of the manor''s personnel cleaning and cooking can be heard all around. I want to interrupt this odd quiet gloom that has instilled itself between us, yet for some reason my throat tightens, and I cannot bring myself to.


    Eventually though, the two of us reach tall wooden doors, adorned with emerald jewels in their crevices, that have been carved to resemble ivy.


    ¡°Woah¡­¡± I cannot help the gasp that leaves me upon witnessing the sight of the imposing entrance.


    And, unfortunately for me, it seems my maid catches on. ¡°Hazel¡­¡± Ana-Lea mutters as she squeezes my palm once. ¡°Are you certain everything¡¯s all right?¡± She raises a suspicious brow my way. ¡°The library is as it always has been, and yet, you appear surprised.¡±


    ¡°Oh, t-that¡¯s¡­¡± I clear my throat. I bring my hands to my face then take a step back. ¡°I s-suppose, I¡­never took the time to properly appreciate this door!¡± I lie through my teeth with a painfully forced laugh.


    If she hadn¡¯t figured me out already, this is probably where my little deception ends.


    There is no way that she¡¯ll let this slide¡ª


    ¡°Ah. I see.¡± Ana-Lea nods in a surprising show of approval, as if the nonsense I''ve just told her is a perfectly acceptable excuse for an eight year old to spout. ¡°I''m glad nothing is amiss, then!¡±  Ana-Lea¡¯s grin seems honest when she faces me again, but, the growing suspicion in her tone is not lost on me. ¡°Shall we?¡± she asks, as she offers me her hand again, then pushes the library doors open.


    I gulp, then follow her in.


    My heart is beating loud in my ribcage. ¡°Yes, thank you¡­¡± I truly need to start being more careful about the things I say, the things I do. If I continue down this route, someone else might start to notice something is amiss with me. Worst of all, if there were to ask me who I am if not Hazel, I wouldn''t even have an answer¡ªI''m still trying to figure that out myself.


    I look to my surroundings, and the library is, well¡­full of books, as expected.


    What I didn''t account for, however, is being unable to read the language here.


    As I grasp a sturdy tome between my hands and try to decipher the strange symbols and shapes on the page, my brows furrow. Odd. How is it that I¡¯m able to speak their tongue, and yet, I cannot read?


    I am certain I memorized ways to communicate language through text at some point; still, for some reason it seems as though the writing system here isn''t the same as the one I can recall from¡­wherever those memories I have come from. ¡°Um¡­ Ana-Lea?¡± I ask, sheepishly, whilst pretending that I am fine. And that my hands aren¡¯t sweaty. And that I¡¯m not totally afraid of the possibility that Hazel already learned how to read. And that by asking my next question, I¡¯ll be letting my maid know for certain that I am not Hazel. ¡°A-Are there any books that can teach me how to read?¡±