The Prodigy of the Hidden Realm

A winter rain heralds the chill to come.

The countryside, freshly washed by rain, lay in tranquil stillness as a wooden ox-cart creaked its way down a muddy path.

"We're almost at the village entrance. My family is waiting there. Sir, we'll get off just ahead," said a frail young man, clasping his hands in thanks to the driver.

"Got it," the driver replied, snapping the reins lightly to quicken the ox's pace.

"Mom, are we going to live in the village from now on?" asked nine-year-old Jacob Emerson, his curious eyes taking in the rural scenery as they passed.

"Yes, and when we're home, you and your sisters must listen to your grandmother and uncles. Be sure to get along with your cousins," replied his mother, Mary Emerson, exchanging a bitter glance with her husband, Thomas Emerson. Her tone softened as she continued to counsel her children.

"I understand, Mom. I'm the eldest, and I'll make sure to keep myself and my sisters in line," Jacob answered solemnly.

"Will Grandmother be kind to us? Or will she treat me and my sister poorly because we're girls?" piped up Lily Emerson, the second child, breaking her long silence.

"Well…" Mary hesitated, unable to provide a reassuring answer.

"Mother?" Lily pressed, her young voice unwavering.

"As long as you behave, your grandmother will like you," Mary said, though her own uncertainty lingered. She knew how her eldest brother-in-law's daughter, Susan, was treated at home—barely fed, overworked, and disregarded. Now that they were returning to the village, how would her own daughters fare?

"Don't worry, dear. I'll take care of everything," Thomas reassured his wife, patting her hand.

The journey continued in silence, save for the quiet musings of six-year-old Lily, who kept her head bowed as her thoughts churned.

Three days ago, she had been a 24-year-old struggling actress in the 21st century. A tragic accident while filming a wire stunt sent her plummeting from a dizzying height. Yet instead of pain, she woke up in the body of this little girl, Lily Emerson.

Before she could fully grasp her new reality, her family had packed up and returned to this rural village. Though three days had passed, she still struggled to accept the absurdity of her situation.

But what could she do? In her previous life, she was just a pawn—a tool for her family and agency to exploit for money in the entertainment industry. At least this family, despite its poverty, treated her well according to the memories of this body.

The ox-cart jolted and bumped along the dirt road for what felt like an eternity. By the time they arrived at the village entrance, Lily felt as if her small, six-year-old body might fall apart.

She looked up and saw three figures waiting: two men in their thirties and an elderly woman with weathered features.

"Thomas, my son! I've missed you so much!" The elderly woman, Abigail Emerson, rushed forward as soon as the cart stopped, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Mother," Thomas greeted, stepping off the cart and into her embrace.

Behind him, Mary whispered softly, "Hello, Mother."

Abigail's eyes swept over the children. "Jacob's gotten so tall! And these must be Lily and little Emily?"

Lily had only been a baby when her parents left for the town, and her younger sister Emily, born shortly after, had never even visited the village. Abigail's face lit with recognition, but there was an awkward distance in her gaze, as if she were meeting strangers.

"Yes, Mother," Mary said, nudging Lily gently. "Lily, Emily, this is your grandmother. Those are your uncle and younger uncle. Say hello."

"Hello, Grandmother. Hello, Uncle. Hello, Younger Uncle," the three children greeted politely.

"Good, good! John, Peter, help carry Thomas' family's things. These kids must be exhausted," Abigail ordered, her tone suddenly brisk as she gestured for everyone to move.

As they approached the house, a neighbor, Mrs. Walker, stepped out of her yard and paused in surprise at the sight of the group.

"Well, if it isn't Thomas! You're back?" she exclaimed, squinting to confirm the unfamiliar faces were indeed Thomas' family.

"Yes, Mrs. Walker. Children, greet Mrs. Walker," Thomas said cheerfully.

"Hello, Mrs. Walker," the children chorused.

"What polite little ones," Mrs. Walker said, her face softening. But her eyes lingered on the family's bundles, and curiosity flashed across her features. "Are you staying for good?"

"Yes, we're not leaving this time," Abigail interjected, her tone triumphant. "My second son is back to take care of me now."

"I see. No wonder your daughters-in-law have been busy all morning. Well, it's good to have you all back," Mrs. Walker replied, her expression turning unreadable as she watched them head inside.

Once the Emerson family disappeared through the gate, Mrs. Walker chuckled under her breath. "Oh, this is going to make things interesting around here."

Inside the yard, Lily's eyes roamed over her surroundings. The space was cluttered with drying wild vegetables and chili peppers, and the walls, patched with mud, bore deep cracks.

It was a far cry from the modern cityscape she had once known. She had naively hoped for a charming countryside home, but this place resembled a refugee camp more than anything else.

Still, she reminded herself that she was no stranger to hardship. As an actress, she had endured filming in freezing snow wearing only a thin dress and collapsing from heatstroke under the summer sun. This, she resolved, was nothing.

At least here, she was no longer a tool to be exploited. For the first time, her life belonged to her.

Just then, two women emerged from the kitchen. The plump one reached out to pinch Emily's chubby little cheeks, her voice dripping with affection. "Oh my, is this Emily? She's so adorable!"

Lily's father, Thomas, was the second son in the family. He had three children: nine-year-old Jacob, six-year-old Lily, and two-year-old Emily. Because Thomas had once been a promising scholar and even earned the title of "cultivated talent" in his youth, the family had moved to town shortly after Lily was born.

Though life there had been hard, with her mother taking on embroidery work and her father copying books for a meager income, they had managed to get by. But now, they had returned to the village—and Lily could only wonder what lay ahead.