Chapter: 3
Dawn in the Village
Tyler stretched her arms over her head, watching as the first light of dawn crept over the horizon. From her perch on the rooftop, the village stretched out beneath her—modest homes with thatched roofs, narrow dirt roads winding between them, and the occasional plume of smoke rising from chimneys. Beyond the village, rolling fields stretched into the horizon, framed by the dense forest she had emerged from the day before.
The crisp morning air carried the faint scent of damp earth and firewood.
She rolled her shoulders with a sigh.
"That wasn't the best sleep ever, but it'll have to do until I figure something else out."
Running her fingers through her hair, she grimaced at the knots that had formed overnight. With a little extra force, she smoothed them out, leaving her straight black strands sleek once more. Flicking her hair over her shoulder, she exhaled.
"A new day, a new set of issues. First thing on the list—getting a bath."
She wrinkled her nose.
"I don't stink yet, but I'd rather handle that before it becomes a problem."
Then her golden eyes gleamed with determination.
"And then there's my ability. If I want to survive here, I need to start learning how to use it now."
Her thoughts drifted back to the concept of boundaries—how they defined separations between objects, ideas, or even states of being.
A boundary exists between the rooftop and the air below it…
Testing her theory, she took a step forward—
—And leapt from the roof.
The ground rushed up fast.
"Okay, okay, come on—work!"
A surge of power coursed through her body, and suddenly—something solid pressed against her feet. Opening her eyes, she found herself standing midair, roughly ten feet above the alley floor.
"Yes! I did it!" she cheered.
Then she heard it.
Crack.
Tyler barely had time to curse before the invisible platform beneath her shattered like glass.
"Shit!"
She plummeted.
The landing was not graceful. A hard impact sent pain shooting up her spine as she hit the ground.
"Yeah… that was stupid," she muttered, rubbing her sore back.
Still, despite the rough landing, a satisfied smile tugged at her lips.
She had activated her ability. That alone was progress.
"Alright, next on the list—bath, new clothes, and a way to blend in."
With that, she dusted herself off and set off into the village.
Elsewhere—Count Voren's Quarters
Count Voren lounged in his guest quarters, his lips curved into a faint scowl.
The room was surprisingly well-kept, considering the village's lowly status. A large wooden bed, draped in fine linen, dominated the space. A sturdy oak desk sat by the window, where sunlight filtered through partially drawn curtains. Beneath his feet lay a woven rug, adding a semblance of warmth to the otherwise simple stone floors.
It wasn't luxury.
But it was tolerable.
He clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"To think the court expects me to waste my time here… Tsk. What an insult."
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Count Voren, breakfast is ready," came a soft voice from the other side.
Voren's expression shifted instantly.
Gone was the irritation. When he spoke, his voice was smooth, inviting.
"Please, come in."
The door opened, revealing a young girl—Carmen.
She couldn't have been older than seventeen. She carried a silver tray, her movements careful as she stepped inside.
The platter she bore was arranged neatly with warm, rustic food—freshly baked bread, a wedge of soft cheese, dried meats, and a bowl of ripe fruit. A simple meal, yet presented with care.
But Voren's gaze wasn't on the food.
His green eyes swept over the girl in appraisal.
Auburn hair cascaded over her shoulders in loose waves. Her emerald-green eyes darted downward shyly as she moved. She had delicate features—a button nose, full lips, fair skin untouched by hard labor. Despite her petite frame, her modest village dress did little to hide her curves.
Voren barely contained his smirk.
'This village may be worthless, but its women? Now that was another matter entirely.'
"Please, set the tray here." He gestured to the bedside table.
Carmen did as instructed, but before she could step back, he reached out, catching her gently by the wrist.
The girl stiffened. A faint blush crept up her cheeks.
Voren tilted his head slightly, his expression warm, inviting.
"I don't believe we've met properly. What is your name?"
She swallowed, clearly nervous. "M-my name is Carmen, Count Voren."
"Carmen," he repeated, his tone smooth as silk.
"A lovely name for a lovely young woman."
Her blush deepened.
"Would you do me the honor of staying with me for a while?"
Carmen hesitated, her lips parting as though unsure how to respond. But Voren had seen it countless times before—the mixture of nerves and excitement.
Finally, she gave a small, hesitant nod.
Voren smirked inwardly.
"Hook, line, and sinker."
This village might have been beneath him, but he would at least enjoy himself while he was here.
"Ahh, this is refreshing."
Tyler stretched her arms as she floated in the cool waters of a secluded pond.
The crystal-clear water reflected the morning sun, shimmering as ripples spread from her movements. Tall willow trees lined the edge of the pond, their drooping branches swaying gently in the breeze. The air was filled with the soft chirping of birds and the occasional buzz of insects.
"To think the village had a pond so close by," she mused.
'Well, I wouldn't call it close. It's an hour's walk from the village.'
As she floated, she began humming a tune from her old world. The familiar melody sent a strange thought through her mind.
"Am I getting used to being a girl?"
She stood up in the water, glancing down at her own reflection.
Her golden eyes studied her hands, her full chest, her curved figure.
'Am I? Most people who just had their gender changed without warning would be having an existential crisis. But I'm just… chilling.'
She shrugged.
"Oh well. I'll just chalk it up to my personality."
Then—
A giggle.
Tyler's ears twitched.
Her gaze snapped toward the forest line.
Standing just beyond the brush was a boy, around her age, peeking at her from behind a tree.
A deep frown crossed her face.
"Seriously?"
Her frown deepened—but then her gaze flickered to his clothing.
The boy's outfit was simple but well-worn, the kind commonly seen on village children. He wore a loose linen tunic, slightly oversized, with sleeves rolled up to his elbows. A thin leather belt cinched it at his waist, though it looked more decorative than practical. His woolen pants were patched in places, the fabric slightly frayed from wear. His boots, caked with dirt and scuffed at the toes, had clearly seen many days of running through fields and climbing trees
She smirked.
"Yeah… that'll work."
Slowly, she made her way out of the pond, stepping onto solid ground.
The boy's eyes widened.
"H-how did she see me?! Was I too loud?!"
Before he could react, Tyler was already standing in front of him.
"Ahem."
The boy whipped his head up—just in time to see a very naked Tyler staring down at him.
His face turned beet red.
Then, without warning, he collapsed unconscious.
"Huh?"
A gust of wind blew past. Tyler shivered.
Then she realized.
'Oh. I'm still naked.'
She grinned down at the unconscious boy.
"Well, I wasn't going to wear my old clothes anyway."
With zero hesitation, she took his clothes and walked away.
"Thanks for the outfit. And let this be a lesson—don't peep on women."
Chapter 3: End