The sun hung low over Holy Spirit Village, casting warm light through the forest canopy. Ayan moved swiftly along a narrow trail, a small bundle of herbs slung over his shoulder. It had been a good day for training — a few sprints, some push-ups on a fallen log, and a swim in the cold stream to shock his body awake.
As he cut toward the lake, he slowed his steps. This part of the forest was quieter, the air thick with the scent of water and blooming lilies. The faint sound of splashing reached his ears.
He crept closer, parting a low branch — and froze.
By the lake's edge, several women from the village stood knee-deep in the water, laughing as they washed clothes and themselves in the cool shallows. Sunlight danced off their wet skin, the ripples around them shimmering like silver threads.
Ayan blinked, his twelve-year-old mind from Earth very much alive inside his small body. The villagers thought he was just a child, but in his head… he was anything but innocent.
Well… this is unexpected.
He crouched behind a thick bush, careful not to make a sound. From here, he could see the playful splashes, the way the water dripped from their hair, the easy smiles that made them seem far more alive than when they were working in the fields.
A particularly loud laugh made him smirk. This world really isn't so different from the one I came from… only the scenery's better.
For a few minutes, he simply watched, committing every detail to memory. Then, as one of the women turned toward the trees, he slipped back silently, retracing his steps until the sound of the lake was gone.
By the time he returned to the village, he was carrying only herbs and a perfectly calm expression. Inside, though, he was still grinning.
Training, herbs, and… bonus entertainment. Not a bad day.