[You've rested for more than two minutes]
[HP has been restored]
[HP: 45/45]
A soft blue glow flickered across Henry's vision as the system notification faded. His breathing steadied, his muscles no longer aching from the earlier fights.
"Transformation… here we go." He whispered.
He placed his bow into his inventory. The system accepted them with a shimmer of light, leaving him standing unarmed beneath the swaying branches. His heart beat faster not out of fear, but anticipation.
[Choose Your Transformation Option]
Henry swallowed. "Human," he said with a smile.
Immediately, his entire body was engulfed in a dazzling white light, warmth surged through his veins, so intense he clenched his fists to endure it. His bones shifted, reshaping, while his skin smoothed and brightened. The transformation lasted mere seconds, yet it felt like an eternity.
When the light receded, Henry stumbled forward and raised trembling hands before his eyes.
They were no longer the rough, slightly green hands of a goblin. His fingers were slender, his skin pale, almost porcelain-like.
His reflection caught faintly in a puddle at his feet, a face so delicate and symmetrical it could have belonged to a noble. His eyebrows were thin and well-shaped, his lips soft, and his long white hair nearly covered his silver-gray eyes.
He looked less like a warrior and more like a girl.
[All stats have been reduced by 50%]
Henry's breath caught in his throat. Then a wide grin broke across his face. "Yes… it works!" he shouted, his voice carrying too far in the quiet forest.
"Who's there?"
The voice froze him. Soft, feminine, but sharp with suspicion.
"Shit…" Henry cursed under his breath, crouching low behind a cluster of bushes.
"I said, who's there?" The voice grew louder, closer, edged with caution.
Henry hesitated, then he remembered he had be transformed to a human, maybe there was hope.
He slowly stood and raised both hands high. "Hello," he called, stepping out from behind the leaves.
What met him was a girl about his age, sword in hand, blade pointed directly at his chest. She had short black hair tied into a messy ponytail, her clothes practical, worn from travel. Her stance was solid, not an amateur.
Her eyes flicked up at his face, then immediately widened. A flush of color crept across her cheeks. She jerked her head away as though burned.
"Dammit… what's wrong with you?" she muttered, refusing to look at him directly.
Henry tilted his head in confusion. "Nothing?"
"You're naked," she said flatly, still looking away.
"Naked?" His voice cracked. He quickly glanced down, his entire body was naked.
Panic struck him like a slap. "What!?" he yelped, clapping both hands over his groin as heat rushed to his face.
"Don't look at me!" He spun back into the bush, crouching low like a guilty child.
Inside his mind, irritation brewed.' More reason to sell these weapons fast. I need coins. Coins to get clothes.'
The girl let out a small sigh. "Why are you not wearing anything?"
Henry's mind raced. 'What excuse would sound believable?'
(Tell her you were robbed by bandits in the forest.) RAI's calm mechanical voice cut in like a whisper in his ear. Henry latched onto it like a lifeline.
"I… I was robbed by bandits on my way to Penta Village" he said, trying to sound pitiful, even lowering his head.
A pause. Then, surprisingly, the girl chuckled. "Hmph. You're lucky you're handsome. Otherwise, I'd have left you here." She opened her bag and tossed something his way, a pair of plain black pants and a loose-fitting shirt. "Here. Spare clothes. Unisex. They'll do."
Henry wasted no time, pulling on the pants first, then the shirt. The fabric was rough but a thousand times better than standing bare before her. He emerged from the bush, adjusting the shirt's hem.
"Thanks," he muttered, voice low.
"It's fine," the girl said, finally meeting his eyes without flinching. "So, where are you from?"
Henry froze as his mind scrambled for an answer. "I'm… from the capital," he blurted.
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Really? Then you must be an adventurer."
"Yes!" Henry forced a smile. Then, like a fool, he added, "But… what are adventurers?"
The girl's eyebrows shot up. "What? Aren't you from this world?"
Cold sweat slid down Henry's neck. One wrong word could ruin everything. He kept silent, praying she wouldn't press further.
Instead, she frowned, then turned away, sheathing her sword. "Something about you is strange," she muttered. "But whatever. Follow me."
Henry exhaled, his chest loosening. 'Whew… I almost blew it.'
He jogged after her, curiosity nagging at him. "Are you an adventurer?"
"Yes. But according to the law, I'll be taken to the military academy soon. I just turned twenty. In a few weeks, the military will come."
"Military academy?" Henry echoed, genuinely surprised.
"You really don't know?" she asked, giving him a sideways look. Then she shook her head, muttering, "Strange."
By then, the village gates loomed ahead. Guards in chainmail stood watch, their expressions stern. The girl strode forward confidently, nodding to the knights. They inspected her briefly before letting her pass. When Henry approached, their eyes lingered longer, suspicious, before finally waving him through.
Past the gates, the sound of boots struck the cobblestone. Ten more knights marched in unison, stopping before a higher-ranking officer.
"There are beasts roaming near the forest entrance," the officer barked. "Do not engage unless they come to us. Fortify the walls. Stay alert!"
"Yes, sir!" the knights answered in perfect unison.
Henry glanced back at them once, then smirked faintly. I'm gone. Stay safe, guards.
He turned forward and finally took in the scene before him.
The streets stretched wide, lined with stone houses and wooden inns. The roads were not paved, instead hardened dirt packed down by countless footsteps. Lanterns hung from posts, already being lit as the sun began to sink. The air smelled of baked bread, horse manure, and smoke from nearby forges. Humans moved everywhere—traders shouting, children laughing, couples strolling hand-in-hand.
Henry's chest swelled with awe. He turned his head in every direction, eyes sparkling like a child seeing fireworks for the first time.
The girl beside him, however, only frowned. 'What's wrong with this guy?' she thought, watching his wonder. Clearing her throat, she asked, "This place looks new to you?"
Henry snapped out of his daze. "Yeah. I've never been to this village before," he said, forcing a smile.
She smiled warmly in return. "Night is coming. If you don't have an inn, you can stay at my place. Save your coins."
'Coins.' Henry nearly laughed. He didn't have a single one. "Thanks," he said with genuine relief.
They walked together until she stopped before a small wooden door. She pushed it open with a soft creak.
Henry stepped inside cautiously. The house was modest—bare, really. A single table and chair occupied the room, with little else. No shelves, no valuables, no clutter.
"Which capital are you from?" she asked suddenly, pouring water into a cup at the table.
Henry froze, throat tightening.
"I know you lied," she said simply, turning to face him.
He stiffened. "Then… why let me in?"
Her lips curved in a soft smile. "I have a good feeling about you."
Henry blinked. 'A good feeling?'
"What if I attack you?" he asked, testing her. "What if I steal everything you own?"
She laughed quietly, sipping her water. "Attack me? You can't win. And besides…" She gestured at the empty room. "What's there to steal?"
Henry looked around properly this time. She was right. Aside from the chair and table, the house was practically bare.
"Where's all your stuff?" he asked.
"I sold them. Won't be needing them once the military academy takes me." She smiled again, oddly calm about it.
Henry frowned inwardly. 'What's so special about this academy?'
Before he could think further, she stepped closer, tilting her head up at him. Her finger tapped lightly under his chin.
"Now," she said, her eyes sharp. "Tell me the truth. Where are you really from? Because you seem lost."
Hello dear readers if you're enjoying the story so far and want to continue seeing more chapters then please help me out with some power stone, great comment/ review.