Chirp... chirp...
The sound of forest birds broke the morning silence. Sunlight filtered through gaps in the foliage, creating golden patterns of light that danced across the moss-covered ground. Rinoa walked slowly among the towering trees, following a path that became clearer as time passed. Kirubbit hopped enthusiastically ahead of her, occasionally stopping to sniff curiously at plants or small stones.
Hop! Hop! The sound of Kirubbit's small jumps accompanied every step.
"You never get tired, do you?" Rinoa murmured with a smile, watching the little creature's boundless energy.
But each step reminded her of this body that still felt foreign. Her center of gravity was different—lower—making her steps feel unstable. Her wider hips forced her to adjust her walking style, and her chest... the difference constantly reminded her of a reality that was still hard to accept.
This still doesn't feel real, Rinoa thought, touching her long, silky hair. Yesterday I was still Rio with short black hair. Now... long silver hair that keeps tickling my neck.
After walking almost two hours from the grassland, the forest began showing signs of human life. Wood pieces deliberately cut with axes, neatly arranged footprints in dried mud, and thin smoke from the distance carrying the scent of burning wood and... food?
Rinoa's stomach rumbled. "Grrowl..."
"Ugh, my stomach..." Rinoa pressed her growling stomach, the gesture automatically more gentle than Rio would have done. "Even the way I hold my stomach has changed. Rio used to roughly pat his stomach, but now... my hand movements are more delicate."
"When did I last eat? Oh right, I haven't eaten anything since this morning."
Everything indicated she was getting closer to civilization.
Finally, Rinoa thought while wiping sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. "Even though this new body feels lighter and stronger, long journeys are still exhausting. And I need a place to rest and find food."
"Kirubbit, do you know where we should go?" Rinoa asked while gently stroking the little creature's head. Her high voice still made her startle every time she heard it.
Squeak! Kirubbit snorted softly and hopped eastward, as if understanding her question perfectly. The crystal horn on its head gleamed softly as it spotted something in the distance.
"You really understand what I'm saying, don't you?" Rinoa marveled. "In the previous world, animals weren't this responsive. This world is truly different."
Rinoa followed Kirubbit's gaze and saw thin wisps of smoke floating above the treetops like delicate ribbons. Her heart raced with hope—that must be a sign of settlement.
Thump! Thump! Her heart beat faster.
"Human settlement..." she whispered hopefully. I hope they're not like those hunters from this morning.
Her pace quickened, though she still had to adjust to her new body. The thin linen dress she wore fluttered with her movement, the sensation of fabric brushing against her bare legs making her uncomfortable.
After the strange experience in the grassland this morning, where her body moved on its own against the hunters, she felt an urgent need to meet other people.
Maybe they can explain where I am and what's really happening to me. Maybe they have answers, Rinoa thought.
The path grew wider and better maintained. Rinoa could see cart wheel tracks in the soil and many footprints—small ones like children's, large ones like adult men's. Along the roadside, she began to see plants arranged in orderly rows, not wild growth but deliberately cultivated crops.
"Corn, tomatoes, and... what's that?" Rinoa squinted at an unfamiliar plant. These aren't vegetables I knew on Earth.
Civilization, she thought with relief. Finally, a safe place, hopefully.
When she passed the last turn between two large trees, a breathtaking view spread before her.
"Wooow..." Rinoa held her breath, her high voice startling her again.
A lush green valley stretched wide like a giant carpet, surrounded by low hills covered with dense trees. In the center of the valley, like living dollhouses, stood clusters of small houses with brown thatched roofs and warm wooden walls. Thin smoke rose from several chimneys, and she could see silhouettes of people moving between buildings like busy little ants.
"Wow... so beautiful," Rinoa whispered in amazement, her eyes sparkling. This scenery is so different from the concrete city I once lived in. It's like a painting from a fairy tale book.
Ding!
[System Notification]
[New Location Discovered: Lirinvale Village]
[EXP Bonus: +60]
The notification panel appeared briefly in her peripheral vision, startling Rinoa slightly. "Still popping up suddenly..." she muttered in her still-strange voice. This system still feels very odd to me.
At the village edge, not far from where she stood, a middle-aged woman knelt in a small, neat garden. Her brown hair with white streaks at the temples was tied simply with a light blue cloth ribbon, and she wore a simple light brown dress with a cotton apron decorated with small yellow flowers. Her hands, rough but skilled, moved nimbly among the green plants, occasionally murmuring softly to her plants.
Should I approach? Rinoa hesitated, unconsciously gripping the hem of her dress. What if she's afraid or suspicious like those hunters? What if...
But Kirubbit had already hopped from her shoulder and approached the woman enthusiastically. Hop! Hop! Hop! The little creature stopped a few meters from the garden and made soft, melodious snorting sounds.
Squeak... squeak...
The woman looked up and her eyes immediately widened seeing Kirubbit. However, instead of fear, her face lit up with joy like a child seeing a favorite toy.
"Oh! A little Kirubbit!" the woman exclaimed warmly with a thick rural accent. "It's been so long since I've seen one of you!" She rose from her kneeling position with slightly stiff movements and dusted the soil from her hands enthusiastically. "Come here, little kirubbit."
She knows what a Kirubbit is? Rinoa was surprised. That means this creature is known in this area.
Kirubbit approached confidently, its tail wagging. The woman extended her calloused but gentle hand to stroke the creature's head very carefully, and Kirubbit made a satisfied sound like a cat's purr.
Purr... purr...
"Beautiful green fur... and a clear crystal horn... you're a healthy kirubbit," the woman murmured lovingly, her fingers skillfully examining Kirubbit's condition. "But... who's with you?" The woman's eyes shifted to Rinoa, who still stood hesitantly at the path's edge, half-hidden behind a tree trunk.
She sees me. There's no turning back now.
Rinoa took a deep breath and stepped forward slowly, her steps still unaccustomed to her new body. She remembered advice from her previous life—honesty (partial) is the best policy. I can't tell the real truth, but I can be honest about my current condition.
"Sorry... I didn't mean to disturb you," Rinoa said with a slightly trembling voice (its unfamiliar pitch making her feel like she was disguised). "I'm... I'm lost and..." Rinoa paused, searching for the right words without sounding too suspicious. "I've lost my memory."
"Lost your memory?" The woman rose quickly, her expression becoming very concerned. Her warm brown eyes examined Rinoa from top to bottom with a caring mother's gaze. "Young lady, where did you come from? How did you end up alone in the forest without any equipment?"
The woman's eyes swept over Rinoa's body thoroughly—the thin linen dress wrinkled and torn in several places, revealing body curves that made Rinoa embarrassed; feet wrapped only in rough cloth as makeshift footwear; silver hair disheveled and full of dry leaves. No bag, no weapons, no travel equipment whatsoever. Not even a hat or cloak for weather protection.
"I... I don't remember," Rinoa answered quietly, her eyes looking at the ground, her posture unconsciously taking a more closed stance (different from Rio's usually more open posture). At least this isn't completely a lie—I really don't remember details of how the reincarnation process happened.
"I woke up in the grassland to the west, then walked here following Kirubbit."
"The Summoning Plains?" The woman's eyes widened with shocked and slightly horrified expression. "Young lady, that's a very dangerous place! How could you survive there alone? Especially without any equipment!"
"Summoning... Plains?" Rinoa asked confusedly, her high voice still making her uncomfortable.
"Yes, where ancient rituals were performed hundreds of years ago. Now that place is often visited by strange creatures and..." the woman stopped, noticing Rinoa's innocent and confused expression. Her expression changed to sympathy. "You really don't know where you are, do you?"
Rinoa shook her head weakly (a movement that felt more delicate with her slimmer neck). I really don't know anything about this world.
The woman sighed deeply, then smiled warmly—a genuine and empathetic smile. Her facial expression reminded Rinoa of...
Mother.
Vague memories of a warm and caring figure emerged in her mind, though she couldn't clearly remember the face. This warm feeling... I miss this.
"My name is Nira. I'm a healer in Lirinvale village," the woman said while dusting her hands to clean off remaining soil. "And you, young lady?"
"Rinoa," Rinoa answered. The name felt natural on her tongue, though the voice saying it still felt strange. Rinoa. Yes, I'm Rinoa now.
"Rinoa... a beautiful name," Nira murmured while nodding with a warm smile. "Well, Rinoa. You can't keep standing here in such condition. Just look at yourself—thin, dirty, and surely hungry. Come, let's go to my village. You need food, a bath, and proper clothes."
A bath... Rinoa felt her cheeks warm. How can I bathe with this... body? I haven't even really looked at my own body in detail.
"But I don't have anything to pay with..." Rinoa felt very uncomfortable, unconsciously straightening her wrinkled dress. Even in this new life, I don't want to be a burden to others. But I really don't have anything.
"Who's talking about payment?" Nira laughed gently, her voice like soothing music. "In this village, we help each other. Especially when you're in such condition. And besides," she pointed to Kirubbit, who was playing with a small pebble, "that little creature has already proven you're a good person."
"Proven?"
"Kirubbits only approach people with pure hearts. They can sense evil auras from afar. The fact that Kirubbit wants to follow you and even sleep on your shoulder shows you're a good person, Rinoa."
Evil aura? Rinoa glanced at Kirubbit, who was happily chasing a small butterfly. So this creature is some kind of character detector?
Nira gathered some fresh vegetables from her garden into a woven basket—bright orange carrots still with soil on them, green cabbage with outer leaves slightly eaten by caterpillars, and several other vegetables Rinoa didn't recognize but smelled fresh. Then she walked toward the village with steady steps, her simple dress fabric fluttering in the breeze, while Rinoa and Kirubbit followed behind.
Tap! Tap! Tap! Their footsteps on the packed earth road, with Rinoa still adjusting her different walking style.
"This is Lirinvale village," Nira explained while walking, occasionally waving to villagers they passed. "We've lived in this valley for almost a hundred years. About two hundred souls live here, mostly farmers and craftsmen. A peaceful village, though sometimes we have disturbances from forest animals."
Two hundred souls. That's quite small for a city, but maybe large for a village, Rinoa thought.
Rinoa observed the houses they passed with sparkling eyes. Everything was simple but very well-maintained. Dark brown wooden walls weathered with age, topped with thick, neat thatched roofs or red clay tiles. Small yards with lush green vegetable gardens and small wooden coops for chickens or goats that bleated softly.
Bok! Bok! Bok! sounds from one of the chicken coops.
Mbeee! goats responding from another pen.
Several villagers who saw them pass waved friendily. There was a white-haired grandfather repairing a wooden fence with a small hammer, a young woman in a headscarf hanging colorful clothes on a line, and several small children playing tag with cheerful laughter.
Like in a fairy tale, Rinoa thought with sparkling eyes. Peaceful life, far from the hustle and bustle of cities and technology I once knew as Rio. This is beautiful.
"Nira! Who's that girl?" called an old man sitting on his house porch while repairing a fishing net with thick thread. His hair was white as snow and he wore simple faded cotton clothes.
"A newcomer, Mr. Gareth!" Nira replied while continuing to walk energetically. "I'll tell you about it later!"
"A newcomer? Interesting!" Mr. Gareth responded while waving his calloused hand.
They seem very friendly, Rinoa thought with relief. Not like those hunters earlier.
They stopped in front of a house slightly larger than the others. A two-story wooden house with a spacious front yard, filled with various medicinal plants and vegetables in clay pots neatly arranged on wooden shelves. Soothing herbal aromas (similar to lavender, mint, and rosemary) wafted from the garden. A small wooden sign in front of the door read in slightly faded black ink: "Nira - Healer."
"This is my house," Nira said while opening the thick wooden door that creaked softly. Creeak... "Also my practice. Come in."
The interior was simple but very comfortable and lively. The front room functioned as a small clinic with three clean and neat beds covered with freshly washed white linen, wooden shelves filled with glass bottles of various sizes containing potions of different colors (emerald green, sky blue, pink, bright yellow), and a mahogany work table with various medical tools arranged very neatly: mortar and pestle, small knives, wooden spoons, and a small brass scale.
Soothing and slightly sweet herbal aromas filled the entire room, mixed with scents of wood and burning candles.
Like a good witch's house from old stories, Rinoa thought while admiring the orderliness and warmth of this place. But a kind one.
"Sit down first," Nira said while placing the vegetable basket on the smooth wooden table. "I'll get you water and a change of clothes. You must be thirsty and tired."
Rinoa sat in a simple wooden chair made comfortable with cotton fabric cushions, and Kirubbit jumped onto her lap nimbly.
Hop! She stroked the little creature while curiously observing her surroundings, her eyes taking in every detail of this warm room. There's so much I want to ask. This world is truly different. But I feel... safe here.
Tap! Tap! Tap! The sound of Nira's footsteps on the wooden stairs upstairs.
Nira returned with a glass of clear water in a light blue ceramic cup and a set of simple clothes folded neatly: a light green cotton dress with long sleeves and a fairly loose skirt, plus a thin white chemise as undergarment.
"These are my daughter's old clothes," Nira said while placing the clothes on Rinoa's lap. "She was about your age once. Maybe a bit too big, but better than that torn dress."
"Your daughter?" Rinoa asked while gratefully accepting the glass. This water looks very clear.
Nira's expression became slightly sad, her smile fading momentarily. "She's grown up now and moved to the big city to find a better life. I live alone in this house now." She smiled quickly, as if chasing sadness from her heart. "But now there's you, right? And some orphans I care for."
Orphans she cares for... Rinoa's heart was touched. This woman is truly kind-hearted.
Rinoa drank the water eagerly.
Gulp! Gulp!
It tasted very fresh and pure, like mountain water untouched by pollution. She even felt a refreshing sensation as if energy flowed with it, unlike tap water from her original world.
Original world...
Yes, she was beginning to accept the reality that she was truly in a different world. And maybe... this is my chance to live better.
"Mrs. Nira," Rinoa said softly, carefully setting down the empty glass, her high voice still making her uncomfortable, "could you tell me about this world... I mean, about this area?"
Nira sat in the chair across from her with graceful movements, her dress neatly arranged. "Of course, dear child. We're now in the Kingdom of Alphenia, specifically in the eastern part of Valmere province. Lirinvale village is located at the forest border, so we often interact with passing traders and adventurers."
"Kingdom... Alphenia?" Kingdom... so this is a world with a kingdom system. Like medieval times. Rinoa felt the name was both strange and familiar, as if she had read it in a fantasy novel before.
"Yes. The largest human kingdom in Central Etheria. The king is named Aldric III, a wise ruler, though daily governance is mostly handled by nobles and guilds." Nira paused, noticing Rinoa's confused expression with empathetic eyes. "You really don't know anything about this, do you?"
Rinoa shook her head weakly. "I... I feel like a stranger in my own home." Technically, I really am a stranger in this world.
"Hmm..." Nira hummed while tapping her chin with her finger. "Maybe you have amnesia. It often happens to people who experience major trauma or accidents. Memory can be partially or completely lost."
Amnesia. That's a reasonable explanation for people of this world, Rinoa thought. Though I know the truth is far more complicated than that.
Tap! Tap! Tap! The sound of running footsteps and children's laughter from outside grew closer.
"Hahaha! Wait for me!"
"I won! I won!"
The door opened energetically and two children ran in—a red-haired, curly-headed boy about twelve years old with a face full of cute freckles and cheerful brown eyes, and a small girl with blonde hair in two braids who appeared to be eight years old with large, clear blue eyes like the sky.
"Mrs. Nira! We finished helping Mr. Willem harvest corn and..." the boy stopped when he saw Rinoa, his eyes widening with curiosity. "Eh? Who is she?"
"Luno, Mii," Nira greeted with a warm smile while gently patting both children's heads. "This is Rinoa. She'll be staying with us for a while."
Staying with them... Rinoa's heart warmed. I'll have a family again.
The boy called Luno stepped forward with sparkling curious eyes and a wide smile. "Hello! I'm Luno! I'm twelve years old! Where are you from? Why is your hair silver? It's so pretty!"
The little girl named Mii hid behind Nira while peeking at Rinoa with large blue eyes full of curiosity but still shy, wearing a simple but clean blue cotton dress.
"Hello, Luno and Mii," Rinoa greeted with a warm smile, her voice gentle though still feeling strange. There's something about these children that makes my heart feel warm. They remind me of...
"I'm Rinoa. Sorry, I don't remember where I came from."
"Don't remember?" Luno tilted his head with a cute confused expression. "Like people Mrs. Nira helps because they fell from trees and hit their heads on rocks?"
"Something like that," Nira answered while laughing softly. "That's why we need to take good care of her."
Mii finally gathered courage to come out of hiding. She approached Rinoa with small, hesitant steps, then suddenly her eyes sparkled brightly seeing Kirubbit curled up in Rinoa's lap.
"Waaah! Pretty rabbit!" Mii exclaimed with a loud and enthusiastic voice. "Can I touch it?"
"It's not an ordinary rabbit," Rinoa explained while carefully lifting Kirubbit. "This is Kirubbit. It's my friend."
Squeak! Kirubbit made a friendly sound.
Mii extended her small, soft hand to stroke Kirubbit's smooth green fur. The creature made satisfied snorting sounds and its crystal horn gleamed softly.
Purr... purr...
"So cute!" Mii exclaimed with sparkling eyes. "Its fur is so soft!"
"Kirubbits are rare forest creatures," Nira said while watching their interaction with a warm smile. "They only befriend people with good hearts. The fact that Kirubbit wants to follow you shows you're a good person, Rinoa."
That statement warmed Rinoa's heart. Maybe I really am not a bad person, even though there's still so much about myself I don't understand.
"Mrs. Nira," Luno said enthusiastically, "can I show Sister Rinoa around the village? I want to show her the cool places!"
"After she bathes and changes clothes," Nira replied while rising from her chair. "Rinoa, the bathroom is in the back. I've prepared towels and soap. After that, we'll have lunch together."