Note: 18+ Content
Bathing... A wave of anxiety immediately washed over Rinoa. This was the moment she had been avoiding since awakening in this world - facing the full reality of her new body.
Nira showed her the way to the bathroom at the back of the house - a simple room with a large wooden bathtub, buckets of warm water, and a small polished metal mirror hanging on the wall. Clean linen towels and fragrant herbal soap were already prepared on a small wooden bench.
"I've prepared the warm water for you," Nira said gently. "If you need anything, just call. I'll be in the kitchen preparing lunch."
After Nira closed the door, Rinoa stood alone in the warm room, steam rising from the wooden tub. Kirubbit sat quietly in the corner of the room, as if understanding that its master needed privacy.
"Alright, Rinoa," she spoke to herself with a voice that still felt foreign. "You have to face this reality sooner or later."
With trembling hands, she began to remove the torn and dirty linen dress. The thin fabric clung to her body from sweat and travel dust. When the dress fell to the floor, Rinoa felt like she was losing the last layer of protection from the reality she had to face.
Oh God...
For the first time since reincarnating, she saw her body clearly in the somewhat blurry metal mirror. What stared back was a completely foreign silhouette - gently curved hips, a slender waist, and... a chest that clearly showed she was now a woman.
Her face flushed red. Her hands reflexively covered the parts that embarrassed her, even though there was no one else in the room.
"T-this is really..." she whispered with a trembling voice, "...a woman's body."
I never had to think about things like this before. Bathing used to be a simple routine - get in, clean up, get out. But now, every touch of this new body feels foreign and makes me nervous.
Smaller hands... softer skin... even the way I breathe is different because of the changed rib structure.
She slowly stepped into the warm wooden tub. The herbal water flowed around her body with a sensation that was... strange but pleasant. The warmth of the water made her tense muscles from the long journey relax.
"Mmm..." a small sound escaped her lips and she was immediately startled to hear the feminine tone that came out. Even small sounds like that were different!
She took the fragrant herbal soap - a mixture of lavender and chamomile - and began cleaning her body carefully. Every touch reminded her of the changes that had occurred. More slender arms, narrower shoulders, and... areas that embarrassed her to think about.
"How will I ever get used to this?" she mumbled while rinsing her long hair. Water flowed through the silky silver strands, so different from Rio's short black hair that could be washed in minutes.
Even washing hair has become complicated work!
When washing her face, she stared at her reflection on the water's surface. The face staring back was beautiful - delicate features, clear blue-green eyes, fuller lips. But it wasn't Rio's face. It was someone else's face that had somehow become hers.
I have to learn to accept this, she thought while touching her smooth cheek. This is my body now. Whether I like it or not.
But there was something strange - though this body felt foreign, there was also a sense of... relief that she couldn't explain. Like a burden she hadn't realized she'd been carrying had suddenly been lifted. Maybe because she was free from the expectations of being "Rio the quiet guy" and could start fresh as Rinoa.
Squeak...
Kirubbit made a small sound, as if asking whether she was okay.
"I'm fine, Kirubbit," Rinoa said with a slight smile. "Just... need time to get used to this."
After finishing her bath and feeling much fresher, she faced the next challenge - wearing proper women's clothing.
"White chemise first," she tried to remember how women in period films dressed. The thin fabric felt cold against her still-damp skin, but covered enough to make her feel more comfortable.
Then the light green cotton dress. She had to figure out how to tie the strings in the back that she couldn't easily reach (something that had never been a problem with Rio's shirts).
"How do women do this every day?" she grumbled while struggling with the complicated strings.
After managing to put on the dress somewhat messily, she looked at herself in the mirror again. The result was... surprising. The loose dress concealed her body's curves but still showed that she was now a woman. Her long wet hair gave a very different impression from Rio's previous appearance.
I look... like a real girl, she thought with mixed feelings. Beautiful, even. But this still doesn't feel like me.
Ding!
[Status Update]
[Condition: Rested (HP/AP regeneration bonus)]
[Hygiene: Clean (Social interaction bonus)]
A brief notification panel appeared, reminding Rinoa that she was still in another world with a game system. This system still felt strange. But it seemed to have its benefits.
When Rinoa emerged from the bathroom looking fresh, she was greeted by the appetizing aroma of cooking. Nira, Luno, and Mii had gathered around the warm, simple wooden table.
"Wow! Sister Rinoa is so beautiful!" exclaimed Luno with sparkling eyes. "Like a princess from a kingdom!"
Rinoa's face reddened hearing that praise. I never used to get compliments about my appearance. This... feels strange but pleasant.
"You look much better, dear," said Nira with a warm smile. "That green color suits your hair."
The lunch menu was simple but extraordinary - fluffy white rice still steaming, vegetable soup with carrot pieces, potatoes, and fresh greens in a fragrant clear broth, and grilled river fish with herbal seasonings that gave off an appetizing aroma.
Even this simple food tastes better than expensive restaurants I've tried, she thought while enjoying her first bite. Pure, natural flavors without MSG or artificial preservatives.
"It's delicious," Rinoa praised sincerely, her eyes sparkling. "It tastes so... natural."
"From our own garden and river," Nira said proudly with a wide smile. "In this village, we're almost self-sufficient for food. We only need to buy salt, certain spices, and some necessities like fabric and metal tools from outside."
"Mrs. Nira is the best cook in the village!" exclaimed Luno while devouring his food eagerly, rice sticking to the corner of his mouth. "Everyone loves Mrs. Nira's food! Mr. Willem says Mrs. Nira's cooking can heal a broken heart!"
"You're exaggerating, Luno," Nira laughed while affectionately stroking the child's head. "But indeed, as a healer, I need to know which foods are good for the body and which are not."
Food as medicine... Rinoa remembered traditional medicine concepts. In this world, healing knowledge might be more holistic.
During the meal, Rinoa observed how Mii ate politely - she cut her food carefully, didn't speak with her mouth full. Different from Luno who was more enthusiastic and paid less attention to etiquette. Do I need to learn more... feminine behavior? Or is that just personality differences?
After eating, Luno enthusiastically invited Rinoa to tour the village. Mii followed with her small steps, occasionally holding Rinoa's hand when they passed busy roads or when she felt shy with villagers who greeted them.
Tap! Tap! Tap! Their footsteps on the flat stone road, with Rinoa still adjusting her more graceful way of walking, though sometimes still using wide steps like Rio used to.
"This is Mr. Ronan's shop," Luno pointed enthusiastically to a wooden building with a sign reading 'General Goods' in somewhat faded letters. In front of the shop hung various items: hemp rope, wooden buckets, palm brooms, knives, and various daily tools made of wood and simple metal.
"He sells everything we need daily. But he's a bit stingy, likes to charge high prices."
"Luno!" Mii scolded with a small but firm voice, her cheeks puffing cutely. "Mrs. Nira said not to speak badly about other people!"
"I'm just stating facts," Luno defended with a grin, but he smiled mischievously. "It's true he likes to overcharge!"
These kids are so cute, thought Rinoa with an amused smile.
They walked past various buildings - the blacksmith with the sound Tang! Tang! Tang! of hammers striking red-hot metal with small fire sparks, the carpenter with the aroma of pine-like wood shavings and neat stacks of boards, the tailor with colorful fabrics in red, blue, yellow, and green hanging in front of the shop like flags, and several residents' houses with front yards decorated with beautiful small flowers.
Every time they met other villagers, Luno proudly and enthusiastically introduced Rinoa.
"This is Sister Rinoa! Mrs. Nira's new friend who lost her memory!" he said to a middle-aged woman washing clothes in a large wooden basin in front of her house.
"Oh, poor thing. Hope you recover soon, dear," the woman replied warmly with a smile, her wet hands wiping on her apron.
"This is Sister Rinoa! She's living with us now!" Luno said to an old man feeding chickens with grains from a clay bowl.
"Welcome to our village, young lady," the old man replied politely with a sincere smile.
The responses varied. Some were friendly and greeted warmly with genuine smiles, some just nodded politely with slight smiles, and some looked with curiosity but weren't hostile. But overall, the villagers seemed to accept Rinoa's presence quite well.
They're not as bad as I imagined, thought Rinoa with relief. Maybe not everyone in this world is like those hunters earlier.
"This is Mr. Jeren's workshop," said Luno when they stopped in front of an open building where a young man was repairing a wooden cart with high focus.
Tang! Tang! Tang!
The man, about twenty-eight years old, had short brown hair somewhat messy from sweat, tall and thin but muscular - visible from his rolled-up white linen shirt sleeves that were already dirty, looked up when he heard his name mentioned. His sharp gray eyes looked at Rinoa with full wariness, like a guard assessing a potential threat.
There's something different about this man's gaze, thought Rinoa. More... wary. And he's handsome too... Wait, why am I thinking like that!?
"Luno, who is she?" the man asked while slowly but firmly placing his wooden hammer on the table. His deep and authoritative voice had a tone of hidden interrogation.
"This is Sister Rinoa! Mrs. Nira's new friend who lost her memory!" Luno answered enthusiastically, not noticing the tension in the air.
"Rinoa," the man nodded briefly, his gray eyes never leaving Rinoa's face. "I'm Jeren. You're a newcomer?"
There's something in his tone that makes me feel like I'm being interrogated, not greeted.
"Yes. I... lost my memory and Mrs. Nira was kind enough to help me," Rinoa answered carefully, trying to keep her tone calm even though she was aware her higher voice sounded more vulnerable compared to Rio's voice before.
"Lost memory," Jeren muttered while continuing to stare at her with investigating eyes. He set his hammer down completely and stood straight, his posture alert. "And where were you found?"
He's really interrogating me.
"Mr. Jeren!" Luno protested. "Why are you interrogating her? Sister Rinoa is a friend!"
"It's okay," Rinoa said with a slightly tense smile, trying to defuse the situation. "I woke up in the grassland to the west. What I remember is just my name and some basic things."
"The Summoning Plains?" Jeren's eyes narrowed with an increasingly suspicious expression. "And you survived alone from there? Without weapons, without equipment, without fighting abilities?"
He knows something about that place that Mrs. Nira didn't tell me.
"I... yes. Kirubbit found me," Rinoa answered while pointing to the small creature on her shoulder.
Jeren glanced at Kirubbit for a moment, his expression slightly softening seeing the small creature. But his suspicion didn't completely disappear.
"Hmm..." he muttered quietly.
Jeren seemed about to ask more questions, but someone calling him from inside the workshop made him turn.
"Jeren! Is Mr. Merto's cart finished yet?" shouted a voice from inside.
"Just a moment!" he replied. Then he looked at Rinoa again with still-sharp eyes. "We'll talk again later," he said to Rinoa before returning to his work. But his eyes were still full of suspicion when he picked up his hammer again.
Tang! Tang! Tang!
"Mr. Jeren is sometimes a bit harsh," Luno whispered when they were away from the workshop. "But he's a good person. He's the one who often patrols around the village to make sure it's safe from wild animals or bad people."
"Patrol?" Rinoa asked curiously.
"Yes! Because our village is on the edge of the forest. Sometimes wild animals like wolves or bears come down to the village. Or sometimes bad people pass through," Luno explained while dramatically moving his hands, mimicking people fighting. "Mr. Jeren and several other men guard our village!"
Ah, so Jeren's suspicious attitude is understandable, thought Rinoa with understanding. He's responsible for the village's security. And maybe his guard instincts tell him there's something strange about me. He's not wrong, though.
"Mr. Jeren is really good at fighting!" added Mii with admiring sparkling eyes. "People say he can defeat three wolves at once with just an axe!"
Three wolves at once? Rinoa was impressed. The level of ability of people in this world seems far above normal humans in my original world.
They continued walking until reaching the southern edge of the village, where a small river flowed clearly with the soothing sound of trickling water.
Crash... splash... crash...
Several women were washing clothes there while chatting and laughing cheerfully, their wooden washing boards floating in the clear water.
"Hahaha! Your child is really naughty!"
"Yes, yesterday he fell into a mud puddle!"
"Lirin River," Luno explained while pointing to the clear water flow with a rocky bottom. "The water is clean and cold. Good for swimming in summer. But it's still a bit cold now."
"Lirin... like the village name," Rinoa murmured.
"Yes! The elders say this village was named after its river. Legend says this river water has small healing powers," said Luno with a mysterious tone. "That's why Mrs. Nira often takes water from here to make potions."
Healing powers? Rinoa was curious and crouched by the river's edge, her green dress touching the wet grass. She dipped her hand into the flowing water. The water indeed felt different - fresher and as if there was gentle energy flowing with it, like a warm, gentle sensation spreading from her fingertips to her arm.
Ding!
[Aether Trace Detected]
[Water source contains trace healing energy]
[Minor effect: Accelerated regeneration when bathing]
So there really is magic energy in this river, thought Rinoa in surprise. This system can detect things I can't see with the naked eye.
"Sister Rinoa," Mii called with a small, slightly sad voice, her blue eyes teary. "Sister can stay here forever, right?"
That innocent question made Rinoa's heart skip. Stay here forever? The idea wasn't bad at all. This village was peaceful, most of the villagers were friendly, and she felt accepted. There was family warmth she hadn't felt in a long time.
But in my heart, I know I seem to have a bigger purpose. The title "Reincarnated Soul" must have meaning. I couldn't have been reincarnated just to live peacefully in a small village.
"I don't know, Mii," Rinoa answered honestly while gently stroking the little girl's head. "Maybe someday I'll remember where I came from."
"But if sister remembers and has to leave, we'll be sad," said Mii while hugging Rinoa's arm tightly. Her blue eyes were teary.
Rinoa's heart ached seeing Mii's sad expression. This child has grown fond of me in such a short time.
"I'll be sad too if I have to leave you all," Rinoa said sincerely while kneeling to level herself with Mii. "But now I'm here, and that's what matters. Let's enjoy our time together, okay?"
Mii nodded enthusiastically, her smile blooming again.
That evening, after a simple warm dinner - thick vegetable soup with small pieces of chicken and homemade wheat bread still warm - they gathered in the cozy living room. Nira lit the small fireplace with dry wood, and the golden orange firelight danced on the wooden walls, creating moving shadows like a shadow puppet show.
Crack... pop... The sound of burning wood in the fireplace.
Luno sat cross-legged on the woven rug floor while drawing something on used paper with charcoal, his tongue sticking out slightly from concentration. Meanwhile, Mii curled up next to Rinoa while playing with Kirubbit, who was sleeping soundly in Rinoa's lap.
Purr... purr... Kirubbit's gentle purring.
"Mrs. Nira," said Rinoa while enjoying the warmth of the fire, her hand automatically stroking Kirubbit's fur with gentler movements than Rio used to make, "could you tell me more about this world? I want to understand the place where I am now."
Nira nodded while embroidering white fabric with patterns of small blue and yellow flowers. Her sewing needle moved skillfully, creating intricate yet beautiful patterns. "This world is called Aetherion. We live on the continent of Central Etheria, dominated by the Kingdom of Alphenia. There are other continents - Valmorra in the north which is cold and snowy year-round, Zerathul in the south which is arid and hot with vast deserts, Ocevaris which consists of islands with beautiful islands and clear blue seas, and Thar'Velon which is full of dense and mysterious forests with rare creatures."
Aetherion... The name sounded familiar to Rinoa's ears, like an echo from an almost forgotten dream.
Like I've heard it before, but where? thought Rinoa.
"And... are there other creatures besides humans?" Rinoa asked curiously.
"Of course. There are Elves who live long and can live for hundreds of years, they're skilled in magic and live in ancient forests. Dwarves who are skilled at making strong weapons and armor from rare metals, they live in mountains and underground cities. And Beastkin who partly resemble animals - some like cats with ears and tails, wolves with sharp scenting abilities, or birds with small wings," Nira explained while continuing to embroider. "There are also forest creatures like your Kirubbit, and other mysterious creatures rarely seen by humans."
Rinoa absorbed that information enthusiastically. The world I now inhabit is far wider and more complex than I imagined. This is really like a fantasy world in novels!
"Mrs. Nira," Luno suddenly said while stopping his drawing, "what is magic?"
"Magic?" Nira stopped embroidering and looked at Luno with curious eyes. "Why do you ask?"
"Earlier I saw a merchant passing through the village. He could light fire without matches or flint. His hand was like emitting bright red light, then fire just appeared!" Luno imitated the gesture with his hands, clenching his fingers as if holding something. "He said it was magic."
Nira smiled patiently. "Magic is the ability to control Aether energy that exists in this universe. That energy is everywhere - in the air we breathe, water we drink, ground we stand on, even in our own bodies. Some people are born with the ability to sense and control it, others can learn it through years of hard training. But not everyone can."
Aether energy... like what I felt at the river earlier.
"Can I do it?" Luno asked with hopeful sparkling eyes.
"I don't know, dear. Usually magical abilities begin to be felt in the teenage years. You're still too young. But who knows?" Nira stroked Luno's head affectionately.
Rinoa listened with full attention. Magic... Aether... these concepts feel familiar, as if I once knew them. And the strange sensations I've been feeling since this morning...
"How do you know if someone has magical abilities?" Rinoa asked carefully, trying to keep her curious tone casual.
"Usually there are signs," Nira answered while setting aside her embroidery for a moment. "The body feels warm without clear reason, can sense energy around like invisible flowing water, or other strange things like reflexes that suddenly become very fast." She looked at Rinoa with curious eyes. "Why? Are you feeling something?"
Rinoa remembered this morning's incident - how her body moved by itself avoiding the hunters' attacks with unreasonable speed, how her reflexes were extraordinarily fast and precise. And the strange sensation she felt at the river earlier, plus the system panels that kept appearing.
Maybe I do have magical abilities. But I'm not sure if it's safe to tell anyone about it now.
"No. Just curious," Rinoa answered carefully with a smile. Better I study it myself first before telling anyone.
The night grew later. Mii had fallen asleep in Rinoa's lap with regular breathing, her small head resting comfortably on Rinoa's chest, and Luno was drowsy while still trying to finish his drawing: a sketch of Kirubbit jumping.
Zzz... zzz... Mii's gentle snoring.
Nira got up carefully so as not to wake Mii, then gently carried the little girl to her room. Meanwhile, Luno dragged himself to his upstairs room with drowsy steps, leaving his drawing on the floor.
"You can sleep in the guest room," Nira said to Rinoa softly. "The room is simple, but comfortable. There's a thick wool blanket to warm your body."
"Thank you, Mrs. Nira. For everything. I don't know how to repay you," Rinoa said with teary eyes, her high voice trembling with emotion.
"No need to repay, sweet child," Nira smiled warmly while gently stroking Rinoa's cheek like a mother's touch that melted Rinoa's heart. "You're part of this family now. And family helps each other without expecting anything in return."
Family... Rinoa felt her eyes water hearing that word. How long has it been since I felt warmth like this? Even as Rio, I never felt such genuine acceptance.
When Rinoa was alone in the guest room - a small but comfortable room with a soft simple bed wrapped in clean white linen, a small wooden table with a burning candle, and wooden window facing the dark garden - she sat on the edge of the bed while looking out the window.
Krik... krik... Night insect sounds from outside.
Kirubbit jumped onto the bed and curled up beside her, its green fur soft and warm like a living doll.
"What's really happening to me, Kirubbit?" Rinoa whispered while gently stroking the creature's fur. "Why do I feel like... like there's a big purpose I need to achieve? Something more than just living peacefully in this village."
She looked at her small and soft hands - so different from Rio's rough and callused hands.
Every time I become more accustomed to this body, but there's still a part of me that feels foreign. The way I sit more modestly, the way I speak more gently, even the way I touch things more softly.
Squek...
Kirubbit only made a small comforting grunt, but its crystal horn glowed softly in the darkness, as if responding to Rinoa's question with its mysterious light.
Rinoa remembered the status panel that appeared this morning. Maybe I can check it again to see if there are any changes.
"Status," she whispered while concentrating.
Immediately, gentle blue-silver light floated before her eyes. A thin panel appeared with information that had changed slightly, letters glowing softly in the darkness.
📃 STATUS WINDOW
Name: Rinoa
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Age: 17
Class: None
Level: 1 (60/100)
Affinity: Unknown
Titles: Reincarnated Soul
HP: 200 / 200 AP: 100 / 100
STR: 6
AGI: 9
VIT: 8
INT: 12
LUK: 10
Skills:
• Instinctive Pulse (Passive Lv. 1) -- Body responds to threats automatically + reacts automatically when attacked
• ??? (Locked)
• ??? (Locked)
Items: None
The EXP increased! From 0 to 60. From today's experiences meeting new people, exploring new places, learning about the world.
This system is really like an RPG game, thought Rinoa while studying the numbers before her. But why was I given a second chance like this? And what's the real purpose?
Blurry images flashed in her mind - rain-wet city streets, blinding car lights, a speeding truck, Yuki's face crying and screaming her name. Memories from Rio's life that were still painful like an unhealed wound.
I saved Yuki by sacrificing my life. Maybe that's why I was given this chance? Because I did something noble?
But there was something more than that. A deep feeling that she had a bigger mission in this world. Something connected to the power she possessed.
Rinoa slowly closed the status panel and lay down on the soft bed. Through the window, she could see stars twinkling in the night sky like diamonds scattered on black cloth. The same sky that illuminated this peaceful village, where she now found the warmth of a new family.
This is my chance to live better. To become someone useful.
But just before she fell asleep, she heard something strange - like faint whispers from the forest's direction. Sounds too weak to understand the words, but clear enough to make her feel like something was calling gently.
"To... K…... To.... k….."
"What's that?" Rinoa got up and carefully approached the window, her white linen nightgown fluttering in the night breeze. The forest in the distance looked dark and quiet, tree silhouettes towering like giant guards. Nothing unusual could be seen with the naked eye.
But the feeling that there's something out there - something connected to me - I can't shake.
Kirubbit got up and approached her with wary eyes, its small blue crystal horn glowing brighter in the darkness. The creature also sensed something, its ears standing upright like antennas catching signals.
Squeak... A gentle warning sound.
Kirubbit feels the same thing, thought Rinoa. So this isn't just my imagination. There's something out there.
"Tomorrow," Rinoa whispered to herself while stroking Kirubbit's head. "Tomorrow I'll find out more about this world. And maybe... about why I'm here."
She returned to bed, but her mind was still filled with tickling questions.
In my previous life, I was someone meaningless - an ordinary high school student who was ignored, had no close friends, no big dreams. But here, as Rinoa, I feel there's much greater potential.
And this body... though it still feels foreign, it's beginning to feel like mine. The more graceful way of moving, the softer voice, even the way of thinking that somehow has started to change. Is this what adaptation means?
This time, she thought with growing determination, I will become someone who matters. I will protect the people I care about, like I did for Yuki. I will use this second chance well.
When she finally fell asleep, her dreams were filled with vague images of adventures awaiting her - vast forests with mysterious creatures, large cities with tall towers, people she would meet who might become friends or enemies, and challenges she would face with powers she still didn't understand. But one thing was certain in her heart - she would not waste the second chance that had been given to her.
In the distance, in the thick darkness of the forest, a pair of eyes glowing like red stars watched Lirinvale village with full attention. Waiting. Observing. Preparing.