Chirp... chirp... chirp...
The morning birds' songs broke through the stillness of the barely-lit dawn. Golden light slipped through gaps in the wooden curtains at the small window, drawing warm patterns on the guest room floor. Rinoa woke slowly, her eyelids still heavy from restless sleep.
Strange dreams had haunted her again—a mysterious figure watching from afar, voices calling from the darkness, and an inexplicable unease.
Yawn...
Rinoa rubbed her eyes with movements that still felt foreign—her hands smaller than she remembered, her fingers more slender. The moment of waking always reminded her of a reality still difficult to accept: she was no longer Rio with his male body.
Still not used to this, thought Rinoa as she felt her long silver hair spread across the pillow. I never had to push hair away from my face every morning before.
Kirubbit had woken earlier. The small creature sat calmly on the windowsill, its golden eyes gazing outside with full attention. Its light blue crystal horn glimmered faintly when the morning sunlight touched it.
Is something making him uneasy? thought Rinoa, observing Kirubbit's behavior, more alert than usual.
"Good morning, Kirubbit," whispered Rinoa as she reached out to stroke his soft green fur. The voice that emerged still felt unfamiliar—high and gentle.
Squeak... Kirubbit made a soft sound in response, but his eyes never left the view outside.
Rinoa rose and approached the window, feeling how her body moved differently than before, her steps shorter. The white linen nightgown she wore felt loose on this more slender frame.
Every movement reminds me this isn't my old body, thought Rinoa as she adjusted the gown slipping off her shoulder. Even the way I stand feels different.
Lirinvale village was beginning to show signs of morning life. Thin smoke rose from house chimneys, indicating residents had started lighting their wood stoves to cook breakfast with dried straw and twigs collected yesterday afternoon.
Cock-a-doodle-doo! Roosters crowed from various coops.
Moo... moo... Cows in the pasture near the village added to the morning orchestra with their deep voices.
Clip-clop, clip-clop... The sound of horse hooves and wooden carts from merchants already starting their morning activities, wooden wheels rolling over the hardened dirt road.
Everything sounded so normal and peaceful. But amid the village's soothing symphony of life, Rinoa caught something strange.
Tok... tok... tok...
A soft, rhythmic knocking, so faint it was almost masked by other sounds. Rinoa sharpened her hearing, trying to trace the source.
Tok... tok... tok...
The sound came again, this time slightly clearer. Like someone knocking on wood very carefully, with regular and repeated intervals. Too regular to be just natural sounds, too hidden for normal village activity.
"Do you hear it too, Kirubbit?" asked Rinoa, pointing outside the window.
Kirubbit tilted his head, his small ears twitching to catch the sound. His crystal horn glowed brighter for a moment, as if responding to something that couldn't be heard by normal human ears.
He clearly hears something, thought Rinoa. But he's not showing signs of fear. More like... curious?
Rinoa turned to get a change of clothes but paused when her eyes caught her reflection in the water basin's surface. The figure staring back still felt strange—an oval face with softer features, messy long silver hair, and a clearly feminine body in the thin nightgown.
Every time like this, Rinoa sighed as she touched her own cheek. I never had to face a reflection that feels like a stranger.
With movements that were becoming familiar though still felt odd, she took the light green dress Nira had given her. The soft, comfortable cotton fabric, though its cut was very different from the clothes Rio used to wear.
How do I fasten these ties at the back? Rinoa struggled with the laces behind the dress, her hands unable to reach easily. Men's clothes were far simpler—just put on a shirt and pants, done.
After several minutes wrestling with the complicated ties, Rinoa finally managed to wear the dress fairly neatly, though not quite perfectly.
Creak...
The sound of the bedroom door's hinges as she opened it slowly, trying not to wake Luno and Mii who were still asleep in the next room.
The warm and appetizing aroma of morning cooking greeted her from the kitchen—a mixture of burning wood, boiling wheat porridge, and simple spices Nira used for cooking.
Tss... tss... The sound of something being grilled on an iron pan.
Blep... blep... pletak... The sound of boiling water in a clay pot.
"Good morning, Rinoa," Nira greeted with a warm smile while stirring something on the stone stove. The middle-aged woman was already wearing a dark brown dress and cotton apron with small flower patterns, her hair neatly tied with a simple cloth ribbon. "You're up earlier today. Did you sleep well?"
"Good morning, Mrs. Nira," answered Rinoa as she sat on a simple wooden chair at the dining table. She still had to adjust how she sat—Rio used to sit with legs spread wide.
"Fairly well, but I kept hearing strange sounds since last night."
Nira turned from the stove, her light brown eyebrows raised with a curious expression. Her calloused hands from hard work remained skillful in stirring the porridge. "Strange sounds? What kind, dear?"
Rinoa received a bowl of steaming hot wheat porridge and a piece of still-warm brown bread.
"Like soft rhythmic knocking. I heard it this morning when I woke up. Is that normal in this village?"
Skrate... Nira moved a wooden stool and sat across from Rinoa, her warm hands holding a cup of herbal tea still steaming—the mixed aroma of wild mint leaves and chamomile flowers that grew in the backyard garden.
"Hmm... maybe that's Mr. Willem repairing his goat pen. Yesterday he said he wanted to replace some rotten boards with new teak wood," said Nira as she sipped her tea. Slurp...
"But isn't it too early for carpentry work?"
Nira nodded while considering. "You're right. Usually work with hammers and saws only starts after the sun is higher—around seven in the morning by sundial time. It's only just past five now." She paused, her face showing a thoughtful expression.
"Maybe sounds from the forest. Sometimes old trees starting to fall can produce strange noises when the wood begins to crack. Or maybe woodpeckers looking for insects in tree trunks?"
Nira's explanation sounded reasonable, but Rinoa's heart still felt uneasy. The sound was too specific, too regular to be just a natural phenomenon.
Something's not right, she thought. But I can't confirm what it is yet.
I used to feel strange premonitions like this too, recalled Rinoa as she spooned the warm porridge. But I always ignored them. This time... maybe I should pay more attention.
After a filling breakfast of wheat porridge and soothing herbal tea, driven by unbearable curiosity, Rinoa decided to walk around the village. She wanted to prove for herself whether the strange sound really existed or was just her imagination.
"Mrs. Nira, I'd like to take a short walk," said Rinoa as she rose from the table.
"Be careful, dear. And don't go too far," Nira advised while clearing the empty bowls into a wooden basin to wash later.
Kirubbit followed faithfully, occasionally making small hops while sniffing the fresh morning air with his sensitive little nose.
Hop! Hop! Hop! The sound of Kirubbit's light jumps on the still dew-damp ground.
The morning atmosphere in the village was very refreshing. The cool air still carried the scent of dew and wet grass, mixed with the smell of wood smoke from house chimneys. Rinoa greeted several residents beginning their activities—Mrs. Marta hanging cotton and linen clothes on hemp rope stretched across the yard, shaking out the fabric with skillful movements.
Flap... flap... The sound of wet cloth being shaken before hanging.
Mr. Ronan opened his wooden shop door while yawning, eyes still drowsy but ready for a day of trade. Several small children were already running through the dirt streets with bare feet, their cheerful laughter echoing in the morning air.
"Hahaha! Try to catch me!"
Tap, tap... The sound of little feet running on the hardened dirt road.
The way they play reminds me of my childhood, thought Rinoa, smiling at those children. But I was too shy to join in playing so freely like that.
"Good morning, Sister Rinoa!" Luno suddenly called out, appearing from behind a house with his messy curly red hair and bright brown eyes full of cheer. The twelve-year-old boy wore a simple brown cotton tunic and faded cloth pants—work clothes for helping village residents.
"Sister Rinoa is up so early!"
"Good morning, Luno," answered Rinoa with a warm smile. She still had to restrain herself from ruffling the child's hair like Rio used to—a gesture that might be too rough for a girl. "You're up early too. What are you doing?"
"I just helped Mr. Jeren feed his horses," answered Luno with a proud tone, his chest puffing out. "Gave them wheat, dried hay, and carrots. He said if I want to learn to ride horses someday, I have to learn to care for them first. So they'll trust us!"
"Mr. Jeren has horses?" asked Rinoa with curious, sparkling eyes.
"Yes! Two! In the wooden stable behind his workshop. One's named Bramble—a strong dark brown horse for hauling goods, and the other's Misty—a more agile gray horse. Want to see?"
Rinoa nodded enthusiastically. She indeed wanted to see more sides of the village she hadn't visited yet, and learn more aspects of life in Lirinvale.
I used to love animals so much, but never had the chance to interact with horses, she recalled while following Luno.
They walked toward Jeren's workshop in the northern part of the village, passing a footpath bordered by low wooden fences and home vegetable gardens. Even from a distance, sounds of activity at the workshop could be heard.
Tang! Tang! Tang! The sound of an iron hammer striking metal with a steady, experienced rhythm.
Hiss... The sound of hot metal dipped into a cold water tub.
Whoosh... The sound of wind from a leather blower stoking the coals in the stone furnace.
"Mr. Jeren has been working since dawn," commented Luno as he quickened his pace on the hardened dirt road. "He says morning air is cooler so it's not too hot working with fire. Because if it's midday, the heat from the furnace and the sun's heat become double."
That makes sense, thought Rinoa. In my old world, many craftsmen also started work early to avoid the midday sun.
When they arrived at the workshop, Jeren was busy forging a blade with skillful and experienced movements. Sweat already dampened his forehead and muscular arms, his muscles moving with consistent rhythm each time he swung the iron hammer. The stone furnace spewed heat that made the air shimmer, and the sound of metal meeting metal created small fire sparks.
Sparks... Small fire sparks flew each time the hammer struck the metal.
"Mr. Jeren!" called Luno as he ran into the open workshop.
Jeren raised his head, his gray eyes looking at them kindly though still focused on his work. The tall man in his late twenties wore a dark brown leather tunic blackened in some parts from fire sparks, and thick dark-colored cotton pants.
"Oh, good morning, Luno. And good morning to you too, Rinoa." His voice was deep and authoritative, but with warmth in it. "Did you sleep well?"
"Good morning, Mr. Jeren," answered Rinoa while watching Jeren work with amazement—his precise and controlled movements, very different from the modern work Rio had ever seen. "How long have you been working, sir?"
Plung! Jeren dipped the hot knife into the cold water tub, producing hissing steam rising into the air. "Around four in the morning. An old habit from when I was still a soldier—wake before dawn, make use of every minute before duty starts."
A soldier? Rinoa felt there was an interesting story behind Jeren's background, but she didn't dare ask further. Like a veteran who chose a quiet life in a small village, she thought.
"Mr. Jeren," said Rinoa carefully, "this morning I heard strange knocking sounds. Could that possibly be from your work?"
Jeren placed the cooled knife on the wooden rack and furrowed his thick eyebrows. "Knocking? I only just started working with the hammer about half an hour ago. Before that I was in the back stable, feeding Bramble and Misty wheat and hay."
So it's not from here, thought Rinoa. "Then where did the knocking come from?"
"Maybe from another resident's house. Sometimes people wake up earlier to fix something broken—leaky roof tiles, cracked walls, or loose fences," answered Jeren while wiping sweat with a cotton cloth that had turned black.
He then looked at Rinoa with a sharper gaze, his gray eyes seeming to assess something. "You're quite sensitive to sounds, aren't you? That's a good ability. It means your hearing is sharp and you have high awareness of your surroundings."
There's an evaluating tone in his voice, thought Rinoa. Like he's assessing something about me. Is this because of his military background?
Luno, already impatient with waiting, pulled the edge of Rinoa's dress eagerly—a movement that startled Rinoa, unused to touches on such loose clothing.
"Come on, Sister Rinoa! The horses are in the back! They must be done eating!"
Behind the workshop stood a simple but sturdy and well-maintained wooden stable, made from still-strong wooden beams. A tight thatched roof protected from rain, and the floor was lined with clean dried straw. Two beautiful horses were enjoying the remains of their morning meal at wooden troughs lined with tin for durability.
Kres... kres... The sound of them chewing dried hay and coarsely ground wheat grains.
Hrrr... One horse snorted softly, exhaling warm breath from its wet nostrils.
"The dark brown one is Bramble," explained Luno while stroking the horse's nose with familiar movements, his hands moving slowly so as not to startle the large animal.
"The light gray one is Misty. They're work horses, usually used by Mr. Jeren to haul iron raw materials from merchants, or go to neighboring villages to sell knives and axes."
Rinoa approached Misty carefully, extending her hand slowly like she'd seen in animal movies. The horse sniffed her hand briefly with its warm, wet nose, then snorted gently and let Rinoa stroke its strong muscular neck.
The fur feels smooth and slightly coarse at the same time, warm with life pulsing beneath it.
This is very different from keeping cats or small dogs, thought Rinoa while feeling the great power contained in the horse's body. There's something amazing about interacting with a creature this large.
"Wow, Misty likes Sister Rinoa right away!" exclaimed Luno with admiring, sparkling eyes. "Usually she's a bit wary of new people—likes to back up or get restless. But she's so calm with Sister Rinoa!"
"Mr. Jeren is indeed skilled at training horses," murmured Rinoa while continuing to stroke Misty who seemed to enjoy the touch, her large dark eyes gazing at Rinoa calmly.
"Mr. Jeren says horses are intelligent animals. They can sense people's intentions from how we move, our breath, even the aura we emit," said Luno, repeating advice he'd heard with a serious tone. "If we're afraid or have bad intentions, they'll also be afraid or aggressive. But if we're calm and kind-hearted, they'll trust us."
Sensing aura... Rinoa recalled Kirubbit's ability to also judge someone's character. Maybe animals in this world are indeed more sensitive to invisible things. Or maybe this is normal, but in my old world I didn't pay much attention to it.
While Rinoa was enjoying her interaction with the horses, suddenly that strange sound returned—clearer than before.
Tok... tok... tok...
This time not only clearer, but also closer. It seemed to come from the east of the village, from the edge bordering the dense forest.
Rinoa turned toward the sound's source, her blue-green eyes trying to catch something unusual among the dense trees.
"What is it, Sister Rinoa?" asked Luno, noticing Rinoa's changed demeanor—the girl suddenly tensed and stared in one direction with high focus. "Did you hear something again?"
"That knocking sound appeared again," answered Rinoa as she stepped out of the stable, her movements careful but full of alertness. "It seems to be from that direction." She pointed east with a slightly trembling finger.
They walked toward the eastern edge of the village, following the increasingly clear and disturbing sound. Rinoa felt something in how her body moved—more alert, more sensitive to surroundings.
Tok... tok... tok... tok...
"I hear it now too," said Luno while furrowing his brow, his voice becoming anxious. "That's strange. The sound is like someone knocking from inside the ground or from behind the trees. But it's so regular, like someone's doing it on purpose."
When they reached the village edge, where the dirt path began leading into the dense forest with tall trees blocking sunlight, the knocking sound was heard much clearer and more regular.
Tok... tok... tok... tok...
Kirubbit, following them, suddenly stopped and stared into the forest with alert eyes, his small ears standing erect. His light blue crystal horn began glowing with brighter light than usual, and the fine fur on his neck stood on end as if sensing danger.
He's sensing something dangerous, thought Rinoa as she crouched beside the small creature, her hand automatically protecting with a more protective gesture—different from Rio's usually more direct and firm gestures.
Suddenly, a notification panel appeared before her like a transparent hologram, making her almost jump back in surprise.
[Environmental Warning!]
[Energy Disturbance Detected]
[Source: Unknown]
[Distance: Unknown]
[Threat Level: Minimal]
[Recommendation: Stay Alert]
This is the first time I've gotten a warning like this, thought Rinoa while feeling a strange sensation coursing through her body—like an internal alarm ringing softly, telling her something wasn't right around them. This system is like a more sophisticated danger sensor.
"Sister Rinoa? Your face is pale," said Luno with a worried tone, his clever brown eyes observing the change in Rinoa's expression. "Are you okay? Like you're seeing something that's not there."
"I..." Rinoa tried to find the right words without sounding crazy, "I feel there's something strange in the forest. Like... like a strong premonition. Maybe we should go back to the village."
I used to often ignore premonitions like this, she recalled while feeling her body tense. But now I have an ability telling me this isn't just paranoia.
"But we haven't found out what's making the sound," protested Luno with still-curious eyes, typical of a boy wanting to solve a mystery. "What if it's just a big woodpecker or a squirrel making a nest?"
"Luno, sometimes it's better not to find out things that could be dangerous," said Rinoa with a more serious tone, her naturally high voice sounding more persuasive than firm. "Let's go back. We'll ask Mr. Jeren or other adults later. They surely know more about strange things in the forest."
As they turned to return, the knocking sound changed into something far more frightening and threatening.
THUMP... THUMP... THUMP...
A deep and heavy sound, like the footsteps of a giant walking slowly among the trees. Each step created subtle vibrations they could feel through the ground, making small pebbles on the road tremble.
Rustle... rustle... KRAKK!
The sound of leaves and twigs stepped on by something large—not like the sound of normal animals, but something far more massive and heavy.
The two children exchanged glances with increasingly frightened expressions. Even Luno, usually brave and curious, now looked anxious.
"That... that's not a normal animal sound," whispered Luno with a trembling voice, his hand reflexively seeking a hold on Rinoa's arm. "The sound is too big. Like... like there's something really huge."
"Let's quickly return to the village," said Rinoa while carrying Kirubbit who was becoming increasingly restless, his small fur standing on end. The small creature trembled in her embrace, its crystal horn glowing with an intensity she'd never seen before.
They ran quickly toward the village center, their breathing slightly labored from tension and anxiety. Rinoa felt her heart beating faster in her now-different chest, with smaller ribs making her breath feel shorter and quicker.
Thump-thump-thump! Her heartbeat growing louder, feeling different in the smaller chest cavity.
Rinoa felt relieved when she saw Nira standing in front of her house, chatting with Mrs. Marta while hanging linen and cotton clothes on hemp rope stretched across the yard.
Flap... flap... The sound of cloth being shaken before hanging, movements routinely done every clear morning.
"Mrs. Nira!" called Rinoa as she ran over with a still-pale face, her high voice sounding more breathless than Rio's formerly deeper voice.
"Rinoa? Luno?" Nira immediately put down the woven laundry basket and approached them with a worried expression, her flower-patterned apron fluttering with quick steps. "What's wrong? You both look frightened."
"We heard strange sounds from the forest," answered Luno, still out of breath, his hand holding his side from running. "First like small knocks, but then it became the sound of really huge footsteps! Like a giant or monster!"
Mrs. Marta, hearing the conversation, also approached with worried furrowed brows, the cloth she was hanging forgotten in her hands. The middle-aged woman with tied brown hair wore a gray work dress and checkered cotton apron.
"Huge footsteps? Where did you hear them?"
"In the forest east of the village," answered Rinoa, pointing the direction with a still slightly trembling finger, her movements more expressive than Rio's usual way. "At first it was like soft repeated knocks with the same pattern, but then it changed to a much bigger and heavier sound. And there were vibrations in the ground."
Mrs. Marta's expression became serious, and she exchanged glances with Nira—an exchange of looks showing they knew something not told to the children.
"Nira, I think we should inform Jeren. Lately there have indeed been reports from passing merchants—they said forest animals have been wandering outside their usual areas in several neighboring villages."
"Forest animals?" asked Rinoa with curiosity mixed with concern.
"Yes, dear," answered Nira while stroking Rinoa's shoulder with a calming gesture, her warm calloused hands providing a sense of safety.
"Sometimes large bears or wolves come down from the mountains when winter begins approaching or when food in the forest becomes scarce due to drought. Usually they avoid human settlements, but if they're very hungry or lost, they might dare approach the village looking for food."
"But don't worry," added Mrs. Marta with a reassuring smile, though her eyes still showed concern. "Our village has a security system that's been running for decades. The men always take turns patrolling, especially at night when nocturnal animals are active."
"Security system?" asked Rinoa, her eyes sparkling with curiosity—an expression more open than Rio who used to keep curiosity to himself.
"Jeren and several other adult men—Mr. Willem, Mr. Gareth, Mr. Thomas—take turns doing night rounds carrying torches and simple weapons," explained Nira while tidying her laundry basket. "They check around the village, making sure no wild animals or other dangerous things approach. If there's a threat, they'll ring the big brass bell in the village tower and all residents will gather in the village hall with its thick walls."
Mrs. Marta nodded while folding dried clothes—cotton and linen fabrics in natural colors: brown, cream, pale green.
"There hasn't been a serious incident in this village for years. The last one was maybe five years ago. But it's always better to stay alert, especially when the season starts changing."
Nira knelt down to be level with Rinoa and Luno, her warm hands holding both their shoulders. Her warm brown eyes looked at them with full attention and affection.
"You two, for the next few days, don't play too far toward the village edge, okay. Especially don't approach the forest alone or without adults. If there really is a large animal there, it's better we wait until the men can check and make sure it's safe."
"Yes, Mrs. Nira," they both answered simultaneously, Rinoa's high voice and Luno's voice beginning to change with age mixing in a funny harmony.