Tick... tick... tick...
The sound of the old wooden clock in Mr. Willem's house ticked monotonously in the early morning silence. Rinoa woke before dawn broke, her body automatically reacting to the promise she had made yesterday. No sunlight slipped through, only the bluish-black darkness still enveloping the world.
Creak...
The wooden floor creaked softly as she rose from her simple mattress, trying not to wake Luno and Mii who were still sound asleep. Rinoa still felt strange with this lighter body.
'I'm still not fully accustomed to this body,' thought Rinoa while adjusting the white linen nightgown that had slipped off her shoulder. 'Back when I was Rio, I could jump straight out of bed without needing to adjust my balance. But now...'
Kirubbit lifted his head from the corner of the room, his golden eyes gleaming in the darkness.
Squeak... A small grunt-like sound that seemed questioning.
"Yes, Kirubbit. Time for training," Rinoa whispered while stroking the small creature's head with a gesture that had unconsciously become gentler than Rio's way before. "Do you want to come?"
Hop! Hop! Kirubbit jumped onto her shoulder enthusiastically, his light blue crystal horn glowing softly.
Rinoa took the light green cotton dress she had prepared last night. She still had to struggle with the ties at the back.
'Why do women's clothes have to be this complicated?' she grumbled internally while twisting her body trying to reach the ties she couldn't grasp. 'Shirts and pants are far more practical.'
After several minutes wrestling with the clothing, she finally managed to wear the dress fairly neatly, though it still felt awkward with the loose cut that was different from Rio's tight clothing before.
Whoosh...
The cold morning air greeted Rinoa as she stepped out of the house. Thick dew dampened the grass, creating a sparkle like tiny diamonds on every blade. Her breath misted thinly in the cool air, and she felt the fabric of the dress flutter in the wind—a sensation that was still foreign.
The birds hadn't begun to chirp yet, but in the distance, the faint sound of a rooster's crow could be heard, a sign that dawn was approaching.
Jeren was already waiting for her at the edge of the eastern forest, right at the boundary between the meadow and the dense trees. The man's silhouette looked like part of nature itself—standing tall in a worn leather jacket that had become shiny from frequent use, practical thick cloth pants, and a brown leather backpack full of equipment. A sturdy wooden staff and several training weapons were held in his hands.
Step... step... step...
Rinoa's footsteps on the wet grass created a soft sound. She still had to adjust her way of walking.
"Morning," Jeren greeted without preamble, his voice deep and calm. His sharp eyes immediately assessed Rinoa from head to toe. "You're on time. That already shows the right mentality."
"Morning, Mr. Jeren," Rinoa replied while catching her breath, slightly panting from walking quickly.
Jeren pointed toward the still-dark forest. "Before we go in there, I need you to temporarily forget everything you think you know about the world." His sharp eyes stared at Rinoa with an intensity that made the girl swallow. "In the forest, the rules that apply are nature's rules. Nature knows no mercy, but it also knows no hatred. It simply exists. We adapt or we die."
Gulp...
Rinoa felt her throat dry. Jeren's words sounded simple, but carried heavy weight.
'This isn't play training,' she thought while remembering various survival films she had watched before. 'This is about real survival.'
"First," said Jeren while placing a long rope of hemp fiber on the ground, forming a straight line three meters long, "balance. On uneven terrain, one wrong step can mean injury. Injury in the forest can mean death."
Rinoa stared at the rope nervously. It looked simple, but she knew this wasn't just a game.
"Walk on it while carrying this," Jeren commanded while handing over a wooden bucket half-filled with water and crossing his arms. "Keep your balance. Don't let the water spill."
Step...
Rinoa stepped carefully onto the rope, feeling the rough texture of hemp fiber under her feet, which were only covered by thin leather shoes. Her arms stretched out to maintain balance, her body swaying slightly while holding the bucket.
Sway...
"Don't tense up," said Jeren, observing every movement Rinoa made. "Tense muscles will make you lose control. Breathe. Feel your center of gravity."
'This body is really different,' thought Rinoa in frustration while trying to find balance. 'I used to have a higher center of gravity. Now with a shorter body and different proportions, I have to learn all over again.'
Rinoa tried to follow that advice. She took a deep breath and imagined there was a straight line from head to feet, like what she had seen in yoga videos on the internet before.
Balanced...
Slowly, her steps became more stable though still slightly swaying. She managed to reach the end of the rope with only a little water spilled.
"Not bad for the first try," Jeren commented briefly. "But still too shaky. Again. This time with a full bucket."
'Oh, no...' Rinoa groaned internally.
"Now, stamina," said Jeren while pointing to a large tree nearby after Rinoa successfully completed the balance training with better results. "Run around that tree. Fifteen laps for warm-up."
Thump-thump-thump!
The sound of Rinoa's feet hitting the damp ground in a regular rhythm. The first lap felt easy, the second began to be felt, the third made her slightly breathless.
Thud... thud...
"Too slow!" Jeren shouted from a distance. "You're not taking a leisurely walk! This is about survival!"
Rinoa's breath began to gasp, sweat began to dampen her forehead even though the morning air was still cold. Her leg muscles began to feel hot. 'This female body is indeed different,' she thought while biting her lip. 'Stamina and muscle strength aren't as great as before.'
Thump-thump-thump-thump!
Her heart beat faster and faster, but she kept running. 'I can't give up,' she resolved with determination. 'I already promised to become stronger.'
After the fifteenth lap, Jeren finally raised his hand. "Stop! And now push-ups. Twenty repetitions."
Collapse...
Rinoa almost fell to the ground, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Sweat flowed heavily, and her legs felt like jelly. "M-Mr. Jeren... isn't this too much for the first day?" she protested with a gasping voice.
"There's no such thing as too much when your life is threatened," Jeren answered firmly. "Wolves won't wait until you're ready. Monsters won't ask if you've trained enough."
Rinoa tried to do push-ups, but the strength of her smaller arms made the movement feel far more difficult than when Rio used to do it at school.
Ngh... ouch...
"Only seven repetitions?" Jeren shook his head. "Again. This time until ten."
'Damn... this is torture,' Rinoa groaned internally while trying to continue.
.
.
After the exhausting physical training, Jeren gave Rinoa a bottle of water from his leather bag. "A strong physique is the foundation of everything else," said Jeren while observing Rinoa who was still panting. "Without that, magic, skills, or whatever you have won't mean anything."
Gulp... gulp...
The cold water felt like the best gift in the world.
"Now sit," Jeren commanded while sitting her down under a large tree. "I want to see your basic status."
Appraiser. Jeren activated his skill while staring at Rinoa with focus.
A transparent panel appeared before him:
📃 STATUS WINDOW
Name: Rinoa
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Age: 17
Level: 3 (170/300)
Title: None
Affinity: Aether (Awakening)
HP: 260 / 260
AP: 140 / 140
STR: 10
AGI: 14
VIT: 10
INT: 15
LUK: 12
Skills:
• Instinctive Pulse (Passive - Level 2)
• Danger Sense (Passive - Level 1)
• ??? (Locked)
• ??? (Locked)
Jeren furrowed his brow while studying the data. 'No title at all? Strange. Most people at least have one title from their life experiences. And her statistics...'
"Hmm," he murmured softly. "STR 10 for a seventeen-year-old girl is indeed normal, but a bit low for the training we'll be doing. VIT 10 also explains why you tire quickly earlier."
Rinoa was still panting, unaware that she was being analyzed.
"But AGI 14 is quite good," Jeren continued in his mind. "And INT 15... that's above average. Most likely she's the type who relies on intelligence and agility rather than brute strength."
'What's most interesting is Affinity: Aether (Awakening). That explains why she can quickly develop sensing abilities. And two locked skills... usually that's a sign of potential that hasn't been actualized yet.'
"Alright," said Jeren while deactivating his Appraiser skill. "Based on your condition, we'll focus on training that suits your body type and abilities. We'll gradually increase physical strength, but the main priority is agility and developing Aether abilities."
"What do you mean, sir?" asked Rinoa while catching her breath.
"You're not a frontal fighter type," Jeren explained. "Your body is more suited for quick movements, evasion, and precision attacks. I'll train you to become a combat type that relies on tactical intelligence and high mobility."
.
.
Splash... gurgle...
The sound of a small stream flowing between rocks became background music as Jeren brought Rinoa deeper into the forest. Sunlight began to slip through gaps in the foliage, creating light-dark patterns that moved on the mossy ground.
Crack... rustle...
Every step of their feet on dry leaves and small twigs produced different sounds. Rinoa began to realize that this forest was alive in ways she had never imagined, very different from the city parks where Rio used to walk.
'Our footsteps are too loud,' thought Rinoa while trying to step more carefully. 'In the survival films I watched, they always emphasized the importance of moving silently.'
"Pay close attention," said Jeren while stopping and pointing to the muddy ground. "What do you see?"
Rinoa followed his gaze and saw footprints imprinted in the mud. "Footprints?"
"Not just tracks. These are tracks that tell a story," Jeren answered while kneeling, his thick cloth pants seemingly undisturbed by the wet ground. "These are Woodland Deer tracks—forest deer. Look, there are three deep hoof marks and one shallower. That indicates it wasn't in a hurry. It was foraging for food."
'Amazing...' thought Rinoa while remembering Rio's biology lessons before. 'Nothing this specific in school lessons.'
Rinoa knelt beside Jeren, having to be more careful with her dress that could get dirty. "How can you know in such detail, sir?"
"Experience," Jeren answered briefly. "And this," he pointed in the opposite direction, "Thornback Boar tracks—wild boar with thorns. Their claws are wider and deeper. They're searching for roots underground. If you see these tracks, you know there's a natural food source around here."
'I'm beginning to understand,' thought Rinoa while absorbing every detail. 'Every sign has meaning. Like reading nature's language.'
They continued their journey, and Jeren kept teaching patiently but firmly. He showed how to read wind direction from leaf movements, how to recognize weather from cloud colors, and how to find clean water from the sound of hidden streams.
'The sound of water flowing over rocks is different from flowing over soft soil,' Rinoa noted in her memory while listening carefully to Jeren's explanation.
Nod... nod...
"And most importantly," said Jeren while picking a bluish-green berry from a low bush, "distinguishing between life and death."
He showed the berry to Rinoa. "This is a Starlight Berry. Its fruit is safe to eat and can provide a little energy. It tastes sweet with a slight sourness."
Then he pointed to a purple mushroom growing on a rotting tree trunk. "But that is a Death Cap Mushroom. One small bite can kill you within hours."
Gulp...
Rinoa felt her throat dry. The difference between life and death could be as simple as choosing the wrong food.
'Like Russian roulette with food,' she thought while remembering various documentaries about poisonous mushrooms she had watched.
"Now," said Jeren with a tone that became serious, "time to learn how to disappear."
"Disappear?"
"Nature doesn't care how strong you are. If you can't hide yourself, you'll become prey," Jeren answered. "And in this world, predators don't only come in the form of animals."
Ominous...
Jeren taught Rinoa camouflage techniques—how to move following shadows, how to adjust breathing patterns with the rhythm of surrounding nature, and how to minimize left traces.
"Most importantly," Jeren instructed, "learn how to move in a dress without making the sound of rubbing fabric. Women's clothing can be a weakness if not understood properly."
'That's true,' Rinoa complained internally. 'This dress keeps fluttering and getting caught in bushes. I used to move much more easily in long pants.'
She learned how to hold the edge of the dress so it wouldn't touch dry leaves, how to step so the fabric wouldn't rub harshly against her legs, and how to sit or kneel without making movements that were too wide.
Step... step...
Rinoa stepped carefully, placing her feet in solid places and avoiding dry twigs. Her steps, naturally shorter than Rio's before, actually helped in this case.
Silent...
Her steps became more silent, though still not as perfect as Jeren's.
"Good," Jeren praised. "Your lighter body and shorter steps are actually an advantage for stealth. You can move in places that can't be reached by larger bodies."
The training reached its peak when Jeren suddenly stepped back into the bushes and... disappeared.
Vanished...
"Now," his voice came from somewhere Rinoa couldn't determine the location, "find me! You have ten minutes."
Rinoa looked around in panic. Jeren was truly invisible—as if he had completely merged with the forest.
'Where is he?'
'Wait,' thought Rinoa while closing her eyes and trying to concentrate. 'In the action films I watched, they always used senses other than sight.'
And then she felt it—not through eyes or ears, but something deeper. A strange sensation, like a very gentle electric current, began to touch her fingertips.
Tingling...
Pulse... pulse...
Like there was another pulse besides her own. Like there was a larger rhythm connecting everything.
Ding!
Suddenly, a notification panel appeared before her, almost making her jump in surprise.
[New Skill Acquired!]
[Aether Sense (Passive - Lv. 1) - Can sense the flow of Aether energy in body and surrounding environment, radius 10 meters]
[This ability allows you to detect the presence of living creatures, object quality, and magical energy fluctuations around you]
'What is this?' Rinoa opened her eyes in surprise, the transparent panel still floating before her.
Squeak! Squawk!
Kirubbit suddenly jumped from her shoulder and ran to her feet, rubbing his head enthusiastically. His crystal horn gleamed brighter.
"Excellent," Jeren emerged from behind a tree with a thin smile. "That small creature is more sensitive than humans. Kirubbit has been sensing the change in you for a while. It can be a good guide."
"I... I felt it," Rinoa whispered with eyes still fascinated by the new sensation. "Like there's something flowing. Everywhere."
"That's what we call Aether Sense," Jeren explained while dusting off his clothes. "The ability to sense the energy flow that connects all life. You managed to access it in a very short time. That's... unusual."
'Good thing he can't see the system panel that appears automatically,' thought Rinoa relieved. 'But this ability... it feels like a sixth sense that just opened.'
Rinoa opened her eyes, staring at her hands in wonder. The world felt different now—not only seen, but felt in a new dimension. She could sense the subtle energy flow around her, like an invisible web connecting everything.
.
.
"Now," said Jeren while standing and taking two wooden blades that had been modified into training swords, "time for real training. But remember—your body isn't made for frontal combat. We'll focus on defense and evasion."
Jeren gave the wooden training sword to Rinoa. The sword felt heavy in these smaller hands, very different from the baseball bat Rio had held before.
'So heavy,' Rinoa complained internally while trying to lift the sword with both hands. 'Women's arms really are different in strength.'
"What I'll teach you today isn't attacking technique, but how to defend," said Jeren. "In dangerous situations, your first priority is to protect yourself and others, not defeat the enemy."
Whoosh!
Jeren began attacking with measured movements—not too fast for a beginner, but serious enough to force Rinoa to focus. His wooden sword moved in predictable patterns.
Clang!
Rinoa managed to parry the first attack, though she almost lost balance. The vibration from the impact made her arms tingle.
"Ouch!" she groaned unconsciously. "Mr. Jeren, this hurts!"
"Real combat is far more painful," Jeren answered without stopping his attacks. "Don't just rely on your hands. Use your whole body. Feet for balance, waist for power, eyes to read movements."
Whoosh... clang... whoosh... clang...
For almost an hour, they continued training. Sweat began to dampen Rinoa's forehead, her hands began trembling from fatigue, but she didn't give up. Each of Jeren's attacks forced her to think, react, and adapt.
'This body is really different,' thought Rinoa while trying to parry increasingly fast attacks. 'The reflexes are good, but stamina and strength aren't as great as before. I have to learn a different fighting style.'
Suddenly, a notification panel appeared before Rinoa, almost making her lose focus.
Ding!
[New Skill Acquired!]
[Combat Reflexes (Passive - Lv. 1) - Increases reaction speed to physical attacks]
[This ability allows you to respond to enemy attacks faster and more accurately]
[Bonus: +2 AGI during close combat]
'What??' Rinoa was almost shocked, but quickly closed the notification panel. 'New skill? From this training?'
She could feel the difference immediately. Jeren's movements that had looked fast now felt slightly slower in her eyes. Her reflexes reacted more smoothly and precisely.
Clang! Scrape!
This time, Rinoa not only managed to parry, but also made a small counter-attack that made Jeren step back.
"Remarkable," Jeren murmured with slightly widened eyes. "You learn very quickly. As if your body already knows what to do."
'If he knew that I just got a new skill...' thought Rinoa while trying to keep her expression neutral.
"But don't be too confident," Jeren continued while launching attacks that were much faster and more complex. "A real opponent won't go easy like this!"
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh!
Consecutive attacks overwhelmed Rinoa. Although her reflexes had improved, her body's stamina was declining drastically.
Hah... hah... ouch...
"Mr. Jeren... can we rest for a bit?" Rinoa asked with a gasping voice, her sweat already soaking her light green dress.
"Rest?" Jeren raised an eyebrow. "Monsters won't stop attacking because you're tired. Again!"
'This is so brutal,' Rinoa complained internally while trying to lift the wooden sword that felt increasingly heavy.
.
.
"Now, the more important part," said Jeren while putting down his sword after Rinoa was truly exhausted. "Controlling Aether for defense."
They both sat cross-legged on the still dew-covered grass. Jeren closed his eyes and Rinoa could sense a calm aura emanating from him.
The cross-legged sitting position in a dress felt very strange and uncomfortable. Rinoa had to keep adjusting the fabric so it wouldn't open up, very different from Rio's pants before that moved freely.
'Why do I have to sit like this in a dress?' she grumbled internally while trying to find a comfortable position without compromising propriety.
"Aether isn't just for attacking or detecting," Jeren explained with a soft voice. "It can be used to strengthen defense, accelerate healing, even create small barriers."
"How?" asked Rinoa curiously while trying not to be disturbed by her sitting position.
"Focus your Aether to your skin, to your muscles. Imagine an invisible armor protecting your entire body."
Rinoa closed her eyes and activated her Aether Sense. She could feel the energy flow in her body more clearly than before. Slowly, she tried to direct that energy to her skin surface.
Tingling...
A warm sensation spread throughout her body. Her skin felt slightly harder, more resistant to impact.
"Try now," said Jeren while taking a small twig and tapping it gently on Rinoa's arm.
Tap.
Rinoa barely felt anything. Whereas usually a tap that small would feel quite annoying.
"Perfect," Jeren praised with an admiring tone. "You have very intuitive control for someone who just started learning."
Ding!
[EXP Gained: +180]
[Combat Training & Aether Control Practice]
[Total EXP: 350/400]
'Almost leveled up,' thought Rinoa while feeling energy flowing more smoothly in her body.
The training reached its climax when Jeren decided to conduct a real combat simulation.
"I'll hide again," said Jeren. "This time, your task isn't just to find, but also defend against surprise attacks. Use everything you've learned today."
Jeren disappeared into the bushes with a veteran's skill. Rinoa stood alone in the middle of the forest, her heart pounding with tension.
Focus... focus...
She closed her eyes and used Aether Sense to try detecting Jeren's presence. What she sensed was the natural energy flow from trees and plants.
And then she felt it—not Jeren's aura, but something else. Something wrong.
Danger...
The instinct within her suddenly screamed a warning. Not from the direction where Jeren was hiding, but from bushes on the opposite side.
Ding!
[Danger Sense - Activated!]
[Threat detected: Unknown]
[Distance: 15 meters]
[Danger level: Medium]
The notification panel appeared briefly, confirming what her instinct had already sensed.
Grrr...
A low growl came from behind the bushes. A pair of red eyes glowed in the green darkness of the foliage.
Oh, no...
Rinoa stepped back, her body automatically taking a ready stance. This wasn't training anymore.
Ding!
[New Skill Acquired!]
[Survival Instinct (Passive - Lv. 1) - Duration 3 minutes]
[Temporarily increases strength and speed in dangerous situations]
[Automatic activation when facing high threats]
[Temporary physical enhancement: +3 STR, +3 AGI, +2 VIT]
Suddenly Rinoa's entire body felt like it was shocked by a gentle electric current, then she felt power flowing throughout her body. Her muscles tensed with unusual energy, her reflexes became far sharper, and time seemed to move slightly slower.
'What power is this?!' thought Rinoa amazed while feeling the change in her body. 'It's like my body suddenly became a machine optimized for survival.'
GRRRRR!
The creature jumped out from the bushes—a black wolf with fur that seemed to absorb light. Its eyes glowed bright red, and from its mouth dripped blackish liquid.
Ding!
[Danger Sense - Update]
[Creature identified: Shadow Wolf - Level 8]
[Status: Aggressive, Hungry]
[Recommendation: Avoid direct confrontation]
But there was no time to avoid. The wolf had already lunged toward her with frightening speed.
LEAP!
Time felt slow. Rinoa could see every detail—sharp claws, gleaming fangs, red eyes full of hatred. But thanks to the activated Survival Instinct, her body reacted perfectly.
DODGE!
She rolled to the side with a flowing movement, her green dress fluttering dramatically. The sharp claws passed the spot where she had stood seconds ago.
'Amazing!' Rinoa almost couldn't believe her own body's movement. 'I'm moving like a professional athlete. This skill really changed my physical ability drastically.'
Thud!
The wolf landed and immediately turned around, preparing to attack again. Its black saliva dripped to the ground and produced smoke.
Whoosh!
But a wooden spear suddenly shot from behind a tree, piercing right into the Shadow Wolf's neck.
Aaauuugh...
The creature howled in pain before its body began turning into black smoke and disappeared.
Vanished...
Jeren emerged from behind the tree, his face serious but not panicked. "Shadow Wolf," he said while retrieving his spear. "A dangerous predator formed from dark Aether. They usually don't appear during the day."
Ding!
[Survival Instinct - Deactivated]
[Duration ended]
[Statistics return to normal]
Rinoa felt the extra energy in her body slowly fade, leaving her with a feeling of wonder and slight trembling. The effect of Survival Instinct had ended, but the experience of using it felt very real.
'That was amazing,' she thought while staring at her own hands. 'I moved like... like this body knew exactly what to do. And that skill really gave me extra strength when needed.'
"You reacted very well," said Jeren while checking the surrounding area to ensure there were no other threats. "Your instinct worked perfectly. You didn't panic, didn't freeze, immediately took the right action."
"I... I don't know how I could," Rinoa answered with a trembling voice, her sweat mixed with dust and training sweat. "My body moved on its own. And I felt... like extra strength flowing into my body."
Jeren stared at her with calculating eyes. "That's what's called Survival Instinct—the body's ability to react in dangerous situations without needing to think first. Not everyone has it at the same level. But you..." he paused for a moment, "you have it at an extraordinary level."
Ding!
[Combat Experience]
[EXP +120 - Faced Shadow Wolf]
[Total EXP: 470/400]
[LEVEL UP!]
[You have reached Level 4]
[HP: 300/300 (+40)]
[AP: 180/180 (+40)]
[Statistics increased: STR +2, AGI +2, VIT +2, INT +2, LUK +2]
[EXP: 70/500]
The notification panel informed her that today's experience had provided significant progress. Rinoa felt the change in her body—energy flowing more smoothly, muscles slightly stronger, mind clearer.
"Now," said Jeren while patting Rinoa's shoulder, "you've experienced what it means to face real danger. You know you have the ability to survive. Let's return to the village. There are other things we need to do today."
As they walked back, Rinoa felt something different within herself. Not just because of the new abilities, but because of the confidence that was beginning to grow. She knew now that she wasn't completely helpless in this world.
'Two new skills in one day,' she thought while walking following Jeren. 'Aether Sense and Survival Instinct. And it seems these skills appear naturally when I need them.'
'But most importantly,' she continued while feeling the dress still damp with sweat clinging to her body, 'I'm starting to get used to this body. Still strange, but not as strange as the first day.'
.....