Chapter: 2
Tyler stood at the edge of a pond in a quiet forest clearing, staring at the rippling reflection in the water. The face looking back was both familiar and foreign.
Gone was the short, curly hair he had in his past life—replaced by straight, shoulder-length black strands. His once dark brown eyes had shifted to an unnatural golden hue, gleaming under the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees. The sharp angles of his face had softened into something more delicate—high cheekbones, a smaller nose, full lips.
She frowned.
"At least I kept my original skin tone. I would've raged if I hadn't. But this body..."
Tyler's gaze dropped to her new form.
Her figure was—for lack of a better word—curvy. Outside of her noticeably full chest, her hips were wider, her waist slimmer, and her legs thicker than before. She had always been a little self-conscious about her lower half in her previous life, but now?
"Okay, sure, I didn't have the manliest physique before, but this? Seriously?"
Then another realization struck her.
"And on top of that, I look younger too. I went from 17 to 13—ridiculous."
Tyler exhaled sharply, brushing off her pants before straightening up.
"No point in dwelling on it. Should've asked about potential body changes beforehand, but it could've been worse."
'But should I change my name…Nah, I'll just pronounce it as Taylor like Taylor Swift.'
Shoving her hands into her pockets, she turned away from the pond and started walking. Finding civilization was the priority.
Into the Village
The dense forest stretched endlessly in every direction, towering trees casting long shadows over the uneven path. The only sounds accompanying her were the distant chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves. The trek felt endless, but after nearly three hours of pushing through the underbrush, she finally saw light breaking through the trees.
As she emerged from the tree line, a relieved sigh escaped her lips.
"Finally. I thought that forest would never end."
Her golden eyes scanned the horizon.
Nestled between rolling green fields, a small village stood in the distance. A cluster of stone and timber buildings, thatched roofs, and winding dirt paths gave it a rustic charm. Smoke curled lazily from chimneys, and the faint sound of chatter carried on the wind.
A small smile tugged at her lips.
Progress.
That smile quickly faded as her stomach let out a loud growl.
"Right. Food first."
Tyler rubbed her abdomen before glancing over her shoulder toward the forest.
"I should've grabbed some fruit while I was in there… not that I could tell if anything was poisonous."
With no better option, she set her sights on the village and kept moving.
The journey down to the village gates was uneventful—outside of spotting strange plants and wildflowers she'd never seen before. But as she drew closer, something caught her eye.
A large, ornate carriage sat just beyond the entrance, its gilded edges and plush red curtains standing out sharply against the humble surroundings. A small crowd of villagers had gathered around it, whispering amongst themselves.
Slipping into the throng, Tyler caught a glimpse of a man with blond hair sitting inside the carriage before deciding it wasn't worth her time.
"A noble?" she wondered before shrugging.
"Not my problem... yet."
The Village
The village itself was a blend of medieval and rustic aesthetics. The houses were built from sturdy timber and stone, their thatched roofs sloping low to keep out the elements. Many homes had small fenced gardens, brimming with herbs and vegetables. Dirt paths wound through the town, leading to a bustling marketplace at its center.
As she strolled through, her eyes landed on a market stall loaded with colorful fruits.
Some resembled apples, but their skin shimmered slightly in the sunlight. Others were vibrant blue with thick rinds, while a few were bright orange and shaped like elongated pears covered in soft fuzz.
Her stomach rumbled again.
Glancing around, she **noted the stall was unguarded—**most likely abandoned when its owner went to join the commotion at the gates.
"They must've left in a hurry."
Casually, she plucked a few of the strange fruits and cradled them in her arms.
"I'm not stealing. I'm strategically transporting goods to a new location."
With a quick glance over her shoulder, she ducked into a nearby alleyway before taking a cautious bite of one of the blue fruits.
A burst of sweetness flooded her mouth, followed by a subtle tang.
"Damn, that's good."
As she chewed, another problem surfaced in her mind—where the hell was she going to stay?
And worse yet…
"I don't even know if I can communicate with these people."
Her thoughts were interrupted by approaching voices.
Pressing herself against the alley wall, she listened closely.
"Hwā wolde þencan þæt Grāf Voren hēr of alle stede cume?". A woman said in a hushed tone.
"Richt? Ic hēorde þæt hē wēron swīþe drocvol. Hit is en drōm wār geworden! Hī seggen þæt hē is untellīc cnotterlic tō!" Another woman replied.
As the women walked past, their conversation faded into the distance.
Tyler let out a slow breath.
"So I was right. I can't understand a damn thing."
That just made everything more complicated. If she couldn't speak the language, blending in would be nearly impossible.
She clenched her jaw.
"Great. Another problem to add to the list."
Seeing more villagers returning from the gates, Tyler slipped back into the crowd and kept moving.
Inside the Carriage
Within the luxurious carriage, a man with golden hair lounged lazily, his expression one of mild irritation. His finely tailored clothes and pristine gloves left no doubt—he was nobility. And judging by the way he was glaring out the window, he found his current surroundings beneath him.
"This village is barely up to standard," he muttered.
Sitting across from him, a dark-haired man in butler attire bowed his head slightly.
"There is little that can be done about that, Count Voren."
Voren clicked his tongue, eyes narrowing.
"Tsk. Whatever. How long am I expected to remain here?"
"A month and a half, my lord."
Voren scowled.
"I can't believe they sent me to oversee a backwater like this." His lips curled slightly. "At least the women here seem... tolerable."
The butler remained silent as the carriage door clicked shut, leaving the nobleman alone with his thoughts.
Chapter 2: End