Morning sunlight filtered through the narrow window, its gentle rays casting a golden warmth over the rough stone floor and illuminating the delicate features of the girl sitting upright in bed.
Nyxaria blinked slowly, eyes adjusting to the soft light, her senses sharp despite the stillness.
"Side mission: Aid the ill cub. Completed. Reward: Veil of the Serpent's Grace. Received!" Ari's chipper voice rang out like a bell in the quiet room.
A soft shimmer of light condensed in Nyxaria's arms, and a cloak materialized—smooth, sleek, dark as the deepest forest shade, yet shimmering faintly like snake scales beneath moonlight.
She raised a brow, fingers brushing against the peculiar texture. "This…?"
Before Ari could answer, another system panel blinked into view above the cloak, hovering as if summoned by Nyxaria's curiosity.
[< Reward: Veil of the Serpent's Grace
Type: Ancient Cloak
Description:
An ancient cloak from the serpentine spirits of the olden times. When worn, the cloak allows the wearer to move with near-silent footsteps and grants temporary immunity to poisons and toxins. In moments of extreme danger, it passively heightens reflexes, enabling swift dodges or counterattacks.
Additional Effects (Hidden):
Improves adaptability in beastmen combat styles.
Slight affinity increase with snake-type beastmen. >]
Nyxaria narrowed her eyes. "Ari."
"Yes?" the system replied, tilting her little head innocently.
"Isn't it strange? The reward's name has something to do with serpents… and during the mission, I encountered a snake. Don't you think that's a bit too coincidental?"
Ari's eyes blinked rapidly as if buffering. "You're overthinking it," she replied quickly, her voice a bit higher than usual. "Coincidence! That's all."
Nyxaria's expression didn't change. "Really now?"
"Yes! Absolutely!" Ari chirped, clasping her tiny hands behind her back.
The corner of Nyxaria's lips twitched slightly. "If my next side mission's reward is connected to lions or dragons and I happen to run into them, I'll be sure to let you know."
Ari laughed nervously, waving her hands. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves now! Oh—someone's at the door!" Her voice rose in relief, and before Nyxaria could say another word, the little system girl disappeared in a blink.
Nyxaria put the cloak in the system space for now.
Knock. Knock.
Nyxaria sighed. "Come in."
A woman stepped inside—a lean beastwoman with feline features and weary eyes, now softened by gratitude. She bowed deeply. "I… I came to thank you. My cub had the forest fever. I thought—" her voice cracked, "—I thought I was going to lose her or she might... But because of you, she's going to be fine."
Nyxaria waved it off with a composed nod. "It's nothing. I'm staying here; I simply repaid kindness with kindness."
One by one, others came too. Some brought warm food, others fruits or dried meat. Sira, quiet and ever-present, watched over Nyxaria during her recovery. With each passing day, the icy wall between her and the city's people seemed to melt just a little.
When she finally stepped out after several days, the stale air indoors behind her, Nyxaria felt as if the world had expanded again. The sky was clear, wind crisp, and voices of beastmen drifted through the streets—not suspicious whispers or side-eyes like before, but casual greetings and kind nods.
Even the one-armed lion beastman who guarded the western gate raised a hand with a small smile. "You're up. Good."
She blinked, surprised. Had the elder told everyone about her injury and the herbs? Apparently, word traveled fast in this forgotten city.
So this… is what being acknowledged feels like.
By the time Nyxaria returned to the stone house, a slight stickiness clung to her skin. The realization hit her like a brick. She hadn't bathed properly since she arrived in this world.
Disgust curled in her throat.
She spotted Sira passing by and waved. "I want to bathe."
Sira looked at her, nodded, and gestured for Nyxaria to follow. Inside Sira's house—a modest home with a thatched roof and clay floor—stood a large wooden tub, already filled with water. She pointed at the tub, then at herself, and gestured Nyxaria to go first.
"…Thanks," Nyxaria said awkwardly.
She wasn't used to this—receiving kindness, let alone expressing gratitude.
Sira even handed her a folded bundle of clothes. Nyxaria unfolded it to find a simple brown top and a short, asymmetrical skirt.
No undergarments.
No bra. No underwear.
"…What the hell."
She bathed quickly, scrubbing the layers of grime off her pale skin, her silver hair returning to its gleaming luster. But after drying herself, she looked at the provided clothes and frowned.
"Don't tell me the women here don't wear bras or panties," she muttered.
With a sigh, she called, "Ari!"
The little system girl popped up. "Yes?"
"Give me a bra and underwear."
"…Excuse me?" Ari blinked.
"You heard me."
Ari raised both hands in protest. "I'm a system, not a supermarket! Where am I supposed to pull bras and panties from?"
Nyxaria's gaze turned cold, cutting through the air like a knife. "You dragged me to this world without my permission. You don't get to complain. Either you give me what I asked for, or—"
"Fine! Fine! Wait here!"
She vanished with a huff.
Nyxaria crossed her arms, tapping her foot.
Minutes later, Ari returned, holding out a neatly folded set. "Here. You're lucky to have such a generous, efficient, and beautiful system."
Nyxaria took them wordlessly.
Dressed properly now, she stepped out, towel in hand, drying her long hair.
Sira stood just outside with a basket of laundry, clearly heading toward the lake. Suddenly, the basket slipped from her hands and dropped to the ground. She froze mid-step, eyes wide and stunned.
Nyxaria stopped. "What? Do I look strange?"
Nyxaria glanced at herself, then back at the mute girl.
Sira blinked and quickly shook her head, hands gesturing rapidly. Sira gestured with both hands, framing her face and pointing at Nyxaria with wide eyes.
Nyxaria stared at her for a moment before understanding. "You're saying… I look pretty?"
Sira nodded rapidly, smiling sheepishly.
For a moment, Nyxaria simply stared at her.
A rare, subtle smile tugged at Nyxaria's lips. "Thanks."
She hadn't seen herself since the bath. But she could imagine.
Her silver hair, now washed and gleaming, cascaded over her shoulders like liquid moonlight. Her skin, pale and flawless, had regained its sheen. Her eyes—those strange, starlit violet orbs flecked with stars—gleamed now without the grime of battle or travel. The simple outfit, though rustic, hugged her form well. She looked… like her title once implied.
The White Fox. The assassin too beautiful to approach. The one who could kill with charm before lifting a blade.
Her smile faded slightly as memories returned. The night of her transmigration.
She had just finished a mission. And received a rare vacation. She remembered pouring herself a glass of chilled champagne, sinking into the velvet armchair in her room. Trying to enjoy this rare moment of peace.
Then—she got transmigrated into this bizarre world.
She woke in a strange forest, cold and alert, surrounded by howling beasts.
She fought a pack of wild leopards within hours of arriving.
Her silver hair had turned nearly black with grime. Clothes tattered, skin scratched.
Then she stumbled upon a lake, face dirty and blank. Even then, she hadn't looked at her reflection. She had no reason to.
Then she met the purple bird—Lioren, though she hadn't known his name then. And now, she was here, in a city of outcasts. Befriended, even… praised?
Strange. The world she came from only offered suspicion and cold admiration. Here, warmth was growing around her. Slowly.
"Maybe… this world won't be so bad," she murmured.
Sira tilted her head, curious.
"Nothing," Nyxaria said softly, reaching up to gently pat the girl's head before walking past her.
And so, with the wind at her back and uncertainty ahead, Nyxaria decided—since she was here, she might as well see it through to the end.
Let's see where this strange, unfamiliar world will lead her—and what fate awaits beyond its shadows.