[Day 3]
By the third day, his body had already changed dramatically. The frail infant form that could barely move yesterday had stretched and hardened. Now he stood at a little over 120 centimeters, limbs thin but sturdy, his skin a dull green.
Rou stumbled at first, his balance awkward. His head felt too heavy, his movements jerky, as though his flesh had grown faster than his mind could keep up. Yet, with each hour, he grew more accustomed to the rhythm of this body, learning how to flex his fingers, how to tighten his grip, how to plant his feet and keep himself from toppling over.
He tested everything, bending his knees, swinging his arms, even gnashing his sharp teeth to feel their edge. The crude instincts of his new race urged him forward, whispering how to run, how to crouch, how to bare his fangs when needed.
But growth came at a cost. By the end of the day, exhaustion sank into his bones. His breath came in ragged bursts, sweat dampened his green skin, and his legs quivered beneath him.
Ignoring the odd looks from the other goblins, Rou let his legs give out and collapsed onto the cold, uneven ground.
His chest heaved with every breath, his entire body trembling from the strain of a day spent testing physical limits. Although exhaustion weighed on him so heavily that he couldn't even lift a finger, a faint satisfaction lingered.