I was laying on the luxurious bed, finally relieved and in more ways than one.

The Guildmaster almost fainted when my [Revivify] spell worked the second time, bringing back an adventuring Knight associated with the guild. Apparently this guy was killed by a cockatrice, so his corpse had a petrified state. However, it seems the white blaze of my resurrection spell does clear up all status upon its cast, and the knight revived without issue.

I think at that point, Andrek was too dumbfounded to chastise me and instead remarked, "I can't believe those old coots let you go abroad so..." Then he waylaid himself about how crazy the Azorans were for letting me leave their borders and without a suitable escort. Here I had to spin a little more yarn about having a more sheltered upbringing than the typical wizard from those parts.

Still it was enough for the Guildmaster to continue grumbling on about a shifting of priorities due to this. Now it appears he wants to get me back to Azora by way of an Explorer [Field Walk], preferably Jarvin, as to create a bridge between my 'homestead' and the guild. Of course, I couldn't contend with Andrek's plan of action here because I wasn't from Azora. But it appears going to their region in the south is a considerable distance as it lays beyond a great desert, so only by way of sea is the trek navigable. And even that path I heard him mutter was still hazardous.

Fortunately, the Guildmaster did not go on for much longer after that, as he had to compose the knight post resurrection. So it seems I had an interlude to come up with a reason not to voyage to Azora as soon as able. I wanted to avoid the scenario playing in my mind of some Explorer bringing me 'home' only to see various robed figures saying in return, "Thanks... but who's this guy?"

Andrek then asked me to return to my quarters and stay there for the remainder of the night. Which is something I happily obliged as the stress of last hour really took its toll on my nerves. The Guildmaster also asked if he could-

"... call upon you in the morning hour. I would like to go over an itinerary for you, for the next couple days that is. If that is alright with you, that is, Rikku-sama." I agreed to his bowing request seeing as I had no idea what I would be doing tomorrow anyways. Then I went back to my chamber while Andrek helped escort the knight to one of the infirmary beds to spend the rest of the night. I did offer to heal his semi-delirious state with [Light Healing], but the Guildmaster quickly nixed it saying-

"Please, don't. Gerry here will be fine after a day or two of rest. This is normal behavior after a resurrection." Andrek then spoke to the side that he was a bit cautious of this knight knowing the full ramifications of what had occurred. I decided best to leave it there and left my latest patient as was, who promptly zonked out on the bed.

All that was about three hours ago with much of that time spent going over everything I had learned on my first day in this new world. It seems the healing ability of my Adept Mage class is significantly superior to what the normal healer has in this fantasy setting. Perhaps my baseline stats and spell boosting ability is a contributing factor, but I'm leaning towards the Holy system itself being harder to obtain in the general. So the class system here may not be as precise as the one in the game world startup selection, maybe?

That also made me think of the RPG World game itself... just how did my summoning here happen anyways. Was that golden disc some kind of magic portal device that led to this particular fantasy world? And how was that even possible? Still here I was (somehow) but at a loss in trying to understand any of it.

However, despite the craziness of my predicament, I felt strangely calm at its future prospect. Perhaps this was an after-effect of the [Meditate] skill I had used to help keep my mind off such things. I couldn't go to sleep so I used this every now and then to help drown my thoughts in its blissful depths - the cool feeling of having no weight and drifting in a sea of bubbles.

But ultimately that calmness really came from a confidence - albeit a weak one - that I would be able to survive in this new world setting with what my Adept Mage class affords me. I'll always be able to find work in one capacity or another. I never really thought of it in this context before, but 'healing' would seem to be a most valuable ability to have in a world where magic is real.

Also having a strangely magical experience with the privy of all things and knowing my fears of the 'medieval' lifestyle was not going to be the horror show I was fearing before... helped. And finally being 'relieved' in that manner, I was able to relax my back on the bed's lush spread for the rest of the night. I was wearing nothing but my loincloth, having had my robe, small pants, and boots deposited into the Ring of Stored Space before getting under the sheets.

I did feel guilty that I could just so easily accept this new life I was thrusted into. I tried triggering the [Game Menu] a few times in the hopes of 'logging out' and waking back up in my bed in my more modest Low Town dwelling, but nothing happened. It seems I was inexplicably stuck here. Those thoughts of my mother and the loss of all familiarity twung at my heart, but the thrill of this 'isekai' happening stirred my soul. Perhaps it was because I half-lived in a world of fiction already, spending most of my free time watching anime, playing video games, or reading various manga.

Soon my mind drifted into a montage of the people I met in a replay of today's events, most of which got focused on the sexy gals I encountered. The images soon blended into a scene of just four - Elisha, Genifer, Rubina, and young Melani - wearing trimmed kimono nightgowns of varying color... which they then started to unveil. Their movement was slow and sensual... I could feel a smile on my face and a stiffness building in my loins... somehow I was between them all... but on my bed... back home...

The sound of a gong jolted me up with its chime still echoing in my head.

"Yo!" I was startled and breathing heavy, realizing just now I must of dozed off. Some seconds later, the sound went off again in its loud pitch then shifting into another echo in the ear. I looked around for the source but saw no instrument in the room that could have made this noise. It was pretty freaky, but more sounds joined in its second verse, but these were clearly outside the guildhall's stone walls. It sounded like the boom of fireworks high in the air.

Then the gong rang a third, creating another echo effect. It felt like my body was in tune with these fading chimes. The fireworks stopped soon after, leaving only the faintest dull noise still ringing in my ear. What the heck, was that?

Minutes passed, and I thought whatever 'that' was, was over, and made to lay back down... only to hear a faint voice shouting and scuttling coming my way before this chamber's heavy wooden arch. Three quick knocks on the door followed before I heard its opening and a mad rush to this bedroom area. A cold feeling gripped me - I was still undressed and in bed as the Guildmaster came barging through in colorful leather armor and wielding a flat greatsword.

"Rikku-sama," came Andrek's anxious voice as his eyes went fixed on my hapless form. I was still quite frozen in my nearly naked state and still seated with the bedcover over my lap.

"What's wrong, Andrek-sama," I asked immediately. "What is that gong sound?" I could still hear its treble.

"It's the Call to Arms." I was probably still looking at him like an idiot, because the Guildmaster quickly added, "The city is under attack." To that I started shaking, thinking I was the reason for it all but the older man seemed to wave off my inner concerns with his empty hand-

"Are you still able to heal? I mean... forgive me, do you have enough mana remaining, Rikku-sama?" I nodded to his blunt question. My MP bar was long since full.

"Good, get dressed. I'll be waiting right out here," as the Guildmaster pointed his thumb then turned to leave me alone in the room. It barely took a minute for me to re-equip my starter gear. I already had my two rings on, so I slipped into my Trainee Legs first, then my Apprentice Boots, and lastly the Novice Robe. Something that I noticed with my robe was it almost equipped itself as I put it on, which was a good thing since I did not know how to properly wear this thing in the first place.

For the last, I pulled out my Curved Rod. A brief window springed in my inner mind, showing my [Character Panel] with its six equipped items. I stepped out the bedroom, fully geared, and saw Andrek mumbling to himself in a voice too low to hear. He quickly turned to me and said the word "dismiss" as he waved me over.

"Have you been prepared, I mean... forgive me for asking this," the Guildmaster started. "Are you combat trained in the use of your magic?" I only nodded once in answer, thinking of my Arcane spell listing. Even some of my Holy spells could be used for offensive purposes.

Andrek looked stricken when he asked next, "Then, will you lend us your aid? I only ask this as a city guildmaster. Please, do not take this as a command."

"Yes, Andrek-sama," to say I was nervous here would be an understatement. But, "Just how bad is it."

"I got word, the Vale is being hit with a Wave," the Guildmaster answered as he motioned us to leave the room to run through the stone hallways. Soon enough we were in the main conference room, which was packed with masses of people crying. I could hardly take in anything I heard or saw as we moved through it all to finally exit its foyer entrance and past a line of guards... when I saw what should be a darkened night sky instead dancing with the light of fires as its background.

"W-What is a 'wave'..." finally came my weak voice as I took it all in. This contrast would look beautiful if it were not for the sounds of various screams and screeches echoing in the distance. Even the dim brightness and pop of a firework or two joined in this cacophony.

"A wave of monsters, Rikku-sama," as the Guildmaster too was stunned at the sights afar. "A dungeon must have spawned in the Vale."

"-eh?" My mind went blank to what I heard.