Note: Working on a long-ish chapter here. Could only finish the first half/third of it tonight - but please hang in there! The pace is about to pick up!

Aurora closed the door behind me. Roland has given me a lot to think about and a feast in the middle of the day is not exactly how I want to spend my time. I sit down on the bed and close my eyes while breathing deeply. 

When I was young, I was a hot headed kid. I was not a great talker or particularly impressive physically. When other kids would try to make a fool out of me, I'd give them a smack on the mouth. It was the cause for a lot of trouble for my parents, but I couldn't help it.  It took me a while to get that temper under control and even at my age I can just barely do it.

I'm seething. I can feel my whole body heating up, the skin on my forehead collapsing into a frown. 

I'm a savior? 

Don't mess with me! 

I'm supposed to save the world? How? With three kids and a Gift too powerful for me to use?

I don't know when it happened but my hands were balled up into fists on my knees. 

My entire life, there's one thing I never liked and that's being taken advantage of. 

In my favorite web novels, main characters in my position resign themselves to their roles relatively quickly. After my calm reaction at the summoning last night, I thought I would be the same. Like them, I don't have much waiting for me back on Earth. I would miss my family, but I rarely see them as is. My co-workers are practically strangers, no friends to speak of.

But after hearing Roland's explanation, I could feel a lump rising in my throat. This isn't a magical fantasy world that can be the setting to my adventure. It's a war zone. Who willingly volunteers to fight a war on behalf of strangers?

No good. I have to breathe. 

I relax my face and hands, letting it my body settle onto my bones. I have to be careful. I have to be smart. 

"Haaaaaaa..."

I breathe out a lung full of air. This will be tricky now. I have been underestimating this world's situation. Getting out of this alive will require my full concentration. Can't let myself lapse into anger.

I take this new moment of clarity and notice some clothes on my bed. They're different from the robes everyone else is wearing, comprised of soft, woven pants and a formal tunic in coordinated shades of white and blue. 

"I guess this is for the party?"

I ask myself out loud while going with the flow to examine the new clothes. They're not bad! But wait....

"Eh?"

I hold the clothes up to my body and realize they're perfectly proportioned.

"What the...."

I quickly take my clothes off and put the new ones on. I should probably have taken a bath first but I needed to confirm.

I was right.

These clothes are perfectly tailored! When did they get the measurements, though? Is it some kind of magic?

"Unless...."

Shivers run down my spine as I imagine a large, mustachioed man groping my sleeping body while measuring my limbs with a ribbon. 

What the hell?! No, it must be a coincidence. There's no proof, anyway. That's right. This is a magical world. Magical. 

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Stay away, Alaindelon!!!!

---

"Excuse me?"

"You may come in."

Some time passed and Aurora has returned, entering my room and closing the door behind her. She's changed her outfit and styled her hair. Her earlier robe has been traded in for a dress which exposed her milky white shoulders and is fringed with ivory lace. It was conservative otherwise but was extremely charming for the little priestess. Her long blonde hair, flowing and beautiful, has been braided and worn up behind her head. It gave her a more mature look.

She looked at me with slightly quavering eyes.

"Hero Arthur, I...."

"Aurora."

I stop her with an upraised hand.

"Y-yes?"

"It's Mr. Arthur, remember?"

"Ah, that's right! I'm sorry....Mr. Arthur."

"That's better. You were saying?"

She stepped toward me and lowered her eyes to the ground. I could see the top of her scalp and the intricate swirling braid on the back of her head.

"From earlier...I want to apologize again...."

"It's fine."

"Eh?"

I sigh and cross my arms, looking around the room to disperse my embarrassment. Honestly, a young girl  shouldn't be so wound up like this! Though, I guess this situation is partly my fault.

"If anything, I should apologize. That was a rude and sarcastic question to ask someone like you, a priestess and spiritual leader of this country."

"Mr. Arthur..."

"You are only doing what you must and I....am unlucky. It's not your fault."

"...."

Aurora finally looks up and I return my gaze to her face. She's smiling but I can see the slight trail of tears running down her cheek. Good thing she's not wearing mascara! It would have ruined her pretty cheeks.

"Thank you, Mr. Arthur. You are exceedingly gentle and kind despite how you look."

I can't help how I look?!!!

"I've come to bring you to the feast. It seems like you're ready?"

"Ah yes..."

I guess I am, with the new clothes and a pair of leather boots I was given last night. Though I can't help but feel a little sticky, wearing new clothes without having bathed.

"I wish I could have bathed, though..."

"Oh that's no problem."

"Eh?"

I didn't notice when she'd written the runes but a golden, billowing smoke wafted past me. It seemed illusory, without any kind of weight or scent. After it passed over me, however, I immediately felt...clean. What was that?

"It's a purification spell. It's generally used to dispel slight status effects, ailments and any undead or demonic miasma. It's also a perfect disinfectant! You're now as clean as you would be stepping out of a bath."

"Very convenient. Saves on the water bill, at least."

"A water what?"

I shook my head and patted Aurora's bare shoulder, stepping out of the room. 

"Wait for me, Mr. Arthur!"

I felt refreshed walking down the hall, a confused little priestess trotting behind me. 

I'm excited for this feast!