The afternoon class was a history lesson. I found myself dozing off early on. 

Not that I wanted to. I was just...tired. My arms, back--well, my whole body ached, and mentally, I felt like a wreck. Plus, it didn't help that the lecture covered topics I already knew somewhat by being a beta tester and all.

Still, hearing it while inside the actual world? It hit differently. 

Our continent is called Halueun--shaped like a bowl, with a sprawling lake in its center and a fragmented archipelago drifting to the north.

To the northwest, temperate rainforests stretch endlessly, their deep greens pierced by jagged, snow-capped peaks that wrap around from West to East of the university. Those mountains house the famed Dwarven forges: Throamines—where legendary weapons like my dagger were crafted.

The Magist University is a bit southeast of Throamines. If you fly high enough, you can see the jagged peaks of the Dwarven mountains, which I did when I flew with Sashi.

Further east was the Lake of Loch Ness.

In the game, only adventurers of Fifth Ring and above could sail through it. I remembered unlocking it after hours of quests. I'd only crossed it once.

In the southwest sits Gilderade, a city of adventurers where I beta-tested the game years ago.

None of this clicked at first. It makes sense now—Magist University didn't even exist in the game back then. That's why I didn't recognize where I was. This feels like an update, only now I'm here apparently. 

At the far northeast, across the rim of the bowl, is Skrevna, the Vampire Nation. Below it exists the Arkwood forest, a rainforest thick with monsters, and dungeons I frequented after sailing Loch Ness.

Then at the very bottom of the bowl...Aldwrath--a wasteland. This didn't exist before, and definitely not its history.

A century ago, a war between the Vampires and Humans happened so violently that it reshaped the land, giving birth to the archipelago now scattered across Lock Ness. This also explains the desert void of mana in my previous class.

All these places have histories... maybe this is the full version of the game, or something else entirely.

"Class dismissed," the professor's voice pulled me back to reality.

"Hey, Ji-Yeong, I'll go on ahead! Class rep stuff!" Nace called, jogging ahead with a cheerful wave.

I gave a lazy wave back.

Truth to be told, I had no idea where to go next. So I just followed the other students in my class, since I know we have no other class after this.

Outside, the sky bled the light of the sun. Orange and pink across the horizon. The mages' pillars pierced the sky, blotting out the sun like monoliths. 

For a moment, I was in a daze. Tension melted from my shoulders, making me feel drowsy.

Hm. Wait.

Where do I sleep?

Students must have dorms, right? But I didn't know where mine was... or if I even had one! Frustration bubbled in my chest, augmented by my sleepiness.

I turned back toward the main halls, retracing my steps from this morning—through wide corridors, passing through the colosseum with echoing steps.

The office door from earlier stood ahead. Without Sashi beside me, it felt... taller. More imposing.

I knocked.

Nothing.

I knocked again.

This time, it opened on its own, with a soft rush of wind.

Inside, the room was mostly dark. Only golden rays of sunset spilled through the high window—and a warm, flickering glow escaped from the cracked door of Aaron Leyser's inner study.

"Come in," he said flatly.

The soft scratching of a pen echoed from within.

I stepped in hesitantly. "Um... is Sashi here?"

"She's not." His voice was muffled but calm. Too calm. "Why have you come?"

I cleared my throat. "I—uh, I don't know where the dorms are. I was hoping for directions."

The scribbling stopped.

"You could've asked the receptionist for your name. That would've been enough."

"I see... but—where exactly are they...?"

A long pause.

"Left side of campus."

"Oh. Thanks, then," I said quickly, turning back toward the door.

"You're a Fifth Ring adventurer... and yet you can't even find your own room," Leyser said, voice low and unreadable.

I turned slightly. "I didn't choose to be here."

"No," he replied. "You didn't."

Another gust stirred the air—stronger, this time. Papers on his desk rustled.

"Perhaps next time," he continued, voice colder now, "consider who you're placing your trust in before walking through doors you do not understand."

I didn't answer.

I didn't dare to.

Then, without another word, he flicked his hand.

The door creaked open again—slowly this time.

I slipped out like a shadow, my heart pounding.

What the heck was that? Crap, I knew he looked too eerily similar to that villain I encountered in the game. 

Leyser. Leyser Leyser. 

I knew that person's name was Leyser, but I'm not sure if it was Aaron Leyser.

Instinctively, I began to run, my steps echoing in the wide colosseum, passing from corridor to corridor. 

And before I knew it, I was in front of the dorm rooms. I found the same cobble path that I remember faceplanting on. Not far from here is Sashi's Pink-roofed pillar, lit with flickering lights.

A bit odd. They could clearly use a brighter light like the ones on the street and even in the dorm rooms, so why wouldn't they?

I decided not to pay any more mind, as even now, my interaction with Aaron Leyser spooks me.

I walked in. 

To my front was the receptionist. I also noticed that some students walked around the lobby in casual clothes: both male and female.

They don't separate them?

No matter.

"Hello, my name's Ji-Yeong Yong, and I need help with my room number?" 

The female receptionist looked up, her eyes looking tired. "Ah, yes, let me see here," she said, pulling up a screen monitor. "Your room should be...room 568." 

"568...I see, thank you." 

I went my way, noting the signs. In the back of my mind...I wondered...they have computers?!

...

It didn't take long before I found my room. It's on the 5th floor of the building--which makes sense since my room number starts with 5. 

My room was simple—a bed, a small kitchen, and a door to the bathroom. I also spotted a gym on the way here; inside was a training ground.

I couldn't even muster up the strength to wash up as I plopped on the bed. My day was long...too long.

Too tired...but my mind keeps going back to what that Leyser said.

And he's right. I do need to be aware of whom I put my trust in, not just in any room, but in any scenario. 

I don't know where I am, where I should be, or why I'm here.

I may be a fifth-ring adventurer, but that's only my body--not me. If anything, I'm still at the mercy of the game system. What if this isn't a game anymore? What then? How will I survive? 

I need to get a grasp of my abilities...I know all of them by heart...I just need...to practice.

Huam

My only goal now is to go home, whatever that may cost me.

Though I'd really like that hotpot now. Some mushrooms, bell peppers, and beef.

"Ohhh, that sounds so good..."

I blinked once before my consciousness slipped into sleep.