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((Didn't get to write on Friday so I wrote a double entry yesterday. I didn't get to type it up until now though since we had early thanksgiving yesterday since both my parents have to work on Thanksgiving day. I hope you all have a great holiday.))

Dream World Mirau by Josephina Mari
Day Nineteen and Twenty of NaNoWriMo

The rest of the day I spent mentally thinking about what I should do now, and as a result I ended up somewhat blocking out my teachers voice while I absentmindedly wrote down the notes from the board for a test we will have at the end of the week. I never did well on tests no matter how much I studies nor how much I prepared. I was relieved to finally go home when it was all said and done. It felt like the day took forever to be over. I said hello to my family before I walked over to the refrigerator to retrieve the leftovers from dinner then I took them over to the microwave and heated them up. Steak, mashed potatoes, and corn was the menu tonight. I sat down at the table and ate my dinner quietly as I listened to the news coming from the television in the next room. My parents always watched the news after dinner and then they would watch a movie until it was bed time. After I finished my dinner, I put the dishes away in the dishwasher and started it, and then I retreated up to my room to brainstorm some ideas on how to stop the Akuen. “How would I fight something like them? Maybe Karou could attack them head on and then Baer and I could provide backup with our long distance weapons. That plan seemed logical to me, but it came with its risks as well. Karou could be badly hurt since he would be the front line offense. Maybe instead I could alternate between my bow and sword to help both Karou and Baer. Gah I don’t know! I was never good at strategy based games.” I thought to myself as I sat at my writing desk with a few pieces of blank paper in front of me and a pen in my hand. I wanted so badly to write something, anything, which might help save Mirau, but my mind was coming up blank. So many unanswered questions ran though my mind and I found myself answering the initial question with another question only to make things even more confusing.

I decided to work on my homework and leave the planning for our lunch meeting tomorrow. I pulled out my text book and tried to make heads and tails of my notes from class while I filled in the answers to my homework. My head hurt and I was feeling pretty tired by the time I finished my homework around 10:30 PM that evening. I returned all my school items back into my backpack and then I changed into my pajamas. I set my alarm clock for 6:00 AM then I climbed into bed. It was hard for me to sleep at first, but eventually the quiet darkness washed over me while I was transported to Mirau again. When I woke up I noticed it was still dark outside and yet Baer was awake already and packing up his things since we would be leaving shortly. “I’m sorry, did I over sleep? I’ll get ready to go right away!” I said feeling all the sudden rushed to gather my things into my backpack that would fit, and then I put my sword and sheath on my belt, my quiver on my back, and my bow I slung over my left shoulder with the string across my chest and the wooden handle across my back. “Don’t worry Mari, the fishing boat doesn’t leave port until the sunrises in a few hours. I already made arrangements for the three of us to board so we just have to check out here and head over when we are ready. After we are done packing up here, I will go next door and wake up Karou. If you want to Mari, you could turn in our room keys. The inn keeper will give you some money in return so you can keep that. I’ll explain the monetary system here while we are on the boat.” Baer said as he lifted a bag up onto his back. It looked like a backpack, but it only had one strap that crossed over the chest diagonally to keep it in place. “Okay I can do that. I’ll meet you guys in the lobby.” I said and then Baer handed me his room key. I returned to the check in counter and put the two room keys on the desk. “We are checking out of room twenty-eight. My other friend should be along shortly to turn in his key as well.” I said hoping the inn keeper could understand me.

“Alright you get one thousand cero returned to you with each room key you give back. I will give you two thousand cero now and I’ll give the other thousand to you when they key is returned for room twenty seven.” The inn keeper explained as he returned the room keys to a safe holding box on the wall behind him then he opened up his register and handed me four bills and eight coins. As I put the money in my pocket I noticed Baer and Karou walk into the lobby. Karou then turned in his room key and received his thousand cero back before he said “Let’s get a move on. Our ride awaits us. I just hope none of you get sea sick. I’m going to go get Nodin and I’ll meet you up front.” Karou said then he made his way over to the stables where Alex was just beginning to feed the animals their breakfast. “Good morning sir. We are checking out so I am here to pickup my horse Nodin.” Karou said causing Alex to stop what he was doing so that he could open Nodin’s stall door. “Thank you for taking care of him.” Karou said before he walked into the stall and grabbed on to Nodin’s reins. Karou lead Nodin out of the stall then to the front of the inn where Baer and I were waiting for him. “Mari do you want a ride over there? It’s a little bit of a walk from here to the port.” Karou said looking at me. The horse’s saddle was barely big enough for two people so that meant Baer would get left behind and I didn’t like the feeling of that. “It’s alright Mari. Karou and I can walk along side you and Nodin.” Baer said trying to encourage me and at the same time he put my worries to rest. “Alright I’ll accept the ride Karou.” I said and then to the surprise of both Karou and Baer I climbed into the saddle on my own then I held on to Nodin’s mane so that I wouldn’t fall off. Karou walked beside me on the left as he lead Nodin towards the port and Baer walked in pace with us on the right side of me.

Once we arrived at the port I noticed a large boat with white sails sitting near one of the docks. A middle aged man with chestnut colored hair and blue eyes was sitting on the dock staring off to the horizon. “Cerdure istru. Kee mes din sroue sei kau.” (Thank you mister. We won’t be any trouble for you.) Baer said talking to the man. So this man must be the one taking us to Mesa. At least I was under that impression from Baer’s tone of voice. He sounded like he was apologizing for any inconvenience we might cause him. “ Ces kara sreu. Iru masen au les nan eliure seve. Kau maue setre lowe pon. Karre nes mious blem., Iru hilest ruol em ka ifeu ternie.” (It’s fine really. I’m heading out that way for a delivery anyways. Once I drop you off you’ll be on your own. Don’t do anything dumb or I’ll have a guilty conscious for the rest of my life for taking you there.) the man said to Baer before he spoke to the group in English this time. “If you are all ready please come aboard and we will take off. Please make yourselves at home below deck. If you need anything please ask the crew. Let’s get a move on people. Prepare to raise anchors...” The man said shouting to his crew towards the end. He began issuing orders in Mirau’s language to the crew as Karou, Baer, Nodin and I boarded the ship. “Your horse can go in the stables. It’s down that ramp there and to the right. At then end of the hallway. We have a stable hand there that will take care of him during the trip. The living quarters are at the other end of the ship. You go down the ramp and to the left. At the next intersection you take another left and you should see it. Your welcome to stay in any of the available room that are unlocked. I will let you know when we get close to Mesa.” The captain said to us before he went into the cabin of the ship to help the navigation team plot the course to Mesa on a map. We took Nodin to the stables first, and then Baer, Karou, and I decided to explore the ship a bit.

As we walked on deck, we watched the crew busily at work trying to get the ship ready for the trip across the sea. I looked back at the town for a moment feeling a little sad to leave it behind. I was sure it wouldn’t be the last time I’d see it though, so I tried to think more positively. Suddenly I felt the boat begin to move forward so I quickly grabbed the nearest railing and held on for dear life. Karou just laughed at me as he stood about five feet away while Baer walked over to me and held out his hand. “Let’s go find a room Mari. You won’t have a very comfortable trip if you stay like that the whole way there.” Baer said waiting for me to muster up the courage to let go of the railing. As I let go of the railing to reach for Baer I felt a small wave crash against the ship shaking it slightly. “I’m going to die on this ship...I know it.” I thought to myself as fear took over. I grabbed on to Baer’s arm with both hands as I closed my eyes expecting the end of the world to happen soon. “Geez...You have to be kidding me right? We barely just left town and you are scared already Mari? This ship is designed to withstand waves ten times worse then that during a storm. We will be fine.” Karou said trying not to laugh again as I slowly opened my eyes and looked at Baer. He was trying his best to smile even though I was probably cutting off the circulation of blood to his arm by now from holding on so tightly.

“S-s-orry Baer. Let’s go inside now okay?” I said still feeling a little nervous. “It’s alright Mari. Your first time doing anything it is natural for you to feel a little scared. Don’t worry Karou and I will look after you.” Baer said and then I realized we were walking while he spoke and were now inside the ship again. We followed the captain’s instructions on how to get to the living quarters and then the three of us took the next available rooms for ourselves. I noticed on the writing table was a small silver key with the numbers four hundred twenty two written on it in black marker. There was a note on the table that read “If you are going to be utilizing this room please take and use this key to lock the room when you are not inside. Please return the key to this table when you are finished for the next person. I will charge the tenant forty five hundred cero for any rooms which are missing a key when we reach Mesa. Thank you for your understanding. Capt Jean Lu Charles.” I noticed below the English writing the message was also written in Mirau’s native language so I began to wonder if most people in this world were bilingual or if it was only certain people. I put the silver key in my pocket with the money I received from the inn keeper in Coasta Bleu and then I put my backpack down on the floor in a corner of the room hoping that it wouldn’t topple over due to the rocking motion of the ship.