The rest of my week focused on me pacing around my room, thinking on how to turn the moon back to its original form, how to possibly deal with an annoying companion, what inventions I would need to bring along. Me, still trying to prepare with the fact that I would have to try and leave my family for who know an amount of time, was basically having a little mental breakdown. I had sketched so many gadget ideas to deal with the stress.
My family took it a little more seriously though, my mom started planning out everything, trying to give me her contraptions in order to make my journey a little easier, hugging me every time I was near her, it got annoying over time. My father started giving me lessons on the things that I would see out there and how to get away from them, various survival tips were also included in his lessons. My brother started 'brawling' with me in order to try to give me tips on self defense (key word is try here).
But hark! The day came so much more faster than I (or anybody else, really) could have imagined. As soon as I knew it, I would have to be away from my hometown for an unknown amount of time. We had plans to meet back at the Center Building, give our goodbyes and we were off! And that forsaken day was tomorrow. Instead of getting a good night's rest like I usually do, my idea saying goodbye to everybody was to stay up late at night doing some last minute sketches and fix-ups of my inventions.
I had went to bed at midnight, looking up to see the silver glow from the world's lights bouncing off of the papermoon.
* * *
I was woken up my shakes to my body, I looked up to see my brother's---rarely put on---saddened face.
"It's . . ." he took a deep breath, "time for you to leave."
I looked at him with a heavy heart, I knew that my leave was gonna effect my family, but to this extent?
"Go get some breakfast, we made French toast," with that, he walked out of my room.
They made French toast.
That's my favorite breakfast food.
They had to have made it just for me.
I slumped my shoulders as I walked out of my room. I turned the corner to see my parents and brother sitting at the table, a plate pilling with sugary French toast dripping with syrup.
I sat down with the table.
We ate in silence.
The tension in the room was greater than the morning with my father when we had left to meet Taurus.
* * *
I had mostly finished the plate of French toast when my father had tapped my shoulder and told me to prepare. I nodded to him and walked back into my room, deciding on what seemed fit to wear on a quest of which you had no idea the longevity of. I noticed the missing clothes that were stowed away in my backpack, thankfully I still had some good options.
After a good minute or two, I had decided on a tank top with flannel with stretchy pants. Simple, I know, but I didn't want to show up wearing a dress and high heels.
I walked out of my room, it was time to leave.
I gave my mother a hug, she grabbed my cheeks. "I packed your clothes in your backpack along with extra layers, some of your favorites are in there. I put some of your inventions in there with some tools and other things that would be useful. Don't forget to stay safe and come back soon. We'll miss you so much." I dug my face into her neck, I could feel some tears on my cheeks, but they weren't mine.
I pulled my brother into an embrace, he returned it with a headlock. "I'll miss you for sure, but when you come back. You bet that we'll get back to teasing each other." I smiled.
"Of course."
I walked towards the front door, grabbing a coat on the way out and picking up my backpack at the door.I turned to see my mother wiping her tears away and my brother's saddened faces. Before exiting out, I yelled, "I'll write you guys a letter when I get the chance!" After saying that, I departed with my father.
We did the same thing we did a week ago. Walk to the nearest horse caravan. Feel sorry for the horses. Take a long nap, and as soon as I knew it, we were there. Back at it again in the vast and cold city of Djorf.
* * *
We made it to the Center Building and we walked into the same room. The inside still smelled like someone dumped a couple gallons of cleaning chemicals into it. The gold decorating the hallways shiny as ever. The servants cleaning what seemed to be sparkling already. My father and I carried on, soon enough we made it to the room where we were once before.
The doors opened to reveal Taurus and his father, and another person.
We approached each other and both our fathers shook hands.
Taurus and I stared at each other.
"Ahem," the new person cleared her throat.
"I am the advisor, I will be the one seeing you off, the city's citizens will be viewing this momentous occasion also. Whether that be up close and personal or far away. There will be a speech. And then you two will exit out of the main gate. You both will have to write separate letters every month to inform of what you find and how close you are to finding clues," she turned her back on us before quickly spinning back. "And how could I forget? You both will get a map of the country, detailing all the cities."
She gave Taurus and I the map, the both of us working in perfect harmony to keep the piece of paper in the air.
"The major cities are pinpointed with stars, you'll be sure to find information there, the darker parts of the map are dangerous areas, don't go there unless you have to. I believe that is all. Wait here while I inform of your arrival."
Taurus grabbed the map and put it in his backpack.
* * *
The both of us were rushed out of the room by an individual and taken to one of the large gateways out of the city, our fathers tailing close behind. There were loads of people there to watch our egress. Taurus and I looked and each other and grimaced.
The advisor stepped up.
"Be quiet! Now, now. You all will see these brave volunteers leave the city to start their journey of returning the moon to its original form! As you all may have recalled, about two weeks ago, a large blast was heard all throughout the world, as it had turned out," she pointed at the brown haired male standing next to me, "this child had turned the moon into black construction paper!" Multiple people from the crowd were staring at Taurus, clear malice in their eyes. Taurus violently started scratching the back of his head. "A papermoon had been formed and causing chaos! But this valiant girl," she pointed at me. There were cheers coming from the people who stared at Taurus. I waved, sweat rolling down my back. "She volunteered to help bring the moon back!"
Even more cheers were heard, it hurt my ears and made me want to exit early.
"Let's send them off!" the advisor cheered.
"Return from your journey safe!"
"Please come back soon!"
"Don't run into any orcs!"
"If a shady looking guy pulls you over, kick them where the sun don't shine!"
Their advice and words had jumbled up. The gates opened to reveal empty land, a forest off into the distance, a babbling brook, a couple of wild goats.
The words got quieter as we walked out, we both gave the crowd a wave. I saw my father at the front of the mob, looked to him with sincere eyes and mouthed 'See you soon' to him. He mouthed back, 'Please return home, safe and sound.'
The gates closed and I was alone with a map, two backpacks, and a problematic magician.
