Eleanor's Journal of Journeys: Discovery

Eleanor enters a dark room, carrying a lantern. Light from the lantern spreads, illuminating the isolated room. A small, messy library, with bookshelves on every wall except for one and books littering the floor. Against the bare wall sits a small armchair and a little table holding a stack of books. Eleanor's face has fallen to a sad smile, as she gazes around at the shelves. Hanging the lantern on a hook on the wall, she begins to organize fallen books back in their place. The floor, slowly clears up, until all that is left is the stack on the table. As she approaches the stack and begins to collect the books, she notices that they are journals. Sitting down on the armchair, she opens the first one to find a detailed collection of her mother's notes and observations throughout her life's travels.

Tears slowly begin to fall from the young girl's face. She is 16 and her mother has just passed away. She had been forbidden to enter the library for fear that she would damage the books, and so she had never known of the existence of these journals. Young Eleanor spends the night going through journal after journal of her mother's notes. Most are observations of the flora and fauna in different worlds, accompanied with sketches and descriptions. Her mother had been an avid biologist and researcher before she had settled down. Some are little excerpts on her mother's thoughts about a world. These are Eleanor's favorite; a connection to her late mother.

As the sun rises, Eleanor reaches the last journal. It is in good condition, almost untouched. She opens it, only to find just one entry:

"It is time for one last adventure. Eleanor is old enough to go without her mother for some time, and I have been craving to visit Lyra once more. I doubt I will be able to complete this journal but, when I come back, I will give her the rest. She will read, and maybe she will be intrigued to visit the other worlds, just as I once was. She's got an adventurer's spirit in her. Maybe next time she'll come with me."

The entry ends. Eleanor frantically flips through the pages, searching for another entry. But no, this journal is blank, and her mother was unable to fulfill her wish before she passed. Eleanor rereads the entry over and over again, focusing on the last line. "Maybe next time she'll come with me." After a bit of silence, with a shaking voice, she speaks. "I will, Mother."

8 Years Later

"Dear Mother,

You were right. I do have an adventurer's spirit, and it is time for me to go. I hope you'll come with me. I'll use this journal as you once did, to document my journeys. Perhaps someday I'll make it to Lyra. But, for now, I think I'll go where it feels right for me to travel. I have told Father I am leaving, and he is sad but supportive. Currently, I'm sure he's checking over my things for the thousandth time, paranoid that I'll forget something vital. I wish he had more faith in me, but, then again, I know I'm not the seasoned traveler you are. I will keep this piece of you with me, always.

Love, Eleanor"