Chapter 2: The New Place I Call Home, Is Pretty Cool

After walking for hours, I finally reached the end of the forest. I saw the same architecture as my dream, but it was a completely different place. A small village.

It made me think though, was the dream of Akafwhuwa?

I tried pronouncing the name. It wouldn’t come out. While I was walking to the village, I practiced more, and eventually, I nailed it.

I reached the village, I ended up on what looked like the shopping side of the village.

The problem was, I couldn’t read the language.

Despite that, someone came up to me and in perfect japanese, said,

“Hey, I don’t recognize you. Who are you?”

“Uh, I don’t really know.” I just had to play it cool. Play it cool. Play it cool. “I just came from that forest over there.” I pointed to the forest.

“Wait. That forest?”

“Yeah, I just woke up there. I don’t know who, or why I’m here.”

“You have no idea who you are, and came from the forest of nightmares?”

“The forest of nightmares?” I said. It sounded pretty spooky for some trees.

“That forest has monsters in it.”

“Monsters? I didn’t see any.”

“Hmmm. I don’t know. Come over to my house. I will feed you, and discuss with you.” The person I was talking to was nice enough, so I decided to follow them.

While I was following them, I got a good look at their appearance. They were an older man, dressed in a blue cloak.

The man lead me into his house, and gave me what looked like fruits and vegetables. Problem was, they weren’t fruits or vegetables. They were some kind of plant, but I had no idea what it was.

I guess you can explain anything with, “It’s a different galaxy,” though... So... Space vegetables.

The man in the blue cloak had a short discussion with me, when he got up and left randomly. I didn’t want to be rude, so I waited for him.

Little did I know, that next time I saw him, would be accompanied by sword wielding dudes.

“If you want to stay here, get citizenship in this village. Do you want that?” I really didn’t have any other option, so,

“Sure,”

The men brought me to a large building, with a large hole in the ground.

“Get in.” Said one of the sword wielders. Shoving me into the pit.

“That's a child!” Said one of the people already in the room. He was behind a small desk. Sort of like a judge. Actually, everyone already in the room was behind these desks.

Am I at a trial?

“He’s still an outsider!” Snapped another person.

“A ten year old outsider!” Looks like the man in the blue cloak shared information with the judges.

After this though, from the fact that I was just thrusted into the floor, I passed out.

When I woke up, I was still in the hole. I looked through the door gap, and it was night time.

It looked like the judges were almost done arguing, and by one of the judges faces, I think I was in. I was reassured of this by what the judges said.

“To finally settle this, let's have a vote. Those who believe in the ten year-old boy, raise your hand.”

13 out of the 15 judges agreed to let me stay, and if I stayed long enough, they would grant me citizenship.

That didn’t mean it was over.

“Where will the boy stay? He has no home!” said one of the judges siding with me.

“He can stay wherever he wishes. As long as he finds people to cooperate with him.”

“You’re telling me it's up to the boy? That’s outrageous!”

At this point, one more person walked in. Their clothes were made of animal skin I’d never seen before. Probably another space animal.

“The boy can stay with me.” The person said. I couldn’t get a good look at them, but they had a female voice, and long hair, so I guessed they were female.

The judges all looked at each other hearing the woman’s voice.

“It is decided then. The boy will live with Akafmowa” (Aka-mo-wa)

I thought about that name. It was extremely similar to the world's name. Probably just a naming convention here.

Akafmowa let down a form of ladder. I wasn’t sure what was off about it, but something was different.

I climbed it anyway, and was brought into Akafmowa’s arms. This was a different place. One of love and care. Something I never truly received on earth.