A Tale of the World **HIATUS**

Chapter 42: Enter the World Council

Nina slouched onto the table sighing heavily, "Jeez! It's only been 7 days! I want to change back already!"

"Is it really that bad? Being a boy and all?" Damon chuckled as he dealt a card into his hand.

"Being a girl at first? Yes, it is," Nina answered.

"We should be reaching Parlin Harbor any moment now," Khan announced as he walked by with a map held in his hand.

"You know, for someone who worked in the red district, you have a lot of knowledge of the outside," Nina complimented.

"I've been studying," he smiled. "But the world is always changing. Gin told you to call them out when we've arrived, correct?"

"Yeah, but they could do that themselves without waiting for me, unless I place a seal card over their cards. But I don't have any and I don't want any," said Nina.

Luka came down from the steering wheel. "When should we be arriving?"

"Around evening today, sundown," Khan answered.

"That means once we arrive we need to find a place to sleep," Nina added.

***

Upon arriving at the Parlin Harbor, they left their ship and carried all of their belongings. Luckily Nina had several storage cards and stored all the food, blankets and pillows to make their travel lighter. Weaving their way through the town, they went straight to an Inn; Nina didn't bother to inform Gin or R.R; they needed rest too.

When they entered a cabin looking like Inn, the man at the front desk welcomed them with a warm smile, "Two rooms?" he asked.

"How much?" Khan asked.

"Five pounds," the man smiled.

"Five pounds?! Are you crazy?!" Nina blurted out. "We're just staying for one night and it's 5 pounds?"

"Either pay in pounds or cash," the man remained unfazed by Nina's complaint. "Pay up or leave."

"We'll pay for just one room, please," Damon butted in.

Nina snapped her head in his direction with a shocked expression.

"That'll be 3 pounds," the man answered.

Luka pulled out the money and plopped it onto his desk. The man smiled and handed them their room key. The inn was rather large, like a hotel almost, just a tad smaller. Arriving at their room, Nina saw why it was expensive; the interior of the rooms were rather elegant. More extravagant than the one at Tradus, Nina frowned as she walked into the room.

"Only two beds," she remarked.

"You and Khan can take the beds. Luka and I will stay by the wall," said Damon.

"No way. I can't do that. You're a king and a king deserves a nice bed. So you take the bed," Nina replied.

"But you're a girl, still, so you take the bed," he smiled.

"No, I insist. Please don't turn down my consideration," Nina said as she stared at him.

There was a staring competition that lasted for no more than 10 seconds before Damon gave in, "Alright. Since you're asking politely, I'll sleep on the bed," he smiled as he patted her head.

"Well, I'm taking the bed. I'm not offering it to no one," Khan smiled as he sat down claiming his territory. Nina just gave him a side smile.

Nina pulled out two pillows and blankets from her storage card for both Luka and her. They slept next to the wall at the foot of the beds with their heads faced in towards one another.