A week after the second air attack, and during a cool morning, Jamal was still studying maps in the hotel room, with plenty of notes on the side, while Ula was attempting to change his mind.
"You already know where we've decided to go. Everyone's agreed on it Jamal," she told him, as she placed some food next to him.
"Yeah, but I think their better options out there. Like the small nation of Wven which is nice and secluded, or Azuui in the south as they take anyone. Why would we want to go to out of all places, Suruthum? Isn't that one of the poorest and more secluded than even Wven? How would we even get there?"
"Think about it, that's the point. Who would go there?" she said, touching his shoulder.
"No one I suppose. But I can't stay there forever, it'll just be a stop for maybe a few months and then we go somewhere safer with better options."
"So you agree?"
Sighing, he nodded his head. Grinning, Ula went closer to him, as they kissed for a few seconds before backing away.
"Now that wasn't hard, was it? You should go tell Hops the news and then we make the plan to get out of here!" she smiled.
Jamal could just nod as he rushed out the door, and towards the place where he last found Hops. Hopefully, he would still be there, he thought, as he went through the familiar route that led him to the place. It only took him five minutes but he finally arrived at the destination, the building still looking like it did before. Knocking lightly on the door, he could hear some rustling inside as a lock was pushed back, and it creaked open slightly.
"Come in," Hop told him urgently, grabbing him inside, then quickly locking the door.
"You good?" Jamal asked?
"Not at the moment, I think you need to see this," he said, showing him the way up the stairs.
Reaching the top, Hops pointed to something in the far distance. Jamal could barely see it, but it appeared to be something burning across the sky and heading near the city. What could it be, he didn't know but it didn't seem good.
"What do you think it is? Some new weapon?" Jamal questioned, going back downstairs.
"Nah, but it's something important I can tell from it. Anyway, want a drink?" Hops responded and opened up an icebox to get some drinks before tossing it towards Jamal's way.
"Sure, but we've decided our destination for a bit," he said, catching the thrown drink in time.
"And where will that be?"
"Afraid it's Suruthum. I couldn't change their minds." Jamal told him.
"Really? Eh, that's actually a smart idea. Low profile, living in a poor nation, couldn't say better myself."
"Wait really?" Jamal asked before a light thud could barely be heard.
"Yeah, with the amount of money we have, we can convert it and basically be billionaires!" Hops excitedly stated.
"I don't think it works like that, but did you hear that thud?"
"No? Probably nothing anyway."
"Well, what's the plan to get out of here?"
"You're just in luck. I got us a ride out of here two weeks from now! It's going to be a fake supplies carriage, and we're going to dip north to Port-o-Bea, and then we can find a way to the nation there, probably by boat."
"Two weeks is a stretch. Can't get a quicker method?"
"This is as secure as it's going to get. The only way to not get caught that easily, cause I don't know the consequences and I can imagine they make you fight for the army or something like that."
I guess that will be our only option, Jamal thought, as he finished whatever drink Hops gave him. It did taste good though, he couldn't lie.
"But if that's all the information you had to tell me, I'll stay with you guys the day before we plan to move. Sounds good?"
"Yeah. I'll see you around." Jamal said, getting up and exiting the place.
Since when did Hops start being nicer to him, he didn't know, but he didn't question it either. Walking to the hotel room, he saw a large crowd walking towards the way of the sound, and he could see some well-known healers as well. Was it a person or a thing? It had to be, but Jamal would just hope for the best for whatever it was.
Arriving at the hotel, at last, he just entered the courtyard when he noticed everyone in the rooms out and about in a panic. He found Ula and the rest of them and moved towards them.
"What's going on?" he asked before Ula rushed and hugged him.
"I was so worried about you!" she cried out.
"About what? I just saw Hops, that's all."
"Jamal, something came from the sky, and it was Boom," Fonda said next to Ula, Brat just nodding in agreement.
"Wait, that was the thing in the sky!" Jamal shouted in shock.