True to his word Omar had never seen a wormvein fish. He had no idea what it was or what it even looked like. Qinran had told him it came from the north. Omar hadn’t been too familiar with the north, only having gone a handful of times when he was looking for the start of a new loop. Most of his time had been spent going between the towers of the east and the west. It seemed most of the conflicts and disasters occurred in those two regions. He couldn’t think of any solutions for Sidra beyond what Samuel was already doing.

Bastian rarely left the house opting to stay close to his wife. He seemed to be torn apart by the fact he couldn’t personally do anything. Samuel had been teaching his nephew basic care procedures, but it didn’t seem to be enough to help with what must be guilt. Omar had only met the man a couple of times, but he had always been in a state of all consuming grief. Omar had his duties replaced by Bastian and opted to spend his time hunting or searching for more alchemical supplies.

Omar didn’t want to admit it just yet, but he felt tired. He knew an attack was coming and he could help prepare the city, but he was only one person. He remembered his first few loops. He had been an idealist. His goal was to save everyone. He now knew it was an impossibility. He remembered the first Samuel, the one that seemed to send him on this crazy journey that no one else would ever know. Had he felt this same kind of tired? How many times did his worlds end? Omar could still hear what Samuel had first told him. He shook his head. It wasn’t time to reflect on anything. Omar would still do what he could.

Omar had been supplying a few butchers with boars he had hunted in the jungle. He was still trying to be useful. He didn’t know the specifics of people’s lives anymore. The process that kept him alive must have stripped him of that. If there was a siege he could personally add a couple of days of survivability for a few people by providing some kind of food.

Omar wanted to flee. There was no other solution he could come up with that could possibly help with the wrath of the elves. He was pretty sure he couldn’t convince Samuel or his actual family to leave with him. There probably wouldn’t be anyone else in the city that would listen to a fourteen year old kid. He would talk to Qinran. The elf might come, considering their bond. The other elf Aimon was an unknown variable. He would have to check in the morning.

He arrived at a new butcher shop with the boar slung over his back. They haggled over price. Omar sold it below market price and pocketed the coin. He wasn’t too concerned with how much he was getting considering he had already amassed enough money to stay comfortable a few months in a decently sized city. Samuel had been kind enough to allow Omar to live free of charge in his house and even paid for materials. Omar sighed as he found himself back on the street.

Omar was certain leaving was the best idea. He had run multiple scenarios through his head. Even in the best case scenario this city was in trouble. Many of the larger population centers were in danger. It would only be a few more years before the elves from the floating island ceased to exist. There might be something with this new loop that changes that.

Omar visited multiple shops gathering a few supplies. He would head towards The Second Tower. If there was anyone reliable, it would be Amie. He labeled her a hero in his head. There were a few others that he put into the same category, but this far back he only knew where Amie was. He rubbed his chin as he walked. There might be others. Omar decided he’d have to think about this later. If Qinran decided to come along Omar would have to take his presence into account.

The next day Omar made his way to the elf camp. Aimon was hard at work preparing more cubes of boar meat with the strange three stick method.

“Aimon,” greeted Omar.

“Happy,” replied the elf.

Omar was a little annoyed that the elf still hadn’t picked up his name.

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“Have you seen Qinran?” Omar asked.

Aimon didn’t reply.

“I’m over here.” Qinran said as he walked out from the cave.

Omar was always amazed at how well elves could hear things.

“Lets go hunting.”

Qinran quickly agreed snapping off a few quick words in elvish to Aimon. The second elf replied with a quick reply and tapped the ends of the sticks together. Qinran replied with some more elvish and lead Omar to the clearing.

The two of them were quick to find a decently sized boar and started to butcher it after it died.

“I’m going to leave tonight,” Omar said as he used a few of his summoned orbs to clean the dead animal.

“What are you planning?” Qinran asked.

“I’m going to go to The Second Tower.”

“That’s human lands to the east isn’t it?”

Omar nodded. There was silence as Omar focused on removing a few organs. When he worked them free he spoke again.

“I’m heading there for some kind of guidance, and because I don’t want to be here when your people come.”

Qinran looked at Omar, “Are you trying to ask me to come along?”

“I think you’d be a good companion, we might save the world.”

“What does that mean?” Qinran asked.

“I honestly don’t know at this point. I just want to find a place to be comfortable for a while.”

Qinran shrugged, “I don’t know if I’d be able to get Aimon to come along. I think he knows more than he’s letting on.”

It hadn’t taken the two long to butcher the boar. They tied it to a pole and walked back towards the camp. Omar shared the location he wanted to meet the elf in before they left. He would leave the Aimon decision to Qinran. Omar would probably kill him if he were in the elf’s position, but that was only more because he didn’t know the elf. Qinran would have a better head for making the call. Omar said his goodbyes and left. He didn’t do much else as he went back to Samuel’s home.

Omar was busy packing a leather backpack that he had picked up. There was a simple change of clothing and a few rations. He had also prepared a a couple of cloaks and cloth head wraps for the elves. If Aimon wasn’t going to be brought along, Qinran would at least be able to appreciate the spare.

“Are you leaving?” A voice said behind him.

Omar jumped, throwing his shirt into the air. He was annoyed at that response. He was too focused on packing to hear the footsteps. He spun to look at Omar.

“Yes, I’m leaving.” Omar answered.

“You don’t like it here?” Samuel asked.

Omar shook his head, “No, it’s not that I don’t like it.”

Samuel moved into the room and sat on a chair while Omar sat on the edge of the bed. The two talked. Omar could see the pain in the man’s face. He had found an heir and now it was gone. From Samuel’s prospective it had only been a little over a month and there was an heir that he could connect with. The perfect person to pass his trade to. They had been able to get along well and Omar did his best to play the bright and promising student. Omar told Samuel about the elves that were outside the city. He talked more about what had happened and the retaliation that was going to happen. Samuel looked saddened.

“It’s not that I won’t go, I can’t,” he said, “Sidra still needs care, and we can’t move her.”

Omar nodded, he told Samuel the method for activating the city’s barrier, playing it off as something the elves told him. If Samuel believed him it wouldn’t be much, but it would at least give him a chance.

“I’d try to stop you from leaving, but you’re quite resourceful for a teenager.”

Omar grinned and stood up. Samuel stood as well and Omar hugged him. He left after grabbing four of his javelins and his quiver from by the door. Ten was too much to carry and the others might need what’s left when the elves arrive.

He went to the southern side of town, hopping the low wall. A few minutes of heading into the jungle brought him to the location. Qinran was waiting for him Aimon was nowhere in sight. Omar gave the cloaks and head wraps to the elf.

“These will be a little uncomfortable in the morning.” Qinran said.

“What did you decide to do about Aimon?” Omar asked.

“I just left him in the camp,” the elf replied, “He’ll probably think I’m dead or left. I don’t think it matters at this point.”

Omar shrugged, “I don’t know.”

When Qinran had most of his head wrapped Omar held out the backpack. The elf stared at the bag.

“I’m not carrying that, Give me the javelins.”

“Just take it.”

“I will not. You have magic, I have knives.”

Omar sighed and put the backpack down while he removed the quiver. He then handed it to the elf, who put it on. When the quiver was secure, the elf examined one of the weapons.

“These are well made,” He commented.

“I made them myself,” Omar said.

Their goal was to head south and somehow book passage east before news of any elf attack became widespread. Omar hoped that the elf wouldn’t draw more attention than just someone wearing the wrong type of clothing for the climate.