Hi everyone. I wanted to break up this chapter into parts. For those wondering, 5/#1 means Chapter 5, part 1. Same if you see (5/#2). That means chapter 5, part 2 and so on. I hope that's clear enough. With that out of the way, here's the chapter.

SOMETIME LATER

"Is that all?" asked Eoli. She saw they were tired. Despite her kind not needing much sleep, she was considerate enough to understand that others have sleep cycles that differ from her species. 

"Yeah, let's wrap it up. We have to leave early." said Teinova. She and her crewmates didn't want to oversleep and miss the time they agreed to when leaving here. The earlier, the better. 

Zazavin, Durin and Teinova got up and said their goodbyes and good nights. The Village Council's holograms faded into nothing, but not before saying their good nights as well. 

Yoskoe and Eoli were now alone. "Eoli, do you really think they'll make it?"

"I believe so. Your pessimism is showing again."

"It's not that, it's just that they're going against a powerful force. I honestly think they're not going to make it."

"I wouldn't say that. I think they'll surprise you."

"We'll see." He was picking up the bowls the group ate from. "I guess we'll know when the news comes out that a ship was stolen. Who knows if it was them though? There are other groups that have lost their ship and desperately want it back."

"When that news spreads, we'll know who did it. Is there anyone of note in this world that will be doing what they're doing? Tomorrow of all days? If they fail, we'll know they failed. If they succeed, we'll know if they succeeded."

"Good point. I hope your faith in them doesn't fade like darkness into light."

"They won't."

He still had his scepticism but he saw and felt her belief. He wanted to believe; he truly wanted to, but disappointment is something that comes swift, ready to smother someone in its essence.

* * *

"Yan, you up?" said Topa Top.

"Yeah, I'm up. Are they done now?" He gave out a yawn. They were spying on the whole meeting through a window. "They took forever to finish."

"Oh yeah, they said that they're leaving early in the morning. Best we get to sleep right now so we can catch them before they leave for good."

"Yeah, we should. Well good night, Topa Top."

"Good night. Make sure to not oversleep."

"Oversleep? I may have to cut my sleeping short to see these foreigners leave."

They then went their separate ways to get rested for their departure.

Zazavin was on alert. Having just left the canteen, he thought he heard noises from the building they just departed. He momentarily halted his bouncing to see who or what it could be. But, what was silence returned, the two junior beings had got away without any of them noticing. Not even a whisper came to him. Durin and Teinova asked him why he was standing there, and after about forty seconds, he restarted moving. 

His imagination had gotten the better of him. He thought the canteen was haunted and no one informed him. Zazavin caught up to his crewmates as they trekked to Modue's guest house.