Layla, Raziel, and Mary Ann climbed the narrow staircase leading to their room, the wooden steps creaking under their boots. The tension from the common room below seemed to follow them, pressing against their backs like a heavy shroud. Each of them carried the weight of unspoken questions about the unsettling events they had witnessed.

The hallway was dimly lit, the only source of illumination a flickering oil lamp mounted on the wall. Shadows danced along the cracked plaster, giving the inn an eerie, almost haunted feel. Raziel instinctively kept his hand near the hilt of his sword as they approached their door.

"Charming place," Mary Ann muttered under her breath, her eyes darting to the darkened corners of the corridor.

Layla chuckled softly, though there was little humor in it. "It's better than sleeping under the stars with no cover. Let's be grateful for small mercies."

Reaching the door, Mary Ann produced the key the innkeeper had provided and unlocked it. The door creaked open, revealing a modest but clean room. The oil lamp on the table in the corner provided a soft, warm glow, casting light on the neatly made beds and simple wooden furnishings. A faint scent of lavender lingered in the air, likely from dried flowers tucked into the corners of the room to mask the smell of old wood and damp.

"Home sweet home," Raziel said, stepping inside and giving the room a quick once-over. His sharp eyes lingered on the windows, the lock on the door, and any potential hiding spots.

Mary Ann sighed, throwing her pack onto the nearest bed. "I could use some real rest after tonight's nonsense. I'm getting tired of people and their cryptic warnings."

Layla sat down at the small table, resting her elbows on its surface as she gazed at the flickering lamp. "The people downstairs were terrified. Something has them on edge, and it's not just our presence."

"Agreed," Raziel said, setting his sword within easy reach before sitting on the edge of his bed. "The hooded figure, the innkeeper's evasiveness, the rush to leave the common room—it's all connected somehow."

Layla nodded. "But how? And why does it feel like we're walking into the middle of someone else's battle?"

Though the beds looked inviting, none of them felt entirely comfortable letting their guard down. Raziel volunteered to take the first watch, his sharp senses attuned to any sound or movement outside their room. He positioned himself near the door, his sword resting across his lap.Mary Ann lay on her bed, her eyes half-closed but her body still tense. Though she tried to relax, her thoughts kept drifting back to the hooded figure and the innkeeper's nervous demeanor.Layla, seated at the table, leaned back in her chair and stared out the window. The faint glow of moonlight bathed the village in silver, but the streets below were empty and eerily quiet. Something about the stillness made her skin prickle."If something happens," Raziel said quietly, breaking the silence, "we'll handle it."Layla glanced at him, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I'm counting on it."Mary Ann snorted softly. "You're both too serious. Just wake me up if the world starts ending, alright?"Layla chuckled, the sound soft and fleeting. Despite the tension, their banter brought a small sense of normalcy to the otherwise strange and unsettling night.

The stillness of the night was shattered by a sharp, frantic knocking at the door. The sound was so sudden and insistent that all three occupants of the room jolted awake.

Layla sat up in bed, her heart racing as she instinctively reached for the dagger she kept under her pillow. The echoes of the knocking reverberated through the room, carrying an almost desperate urgency.

Raziel was already on his feet, sword in hand, moving toward the door with practiced stealth. His eyes were sharp and alert, every muscle in his body coiled like a spring. Mary Ann, groggy but quick to recover, slipped off her bed and silently positioned herself near the window, ready to flank anyone who entered.

"Who is it?" Raziel demanded, his voice low and commanding.

The knocking paused for a brief moment before a gruff voice responded from the other side.

"City guard. Open the door immediately. I need to inspect your room."

Raziel's eyes flicked toward Layla, who had risen from her bed and was now standing near the center of the room, her dagger glinting faintly in the moonlight. She shook her head subtly, signaling him not to comply.

"What business does a city guard have here at this hour?" Layla called out, her voice calm but edged with authority.

"Open the door," the guard barked, ignoring her question. "There's been suspicious activity in the area, and I need to ensure you're not harboring anything—or anyone—illegal."

Raziel's grip on his sword tightened. "Suspicious activity?" he repeated, his tone laced with skepticism. "We've been asleep all night. Perhaps you should check elsewhere."

The guard's patience seemed to fray. "This is your last warning. Open the door, or I'll be forced to break it down."

Layla stepped closer to the door, her expression hardening. "You have no right to search this room without proper cause or permission. If you insist on trying, you'll find resistance waiting for you."

From the other side of the door, the guard growled in frustration. "You dare defy the city guard? This will not end well for you."

The sound of a shoulder slamming against the door rang through the room, the old wood shuddering under the force. The lock held for now, but the repeated impacts were clearly beginning to weaken it.

Raziel moved into position, his blade angled toward the door, ready for an inevitable confrontation. Layla stepped back, her dagger held low but steady, while Mary Ann pressed herself against the wall, prepared to strike from an unexpected angle.

"If he breaks through, i'll take him down fast," Raziel muttered, his voice low enough for only Layla and Mary Ann to hear.

Layla nodded. "No unnecessary harm. We don't need more trouble than we already have.