The stone walls of the holding cell were damp and cold, their age betrayed by the cracks running through the surface. Layla sat on the narrow bench, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable.

The guards stationed outside her cell exchanged occasional glances, both wary and perplexed. They had no idea who she was, and while she had been compliant during her capture, her composure unsettled them.

"I suggest you let me go," Layla said finally, her voice calm but edged with authority. "This misunderstanding will only cause trouble for you."

The younger of the two guards snorted. "Misunderstanding? You're the one causing trouble, lady. You're lucky we're just holding you for questioning."

Layla's gaze didn't waver. "You have no idea what you're dealing with."

The older guard leaned against his spear, shaking his head. "Save it. You'll stay here until the head guard decides what to do with you. It's not our problem."

Layla sighed, her patience wearing thin. She'd given them a chance. Rising from her seat, she walked to the center of the cell, her fingers trailing lightly over the rough surface of the wall. The guards stiffened but didn't move, assuming she was merely pacing.

"Very well," she murmured. "You've made your choice."

Before the guards could react, Layla closed her eyes and murmured a quiet incantation. A faint glow began to radiate from her palms, the magic growing brighter and brighter until the air around her seemed to hum with energy.

The guards shouted in alarm, one of them fumbling for the keys, but it was too late.

With a sudden burst of power, the wall behind Layla exploded outward, the force of the blast sending chunks of stone scattering across the room. Dust and debris filled the air, and when it cleared, Layla was already stepping through the jagged opening she had created.

"What the—?!" the younger guard sputtered, coughing on the dust. "She's escaping!"

Layla paused just outside the cell, glancing back at the stunned guards. "I warned you. Remember that."

The older guard regained his composure first, yelling into the hallway. "Sound the alarm! She's breaking out!"

Within moments, the clang of bells echoed through the building, accompanied by the heavy stomping of boots as reinforcements rushed toward the commotion.

Layla didn't hesitate. She darted down the corridor, her movements swift and calculated. The guards stationed further down the hall barely had time to react before she slipped past them, her agility leaving them scrambling in her wake.

The head guard, alerted by the chaos, arrived just as Layla reached the main entrance. His sharp eyes took in the destruction, the panicked guards, and Layla's poised figure in an instant. "Stop her!" he bellowed, his voice cutting through the noise.

The guards rallied at his command, blocking Layla's path. She assessed the situation quickly, noting their numbers and the narrow space. She could fight her way out, but it would take time—time she didn't have.

"Stand down," the head guard ordered, stepping forward. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, though he hadn't drawn it yet. "You've caused enough trouble. Surrender now, and I'll make sure your punishment is lenient."

Layla raised an eyebrow, her calm demeanor unshaken. "Punishment? For defending myself against baseless accusations? You should be apologizing."

The head guard's expression darkened. "Apologies aren't going to fix this. You're under arrest, and resisting will only make it worse."

Layla sighed, a hint of frustration slipping into her voice. "I don't have time for this."

Without another word, she raised her hand, her fingers glowing faintly with magical energy. The guards tensed, preparing for another explosion, but instead, Layla released a blinding flash of light. The sudden brilliance filled the room, causing the guards to shield their eyes and stumble back in disarray.

By the time the light faded, Layla was already gone, her figure disappearing into the shadows of the city beyond. The head guard cursed under his breath, slamming his fist against the wall.

"Spread out!" he barked, his voice filled with urgency. "Find her! She won't get far!"

But even as his men scrambled to obey, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling that they were already too late.

______

The head guard paced back and forth in the dimly lit office, his face taut with worry. The sound of alarms ringing through the prison filled his ears, each clang of the bell a reminder of his failure. His hand clenched and unclenched around the hilt of his sword as he glared out the window at the distant shadows of guards searching for the escaped prisoner.

"She shouldn't have been able to get out," he muttered, his tone sharp with frustration. "This was supposed to be a routine detainment."

His second-in-command, a stout man with a perpetual frown, hesitated before speaking. "Sir, the escape was... unusual. Magic of that caliber—she's not just some troublemaker."

The head guard turned on him, his eyes blazing with anger and fear. "I know that! Do you think the higher-ups will care about 'unusual circumstances' when I haven't met my quotas? Do you think they'll listen when I say a single woman outmaneuvered an entire squad of guards?"

The second-in-command remained silent, his expression carefully neutral. The head guard sighed heavily and rubbed his temples, the weight of his position pressing down on him.

"If we don't catch her," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else, "it'll be my head on the line."

Meanwhile, Layla moved swiftly through the labyrinthine corridors of the prison, her sharp mind mapping the quickest route to freedom.

The air was thick with the lingering hum of magic, and her steps echoed faintly against the stone walls. Behind her, faint shouts of guards still searching for her receded into the distance.

She had evaded them for now, but she knew her window of escape was closing rapidly.

As she turned a corner, her path was abruptly blocked by a shimmering barrier of magical energy. The seal pulsed with a cold, ominous light, runes etched into the air forming an intricate web that radiated power.

Layla paused, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the obstacle.

"Of course," she muttered, a hint of exasperation in her voice. "They wouldn't make it too easy."