The plain wooden door groaned as if in protest, the sound of reality itself being bent against its will. The blue, swirling lines of light on its surface burned brighter, their vortex-like pattern spinning faster and faster until they blurred into a single, shimmering disc of pure energy. The air in the narrow hallway grew thick and heavy, charged with a strange, static hum. A phantom wind, smelling of salt, spices, and a thousand unfamiliar lives, billowed out from the doorway, a promise of another world.
The tenants all took a step back, their faces a mixture of awe and terror. Anya the alchemist was muttering about impossible energy transference rates under her breath, while Borin the blacksmith gripped the handle of his hammer, as if expecting the door to explode.
Then, as suddenly as it began, the violent groaning stopped. The swirling vortex stabilized into a shimmering, liquid-like surface, a vertical pool of mesmerizing, shifting colors. It was no longer a door. It was a gateway.
The Guide's voice chimed in Leo's mind, crisp and efficient. [Temporary Dimensional Egress is now stable. Destination: Free Port of Zahar. The connection will remain viable for ten minutes before emergency closure. Please advise all residents to proceed in an orderly fashion.]
Ten minutes. The clock was ticking.
Outside, in the grey, misty twilight, the world had erupted into disciplined chaos.
The moment Leo had poured ten thousand units of Value into the Inn, a wave of raw, untamed magical energy had washed over the siege camp. It was a power surge of such magnitude that the very air seemed to scream.
Captain Graves, who had been calmly observing the inert Inn, shot to his feet. His personal wards, designed to detect magical threats, were blaring a silent, frantic alarm inside his helmet.
"Report!" he barked, his voice cutting through the sudden tension.
One of his mages, a specialist in energy signatures, scrambled to his side. "Captain! An immense, chaotic energy build-up within the structure! The scale… it's larger than the Archmage's 'Sun's Anvil' spell! They're not just preparing a spell; they're trying to overload their entire domain into a single, catastrophic counter-attack!"
Graves's mind raced. This was the move of a cornered, desperate animal. Unable to win a battle of patience, they had chosen mutual destruction. To unleash an explosion of this magnitude would likely destroy the Inn itself, but it would also annihilate everything within a mile radius, including his entire company.
"Arrogant fools," he hissed. His orders were sharp, delivered without a hint of panic. "All units! Full defensive formation! Raise the Aegis Wall! Mages, focus all your energy on reinforcing the containment field! Do not let that blast escape the perimeter! Trace the energy signature! I want to know exactly what we are dealing with when the dust settles!"
The Black Arrows moved as one. Obsidian pylons glowed brighter as mages poured power into them, strengthening the dark, shimmering cage. Knights slammed massive tower shields into the ground, their surfaces erupting with golden light as they formed a secondary, physical barrier. They braced themselves for an impact of legendary proportions, an explosion that would be spoken of for generations.
They were perfectly prepared for a battle that was never going to happen.
Back in the quiet, narrow hallway, Leo turned to face his small, terrified, and utterly bizarre flock. The thrumming of the portal was a steady, hypnotic sound. He was their landlord, and it was his job to see them through this move.
"Alright, listen up," he said, his voice calm and authoritative, cutting through their awe. "We have ten minutes. Here's how this works. Silas."
The cat-man's ears perked up, his attention snapping to Leo.
"You know the destination. You go first. Your job is to secure the alleyway, make sure it's empty, and give us an all-clear signal."
Silas gave a sharp, professional nod. The thief was back in his element.
"Lyra," Leo continued. "You're second. Cover Silas. Your sword is our only real defense if there's unexpected trouble on the other side."
Lyra's hand tightened on her sword's hilt. Her expression was grim, but her eyes held a spark of renewed purpose. She nodded.
"Borin, Anya. You two go next, together. Stay between Silas and Lyra once you're through. No wandering off."
The dwarf and the alchemist nodded nervously, sticking close to each other.
"Elara," Leo said, his voice softening slightly as he looked at the Dragon Lord. "You and I will be the last ones through. I need to be the one to close the door from this side."
He then walked over to the lectern where the Grimoire of Whispers was sitting. "And you're coming with me," he said, scooping the heavy, ancient book into his arms.
The indignity! the Grimoire complained directly in his mind. To be carried like a common stack of pamphlets! I am a repository of cosmic secrets, not luggage!
Consider it part of your rent, Leo thought back, tucking the book securely under his arm.
He turned back to the group. "Ready? Silas, you're up."
Without a word, Silas gave a quick salute, turned, and stepped into the shimmering, liquid colors of the portal. He vanished without a sound. For a heart-stopping second, there was nothing. Then, Silas's voice, tinny and distant, seemed to echo back through the gateway. "Alley is clear! Smells like week-old fish, but we're good to go!"
A wave of relief washed over them. It had worked.
Lyra gave Leo a final, determined nod and followed Silas into the light. Then Borin and Anya, holding hands for courage, squeezed their eyes shut and plunged through.
Now it was just Leo, Elara, and the grumpy book. He looked at the Dragon Lord, whose golden eyes were fixed on the portal with a look of dawning hope he hadn't seen before.
He gestured towards the gateway. "After you, my lady."
She gave him a small, grateful smile and, with a grace that defied her exhaustion, stepped through the portal and vanished.
Leo stood alone in the hallway, the Grimoire tucked under his arm. He took one last look back at his quiet, empty lobby. Outside, an army of elite hunters was braced for an apocalypse. Inside, he was about to lead the last of his tenants on a strategic, inter-dimensional holiday.
He turned back to the shimmering door, the smell of sea salt and freedom calling to him. With a final, satisfied smirk, he stepped into the light.