The road away from Raven's Crossing stretched across the open plains.
Kael and Mira walked for hours, putting as much distance as possible between themselves and the town. The afternoon sun slowly drifted toward the horizon, painting the sky with shades of orange and gold.
Kael wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"I think we lost them," he said.
Mira didn't answer immediately.
Her sharp eyes scanned the road behind them.
"Maybe," she said. "But Highland soldiers don't give up easily."
Kael sighed.
"That captain especially."
He remembered the man's calm expression during the fight. Unlike the other soldiers, the captain had not looked afraid of magic at all.
"That guy was strong," Kael admitted.
Mira nodded.
"He wasn't a normal soldier."
"What do you mean?"
"He was trained to fight magicians," she said. "The Highlands have special units for that."
Kael frowned.
"So they're prepared for people like us."
"Exactly."
They continued walking in silence for a while.
The plains stretched endlessly around them, with tall grass swaying in the wind. Occasionally, they passed small farms or abandoned carts along the road, but most people seemed to avoid traveling this late in the day.
After everything that had happened in Raven's Crossing, Kael understood why.
Eventually, Mira slowed down and pointed ahead.
"There."
Kael followed her gaze.
A small stone bridge crossed a narrow river ahead of them. Beside it stood a lonely roadside inn with a faded wooden sign swinging in the wind.
Smoke rose gently from the chimney.
"An inn?" Kael asked.
"Yes."
Mira stretched her arms.
"We need food and rest."
Kael hesitated.
"What if soldiers are there?"
Mira shrugged.
"Then we'll deal with it."
She began walking toward the building.
Kael followed, though he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in his chest.
As they approached the inn, the smell of cooked meat drifted through the air.
Kael's stomach growled loudly.
Mira laughed.
"Looks like someone's hungry."
"I haven't eaten since yesterday," Kael admitted.
They pushed open the wooden door and stepped inside.
The inn was small but warm. A few travelers sat at wooden tables, quietly eating or drinking. The fire crackled in a stone fireplace near the wall.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
Peaceful.
A tired innkeeper stood behind the counter polishing a glass.
He glanced at them briefly.
"Travelers?" he asked.
Mira nodded.
"Just passing through."
The innkeeper shrugged.
"Food's cheap. Rooms are upstairs."
Kael and Mira took a seat at a table near the corner.
A young servant brought them bread, stew, and water.
Kael began eating immediately.
"This is amazing," he said between bites.
Mira shook her head, amused.
"You fight soldiers without fear, but food excites you more."
Kael shrugged.
"Priorities."
But while Kael focused on eating, Mira quietly scanned the room.
Her eyes paused on a man sitting alone near the window.
He wore a dark cloak, and his face was hidden beneath the hood.
But something about him felt… strange.
The man slowly lifted his cup and drank, as if he had not noticed them at all.
Mira leaned slightly toward Kael.
"Don't turn around," she whispered.
Kael froze mid-bite.
"Why?"
"I think we're being watched."
Kael's heart skipped.
"By soldiers?"
"I'm not sure," Mira replied quietly.
"But that man near the window…"
She kept her eyes forward.
"…he's been looking at us since we walked in."
Kael resisted the urge to turn around.
"What do we do?"
Mira thought for a moment.
Then she calmly picked up her cup of water.
"For now," she said softly, "we finish eating."
Kael blinked.
"That's the plan?"
"Yes."
She took a slow sip.
"Because if he is dangerous…"
A faint flame flickered briefly between her fingers beneath the table.
"…it's better if he thinks we haven't noticed him."
Kael swallowed nervously.
Outside, the sun dipped lower toward the horizon.
And inside the quiet inn, the mysterious stranger by the window continued watching them.