Adrian and Lilith approached the Rusty Spoon Inn cautiously. The sun was beginning its descent, casting long shadows over the town, giving the inn a warm, inviting glow. The yellow light on the map had drawn them back, and they couldn't ignore it.

They stepped inside, their eyes scanning the room as they adjusted to the dim light.

The inn was just as they had left it—cozy, bustling with the quiet hum of conversation, and filled with the comforting scent of roasting meat and freshly baked bread.

The same patrons sat in their usual spots, their faces a mix of curiosity and disinterest as they noted the arrival of the two travelers.

Before they could take another step, the familiar clinking sound of metal echoed across the room, announcing the approach of Brass. The innkeeper's assistant greeted them with his customary wide grin, his brass balls jingling lightly as he walked.

"Well, look who's back," Brass said, his deep voice laced with surprise. "Didn't expect to see you two again so soon. Welcome back to the Rusty Spoon. Shall I have the same room prepared for you?"

Adrian shook his head with a serious expression. "Sorry, Brass, but we're not here to stay. We're looking for someone."

Brass raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? And who might that be? I know most of the folks around here, at least to an extent."

Adrian glanced around the room, taking in the faces of the inn's patrons. Many were the same as before, familiar faces that Brass had already pointed out during their last visit.

But one man stood out—a stranger sitting alone in a corner, his figure partially obscured by a dark, heavy cloak. He was hunched over his table, nursing a drink, his face hidden in the shadows of his hood.

"And who's that?" Adrian asked, nodding subtly toward the cloaked figure.

Brass followed Adrian's gaze, his brow furrowing slightly as he took in the sight of the stranger. "No idea," he admitted after a moment. "He's a stranger passing by, I guess. Never seen him before today."

Adrian exchanged a look with Lilith, who raised an eyebrow in silent agreement. "Thanks, Brass," Adrian said dismissively. "You should get back to your tasks. We'll take it from here."

Brass gave them a curious look, but nodded, his grin fading slightly as he returned to his duties.

The clinking of his brass balls echoed through the room as he walked away, blending into the background noise of the inn.

Once Brass was out of earshot, Adrian leaned in close to Lilith, his voice low. "I bet that's our guy," he murmured, his eyes never leaving the cloaked figure.

Lilith nodded, her eyes narrowing as she studied the stranger. "Only one way to find out," she replied, her tone equally quiet.

They moved through the inn, their footsteps barely making a sound as they approached the corner where the cloaked man sat. Adrian's hand instinctively hovered near the hilt of his sword, ready for anything.

Lilith, ever observant, kept her eyes on the man's hands, looking for any sudden movements that might signal danger.

As they drew closer, the stranger shifted slightly, his cloak rustling as he glanced up at them. His face remained hidden, but Adrian could feel his gaze through the shadows.

"Mind if we join you?" Adrian asked steadily though it sounded almost like a challenge.

The stranger was silent for a long moment, his head tilting ever so slightly as if weighing his options. Finally, he gave a slow, deliberate nod, gesturing to the empty seats across from him. "Suit yourselves," he said, his voice low and rough, like gravel scraping against stone.

Adrian and Lilith sat down, their eyes never leaving the man.

Up close, they could see that his cloak was old and frayed at the edges, stained from years of wear and travel. His hands, visible beneath the table, were calloused and rough, the hands of a man who had seen his share of hardship.

"We're looking for someone," Adrian began, keeping his tone casual but direct. "Someone who's been causing a lot of trouble. Wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"

The stranger didn't respond immediately.

Instead, he took a slow sip of his drink, the movement deliberate, almost taunting. When he finally spoke, his voice was thick with sarcasm. "Trouble? There's plenty of that to go around. You'll have to be more specific."

Lilith's eyes narrowed, her patience wearing thin. "We're not here to play games," she warned. "Tell us what you know."

The man's lips curled into a faint, humorless smile. "You two are barking up the wrong tree," he said, his tone dismissive. "I'm just passing through. No interest in whatever trouble you think I'm involved in."

Adrian's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword, his frustration mounting.

But before he could respond, Lilith leaned forward, her eyes flashing with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. "Passing through, huh?" she said, her voice softening into something almost coaxing. "Then why do I get the feeling you're waiting for someone? Or maybe… something?"

The stranger's smile faded slightly, and for the first time, Adrian saw a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. It was brief, almost imperceptible, but it was there.

"Look," the man said after a moment, his tone more guarded now. "I'm not the one you're looking for. But I can tell you this—if you keep digging where you don't belong, you're going to find more trouble than you bargained for."

Adrian exchanged a glance with Lilith, his suspicions only deepening. "And what kind of trouble would that be?" he asked.

The stranger leaned back in his chair with an unreadable expression. "The kind that doesn't end well," he said cryptically. "For anyone."

Adrian's patience was wearing thin, his temper flaring as the man across from him continued to dodge his questions. The tension in the air was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife.

"Just tell us about your encounter with the Draegonians," Adrian demanded, his voice rising with anger. "You paid them to invade my kingdom, to kill my family."

The stranger's gaze didn't waver, but there was a flash of something—weariness, perhaps, or maybe irritation—behind his eyes.

Still, he remained stubborn. "Like I said," he replied coolly, "I know not what you're talking about."

Adrian's fists clenched in frustration. The man finished his drink in one swift gulp and attempted to stand, clearly intending to leave.

But Adrian wasn't about to let him go so easily.

He shot out his hand, grabbing the man by the arm and forcing him back into his seat. "We're not done here," Adrian growled in fury.

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