Gregor narrowed his eyes, forcing his voice to remain steady.

"Keep pushing, and you'll only find trouble here."

The man's gaze lingered on Ethan, then shifted back to Gregor.

That smirk widened, and for a heartbeat, Gregor felt a surge of protectiveness with memories of his own son flashing through his mind.

This isn't my son. It's Ethan. But I'll be damned if I let this boy meet the same fate.

"You should leave," Gregor said with his words coming out as a growl. "Now."

The man's smirk faltered. His eyes narrowed as he weighed his options. After a long, tense moment, he finally took a step back, chuckling under his breath.

"I'll be back," the man muttered with menace. He cast one last glance at Ethan before turning on his heel and heading for the door. "This isn't over."

Gregor didn't relax until the door swung shut behind the man. The silence in the inn, heavy and oppressive, contrasted sharply with the tension that had just filled the room.

Gregor watched the door for a moment longer. His grip on the knife slowly loosened as the tension began to ebb.

The inn remained unnervingly quiet. The usual hum of conversation and clatter of dishes was absent.

He could feel the eyes of the patrons on him, but no one dared to speak or move.

His gaze shifted to Ethan, who was still seated by the counter, clearly on edge. Gregor's heart ached with the weight of unspoken fears, old memories clashing with the present.

This boy... he's brought trouble, but it's not his fault. He didn't ask for this.

He wiped a hand over his face, trying to push away the thoughts of his son that had surfaced with alarming intensity.

But the resemblance... it was too much to ignore.

Taking a deep breath, Gregor decided to check on Ethan, to offer some reassurance if he could.

Stepping out from behind the counter, he approached the young man as his voice softened with concern.

"Are you alright, lad?"

Stolen novel; please report.

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[POV Shift]

The tension in my shoulders stayed taut even after the door swung shut.

I felt the weight of Gregor's gaze on me, and when I looked up, I saw the concern etched in his face. He stepped closer. His movements were careful, almost hesitant.

"Are you alright, lad?" he asked. His voice was softer now, lacking the edge it had held moments before.

I nodded, though the truth was I wasn't entirely sure. My mind raced with the implications of the encounter.

The realization that I had brought this danger to Gregor's inn gnawed at me.

He hadn't asked for this.

None of them had.

The thought made my chest tighten with guilt.

"Sorry," I muttered. My voice was low. "I didn't mean to cause trouble."

Gregor waved off my apology with a rough hand, but I could see the worry still lurking in his eyes. "No need for that," he said, though his tone carried a hint of weariness.

"This town... it's not what it used to be. Trouble finds its way here, no matter what we do."

His words did little to ease the guilt gnawing at me, but I nodded again, appreciating his attempt to comfort me.

He didn't have to step in like that.

I owed him more than an apology.

Gregor's words hung in the air. This was a stark reminder of the harsh reality of this place.

I could see the lines of worry etched into his face, lines that spoke of years of dealing with problems much bigger than a single traveler like me.

Yet, despite everything, he had stood up for me.

I took a deep breath, trying to push down the guilt gnawing at me.

"Thanks," I said with my voice steadier this time. "For stepping in. You didn't have to do that."

Gregor shrugged, but I could see the hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"This isn't my first brush with trouble, lad. Just another day in Hallowford." His tone was lighter, an attempt to downplay the situation, but I could tell he was still uneasy.

There was a brief silence between us. I wanted to say more, to somehow make up for the danger I'd brought to his doorstep, but words failed me.

Instead, I simply nodded, hoping he understood.

Gregor seemed to sense my struggle.

He patted my shoulder. His hand was heavy but reassuring.

"Why don't you get some rest? I'll show you to a room. You'll be safe there, at least for tonight."

I hesitated, then nodded. Rest was what I needed—time to think, to figure out what to do next.

As I followed Gregor up the narrow staircase, the unease in my chest only deepened.

The stairs creaked underfoot as Gregor led me up to the second floor.

The hallway was narrow and dimly lit, with only a single lantern hanging on the wall casting long shadows that danced with every flicker of its flame.

The atmosphere was quiet, almost too quiet, as if the entire inn was holding its breath after what had just transpired.

Gregor stopped in front of a wooden door near the end of the hallway and pushed it open.

The room was modest—a simple bed with a worn blanket, a wooden chair by the small window, and a washbasin in the corner.

The window overlooked the street below, though the view was obscured by the thick curtains drawn across it.

"It's not much," Gregor said, "but it'll do for tonight. You can get some rest, figure out your next move."

I nodded, stepping inside and letting the door close softly behind me.

The room felt strangely safe, a small pocket of peace in a town that seemed determined to crush any hope of it.

But the safety was temporary—I knew that much.