"There's actually tea and snacks? They even have 24-hour service in this strange situation, how thoughtful!"

Because of the innkeeper's earlier bell ringing, I was mentally prepared. So I hurriedly went over and opened the door.

"Hello you two, this is our inn's special tea and snacks..."

A girl with her head lowered came in carrying a tray, placed it on the table, then turned around and left.

"Don't you feel like that server seems a bit familiar?"

Maybe because she kept her head lowered, I had a nagging feeling of familiarity. Her voice and figure both seemed familiar, like I had seen her somewhere before. But I couldn't remember where. So I asked Nicola, "What do you think?"

"Impossible! You're imagining things! We don't know that server at all. And in a small place like this, why would we know anyone?"

Since Nicola was sitting, her view was much lower than mine. She should have clearly seen the girl's face, but still shook her head indicating she didn't recognize her.

"I see...then maybe I'm just being overly sensitive."

I stared at the doorway, shook my head vigorously, but still felt like I was missing something important.

"Is this red tea?"

Nicola poured a cup, sniffed it first, took a small sip, then drank it all down.

"It tastes a bit different from Earth's, but still pretty good! Want to try some?"

"We left Cyra alone outside the city. What if she wakes up tomorrow morning and can't find us?"

I was too worried to eat or drink now. Although we had checked into the inn smoothly, I felt uneasy ever since that server came in. Aside from the fire prophecy, the only issue was Cyra outside the city.

"She's not a kid, she can handle a small situation like this. Worst case we can go out and get her at dawn, the carriage couldn't have gone far."

Nicola yawned, looking exhausted as she climbed into bed and lay down comfortably.

"Get some rest, it's late after all that!"

"Hey, did you forget about the fire? Don't sleep so deeply!"

But she completely ignored me, settling down facing the wall and soon falling asleep.

I could only sigh and shake my head.

Her carefree attitude was getting worse, relying on her status and not considering others' feelings.

"I should go back and sleep near Cyra..."

After hesitating there for a while, I decided to leave the city. It didn't feel right leaving Cyra outside alone. As for Nicola, like she said, with guarantee of the future Nicola, she should be fine.

"Watch yourself, don't let your butt catch fire while you're sleeping!"

"Mm..."

In response to my parting words, Nicola mumbled softly before falling silent.

"You're such a pig!"

Venting my frustration, I really wanted to sleep too, but had to stay awake a bit longer for Cyra's safety...

I opened the door to leave, but then realized the innkeeper waiting at the entrance would find it odd if I went out so late. So I re-locked the door and jumped out the window instead.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Outside the window was the inn's backyard, a large pitch black courtyard barely visible in the dim starlight.

"Bang!"

Just as I was about to spread my wings, I suddenly heard a loud thud from a room across the yard.

Could it be another guest making noise?

I looked curiously toward the source, but didn't see any lights turn on in that room. It didn't seem to be a guest room either, since regular rooms had doors facing the interior hallway. But that room's large door clearly faced the yard, and seemed to be improperly closed with a sliver of darkness showing.

"Slap!"

While I was wondering, another louder noise came from the room, like plates or dishes falling and shattering on the floor.

"What's going on over there? Is that the kitchen?"

One sound could be accidental, but several continuous noises were suspicious. Normally I might blame mice or cats making trouble, but during this sensitive time of a fire prophecy, it could be someone trying to start a fire!

To be safe, I decided to take a look before leaving. The door was open anyway, so just peeking in without entering couldn't be considered trespassing right?

"Anyone in there?"

I slowly approached the cracked open door and softly called out. I suddenly felt odd, like I was the one sneaking around.

"Mm...mmm...mmm!"

Right after my question, frantic struggling sounds came from the room, along with noisy kicks and stomps.

Sensing something wrong, I pushed the door open and threw a small illumination spell inside. I saw a girl tied up and lying on the floor, with a rag stuffed in her mouth.

"Wait, you were kidnapped?"

That was my first reaction seeing this. I stared blankly at the "hostage" on the floor, taking a long time to react and go help untie her. The earlier sounds of things falling were probably from her kicking table legs. Broken dish fragments were still scattered around the floor.

"Someone knocked me out from behind. When I woke up I was tied like this..."

As soon as I removed the rag from her mouth, the girl quickly explained to me.

"What? So even you don't know who did it?"

I was confused, after all that I still didn't know what happened. The kitchen wasn't big, and aside from this girl there was no one else. It didn't seem to be a simple kidnapping...

"What's going on here?"

The innkeeper's voice came in from outside, probably alerted by the earlier sounds of dishes breaking. He rushed into the kitchen, saw the girl on the floor, and cried out in surprise.

"Angie? Why are you here? Didn't I tell you to serve tea to the guests?"

"This was the guest who just checked in right? You're the one who found her?"

I didn't need to say much, the innkeeper could also see the ropes just untied on the floor. He immediately looked to me for confirmation.

"Wait, did you say you asked her to serve us tea earlier?"

I suddenly noticed something very wrong, and instead of answering his question I asked the innkeeper right back.

"Of course, she's the only staff working the night shift here tonight. Who else could it be?"

"Then who was that server who brought us tea?"

Aside from their completely different clothes, this girl didn't give me the same familiar feeling as the previous server at all. Their figures and voices clearly weren't the same person.

"I didn't get to serve it yet!"

Hearing this, Angie seemed startled. She dusted herself off and stood up to explain.

"The boss said we had new guests, so I came to prepare tea and snacks. But right as I was about to bring it out, someone knocked me unconscious..."

"Why would someone impersonate you and serve us tea?"

What a bizarre development was this? I carefully recalled the "server's" behavior, nothing seemed off except...

"Don't tell me, did she really drug it? That's too ridiculous..."

That was the only explanation now. Although I didn't know her motive, Nicola could be in danger!

I quietly cried out, hurried back out of the kitchen, and rushed toward room 102 across the yard.

But it was too late. Returning to the room, Nicola was already gone from the bed. The door was wide open, and rapid footsteps could still be faintly heard in the hallway.

She couldn't have gone far!

I immediately gave chase, but at the end of the hallway I saw a girl's figure carrying Nicola turn a corner and instantly disappear from view.

From her outfit, it looked like the same fake "server" from before.

"Stop right there!"

Although I didn't understand why she was targeting us, I obviously couldn't just let her take Nicola.

Judging by the direction she turned, the girl was headed toward the inn's front lobby, likely trying to escape through the front entrance. Chasing from behind would be difficult, so I should try to cut her off instead -

Not caring who might see, I spread my wings in the yard and flew up into the sky, circling around the roof to reach the entrance area overhead. Sure enough, I spotted my target sprinting madly down the street below shouldering Nicola.

"Don't run!"

Even carrying someone, her speed was impressively fast. She clearly had martial arts skills. But that was no match for my flight!

Just as I readied myself to speed after them, I suddenly sensed something wrong. A presence of dark elements was swiftly approaching from behind!

"What the?"

I initially thought it was some flying monsters, but when I turned to look, it was an exceptionally large lizard man leaping at me axe-first!

He must have jumped from the roof, easily clearing five or six meters over my head and forcing me to descend quickly! My only option was to plunge down toward the roof below.