Adrian and Lilith walked briskly through the small town's quiet streets, their eyes scanning for any sign of a place to rest. In their escape attempt, they had left their horse behind,

The short trek and earlier chaos had left them both exhausted and eager to find a place to rest for the night.

As they rounded a corner, they spotted a modest inn with a warm glow from its windows. The wooden sign above the door read The Rusty Spoon. Seeing it filled them with relief, and they made their way inside.

They entered the inn to find a cozy common room with a few travelers scattered around, nursing drinks and chatting quietly. A fire crackled in the hearth, adding comforting warmth to the room, which was a welcome contrast to the chaos they had just escaped.

Adrian approached the counter, where a grizzled innkeeper stood polishing a glass. "We need a room for the night," Adrian said wearily, passing over a few coins.

The innkeeper looked up, sizing them up with a quick glance before nodding. "Second floor, third door on the left," he replied, handing Adrian a key. "Breakfast is at dawn, if you're still around."

Adrian thanked him and led Lilith upstairs to their room.

The room was small but clean, with a simple bed, a washbasin, and a window overlooking the quiet street below. Adrian set their little belongings down and sighed, the tension from the day finally beginning to ease.

"Finally, some peace and quiet," he muttered, glancing at Lilith.

She smiled faintly, clearly just as drained. "I'm all for it. Let's rest."

But a soft knock came at the door before they could settle in. Adrian exchanged a curious glance with Lilith before opening it.

Standing in the doorway was a tall, broad-shouldered man with a shaved head and a cheerful grin. He was dressed in simple clothing—a loose shirt and trousers—but something about him immediately drew their attention.

As he shifted his weight, a faint clinking sound could be heard, like metal tapping together.

"Evening," the man said in a deep, gravelly voice. "Name's Brass. I'm the innkeeper's assistant, waiter, and all-around help."

Adrian nodded, a bit taken aback by the man's sudden appearance. "Can we help you with something?"

Brass's grin widened. "Just checking if you folks need anything before you settle in. Kitchen's still open if you're hungry."

Adrian glanced at Lilith, who shrugged. "We could use something to eat," he replied.

"Great!" Brass said, his enthusiasm almost infectious. "Let's head down to the common room, and I'll bring out something special for you."

As Adrian and Lilith followed Brass down the narrow hallway, the faint clinking sound continued with each step he took. The noise was subtle but persistent, like small metal objects tapping against each other.

Adrian exchanged a curious glance with Lilith, who raised an eyebrow in silent question.

They both heard it, but neither said anything, choosing instead to wait and see if the source of the sound would reveal itself.

Brass led them back to the common room, where the fire in the hearth crackled warmly. He motioned to a small table near the fire, and Adrian and Lilith took their seats.

As Brass moved around the room, fetching plates and utensils, the clinking sound followed him, barely audible over the soft murmur of the other patrons.

Lilith's eyes followed Brass, her gaze scrutinizing every movement he made.

She watched as he bent down to retrieve a bottle of wine from behind the counter, noting how the sound seemed to accompany his every move.

Her eyes drifted to his boots, then to his hands, searching for any visible source of the noise, but she found nothing out of the ordinary.

Adrian leaned in closer to Lilith, his voice low. "You hear it too, right?"

Lilith nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Yeah, it's like… something metal, but I can't figure out what it is. It's not his boots, and it's not his hands either. What do you think it could be?"

Adrian shook his head slightly. "No idea. Maybe he's carrying something in his pockets?"

"Maybe," Lilith mused, though she seemed unconvinced. "I should probably…

Adrian, sensing where this was going, quickly shook his head. "Lilith, don't. It's probably something personal. Just let it go."

But Lilith was never one to back down from a mystery, especially one that intrigued her so much.

She grinned mischievously at Adrian, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Come on, Adrian. Aren't you the least bit curious?"

"I am… but…" his voice trailed off as he also struggled with the desire to know what it was. Maybe he's a pirate or something, carrying a lot of coins.

But then coins sound lighter than Brass' signatory sound.

Lilith's gaze remained fixed on Brass as he moved through the room easily, serving other patrons and tending to the fire. The clinking sound accompanied him, adding an odd rhythm to his movements.

As Brass approached their table with two steaming plates of food, the clinking became more pronounced. Lilith's eyes narrowed slightly, her curiosity piqued. "Thanks," she said as he set the plates before them.

Brass grinned widely, the clinking sound briefly intensifying as he shifted his weight from one foot to another. "No problem," he replied, his deep voice conveying satisfaction. "Hope you enjoy the meal."

And so, he turned to leave.

With one last defiant smile at Adrian, Lilith turned back to Brass, who was busy serving another table and raised her voice just enough to catch his attention. "Hey, Brass!"

Adrian leaned in closer to Lilith, his voice low. "Don't ask," he whispered, sensing her growing curiosity.

Lilith shot him a mischievous grin, her eyes sparkling with intrigue. "Oh, but I have to," she replied, her tone light and teasing. "A mystery like this? I can't resist."

Brass turned, his ever-present grin still in place. "Yes, miss? Need something else?" he asked as he approached them.

Lilith batted her eyelashes playfully, her hand reaching to touch him slightly. "Well, yes dear," she began, leaning forward slightly, "There's something… intriguing about you."

Adrian sighed, rubbing his temples, clearly embarrassed by Lilith's directness. "Lilith…" he began, trying to dissuade her, but she was already too invested.

Brass raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. "Oh? And what might that be, miss?"

Lilith leaned forward, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she playfully asked, "So, Brass… I couldn't help but notice that you've got quite the look—bald head, tattoos, and that distinctive clinking sound. Makes one wonder, are you a pirate? You know, carrying around all those coins, ready to sail off to the next adventure?"

Brass chuckled, his deep, gravelly laugh filling the room. "A pirate? Now, that's a first," he said, his grin widening as he shook his head. "But no, miss, I'm no pirate. Though I admit, I do enjoy the sea—who doesn't? As for the sound you hear… well, that, my lady, is a little secret of mine."

Adrian and Lilith exchanged puzzled looks. "A secret?" Adrian asked, his curiosity growing.

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