While Elowyn worked her magic on the innkeeper and her helper, Kaito kept a watchful eye on the man, noting the mix of surprise and suspicion that flickered in his eyes before he tried to hide in behind his book.
With a quick glance at Elowyn, he took note of the exhaustion that etched her face. Using her powers must have taken a toll on her, and so, without a second thought, he decided to take matters into his own hands. The jury was out, after all.
As the innkeeper and her helper began to retreat, Kaito approached the man with a charming smile, but the tension in the room was palpable. "Looks like you've stumbled upon a bit of magic today," he remarked casually, trying to break the ice.
The man regarded Kaito with narrowed eyes, his expression guarded. "Magic, huh? Seems like more trouble than it's worth," he replied, his voice laced with skepticism.
Kaito's smile faltered slightly at the man's response, but he maintained his composure. "Oh, I don't know," he countered, his tone light but with a hint of challenge. He exhaled and let himself resume his normal appearance. "Magic has its perks. Like making a grand entrance, for instance."
The man's gaze shook before it became steady, his suspicion apparent. "I'm not one for tricks," he stated firmly, his tone leaving little room for argument. "You must be in some trouble to put on such an act just to stay at an inn."
Kaito chuckled, trying to maintain his casual demeanor despite the man's probing. "Trouble? Nah, just a bit of fun, you know?" he replied with a shrug, hoping to brush off the man's suspicions. "Life's too short to take everything so seriously."
The man's expression remained guarded, his eyes narrowing as he studied Kaito. "Fun, huh?" he mused, his tone skeptical. "Seems like a lot of effort for a bit of fun." He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Or maybe there's more to it than that. Maybe you're running from something—or someone."
Kaito's smile faltered slightly at the man's insinuation, but he maintained his composure. "You've got quite the imagination," he remarked lightly, trying to deflect the man's suspicions. "But we're just passing through, looking for a bit of adventure, you know?"
The man's gaze hardened, his suspicion intensifying. "Adventure, huh?" he repeated, his tone skeptical. "Well, I'm sure a couple of travelers like yourselves could use a helping hand. For the right price."