"Open it," Pride commanded, a cold edge lacing her voice as she jerked her chin towards the cell.
Unlike ordinary cells, this one lacked a lock. The wall itself seemed to serve as the barrier, devoid of any keyhole or unlocking mechanism. Her spell fizzled uselessly against it. Left with no other choice, Pride tried to break through the reinforced wall, a move that wouldn't go unnoticed by the enigmatic man who had just arrived.
The man flashed a disarming smile, a hint of something deeper flickering in his eyes. He rubbed his chin in mock contemplation. "Hmm, let me think..." A beat of silence stretched, then a playful smirk replaced his feigned seriousness. "Nah, I'm afraid not." With a confident swagger, he sauntered towards Pride, the lingering scent of another woman clinging to him. Pride's frown deepened as she instinctively took a step back.
