Perched invisibly on her shoulder, Luna, her small dragon companion, shifted slightly, her presence a comforting weight. Layla reached up to tap gently on the space where Luna rested.

"Luna," she said softly, her voice carrying a note of urgency. "This one's for you."

The dragon gave a low growl of acknowledgment, a sound that reverberated faintly despite her invisibility. Luna leaped gracefully from Layla's shoulder, her form shimmering into visibility as she landed before the magical seal. Though diminutive in size, Luna's presence seemed to fill the corridor, her scales catching the faint light with a subtle iridescence.

The seal responded to Luna's approach, its runes flaring brighter as if in warning. The small dragon tilted her head, studying the barrier with an intelligence that belied her primal appearance. Then, with a deep inhale, she unleashed a concentrated blast of energy from her mouth, a searing beam of raw magic that collided with the barrier.

The air crackled with power as the seal resisted, its runes twisting and writhing under Luna's assault. For a moment, it seemed as if the barrier might hold, but the dragon's relentless energy proved too much. With a final burst of light, the seal shattered, its remnants fading into the air like dissipating smoke.

Layla stepped forward, placing a hand on Luna's head. "Good work," she murmured, her tone carrying genuine gratitude. Luna gave a soft growl in response, her tail flicking before she leaped back onto Layla's shoulder, resuming her invisible guise.

The way clear, Layla continued her escape, her pace quick but controlled. She could already hear the distant commotion of reinforcements being called, but with the last barrier down, she was nearly free. She moved toward the faint glow of moonlight filtering through a distant window, her focus unyielding.

Behind her, the shouts of guards grew louder, but she didn't look back. Freedom was close, and Layla had no intention of being captured again.

______

The distant echoes of alarms and muffled shouting reached Mary and Raziel as they sat in the quiet tavern where they had decided to wait. Raziel's head snapped toward the sound, his sharp ears catching the unmistakable rumble of collapsing stone and the panicked clamor of guards.

"That's her," Raziel said, his voice low but urgent. He shot to his feet, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword. "She's making her move."

Mary rose more calmly, brushing off her dress as if she had expected this all along. "She always did have a flair for dramatic exits," she murmured, her tone amused but her eyes steely with resolve. "Let's not leave her to handle everything alone."

Raziel was already halfway to the door, his body tense with anticipation. "Finally," he muttered under his breath. "I've been itching to take action."

The pair slipped out of the tavern and into the shadowed streets, their movements swift and purposeful. Despite the late hour, the city was alive with activity as guards scrambled to respond to the chaos at the prison. Mary and Raziel kept to the alleys, their steps silent as they closed in on the source of the commotion.

______

As they approached the prison's outer perimeter, they encountered the first of the responding guards—a group of three hastily organized and visibly on edge. They didn't notice Mary and Raziel until it was too late.

Raziel struck first, his blade flashing in the dim light as he disarmed the nearest guard with a single, fluid motion. The man crumpled to the ground, unconscious before he could even cry out.

Mary moved with equal precision, her dagger slicing through the air to disable another guard. Her movements were almost elegant, each step deliberate as she avoided unnecessary force while ensuring her targets wouldn't rise anytime soon.

The third guard turned to flee, shouting for reinforcements, but Raziel caught him with a swift strike to the back of the head, sending him sprawling. He sheathed his blade and glanced at Mary. "No alarms raised yet. We're good."

"For now," Mary replied, wiping her blade clean. "But we need to move quickly. The longer this drags on, the more attention we'll attract."

They pressed on, navigating the labyrinthine streets that led to the prison. Along the way, more guards appeared, either patrolling or rushing toward the source of the disturbance. Each time, Mary and Raziel dispatched them with practiced ease, their coordination seamless. It was clear they had worked together many times before.

At one point, a group of four guards emerged from a side street, their torches casting flickering light across the cobblestones. Mary gestured for Raziel to wait, then stepped into the open, her posture relaxed.

"Help! There's an intruder!" she called out, her voice carrying a note of panic.

The guards froze, startled by her sudden appearance. Before they could react, Raziel descended on them from the shadows, his strikes swift and silent. Mary joined him in the fray, her movements fluid as she incapacitated the remaining guards with precise blows.

As the last guard fell, Raziel shook his head, a hint of a smirk on his face. "You enjoy this too much."

Mary shrugged, a faint smile playing on her lips. "It's not my fault they're predictable."

The closer they got to the prison, the more chaotic the scene became. The noise of Layla's escape was louder now—shouts of guards, the clang of metal, and the occasional rumble of collapsing stone. Raziel's grip on his sword tightened as his eyes scanned their surroundings, ever vigilant for potential threats.

Finally, they reached the outer walls of the prison. The heavy iron gate that normally barred entry had been left ajar in the chaos, and the few guards stationed there were too distracted by the commotion inside to notice Mary and Raziel approaching.

Raziel took out the first guard with a swift, calculated strike to the back of the neck, while Mary slipped behind another and covered his mouth before he could shout, her dagger pressed lightly against his throat.

"Sleep tight," she whispered before rendering him unconscious.

With the outer gate clear, they slipped inside, their focus narrowing on one goal: finding Layla and getting her out safely. The sound of her escape was louder now, and they knew they were close.

"She's not making this subtle," Raziel muttered, his tone a mix of exasperation and admiration.

Mary gave a small laugh. "Would you expect anything less from her?"

"No," Raziel admitted, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Let's just make sure she gets out in one piece."

They pushed forward, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.