The silence that followed Strax's reply wasn't immediately broken, but it also didn't last long enough to become uncomfortable. It was a functional pause, where everyone had already understood the central point of the conversation and there was no need to reinforce it with more words. The atmosphere in the room remained stable, without excessive tension, but with a latent attentiveness that didn't completely disappear. Each of them seemed comfortable in their own space, but still aware of everything around them.
It was in this context that a new knock sounded on the door.
This time, there was no hesitation or surprise. The sound was firm, controlled, three knocks with precise intervals, different from the previous ones, which in itself already indicated that it wasn't a casual visit. Strax looked up immediately, and Scarlett tilted her head slightly, as if she had already identified the difference even before he reacted.
