Arrival in Ferenz — The Merchant City
Their arrival in Ferenz already felt like the opening of a new chapter in their story. Two weeks on horseback had not only been long, but exhausting as well: over hills and through forests, along dusty roads, in rain and in sunshine—but at last, one of the Empire's most important merchant cities opened its gates before them.
Arrival in the Merchant City
After two weeks of riding, the massive stone walls of Ferenz finally came into view. The walls rose so high that their tops vanished into the afternoon light, and three great gates led into the city. They approached the southern gate, where merchants, travelers, and wagons were already lined up in a long queue—but the Wolfwood party did not have to wait. The gate guard had already been informed of their arrival.
One of the city watch stepped forward, saluted, and silently motioned for them to follow. Only a few corners away from the gate stood an inn—simple from the outside, but freshly renovated, with a new tiled roof and a newly painted signboard.
The entrance was locked, but before anyone could ask a question, a young woman hurried over to them. She wore the emblem of the Goldfred Merchant Guild on her chest. She handed Andras a document and a bundle of keys.
Young Wolf broke the seal and unfolded the parchment. His eyes widened.
The inn—the entire inn—was registered in his name.
As it turned out, his grandfather, Jack Goldfred, had purchased the building, had it completely renovated, and gifted it to him. A headquarters. A home in the city, where the Wolfwood party could stay comfortably during the Gladiator Tournament—or whenever their travels brought them back this way.
For a moment, no one said anything.
Ironclaw's tail started wagging so hard she nearly knocked over a barrel.
Fireburp let out a low whistle.
Noelle covered her mouth in surprise.
Andrea and Anita exchanged a brief, impressed look.
Eris blinked a few times, trying to process the idea that someone could casually gift an entire inn.
Ersebeth—still getting used to her new existence—grinned.
"Now this I like," she muttered under her breath.
Andras slowly lowered the parchment, looking up at the building again.
They had arrived in the Empire.
And now, they had a home here as well.
The inside of the inn was spotless.
On the ground floor, a spacious hall awaited them: tables, chairs, a bar counter — its shelves still empty — and a small stage for musicians. In the back stood the kitchen, and in the courtyard the outhouse.
The first floor held a row of single rooms, enough for each of them to have their own.
The second floor was a single elegant guest suite with a long terrace wrapping around the entire level.
The inn even had its own stable, so the group first led the horses inside, then carried their belongings up to their chosen rooms.
Despite their exhaustion, excitement flickered in everyone's eyes.
This place was theirs now.
Once they finished unpacking, they gathered downstairs around a large table.
The inn was empty, and the pantry completely bare — so their first task was obvious.
Naturally, Noelle became the one in charge of food.
The whole group headed to the marketplace together, buying fresh vegetables, meat, bread, spices, and every ingredient they would need. Loaded with bags and baskets, they returned to the inn, where Noelle immediately began preparing lunch.
While she cooked, the others sat around the table, discussing their plans for the coming months.
They would spend at least two — perhaps even three — months in Ferenz City.
The Gladiator Tournament, merchant connections, city life, and the political atmosphere of the Empire all lay ahead of them.
Ironclaw was already imagining the food.
Fireburp was bouncing with excitement.
Eris tried to act composed but kept glancing around the inn like she couldn't believe it existed.
Andrea and Anita were already planning patrol routes and training schedules.
Ersebeth (or rather, Ersi) lounged in her chair with the smug confidence of someone who had been alive for a thousand years — despite being in a ten‑year‑old body.
Noelle hummed softly in the kitchen, the scent of fresh herbs filling the air.
The Wolfwood party had found a new home in the heart of the Empire.
And their story had just taken a new turn.
Sitting around the large table on the ground floor, they continued planning. The silence of the freshly cleaned but still empty inn surrounded them, while Noelle was already busy in the kitchen with the newly purchased ingredients.
Andras leaned on the table and looked around at the group.
"While we're living here, Noelle will handle the food, but it would be good to hire a cook as well. She could train her, and then we could leave the kitchen in her care when we leave the city."
Ersi raised an eyebrow.
"You want the inn to sustain itself?"
"We're talking about an inn." Andras shrugged. "If we leave it empty for years, that would be a waste. Better to let it make money and have life around it."
Andrea nodded.
"But for that, we'll need reliable people."
"Yeah, one cook won't be enough," Anita added. "We'll need an innkeeper, a bartender, waitress girls… and at least two bouncers. Or rather, guards to watch over the place."
Fireburp perked up enthusiastically.
"If you need guards, the best choice is a dragon!"
Andras laughed.
"Sure, the Empire is crawling with dragons. I doubt this city has ever even seen one, let alone hired one as a guard."
Ironclaw thumped her chest.
"For guards, wolves are the obvious choice."
"Yeah, I'll take a look at the Goldfred Merchant Guild's slave market," Andras said. "We'll definitely find suitable combat slaves for the job."
Eris blinked in confusion.
"So that's why you wanted to buy slaves?"
"What did you think?" Andras asked.
"Andrea told me they were needed for… other activities," Eris admitted, blushing to the ears.
Andrea shrugged with an innocent expression.
"I only said that a female combat slave is capable of many things."
Anita looked at her suspiciously.
"I suppose you demonstrated these 'other activities' to Eris, considering you two disappear for hours almost every night."
Andrea's eyes flashed, but her voice remained calm.
"I'm only teaching her what female knights are capable of."
After that sentence, a silence fell over the table — the kind of silence in which everyone knew this topic would return later.
The planning continued around the large, empty inn table. The freshly renovated building was still empty, but the promise of the future could already be felt within its walls.
Ersi leaned back and remarked:
"Back in the day, Robin also always slipped away with the Princess."
Andras pretended not to hear that and instead threw in a new topic:
"So… what should the inn's name be?"
Fireburp immediately raised her hand.
"Dragon's Nest!"
Ironclaw shot back at once:
"Wolf Den!"
Anita adjusted her hair.
"The Hero's Favorite Inn."
Ersi added with a grin:
"The place where naughty things happen every night."
Andrea slammed her hand on the table.
"This will be a respectable inn, not a brothel."
Eris, slightly embarrassed but firm, spoke up:
"This is the Wolfwood House headquarters. I think it should have a wolf‑themed name."
Andras nodded.
"Hmm… let's call it Wolf Lodge."
"Cool!" Anita said.
"I agree, it can stay," Ersi added.
Andras stood up.
"Alright. Then I'll go to the Goldfred Merchant Guild building and announce what positions we're hiring for."
Anita looked at him questioningly.
"What should we do in the meantime?"
"Everyone gets free time. Explore the city, but never go alone. Always go in pairs at least."
Then he pointed at Eris:
"And you, take off that golden hero‑crest armor. It's too conspicuous."
"But I don't have any other armor," Eris protested.
"Then buy one. The Princess gave you spending money."
Andrea stood up.
"I'll go with you and we'll pick something."
The Group Splits Up
After Noelle finished preparing lunch, everyone took advantage of their free time.
Andrea and Eris set out to buy new armor. Eris left her hero armor in her room and went into the city in simple clothes so they wouldn't draw attention.
Anita and Fireburp went adventuring together. Since Anita was an ice user, it was her job to restrain the dragon girl's flames if she accidentally started burning things.
Ironclaw lay down on one of the beds, full and satisfied, and immediately fell asleep for her post‑lunch nap.
Noelle stayed behind to watch over the inn, tidy the kitchen, and begin organizing the food supplies.
Ersi went up to her room, took out a thick book, and began reading. A thousand years of history awaited her to catch up on.
And Andras — Young Wolf — set out alone to visit the Goldfred Merchant Guild, the empire of his own family, which was now receiving him for the first time on official business.
The first day of Wolf Lodge had begun.