A week passed. Iron Hearth had transformed into a giant beehive—every corner of the city was buzzing with preparation for something unprecedented.
Blue banners bearing the Sudrath Wolf emblem fluttered from every lamppost. The markets were more crowded than usual. Merchants from across Northreach—and even some from beyond—filled the inns. They had come not just to trade, but to witness history in the making.
In the Town Square, workers erected a wooden stage large enough to accommodate the entire Sudrath family and the city lords. Around it, rows of wooden chairs were arranged—enough for thousands, though the vast majority of the people would be standing. The largest banner, ten meters wide, hung between two towers: "KINGDOM OF NORTHREACH — DAY OF BIRTH."
