Ersi and the Books
Silence filled the second floor of Wolf Lodge. The noise of the city filtered in only faintly through the open window, while Ersi sat cross‑legged in her newly assigned room, a thick history book resting on her lap.
The title read:
"A Thousand Years of the Empire – Complete Historical Overview"
Ersi took a deep breath and flipped it open.
"Alright… let's see what happened in the last thousand years while I… well… wasn't around."
She began reading.
"In the year 243, the northern provinces of the Empire rebelled against—"
Ersi yawned.
She flipped a page.
"In the year 412, the trade routes—"
Ersi massaged her forehead.
Another page.
"In the year 678, the southern—"
"Oh my gooood, this is painfully boring!" she snapped the book shut. "Who writes stuff this dry? Where are the battles? The magic? The romance? The drama?"
She tossed the book onto the bed and pulled another one from the shelf.
Its title was far more promising:
"The Princess and the Swordmaster – A Tale of Forbidden Love"
Ersi's eyes lit up.
"Now this is more like it!"
She flipped it open and began reading aloud from the very first page:
"The Princess's lips trembled as the Swordmaster stepped closer, and—"
"Oooh, this is going to be good!" Ersi grinned, diving deeper into the story.
As she read, she became increasingly absorbed.
Sometimes she laughed, sometimes she gasped, sometimes she smacked the pillow beside her.
"What do you mean she won't confess?! Is this woman blind?
Ohhh, finally! A kiss! Yes! YES!
What do you mean they kidnapped the Princess?! What kind of nonsense is this?!"
Her enthusiasm echoed through the room.
Finally, she jumped to her feet.
"Noelle has to see this! This book is brilliant!"
She burst out of the room and practically flew down the stairs. She found Noelle in the kitchen, sorting vegetables for tomorrow's lunch.
"Noelle! NOELLE! Look at this! You have to read it!"
The half‑elf maid looked up, startled by Ersi's sudden entrance.
"What happened? Fire? Explosion? Did Fireburp—"
"No, no! It's a book! A romantic book! And it's just… just… PERFECT!"
Noelle blinked.
"A romantic book?"
"Yes! It's full of kisses, secret meetings, kidnappings, heroic rescues… and the chemistry between the Princess and the Swordmaster is so strong the paper might catch fire!"
Noelle's face slowly turned red.
"I… I also really love romantic books."
Ersi froze.
"Really?"
"Yes…" Noelle admitted shyly. "My favorite is Moonlight in the Rose Garden. I've read it at least ten times."
Ersi's eyes sparkled.
"I know that one! The part where the gardener boy confesses his love to the noble girl… that's absolutely beautiful!"
Noelle smiled.
"Yes… that's my favorite scene."
Ersi sat down next to her at the kitchen counter and pushed the book into Noelle's hands.
"Read this. Seriously, this is the best romantic book I've ever seen."
Noelle gently ran her fingers over the cover.
"Thank you, Ersi. I'm really glad you recommended it."
Ersi grinned.
"From now on, we're having a romantic book club. You and me. Every night. We'll discuss the kisses, the drama, the love confessions… every tiny detail!"
Noelle laughed — a rare, clear, bell‑like sound.
"I… I'd like that."
Ersi leaned back with satisfaction.
"See? Fire and water can be friends."
Noelle nodded.
"More than that… very good friends."
The two girls exchanged a smile, and from that moment on, their friendship truly deepened — not only as comrades‑in‑arms, but as two girls who shared the same love for romance, stories, and each other's company.
Late Afternoon at Wolf Lodge
The sun was already setting when Young Wolf returned to the front of Wolf Lodge. The city lights were slowly coming alive, and the air carried the salty breeze from the harbor mixed with the lingering scent of the market.
As he approached the inn, he noticed two familiar figures standing by the door:
Anita, arms crossed and eyebrows furrowed, and beside her Fireburp, calmly munching on a honey pastry.
Anita immediately stepped toward him.
"Young Wolf! This dragon girl… terrified everyone in the city!"
Her voice was both angry and exhausted. "Children screamed, adults ran away, the market almost exploded, and even the city guard confronted us!"
Fireburp blinked innocently.
"I just asked for an apple. Nicely."
Anita snorted.
"By saying: 'In exchange, I won't burn down your stand.'"
Andras slapped his forehead.
"Of course… I forgot."
He sighed. "In the Empire everyone knows what lizardfolk look like. I should've known they'd recognize Fireburp as a dragon."
Fireburp proudly straightened her back.
"See? I told you I'm famous!"
"You're not famous, you're scary," Anita muttered.
Andras waved a hand.
"Let's go inside. I hope at least the others didn't cause chaos."
He opened the inn's door.
And in that moment, the air froze.
Inside the Inn — Everyone Busy in Their Own Way
In the middle of the lounge, on the large couch, Andrea and Eris were sitting.
More precisely: they were kissing.
Deeply.
Very deeply.
Eris was already wearing her new black‑silver armor, which fit her perfectly and highlighted her feminine figure even more. Andrea's one hand rested on the armor's shoulder guard, the other on Eris's waist.
Fireburp shouted:
"Hey! Look, they're kissing!"
Andrea and Eris both jolted, then slowly pulled apart.
Eris's ears turned red.
Andrea simply adjusted her hair as if nothing unusual had happened.
"Hi," she said completely casually.
Andras massaged his forehead.
"We'll… talk about this. Later."
On the other side of the room, Noelle and Ersi were sitting at a small table with two steaming cups of coffee.
Both held romantic books in their hands, chatting with such enthusiasm as if they were discussing the most important topic in the world.
"And when the Swordmaster confesses that he fell in love with the Princess at first sight… it's just beautiful!" Noelle said, eyes sparkling.
"Right?!?" Ersi replied. "I almost set my pillow on fire at that part!"
Noelle laughed.
"I almost cried."
Andras blinked.
"You two… when did you become this close?"
Ersi proudly straightened her back.
"From now on, we have a romantic book club. Every evening. Girls only."
Fireburp perked up.
"Can I join?"
"No," Noelle and Ersi said at the same time.
Ironclaw — Forever Hungry
From the kitchen came a sluggish, sleepy groan.
Ironclaw dragged herself out, half‑asleep, messy, with the marks of a nap still under her eyes.
"Master…" she whimpered. "I'm hungry. Very. Very, very. I almost died. I haven't eaten in three hours."
Andras looked up at the sky.
"Ironclaw… you slept all day."
"Because of hunger," she replied with absolute conviction.
Noelle stood up.
"Alright, I'll get her something. If I don't feed her, she'll end up eating the furniture."
Ironclaw nodded.
"I would."
Andras took a deep breath and looked around the inn.
"Let's see.
– Andrea and Eris are kissing.
– Noelle and Ersi are having a romantic book club.
– Ironclaw is about to starve to death.
– Fireburp almost burned down the city.
– And I've been invited by the leaders of the four major merchant guilds."
"This day… is going to be long," he said quietly.
Fireburp stepped beside him.
"But at least dinner will be tasty!"
Andras laughed.
"That much I'm sure of."
Life at Wolf Lodge had officially begun.
Everyone Had Already Gathered in the Wolf Lodge Lounge
Everyone had already gathered in the Wolf Lodge lounge when Andras sat down on a chair. The afternoon light slowly shifted to orange, and the warm, homely atmosphere of the inn filled the room.
Andrea and Eris were still sitting next to each other on the couch — not kissing now, but suspiciously close.
Noelle and Ersi were discussing their romantic books, and Ironclaw sat in front of the kitchen door like a starving statue.
Andras cleared his throat.
"Listen. I have to go out tonight. I've been invited to the city bathhouse."
Eris lifted her head.
"To the bath? Now? Alone?"
"I'm not going to bathe." Andras sighed. "The heads of the four major merchant guilds will be there. And… my grandfather, Jack Goldfred."
The room fell silent.
Andrea stood up.
"Then you should take a bodyguard. This is a political meeting. Anything could happen there."
Anita crossed her arms and added with a half‑smile:
"You'd better guard the Hero's body at night, Andrea. You're better at that."
Andrea's eyes narrowed.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly what it sounded like."
The air began to grow tense, but Andras quickly stepped between them.
"That's enough."
He continued firmly but calmly:
"I have to go alone. The invitation said I must appear unarmed. This is a diplomatic meeting, not a battle."
Andrea still looked worried.
"But if something happens—"
"It won't." Andras smiled. "And besides…"
Ersi cut in, arms crossed, confident:
"A mage is never unarmed.
Your weapon is your body. Magic lives inside you. If trouble comes, you'll blow everything up anyway."
Andras laughed.
"That's… actually true."
But Ersi didn't stop.
"Anyway, listen! There's a scene just like this in The Princess and the Swordmaster! The Princess goes to a secret meeting, and—"
Andras raised his hand.
"Don't even start. A Princess never falls in love with a gardener boy. At most she uses him as her plaything."
Eris stared at him in shock.
"What do you mean she doesn't fall in love?! Of course she does! There's the—"
"No." Andras cut her off. "In reality, nobles don't work like that."
Noelle snapped her book shut indignantly.
"That was heartless, Young Wolf!"
"Realistic," Andras corrected.
Ersi turned away, pouting.
"You'll see you're wrong. Romance is everywhere."
"There definitely won't be any at the bathhouse," Andras muttered as he put on his cloak.
Ironclaw then shuffled over to him.
"Master… before you go… can I eat?"
"In a moment, Ironclaw."
"But I'm dying."
The wolf girl collapsed to the floor as if she truly were living her final moments.
Noelle sighed.
"Alright, I'll get her something."
Andras stepped to the door.
The group watched him — some worried, some curious, some sulking.
"Don't worry. It's just a meeting. I'll be back by morning."
Ersi called after him:
"And think about what you said about the Princess! Love does exist!"
Andras just waved a hand and stepped into the cool evening air.
The door of Wolf Lodge closed behind him.
He headed toward the bathhouse —
where the leaders of the four great merchant guilds,
and his grandfather,
were already waiting.