Andras's Walk Toward the Bathhouse
The door of Wolf Lodge closed softly behind Andras. The late‑afternoon light had already turned orange, and the city was slowly shifting from daytime bustle to the pulse of evening life. A salty breeze drifted in from the harbor, and from the market came the scent of spices and roasted meat.
But Andras barely noticed any of it.
His thoughts were elsewhere.
Andrea and Eris… seriously?
"Andrea and Eris… together. Well, I've lived to see this too."
Andras sighed as he walked along the cobblestone street.
He had always feared that if the Hero turned out to be male, then Andrea — the Wolfwood House's best knight, its most loyal warrior — might… be tempted.
But that a female Hero, Eris Scarlett, would be the one to sweep Andrea off her feet?
"Of course. Why not. Fate has a twisted sense of humor."
He shook his head.
"At least they're happy. Or something like that. Just don't let them ruin the team dynamic."
Lost in the City
Lost in thought, he didn't even notice he had taken a wrong turn. The wide streets slowly narrowed, the houses drew closer together, and the light grew dimmer.
"This is not the way to the bathhouse…" he muttered.
At the next corner it became obvious:
he was lost.
"Great. Heir of the Wolfwood House, representative of the Kingdom, member of the Hero's party… and he gets lost in a damn city."
As he continued walking, he entered an alley. The air here stank of garbage and rotting food.
And then he heard it.
A child being kidnapped.
"Grab him, you idiot!"
"Don't let him run!"
"The boss pays good money for a kid like this!"
Andras stopped.
Deep in the alley, three men were wrestling with a boy of about ten. The child cried and struggled, but the bandits were stronger.
"Illegal slave traders. Just what I needed."
He had no weapon — the bathhouse invitation forbade it.
But magic?
That couldn't be taken from him.
Andras stepped forward.
"Hey! Let the kid go. Now."
The bandits turned toward him.
"Who the hell are you?"
"Get lost, kid, this isn't your business!"
A faint blue light appeared in Andras's right hand.
Lightning magic.
Energy crackled at his fingertips.
"I said, let him go."
The bandits laughed.
"What are you gonna do, tickle us?"
Andras stepped up to the first man and touched his shoulder.
The man's body jerked violently, then collapsed like a rag doll.
The other two stumbled back in shock.
"What the—"
Andras raised his left hand as well, and with two quick, precise motions he fired arcs of lightning that struck the bandits in the chest.
Both fell to the ground, unconscious.
The little boy looked up at him, trembling.
"Th‑thank you… sir…"
"Go home. Now. And don't ever come to a place like this again."
The boy nodded, but before he could run off, Andras felt it:
someone was watching him.
The Appearance of the Black Raven
At the end of the alley, in the shadows of the rooftops, a figure stood.
Black cloak, black mask, a slender, graceful build, and a long, thin dueling sword at her side.
The woman watched him without moving.
Andras turned toward her.
"Come out. Are you with the bandits?"
The woman silently leapt down from the roof with a light, catlike motion.
Her cloak barely fluttered.
"No. I was following them," she said quietly but firmly. "I wanted to find out where their hideout is."
Her voice was young.
Confident.
Assured.
Andras looked at her with his left eye.
The magical lens revealed instantly:
Name: Vanessa Dolermo
Age: 19
Gender: Female
Race: Human
Class: Dueling Rogue, the Black Raven
Element: Fire
"Aha. So she's the Dolermo girl. The heir of the Dolermo family. And she's the city's secret vigilante… the Black Raven."
But Andras didn't show that he recognized her.
"I'm leaving the kid to you," he said. "Take him home. You know the city better."
The woman nodded.
"And you?"
"I have a meeting. At the bathhouse."
The woman's eyes glinted for a moment behind the mask.
"At the bathhouse…?
With the leaders of the four guilds?"
Andras smiled.
"Exactly."
The woman's thoughts raced.
"The bathhouse… my father will be there. He's the head of the Dolermo Guild. And this man… the heir of the Wolfwood House."
But she said nothing.
"The bathhouse is in the direction of the harbor," she pointed toward a side street. "Fifteen minutes on foot."
"Thank you."
Andras started walking.
The woman called after him:
"Be careful. The city is dangerous right now."
Andras looked back.
"I'm always careful."
The Black Raven watched him disappear around the corner.
"Wolfwood… and a lightning mage. Interesting man."
Then she turned to the boy.
"Come, I'll take you home."
And the alley fell silent once more.
Andras Arrives at the Bathhouse
The city's evening lights slowly came alive as Andras, following the Black Raven's directions, finally found the street leading to the bathhouse. The air carried a warm, mineral scent — the signature aroma of the city's famous healing waters.
The bathhouse building was impressive even from afar: white marble walls, gilded columns, and above the entrance a stone carving decorated with the Empire's crest. Two guards stood at the gate, wearing ceremonial armor and holding spears.
When Andras approached, the guards crossed their spears.
"Stop. Weapon check."
Andras nodded and raised his hands.
The guards patted down his clothes, boots, and cloak with practiced motions.
"Unarmed. You may enter."
Andras smiled to himself.
"If they knew how many weapons are in my ring…"
He stepped into the entrance hall, where a young attendant greeted him.
"Young Wolf, sir? The guests are already waiting. Please proceed to the changing room."
The Changing Room — The Secret of the Magic Ring
The changing room was dimly lit, with bronze mirrors on the walls and soft towels laid out on the benches. Andras removed his cloak, then his upper clothes. When his eyes fell on his ring, he smiled.
The ring was made of simple black metal, nothing remarkable at first glance.
But he knew:
This was his magical storage.
And it was filled with:
– short swords,
– daggers,
– smoke bombs,
– magical focus items,
– and several "gamer‑logic" self‑made tools.
"I must appear unarmed… sure. They won't take the ring anyway. No one would imagine that a tiny trinket like this holds an entire arsenal."
He put on the white robe provided by the bathhouse and headed toward the steamy corridor.
The Bathhouse — One of the Empire's Wonders
As he stepped into the main bath chamber, even he was surprised by the sight.
The room was enormous, with a domed ceiling decorated with painted frescoes: dragons, heroes, battles, the history of the Empire. In the center of the dome, a circular opening let in moonlight, which shimmered silver on the surface of the water.
The pool itself was a natural hot spring:
– the water gently steamed,
– a mineral scent filled the air,
– tiny glowing bubbles rose to the surface,
– carved lion heads along the stone edge poured fresh hot water into the pool.
Along the walls, smaller pools were arranged, each with different temperatures.
The floor was covered in white and black marble mosaic depicting the map of the Empire.
Four Figures Sat in the Steam
Four figures sat at the edge of the main pool.
The leaders of the four great merchant guilds.
And among them — at the farthest seat — sat Jack Goldfred, Andras's grandfather.
The man's eyes gleamed when he saw his grandson.
"Young Wolf. You've finally arrived."
Andras walked over slowly and bowed.
"Gentlemen. Thank you for the invitation."
A tense diplomatic silence vibrated in the air.
The steam drifted lazily around them.
The meeting had begun.
And no one suspected that within minutes, blood would be spilled.
The Bathhouse Political Council
Steam curled slowly above the hot spring as Andras stepped toward the main pool. The heads of the four great merchant guilds were already sitting in the water, arranged in a half‑circle like an imperial council meeting — only with bare upper bodies, soaking in healing water.
Yet the atmosphere was tense.
The water was warm, but the politics were cold.
Jack Goldfred, Andras's grandfather, the oldest and most respected among them, gestured to him.
"Come, Young Wolf. Take a seat."
Andras stepped into the water. The spring was pleasantly warm, its mineral scent sharp in the air. Tiny bubbles rose to the surface as if the earth itself were breathing.
The other three guild leaders also looked him over:
The head of the Dolermo family, an elegant, clean‑shaven man — Vanessa's father.
The head of the Fernandez family, a broad‑shouldered merchant with a deep voice.
The head of the Williamsky family, a cold‑eyed, calculating man whose every word hid a business interest.
The Conversation Begins
Jack Goldfred spoke first.
"The Empire and the Kingdom have been at war for a long time. Too long. Now there is finally peace… but it is fragile."
The head of the Dolermo family nodded.
"The appearance of the Demon King changed everything. The Empire and the Kingdom have no choice. If we don't unite, the demons will sweep away both."
The head of the Fernandez family slapped the water.
"Our city is a trade center! If the demons reach us, everything is finished. The harbor, the market, the guilds… all destroyed."
The head of the Williamsky family spoke quietly but sharply:
"And the Hero is here. In the city. This is both a blessing and a curse. Wherever the Hero appears, the demons follow."
Andras felt every gaze turn toward him.
Jack Goldfred continued with a proud smile:
"My grandson, Young Wolf, is not only the heir of the Wolfwood House, but also the representative of the Kingdom. And…" — he looked at him with pride — "a magical prodigy. Two elements. Lightning and water. A rare talent."
The head of the Dolermo family nodded approvingly.
"Two elements… no wonder you were placed in the Hero's party."
The head of the Williamsky family added with a half‑smile:
"Master Goldfred has always been good at playing the game. He married his daughter into the Wolfwood House… and now his grandson is one of the Kingdom's most important mages. A clever move."
Andras felt his stomach tighten.
But his grandfather only laughed.
"Politics is a chessboard, gentlemen. Those who don't move in time get taken."
The head of the Fernandez family looked at the water.
"An alliance with the Kingdom opens new trade routes. If we push back the demons, commerce between the two nations could flourish."
The head of the Dolermo family added:
"And cooperation between the Wolfwood House and the Goldfred Guild… well, to put it mildly, holds enormous potential."
Andras tried to answer diplomatically.
"The Kingdom is also invested in peace. The war against the demons consumes all strength. If the Empire and the Kingdom work together, we have a chance."
The head of the Williamsky family quietly remarked:
"And the Hero? What does she think?"
Andras smiled.
"The Hero is currently exploring the Empire, searching for new potential members for the Hero's Party. Despite being a woman, she managed to seduce my best female knight. But when it comes to battle… you can count on her."
The four guild leaders burst into laughter.
The tension seemed to ease.
But only for a moment.
The Calm Before the Storm
Steam drifted slowly above the water.
The weight of the conversation hung in the air.
Peace.
War.
Demons.
The Hero.
Trade.
Politics.
And Andras felt…
something was wrong.
The future‑sight crystal in his right eye began to vibrate faintly.
A shadow…
a movement…
a knife…
a deadly strike…
For a brief moment, the future revealed itself.
And Andras knew:
someone was going to die.
The chameleon‑beast assassin was already on its way.