Noelle and Master Florian spent the entire day buried in the castle library, determined to devour as many magical tomes as possible. Floralys guided Carla and Christina through the city, joined by Amelia and Ritta. Marta accompanied them as well—along with Ironclaw, who made absolutely sure none of the sweets and delicacies Carla sampled went to waste.
David showed Jula and Andrea the Green Hawk Knights' headquarters and training grounds.
And Young Wolf set out to explore Greenwood with Anita and Fireburp at his side.
"So, where do we start?" Anita asked as they stepped through the gate into the sunlit streets.
"Honestly?" Andras replied. "The military district in the upper quarter doesn't interest me much. And I doubt the lower quarter has anything exciting. But the middle quarter… now that could be interesting. We'll check out the market, the craftsmen, see what the merchants are selling."
"Is there something specific you're looking for?"
"Wood‑carved trinkets, paintings, books. I want to buy souvenirs for everyone—something that will remind them of Greenwood."
Anita smiled, then glanced at Fireburp.
"And you, Fireburp?"
"I only care about the food stalls," the little dragon girl declared with absolute conviction.
Andras laughed.
"Then let's go. The market first."
And so the three adventurers set off together, walking through Greenwood's bustling streets to discover everything the city had to offer.
Treasures of Greenwood Market
Young Wolf's party wandered through the crowded, colorful bustle of the marketplace. The air was thick with the scent of spices and freshly baked bread, while the voices of merchants filled the square. At one stall, a trader displayed carved wooden goods: bowls, figurines, ornaments — each decorated with the motif of the Golden Stag.
Andras's eyes immediately caught on a particularly well‑crafted Golden Stag figurine.
"Hmm… this carved Golden Stag looks really well made," he remarked, lifting it carefully.
The merchant straightened with pride.
"You've got a good eye, boy. Greenwood's finest woodcarver sells exclusively through me."
Andras continued browsing, then pointed at another figure.
"There's even one of Floralys's earth golem."
"That's our most popular piece," the merchant nodded. "Anything depicting Lady Floralys sells out the moment it's finished."
"I see… shame," Andras sighed. "But this Golden Stag bowl is perfect. I'll buy it for Noelle — she can put her scones in it."
Then he picked up a small necklace.
"And this Golden Stag necklace… would you like it, Fireburp?"
The little dragon's eyes sparkled.
"A necklace of Aurelyndra? Awesome!"
"Though I'm not sure how long a wooden necklace will survive around a Fire Dragon's neck," Andras noted. "Take it off when you train."
"Yeah, and don't wear it into the forest either," Anita added.
"I know already! I'll take good care of it," Fireburp huffed — though her voice betrayed how happy she was.
Andras then pointed at a row of strange, tiny figurines.
"And what are these supposed to be?"
"Forest spirits," the merchant explained. "No one knows what they actually look like, so these are just imagined forms. Funny little things, aren't they?"
"They are. I'll take all of them," Andras decided.
The merchant's eyes lit up.
"Since you're buying so much, choose one more item for free."
Andras looked at Anita.
"Pick something for yourself."
"I get to choose?" Anita glanced around, then pointed at a sturdy beer mug decorated with a Golden Stag. "That one."
"Excellent choice," the merchant smiled. "May every drink you take from it bring you good health."
The three adventurers continued through the market, their bags full and their spirits even fuller.
Forgotten Names on Dusty Shelves
After exploring the market, Young Wolf's party stepped into a spacious shop packed with shelves, where books and paintings stood side by side. The air carried the scent of old parchment mixed with the aroma of freshly oiled wooden frames.
The shopkeeper greeted them with a broad smile.
"Welcome! How may I help you? If you're looking for stories about the Heroes, you've come to the right place. There's no other shop in the Kingdom with this many books about Greenwood's Hero, Robin."
Andras looked around, but his gaze didn't linger long on the volumes about Robin.
"I'm not particularly interested in Robin or Arthur," he said honestly. "But if you have any book that focuses specifically on Robin's teammate, Elisabeth, I'd be very interested."
The shopkeeper nodded appreciatively.
"I've read all the books about Robin myself, so I know exactly who Elisabeth was. The mage of the Hero's party a thousand years ago. She's mentioned in several volumes, and a few stories touch on her briefly… but I'm afraid I don't have any book dedicated solely to her."
Andras sighed, a hint of disappointment in his voice, then asked another question.
"Do you happen to know the name Istvan Blackguard?"
The shopkeeper furrowed his brow, trying to recall.
"Istvan… Istvan Blackguard… The name rings a bell, as if I've heard it somewhere. Let me think…"
He hurried to the shelves at once, searching through the volumes about the Heroes from five hundred years ago. Books thumped softly as he pulled them down one after another, while the party watched with growing curiosity, wondering whether some rare, forgotten tale might surface from the dust of history.
Art, Legends, and a Bargain
The shopkeeper finally pulled a thick, leather‑bound tome triumphantly from the depths of the shelf.
"Here it is. I knew I had a book about him," he said, placing it on the table. "The Three Legendary Blades. They were members of the Hero's Party from five hundred years ago. The Hero, Arthur Dragonknight, the Dragon Knight. Sakura Dry, the Sword Maiden. And here—Istvan Blackguard… a Dark Knight. Jet‑black armor, a soot‑black blade. This book tells their stories as they traveled across the continent. The author was a bard who journeyed with them and recorded everything. Of course, the manuscript had to be recopied many times over the centuries—old books rarely survive intact."
Andras flipped through the pages with interest.
"I'll take it. Now let's see what paintings you have."
The shopkeeper led them to the back of the store.
"What kind of paintings are you looking for?"
"Portraits of legendary female knights, or perhaps female mages."
The shopkeeper nodded.
"In that category, I only have paintings of Floralys Greenwood. This one is the most popular."
Andras examined the painting.
"Hmm… not bad, but there's too much clothing."
The shopkeeper smiled, as if he had been waiting for that exact comment.
"I see. A true connoisseur. I do have a painting I can't display openly, but it's quite sought after."
"A painting from under the counter?" Andras's eyes lit up. "Now that sounds interesting."
The shopkeeper produced a carefully wrapped canvas.
"This is a forbidden piece. Floralys Greenwood… embraced gently by nature itself."
Andras unwrapped the canvas slowly and nodded in appreciation.
"Well now… this is truly artistic. The painter removed every unnecessary piece of clothing to highlight Floralys's beauty. Shame it's a fake—elf women don't grow hair down there."
The shopkeeper laughed.
"I can see I'm dealing with a real expert. Lady Floralys would never allow herself to be painted unclothed. The face was copied from another portrait, and the body was modeled by a city girl. But I wouldn't call it a forgery. Imagination is part of art."
"True. It's a fine piece regardless. How much?"
"Originally thirty silver… but since you're a man of taste, I'll give it to you for twenty."