Julo wandered aimlessly through the city towards its edge. He wasn't sure what to do next, but he wasn't too concerned with the lack of direction. He still tried to wrap his head around what had happened at Wood's. There was something about that place that didn't sit well with him. Too many weird events? Perhaps, but not quite. It was all the unexpected twists and turns that gave the place a feeling of unease to him. He had to anticipate quickly too many times in a single day as it were already, and he wasn't looking to be on high alert when he was relaxing as well. He just wanted to have a stiff drink, a warm, nutritious meal, and, if possible, a good conversation. He looked around. He had reached the huge forest that hugged the city's outskirts. He had been here several times but had never taken the time to take in the surroundings. The majority of the trees in the forest were old oaks and huge beeches, creating a somewhat mystical atmosphere as if he walked in an enchanted forest. The dim, warm light reflected on the fallen leaves that covered the forest floor. It was quite soothing.
As he stood there, enjoying the beauty around him, Julo's senses were triggered by a soft, pleasant nose. It was the sound of someone singing. Though muffled, it didn't seem to come from very far. It sounded like it came from inside a building of some sorts, which would explain the muffling. Smiling at the thought of the mythical sirens, he tried to locate the source of the singing. His eyes fell on a small path that seemed to lead into the forest. He frowned, amazed that he had never seen it before, despite having walked here countless times in the past.
Without hesitation, Julo took the alluring looking path, curious to find out where it would lead him. The deeper he got into the forest, the more dim the light became. The sound of singing, subsequently growing in volume, suddenly became a lot louder for a second and then quickly faded back to its previous level. It took him a few seconds to realize that someone had probably opened and closed a door behind which the singer would be. The leaf-covered, grassy path took a left turn around a particularly huge beech, revealing a huge green wall of dense shrubbery. The vague reflection of dim lights shone through the sparse small holes in the foliage. It looked like there was a building behind that thick, green wall, and chances were that was where the singing came from.
A bit cautious towards the unknown, Julo proceeded. He rounded the foliage and came to a clearing in the middle of which an old, wooden building towered. It was at least three stories high and had the likes of an old tavern or perhaps a hotel. In either case, it seemed friendly enough. He approached the entrance, an old, worn double door built on a porch. A sign swung on the rhythm of the soft gusts of wind that gently touched the forest. He read the sign. It read Red Dragon Inn. He sighed in relief. An inn, just what he needed. He felt quite worn and desperately in need of something warm to eat and a good drink. He grabbed the metal handle, pushed it down, and swung the door open. He ducked instinctively as he entered the inn, well aware of previous painful encounters with doorframes. Those ancient doorframes simply hadn't been built with his tall frame in mind.
Julo found himself in a warm, open room with a bar, several tables, chairs and booths, and a stage. The bar was occupied by a man with a hulking stature, probably the bartender. He also noticed a silhouette covered in dragon skin clothing walking towards the bar and a blue-skinned female with a sweeping devil's tail frolicking around the tables. Judging by the lute in her hands, the female seemed to be the one that had sung earlier. The other character held a sword in a resting position.
Julo took off his Stetson and shrugged. It was all good, as long as he could have a meal and a drink. He awaited his turn and then asked the man behind the bar if there was any chance on ordering a single malt and whatever warm meal was available.