From the castle's eastern slope, a short path led down to the main east-west road through White Wolf City. Passing the statue of the White Wolf and heading east brought you to the city's eastern gate.
Two guards escorted Wendy toward the eastern gate, explaining as they walked, "Mage Wendy, the man leading the group said he knows you and Lord Landen."
"Gandalf?" Before the guard could finish, Wendy spotted the familiar old man outside the gate. "Is that you?"
"Ah, Wendy, is that you?" The white-robed mage rode a white horse, waving his staff as he spoke with a kindly smile. "I can't believe you've grown so tall in just a few days!"
Wendy urged her Black-Scaled Horse forward and quickly reached the gate. "Gandalf, are you back? That's wonderful!"
The girl noticed several other white-robed mages beside Gandalf, and a few people climbing down from the carriages nearby. She asked curiously, "Are they... your friends?"
The old mage nodded. "Yes. These people were ostracized in the Empire and want to come to the Gallop Plains. They're all Fire School mages and priests. I thought Landen might be able to use their help."
"Okay, all right, come with me! There's a ball at the castle, and there's plenty to eat!" Wendy paid no mind to the white-robed mages' wary, suspicious looks. Leading Gandalf along, she headed for South Slope Castle.
When they reached the foot of the castle hill, they saw Landen and Lily already coming out to meet them.
"Look who's here!" Landen was overjoyed to see his old friend. "I never thought we'd meet again!"
"Oh, Landen, it's good to see you." Gandalf dismounted and embraced him. "It seems you've grown even faster than Wendy and the others!"
After embracing Gandalf, Lily hurriedly asked, "Teacher Gandalf, how