[A few moments earlier…]
Kyren guided Elis to the long bench along the veranda and helped her sit before taking his place beside her.
From there, the compound was clearly visible.
The long queue stretched across the lane, its line barely thinning as more people continued to arrive.
Some shifted in place, others spoke in hushed tones, but every so often, a few would steal glances toward the pair seated at the side.
Not far from them, Eric, Noah, and Luke were occupied at the registration table, handling the steady stream of patients without pause.
The murmurs never ceased. Though curious, none dared approach.
To them, the captain of the Blue Mantle Company remained an enigma. He rarely spoke to outsiders, and when he did, it was only to issue calm, precise orders to his men. There was a quiet authority about him that did not need to be displayed loudly to be felt.
Even so, he was not met with disdain.
