[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.

Word had already spread that he was the one behind the free Healer’s House. Whatever mystery surrounded him, it was accompanied by a measure of respect, enough to keep judgment at bay.

"How’s the baby these days?" Kyren asked, his tone softer than before.

Elis smiled gently, lowering her gaze to her growing belly as her hand moved over it in a slow, absent caress.

"He’s been well... hasn’t troubled me much," she said. "Perhaps he knows his mother is helping those in need, so he’s being considerate."

"He?" Kyren raised a brow slightly.

Her smile lingered.

"It’s only a feeling," she replied. "But I can sense him more clearly now. He moves often—quite lively, in fact. So I thought... perhaps it’s a boy."

"You can already feel him?"

Elis nodded softly.

"Just faintly... like small flutters now and then," she said. "It isn’t constant, but enough for me to notice."

Kyren’s expression settled into calm.

"That’s good. It means the child is healthy."

A faint smile followed, but it did not quite reach his eyes.

"If Jessy were here, she could confirm it," he added. "Just as she did for mine."

His gaze then lowered.

For a brief moment, something heavier surfaced—an unspoken grief that persisted beneath his composed exterior.

The memory came and passed like a shadow, but its weight remained. His fingers curled slightly against his palm before he exhaled and let it go.

Then, as if brushing the thought aside, he spoke again.

"If you wish, I can look into it," he said. "There may be someone on this island who possesses a similar affinity to Jessy’s."

Elis shook her head gently.

"There’s no need," she replied. "We don’t have to rush such things. There are more important matters at hand... and we’ll be meeting Kiev eventually. Jessy will surely be with him."

Kyren gave a small nod.

His eyes then caught a faint glow at her side.

A small pouch, tied neatly at her waist, shimmered subtly with a soft light.

"What’s that?" he asked.

The princess consort glanced down and touched it lightly.

"Oh, this? It was given to me earlier," she said. "From the mother of the boy we treated, the one from our first day."

She smiled faintly at the memory.

"Joseph refused to accept anything from her, as he had already made it clear that the treatment was free. But she insisted... so she offered this instead. Since I assisted, she pressed it into my hands before leaving."

Kyren listened, his gaze resting on the small object.

"What’s inside?"

"It’s a simple incantation," Elis continued. "Nothing powerful, just a fragment of her magic. She said it carries wishes, meant for someone dear to the heart."

Her fingers grasped the pouch.

"She told me that while the magic itself is small, if the will of the bearer is strong enough... it will find its way."

Kyren regarded her quietly before speaking.

"The heart is the strongest magic there is, Elis. You would not need such a thing. You already possess what matters most."

Elis smiled, but did not remove her hand.

"I know," she said softly. "But I still wish to keep it."

Her gaze drifted outward, towards the distant streets where preparations for the festival continued.

"Perhaps I’ll use it tonight... during the lantern festival," she added. "Who knows... maybe something good will come of it."

Kyren watched her for a moment, then gave a faint, approving smile.

"As you wish."

His tone shifted slightly—firmer now.

"If you plan to go out later to watch the celebration, make sure you are not alone. Stay with the others."

His eyes scanned the busy surroundings.

"This place may seem safe, but the crowd will only grow. And not all who arrive will be Mederians."

He looked back at her.

"Remain cautious."

"Of course, Captain. I will. Armel, Athillia and Eli will accompany me. Don’t worry," she assured him.

"Make way, you filthy scum!"

A man’s shout suddenly tore through the air.

The disturbance came from the front of the compound, sharp enough to cut through the steady rhythm of voices and movement.

Heads turned at once.

A group of men had forced their way through the queue, shoving people aside without restraint as they advanced. The orderly queue broke, murmurs rising into protest.

"Watch where you’re going!"

"Hey! There’s a line here!"

A few tried to stand their ground, but the men paid no heed.

The one leading them, broad and imposing, cast a glance at his companions. At once, one of them lifted his hand.

A flame sparked into life, forming into a small fireball on his palm.

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Fear took hold almost instantly—those nearest recoiled, stepping back in haste. The protests died quickly, replaced by uneasy silence and stares.

Satisfied, the man at the front curled his lips into an arrogant smirk. The fireball faded away, having fulfilled its purpose—a clear display of power and a silent warning to those present.

The man, evidently the leader, stepped forward and raised his voice.

"Who runs this place?!"

At the registration table, the knights were already on their feet.

Luke and Noah surged forward, ready to confront the intruders, but Eric moved faster. He stepped ahead of them, cutting them off with a single raised hand.

"Hold it," he ordered.

From the building’s main entrance, Drystan, Eli, and Alex emerged, fully alert to the situation.

Inside, Athillia and Rafe had already seen the commotion, having watched from the window.

The Bargesian Princess turned, ready to head out, but the healer stopped her.

"Wait. Don’t go."

His voice was calm, but firm.

"Captain Ky anticipated this," he said. "Trouble was bound to follow, especially with what we’re doing here."

His gaze returned to the scene outside.

"It came sooner than expected... and we want this to happen. Let him handle it."

Athillia paused, then gave a small nod.

This had been part of the plan from the very beginning. Such disruption was expected. It would draw the authorities’ attention and force the matter to escalate.

If events unfolded as intended, it would not be long before intervention came... and with it, their main objective would be served.

Outside, Elis stiffened at the sudden unrest. Her eyes followed the crowd, unease etched across her face.

Kyren rose at once.

"Alex. Drystan," he called, his voice firm and commanding.

The two knights turned immediately.

"Escort Elis inside. Now."

They complied without hesitation, stepping forward to Elis. The princess consort, too, offered no protest either, allowing herself to be guided away. Within moments, the three disappeared into the building.

Kyren stepped out into the compound.

His boots struck the ground with measured weight as he approached the intruders.

"It’s me," he said, coming to a halt before them, his presence towering and unyielding. "What do you want?"

The leader gave him a slow once-over before letting out a scoff.

"So you’re the one behind this nonsense," he said, his tone laced with mockery. "Giving out free treatment... stirring up the whole city like some kind of saviour."

His lips curled.

"Do you even know what you’re doing?"

Kyren said nothing.

Taking the silence as defiance, the man continued.

"We’ve looked into you," he added, voice sharpening. "Blue Mantle Company, was it? Outsiders from the continent... showing up here, setting up operations overnight."

His gaze narrowed.

"Don’t pretend this is charity. People like you always have an agenda. No proper standing, no respect for the system, and yet you dare disrupt it?"

Murmurs stirred among the crowd.

"I don’t disrupt anything," Kyren replied curtly.

"Huh! Lies! You really believe you can act like that without any repercussions?" the man continued. "Ignoring the established rules, undermining legitimate practices, and attracting people away like this—"

The man gestured broadly towards the crowd.

"Return to your registered Healer Houses," he barked at them. "This place is nothing but a hoax. Don’t be fooled."

A few shifted uneasily, but none moved.

The grand duke’s gaze remained steady.

"Our operations are properly registered," he said calmly. "And our healer holds a valid permit."

The man’s expression briefly hardened, but only for a moment before his smirk returned.

"Oh?" he said. "Then where’s the certificate?"

Eric stepped forward, his tone measured but firm as he explained, "The Bureau of Healing Affairs has already processed our request. Under normal circumstances, we would await the formal issuance of the permit. However, given the additional fee paid, we were granted a temporary approval letter while the official documents are being prepared."

He met the man’s gaze without flinching.

"In terms of legality, our operations are valid."

The words only seemed to fuel the tension. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

The leader’s face adopted a mocking expression.

"Legal?" he scoffed. "You think a piece of paper excuses this act?"

His voice rose, sharp and threatening.

"If you don’t shut this place down, you’ll regret it. We, the Mederians, wield magic. We could crush you in seconds. Don’t come crying when that happens."

A murmur ran through the crowd. Clearly, this threat originated from those jealous of the opening of the free Healer’s House.

Kyren’s response came without hesitation.

"I’m not afraid," he replied. "Try me."

The provocation struck its mark.

The man’s composure cracked, anger flashing across his face.

It wasn’t just the defiance that gnawed at him, but the way Kyren stood there, unmoved, unshaken... as if none of them posed a threat at all.

Humiliation burned beneath his pride.

"How dare you!" he snapped.

Turning to his companion—the one who had conjured the fire earlier, he ordered, "Do it! Teach him a good lesson!"