"Wait, there are others down here?" Blake's voice echoed softly, his astonishment palpable as he watched the retreating procession of about twenty men, led by the enigmatic figure who had conversed with Elena.
A torrent of questions inundated Blake's mind, swirling in a chaotic dance of curiosity and confusion.
How had these people remained hidden for so long, their presence concealed from prying eyes? Or perhaps, he reasoned, he had simply failed to notice their existence until now.
As he raised his gaze, a faint wisp of smoke caught his attention, emanating from the depths of the forest. It served as a silent beacon, guiding his thoughts towards the origins of the mysterious visitors.
"They walked such a great distance in numbers, only for one individual to speak with Elena and be dismissed like a common nuisance. How pitiful?" Blake remarked bitterly, his disdain at how Elena treated the strange man that came visiting evident in his tone.
