The five figures stood in a loose line near the center of the workshop, close enough to the main workbench to show they had been there for a while, but far enough to keep their distance. They were not dressed like normal workers or apprentices. Even at a glance, it was clear they were different.
They were all around Dory's age, maybe a year older at most, but the way they carried themselves made them seem far more experienced. Each of them wore some form of armor, not polished or decorative, but used. The kind that had seen real fights.
The one at the front was a tall boy with short black hair, his expression calm but sharp. He wore a mix of leather and metal plates, strapped tightly across his chest and shoulders. The metal wasn't shiny. It was scratched, worn, and slightly dented in places, like it had taken hits before. A sword hung at his side, simple but well-maintained.
