Sanctuary: Safe Haven

True to his word, Canna zipped across the vast expanse of the marsh in his lightning bolt form. The world beneath him blurred, a patchwork of trees, murky waters, and scattered clusters of monsters, none of which could touch him at his current speed. He could traverse the entire marsh with ease, his body crackling with electricity as he darted forward like a living storm.

But then, something caught his attention out of the corner of his eye. It was only a split-second glance, barely more than a flash, but it was enough to make Canna pause. His instincts were sharp, honed from tons of battle and exploration, and something about what he'd seen made him stop dead in his tracks.

Unfortunately, his body wasn't as quick to react as his mind. Before he could adjust, Canna collided headfirst with a massive tree. The loud thud echoed through the marsh, and his lightning form fizzled out as he crashed through several more trees, breaking branches and uprooting smaller ones, before finally coming to an abrupt stop with his face planted firmly in the mud.

Mortem appeared beside him in a swirl of dark energy, his face expressionless as usual, though his tone carried a hint of amusement. "Master, are you okay? What happened to you?"

Canna groaned, pulling his face out of the mud with a wet slurp. Mud caked his hair and clung to his clothes as he wiped his eyes. He glanced at Mortem, stars dancing in his vision but a wide grin on his face. "Mortem! Tell me you saw that!"

Mortem raised an eyebrow. "Saw what exactly, master?"

Canna shook his head, his excitement bubbling over. "Follow me!" Without another word, he cast a spell to clean off the mud from his face and clothes, then immediately cast another to lift himself into the air. He shot off in the direction of the thing he'd spotted, Mortem following closely behind.

After about a minute of flying, Canna's eyes lit up again as the sight he'd glimpsed earlier came back into view. His grin widened, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of glee as he confirmed what he thought he had seen.

Down below, nestled in a secluded part of the marsh, were several Earth Drakes. Smaller than the behemoth they'd fought earlier, these drakes were the size of small cars, their rough, stony scales blending seamlessly with the environment. However, what really caught Canna's attention was the larger drake among them, a true-ranked Calamity beast, standing at around seven meters tall.

It was clearly a mother, its presence imposing and protective as it circled its young.

The scene filled Canna with a strange sense of wonder. Despite the chaos of the hunt and the ongoing battle with the Earth Drake earlier, this was a reminder of the natural order of things. These creatures weren't mindless beasts; they were simply protecting their young, doing what any parent would do.

The larger drake suddenly let out a roar, a deafening bellow that shook the very air around them. The sound was so powerful that it sent ripples through the marsh waters and caused several birds to take flight in the distance. Canna and Mortem both flinched at the sheer volume of it.

Mortem, always cautious, glanced at Canna, his usual stoic expression giving way to mild concern. "Master, we should go. If my guess is right, that creature is summoning the bigger one."

Canna nodded, his grin still plastered across his face. "You're probably right. But wasn't that something?" He glanced back at the drakes below one last time, chuckling. "See you again, tiny drakes!"

With that, the two of them shot back into the sky, leaving the drakes behind as they resumed their journey.

After a few minutes of flying, they reached the edge of the marsh. Canna, still smiling from his earlier discovery, summoned a red portal. A moment later, Sygon emerged from it, his towering figure standing tall against the backdrop of the marshlands.
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"Master, are you alright?" Sygon asked, his eyes filled with concern. "Why are you smiling?"

Canna blinked, surprised. He hadn't realized he'd been smiling so broadly. He raised a hand to his face, feeling the slight curve of his lips, and chuckled. "It's nothing, Sygon. Just... happy I didn't slay that Earth Drake back there.

Seems it had some babies to protect." His gaze softened for a moment, before he shook his head and turned to face the path ahead. "Anyway, let's keep moving. Your settlement is waiting."

Sygon nodded, and the two of them set off once more, running through the marshlands, their destination clear in their minds—the minotaur settlement.

_____________

Meanwhile, back in the sanctuary, the warriors who had returned from the hunt were settling in after a long night of battle. Their bodies were bruised, their clothes caked in mud and torn from the relentless fight, but there was no mistaking the smiles on their faces. Laughter and chatter filled the air as the warriors recounted their tales of the hunt to one another.

The camaraderie was palpable. Groups of warriors huddled together, some sitting on logs or the ground, sharing stories of how they had faced down massive bog serpents, fought off hordes of Red Goblins, or barely escaped the deadly strikes of the swamp creatures. Despite the harshness of the hunt, there was a sense of pride among them—a sense of accomplishment.

They had fought hard, and they had come out victorious.

Even the new recruits, though exhausted, were caught up in the energy. Some of them wore expressions of awe as they listened to the more seasoned warriors talk about their battles, their own experiences paling in comparison to the feats of the veterans. But there was no shame in their eyes—only admiration and a determination to improve.

As the night wore on, the sanctuary's treasury became the center of attention. One by one, the warriors, both seasoned and new, approached the massive vault, dropping off the mana stones they had collected during the hunt. Noctis stood nearby, overseeing the tallying process. His clones moved efficiently, sorting and categorizing the stones based on their size, quality, and magical properties.

The sun was beginning to rise on the horizon, casting a golden hue over the sanctuary as the final tallies were being completed. Despite the fatigue that clung to their bones, the warriors still wore smiles on their faces, chatting and laughing as they watched the last of the stones being counted.

It had been a long and grueling night, but they had done well. The sanctuary had once again proven its strength, and the warriors were proud to have been a part of it.

As the final mana stones were placed into the treasury, Noctis completed the tally and gave a small nod of satisfaction. "Everything's accounted for," he announced, his voice calm and efficient as always. "Well done, everyone."

The warriors, both old and new, let out a collective cheer, their voices echoing across the sanctuary grounds. They had done their part, and now it was time to rest and prepare for whatever challenges lay ahead.