Sanctuary: Safe Haven

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While the minotaurs were busy settling into their new home within the Verdant Peaks, Canna had other tasks to attend to. He teleported straight to where Kael usually worked, planning to catch him off guard.

"Kael!" Canna shouted as he slammed the door open, hoping to surprise his ever-reliable administrator. But to his shock, the office was empty, save for towering stacks of papers and documents. No Kael in sight.

As Canna blinked in confusion, he heard footsteps rapidly approaching. He turned, expecting Kael, but instead, a young man with full blond hair, carrying a pile of papers, appeared. His face was fair and rather unremarkable, but his eyes widened in panic upon seeing Canna.

The man let out a high-pitched scream and promptly dropped all of the papers. "Canna-sama!" he shouted, his voice shaking with excitement.

Canna blinked in surprise, taken aback by the enthusiasm. The man hurriedly approached him, bowing deeply.

"Thank you for saving me!" the young man said fervently, almost tripping over his words in excitement. "My name is Ismael! I work as Kael's assistant. I'm the best out of the four of us, and I swear, Canna-sama, I will work myself to death for the sanctuary!"

Canna couldn't help but grin. "Energetic, aren't you, Ismael? But, I'd prefer you not dying. Keep that in mind, will you? Also… best of four? When did Kael get assistants?"

Ismael puffed up his chest proudly. "Oh, it happened right after you went to save the minotaurs, Master! There were some of us who had talent with management and paperwork. Master Kael selected four of us to help him. I'm one of them. The other three are running around doing tasks Kael assigned to them."

Canna nodded. "I see. And where's Kael now?"

"He's currently asleep, Canna-sama," Ismael said, still beaming. "But if you need reports, I can give them to you! I've been entrusted with delivering them while Master Kael rests!"

Ismael's excitement was almost contagious, and Canna nodded for him to proceed.

Ismael quickly gathered the papers he had dropped and, with a deep breath, began reading from the reports, his voice steady and clear. "Master, there are four matters that require your immediate attention. First, the sanctuary's buildings need some serious upgrades. There have been requests for a larger arena and an expanded dining hall, but also for new spaces like a laboratory and a library.

While we already have those in place, Master Kael believes that with the influx of talented individuals eager to join, we need to expand. By enlarging the workforce and workplace, we can maximize everyone's potential and make sure the sanctuary can truly flourish."

Canna nodded as Ismael continued. "Second, there's been a significant increase in warriors wanting to join the sanctuary. Master Kael suggests that Vorgrim returns soon so we can start training them immediately."

"Third," Ismael continued, looking a bit hesitant, "Vorgrim has sent a report. Someone named Dravos from the Kingdom of Kharath has offered to join our forces. Do you know him?"

Canna raised an eyebrow. "Dravos? The Saint of Clan Varran? I thought he was content being with Clan Varran. Interesting…"

"And lastly," Ismael said, looking quite proud of this one, "our shock troops have made contact with several groups of races interested in joining the sanctuary. One group in particular—a clan of dwarves—seems especially eager. The diplomat that handled them was Yoggic, one of the dwarves from our sanctuary. He convinced them by talking about a mountain of minerals and, well, good beer.

They want to meet you, Master."

Canna chuckled. "Good beer? That would definitely do it. How many dwarves are we talking about?"

"About a thousand, Master," Ismael replied. "They said they'll only believe it when they see it, though. 'Too good to be true,' they said."

Canna smiled wider. "Thanks for the update, Ismael. Looks like I've got a busy day ahead. I'll handle the second and third issues for now—Dravos and Vorgrim."

Canna quickly relayed instructions to Vorgrim through their connection. "I'll be heading to Kharath to meet up with you shortly. Stay sharp until then."

___________

Meanwhile, in Kharath, the sound of heavy blows echoed through Clan Varran's newly rebuilt arena. Vorgrim and Dravos were engaged in a brutal sparring match, both their bodies bloodied and bruised. The arena had undergone significant renovations after the kingdom compensated Clan Varran for their bravery in the battle against the Black Thorn.

Instead of money, the clan had requested that their arena be rebuilt, and the result was a bigger, stronger structure where warriors could test their mettle.

Nearby, the five sanctuary warriors—Mira, Dot, Eli, Alex, and Maggi—were engaged in their own battles, each fighting multiple Clan Varran warriors at once. Unlike the one-on-one fight between Vorgrim and Dravos, the sanctuary warriors were surrounded by groups of opponents.

Mira and Dot, the youngest of the group, worked together like clockwork, their synergy flawless. Mira, using her shadow affinity, darted between opponents with lightning-fast reflexes, disappearing into the darkness only to reappear behind her enemies. Her swift movements and ability to remain unseen allowed her to take foes by surprise, leaving them vulnerable.

Dot, equally quick on her feet, followed her partner with surgical precision, delivering well-placed strikes to incapacitate their enemies with brutal efficiency. Despite their youth, the two girls were formidable, effortlessly taking down warriors twice their size and three times their age with ease, their fluidity in battle leaving the Clan Varran warriors in awe.

Eli and Alex, on the other hand, opted for a more straightforward approach. Eli's spear mastery shone through, his strikes swift and lethal as he cut down opponents with well-placed thrusts and sweeping arcs. His movements were calculated, each strike flowing into the next with deadly precision. Meanwhile, Alex, wielding his earth magic, became the battlefield's tactician.

He manipulated the ground beneath his enemies, raising barriers to block attacks and sending powerful shockwaves through the terrain, throwing opponents off balance. When his enemies least expected it, he would shift the earth beneath them, causing them to stumble or fall into pits, leaving them vulnerable to Eli's spear or another strike from his comrades.

Together, Eli and Alex controlled the battlefield, forcing their opponents into submission through a combination of power and strategy, their complementary skills making them a fearsome duo.

And lastly, there was Maggi—belonging to the sanctuary's shock troops, an elite among elites. Maggi, as always, fought with cold, unrelenting intensity. His fists, coated with flames, burned as brightly as his sheer will. He moved through his enemies like a living inferno, each punch sending his opponents flying across the arena.

The flames that licked from his fists burned so fiercely that the air around him seemed to warp from the heat. He was a force of nature, devastating anyone who dared to stand in his way. The Clan Varran warriors, having already learned the hard way, quickly realized that Maggi was not an opponent to take lightly.

His precise, blazing strikes left no room for counterattack, and those who tried were met with overwhelming power and blistering heat.

The Clan Varran warriors, despite their strength and discipline, were no match for the sanctuary's finest. Each of the five warriors, though different in their style and approach, shared one commonality—an unbreakable bond and a level of skill that far surpassed what their opponents had expected.

And as they continued to clash with the Clan Varran warriors, it became increasingly clear that this was no ordinary sparring session—this was a display of true mastery, a testament to the sanctuary's rigorous training and the strength of its warriors.

Back in the center of the arena, Vorgrim and Dravos were locked in a fierce grapple, their muscles straining as they attempted to overpower one another. But just as Dravos was about to deliver a heavy blow, Vorgrim suddenly stopped.

Dravos, his fist inches from Vorgrim's face, also froze in place, a questioning look in his eyes.

Vorgrim straightened up and raised his voice, loud enough for everyone in the arena to hear. "Canna-sama will be arriving in two hours. Let's prepare."

Dravos nodded, stepping back. The battle was over for now. It was time for Clan Varran to prepare their farewells to the saint who had always stood among them, a pillar of strength and guidance. His presence, which had been a constant in their lives, would soon be a memory.

The air buzzed with anticipation as the warriors of Clan Varran exchanged glances. Canna was coming, and with his arrival, the reality of departure settled over them like a heavy mist.