Sanctuary: Safe Haven

Elandra was sitting across from Canna in a spacious hut, the dwelling of the leader of the Sylphirs. The room was alive with the soft hum of wind currents and the subtle scent of flowers, a sign that this place was deeply connected to nature.

Over time, the Sylphirs had grown accustomed to mingling with other races in the sanctuary, but they still preferred to keep to themselves or to the company of the Verdant Wardens.

"There are a total of 118 people who had... unsavory thoughts," Elandra said, her voice steady but stern. "They were sent to meet the direwolves of the sanctuary."

Canna, lounging back on a woven chair, gave a half-smile. "Good work, as always, Elandra. I knew I could count on you." He stretched his arms above his head and continued, "We've had some new additions recently—minotaurs. Quite the big bunch, too. They're going to need resources soon to build their settlements. I offered them a place in the Amazon area, but they prefer the valleys."

Elandra nodded thoughtfully. "From what I know of their kind, minotaurs are drawn to valleys and crevices—they feel more secure there. Also, Master, we currently have a surplus of prey items in our reserves. If you permit it, we could easily organize another gathering, perhaps a feast."

Canna's eyes brightened at the thought. "That's perfect! Kael's assistant mentioned we've got a lot of new chefs around, too. This will be a good chance to let them shine." He waved a hand to the small Noctis clone perched on his shoulder. "Noctis, contact one of Kael's assistants. I need to talk to someone about the finances."

The Noctis clone closed its tiny eyes, its form flickering slightly as it concentrated. A moment later, it opened them again. "She'll be waiting for you outside, Canna-sama."

Canna gave Elandra a parting nod. "Thanks again for your hard work. Keep an eye on things, as usual." With that, Elandra's form shimmered and dissolved into the floor, her connection to the earth making her vanish like a shadow in the wind. Canna followed, making his way out of the hut to meet the assistant.

__________

Outside, a beautiful elf with striking purple hair and delicate glasses stood waiting. Her posture was formal, holding a stack of papers that seemed a little too large for her frame. She bowed slightly upon seeing him.

"Master Kael mentioned that, since Vorgrim and the others are still in the kingdom of Kharath, we should source our materials from there," she said.

Canna raised an eyebrow. "Materials? Do we really need more wares?"

Ayda, the elf, smiled patiently. "Yes, Canna-sama. The dwarves are still engaged in several construction projects, and Kael believes it would be more efficient to purchase certain materials externally, especially for things like furniture and design pieces. It would allow the dwarves to focus on the more important tasks, like upgrading the defenses and armories."

Canna nodded, absorbing the information. "Alright, fair enough. Prepare a storage ring with 500 gold coins and get me a list of what we need. We might as well take advantage of being in such a big kingdom."

Ayda bowed again, adjusting her glasses. "As you wish. I'll have everything prepared immediately."

Just as she was about to turn away, Canna called after her. "One more thing. Summon the top five of the recent hunt for me, excluding Mortem, of course."

"As you command," Ayda said, swiftly walking away to carry out the order.

__________

In a short while, the top five warriors from the sanctuary hunt arrived, kneeling before Canna. Ari and Ira, the Ignis twins, knelt first. Their fiery eyes glinted with anticipation as they bowed in perfect synchronization. Lina, the ice swordswoman, was there too, her frost-covered daggers gleaming in the sunlight. Eriol, the quiet but powerful gravity mage, stood with his head bowed.
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Lastly, there was Malon, the stealthy elf whose skill with chakrams had earned him the number one spot in the hunt—if not for Mortem's undead army.

"You've all done well in the recent hunt," Canna began, his voice steady but filled with pride. "Your kill points and mana stone collections were exceptional. You've earned my respect."

The warriors remained still, their expressions hidden behind discipline and humility, but there was no mistaking the pride that radiated from them.

"Now," Canna continued with a grin, "you can think of any personal rewards you might want. But first, I'm going to need you to escort me. We've got some shopping to do in Kharath, and I could use the company."

The five warriors exchanged brief glances, trying to hide their smiles. Shopping trips with Canna were never dull, and they knew it.

__________

Back in Clan Varran, the atmosphere in the arena was thick with anticipation. The entire clan had gathered—from the leader down to the youngest recruits—to witness something they had never imagined: the departure of their saint and other clan members.

Dravos stood alongside Vorgrim, both men silent but aware of the significance of the moment. The five sanctuary warriors who had been staying with Clan Varran were dressed in their pristine white robes, standing in formation beside them, their expressions unreadable as the wind carried their robes gently.

As the red portal swirled open in the center of the arena, Vorgrim and the five sanctuary warriors dropped to one knee in unison.

The portal crackled with energy, and a figure stepped through—white-haired, blue-eyed, and draped in the regal robes of the sanctuary. Canna had arrived, flanked by his five elite escorts. Maggi, recognizing the uniforms they wore, knelt as well, standing alongside the others as Canna approached.

They all rose from their kneeling positions as Canna made his way forward, revealing the five shock troops that had accompanied him. Each one carried an aura of calm power, their sanctuary robes billowing softly in the air.

The entire arena fell silent. The warriors of Clan Varran, including their leader, watched in quiet awe. The red glow of the portal faded behind Canna as he descended, his presence commanding the attention of all. It was clear to everyone that a new chapter was beginning, one filled with possibilities and change.