Sanctuary: Safe Haven

The battlefield was eerily quiet now, the aftermath of the intense battle leaving a heavy silence in its wake. Canna, having calmed down, stood at the center of it all, his mind still processing the events that had just transpired. Grimruk had already returned to Canna's domain, his duty fulfilled for the moment.

Nyx, who had also emerged from the domain, stayed in the shadows, his massive form blending with the darkness as he silently observed his master. He could still feel the remnants of Canna's rage through their connection, and it gnawed at him that he had been unable to help during the fight.

Tiberius, now back at Canna's side, couldn't help but steal glances at the man he had pledged to guide. What he had witnessed was something no one was meant to see—the raw, terrifying power of a Harbinger. The very title struck fear into his heart, for a Harbinger was an entity of chaos and destruction, a force of nature that could not be tamed.

The thought that he had come so close to such a being, and now held knowledge that could endanger his entire tribe, weighed heavily on him. If word got out that Canna was a Harbinger, the Lightbringers and other forces would surely hunt him down. For now, Tiberius decided to leave it to fate. He knew Canna wouldn't destroy his village or enslave him—at least, he hoped so.

But the uncertainty gnawed at him, making him question everything he thought he knew about the man.

Mortem, however, was far from calm. The rage that simmered within him was barely contained. Of all Canna's subordinates, it was Mortem who felt the most fury. The fact that someone had dared to lay hands on his master, to humiliate and harm him in such a manner, was unacceptable.

Mortem's mind raced with the possibilities—he could have summoned a protective barrier to shield Canna from that initial blow, but he had held back, respecting Canna's command to stand down and allow him to handle the situation himself. But now, he regretted that decision. The sight of his master being harmed was too much to bear.

Nyx, ever loyal, remained in Canna's shadow, ready to emerge at a moment's notice should his master need him. He was more cautious now, having seen the wrath of his master and the extent to which the Verdant Wardens had pushed him. He would not be caught off guard again.

Kael, on the other hand, was desperately trying to mend the broken ties. He had spent hours in tense negotiations with the elders of the Verdant Wardens, doing everything in his power to smooth over the disastrous turn of events. He knew that if they couldn't salvage this meeting, their entire journey would have been in vain.

Flora had rejoined the conversation after healing herself, her demeanor more subdued but still wary. The hours ticked by as they discussed and debated, Kael trying to convince them that Canna's actions, while brutal, were a result of their own provocations.

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When the meeting finally concluded, Kael returned to Canna's side, his expression heavy with disappointment. "I tried," he said, his voice laden with regret. "They appreciate that you didn't destroy their village, but they see it as too risky to continue this alliance after everything that's happened."

Canna was about to respond when Mortem stepped forward, his expression dark and foreboding. Without a word, he began to chant in a low, guttural tone, his voice carrying an ominous power. The air around him shimmered with dark energy as he summoned his full collection of undead.

The ground trembled as the very fabric of reality seemed to tear open, and from the void emerged an army of monstrous proportions.

Manifesting in the heart of the Verdant Wardens' domain were 409 great-calamity rank monsters, their forms twisted and nightmarish. Alongside them were 800 mid-calamities, their eyes glowing with an otherworldly light, and countless low-calamity creatures, their collective presence overwhelming the senses.

The sheer number of these beings was staggering, and the air itself seemed to vibrate with their power. The ground beneath them cracked and groaned under the weight of their existence.

Everyone in the area, save for Nyx, was stunned into silence. The absolute display of power left them all in a state of shock. Flora, who had already been hard-pressed fighting just two of Canna's subordinates, could hardly comprehend what she was seeing now. Hundreds of great-calamity ranks, an army that could easily lay waste to entire kingdoms, now stood before her, summoned at a whim by Mortem.

The lightning bolt that Canna had unleashed earlier now seemed like a mere child's play in comparison to the devastating potential of this force.

As Flora's mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation, Mortem's voice cut through the chaos, echoing throughout the village. "Your leader was the first to start this," he began, his tone cold and matter-of-fact. "You now know that my master is a Harbinger. How can we be satisfied that you won't report him? What better way than to purge all of you?"

The words hung in the air like a death sentence. The Verdant Wardens, once proud and defiant, now felt the weight of their impending doom. Mortem's threat was not an idle one—he had the power to carry it out, and everyone knew it. One by one, the Verdant Wardens began to fall to their knees, the reality of their situation sinking in.

They had brought this mayhem upon themselves, and now they were faced with the consequences.

Kael, seeing the situation spiraling out of control, was about to intervene, but Mortem's piercing gaze stopped him in his tracks. The look in Mortem's eyes was one of absolute resolve, and Kael knew that if he interfered now, it could make things even worse. Reluctantly, he stepped back, allowing Mortem to take the lead.

Mortem continued, his voice carrying the weight of inevitability. "You all have two choices," he said, his tone chillingly calm. "Move into my master's domain and serve him, or you all die here. They say that your blood and mana run in every tree and plant in the Verdant Wardens' village. What if I make that a reality and paint your whole village with your blood?"

Murmurs of fear and despair spread among the Verdant Wardens. The choice Mortem had presented was no choice at all—it was an ultimatum. They could either submit to Canna's rule or face total annihilation. Flora, still reeling from the events that had transpired, could barely think straight. The overwhelming power of Mortem's army had shattered any hopes of resistance.

She had seen the destruction that just a few of these creatures could cause, and now she was faced with an army that could wipe her entire village off the map.

The elders of the Verdant Wardens huddled together, their voices low as they debated their options. But there was no debate to be had—they all knew what had to be done. Survival was their only priority now, and to ensure the continued existence of their people, they would have to submit.

Flora, her voice shaky but resolute, finally spoke up. "We… we will move to your master's domain," she said, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and resignation. "We will serve him and ensure that our people survive."

The decision sent ripples through the gathered Verdant Wardens. Many of them had lived their entire lives in this village, their connection to the land and the forest deep and profound. The thought of leaving it all behind, of serving a Harbinger no less, was almost too much to bear. But they knew that the alternative was death, and so they bowed their heads, accepting their fate.

Canna, who had been silent throughout the exchange, felt a pang of guilt. He had never wanted to rule through fear, to force others into submission. But he also understood the necessity of Mortem's actions. The Verdant Wardens now knew his secret, and there was no guarantee that they wouldn't betray him. It was a harsh reality, one that he had hoped to avoid, but now it was staring him in the face.

As the Verdant Wardens began to gather their belongings and prepare to move, Canna looked at Mortem, who stood tall and unyielding. He knew that Mortem had acted with the best intentions, to protect him and ensure his safety. But it didn't make the situation any easier to accept.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

With a heavy heart, Canna turned to the Verdant Wardens. "I promise you this," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. "In my domain, you will be safe. You will be valued, and your knowledge and skills will be respected. I may be a Harbinger, but I do not seek to destroy without cause. Together, we can create something greater than what we have lost."

The words offered little comfort to those who were leaving behind everything they had ever known, but they clung to the hope that Canna's domain would be a place where they could rebuild and thrive.

And so, with the decision made, the Verdant Wardens began their exodus. The forest that had been their home for generations would now be left behind, and they would enter a new chapter in their lives—one filled with uncertainty, but also with the promise of survival.

As the last of the Verdant Wardens departed, Mortem turned to Canna, his expression softening. "You did the right thing, Master," he said quietly. "It was the only way to ensure their loyalty."

Canna nodded, though his heart still felt heavy. "I just hope that in time, they will come to see me as more than just a Harbinger."

Mortem smiled faintly. "They will, Master. In time, they will see the truth."

With that, the group began their journey back to Canna's domain, the echoes of the battle left behind as they looked towards the future. The Verdant Wardens had chosen survival over destruction, and now they would face whatever came next together.

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