Sanctuary: Safe Haven

The next day, Ace trained with renewed vigor, his conversation with Canna the night before lifting the weight that had been pressing on his heart for so long. Sometimes, all it took was having someone to talk to, someone who understood pain and loss. Now, Ace pushed himself harder than ever, determined not just to match his brother's legacy but to surpass it.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Meanwhile, Canna was back to his peculiar habit of sleeping in the dining hall. By now, the people of Clan Varran had grown used to seeing him there, stretched out across one of the long tables, seemingly oblivious to the world. At first, they found it strange, given that Canna had access to one of the best guest rooms in the clan.

But time and again, he would slip away from his quarters only to return to the dining hall, making it his personal rest space.

Some of the clan members had even taken to trying it themselves, half out of curiosity and half due to the scent of the tables, which gave off the faint smell of old trees. The tables were made from ancient wood, lending them a comforting aroma that reminded them of home, even though they couldn't quite explain why.

And while it wasn't something they'd admit openly, many of them had to concede that it was oddly comfortable. Nevertheless, one table was always left untouched, reserved for Canna out of respect—and perhaps a little fear of Nyx, the shadow bear that silently guarded him from the shadows.

Those who had the misfortune of crossing paths with Nyx's protective nature learned quickly that the shadow bear was not to be taken lightly.

Today, however, would be different.

Canna woke up with a start, his body jerking upright in an instant. The people in the hall, who had been quietly eating, paused, their gazes snapping toward him in confusion. The room seemed to freeze as everyone waited to see what had startled him. Canna's sharp senses had clearly picked up something that no one else had noticed.

Before they could react, a swirling red portal manifested in front of Canna. Without a moment's hesitation, he leaped inside, vanishing from sight.

The hall erupted into murmurs of confusion and concern, unsure of what to do. People exchanged bewildered glances, wondering what had just happened. Only moments later, the door to the dining hall burst open. Saint Dravos, the clan leader Kargan, and the vice leader Lira stormed in, their faces etched with urgency. Dravos' eyes scanned the room swiftly before he addressed the crowd.

"I felt a fluctuation of mana," Dravos said, his tone sharp. "Where's Canna?"

The diners were at a loss. They had no idea what had just happened, but they quickly realized that this morning would be anything but slow and uneventful. Several people pointed toward the space where the portal had been, still shaken by Canna's sudden departure.

Meanwhile, back in the sanctuary, Canna emerged from the red portal, his heart racing. He immediately headed to the information building where the Noctis Network and Alexa were stationed. When he arrived, Kael was already there, along with a few of the sanctuary's inhabitants. Several healers stood over someone lying in the grass, their hands glowing as they worked to heal the critically injured man.

"Where is he?" Canna's voice was tight with urgency.

Kael looked up from the scene, his expression grim but steady. "He's stable right now. The healers got to him just in time. He also managed to save a few people from..." Kael trailed off, his eyes flicking downward. "From some terrible fate."

Canna followed Kael's gaze and saw the group of people nearby—men, women, and children, all of them huddled together, shivering despite being wrapped in blankets. Their eyes were distant, filled with terror and trauma. Some of them had fainted from sheer exhaustion, while others sat in stunned silence, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

Experience tales at empire

It was clear that they had seen horrors no one should ever experience.

"Tell me what happened, Kael." Canna's voice was firm, though his heart pounded with a mix of worry and anger. "Noctis reported that one of the shock troops stationed in the same kingdom I'm in was critically injured. I need details."

Kael met Canna's gaze with a somber expression. "This isn't the place to discuss it," he said, gesturing for Canna to follow him.

Reluctantly, Canna tore his gaze away from the injured shock troop. The man's uniform, once pristine and white, was now tattered and bloodstained. His arm was bent at an unnatural angle, and his body was littered with fresh wounds. Despite this, Canna trusted in the sanctuary's healers and knew they would do everything in their power to help him recover.

With a heavy heart, Canna followed Kael to the meeting room. His mind was spinning with questions, and the weight of uncertainty bore down on him with each step. The suddenness of the event had caught him off guard, but now his focus sharpened. His thoughts revolved around the critically injured soldier and the terrified people he had saved.

Once they were seated in the meeting room, Kael took a deep breath. He knew this was going to be difficult, but he had no choice. He had to report the facts.

"We have five shock troops currently stationed in the kingdom of Kharath," Kael began. "One is embedded within the second-ranked clan, one in the third-ranked clan, and another in one of the lower-tier clans. Two more were assigned to safeguard the diplomat, who has been steadily recruiting people from the slums."

Kael paused, his face darkening as he continued. "So far, we've successfully brought in people from the slums—abandoned children, families, and others who had no one. Things were going smoothly... until recently."

Canna's brow furrowed, a sinking feeling growing in his chest. "What happened?"

Kael's gaze turned steely. "There's an underground faction operating within the kingdom. We don't know who they are yet, but they're well-hidden, moving in the shadows. Noctis' clones have been investigating, but what they found..."

Kael didn't finish the sentence. He didn't need to. The weight of his words hung in the air like a storm cloud.

Canna leaned back in his chair, his hands clenched into fists as he absorbed what Kael was saying. The more he listened, the more it felt like a vice was tightening around his heart. Whatever was happening in Kharath, it wasn't going to be simple. But one thing was certain—his shock troops were in the middle of something dangerous.

"Kael," Canna's voice was low but resolute, "tell me everything."

The room fell into silence, with only the faintest sounds of the sanctuary's wind rustling outside. Canna's mind raced, but one thing was clear—there was a threat lurking in Kharath, and his shock troops had encountered it.

For now, they were safe. But Canna knew that this was only the beginning.

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