Sanctuary: Safe Haven

When Dravos walked into the meeting room, he saw Canna conversing with a man with spiky green hair—Kael, the sanctuary's logistics expert. They were the only two present in the large, glowing room. Canna, sensing Dravos' arrival, looked up and welcomed him with a sharp nod.

There was an unusual urgency in Canna's eyes, bypassing any pleasantries. Instead, he met Dravos' gaze directly, not wasting any time. "What does your clan know about 'The Black Thorn'?"

The mention of the name caused Dravos to narrow his eyes. "The Black Thorn... an underground group of maniacs that's been pestering this kingdom for years. They're like worms—impossible to kill, spreading like rot. They deal in everything from illegal weapons to slave trading, the worst filth you can imagine. They're more monsters than the creatures outside.

But how do you know of them?" Dravos asked, his tone suddenly heavy with caution.

"My people were attacked by them," Canna replied, his voice hard. "We're gathering more information as we speak. But I don't plan on waiting for them to strike again. I need to make a move. I need a team of people I can trust to help take them down. I need your support, Dravos."

Dravos held Canna's intense stare for a moment. The carefree man he had sparred with a few days ago was gone, replaced by the demeanor of a calculating leader. After a pause, Dravos nodded. "That's why my clan exists—to uphold peace. But I need details before I put my people at risk."

Canna gave a firm nod in return. "I agree. That's the challenge. The Black Thorn has people everywhere, including in your clan. We can't make any overt moves yet—they'll know and scatter before we have the chance to strike. My subordinates are already confirming their hideouts.

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We've identified several bases."

Dravos frowned in disbelief. The Black Thorn had long been a scourge for the kingdom, but the idea that they had infiltrated his own clan? It shook him. He had faced these criminals numerous times over the years but had never imagined they had roots so close to home.

Before the conversation could continue, a new presence entered the room. Flora, a Warden of the sanctuary, arrived, her elegant form wrapped in a gown made of vines and flowers that seemed to move with her, an aura of natural power radiating from her. Her eyes were a glowing green, reflecting the forest from which she drew strength.

"Master," Flora addressed Canna softly. "Mortem has arrived with more people. The sanctuary is bustling with new arrivals."

Canna's attention snapped to the large window at the side of the meeting room. Below, the sanctuary grounds were filled with the sight of dozens of people stepping out of the red portal. Dravos turned to look, and his eyes widened as he saw the endless stream of men, women, and children pouring out, most of them weary, terrified, and shivering.

Some mothers held babies tight in their arms, while others looked utterly lost.

In a blink, Canna transformed into a bolt of lightning, reappearing on the ground in an instant. More people emerged from the portal as he arrived. Among them, a little boy of about seven or eight, his face smudged with dirt and tears, stumbled forward. His disheveled hair clung to his forehead, and his tiny body quivered with exhaustion and fear.

He walked slowly, as though he had forgotten how to run, until he collided with Canna.

Canna knelt, gently embracing the boy. "You're safe now," he whispered. "You're safe here."

The boy trembled for a moment, then, as if a dam inside him had burst, he began to cry. Tears streamed down his face in thick rivulets, his sobs deep and soul-wrenching. His cry spread like wildfire, and soon, other rescued children around him broke down as well. Even the adults wept, their relief palpable. The weight of their suffering finally allowed an outlet, overwhelming them all at once.

From the window above, Dravos stood frozen. He had witnessed countless battles, heard the cries of the wounded, and watched as comrades fell—but this... this was different. The raw emotion filling the sanctuary made his heart ache in a way he hadn't experienced in decades.

What startled him even more was the reaction of Canna's own people—those dressed in white robes. Many of them had tears in their eyes, silently empathizing with the survivors' pain. Even Canna, normally composed, had tears streaking down his face as he held the boy close.

Behind Dravos, Kael's voice was quiet but firm. "Most of us in the sanctuary were rescued from situations like this. We understand better than anyone how dark the world can be."

The arrival of the rescued people continued for some time, with many of them collapsing onto the grass, too weak to stand. The sanctuary's healers rushed to tend to them, offering food, water, and comfort. Dravos felt the energy shift again, and his senses picked up a powerful presence.

He turned his head sharply and saw a massive lion approaching the crowd. Aurelis, a golden lion deity revered in the sanctuary, strode forward. Standing 120 feet tall, his mane shimmered with celestial light, and the power he exuded was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Though his rank was only true calamity, Dravos instinctively knew that Aurelis was more than he seemed.

The lion moved with a calm dignity, his presence immediately commanding attention.

Aurelis let out a soft growl, and from him emanated a warm, radiant light. The survivors who had been cold and despondent now felt that warmth envelop them. It was as if Aurelis' presence restored something within them—a sense of safety and peace that had been taken from them long ago. The lion laid down among the weary, casting his divine aura over them like a protective blanket.

Dravos was left speechless. He had faced mighty warriors and terrifying beasts, but he had never witnessed such a sight. The sanctuary truly was something extraordinary, and the creatures that dwelled within were more than just powerful—they were protectors, nurturers of hope.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Hours passed, and eventually, Canna returned to the meeting room. He was still shaken from the emotional events of the day but determined more than ever. Dravos looked at him, seeing a leader in a completely new light.

"What do you gain from all of this?" Dravos asked, his voice quiet but serious. "You risk your people. You take in these survivors. But what's in it for you? What drives you to do all this?"

Canna's answer was immediate. "I don't want anything in exchange. No one should be treated like this. No one should feel like there's no one out there for them."

Dravos regarded him in silence, his respect for Canna growing with each word. After a long moment, Canna shifted the conversation.

"I need people I can trust, Dravos. Do you have warriors in your clan—elites—that you can rely on?"

Dravos stood tall, his own resolve strengthening. "I'll gather them. You'll have my best."

Together, the saint of Clan Varran and the leader of the sanctuary discussed preparations late into the night. By the time their meeting concluded, Dravos stepped back through the portal, his heart filled with a renewed purpose. The world was dark, but he now knew there was a light worth fighting for.