Sanctuary: Safe Haven

Hours had passed inside the sanctuary, and the warriors of Clan Varran were now rested and waiting for what was next. Despite their exhaustion, Saint Dravos had held them back, not allowing them to rejoin the fray just yet. All the while, he was in communication with his son, Kargan, who was still in the heart of the battlefield. The fight outside was nearing its end, but it had come at a steep cost.

Casualties were reported left and right—even Clan Varran had not been spared.

However, the battle was a massive success overall. The Black Thorn had been crushed, their hostages rescued, their elites and leader dead.

Inside the sanctuary, Canna called for an urgent meeting. He needed to understand the full extent of the situation outside, and Noctis was the one who had been monitoring every detail.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

When Dravos, Varya, and Lira arrived at the meeting room, they found Canna already seated with Kael, Vorgrim, Flora, and Elandra. The air in the room was heavy with tension and anticipation. Everyone was eager to hear the report.

Noctis stood before the gathered leaders and began his detailed report, his voice calm and steady. "Sanctuary forces report," he started. "Sanctuary inhabitants: injured, 10,000; dead, zero." He paused for a moment, letting the numbers settle into the minds of the room. A sigh of relief passed through the group; despite the brutal fight, they hadn't lost a single life in the sanctuary.

Noctis continued, his tone more solemn now. "Forces outside report: Black Thorn forces—injured, 200,000; dead, 190,000. Clan Drakengarde—injured, 2,000; dead, 700." Dravos, Lira, and Varya listened intently, knowing that their own clan's toll was next. "Clan Varran—injured, 1,500; dead, 450." Discover more stories at empire

The number hit like a hammer, and Varya couldn't help but lower her head, grief weighing on her shoulders. Lira closed her eyes, taking in the heavy loss. Dravos remained stoic, though his knuckles whitened as his fists clenched.

Noctis pressed on. "Clan Skarn—injured, 3,000; dead, 500. Adventurers—injured, 45,000; dead, 30,000. Kingdom Army—injured, 70,000; dead, 50,000. Royal Army—injured, 20,000; dead, 10,000. This includes the lives of two saints."

A heavy silence filled the room as the weight of the losses hung in the air. The battlefield outside had turned into a graveyard, and the sacrifices were immense.

Noctis cleared his throat and delivered his final assessment. "The battle outside is nearing its conclusion. Most of the Black Thorn forces left are runners, trying to escape. However, there are still at least 90,000 Black Thorn members hiding in various secret bases and using pathways known only to them."

Canna's expression hardened. He had expected the worst, but hearing the numbers drove home the reality of the chaos outside. "We'll take it from here," Canna said, his voice firm and unyielding. "We started this fight, and we'll finish it. No loose ends." He then looked at Dravos and gave a simple nod of acknowledgment—one that carried gratitude and respect.

Dravos, sensing the shift in tone, stood up along with Varya and Lira, ready to leave. As they turned to exit, Canna called after him. "Dravos."

The saint turned back to face him. "Tell your king and the others: my troops and I will strike again in one hour. We will not hold back this time. Anyone who dares to raise a weapon against us will die."

Dravos met his gaze, understanding the gravity of the message. He nodded and left the room, with Vorgrim following closely behind him. It was time for the Saint of Clan Varran to return to his clan and inform the kingdom of what was to come.

As the door closed behind Dravos and his companions, Canna turned back to Noctis. "Continue."

Noctis nodded and resumed his report. "New sanctuary inhabitants—according to data gathered by my clones, we've gained a new population of 250,000, including the beasts that were saved as well. The majority are human children. Almost 90% of those saved are still suffering from severe mental trauma and are struggling to cope with their experiences."

Canna held up a hand, stopping him. "I know, Noctis. They've been through hell. But the people of this sanctuary have been through similar things. They'll know how to help them. All we need now is time, and the warmth we can offer here in abundance.

The sanctuary will heal them."

He then stood up, his gaze fierce and resolute. "Now, prepare the troops. We strike in one hour."

The room fell silent as the leaders of the sanctuary rose from their seats, ready to execute their next move. The battle wasn't over yet, and Canna had no intention of letting the Black Thorn regroup or escape.

Outside the sanctuary, chaos still reigned. The top clans had already withdrawn to assess their losses, leaving behind the adventurers who fought with a burning hatred, driven by personal vendettas. Alongside them were the royal guards and the kingdom's army, tasked with fulfilling their duty to rid the kingdom of the Black Thorn.

Yet as night fell, even the most hardened warriors were forced to regroup, exhausted from the relentless day of bloodshed.

The fighting had lasted only a day, but the rivers of blood spilled had left an indelible mark on the land. Corpses littered the ground, and the survivors, both victors and vanquished, were left reeling from the scale of the carnage. There had been so much loss in such a short span of time, and the toll weighed heavily on everyone.

Within the castle walls, King Aerys Khall read through the reports, struggling to comprehend the devastation that had unfolded in a single day. His kingdom had lost two saints, a blow that would weaken their military might for years to come.

What he did not yet realize was the true reason for their deaths—that they had followed the portal back to the sanctuary when Zephyros and Solara were teleported away, sealing their fate in the heart of the sanctuary's wrath.

King Aerys stared at the reports, the weight of his responsibilities bearing down on him. He knew he would have to make difficult decisions in the days to come, but for now, his kingdom had to focus on recovering from the aftermath of the Black Thorn's downfall.