Sanctuary: Safe Haven

After a satisfying day spent exploring the sanctuary with Stormrend, Canna let the hydra take to the skies once more. The creature's excitement was palpable as it launched itself into the starlit night, eager to stretch its wings and survey its new domain. Canna watched Stormrend disappear into the distance, the three heads scanning the horizon, each eager to explore its surroundings.

"Enjoy yourself, Stormrend," Canna called out, his voice carrying on the wind. "Feel free to roam as much as you like, but remember to come back if you get hungry or need anything." With a final, enthusiastic roar, Stormrend ascended higher, vanishing into the starry sky like a streak of lightning.

Canna smiled, feeling a sense of satisfaction at how quickly Stormrend was acclimating to its new home. But now, it was time to move on to the next item on his to-do list: officially introducing Noctis, his newest subordinate, to the core members of the sanctuary's leadership.

Within fifteen minutes, Canna found himself back in the familiar meeting room, surrounded by his trusted allies. Mortem, Vorgrim, and Kael were seated at the large, circular table, each exuding an air of authority and anticipation. Grimruk and Flora had also joined, while Elandra was off attending to a task that didn't require her presence at this particular meeting.

Canna cleared his throat to gather their attention, and the room fell silent. "I've called you all here to meet a new comrade, a valuable addition to our forces," he began, reaching up to gently lift the tiny dark owl from his head and placing it on the table. "This is Noctis."

The little owl blinked its large, glowing eyes and fluffed its dark feathers, drawing curious looks from everyone present. Canna gestured to Mortem and Vorgrim. "Noctis, this is Mortem, my firstborn, and Vorgrim, my secondborn. I'm sure you can already feel the connection—they're practically your brothers."

Noctis inclined its small head slightly, acknowledging the two with a respectful nod. Canna then turned to the spiky green-haired man sitting quietly in his robe. "And this is Kael. He's in charge of logistics and keeps the place running smoothly, especially when I'm away."

Kael nodded in return, his sharp eyes already assessing the small creature with a mixture of curiosity and calculation.

Next, Canna gestured toward Grimruk and Flora. "This is Grimruk. He's a warrior who prefers to train alone, but don't let that fool you—he's one of our best. And this is Flora, my shield and the head of the Verdant Wardens."

Grimruk gave a grunt of acknowledgment, while Flora offered a small smile, both of them clearly intrigued by the tiny owl.

Noctis, who had remained silent throughout the introductions, suddenly cleared its throat—a deep, resonant sound that echoed around the room. The surprising bass of its voice caught everyone off guard, drawing widened eyes and startled expressions from the group.

Canna could see the disbelief on their faces and couldn't help but chuckle inwardly; who would've thought such a small creature could possess a voice so deep and commanding, reminiscent of someone like the legendary Michael Clarke Duncan?

"My name is Noctis," the owl began, its deep voice rolling through the room like distant thunder. The contrast between its tiny form and the booming voice was almost comical, and Canna noticed a few of his allies stifling smiles. "I shall serve as my master's eyes and ears. My primary role will be to gather information and oversee all scouting operations, both within and outside the sanctuary."

Noctis paused, letting the weight of its words settle in before continuing. "I possess a unique ability to create infinite clones of myself, each capable of acting independently to gather intelligence. These clones relay everything they see and hear back to me, ensuring that no detail goes unnoticed. This allows me to cover vast areas quickly and efficiently.

Canna nodded, stepping in to elaborate. "Noctis' clones are incredibly valuable for reconnaissance and surveillance. They can operate discreetly and are nearly impossible to detect. However, there's one major drawback—Noctis is extremely fragile. Its health is limited, so it's best that it stays within the sanctuary or remains close to me when outside."

Canna then looked at Noctis and grinned. "Show them your skills, Noctis."

The tiny owl nodded, and with a brief flicker of mana, a much smaller clone of Noctis materialized on the table. The clone, barely the size of a mouse, blinked its tiny eyes before speaking in a high-pitched version of Noctis' deep voice, causing a ripple of amused chuckles from the group.

"I can clone myself infinitely and gather all necessary information through these clones," the small clone explained. As it spoke, its eyes suddenly glowed, and the room dimmed slightly as the clone projected its sight onto the wall, creating a vivid, moving image as if a movie were playing before them.

The image was a bird's-eye view of the sanctuary, complete with the movements of its inhabitants, as seen through the eyes of Noctis' clones.

The group watched in awe as the images shifted, showing various areas of the sanctuary, the perspective changing seamlessly as different clones took over the feed. Noctis then displayed its skills and titles, each one appearing in glowing letters above the projection.

"Additionally," Noctis continued, "while my clones can be killed without any harm to myself, I must caution you that my physical body is highly vulnerable. I am but a small owl, and a single hit from most creatures could easily end me. Thus, I prefer to remain within the sanctuary's protective borders or by my master's side."

The demonstration ended, and the projection faded away, leaving the room bathed in the warm light of the overhead lamps once more. The group exchanged impressed glances, clearly recognizing the value of Noctis' abilities.

Canna leaned back in his chair, satisfied with the reaction of his comrades. "Noctis will be a critical asset to us, especially in situations where we need to gather intelligence or conduct covert operations. His unique abilities give us an edge that few can match."

Mortem nodded in agreement, his expression thoughtful. "With Noctis, we'll be able to monitor our enemies and prepare for threats long before they reach our doorstep."

Vorgrim, ever the strategist, added, "And the ability to project what the clones see in real-time will be invaluable during operations. We'll have up-to-the-minute information on everything happening in and around the sanctuary."

Kael smiled, his sharp mind already considering the possibilities. "This will make my job a lot easier. With Noctis keeping an eye on things, we can streamline our logistics and ensure nothing catches us by surprise."

Even Grimruk, who usually kept to himself, seemed impressed. "I could use the clones to help track my progress during training sessions. They'll be able to spot weaknesses in my form that I might miss."

Canna looked around the room, pleased to see that Noctis had already been accepted by the core team. The little owl had proven its worth, and Canna had no doubt that it would become an indispensable part of their operations.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Thank you, Noctis," Canna said, turning to the owl with a nod of approval. "You've made quite an impression. I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together."

Noctis inclined its head respectfully, its deep voice rumbling once more. "It is my honor to serve, Master. I shall do everything in my power to ensure your will is carried out."

With the introductions complete and the potential of their new ally fully realized, the group began to discuss how best to integrate Noctis' abilities into their existing plans. The meeting stretched late into the night, the room buzzing with excitement as they brainstormed and strategized, each member eager to see how Noctis could enhance their efforts.

And so, with Noctis officially welcomed into the fold, Canna's team grew stronger, more connected, and more prepared for the challenges that lay ahead.