Sanctuary: Safe Haven

The Clan Varran gates stood tall and imposing as they always had, yet today, something was terribly wrong. Kargan, the leader of Clan Varran, and his vice leader, Lira, along with their elite warriors, stood in front of the entrance with bewildered expressions.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

After months of being away on an expedition, fighting on the frontlines, and securing alliances for the kingdom, they had returned to their home base, hoping for a warm welcome and some well-deserved rest. But instead, they were met with silence and a closed gate.

Kargan's face twisted with frustration as he examined the gates. "Why are the gates closed?" he muttered, his voice sharp. His piercing dark eyes narrowed as he took in the eeriness surrounding their base.

Lira, standing by his side, shook her head in confusion. Her silver hair gleamed under the midday sun, and her keen instincts told her something wasn't right. "There's no one here," she said softly, glancing around. Her voice held a note of caution. "Where are the guards? Where's the patrol?"

The troops behind them, the elite warriors of Clan Varran, shared similar expressions of concern. Each one of them had been expecting a bustling homecoming, but now, all they saw was an empty courtyard. No familiar faces greeted them; no guards rushed to open the gates. Just an unsettling silence.

"Leader," one of the elite warriors spoke up, his voice laced with unease. "Where is everyone? Shouldn't we have been greeted by now?"

Kargan's frustration boiled over. He grabbed the communication stone from his belt, attempting to reach anyone within the clan, but it was silent. Completely silent. "Damn it!" he cursed under his breath.

Lira, similarly perplexed, reached for her own communication stone. "No response," she said, shaking her head. "It's like they're all gone, or... being blocked."

Kargan's patience snapped. He wasn't known for his tolerance in times like this, especially after a taxing expedition. With a growl, he marched toward the massive iron gates and raised his foot, channeling his strength. With a resounding crash, he kicked the gates open, sending them flying inward with brute force.

The massive doors skidded across the ground, and a deep silence fell over the courtyard beyond.

Kargan and Lira, along with their elite troops, stormed inside, only to be met by more emptiness. Not a single person stood in sight. The once-bustling courtyard, usually filled with warriors training, guards patrolling, and the general hustle and bustle of clan life, now looked deserted. There wasn't even a whisper of activity.

Lira's eyes scanned the empty grounds, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "What in the hell is going on here?" she murmured, her sharp gaze darting around for any signs of life.

One of the elite warriors, a seasoned fighter with a scarred face, muttered to his comrades, "Where is everyone? This place is a ghost town..."

Another added, "It feels... wrong. This isn't normal."

The entire group tensed, their instincts telling them that something was amiss. These were the elites of Clan Varran, warriors trained for battle and survival, yet the eerie silence had even them on edge.

"Leader, something's not right," one of the troops whispered, clearly wary. "Should we be prepared for an attack?"

Kargan's face darkened further, his eyes flicking around the desolate scene. His mind raced, but before he could respond, the sound of hurried footsteps caught their attention. A lone guard, pale and trembling, ran toward them. His eyes were wide with fear as he approached.

"What happened here?!" Kargan demanded, his voice like thunder as he grabbed the guard by his collar. "Where are my people? Have we been attacked?!"

The guard struggled to find his voice, his gaze shifting nervously toward Lira. "N-No, my lord, w-we haven't been attacked."

"Then why is the clan in such a state?!" Lira asked sharply, her eyes narrowing. "Where are the guards, the warriors? Explain yourself!"

Before the guard could stammer out a response, the voice of another elite warrior cut through the tense air. "Clan leader! Over here!" The man stood by the edge of the courtyard, his hand raised.

Kargan and Lira immediately moved toward the warrior, their expressions hard as stone. As they approached, they saw what the man was pointing at.

Emerging from one of the clan buildings was none other than Saint Dravos, Kargan's father and the previous leader of Clan Varran. But the sight of him left both Kargan and Lira speechless. Read new chapters at empire

Dravos's once-pristine robes were now torn and bloodied. His muscular frame bore fresh cuts and bruises, some still bleeding. The once-majestic figure of the saint now looked like he had just crawled out of a brutal battle. Despite his rough appearance, Dravos's expression remained calm, and he walked toward them with a quiet, powerful presence.

Kargan's eyes widened. "Father... what happened to you?"

Lira's expression mirrored his, though she quickly regained her composure. "Saint Dravos," she began, her voice steady but laced with concern, "where are the people of the clan? Why are the gates closed?"

Dravos stopped in front of them, his tall, imposing figure casting a long shadow over the courtyard. His cold, menacing eyes met his son's.

"I closed the gates," Dravos said, his voice low and calm. "For the sake of the clan."

Both Kargan and Lira stared at him, their confusion deepening.

"What do you mean, 'for the sake of the clan'?!" Kargan demanded, his frustration finally boiling over. "We've been away for months, fighting on the frontlines, and we return to find the gates locked, the people gone, and you looking like you've fought a damned war! Explain yourself!"

Lira remained silent, though her hand gripped the hilt of her sword tightly. Her mind raced as she tried to piece together what had happened while they were away.

Dravos exhaled slowly, his eyes flicking to the horizon for a moment before returning to his son's face. "There's no need for concern. I've had to make some... changes."

"Changes? What kind of changes?" Lira asked, her tone sharp.

Dravos's lips twitched, a faint smirk forming. "A few... guests arrived while you were gone. I've been... entertained."

"Guests?" Kargan repeated, the word sounding foreign on his tongue. "What guests? And why is the clan in such disarray?"

Dravos chuckled softly, though there was no humor in it. "You'll understand soon enough, Kargan. For now, just know that everything is under control."

"Under control?!" Kargan stepped closer to his father, anger boiling in his veins. "This doesn't look like 'under control,' father!"

Dravos's eyes hardened. "Do not raise your voice at me, boy," he said, his tone carrying an edge of warning. "You are still my son, and I am still the Saint of this clan. What I do, I do for the good of all of us."

The tension in the air was thick, as both Kargan and Lira processed what Dravos was saying. Neither of them knew what to make of the situation, but they could both sense that something monumental had occurred during their absence.

Lira glanced at Kargan, her eyes full of questions. "What do we do?"

Kargan's gaze remained fixed on his father, his jaw clenched. "We'll find out exactly what happened. One way or another."