Sanctuary: Safe Haven

Kargan and Lira, accompanied by their elite squad, walked through the eerie silence of Clan Varran's base. The atmosphere felt strange—unnerving even. Saint Dravos led the way, his pace slow and deliberate, but the clan leader couldn't shake the growing unease that gnawed at him.

As they moved deeper into the base, the clan leader's eyes scanned their surroundings, finally landing on the members of their clan. Several were hidden under the buildings, their eyes wide with fear. Confusion swept through Kargan's troops.

One of Kargan's elites moved ahead to question the hiding clan members. He knelt beside them, his voice low as he spoke, but the fear on their faces was undeniable. After a few minutes, the elite warrior returned to Kargan, his face set with uncertainty.

"What did they say?" Kargan demanded, his irritation barely contained.

The elite soldier glanced nervously at Dravos before speaking. "They said… they were hiding to avoid the guild master's wrath, and… to escape another training session with Saint Dravos."

Kargan blinked, taken aback. Lira raised an eyebrow in silent curiosity, her sharp eyes darting toward Dravos, whose expression remained unreadable.

"Training session?" Kargan repeated slowly, his anger simmering. "Father, what is going on here?"

But before he could get a response, Dravos clapped his hands together, drawing everyone's attention. "Let's hear your mission reports first. I'm interested in what's been happening outside."

Kargan's face twisted in disbelief, his frustration reaching its peak. "Father, with all due respect, I am the guild leader, not you. And why in the world would you care about what's happening outside when there's so much chaos inside? Shouldn't I at least know what's going on here? Where are we even going? And who are these mysterious guests I keep hearing about?"

Dravos only sighed, the corners of his mouth twitching into a faint smile. "Such an impatient young man. We're going to eat first. I'm starving."

Kargan's fists clenched. His father hadn't been this stubborn since before he relinquished leadership to him. But something was off. He couldn't explain it, but somehow, he felt like his father was stronger now—more dangerous than ever before. It was a feeling that crawled under his skin, though he couldn't put it into words.

The group continued toward the dining hall, the tension palpable. Kargan tried to regain his composure as they walked, though his irritation remained. When they finally arrived at the dining hall, a strange sight greeted them.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

A man with white hair was casually sprawled across one of the long tables, sound asleep. The sight of this stranger in such a casual state took Kargan and Lira by complete surprise. The elite soldiers of Clan Varran exchanged bewildered glances, unsure of how to react.

Saint Dravos, however, ignored it completely, as if this was the most normal thing in the world.

Several clan members, who were hiding in the dining hall, instantly straightened up and bowed to Kargan and Lira in respect. Their voices were apologetic as they stammered out apologies for not greeting them at the gates.

Kargan's patience snapped. "Father," he growled, his voice low and seething with barely controlled anger, "who is this bum?" He gestured sharply toward the white-haired man still sleeping on the table. "And why is he here? Why is there a random outsider in our dining hall?"

Dravos glanced over casually, his expression indifferent. "Oh, that's Canna. He's one of our guests. Canna Yakane." Dravos leaned back in his chair and took a large bite of meat before adding, "Our other guest is his subordinate." Your next read is at empire

The confusion deepened on the faces of Kargan and his entourage. Lira's eyes darted toward Dravos, waiting for an explanation.

"Father," Kargan said, his voice rising with anger, "why is this man sleeping on our table?"

Dravos waved a hand dismissively, as if it wasn't worth addressing. "He has a talent for sleeping wherever he feels like it. I suggest you don't bother him. Let's eat."

Kargan's face turned crimson with fury. The thought of this outsider disrespecting their clan and sleeping in their dining hall was beyond him. "This is my guild!" he bellowed. "Why should I adjust for this man?!" His aura flared, his anger clear as day.

Dravos continued chewing, entirely unbothered by his son's outrage. "Go ahead and wake him up, then," he said nonchalantly, waving a piece of meat in Kargan's direction.

One of the elite troops, eager to prove his loyalty, stepped forward without hesitation. He approached Canna's sleeping form, though with every step he took, a strange sense of danger crept over him. His instincts screamed at him to stop, but he pushed forward, determined to follow through.

Just as the soldier reached out to tap Canna on the shoulder, his senses exploded in alarm. He leapt backward, narrowly avoiding a massive paw that swiped at his face. The force of the attack sent a shockwave through the room, causing everyone to tense up.

In the blink of an eye, a massive shadow bear manifested from the darkness, emerging from Canna's shadow. The creature loomed over the group, its immense size filling the dining hall. Its low growl rumbled through the air, sending a shiver down the spines of those present.

Weapons were drawn instantly. Lira's hand flew to the hilt of her sword, and the elite troops readied themselves, forming a defensive formation.

Dravos, however, let out a booming laugh that echoed through the room. "HAHAHA! You should've seen your faces! That bear's one of Canna's guards. They're pretty sensitive, so unless you want to die, I'd suggest leaving him alone."

The clan leader's fury erupted. His aura spiked as he drew his weapon, the air around him crackling with power. He strode forward, ready to put an end to this madness. He would slay the bear and show this disrespectful guest what happened when you insulted Clan Varran.

But as soon as Kargan took three steps, the temperature in the room plummeted. The candles flickered out, and an overwhelming sense of dread filled the dining hall. The very air seemed to freeze as a suffocating darkness crept in, engulfing the room in shadows.

Dravos spoke again, his voice calm amidst the chaos. "I told you."

Eyes darted around the room, and from the shadows, two glowing red eyes peered out. The air itself seemed to shudder under the weight of their gaze.

Spells were hastily cast to relight the room, and when the darkness receded, the figure responsible for the bone-chilling aura was revealed.

A terrifying being stood there—Mortem, the undead king and Canna's firstborn. His skeletal figure, draped in tattered robes, radiated a cold malevolence. The sight of him made the warriors' blood run cold. His presence was an embodiment of death itself.

Dravos, still casually eating his meal, glanced at the scene and chuckled. "That's Mortem. Bad news, by the way. If you really want to die that badly, go ahead and challenge him."

The elite soldiers, hardened warriors of Clan Varran, felt an overwhelming wave of fear as they stared at Mortem. It was as if they were standing at the very edge of death, and death was staring back at them.

For the first time in years, Kargan hesitated.