Sanctuary: Safe Haven

After the grand tour of the clan base, the day wound to a close. The clan leader and vice clan leader, after escorting Canna, Dravos, and Varya through the expansive grounds, excused themselves. There were reports to be made, detailing the journey they'd taken outside the kingdom. With their responsibilities pressing, they had to leave Canna in the care of others.

Varya, who had guided Canna for most of his time at Clan Varran, passed the responsibility to her granddaughter, Sera. Though hesitant, Sera agreed—an order from her grandmother, an elder of the clan, was not something she could ignore. Besides, leaving Canna alone to roam the clan grounds unguarded was far more dangerous.

Along with Sera, Maggi, ever-loyal and ever-watchful, would continue to accompany Canna as they moved around the base.

It was almost evening by the time the tour ended. The sky was beginning to change color, hues of purple and orange spreading across the horizon. Canna, restless after the day's events, decided to go for a walk around the clan grounds. As he strolled, Sera and Maggi walked beside him, Sera maintaining a certain formality while Maggi kept a more casual pace.

"Does it always get this quiet in the evenings?" Canna asked, his voice breaking the serene silence of twilight.

Sera gave a small nod. "The clan adheres to strict discipline. By sunset, most are either in their quarters or preparing for the next day."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

There was a moment of quiet before Canna noticed the way Sera kept glancing at the ground, her thoughts seemingly distant. "Something on your mind?" he asked.

Sera hesitated, but then took a deep breath and spoke. "It's just... sometimes I wonder if I've truly earned my place in the clan. My grandmother, Elder Varya, is an incredible warrior, and I admire her more than anyone. She's always been the benchmark I strive for, but I feel like I'm still in her shadow."

Maggi gave her a reassuring glance. "Hard work is all it takes," he said. "I've been where you are. Back from where I came from, we had to train until our bodies nearly gave out. It was brutal, but it's that same training that made us who we are. Your grandmother may cast a big shadow, but that doesn't mean you can't shine in your own way."

Sera listened, taking in Maggi's words. She appreciated his attempt to comfort her, but there was still a lingering doubt in her heart. "I just... I work hard, but sometimes I feel like it's never enough. Like no matter how much I push myself, I'll never be recognized as more than Varya's granddaughter."

"You don't have to become someone else to prove yourself," Maggi continued, his voice firm. "You just have to keep moving forward. It's not about reaching the top right away—it's about never stopping, even when things get hard."

His words reminded him of his own grueling training with the shock troops. Every ounce of pain had been worth it, and he knew that if Sera kept pushing herself, she'd get to where she needed to be.

As they walked, they passed by the clan's training grounds. Though the sky had darkened, the rhythmic sound of sword swings filled the air. They glanced toward the field and saw a lone figure, bathed in the faint moonlight, training relentlessly.

"Who's that?" Canna asked, his eyes narrowing as he observed the young man.

Sera sighed. "That's Ace," she said, her tone flat. "He's... well, there's really nothing impressive about him. He's something of a black sheep in the clan. The only reason he's even here is because of his brother, who died on one of our missions.

Ace has a nasty attitude and doesn't really talk to anyone. Keeps to himself most of the time." She glanced at him again before continuing, "Let's just keep walking."

But Canna lingered for a moment, watching the solitary figure moving through his training. There was something about Ace—something in his movements, in the way he swung his sword—that caught his attention. After a brief pause, Canna nodded and resumed his walk, though Ace's silhouette remained in his mind. Explore more at empire

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The middle of the night came, and while the rest of the clan slept soundly, Canna opened his eyes. He had taken to sleeping in the dining hall, enjoying the cool air and the comfort of the space. He liked it here; it was quiet, peaceful—just the right place to gather his thoughts.

Canna stretched lazily, letting out a yawn as he stood up. Something pulled him back to the training grounds. Whether it was curiosity or something else, he wasn't sure, but he decided to follow his instinct. When he arrived, sure enough, Ace was still there, alone in the moonlight, training.

Canna watched for a few moments before speaking up. "You've been at it for hours."

Ace's movements slowed, and he turned, his eyes flashing with surprise for just a second before he regained his usual, guarded expression. "What do you care?"

Canna walked closer, stopping just a few feet away. "It's not about caring. I'm just curious. Why train so hard when no one's watching?"

Ace clenched his jaw, the muscles in his neck tightening as he lowered his sword. "It's all I have left," he muttered.

Canna tilted his head, sensing there was more to the story. "What do you mean?"

Ace sighed, wiping the sweat from his brow as he finally spoke, his voice raw with emotion. "I hate this clan. I hate everything about it. The only reason I'm here is because of my brother. He was the real talent, the one who got scouted, the one everyone believed in. I was just the kid tagging along, a shadow behind him." His voice cracked slightly.

"But he's gone now. He died saving people on a mission. He gave his life to protect others, but this place... they talk about him like he was just another casualty. Just another number."

Canna listened quietly, his heart heavy as Ace continued. "We were orphans, my brother and I. We had no one else. He was everything to me, and now... now it's just me. And I don't belong here.

I never did."

There was a long silence between them, the only sound being the soft rustle of the night breeze. Then, Canna spoke, his voice steady but filled with understanding. "Pain and loss can drive people in ways nothing else can. But it's how you channel that pain that defines you. You have two choices: you can let it eat you alive, or you can let it push you to be stronger.

Strong enough to carry on the legacy your brother left behind."

Ace's eyes glistened as he looked down at the ground, the weight of his emotions pressing down on him. "I just... I don't know if I can do it. I'm not him."

"You don't have to be him," Canna said gently. "But you can honor him by becoming the best version of yourself. You think your brother would want you to give up?"

Ace shook his head, the tears now threatening to fall. "No... he wouldn't."

Canna placed a hand on Ace's shoulder. "Then don't. Keep going, keep pushing. You're not alone in this, and neither was he. His sacrifice meant something, and you're still here to make sure it wasn't in vain."

Ace swallowed hard, his chest tight as the tears finally spilled over. For the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to feel the full weight of his grief.

And in that moment, under the quiet of the night, Canna stood beside him, offering nothing but support, understanding, and the simple truth that sometimes, all it took to move forward was a little push from someone who understood the weight of loss.

The two of them stood there for a while longer, the silence between them now filled with an unspoken bond of shared pain.