Sanctuary: Safe Haven

Saint Dravos nodded at Canna, who surveyed the crowd that had gathered to greet him.

"Thank you for the warm welcome," Canna began, grinning widely, "but it's not yet time for goodbyes! I still have some shopping to do!"

The crowd exchanged confused glances, and Varya, the elder of Clan Varran, stepped forward, raising an eyebrow. "Shopping? What shopping?"

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Moments later, the grand gates of Clan Varran swung open. The bustling streets of the kingdom grew still as people stopped in their tracks, craning their necks to see what was going on. To their astonishment, the first to exit the gates was none other than Kargan, the guild leader himself.

His stern expression gave the scene an air of gravity, and soon after, more and more members of Clan Varran followed behind.

At the center of this intimidating entourage was Canna, surrounded by ten of his sanctuary warriors, their gleaming white robes drawing gasps from the crowd. Beside Canna were Dravos and Vorgrim, walking side by side. The sight of such powerful figures all moving together had the citizens murmuring anxiously.

After all, it wasn't every day that the guild master, the saint of the clan, and the elites marched through the streets like this.

To add to the bewilderment, Canna was grinning ear to ear, cheerfully recounting tales of his recent adventures to Dravos and Vorgrim, as if the procession was nothing more than a casual stroll.

"Is this even necessary?" Lira, the vice clan leader, whispered to Kargan as they walked alongside the group. Her voice was a mix of confusion and exhaustion.

Kargan sighed, casting a sideways glance at Canna, who was enthusiastically describing his battle against an Earth Drake to the others. "I'd rather do this," Kargan muttered, "than let that monster roam freely through the kingdom. Who knows what he'll do next?"

Lira chuckled softly, but Kargan's eyes remained serious as he continued. "In just two weeks, he's managed to wage war against the Black Thorn, the biggest underground faction in the kingdom, and then proceeded to clash with other clans. He's a wild card, Lira. A powerful one. I can't have him roaming the streets unsupervised."

As they walked through the city, it didn't take long for their presence to draw significant attention. Crowds gathered on the sides of the streets, whispers spreading like wildfire. The sight of the warriors in their pristine white robes was enough to remind everyone of the battle against the Black Thorn.

Murmurs of awe and concern rippled through the spectators as they recognized the warriors responsible for bringing down the notorious syndicate.

News of their march quickly reached the other clans and even the royal palace, causing ripples of curiosity and unease. The people watched, captivated by the sight of such an unusual procession moving through the streets. It looked more like a military parade than a shopping trip, and no one knew quite what to make of it.

Canna, completely oblivious to the stir he was causing, was having the time of his life. They moved from one shop to the next, with Canna eagerly entering each store to collect the wares he had on his list. His excitement was palpable, and he seemed to revel in the chance to explore the kingdom's market.

At one shop, Canna purchased an array of high-quality metals and materials for the sanctuary's dwarves, talking animatedly with the shopkeeper about the craftsmanship. In another, he cleared out an entire shelf of rare herbs and spices, much to the delight of Kael's assistant, who was jotting down every item as Canna gleefully inspected it all.

The shop owners could hardly believe their luck, as their shelves emptied within minutes of Canna's arrival.

As they continued to move from one store to the next, the crowd followed, growing larger and more curious with each stop. It wasn't long before every street corner was buzzing with the sight of the sanctuary warriors, their white robes gleaming in the sunlight, and Clan Varran's finest soldiers, all accompanying a man who seemed to be buying everything in sight.

"He's buying out half the kingdom," one bystander whispered, watching as Canna handed over another stack of gold coins in exchange for a cartload of goods.

"I thought they were preparing for war!" another murmured, eyes wide at the sight of such powerful figures engaged in something as mundane as shopping.

"I heard he took down an entire underground syndicate," someone added, their tone a mix of awe and fear. "And now he's buying spices?"

The juxtaposition of Canna's carefree shopping spree and the serious, battle-ready presence of Clan Varran's elite made for an almost comical scene. Wherever Canna went, people stared in disbelief, unsure whether to be nervous or amused by the sight of such powerful individuals gathering supplies as though it were an ordinary day.

"What's next on the list?" Canna asked, his voice full of energy as he handed over a small fortune to another merchant.

Kael's assistant, who had been diligently following behind him, checked the list. "We still need some enchanted fabrics, master, as well as a shipment of mana-infused stones for the sanctuary's defenses."

"Perfect!" Canna clapped his hands together, clearly thrilled by the prospect of continuing his spree.

The procession continued, drawing ever more attention as they moved through the streets. Despite the tension in the air, the warriors of Clan Varran and the sanctuary troops maintained their disciplined formation, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. Yet, even they couldn't help but be entertained by Canna's infectious enthusiasm.

By the time they reached the last shop on the list, Canna had acquired more supplies than they could carry, and a convoy of carts was already being prepared to transport the goods back to the sanctuary. Despite the enormity of his purchases, Canna seemed entirely unfazed, already discussing plans for the next stop on his journey.

As the group finally prepared to return to Clan Varran, the streets buzzed with excitement. It wasn't every day that the kingdom witnessed such a spectacle—a powerful leader, known for his strength and unpredictability, casually strolling through the city, surrounded by warriors, while shopping for supplies.

"Well," Canna said, grinning at Dravos and Vorgrim as they made their way back, "that was fun! I should shop more often!"

The two warriors exchanged glances, both amused and slightly exhausted by the ordeal.

As they passed through the gates of Clan Varran, the weight of their purchases in tow, one thing was clear—wherever Canna went, he left an impression, whether he was on the battlefield or in the marketplace.