Sanctuary: Safe Haven

As Dravos finally arrived, donning the newly tailored white robes of the sanctuary, he moved around experimentally, testing the fabric. The lightweight material, easy to move in and highly flexible, allowed him to feel more agile despite his large frame. He nodded in appreciation, already sensing how the new uniform would serve him well in battle and daily life.

Perched on his shoulder, a small Noctis clone directed Dravos to the location where Canna awaited. Upon his arrival, Canna greeted him with a thumbs up. "Looks good," Canna said with a grin. "Sorry for not giving you the grand welcome you deserve. There should be a feast and whatnot, but duty never stops. Anyway, let's get ready!"

Dravos nodded in understanding. "I understand. I was once a leader too, Canna. So, where to now?"

Canna chuckled and summoned a red swirling portal. He smirked as he glanced at Dravos. "To be honest, I don't know exactly. All I know is it's somewhere in the East. We're meeting up with my shock troops and a diplomat. There's a potential recruit—about a thousand dwarves. That's all I've got."

Dravos raised an eyebrow but nodded, following Canna as they stepped through the portal together.

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The moment they exited the portal, Canna and Dravos found themselves surrounded by darkness. The air was thick with dampness, and the echo of their footsteps suggested they were in some sort of tunnel or cavern. Though visibility was limited, both of them could sense a faint light coming from ahead, perhaps at the end of the tunnel.

Dravos scanned the area cautiously. "Where exactly are we?"

Before Canna could reply, a voice sounded from behind them. "Greetings, Canna-sama."

They both turned to see a figure kneeling in one knee—a woman dressed in the white robes of the sanctuary's shock troops. Canna recognized her immediately.

"Kaida," Canna said with a smirk. "Long time no see. Good work finding this location."

Kaida, the female beastman known for her top-tier affinity with poison, raised her head and smiled slightly. "Thank you for your praise, Canna-sama. Please follow me. The dwarves' base is located below this tunnel."

Without further delay, Kaida led the way. The tunnel was dark, with the air growing colder as they moved deeper into the earth. Their footsteps echoed through the confined space, and every so often, the sound of dripping water reverberated from unseen sources. The further they walked, the more the atmosphere grew heavier, as if the walls themselves were closing in on them.

Dravos glanced around, his instincts sharp. "This place... it feels like it's been abandoned for a long time."

Canna nodded in agreement but kept silent, sensing that there was more to uncover.

After a few minutes, they reached what appeared to be a dead end—a solid wall of stone blocking their path. Dravos frowned, but Kaida stepped forward confidently. She pressed her hand against a random stone in the wall, and with a low rumble, a hidden mechanism activated. The stone wall began to shift, sliding away to reveal a secret passage beyond.

"Wow, that's secretive," Canna remarked, impressed. Dravos raised an eyebrow, equally intrigued.

Kaida led them through the now-revealed pathway, and soon they emerged into a large underground settlement. Canna and Dravos were met with a remarkable sight—houses made entirely of rock, arranged in orderly rows. Dwarves, small but sturdy, moved about in the open space, but their expressions were solemn. The air was thick with an unspoken tension, and the usual bustling energy that Canna had come to expect from dwarves was absent.

It was as if a curtain of depression had fallen over the entire settlement, dulling the vibrancy that should have filled such a place. Canna could feel it immediately—a heaviness in the atmosphere that couldn't be explained easily.

"What's with the mood?" Canna muttered, frowning slightly.

Kaida led them through the settlement, up to a grand stone palace. The moment they entered, four more shock troops wearing the sanctuary's uniform knelt down in respect. Along with them was Yoggic, the dwarf who had been serving as the diplomat for this particular mission.

Canna waved them off. "It's alright. Stand up." As they all rose to their feet, Canna's gaze swept across the room. "So, what's with the funereal atmosphere?"

Yoggic stepped forward, his expression grim. "Canna-sama, this here is Balin," he gestured to a dwarf with an eyepatch standing nearby, "the leader of the dwarves in this settlement. He'll explain the situation."

Balin stepped forward, his single eye filled with determination despite the obvious hardship his people had endured. "Canna-sama," he began, his voice deep and raspy, "we are honored by your presence, and we've long heard of your sanctuary. It's why we're eager to join you. But... we've been trapped here."

Canna's eyes narrowed slightly. "Trapped?"

Balin nodded solemnly. "There's a pack of wyverns nesting above our settlement. They came in about two months ago, and ever since then, we haven't been able to leave. Every attempt to gather resources or leave for trade has been met with death. We've lost too many already, and our supplies are running thin."

Canna folded his arms, considering the situation. "Wyverns, huh? How many?"

"At least a hundred," Balin replied, his voice tense. "And their leader is particularly aggressive—a larger wyvern we haven't seen before, possibly a mutation. It's made everything worse. We've been stuck here for months, and morale has taken a heavy hit. We're craftsmen, builders... not fighters. Our people are eager to get back to work, but..."

"They can't," Yoggic finished for him, frustration evident in his voice. "Not until those beasts are dealt with."

Canna let out a low whistle, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "That explains why the mood here feels so... bleak," he said, glancing around at the subdued dwarves scattered across the settlement. "Fear's been eating at you all for too long."

Balin nodded, his one good eye reflecting the strain his people had been under. "We've been living in fear for far too long, Canna-sama. We're ready to join your sanctuary because we know it's a chance at a new beginning. A chance to work, to build, to create again. But first, we need help getting out of this hole."

Canna's grin widened, and his eyes gleamed with excitement. "Well, then. That's interesting. I haven't seen a real-life wyvern before," he said with a smirk, his casual attitude surprising the dwarves around him. "Should be a good start."

Dravos, standing beside him, cracked his knuckles, an eager glint in his eyes. "Wyverns, huh? Sounds like my kind of fight."

Canna shot Dravos a grin, then turned back to Balin. "Don't worry. We'll take care of those wyverns. Actually, you guys can start preparing to leave. No need to wait."

Balin blinked in surprise. "Now? You want us to leave now? But how?" His voice trembled slightly at the suddenness of Canna's decision.

Without missing a beat, Canna waved his hand dismissively, his confidence unshaken. "Yoggic, tell them how. We've got portals. Your people can migrate to the sanctuary today if you're ready. I'll deal with the wyverns while you get everyone together."

Yoggic, standing beside the stunned Balin, gave a reassuring nod. "Canna-sama speaks the truth, Balin. His sanctuary has the means to transport large groups instantly. The portal system is... something to behold."

Balin's eyes widened further as he tried to process the information. The weight of his people's plight had left him doubtful of easy solutions, and the idea of a portal whisking them away to safety seemed too good to be true.

Canna's grin softened as he noticed Balin's hesitation. "Look, Balin. I understand it sounds unreal, but trust me. We've done this before, and I've got my best shock troops here to ensure everything goes smoothly. While I take care of the wyverns, you can focus on preparing your people for the journey. Sound like a plan?"

Balin glanced at Yoggic, who gave him an encouraging nod, then back at Canna. Slowly, a look of determination crossed his face. "Alright... I trust you, Canna-sama. If you say it can be done, then we'll begin preparing immediately."

"That's the spirit," Canna replied, clapping Balin on the shoulder. "Get your people ready. This is a new beginning for you all."

Balin bowed slightly, his voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Canna-sama. We won't forget this."
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"Save your thanks for later," Canna replied with a smile,

With that, Yoggic began giving instructions to the dwarves, organizing them for the journey while Kaida and the other shock troops readied themselves for the upcoming battle.

As the dwarves moved to prepare for their migration, Dravos turned to Canna, his hands resting on his hips. "So, what's the plan for these wyverns?"

Canna stretched his arms, his grin returning. "I'll take a look at them first."