Sanctuary: Safe Haven

The commotion spread like wildfire, echoing through the halls and sending waves of people flooding into the room. The sight before them was something they hadn't expected. Madam Sarella lay crumpled on the floor, still convulsing from the effects of Canna's lightning bolt, her large frame twitching involuntarily. For a moment, it felt as if time had stopped.

All eyes were fixed on the scene, especially the white-haired man standing amidst the chaos, along with Maggi, who seemed just as surprising to see standing at his side.

Then someone, though it wasn't clear who, screamed, "Get them!"

That was all it took. A flood of bodies rushed forward, all aiming to subdue Canna and Maggi. The room became a chaotic blur of movement. Maggi's fists ignited with flames, his knuckles glowing with heat as he stepped forward and began to unleash a flurry of powerful punches.

Each strike sent opponents reeling, his movements fluid and precise, the product of countless hours spent training under Vorgrim and Grimruk.

Canna, in contrast, moved with a calm detachment. His wind and water magic flowed through the room like a force of nature. He summoned gusts of wind to knock opponents off their feet, twisting currents of air that sent them crashing into one another. When the winds weren't enough, he conjured sharp jets of water, hitting with enough force to disorient but not to maim.

His magic was efficient, designed to incapacitate rather than harm, though the torrent of attacks left no room for error.

One by one, the charging Clan Varran members were sent sprawling across the floor. Some were knocked unconscious by Maggi's burning fists, while others were swept away by Canna's elemental magic. A group of guards burst into the room, weapons drawn, but they too were quickly overwhelmed.

Maggi's fists smashed through their defenses, sending guards flying with every strike, while Canna continued to manipulate the wind and water to disarm and incapacitate without breaking a sweat.

The clash intensified. Maggi's physical prowess shone through as he charged through the crowd, his fists blazing, sending sparks flying as they collided with armor and weapons. His training with the sanctuary's strongest warriors had sharpened his skills to a near-unmatched level, and now that strength was on full display.

Canna, on the other hand, kept things simple. He didn't need to use his more advanced techniques—just basic control over the elements was enough. Streams of water lashed out like whips, sending attackers flying, while gusts of wind disarmed swordsmen in an instant. The entire room was a whirlwind of bodies, with Clan Varran members being knocked out left and right.

In just over thirty minutes, nearly a hundred clan members were lying on the floor, groaning in pain or completely unconscious. The room looked like a battlefield, with bodies piled high in every direction.

Then, breaking the tension, came a slow, deliberate clapping. The sound cut through the air, silencing the groans and the heavy breathing of those who remained conscious.

From above, a figure descended gracefully, carried by the wind as her robes fluttered elegantly in the air. Both Canna and Maggi recognized her instantly.

"Old woman!" Canna called out with a grin.

"Elder Varya!" Maggi echoed, his voice filled with respect. Enjoy more content from empire

Elder Varya floated down, landing lightly on the ground. Her eyes scanned the room, her expression more curious than angry as she took in the sight of the small hill of bodies strewn about the room. She studied the devastation for a moment before turning her attention back to Canna and Maggi.

"So," she began, her tone calm but laced with amusement, "you're the one I gave the sword to. So much for not causing a ruckus, huh?"

Canna shrugged, unfazed. "Not really my intention. But I have to say, I'm a bit disappointed. From what I've heard, your clan is supposed to be full of battle-hardened warriors, but they break so easily. I didn't kill any of them, though, just put them to sleep for a while."

Varya smiled slightly, her eyes gleaming with interest. She already knew none of the clan members were dead. If they had been, her response would've been immediate and violent. Instead, she found herself intrigued by Canna's abilities. "Our clan leader, vice leader, and most of our elites are away on a very important expedition. Several of my students are on missions as well.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

If you were looking for a real challenge, you should have come to me first. What you've fought so far are mostly new recruits. Though I have to admit," she glanced at the guards scattered on the ground, "beating the guards is impressive."

Canna raised an eyebrow. "I don't think you'd be much of a challenge either," he said, a playful smile creeping onto his lips. "Where I come from, students are a reflection of their teacher. I'm not expecting much from you."

The entire room fell silent at Canna's words. Those who were still conscious stared at him in shock, unable to believe what they had just heard. Even Maggi stood frozen, his eyes wide as he processed Canna's bold statement.

Varya's smile grew wider, her expression turning more menacing. She let out a low chuckle, the sound like the calm before a storm.

"I see," she said slowly, her voice dripping with amusement. "If you're that confident, let's make this interesting. Let's put something at stake, Canna Yakane."

Canna laughed, tossing aside one of the clan members he had been holding by the collar. The man hit the ground with a grunt and didn't move.

"Fine," Canna replied, his voice brimming with anticipation. "It better be something worth it, though. After dealing with this disappointment,"—he gestured toward the unconscious bodies littering the floor—"I expect something worthwhile."

Varya glanced at Sarella, who was still lying on the ground, convulsing and groaning in pain. The woman had yet to regain full consciousness after being electrocuted and kicked through the wall. "Fair enough," Varya said, her eyes gleaming with a new intensity. "Let's go big, then."

With that, she turned to one of the nearest Clan Varran members, her voice authoritative. "This is an order—clean up this mess."

Then, without another word, she floated into the air, her robes billowing as the wind carried her higher. She glanced down at Canna with a smirk. "Let's go somewhere more suited for this. I don't like damaging the infrastructure."

Canna grinned and followed her into the sky, eager for what was to come.

Maggi, however, wasn't as lucky. Unable to fly, he let out a heavy sigh as he trudged toward the exit, enduring the stares from the remaining clan members as they watched him follow on foot.