Sanctuary: Safe Haven

Chapter 331 Short Skirmish

The four men bound by Flora's enchanted vines stood defiantly in front of Canna. Their faces were hardened, sneering at him with the confidence of men who had nothing left to lose. Canna could feel his patience wearing thin as the minutes passed, his questions met with nothing but silence or mocking jabs.

"You really think we're just going to spill everything because you asked nicely?" one of the men spat, his face twisted in a smug grin.

Canna narrowed his eyes. "I've seen more dangerous things than you," he replied, his voice calm yet simmering with a dangerous undertone.

The men exchanged glances, clearly unfazed. "You've got nothing on us. We won't break," another man growled.

Canna's fingers twitched in annoyance. The sky above began to darken, swirling clouds gathering overhead as his mood soured further. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and an eerie stillness settled over the area. The winds began to pick up, whipping through the trees as if responding to Canna's growing irritation.

"You're wasting my time," Canna muttered, his voice dangerously low.

The man who had spoken first laughed, defiant. "Go ahead, kill us! You'll get nothing. We're dead either way, and I can promise you we'll take your secrets to the grave."

Canna's lips curved into a dark smile. "You misunderstand. Death isn't the end. Not for you."

He turned his head slightly. "Mortem, take care of them."

From the shadows, Mortem stepped forward, his presence cold and menacing. His skeletal frame, clad in ethereal black armor, sent chills through the spines of the captives. The air around him seemed to grow colder as he approached, his eyes glowing with the promise of death and something far worse.

The men's bravado crumbled in an instant, their smirks wiped from their faces. One of them began to stammer, "W-wait! What are you doing—"

But it was too late. With a wave of Mortem's hand, the souls of the four men were ripped from their bodies, their lifeless forms collapsing to the ground. Dark tendrils of energy wrapped around their corpses, pulling them into a twisted rebirth.

Moments later, the four men rose as undead, their eyes now empty sockets glowing with a faint blue light. Their defiance had been erased, replaced with Mortem's control.

"Speak," Canna commanded, his voice steady.@@@@

After cutting through several mercenaries, Canna kicked open a large wooden door, revealing a dimly lit staircase. The stench of captivity filled the air as they descended into the dark, musty basement. At the bottom, huddled in a corner, were over a hundred children—dark elf, light elf, human, and other races, all scared and trembling.

Canna's heart clenched. "You're safe now," he said softly, summoning a red portal. "You're going home."

One by one, the children were led through the portal, disappearing into the safety of the sanctuary where Flora and the other guardians awaited them.

With the children safe, Canna turned his attention back to Lord Lyrus. The noble had been bound by the shock troops, his face pale with fear. Canna grabbed him by the collar and hoisted him up.

"You've caused enough pain," Canna said coldly.

With a flick of his wrist, Canna summoned another portal, dragging Lord Lyrus and his remaining men through it. They emerged in the sanctuary clearing, where the reunited dark elf and light elf families stood, tears of joy in their eyes as they embraced their children.

Canna threw Lyrus to the ground in front of the elves. "Here's the man responsible for your suffering," he announced, his voice echoing across the clearing.

The light and dark elves stared at the bound noble, their expressions a mix of disbelief, anger, and relief. The elders, now understanding the truth, exchanged glances, their long-standing hatred for one another fading in the light of the real enemy.

"This man orchestrated everything," Canna continued. "He wanted you to destroy each other while he profited. Well, that ends today."

The elves murmured among themselves, but their rage toward each other was no longer as sharp. They saw the truth laid bare before them.

As Canna stood over the fallen noble, his eyes narrowed in disgust. "Noctis, handle him. Make sure he doesn't ever try something like this again."

Noctis bowed slightly, his eyes glinting with a dangerous light. "As you wish, Master."

With that, the reunion between the elves continued, but the seeds of peace had been planted. Canna glanced at the skies, relieved that at least one problem had been solved.

The celebration could continue, but the sanctuary was not done growing. There would always be more to protect, more to fight for. And Canna, as always, would see it through to the end.