Sanctuary: Safe Haven

Canna followed the man deeper into the orc settlement, descending into the lowest levels where the air grew cooler and the shadows lengthened. The flickering light from the torches on the walls cast eerie patterns as they walked, illuminating the rough-hewn stone of the underground tunnels.

As they moved further into the depths, the man accompanying Canna began to speak, his voice quiet but steady. "My name is Roderic, Canna-sama. I don't think I ever told you my story. You see, before all of this, I was an adventurer, a man who lived to explore the lands. I used to chart unknown territories, find hidden treasures, and uncover secrets buried by time.

It was the thrill of the unknown that drove me."

Canna glanced at Roderic, intrigued by the sudden openness. "Sounds like quite the life."

Roderic nodded, though his expression darkened as memories resurfaced. "It was—until I stumbled upon a gold mine deep in the mountains of Arenthia. I thought I'd struck it rich, that I'd finally found something that would secure my future. But when I brought the news to the king of Arenthia, he simply nodded and dismissed me.

I thought he'd reward me, give me something for my discovery, but instead… he had me locked up."

Canna stopped walking, turning to face Roderic fully. "Why?"

"To ensure that no one else knew about the mine," Roderic replied, bitterness creeping into his voice. "The king wanted to keep the wealth for himself, and he couldn't risk the information spreading. So, he threw me into the dungeons, left me to rot with the knowledge that my life's work had been stolen from me. It was the lowest point of my life, Canna-sama. I was trapped, my spirit broken.

I thought I'd die down there, forgotten and alone."

There was a long pause as the weight of Roderic's words hung in the air. The two of them stood in the dim light of the tunnel, the distant sounds of the orc settlement faintly echoing around them.

"But then," Roderic continued, his voice softening, "you came. You freed me from that place, from that darkness. You gave me a new life, a chance to do what I love again. If it weren't for you, I'd still be down there, or worse…"

Canna looked into Roderic's eyes, seeing the depth of the man's gratitude and pain. He placed a hand on Roderic's shoulder, his gaze steady and sincere. "Roderic, I'm glad you survived. I'm glad you pushed through. It must have been hard."

Unknowingly, tears began to well up in Roderic's eyes, spilling down his cheeks. He hadn't just been freed from a dungeon; Canna had given him a new purpose, a new life. The emotions he had buried for so long bubbled to the surface, overwhelming him.

Canna, ever perceptive, gently brushed it off. "Your life is your own, Roderic. Do whatever makes you happy. You're not indebted to me—just live in a way that you have no regrets."

Roderic nodded furiously, wiping the tears from his face. "Thank you, Canna-sama. I'll do everything I can to repay this second chance, even if you say I'm not in debt. I'll make sure to live a life worthy of the one you've given me."

Canna offered a small, reassuring smile before they resumed their descent. The conversation had left a mark, deepening the bond between them. It wasn't just about duty or loyalty; it was about gratitude, and the freedom to shape one's own destiny.

After a few more minutes, they reached the lowest part of the settlement, a massive underground chamber that stretched far beyond what Canna had anticipated. He stopped in his tracks, eyes widening at the sheer size of the place.

"Wow," Canna muttered, taking in the sight before him. "They're like big turkeys."

Roderic, standing beside him, tilted his head in curiosity. "Canna-sama, what are turkeys?"

Canna chuckled, the tension easing from his shoulders. "They're birds from where I come from. They're similar to the Rockfowls, but smaller—maybe about half the size. These Rockfowls look like they're in good health, though. Impressive."

Roderic nodded, still trying to picture what a turkey might look like. "Indeed, they're strong and well-fed. The orcs must have been raising them for their own sustenance, perhaps even as mounts in battle. But there's more to see, Canna-sama. Let me show you the direwolves next."

They walked for another five minutes, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the vast emptiness of the tunnels. As they neared the direwolves' pen, the air grew thick with tension. The first thing Canna noticed was the size of the creatures—each wolf was twice as large as any wolf he had seen before, their hulking forms almost too big for the cages that held them.

The wolves snarled and snapped at the bars, their eyes glowing with a fierce, predatory light.

"These are no ordinary wolves," Canna remarked, his voice low. "They're enormous."

Roderic nodded grimly. "They're much larger than any wolf I've encountered. The orcs must have bred them for war—look how they're chained, some even double-chained. They're clearly dangerous, especially to newcomers like us."

Canna studied the wolves, noting the variety of colors in their fur—grays, blacks, browns, each one more imposing than the last. But what drew his attention was the large gate at the end of the room, set apart from the rest of the pen. It was fortified, more so than the other enclosures.

Roderic followed Canna's gaze and spoke in a hushed tone. "It appears the previous orc leader, Grakthar, wanted to tame the wolf behind that gate. From what we've gathered, it's an exceptionally powerful creature—possibly a true-calamity wolf, or even a disaster rank."

Canna's eyes narrowed as he considered the implications. If this wolf was indeed a disaster rank then this encounter would probably be... disastrous. The thought of walking into that room blind didn't sit well with him.

"I'm not taking any chances," Canna said firmly. He opened a red portal back to the sanctuary and summoned Flora and Grimruk, both true-calamity ranks in their own right, to accompany him. Mortem, ever vigilant, remained in the shadows, ready to strike at a moment's notice.

With his reinforcements at his side, Canna turned back to the gate, the weight of what lay behind it pressing down on him. He took a deep breath, preparing himself for what was to come.

The massive gate loomed before them, the anticipation hanging thick in the air. Behind it, the unknown awaited—a creature of immense power, perhaps even beyond what they had imagined.

The next move could change everything.