Sanctuary: Safe Haven

"Holy sh*t," Canna exclaimed as he took in the sight of his new room. It was comparable to a five-star hotel room on Earth! There were no air conditioner in his room or a bidet in the bathroom, but it was a vast improvement. This would be his first time sleeping in an actual bed! Not just that, there were also fruits and crackers in the center of his long wooden table.

His smile grew even wider when he pressed his palm on the bed; it was soft! Compared to the dungeon floors, he was now sleeping in an actual bed.

After marveling at the room for quite some time, Canna decided to take a bath. Although he had the cleanse spell to keep his body clean, it was still a refreshing experience to actually take a bath again. He enjoyed the warm water, feeling the grime and fatigue wash away.

Once clean, he summoned his three subordinates: Mortem, Vorgrim, and Grimruk. The room that had initially seemed spacious now felt smaller due to his subordinates' imposing heights. They had requested to see the room personally, and Canna saw no harm in indulging their curiosity.

Mortem, with his undead aura, examined the intricate designs of the room's furnishings, Vorgrim tested the bed's softness with a few heavy presses, and Grimruk admired the luxurious feel of the carpets under his feet. For a moment, the imposing figures looked almost childlike in their fascination.

Satisfied with their exploration, Canna changed into a fresh set of clothes and lay down on the bed. This was his first time lying on such a comfortable surface, and he had a good feeling he would be sleeping well for a long time.

After Two Hours

Canna sat up from his bed and sighed. Something just didn't feel right. Despite the comfort, something was missing. Hoping to clear his mind, he walked to the balcony of his room. From there, he had a nice view of the kingdom. With his sharp eyesight, he could see the townspeople still partying and enjoying their night.

Tonight was a celebration, but Canna had opted out. Kael had covered for him, telling everyone that Canna was too tired.

As he looked down, he noticed a beautiful garden just below his room. Without hesitation, he jumped from his balcony, a height of at least 100 feet. Using wind magic, he landed softly on the ground and made his way to the garden. Up close, the flowers were even more beautiful—so full of life. They were different from the flowers he had seen on Earth; some had two colors, and others had unusual shapes.

Canna was busy admiring the flowers when he heard footsteps approaching. He paid no mind, sensing that whoever it was posed no threat to him.

"Oh, I didn't expect someone to be here at this time," said a voice.

Canna turned to see a man, probably in his 40s. "I was admiring the flowers here. They all look good, properly taken care of."

The man laughed a little. "Well, thank you for appreciating my work. I've been working my whole life to make sure the royal garden is well taken care of, after all."

"Oh, so this is all your work then?" Canna asked.

"I can't possibly take all the credit," the man replied with a humble smile. "It's the work of my grandfather's father and his father. We have been in service to the king for generations."

Canna noticed the callouses on the man's hands and the traces of earth on his fingertips. "Tell me, what's the most interesting and rarest plant here?" Canna asked.

"That would take a long time. Are you not going to enjoy the party, young man?"

Canna shook his head. "Not at all. Now, tell me all about it."

Four Hours Later

Canna had a big smile on his face. The man, who was known as the royal gardener, had told him about a very interesting cursed plant called the "Forever Weed." According to the gardener, during the reign of the third king, a powerful witch came to the kingdom. For some reason, the witch wasn't pleased and cursed a couple of seeds to forever bloom.

That day, the kingdom of Avaloria was engulfed in massive weeds. Although the residents would cut it every time, the weed would keep growing. If left unattended, the weed would reach great heights. The king and his men dug the earth for days and nights to retrieve the seeds. Unfortunately, there was no way to destroy the seeds, so they were stored in the kingdom's treasury.

An idea formed in Canna's mind. He could ask the king for the Forever Weed seeds and use them as the main food source for his groundhogs. He couldn't possibly stop his journey every couple of weeks just to cut grass. By getting the seeds, Canna would solve one of the kingdom's headaches and his own problem of acquiring a stable food source for the groundhogs.

________________________

Canna made his way back to his room, feeling a sense of satisfaction and purpose. The conversation with the royal gardener had sparked an idea that could solve several problems at once. He entered his chambers and found Mortem, Vorgrim, and Grimruk.

"Master, did you find something interesting outside?" Mortem asked, sensing Canna's excitement.

"Yes, I did," Canna replied with a grin. "I think I found a solution to our groundhog food problem. I'll need to talk to the king about it tomorrow."

Vorgrim raised an eyebrow. "What's the plan, my liege?"

Canna sat down on the bed and began to explain the story of the Forever Weed. He detailed how the cursed seeds had caused havoc in the kingdom's past and how they were ultimately stored in the treasury because they couldn't be destroyed. He then shared his idea of using the seeds as a sustainable food source for the groundhogs.

"Imagine it," Canna said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "We plant the Forever Weed in a controlled environment within the domain. The groundhogs will have an endless supply of food, and we won't have to worry about constantly cutting grass. It's a win-win situation."

Grimruk nodded thoughtfully. "It's a clever idea, Master. The only challenge will be convincing the king to part with the seeds."
Enjoy new chapters from m-v l'e|m,p-y r

Canna smiled confidently. "I don't think it will be too hard. The king seems grateful for our help, and this could solve a longstanding problem for the kingdom as well."

As they discussed the logistics of implementing the plan, a knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Hamilton entered, bowing respectfully.

"Master Canna, I've been sent to inform you that the king requests your presence in the dining hall. He wishes to discuss some matters with you," Hamilton said.

Canna nodded. "Thank you, Hamilton. I'll be there shortly."

Hamilton bowed again and left the room. Canna turned to his subordinates. "Looks like the king wants to talk. Let's go see what he has to say."

The group made their way to the dining hall, where the king, Kael, and the grand mage were already seated. The room was adorned with ornate decorations and a long table filled with various dishes. The king gestured for Canna to sit next to him.

"Ah, Canna, I'm glad you could join us," the king said warmly. "We have much to discuss, including your plans for the future."

Canna nodded, taking a seat. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I actually have something important to discuss with you as well."

The king raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? What is it?"

Canna took a deep breath and began to explain his idea about the Forever Weed