Sanctuary: Safe Haven

Canna stepped inside the Silver Wolf Clan base, and immediately, all eyes were drawn to him. The room grew quieter, a ripple of unease passing through the gathered crowd. His presence commanded attention, not just because of his white robes and regal air, but because of the power that emanated from him.

"I'm looking for your master," Canna spoke with tired eyes, his voice calm yet firm, as if he was making a request that required no refusal.

At first, the room was filled with silence, followed by bursts of laughter. The tension broke, and one of the men—a hulking figure with bulging muscles—stepped forward, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Oi, stranger, you don't just come in here demanding our master. There are protocols—"

Before the man could finish his sentence, he was suddenly airborne, flung across the room like a ragdoll, crashing into the far wall with a sickening thud. The laughter died instantly, replaced by a cold, heavy silence. Canna's eyes remained fixed on the crowd as he let out just a fraction of his aura, revealing his status as a great-transcendent. The sheer weight of his presence caused the others to instinctively step back, their expressions quickly shifting from mockery to fear. They knew in that moment that this man—no, this being—could end them all with a mere thought.

The sound of a door creaking open broke the silence, and everyone turned to see a figure emerging from the shadows at the far end of the room. Standing tall, with long, flowing white hair and fox-like ears, his muscular frame adorned in traditional garb, the clan master of the Silver Wolf Clan made his entrance. He eyed Canna from top to bottom, his sharp gaze assessing the visitor with intrigue and caution.

"Interesting," the man said, his voice calm but authoritative. "I'm the clan master, Vernon. I must say, your aura is quite something. You have my attention."

Canna nodded slightly in acknowledgment. "Good to meet you, Vernon. I heard from the adventurer's guild that you have some high-ranking missions in your possession. Do you have a spare one for me?"

Vernon blinked in surprise. He had expected something more from this powerful individual, but Canna's request was purely for a mission. "You came all the way here just for a mission?" Vernon thought incredulously. Regardless, he composed himself and answered. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire

"I do have multiple high-tier missions," Vernon admitted. "However, I can't simply give them to you, stranger."

"And why is that?" Canna asked.

"First, I don't know you. These missions are entrusted to us because we are responsible for the safety of the village. If we fail, the entire town could be in danger. Second, you're not a member of my clan, so you don't have the authority to take on our tasks."

Canna rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I see. Is there no other way?"

Vernon raised an eyebrow, intrigued but cautious. "If you join us, I'll offer you a good raise and a proper place to stay. All I ask in return is your loyalty and follow my orders."

At that moment, the air around them began to change. The light dimmed, and shadows seemed to stretch across the room as if the darkness itself was slowly devouring the walls. It started subtly, but Vernon and his men soon realized something was amiss. A low, mocking laughter filled the room, coming from behind Canna. A shadow detached itself from his form, taking the shape of a figure far more menacing than anything they had ever encountered.

It was Mortem, Canna's firstborn. His skeletal form and pitch-black aura sent chills down the spines of everyone in the room. "A mere bug like you dares to offer my master a position?" Mortem's voice dripped with disdain. "You speak as if you are some great power, yet compared to my master, you are nothing but a frog in a well."

Mortem's aura, dark and suffocating, washed over the entire room. Everyone, including Vernon, was frozen in place, their bodies unwilling to move under the crushing weight of Mortem's presence. Vernon, who was a mid-transcendent, felt his heart race as he gripped his weapon tightly. He had faced many powerful beings before, but this... this was a new level of fear.

"Alright, Mortem, that's enough." Canna's voice cut through the tension as he casually dismissed the oppressive aura. "Let's go. No need to terrorize them further."

With a final glance at Vernon, Mortem slipped back into Canna's shadow, disappearing as swiftly as he had appeared. Some of the Silver Wolf members fainted from the sheer pressure they had been subjected to, while others slumped into their seats, breathing erratically. Vernon, for his part, remained rooted to the spot, clutching his weapon as his mind struggled to process what had just happened. The overwhelming aura of Mortem lingered in his mind long after Canna had left the building.

Outside, Fina was giving Gil some basic lessons in swordsmanship. She was methodical, pointing out his errors with the precision of a seasoned warrior. "Your foot placement is wrong," she said, nudging his legs into the correct position. "And your stance—it's too stiff. You need to relax your elbows, or your movements will be awkward and slow."

Gil, drenched in sweat, panted heavily as he tried to keep up. He was a determined student but clearly lacked the experience and finesse needed to wield a weapon effectively.

Canna approached them with a smile. "How's it going, Fina?"

Fina looked up at him, her eyes glinting with amusement. "All good, Canna-sama. He has no idea what he's doing, but he's willing to learn. And that's always a good start."

Canna chuckled and looked down at Gil, who was lying on his back, panting from the effort. "Canna," Gil said between breaths, "so that's your name, mister."

Canna nodded. "That's right."

Gil sat up, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "What did you do in there?" he asked, referring to Canna's visit to the Silver Wolf Clan.

"I was trying to get a high-tier mission," Canna explained, "but they declined, saying it's only for their clan members. A bit unfortunate, but not really a loss."

Gil pondered for a moment before sitting up straighter. "Why don't you just start your own clan then?" he asked innocently. "That way, you can take the missions yourself."

Canna blinked, surprised by the suggestion. A slow smile crept across his face as the idea took root. Gil's innocent question had sparked something in him—something big. "Start my own clan..." he murmured thoughtfully.

Unknowingly, because of a passing remark from a young boy and the intrusiveness of a certain someone, the world of Sepra was about to witness the birth of one of the strongest clan to exist in it's world.