Sanctuary: Safe Haven

A full month had passed since the grand celebration, a time of unity and reflection for all within Canna's sanctuary. Today, however, marked a turning point. Kael, Canna's right hand, had approached him earlier in the week, informing him that several inhabitants of the sanctuary wished to speak with him formally. Canna, always eager to hear his people out, had agreed without hesitation.

Now, the time had come for that important meeting.

The past month had been productive for Canna. He spent most of his time honing his skills and deepening his bond with his summons. His class, Beast Covenant, was built around forming unbreakable connections with powerful beasts, and it had been particularly rewarding as of late.

Stormbringer, the ancient apex dragon who had slumbered for months, was finally fully awake. While still young by dragon standards, Stormbringer's mere presence was awe-inspiring. Canna had noticed him spending more time near the Verdant Peak's third mountain, a towering peak filled with energy, and through their shared bond, he could tell the dragon was drawn to it.

It was as though the mountain resonated with Stormbringer's very essence. Canna quickly spread the word: the third mountain was now Stormbringer's territory, and any who wandered there were to tread carefully.

Stormrend, the three-headed hydra, remained in a deep sleep, growing and gathering strength. Canna could feel the creature's latent power, knowing that when it awoke, it would be a force unlike any other.

Meanwhile, Stormtusk and his herd of thunder mammoths roamed freely across the revitalized Amazon region. The once barren land had blossomed into a lush paradise, teeming with life. There were now vast forests, winding rivers, and expansive grasslands, all of which Stormtusk's herd made their playground.

As for Nyx, the shadow bear, he had grown comfortable in his role as Mira's companion. The massive bear remained a silent guardian in the shadows, always at Mira's side. Canna had long since stopped worrying about Nyx's wandering; the bond between the bear and Mira was deep, and he knew the two were inseparable.

But amidst all this, Solara's mission had taken a promising turn. After weeks of searching, Canna and Noctis had finally made contact with a member of her long-lost pack: a scout. While the full pack had not yet been found, Noctis was already on the trail, his clones working tirelessly to track them. The moment the pack was found, Canna and Solara would set out to reunite her with her kin. Stay tuned to empire

With these thoughts in mind, Canna made his usual rounds around the sanctuary, checking in on the various inhabitants and ensuring everything was running smoothly before the meeting. The sanctuary, as ever, was a place of constant activity.

By mid-afternoon, Canna entered the Great Hall, where the meeting was to be held. The hall was a grand chamber, its walls adorned with murals of past battles and victories, its ceiling high and vaulted, letting in rays of soft sunlight. Already, the room was filled with the leaders of the sanctuary, each waiting for the meeting to begin.

Thrain, the head of the dwarves and the master of construction, sat at the far end of the table, his grizzled face betraying no emotion. Beside him was Vellis, the head of the researchers. A tall, thin woman with sharp eyes, Vellis was known for her insatiable curiosity and her relentless pursuit of knowledge.

Across from her was Jorin, the head of the maintenance team, a burly man with hands calloused from years of hard labor. His team ensured that the sanctuary's infrastructure remained in pristine condition despite the rapid growth it had experienced.

Near Jorin was Eira, the head of the teaching team, who had been responsible for educating the sanctuary's younger inhabitants and training new recruits. Her presence was essential, given how much the sanctuary had grown recently.

Of course, Kael was present as well, standing near the center of the room. And, flanking the hall's edges were all of Canna's most trusted subordinates. Each leader and subordinate had played a crucial role in the sanctuary's development, their expertise keeping everything in balance as the territory grew.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The only person missing was the head of the meeting: Canna.

With a soft ripple in the air, Canna appeared out of thin air, stepping into the room as though he had always been there. Immediately, all heads bowed respectfully in his direction as he made his way to the head of the table, taking his seat with calm authority. His subordinates positioned themselves behind him, ready and attentive.

Canna cleared his throat, his voice steady but warm. "Good day, everyone. I hope all is well. Let's get to it—what's on the agenda?"

Kael stepped forward, his expression serious. "The heads have something crucial to discuss with you today, Canna. As you know, the sanctuary has grown significantly. Actually, calling it 'significant' would be an understatement—it's grown massively. We need to expand."

Canna raised an eyebrow. "Expand? In what way? Haven't we just undergone a huge expansion with the domain merge?"

Kael shook his head. "Not the land, Canna. The people. We need more manpower. The sanctuary is just too vast now. We've all come to a unanimous decision: we need to bring in more people, more inhabitants."

The heads of the various departments nodded in agreement, each one recognizing the growing strain on their resources.

Kael continued, "The Amazon area has expanded, and now, with the merger of Arborath's domain, we've gained even more territory—territory that's teeming with resources and potential, but we lack the hands to manage it. There's a lot of ground to cover."

Canna leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. It was true. The sanctuary had grown beyond anything he could have predicted. The influx of new creatures, especially the Blossom Shells and the inhabitants of Arborath's domain, had been a blessing, but it also presented a logistical challenge. The land was rich and fertile, filled with life, but there were simply too few people to oversee it all.

"The direwolves are patrolling, and we've got Noctis' network keeping watch," Canna mused aloud, "but you're right. The land has outgrown our current population. We'll need more people to settle here, to manage the resources and keep the sanctuary safe."

Kael nodded. "Exactly. We've stretched ourselves thin. Even with the shock troops and our guardians, we're at capacity. And we need to think about the future. With this much space and so few inhabitants, we're vulnerable."

Canna's gaze swept the room, taking in the faces of the leaders and his subordinates. Each of them had given their all to build and maintain the sanctuary, but the time had come to take the next step. Expansion wasn't just a good idea—it was necessary.

"Alright," Canna said, his voice firm. "We'll do it. We'll expand. Let's start planning how we're going to bring more people in. We'll need to be selective, though. We can't just bring in anyone—we need people who will fit in here, who will respect the sanctuary and everything we've built."

Kael smiled, relieved. "We already have some ideas on that front. We'll work on drafting up a plan and bring it to you for approval."

Canna nodded. "Good. Let's make it happen."

With that, the meeting continued, but the decision had been made. The sanctuary was about to enter a new chapter—one of even greater growth and expansion. And with Canna at the helm, there was no telling just how vast and powerful their domain would become.