Sanctuary: Safe Haven

Days drifted by in the dungeon's dark depths. Kael was the first to awaken, his eyes blinking open to the dim light of torches. Confused and groggy, he struggled to sit up, only to discover he was surrounded by strangers.

"Where... where am I?" Kael's voice trembled with fear as he looked around, his eyes wide with confusion.

Canna approached slowly, his expression gentle yet guarded. "You're safe now. We found you in the dungeon."

Kael's memory was a haze of pain and terror. He recalled being chased by low-calamity monsters, the overpowering presence of a great calamity, and then... darkness. Fear gripped him as he noticed Canna, a hooded figure with horns and a warrior with orc-like features.

Mortem's presence chilled him, while Vorgrim's gaze felt defeating as if hope were lost.

Canna, observing Kael's expression, thought it was his memories of being chased down by monsters that made him wary of Mortem and Vorgrim.

Just as Canna was about to speak, he heard a voice in his head mocking Kael's fear. "HAHAHAHA, look at this fool. He's trembling just from sensing your subordinates' aura. He might as well end it all right now."

A sudden realization dawned on Canna. He realized that Mortem and Vorgrim's auras had been active all along, affecting him to some extent as well. Quickly, Canna ordered them to suppress their auras.

"Mortem, Vorgrim, come in my shadows; your auras are scaring him, while at it train to suppress them so we can avoid things like this again in the future."

Mortem and Vorgrim exchanged nods. Born with strong, menacing auras, they had never before been tasked with suppressing them. However, given their master's command, they would do their utmost best to carry it on.

With Canna's subordinates gone, Kael felt as if weights were removed from his shoulders. He looked directly at Canna and asked in a fearful tone, "Who... who are you? And where am I?"

On Earth, Canna had encountered people like Kael before. Sometimes, new workers at the sanctuary would be terrified upon encountering lions for the first time. In such situations, it was crucial to approach them with care and patience to prevent further distress.

But just as he was about to respond, Kael tilted his head to the side and glanced behind Canna. Far in the distance, he could see a colossal eye with dark slits fixed on him.

"What... what is that?" Kael managed to stammer, his voice barely audible before darkness overwhelmed him again, and he slipped into unconsciousness.

Canna glanced to where Kael had been looking moments before and noticed Tonitrum staring in their direction.

Canna sighed and turned back to Kael. "I had the same reaction when I first saw him too. Anyway, let's discuss this later when you wake up again.'

_____________

After an unknown period, Kael began to awaken, his senses picking up the distant clash of weapons.

He sat up cautiously, the memory of those eyes he saw before losing consciousness lingering ominously. It wasn't just any monster's eye; the fear it instilled was something he can't put to words. Squinting in the dungeon's dim light, he gradually adjusted his vision. After a few moments, he can see in the distance a white-haired youth locked in combat with an orc-like creature with red skin.

Initially dismissing it, a realization struck him. "Why is that white-haired man covered in blood?"

Swiftly rising, he readied a spell to assist the man. Unsure of his surroundings or circumstances, his instincts compelled him to aid another human against a monster.

As he readied his spell, he heard the white-haired man shout, "Don't interfere! This is sparring!"

Kael was dumbfounded. Sparring? When your whole body is covered in blood? With more effort he could see deep bruises under Canna's skin.

Currently, Canna and Vorgrim were in the middle of a spar, Canna picked out a new weapon to use, a scythe.

Unfortunately, Vorgrim insisted that there was a more efficient yet brutal method to get the skill mastery for a scythe weapon—a "baptism of blood." With this method, Canna has to fight as if his life depended on it, despite Vorgrim's perplexing instructions. They had been sparring for two hours already, and Canna's body throbbed with pain, something he was already getting used to.

The sight of him drenched in blood led Kael to wonder if Canna was truly human.

The clash persisted while Kael observed from the sidelines, his mind filled with unanswered questions. His only option was to wait for the white-haired man to finish his sparring session in order to find answers.

Thirty minutes later, the battle reached its conclusion as Canna dropped to one knee, exhaustion etched across his face. As Kael watched, a figure suddenly materialized behind Canna, raising its palm towards his head.

Taking this as a signal, Kael rose to his feet and approached Canna cautiously. His mind brimmed with questions that needed answers before he could attain any sense of peace.

"Um... Sorry to interrupt, but I have some questions about where I am and wh—" Kael's words trailed off abruptly as the figure behind Canna turned to look at him, its gaze unnervingly intense.

"Stop it, Mortem," Canna intervened, turning his attention to Kael.

"You're on the lowest floor of the dungeon. I'm Canna Yakane," he gestured towards the red-skinned orc and the figure behind him. "These are my subordinates: the warrior Vorgrim and the one healing me is Mortem. Please, take a seat, and let's discuss."

As Kael mulled over his inquiries, he realized Canna was equally curious, if not more so, about their circumstances.

________

As Canna and Kael conversed, elsewhere on the dungeon floor, a black orc began to regain consciousness. Recalling the intense battle that should have ended his life, facing a monster of superior rank had pushed him to his limits. Despite his formidable strength, exhaustion from the dungeon's challenges had nearly overwhelmed him.

His gaze swept over the surroundings until it locked onto a figure with flowing black hair and red skin. Instantly, a surge of adrenaline coursed through him, stirring a primal urge for battle.

Glancing behind him, Vorgrim noticed that the black orc they had been caring for was now awake, staring at him intensely.