Sanctuary: Safe Haven

Varya watched as Canna descended from the treetops with quiet grace, his white hair catching the sunlight as he approached.

Sera, still catching her breath from their sparring match, looked toward the man curiously, her brow furrowing slightly. As her eyes roved over him, however, her sharp gaze quickly shifted to one of mild disdain. From his clothes, she could immediately tell he wasn't someone of noble standing, nor did he seem like a typical warrior.

His attire was that of a common traveler—simple, nondescript, and practical. Yet something about him felt… different.

But what caught Sera's attention the most was that he was barefoot.

"Who walks through these forests barefoot?" Sera thought to herself, slightly taken aback by the oddity. The rugged terrain of the northern wilderness was no place for bare feet, yet this stranger moved with an unsettling ease.

Despite his lack of footwear, his steps were completely silent, and even though he had just revealed himself, something about him still seemed strangely… elusive, like he wasn't all there.

Canna moved closer, stopping about ten feet away from the two women. His hands were raised in a non-threatening gesture, and a soft smile touched his lips, polite but with a hint of apology. His entire demeanor was relaxed, calm, almost as if he hadn't just been caught watching a sparring session that was none of his business.

"Impressive technique," Canna began, his voice smooth and unhurried. "Sorry for watching. I have no malice, just curiosity. I'll be on my way now."

He turned slightly, already preparing to leave without a fuss. But Varya's sharp voice cut through the air before he could take another step.

"Wait." The authority in her voice was undeniable. It wasn't just a request—it was a command. Canna paused, his body still, but there was a calmness in the way he responded to her that betrayed no nervousness.

Varya then glanced at Sera, who was still watching Canna with suspicion. "Go back and finish your patrols for the day," she said, her tone even but firm.

Sera's eyes flashed with frustration. "But I'm not yet done!" she protested, her voice laced with the defiance of someone who hated having their training cut short, especially by a stranger. The intensity of the sparring had left her feeling like there was still so much more to learn, so much to prove.

Varya didn't respond immediately. She didn't need to. Instead, she fixed her student with a cold, unwavering stare, her blue eyes piercing and unrelenting. That was all it took.

With an audible huff, Sera turned away, shooting a glare toward Canna before walking off. Her irritation was palpable, her eyes narrowed in clear disapproval of the interruption. The young woman stalked off toward the edge of the clearing, her footfalls heavy with frustration. She clearly blamed him for ruining what was supposed to be her precious training session.

Once Sera disappeared into the trees, the tension in the air shifted. Varya's gaze slowly returned to Canna, her sharp, calculating eyes taking in every detail of the man before her. Now that her student was gone, her expression softened slightly, but the intensity remained.

"You're barefoot," Varya noted, her tone even, "yet I didn't hear your footsteps at all. You moved silently through this forest, and your presence was hidden well up in the treetops." She paused for a moment, her eyes narrowing. "I only discovered you by accident, when I activated one of my skills."

Canna said nothing, watching her with an unreadable expression.

"Your posture seems relaxed," Varya continued, studying him closely, "but you're well-guarded. And your strength… I'm a true transcendent, yet you caught my sword in midair as if it were nothing more than a stick."

Canna listened intently, his face betraying no emotion, though inside, he was mildly impressed. This woman—Varya—was observant. Far more so than most people he had encountered in his travels. He had tried to stay low-key, to avoid attention, but her sharpness had seen through his subtleties with ease. Enjoy new adventures from empire

"I can tell you're only a mid-transcendent," Varya added, her tone now tinged with curiosity. "So tell me, who are you, and are you a threat to our kingdom?"

Canna blinked, his eyes widening slightly. This was the first time anyone had read him so thoroughly on such short notice. He mentally cursed himself for catching the sword—it would have been smarter to simply dodge, but reflex had gotten the better of him. Now, he had attracted attention from someone powerful, and that wasn't part of the plan.

With a soft sigh, Canna met Varya's gaze, his expression calm but sincere. He chose his words carefully. "I'm Canna Yakane," he said evenly, his voice steady. "I'm just a traveler, passing through. I do have some skills, but nothing worth your concern or attention. Again, I apologize for watching your training.

I'll be on my way."

He turned around, intending to leave without causing any more of a scene. But Varya's lips curled into a faint, almost amused smile.

"Interesting."

Before Canna could react, Varya suddenly flung her longsword toward him with incredible speed, the blade cutting through the air like a blur of silver light. It came at him with such force that even an experienced warrior might have struggled to react.

But Canna was ready.

Without missing a beat, he reached out and caught the sword in mid-air, gripping the blade between his fingers. His movements were smooth, almost effortless, as if the sword were no heavier than a twig. For a moment, he held it in place, feeling the weight of the weapon before slowly lowering it to his side, his expression as calm as ever.

Varya's eyes flickered with surprise, though only for a brief second. She quickly masked her reaction, but it was clear she hadn't expected him to handle her attack with such ease.

"You're not carrying a weapon openly," Varya said, her tone now sharper, more challenging. "That means either you have one hidden in your storage ring, or you're confident enough in hand-to-hand combat."

She took a step forward, her presence becoming more imposing with each word. "Either way, you'll exchange swords with me, or I'll cut you down where you stand."

There was no hesitation in her words. It wasn't just a threat—it was a promise. The air between them seemed to crackle with tension.

Before Canna could respond, Varya lunged forward, her speed blinding as she closed the distance between them in an instant. Her sword came down in a powerful arc, aimed straight for his midsection with enough force to end the fight before it even began.

But Canna was faster.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

In a flash, he produced his own longsword, meeting her attack with perfect precision. The sound of steel clashing against steel echoed through the clearing, sending a vibration through the air as both swords locked together.

For the first time, Canna's eyes glinted with a hint of amusement. His smile widened slightly, though his stance remained calm and poised.

"If you insist," he said lightly, his tone betraying no hint of fear. "I guess we'll have to see."

He took a stance—a stance that Varya had never seen before. It didn't follow the traditional forms she was used to. It was fluid, almost casual, yet there was an underlying strength to it that made her pause, just for a second.

Varya's eyes narrowed, her grip tightening on her sword. Whoever this man was, he was far more skilled than he appeared.

And now, she was determined to find out just how skilled.