Sanctuary: Safe Haven

As Vorgrim and Dravos continued their discussion, the five warriors of the sanctuary were in the dressing room, now clad in Clan Varran uniforms. They stood around, adjusting to the unfamiliar feel of their new outfits.

"This is really not as comfy as the sanctuary robes," Eli muttered, tugging at the fabric around his shoulders.

"Yeah," Mira agreed, wrinkling her nose. "The sanctuary robes have that nice, flowery, earthy scent. These just... smell like sweat and steel."

Dot nodded emphatically. "I miss the softness. These feel so stiff, like I'm wearing armor even when I'm not."

Alex, grinning, stretched his arms out. "It's not so bad. Maybe this is how warriors feel here. Tough, like they're ready for anything."

Maggi chuckled. "Or maybe they just haven't discovered fabric softener yet."

They all shared a laugh, easing the tension a bit. Their time in Clan Varran was bound to be different from the sanctuary, but they were determined to make the most of it.

As they left the dressing room, Mira and Dot immediately spotted someone familiar in the distance. Their eyes lit up with excitement.

"Seraaaa!" they called out in unison, their voices ringing through the courtyard.

Sera, walking casually through the clan grounds, was startled by the excited shouts. She turned to see the two girls running toward her, both now wearing the Clan Varran uniforms.

"Mira! Dot!" she exclaimed, a smile spreading across her face. "What are you two doing here?"

The girls bounded up to her, their faces full of excitement. "Sera! Come with us! We're going to explore the kingdom and buy a ton of stuff!" Mira exclaimed, practically bouncing on her feet.

Dot chimed in, her eyes sparkling. "It's going to be so fun! This will be our first time exploring the kingdom!"

Maggi rolled his eyes as he approached. "You mean your first time actually going out and exploring a kingdom without being on a mission?"

The group chuckled, enjoying the casual banter.

Just as they were settling into their plans, a tall, muscular warrior from Clan Varran approached them. His name was Sylvester, and he had a reputation among the clan as a young prodigy. His broad shoulders and confident demeanor made it clear that he was not someone to take lightly.

"You're the ones who wear the white robes, aren't you?" Sylvester asked, eyeing them with curiosity and challenge in his voice.

The five nodded, unsure of his intentions.

Sylvester's eyes gleamed. "Let's duel," he said, crossing his arms. "People say you're strong. I want to see just how strong."

The group exchanged glances and Mira stepped forward.

"I'll fight you," she said simply, her voice calm.

Sylvester looked down at the small girl standing before him and let out a deep laugh. "You? A little girl? This'll be over in seconds."

Mira didn't flinch. She simply pulled out a dagger and looked up at Sylvester. The crowd that had begun to gather around them murmured with interest, eager to see how this would unfold.

Mira walked closer to Sylvester, leaving about fifteen feet between them. She twirled her dagger in her hand, her expression cool and composed. "I'll throw this dagger into the air," she said confidently. "And by the time it lands, I'll have already defeated you."

Laughter rippled through the crowd, with some shaking their heads at the audacity of Mira's claim. Sylvester smirked, clearly amused. "Alright, little girl. Let's see what you can do."
Continue your adventure at empire

Sylvester readied his wooden spear, assuming a combat stance. His eyes focused on the tiny opponent before him, underestimating her completely.

A bystander stepped up to act as a referee, raising his hand to signal the start of the duel. As soon as the signal was given, Mira tossed her dagger into the air. Everyone, including Sylvester, glanced up at the spinning blade as it arced toward the sky.

And then, in an instant, Sylvester felt something cold press against the underside of his chin.

His body went rigid, his heart racing as a voice whispered from behind him, "Look down, and you die."

It was Mira. Somehow, in the blink of an eye, she had moved behind him, her dagger now poised against his throat. The crowd gasped in astonishment, realizing what had happened before Sylvester himself could process it. His hand tightened on his spear, but he didn't dare move.

Mira slowly removed the blade from Sylvester's throat and stepped back. The dagger she had thrown into the air landed softly in the dirt, completing her challenge.

The crowd was stunned, murmurs of disbelief spreading among them. No one had expected such speed and precision from the small girl. Sylvester, shaken, turned to face Mira, still trying to understand how he had lost.

Maggi stepped forward, his eyes hard as he looked at Sylvester. "Rule number one of fighting: never lose track of your opponent."

Mira, unfazed by the victory, rejoined the group. Her companions didn't offer her praise; they had seen her in action before. To them, this was just another day for Mira. But Sera, watching from the side, was impressed. She knew how difficult it was to pull off a maneuver like that. Mira's skill with shadow jumping, combined with her speed and precision, was no small feat.

In the fight against the Black Thorn, Mira had repeatedly used her shadow-jumping ability to catch her enemies off guard, often coating her daggers with poison to ensure a swift end. Though this duel had been for show, her true power was undeniable.

As the group began to walk away, leaving Sylvester and the awestruck crowd behind, Maggi gave a small nod to Mira. "Good job," he said, his voice low but filled with approval.

Mira simply smiled, brushing off the compliment as if it were nothing. The five sanctuary warriors, now joined by Sera, made their way toward the kingdom's entrance, eager to explore and take in the sights. Behind them, the crowd remained in stunned silence, still processing the unexpected outcome of the duel.

For the sanctuary warriors, this was just another day. But for Clan Varran, it was clear that these young fighters were not to be underestimated.