Sanctuary: Safe Haven

The sun was setting over the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the dense forest as five adventurers bolted through the underbrush, their lungs burning and hearts pounding in their chests. Behind them, a cacophony of crashing trees and enraged trumpeting echoed through the wilderness. The source of the chaos?

A gigantic elephant-like monster, towering over the treetops with tusks as sharp as spears, and eyes glowing with pure rage. In the adventurers' possession, clutched tightly in one of their hands, was the reason for the creature's anger: a massive, glossy egg.

"Ragnar, catch!" The archer at the front of the group, Lira, yelled as she lobbed the egg through the air toward the burly barbarian at the rear. Ragnar barely managed to grab it mid-stride, wobbling on his feet as the egg nearly slipped from his massive hands.

"Why am I always the one catching this thing?!" Ragnar roared, his voice as deep as the forest they were running through. His wild red hair and beard were matted with sweat, his thick arms barely able to hold onto the egg as they ran.

"You have the biggest hands! It's basic logic!" The mage, a slender man named Alric, shouted as he dashed ahead, robes billowing around him. He looked back and saw the beast gaining on them.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"I swear, if we die, it's because of your stupid plans, Alric!" Lira shot back as she ducked under a low-hanging branch.

"Me? I didn't tell you to steal the egg!" Alric yelped.

"It was your idea!" shouted Kaia, a heavily armored woman who was trying her best to keep up, her sword clanging against her side. "You said it would be 'easy!'"

"I said it looked easy!" Alric corrected, his voice squeaking as a tree exploded behind them, the elephant monster's tusks tearing it apart.

"Throw it!" Kaia shouted to Ragnar, who, with a groan, hurled the egg over to her. She caught it, grunting from the weight, and started running even faster, the beast gaining ground as it smashed its way through the forest, relentless in its pursuit.

"How do we always end up in these situations?" The thief of the group, Tessa, muttered as she leaped nimbly over a log, her daggers bouncing at her hips. "I could be back in town right now, sipping some wine, but nooo, let's go steal an egg from a giant angry monster."

"It'll be worth it when we sell this thing!" Alric gasped, still keeping pace but barely, his breath coming in ragged bursts.

"That's if we live long enough to sell it!" Kaia screamed back, her armor clanking as she ducked beneath another low branch.

Just as they thought they had a bit of distance, the monster trumpeted again, even louder this time. It swung its massive trunk, uprooting another tree, and then started to charge even faster.

Kaia's face went pale as the ground shook beneath her feet. "Oh no, oh no, it's right behind us!"

"Keep running!" Alric shouted, but there was a tremor in his voice. The gap between them and the beast was closing, and fast. The egg, clutched tightly in Kaia's arms, seemed to glow with a strange, almost mocking shimmer. The adventurers were running out of options. They all looked around wildly, but there was no escape. No caves, no cliffs, and no magic strong enough to stop this creature.

Kaia's heart pounded in her chest. She could feel the earth tremble beneath her, and she knew she wouldn't make it. She turned back to the group, her eyes filled with regret. "This is it! I can't outrun it!"

Just as the massive beast lunged forward, trunk raised high to strike, the air in front of Kaia shimmered with energy. A massive stone wall erupted from the ground just a few feet in front of her, and with a deafening crash, the elephant-like monster slammed headfirst into the barrier, the force of the impact sending shockwaves through the ground.

The creature let out a groggy moan before collapsing in a heap, momentarily knocked out cold.

Kaia stood frozen, eyes wide in disbelief. The egg was still clutched tightly in her arms, and her breath was coming in ragged gasps. But as the dust settled, a figure appeared in front of her, standing like a beacon of hope in the fading light.

Tiberius.

The barbarian warrior stood tall, his muscles bulging beneath the sleek armor of the Sanctuary Shock Troops. He wore the uniform proudly—His white uniform practically gleamed in the fading sunlight, embroidered with intricate silver patterns that seemed to glow with a soft light.

The uniform was a blend of tradition and modernity: robes that draped gracefully but didn't restrict movement, belts that held various tools and weapons, and boots that were designed for both combat and agility. His sleeves had ornate designs along the edges, and on his chest and back, the symbol of the Sanctuary was proudly displayed.

The uniform looked as if it were woven with magic itself, a representation of the strength and elegance that the Sanctuary stood for.

And then there was his greatsword.

Strapped across his back, it was a stunning piece of craftsmanship. The dwarves had spared no expense when they forged it, using the rarest minerals from the Verdant Peaks. The blade shimmered with a metallic blue sheen, the runes etched along its length glowing faintly, humming with magical energy.

The handle was wrapped in a sleek silver fabric, ensuring a strong grip, and the blade itself was broader and longer than any sword Kaia had seen. It was a weapon that could cleave through boulders and still remain sharp—a true testament to dwarven ingenuity.

For a moment, Kaia felt like she was in a dream. The pristine white robes, the glowing sword, the calm yet powerful demeanor—Tiberius looked like a knight straight out of a storybook.

"You alright?" Tiberius asked, his deep voice snapping her out of her daze.

Kaia blinked. "Y-yeah, I'm good. Thanks to you." She gave a nervous laugh and glanced down at the egg still in her hands. "I was... uh... just trying to keep this safe."

Tiberius smirked, his blue eyes twinkling. "Looks like you managed that pretty well." He reached down and gently took the egg from her, holding it effortlessly in one hand. "Nice throw, by the way."

Kaia blushed again and muttered something incoherent under her breath. Meanwhile, the rest of the adventurers caught up, staring at the now unconscious beast behind the stone wall.

"Whoa," Ragnar muttered, coming to a stop beside Tiberius. "You took that thing down like it was nothing."

Tiberius shrugged. "It's all in the training." He glanced back at the rest of the shock troops, who were emerging from the trees, each one wearing the same striking uniform and wielding equally impressive weapons crafted by the dwarves. The Sanctuary Shock Troops were 300 strong, and they were prepared for anything.

Today, some of them had received their first missions, and Tiberius had been leading one of the squads.

Tiberius shrugged. "It's nothing. You should get out of the forest before the dark strikes, it'll be even more dangerous here." He glanced back at the rest of the shock troops, who were emerging from the trees, each one wearing the same striking uniform and wielding equally impressive weapons crafted by the dwarves. The Sanctuary Shock Troops were 300 strong, and they were prepared for anything.

Today, some of them had received their first missions, and Tiberius had been leading one of the squads.

"That... was incredible," Lira breathed, her bow hanging loosely at her side as she stared at the fallen beast. "I thought we were dead for sure."

"Good thing we showed up when we did," Tiberius said with a grin, twirling the greatsword on his back before planting it firmly into the ground. "Wouldn't want you guys losing this precious little egg, would we?"

Alric, who had been panting heavily the entire time, finally found his voice. "Y-yeah. Precious. That's... that's exactly what we were thinking."

The adventurers shared a look, one of mutual exhaustion and relief, but also a growing sense of respect for this man that came out of nowhere to save them.

Kaia glanced at Tiberius one more time, her heart still racing. She hadn't expected to be saved like this—not by someone so... capable. She adjusted her armor awkwardly, trying to shake the odd feeling bubbling up inside her.

"So," Tiberius said, hoisting the egg up onto his shoulder, "what do you say we help you guys get this thing back to wherever it needs to go?"

The adventurers all nodded in agreement, too tired to argue and more than happy to have a little backup. As they set off toward the nearest town, Tiberius and his team leading the way, Kaia couldn't help but steal a glance at the greatsword once more, marveling at its craftsmanship.

The Sanctuary had trained its troops well. They were more than just warriors now—they were protectors, and today was just the beginning.