Sanctuary: Safe Haven-Chapter 389: Let’s Move On

Canna observed the battered figure of the once-proud Catastrophe-rank creature, sprawled on the deck. He hadn’t intended to escalate matters—after all, they were just passing through these waters—but sometimes, as he knew well, things simply didn’t go as planned.

"Mortem, heal him enough to talk. I’m sure his people will come after him shortly."

As if on cue, Abaddon’s calm voice came from the shadows. "Incoming, master. Three of them, Disaster ranks."

Canna nodded, unperturbed. Moments later, three massive splashes erupted around the ship, heralding the arrival of the newcomers.

From the depths emerged a figure, graceful and imposing, floating just above the water’s surface. She had a strikingly beautiful face with otherworldly features: deep blue eyes that sparkled like sapphires, skin that shimmered like polished coral, and long, flowing hair that resembled the soft hues of the ocean at twilight. A delicate silver crown rested upon her head, adorned with shells and pearls that glistened under the faint light.

Behind her were two figures with menacing appearances. Both had fish-like heads, their features as sharp and predatory as the ocean’s most dangerous creatures. Their bodies were muscular, scaled, and they wielded long, silver tridents that gleamed with a deadly edge. They hovered protectively behind the crowned figure, their fierce eyes fixed on Canna and the crew with palpable hostility.

The princess’s gaze drifted across the deck, taking in the scene of chaos and bloodshed before her eyes widened in horror. Her gaze locked on Valrel, and a shiver of emotion passed through her.

"Valrel!" Her voice trembled, her composure faltering as her eyes filled with tears. She was about to rush forward, desperate to reach the injured figure, but her two guards held her back.

"Princess, it would be unwise to approach," one of the guards cautioned, his voice low and urgent. "Our king sent us only for reconnaissance."

The princess’s face twisted with anguish and defiance. "No! Our protector is dying! How can we simply stand by and do nothing?" Her voice was thick with emotion as she struggled against their grip, her eyes never leaving Valrel’s broken form.

Meanwhile, on deck, Drennard, the seasoned captain, leaned toward his crew, his voice a cautious whisper. "We’re in some deep mess now, lads. I know this race—merfolk. The one wearing the crown is likely a high-ranking member of their royalty. And this thing—" he gestured to Valrel, worry evident in his voice, "—is no mere guardian to them. Associating with merfolk is always trouble, unpredictable as the tides. I’ve tangled with their kind in my younger days, and trust me, you don’t want to offend them."

He turned to his crew, his tone more insistent. "Keep your heads down and your mouths shut. Don’t say anything that’ll stir up more trouble than we’re already in."

But even as Drennard spoke, his cautionary words fell on deaf ears. Canna, unbothered by the tension in the air, stepped forward and grasped Valrel’s battered body. With a display of effortless strength, he lifted the massive creature as though it weighed nothing, then hurled it into the sky toward the hovering merfolk trio. The body soared through the air, spinning like discarded debris, until it landed with a heavy thud before the princess and her guards.

Canna’s voice cut through the silence, cold and unyielding. "We’re passing through. There won’t be any more warnings. Next time, you won’t even see his corpse."

The two guards, alarmed, scrambled to catch Valrel as he tumbled toward them, barely managing to support his large frame. The princess, visibly shaken, watched Canna with a mixture of fear and anger, her eyes narrowing as her hands trembled by her sides.

Without a second glance at the trio, Canna turned to Drennard. "Let’s move on." He strode back to his cabin, entirely unbothered by the spectacle he’d left behind.

Mortem turned to address the still-wide-eyed crew. "My master has given you all an order," he said in a calm yet commanding tone. Continue your journey with novelbuddy

The crew snapped out of their daze, jolted by Mortem’s words, and hurriedly moved to their positions. None of them wanted to stay in these waters any longer than necessary, and they busied themselves with securing the ship for departure.

Under Drennard’s firm orders, the crew sprang into action, unfurling sails and manning the rigging, even as they exchanged wary glances. Their vessel, though battered and in need of repair, picked up speed, distancing itself from the trio of merfolk and their fallen guardian.

The merfolk princess stood frozen, her hands clenched at her sides as she watched the ship retreat. Her guards, supporting Valrel’s limp form, shared a look of disbelief and uncertainty. Finally, one of the guards turned to her.

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"Princess, your orders?"

The princess’s gaze lingered on the distant ship, her eyes filled with a mixture of rage, sadness, and confusion. "What just happened?" she murmured, as if the sight before her was some twisted dream. She clenched her fists, her mind reeling from the insult they had just suffered and the state of their guardian.

After a tense silence, she straightened, regaining her composure. "Heal Valrel immediately and take him back to the kingdom. He needs to be tended to," she commanded, her voice a mix of determination and worry.

The guards nodded, one of them beginning to channel healing energy into Valrel’s battered form while the other supported his weight. As they prepared to depart, the princess’s gaze remained fixed on the ship, a fire of resolve lighting up her eyes.

"Send scouts to follow them," she said quietly, her tone brooking no argument. "I want to know where they’re going and why they were in our waters. They may have bested Valrel, but this isn’t over."

The guards hesitated but eventually nodded, acknowledging her orders. They lifted Valrel’s form carefully, each movement filled with reverence, and prepared to transport him back to the kingdom.

As they moved to carry out the princess’s orders, a fierce determination settled over her. This intruder—this demon and his followers—had humiliated their guardian and shown no regard for their laws. The thought simmered in her mind, her fury deepening. They would not simply walk away without consequence.

As the ship disappeared over the horizon, she whispered under her breath, "We will find you, whoever you are… and you will answer for this."