Sanctuary

The Holy Land is the ancient city which was founded by the first Shield Hero and Bow Hero in Raphtalia's world. It is now a filolial sanctuary controlled by Fitoria.

Background
Sanctuary was created in the long-lost, ancient past by the original Bow and Shield heroes. Its ruins are believed to have powerful weapons and magic. Most people dismiss it as a fairy tale, but some, like the ancient nation of Piensa, had an ambition to invade the holy land which may serve as an foundation for their world domination.

There are several legends which talk about what happened to the city which became the ruins of Sanctuary. Apparently the rulers had become very corrupt and Suzaku came and destroyed the city in a single night.

Ancient Past
In the ancient past, during Mamoru's time as the Shield Hero, Sanctuary looked very similar to the modern day. The place was still mostly rubble but more structures remained and people could go inside.

Outside of Sanctuary is a village called V'sheel where the people that maintain and protect Sanctuary reside. This village mainly consists of Lizard men and weasel demi-humans. Within Sanctuary itself is a small village made of stone houses and a crumbling castle. The plants had not yet taken a hold of the area. Past the castle is a stairway which leads to the Vassal Carriage.

Modern Day
In the modern day, the area around Sanctuary is called the Lost Woods. Any uninvited person who enters the woods would get lost. However, those that know their way or are invited can make themselves to Sanctuary. Within the forest is the remains of an abandoned village as well as a nearby shrine and the ruins of a temple. The forest had taken over these ruins many years ago with large roots and vines covering the stone remains. Fitoria had made the temple ruins her next and collected hundreds of years worth of "treasures" and shiny things.

Deep within the temple ruins is a altar in the shape of a clock face. According to Raph-chan II, this facility is meant for the control of time. Motoyasu accidentally activated this device after placing the Legendary Spear in the centre of the altar. This facility apparently originated from the Sword and Spear World and was added once the worlds merged to create Raphtalia's World of the modern day.

In the heart of the temple ruins is a stone room made of floating rock. This area, saturated with magic, contains the Red Poison which can create Guardians and unlock the 0 Series. Similar to the room within the Ancient Labyrinth Library there are murals of a cat-like entity, legendary and vassal weapons. However, this mural is slightly different and also contains some text explaining the true nature behind the Waves of Calamity. It explains that the 0 Series is effective against self-proclaimed gods and that Heroes are meant to act as stopgaps against the enemy until help arrives.

Volume 4
When Naofumi was an outlaw of Melromarc and the other heroes were chasing him, Fitoria brought him and his party to the castle ruins in Sanctuary to talk. She reveals that Sanctuary is the country of the original heroes from long ago. Here she asks Naofumi to amend his relationship with the other heroes. She also tests Filo and then eventually anoints here as the successor Filolial Queen.

Volume 20
After coming back from Glass' World, Naofumi asks Fitoria if she knows of any ancient caches of information and weapons like the Ancient Labyrinth Library. She then invites Naofumi and the other heroes to Sanctuary. They find that Fitoria had made the temple ruins her "nest" with an assortment of sparkly "treasures" and feathers. Naofumi and the heroes start to clean up the nest and find some valuable weapons and materials among the junk.

Deep within the ruins that find a large altar which looks like a clockface on the ground. Motoyasu stuck his Legendary Spear into the hole in the middle and activated the device. This unlocked a special new spear for Motoyasu. When the other heroes tried the same thing, nothing happened. Travelling deeper into the ruins, the Heroes avoid all sorts of traps and find themselves in the heart of the ruins. They find a floating room which contains a vial of the red poison found in the Ancient Labyrinth Library. They also find murals on the wall and writing which they gave to Rishia to translate. The Heroes then take some of the red poison to unlock the 0 Series.

After travelling back in the ancient past, Naofumi and his village helped protect the nation of Siltran from the invaded Piensa. Piensa was invading Siltran as a stepping stone to take over Sanctuary which they believe would give them great power. With this power, they believed they could take control of the entire world.

Volume 22
After their initial defeat, Piensa sent an elite force of otherworldly Vassal Weapon wielders to obtain powerful relics. However, Naofumi and the allied heroes arrive first to defend the holy land. While there, Naofumi learns that the ruins hold the Vassal Carriage which is waiting for a worthy wielder. After a difficult fight, they are able to repel the forces of Piensa. However, a self-proclaimed god appears and steals the Vassal Carriage and kidnaps Melty from Sanctuary.

Residents
In the ancient past, during Mamoru's era, Sanctuary was inhabited by the ancestors of allies to the original heroes such as the lizard men or the uhnte jimna Demi-humans.

In the modern era, Sanctuary is home to flocks of Filolials including Fitoria. They defend the area from the waves by themselves.

Trivia

 * Sanctuary is also known as the Holy Land to the faith of Piensa.
 * The counterpart to Sanctuary in Glass' World is the Ancient Labyrinth Library