The Martial Unity



Rui could tell that Senior Sarak truly loved the Floating Sect. He had given the Floating Sect his heart and soul and possessed a genuine passion for the organization that he led.

He could also tell that this was distinct from Senior Xanarn's drive surrounding the Floating Sect. She protected the Floating Sect because she had committed herself to protecting the sect as a guardian. 

Her drive to protect the Floating Sect was not as driven by sheer love for the sect as it was driven by the standard of protecting what she had vowed to protect, no matter what.

Rui listened to the man go on and on about how new eager and enthusiastic Martial Squires had finally entered the Floating Sect impressed by the sheer Martial might that the sect had displayed in the long war against the Kaddar Treaty Organization.

He could tell that just watching the newly inducted guardians occupy their chambers and begin training was something that he man lived to see every day.

"The future of the sect is bright… Or it would have been had Senior Xanarn has been around to see it," The man sighed. "Regardless, this wouldn't have been possible without you."

"Hm?" Rui raised an eyebrow.

"I am not a fool, young man." Senior Sarak gave him a knowing smile. "The act of killing a Martial Senior, that Senior-level aura that you displayed, pushing back the three Martial Seniors that you had been fighting. All of that led them to believe that the Floating Sect had gained an additional Martial Senior. I'm sure that played a role in our victory in this war. The Floating Sect owes you an unpayable debt."

Rui shook his head. "I was just doing my duty as a guardian of the Sect."

The man smiled. "We are blessed to have a Martial Squire like yourself. Although you certainly have a long road ahead of you due to how young you are, I am certain that you will become a Martial Seniors one day. I look forward to that day, your training here will surely aid you in the process."

Rui did not believe that he was as far away from the Senior Realm as Senior Sarak projected, but he put that detail aside for now.

"About my training here…" Rui began. "I intend to leave the sect."

This alarmed Senior Sarak visibly.

In his eyes, Rui had become an asset that was on par with the likes of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Rui was not someone that he could let go if he had any sense in him.

He considered his words carefully for a moment.

"…Is there anything that is not to your liking?" The man asked with care. "We are willing to go out of our way to accommodate your inclinations."

"It's not that," Rui shook his head. "I appreciate the Floating Sect, I truly do. However, I cannot take the steps that I need to take in order to become stronger, here. The Floating Sect can help me fulfill one of the conditions of the breakthrough to the Senior Realm, yes, but it is not enough. Furthermore, I have already spent close to a year here and have already experienced a lot of growth, enough to get me close to the threshold of fulfilling one condition. The more time I spend here, the lesser the growth of the fortitude of my body. Rather than simply sitting idly here. I can grow stronger by growing the individuality of my Martial Art in a manner that extracts all of the potential of my Martial Body so that I may one day discover my Martial Heart."

The man stared at Rui, before slowly nodding. "You have a good understanding of what it takes to become a Martial Senior. Very well then, I bid you good luck and farewell. Of course, given that your wounds have yet to heal, you'll most certainly be spending time here until you have been restored to your peak. After that, please do as you wish."

Rui nodded. "However, that isn't the only reason I wish to leave."

"Hm?" The man raised an eyebrow. "What else is there?"

"Senior Xanarn…" Rui hesitated a bit, before steeling his expression. "I will find a way to heal her. If there is a solution out there, then I will find it, and I will heal her."

The man's eyes widened. "You… care for her that much?"

Rui remained silent. "That is what I wish to know."

Senior Sarak did not understand what that meant. Regardless, he did not dare deny Rui's help. Even if Rui was a young Squire, he knew that he was capable of fulfilling his word.

In the very brief time that he had known Rui personally, the man had proven himself to be beyond anything he had ever expected.

The man possessed a sharp intellect and a depth of insight that Senior Sarak frankly found intimidating, furthermore, and the tender age of twenty-three, he had already reached the upper echelons of the Squire Realm.

Furthermore, he killed a Martial Senior and then pushed back three Martial Seniors so hard that they thought that he was a Martial Senior himself.

Senior Sarak was fifty-two, and yet, he had never seen anything quite like Rui in the thirty-five years that he had been a Martial Artist.

As far as raw untapped potential went, Senior Sarak suspected that not even Ieyasu was his match, although he knew that Ieyasu was stronger.

('To think that our sect would be blessed with two generational talents with monstrous potential…') 

"Then in you, we'll place our trust," Senior Sarak replied. "The Floating Sect needs time to heal before we can restart our external operations. Many guardians have perished, and our foundation has become riddled with holes. If you are willing to undertake this burden, then we will entrust you with it. You have proven yourself to be worthy of our trust and faith. Know that you'll always have a home in the Floating Sect."