The Martial Unity

"Are you sure you don't wanna come with me?" Rui asked. "I'd love to introduce you to my family."

"Not this time." Kane shook his head. "I'll be approached and summoned if my family finds out I returned from the Academy."

"I see, that's a shame." Rui sighed. "Another time then." Earning a nod from Kane.

"It's a shame I have to return to my family too, otherwise I would have accepted the offer in his stead." Fae commented.

"He didn't invite you." Kane grumbled, sparking a round of bickering between them, earning Rui's laughter at the sight.

"Milliana, you're headed back to your town as well, right?" Rui turned to her.

She nodded passively. "It's four hours away from here, so I intend to leave immediately."

The four of them chatted for a bit longer until it was time for those returning to disperse.

"See you guys when I get back." Rui exchanged farewells with everyone before setting out on foot. He didn't have any money on him, but that wasn't a problem. Even without techniques, with just the physical training from his foundational stage, the journey was no longer something that could strain his stamina.

The town of Hajin was a lot less chaotic than he recalled it. One of the reasons for that was the last time he actually travelled around was during the start of the new Academic year. What was a bustling, loud and busy place in his memories had become a much more relaxed environment.

"Man, it's been such a long time since I stepped outside the Academy." Rui said in delight, taking in the atmosphere as he made his way home. The Academy had a lot of open space, but it still could not substitute actual society.

It was a nostalgic feeling, reminding Rui of when his university days. He'd felt similarly back then, although to a greater degree because the universities of sciences back on Earth were nowhere near as large as the Martial Academies.

the more scarce grew the population and infrastructure. Once he exited the districts on the outskirts of the town, the atmosphere grew serene quiet. Gone were the markets, and the commercial hubs and the businesses. Instead, he was greeted with farmlands and small patches of forests with a handful of small village-like settlements scattered across. Winters were harsh in the Mantian region, especially since this region was among the northern most regions of the Kandrian Empire, which was a country that was already deep into the northern hemisphere of the planet,

of crops that could only be grown during

path entered his sights, smiling as a rush of nostalgia and excitement creeped into his emotions. He picked up the pace

time" He noted happily. The Quarrier Orphanage benefitted greatly from its adult caretakers, each taking contributing to the income of the Orphanage

an apprentice scholar in the research and development department of the Kandrian Institute of Sciences. Knowing him, he must

to surprise his family, but even before he reached the

"Rui...?"

up towards the balcony, recognizing both the voice and the

She

announcing to the entire orphanage at the top of her voice that Rui

such force and energy he felt like he was hit by an Apprentice-level

Flowing Canon?" He muttered

"Huh?"

I've missed you so much."

doing just fine. Come in, everyone's waiting for you" She let go of him, gesturing him inside,

at the door, and several small heads

"Big brother Rui!"

"You're back!"

ran towards him with enthuse and

much affection as he could, struggling to return

He laughed as they swarmed him. "I'll give all of you lifts,

called out to him, instantly wringing his attention away,

cupping his face in her hands, ruffling his hair, before pulling him in for a hug.