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 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

country had sets of crops that could only be grown

paused, when a familiar path entered his sights, smiling as a rush of nostalgia and excitement creeped into

its adult caretakers, each taking contributing to

had gotten a well-paying occupation as an apprentice scholar in the research and development department of the Kandrian Institute of Sciences. Knowing him, he must have insisted

intended to surprise his family, but even before

"Rui...?"

recognizing both the voice

She

her vigorously. She ran from the balcony enthusiastically running down the stairs, announcing to the entire orphanage at the top of her voice that Rui had returned. Even as he

and energy he felt like

muttered gasping for

"Huh?"

Alice? I've missed you so much."

doing just fine. Come in, everyone's waiting

at the door, and several small heads

"Big brother Rui!"

"You're back!"

towards him with enthuse and excitement, gathering

children, trying to return as much affection as he could, struggling to return

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

him, instantly wringing his attention

She walked over, cupping his face in her hands,