Despair.
Rage.
Shock.
Guilt.
And even grief.
A maelstrom of emotions swirled within Rui. Emotions he did not understand. He had only known her for a meagre twenty-four hours. They were just barely friends as they had grown a little closer over the duration of their mission. There was a good chance Rui would never even see her again even if the mission succeeded.
So why?
Why did he feel like his soul was being torn apart was he gazed at her corpse?
Because she was his responsibility? Because he had ended up becoming emotionally invested in her well-being and success?
Probably both.
An eternity passed before Rui broke out of his reverie. He pulled out the communication device handed to him by the Martial Union, hitting one of the numerous buttons, the one he was supposed to hit when the mission ended. He hit in a few additional details, indicating the presence of a corpse. The device would convey his location to the Martial Union, and they would send post-mission personnel to take over.
crime in the Kandrian Empire. The Martial Union would cooperate with law-enforcement and begin the judicial process immediately. He would be
that man Wern. Rui was not going to conceal any of the information he possessed.
it himself. At this very
exhaled, restraining
STEP
heard the arrival of a group of people in uniforms with
said, showing Rui a badge. "I'm here to take proceed with the post-mission protocols. I encourage you to do the same by returning to the Martial Academy to provide a report and
listlessly, taking one last look at Bella's corpse
before turning his
journey back to the Academy was a few hours in its totality. Giving Rui enough time to introspect, and sort out his
much responsibility did he bear? And most importantly, how was he supposed to deal with
wasn't even sure he had an answer, or if he would
were much more objective, allowing
because they had fallen into their enemy's trap. They were screwed the moment Wern informed the Lowminers of their location. This was
Lowminers must have mobilized pretty much all available manpower at hand even before the masked Martial Apprentice ambushed Rui and Bella. This
and keep him there while the gangs mobilized by Bella must
struggled in despair as the men held her
very thought of that send blood to his head, until he closed his eyes and crushed the feeling, trying
the Martial Apprentice, they would have survived. Rui would have easily disemboweled the grunts with
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