The Martial Unity

Rui's dilemma hadn't been resolved even as he reached the Academy, but at the very least he was finally able to put his thoughts aside for a valid reason as he underwent the post-mission protocol.

He headed straight to the commission department of the Academy, plucked out one of the forms that Martial Artists were required to fill. These involved filling mundane details about himself and the mission. Followed by a detailed report of the proceedings of the mission, in a chronological manner, with time stamps.

Filling out the report was painful and strangely therapeutic. It was painful revisiting everything, especially with twenty-twenty hindsight. Everything he recounted now felt flawed and mistake-riddled and blunder-filled. He kept thinking of how he could have done better.

On the other hand, he was able to vent as he wrote down his experiences in detail. He felt as though a lot of the frustration, guilt and grief were ebbing out from his stressed heart, flowing out of his body and into the ink of his pen.

He felt a little calmer and more composed as the longer he wrote. His burden didn't grow any lighter, but he felt strong enough to carry it.

In that moment, he felt his determination will up.

('Never again.') He vowed. ('I'm going to grow strong enough to ensure that this something like this won't ever happen again.')

Once he completed the procedures he needed to, submitted the report.

"Mam." He addressed one of the support staff members of the commission department. "I'm here to receive the minimum guarantee pay of the mission."

Every mission gave the Martial Artist a bare minimum amount of remuneration, regardless of success or failure as long as the rules and protocol of the Martial Union weren't violated by the Martial Artist. Martial Artists staked their lives on the line with every mission, the minimum guarantee remuneration clause of the licensing agreement between the Martial Union and Martial Artist was instated to give Martial Artists some amount of leeway.

just because they narrowly failed an extremely difficult mission, after spending an immense amount of time, effort and energy

way of ensuring that Martial Artist had less of a reason to be discontent with the

one second." She responded before flipping through some documents, before looking back up. "Your remuneration has been put

Rui frowned. "Excuse me?"

shrugged helplessly. "I would suggest you visit him if you wish to

headed

didn't understand at all. As he reached the headmaster's office, he paused, enraptured by the gate that restricted entry. He wasn't sure what to do. Wasn't there supposed to be secretaries or some other personnel

Should he knock?

('Screw it. Let's knock.')

it,

filled with a library

the figure sitting at the center of

A

Rui bowed deeply, partly because of the great awe and respect he had for vaunted Martial Masters, partly because the sheer weight of headmaster Aronian's being pushing

once again reminded how deep the Martial Path extended, the fact that a human being could develop and grow his Martial Art until it became as mighty

Rui could hear nothing else, almost as if the world went silent

Rui walked in immediately.

have been awed by their formidable appearance and

by that of headmaster

casual tone despite the formality of his words. "I've been wanting to speak to you face-to-face for a while now. But