The Martial Unity

It was time. Rui had gotten a good eight hours of sleep, instead of using a potion. Across the entire month, all of the Martial Apprentice participants would be given enough time to get a good organic sleep every night. So that they could be at their absolute best the next and also so that the students that did decide to use potions regardless didn't have to worry about the days their sleep overlapped with any scheduled fight of their own.

He had already donned his Martial uniform and was about ready to gather at the Apprentice sparring center.

"You ready?" Kane asked. "Let's go."

Rui nodded. As they headed to the Apprentice sparring center, neither of them exchanged a word. Kane merely had his hand behind his head, walking with an aura of lethargy and displeasure. Rui, on the other hand, was barely able to contain his excitement

They had already said everything that needed to be said. A tacit understanding already existed between them.

And soon, they reached, walking over to the group of Fae, Milliana and Dalen.

"You're here." Fae said, with an air of focused composure. "Ready?"

"No." Kane replied.

"Yes." Rui nodded.

she didn't want to distract herself with

knew they would have to fight each other, and that only one of them would be chosen as the representatives. What would normally have been a light atmosphere with plenty of

bodyguards. These bodyguards merely existed to ensure that the Headmaster never had to waste energy dealing

reason. A reason that drives you. A reason that drives you down your Martial Path. Perhaps it is glory, or perhaps it is wealth. Perhaps it is prestige, or perhaps it is power. Regardless of what it is, it drives you. And here you are. Standing before me. Standing before each other on this special day. Today is no ordinary day. Today is the day you aim to prove yourself. Today is the day you aim to foge yourselves. Today is the day you aim to soar high into the sky. Today is the day you will reap the fruits of your perseverance. Today is a day you confront not just your opponents, but yourselves. Some of you will win, and some of you will lose. Some of you will retain the hope of being the chosen one, while some of you will won't. Each of the seventy-nine of you that have gathered before me today, will face the remaining seventy-eight of your peers, and when every last battle to be fought has been fought and the winner has

stroked his long flowing beard. "The only question is... Which one

their growing determination with a glint of satisfaction. It seems he was able to draw out their will

time will soon come." He said. "I hereby declare the commencement of the twenty-seventh preliminary contest of the Hajin branch of the

powerful voice, along with the

when the verdict has been made, until

tone of finality, before

of an orator.') Rui grinned, clenching his quivering fists in excitement. How on Gaea could Rui possible remain composed

He simply couldn't!

start, he had been itching

"Seventy-nine huh? Last I checked we had seventy-eight." He'd fought most of the Martial Apprentices in the Academy and

too immersed into

months, he had trained almost exclusively with the Apprentice-instructors, and hadn't interacted with anybody all that much. He was sure to have missed it if

one of the Martial Apprentices in

wide open as he instantly recognized the boy. Messy silver hair. Startling red eyes. A demeanor that oozed arrogance