The Martial Unity

"Please wait here a moment, Apprentice Quarrier." An assistance staff told him. "I will inform Apprentice Sierra Frial that you have arrived."

"Please do." Rui nodded, as took a seat in the reception of the Martial Academy.

Five minutes later, he felt the presence of a tall and burly Martial Apprentice enter the room, recognizing her immediately, the Frial Family had provided him with a picture of her.

"Apprentice Frial." He began. "Pleasure to meet you. I'm-"

"I know who you are." She rudely cut him as she folded her arms. "Follow me to the sparring facility immediately. I want to see what you're made up of."

Her tone had more than just a little hint of challenging hostility.

Rui stared at her for a second, before wordlessly getting up. They both headed towards the Apprentice sparring facility of the Martial Academy. Rui felt like a celebrity as everyone he walked past. Staff, foundational and explorer students, Martial Apprentices etc all recognized him as their eyes widened. It got even worse once he actually entered the sparring facility. It turned out there was an ongoing regular Apprentice sparring session. Nothing odd about that, his Academy had held plenty of those as well.

He just felt countless eyes widened with surprise as each and every single one of them recognized him.

To be fair, he understood their emotions. He would be surprised as well if someone like Fiona walked into his Academy one day wearing her Martial uniform. He just ignored all of them as Siera Frial dragged him to an empty ring.

Yet before they could even reach it. Siera had been flooded with Martial Apprentices who all pestered her with questions.

"What's going on here?!" One of them asked in a barely concealed whisper.

"Why's he here?"

"My Family hired him as a sparring partner." Sierra huffed with a hint of pride. "He's mine for the next seven hours."

A flash of surprise made its way through the small crowd as the Martial Apprentices glanced at him with expressions of curiosity and admiration.

"Enough." A powerful voice drew everyone's attention as all of them experienced a familiar pressure.

back to your places and leave them alone." The Martial Squire instructor of the facility ordered, much to Rui's

just as they were

Quarrier, it's been some time." A deep voice called

recognizing the towering, imposing man. "Arjun

didn't." He smiled friendlily. "What brings you

Rui gestured to Siera

that's pretty interesting

complained. "Don't waste time,

as he turned around. He quickly put his standard gear and kit aside the ring, before entering

your stances."

surprise, Siera adopted a closed defensive stance. She brought up her arms up and close to her in a solid guarding position. She even

which meant he was an offense-oriented Martial Artist. Yet Siera was

that made it easy to launch both quick and powerful strikes while remaining light on

The referee

fighter with an offensive fighting

POW POW!

yet they harmlessly bounced

('Solid.') He mused.

POW POW!

Siera turned trying to block in time, yet she

any meaningful damage. He wasn't accumulating momentum or using his weight, but it was still a proper strike empowered with Outer Convergence and Vital

alone is not enough at the higher echelons of the Apprentice Realm, it seems.') He mused. ('How well

swung his fist from behind him as he threw

BAM!

she remained steady even if she had

retreated before accelerating towards

BOOM!