The Martial Unity

Just as Rui was about to leave, the man who had guided him here interjected.

"Excuse me..." He sheepishly said, drawing attention. "I do not mean to be rude, but the Martial Apprentices of our group have informed me of some troubling observations surrounding you..."

Rui sighed, having expected this. "I don't feel like a Martial Squire?"

"Yes." The man replied. "It's not that we're distrusting the Kandrian martial Union's credibility by any means, but it would be of great relief if you could provide us with some form of demonstration of your power or status as a Martial Squire."

Rui sighed, yet before he could even respond, the old man interjected.

"That won't be necessary." A grin cracked at the edge of his mouth. "This man is the real deal."

An amused smile cracked underneath Rui's mask. "Are you sure about that?"

"Do I look uncertain?"

"But sir.." The man tried to appeal to him

"Forget about it." The old man snorted before turning to Rui. "Please, forgive the indiscretion."

had been prepared just for him, he was deep in thought about his conversation with the old man. Everything about him made him feel wary about the mission. He

group of this size. There seemed to be many thousands of men in the camp that was well-hidden in the densest region of the canopy of the forest.

According to the Martial Union, Fort Zurtun was occupied and controlled by a

Martial Artists and soldiers, superior militaristic technological assets and weapons, as well as terrain advantage as the rebel group would be fighting against the Britannian battalion uphill while the latter was protected by a

as well. Fighting against them in a head-on symmetrical war

didn't cover that information but based on what he had gathered about Fushin Hunfer, the former general of Fort Zurtun and the leader of the Zurtun rebels, it was

surveilled the rest of the camp, observing what the rebel soldiers did with their time. Most of them were tending to logistical matters. Preparing weapons and armor, a large number of horse-pulled carriages. Many of them were stocking up the final bits of food supplies that would be necessary for their climb to the fort. It did seem as though they were nearly ready to begin the assault

person carrying a tray made her way to

sir..." She addressed him

"Come in."

with a bottle of water and some

the tray on a table in the

bowed before scurrying

the tray, noting the small little balls on a disposable plate

The rebels were not leading a particularly luxurious life such that they could provide guests with lavish meals at any given point in time. Rui suspected

too much sense, they were cheap, portable, and had a long shelf life. They weren't appetizing, but they were nutritious