The Martial Unity

The man accepted Rui's hand, pulling himself up before lowering his head to Rui.

"I'm sorry... I did think you would be strong, but to be this strong was beyond my expectations." He sighed. The others quickly followed through issuing quick apologies.

"It's alright, as long as you understand." Rui nodded before walking away towards the food gathering. He didn't want to interact with anybody beyond what was necessary. He simply procured a meal while ignoring the attention that he was still receiving.

The mood had gotten better because the spat had ended amicably and also because of the confidence boost they had received thanks to him.

"Mind if I sit here?"

Rui glanced at the woman who had approached him, recognizing her. She was one of the few Martial Artists who had not attacked him back then.

"Feel free." Rui shrugged.

She smiled, taking a seat beside him, holding a plate of meat, rice, and some greens. "I appreciate you holding back against those hot-headed fools earlier. It might have gotten bad if things had escalated."

"It's nothing at all." Rui dismissed.

"I'm Vemy, by the way." She told him. "What's your name?"

"Falken." He replied straightforwardly, using his official alias.

Deny to the face without moving even an inch." She noted, before peering at

withstand the impact of the blow. Meaning most Martial Squires should be able to replicate the feat asides from perhaps the most

of his performance parameters were better thanks to autophagy supplying him with energy and other sustenance that one could get only from

Martial Squire even more." She laughed. "It's the

Squire Realm was something that he had tried to pry out of Martial Squires himself, thinking back fondly to all the times he had spoken to Squire Dylon and Kyrie on the

were at our prime before the Britannian Army had invaded." She sighed. "I keep thinking to myself if we Martial Apprentices had been stronger, if I

Art, Martial Apprentices were controlled via force or coercion because they alone weren't

to fulfill it... but I did have a request." She told him, turning towards him, meeting his eyes with

stared at her, before sighing.

needed to sign oaths swearing they would not divulge the information that the martial Union provided to them regarding the Squire Realm before they

the secret of the Squire Realm before the Martial Union briefed him about it thanks to Julian explaining the research data that Rui had provided him. However, that didn't matter, he would still

not?" Vemy asked

it would get me in

won't tell

intentions are genuine, this is an extremely sensitive and important matter to the Martial Union and they aren't half-assed

"I see..."

explained. "There's nothing you can do about it, trust me. Rather than wanting to know exactly how Martial Apprentices break through to the

"Meaning only some Martial

('Well, no shit.') "Correct."