The Martial Unity

1526 Late

It wasn't long before he took his first step back into the Kandrian Empire.

The familiar cool breeze tickled his skin chilling under the influence of the light snowfall that was characteristic of the Kandrian Empire's weather during the monsoons. A mild hint of saltiness and humidity also trickled into the air, characteristic of coastal regions.

The Kandrian Empire was a rare combination of a country with a large amount of coastal exposure to the Nam Ocean in addition to having a freezing cold North, resulting in a unique climate and weather combination that one would not expect.

Yet to Rui, this was home. It wasn't just the weather and air that triggered waves of nostalgia that clouded his heart, it was everything.

The infrastructure, the roads, and buildings.

The people and the ethnic attire that was native to the Kandrian Empire.

The sense of modernized refinement to a degree that not even the Shionel Confederation had. Outside of more rural places, the Kandrian Empire made significant utility of motorized carriages instead of horse-drawn carriages. The roads and the tons were largely dung-free something that was much less common in the many other nations that Rui had visited over the many years.

"Hah...as expected of the Kandrian Empire, I suppose," Rui smirked with a hint of pride.

He had never been an extremely nationalistic person ever, but he had developed an attachment to this nation, especially since it was the place where his family resided and lived. Although life had never been easy for them, at the very least, the nation did not abuse and exploit them.

Considering some of the inhumane and horrible places he had seen during his time away from the Kandrian Empire like the nations of the Derschek Region and the Saiful Region, he was grateful that the nation allowed the kids and caretakers of the orphanage to live normal peaceful lives, even if hard.

"Man..." He murmured with a bittersweet smile and a voice that quivered with emotion. "...I'm back... I actually finally back...!"

His throat choked as he felt his eyes sting. Yet he quickly shook his head, pulling himself together as he quickly navigated through the streets. Much had changed in the past eight years, yet the layouts and the broader details had remain unchanged, the old map of the Kandrian Empire that he had stored in his Mind Palace was still quite accurate for the most part.

had many things

Many people to visit.

of his return. Yet before he dealt with them and

activated his Martial Heart, uncaring for the eyes he drew, before taking off into the

at top speed, just the shockwaves and flames he generated from his sheer

the power

speeds. It wasn't much too long before he finally reached the town of Hajin, and more importantly,

the orphanage with his superior vision, landing a good kilometer away from

second he stepped down on the ground, he felt the touch of the cold

well as a Martial Heart

felt seven Martial Hearts activate a short distance away all

been surrounded even before

"Impressive," Rui smirked wryly.

the orphanage," The woman behind him

didn't shirk on my commission," Rui couldn't help but chuckle. "Thank you for everything that you've done

She narrowed her eyes. "I said

BZZZT!

as she received a message on her communication device, taking a moment to read it even as she

remarked, before she and her

have reached the orphanage in a single step, yet he felt the need to

the woods. Senior Xanarn had

a large meal for everyone gathered in

into his head as he finally found the courage to walk up to the front of the door, knocking

at the door,"