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.

many things

Many people to visit.

was sure that the Martial Union had already become aware of his return. Yet before he dealt with them and others, there was one thing that he

Heart, uncaring for the eyes he drew,

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

the power of

through the air at incredible speeds. It wasn't much too long before he

orphanage with his superior vision, landing a good kilometer away from it to avoid

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

as a

Hearts activate a short distance away

been surrounded

"Impressive," Rui smirked wryly.

your name and purpose for approaching the orphanage," The woman behind him coldly commanded him. "Move

to see that the Martial Union didn't shirk on my commission," Rui couldn't help

She narrowed her

BZZZT!

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

pass." She slowly remarked, before she and

reached the orphanage in a single step, yet he felt the need to walk slowly. It only felt appropriate. He simply didn't want to

time he reached, he simply stopped, staring the house from the woods. Senior Xanarn had

Mayra had prepared a large meal for

head as he finally found the courage to walk up

at the door," Horatio called