The Martial Unity

A moment of silence lingered in the air.

"…Your Highness," Sage Sayfeel whispered. "You think…I want him to die?"

His gaze bored into Rui's eyes.

"…You think I don't want him to live?"

His voice quivered ever so slightly.

"You think his ailment…his fate pleases me?"

He shook his head.

"You are wrong."

He turned to Rui, meeting his gaze.

"It was his will that you ascend the throne."

Rui narrowed his eyes. "I rejected his will."

Sage Sayfeel closed his eyes. "And what will you do when you fail?"

Rui stared at him.

The man opened his eyes. His powerful gaze bored into Rui's.

"…If you fail, will you ascend the throne?"

A moment of silence lingered.

It was deafening.

The two Martial Artists stared at each other.

The air seemed to boil.

It boiled, wrung taut with the weight of the escalating tension.

"…If I agree, will you help me?" Rui's tone was as clear as fresh water. "Can you help me?"

He stared at the Sage with hopeful eyes.

He didn't know what the Martial Sage was capable of.

In truth, he didn't know what Martial Sages, in general, were capable of. He wasn't entirely aware of the extent of the Master Realm's power and certainly knew no firsthand information.

Realm can accomplish what you seek to accomplish within the

Resignation overtook Rui.

the Martial Sage wasn't

the Sage Realm might not be enough, but…" Sage Sayfeel's voice took an upturn. "Power rivaling the Transcendent Realm can delay the Emperor's

eyes widened with shock.

The air tingled.

at

you mean?"

inevitable, not prevent it," The Sage's voice grew severe. "The Topaz of Time is a

he stood. "Such

"It is one of the national treasures of the Kandrian Empire. With its power, the Emperor's fate can be

a renewable resource. Once used, it will crumble to dust. Once used, the Kandrian Empire will be

Rui's expression grew grave.

Sayfeel's powerful gaze. "…Do you possess the power to deploy

"…Yes."

the Emperor more precious to you

"Infinitely."

hint of hesitation could be found

Rui's voice trailed off as he met

His message was clear.

my question yet," Sage Sayfeel narrowed his eyes. "What will you

I'd figure something

eyes widened with

air seemed

felt chills crawl up his skin at the mere

"Prince Rui Quarrier Kandria."

Sage's tone grew

fail…you will

His eyes narrowed.

ascend the

words weighed down on

will bear

weighed down on his

the Emperor

weighed down on

grave. "…And if I

the Topaz of Time to delay His Majesty's fate," The Sage's tone was unshakable. "You will have to watch Kandria burn with the flames of a war that you could

of silence

Sage had made his choice

bore holes into Rui's. "So, Your Highness, what

Rui stared at him.

if he refused the

back to square one, back to where he was before he was when he was struggling to find a suitable candidate for the throne. Looking for a way to ensure that the throne war ended and that whoever sat atop the throne was not an extremist who would throw the Empire that the throne war ended and that whoever sat atop the throne was not an extremist who would throw the Empire into disarray and civil

It was a dead-end.

option. None of the seven royals possessed the harmony needed to ascend the throne, and none of the other royals