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.

his eyes. "Not even the power of the Sage Realm can accomplish what

Resignation overtook Rui.

the Martial

power of the Sage Realm might not be enough, but…" Sage Sayfeel's voice took an upturn. "Power rivaling the

eyes widened

The air tingled.

prickled at

do you mean?"

resource to merely delay the inevitable, not prevent it," The Sage's voice grew severe. "The Topaz of Time is a Transcendent esoteric substance that

Rui shook where he stood. "Such a thing

"It is one of the national treasures of the Kandrian Empire.

used, it will crumble to dust. Once used, the Kandrian Empire will be deprived of this

Rui's expression grew grave.

you possess the

"…Yes."

Emperor more precious

"Infinitely."

hesitation could

he

His message was clear.

question yet," Sage Sayfeel narrowed

I'd figure something

Sage Sayfeel's eyes

very air

felt chills crawl up his skin at the mere

"Prince Rui Quarrier Kandria."

Sage's tone

fail…you will do but

His eyes narrowed.

will ascend

words weighed down on

will bear

weighed down on

will become the

down on

grew grave. "…And if

tone was unshakable. "You will have to watch Kandria burn

moment of silence

made

"So, Your Highness, what will it

Rui stared at him.

he refused

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

It was a dead-end.

tried every option. None of the seven royals possessed the harmony needed to ascend the