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.

power of the Sage Realm can accomplish what you seek to accomplish within the time limit you

Resignation overtook Rui.

the Martial

the Sage Realm might not be enough, but…" Sage Sayfeel's voice took

eyes widened with shock.

The air tingled.

prickled at

do you

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

where he stood.

Empire.

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

Rui's expression grew grave.

powerful gaze. "…Do you

"…Yes."

precious to you than

"Infinitely."

could be found in

off as he met the

His message was clear.

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

said I'd

Sayfeel's eyes widened with

very air

his

"Prince Rui Quarrier Kandria."

Sage's tone

fail…you will do but

His eyes narrowed.

will ascend the

weighed

will bear

weighed down on

the Emperor of

weighed down

grew grave. "…And

The Sage's tone was unshakable. "You will have to watch Kandria burn with the flames of a war that you

of silence

had made his

into Rui's. "So, Your Highness,

Rui stared at him.

if he

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

It was a dead-end.

to ascend the throne, and