The Martial Unity

Rui stared at him, puzzled.

It wasn't every day a stranger said that to him out of the blue.

"You know me?" Rui asked, raising an eyebrow.

The fact that he made some strange reference to the void when he saw him suggested that he may have recognized Rui.

"No," The man shook his head, smiling. "But I do know hunger when I see it. I have worked hard to assuage it my entire life, after all. Your hunger is deeper than that of anyone else I have ever seen."

He eyed Rui's muscular form. "Yet your hunger is not of food, clearly. It does not lie in your stomach. It is present deep within your eyes."

His bright, brilliant blue eyes, devoid of darkness, reflected the seemingly endless void of darkness that hid deep within Rui's eyes.

"…Uh huh," Rui stared at him with quizzical askance. "Say, where can I find the headquarters of the Kandrian Ruffians."

"At the center of the town," The man helpfully replied with a serene smile. "I hope you find what you're looking for."

"Thanks," Rui turned, heading straight into town.

He didn't think much of the encounter. Or the man who said strangely profound things. His eyes wandered about as he beheld the state of the people of the town. None of the citizens of the Varmaria seemed hungry or malnourished. If anything, their skin had a healthy luster. Their eyes had a glint of drive and hope. Most of the men seemed to be working manual labor for the construction and maintenance of the town, while women worked in large communal kitchens that prepared food for everybody in the town. He even saw agricultural plots eagerly tended to by plenty of people across the entire town. It had appeared that the town had taken on a bit of a communal approach so that everybody could help each other up from abject poverty.

That was a good approach as far as Rui was concerned. When survival and basic necessities were a struggle, coming together and pooling their efforts allowed them to accomplish things and overcome hurdles that they would never be able to do by themselves.

Once they reached a certain quality of lifestyle and security, they could think about liberalizing the town and establishing property rights and whatnot.

Regardless, his attention quickly turned to the center of the town. He hadn't come here to admire Varmaria.

"This must be it," He arrived at a multi-storied building at the center of the town where multiple roads converged. Admittedly, it was the most humble abode for a member of the royal family that he had ever seen. Princess Raemina, Ranea, Rafia, and Raijun lived in absolute luxury in comparison.

It appeared that the People's Prince did not mind a humble base.

"Purpose of Visit?" One of the guards asked him.

"I'm here to visit His Highness," Rui replied. "I was informed that High Highness accepted to meet all those that wished to meet him."

He didn't think Ms Kaylin was kidding about that part. "He does but…he's not in the office at the moment," The guards told him.

"Oh? Then where might I find him?"

"He's playing.

"Playing?" Rui tilted his head.

"He's playing with the children of Varmaria," The guard explained. "Most likely towards the southern gate."

"Playing with chil-" Rui paused, jerking his head with a surprised frown. Turning back to the southern gate that he had entered from. His senses could easily stretch to the end.

"Him?" Rui furrowed his eyebrows as he beheld the commoner middle-aged man patting sleeping children. "No way."

WHOOSH!

He swiftly disappeared, weaving through town at rapid paces, quickly reaching the southern gate.

STEP

He appeared before the dark-skinned blond man, killing the noise he generated with some heaven-bending.

"Hm?" The man smiled again as he noticed Rui. "That was rather quick. Have you found what you seek?"

"Not yet," Rui remarked, eying him more carefully. "What's your name?"

The man smiled wryly. "Can I offer a nickname?"

"Full name, please."

The man heaved an amused sigh. "My name is Raul Viva Kandria."

"Your Highness," Rui bowed lightly with an exasperated sigh.

"Please dispense with such meaningless gestures," Prince Raul's voice was resigned. "I am not befitting of them. I am but a simple commoner who one day discovered that the blood of the royal family flows in my veins. It is nothing special nor of note."

"You really should not be here without appropriate security, Your Highness," Rui heaved a troubled sigh as he massaged his temples.

"Oh, I try, but I am never truly without appropriate security," Raul chuckled. "It's hard to juke a Martial Master, you see. But they respect my wishes enough to protect me from afar. That is the best I can hope for."

He heaved a troubled sigh. "They are protective to a fault."

"It's common sense, Your Highness," Rui shook his head with resignation. The prince chuckled. "So, what is it that you seek from me?" Rui stared at him.

The prince simply met his gaze. His eyes were pure and sincere as he locked them against Rui's.

The contrast between their eyes was sharp. "What is it that you seek to achieve as prince?" Rui asked. The prince raised an eyebrow as his smile widened. "That's rather simple. I wish to create a nation that exists for its people, than a nation where its people exist for it."

His tone grew knowing. "I know what it is that you seek to understand, so I shall not hide it from you against the advice of my advisors. I intend to create a nation where Martial Artists are no longer elevated above the people. A nation can exist without Martial Artists, but it cannot exist without its people. Such a thing cannot and should not happen. Should I become Emperor, I would abolish the Kandrian Martial Pact, and the Kandrian Martial Covenant. That document, in my opinion, is the greatest sin of the founding emperor."

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