The Martial Unity

"…What a fascinating story," Senior Ceeran marveled. "To have simultaneously broken through against a Martial Artist with a Martial Path as powerful as yours, that is truly incredible. Historic even."

Rui shrugged. "Regardless, that was how I broke through to the Senior Realm. I spent several years training under some renowned Martial Masters, and now here I am, returning home after Chairman Deacon mysteriously passed away in a large explosion."

Master Ceeran smirked at Rui with a knowing look. "Mysterious indeed. Regardless, it is good that you have managed to return home after all this time. It is just a shame that you returned home to a nation of increasing political turmoil."

The man heaved a sigh. "It has been over a week, but you have already been approached by two of the seven prime princes and princesses competing for the throne. You can be expected to be approached by more, I can assure you that much. None of them are willing to let go of the most prodigious Martial Senior in history. Especially when you have proven your strategic value time and time again."

Rui nodded, having already been warned of this by Headmaster Aronian. "It's not easy for me to ignore the political turmoil because of my ability to influence it. It would have been easier to forget about it had I been weak since thinking about it wouldn't have mattered."

"But you aren't weak, not by any reasonable standard," Master Ceeran smiled softly. "While you aren't the strongest Martial Senior, you are far and away the most strategically valuable. On top of that, there comes a certain amount of prestige from having the most prodigious Martial Senior join your political faction."

Rui nodded, heaving a sigh. "It's not easy making a choice. It is easy cutting away some options, but deciding has been a little difficult."

He turned to Senior Ceeran. "May I inquire who it is that the Ranger Sect and you are supporting?"

"We are throwing our support behind Princess Ranea, the Princess of the Seas," Master Ceeran readily divulged his political affiliation. "Interesting, I would have thought that you would be in favor of Prince Raijun's hyper-pro-Martial political agendas," Rui remarked, intrigued. "Well, long-range Martial Artists, believe it or not, are most valued in seafare. The reason for this is because any conflicts on sea began an enormous distance away for there is no place to hide, and every vessel on the seas is seen hours away due to the fundamentally open nature of the sea," Master Ceeran remarked. "I see…so the Kandrian Seafare Association and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs each have a personal interest vested in the Ranger Sect," Rui's eyes lit up with interest.

"Indeed, we have found that they, along with the Princess of Seas, are far more appreciative of our services than the Martial Prince and even the rest of the Martial Union," Master Ceeran remarked. "We are able to leverage more from them likewise. The princess of Seas is also among the most sane candidates out of all of the seven, thus we are more at ease trusting her with the Empire."

"That makes sense," Rui noted as his eyes grew deeper in thought. "It wasn't my intention to bring her up, of course," Master Ceeran remarked. "I don't intend to try and rally you to the Ranea Faction. You should consider your personal interests deeply with the philosophies and policies of the various princes and princesses and support one that is best for your interests."

"I am aware of that," Rui nodded. "I have already taken it upon myself to understand everything about them based on reliable sources of information. However, I do still wish to meet most of them personally to gain a more personal understanding of them."

He turned to Master Ceeran. "Could I request you for an audience with Her Highness?"

Master Ceeran's eyes lit up. "Most certainly, I'm sure that Princess Ranea will accept that request."

"Thanks," Rui nodded. "I would like to get a better understanding of her and what it stands for. That was one of the reasons that I wanted to speak with you. The other being…"

"The matter with your Sect, is it?" Master Ceeran raised an eyebrow. Rui nodded. "Leading a Sect is a committal occupation, I presume."

"You have some misunderstandings of how this is going to work, I'm afraid," Master Ceeran shook his head. "A sect only comes after there are enough Martial Artists of similar fields gathering around a single cause. At this moment, you are alone, therefore you don't need to worry about leading a sect for now. That would only come after you have spread your Martial Art far and wide enough that enough people come under a single semi-formal organization like a sect."

"That makes sense," Rui nodded. "So I should worry about whether I want to in the future?"

Master Ceeran nodded. "You are still young, for now, you only need to plant seeds of your Martial Art that will eventually bloom into Martial Artists with Martial Paths adjacent to your own."

Rui found his words to be quite insightful. "I see, that does indeed make sense. As far as spreading my Martial Art goes…"

"That is a bit more complicated. Your Martial Art is a dynamic all-rounder Martial Art, and I presume that you do not wish to bias it anyway, correct?"

Rui nodded. "Biasing it in any one direction necessarily means that I cannot adapt to something well, which is not an acceptable sacrifice."

"In that case, it is best that you spread elements of your Martial Art that are useful to all fields of Martial Art so that your future Martial Sect will also be equally balanced, resulting in funding and budgeting that is equally well-distributed, which in turn, will allow you maintain the balance in your own Martial Art in the future if and when you do use your future sect as a source of inspiration and insight."