The Martial Unity

"The Martial Contest?" Squire Kyrie echoed, glancing at Rui.

"That's right." Rui said, nodding. "I'm about enter training for the Martial Contest. But, I'm not sure what kind of techniques to purchase. I was wondering if you had any advice for me?"

In the past day he had spoken to multiple people. His friends, some instructors, some old instructors, he had received a diverse array of opinions.

Kane had told him he should improve his evasive maneuvering. Fae had told he should consider improving his striking. Dalen and Milliana had respectively told him to consider improving his defense and stamina.

He wasn't sure. He had hoped that consulting others would give him some clarity, but frankly, it only made him more conflicted.

There were many good arguments for each of the options he had been presented.

"What does the Martial Contest have to with the development of your Martial Art?" Kyrie asked.

"Huh?" Rui tilted his head in confusion. "What does it have to with the development of my Martial Art? I want to compete in and win the Martial Contest. For that, I have to grow stronger."

He replied with a confused expression.

Squire Kyrie didn't respond immediately, taking her time to ponder about his words. "You know... I won the Martial Contest back when I was still in the Academy and was crowned the Martial Princess."

"What??" Rui turned to her in shock and surprise. "I did not know that."

"It was a long time ago." Kyrie smiled wryly. "So long ago, that it doesn't even matter now. It's insignificant, even though I was crowned champion." She said, throwing pointed look at Rui

He frowned at those words. He was cognizant enough to sense that her words had meaning, she was trying to convey something.

"Insignificant? The Martial Contest?" He murmured with a skeptical look.

The Kandrian Martial Festival was held once every five years. Its infrequency ensured that whenever the Festival did eventually roll around, it had a lot of weight. It drew in attention from not just the entire Empire, but even surrounding nations as well!

The Sekigahara Confederate, the Britannia Empire and the Republic of Gorteau all sent delegates to the Kandrian Empire during the Festival, to engage in some diplomatic show of goodwill.

At the center of the Kandrian Martial Festival lied the inter-academic Martial Contest held by the sixteen Martial Academies across the Kandrian Empire.

Sixteen representatives, four rounds, one champion. Glory. Prestige. Wealth.

How could such an event be insignificant?

"What's more important to you?" She asked. "Reaching Martial Squire, or winning the Martial Contest?"

"Reaching Martial Squire." Rui replied unhesitantly. As much as he wanted to win the Martial Contest, reaching Martial Squire was far stronger a desire for Rui than anything else. His ultimate goal was to pursue his Martial Art and traverse his Martial Path forever, he did not want to ever want to die constrained ever again. The first time was bad enough.

If he could not reach Martial Squire, then it meant he had hit a dead end in his Martial Path and Martial Art.

That was not something he was willing to tolerate, in comparison, the Martial Contest was indeed inconsequential.

"Can't I pursue both?" Rui frowned, becoming a Martial Squire didn't mean he couldn't participate in the Martial Contest, and participating in the Martial Contest didn't mean he couldn't become a Martial Squire. So why did it sound like Squire Kyrie was insinuating this?

"Can you?" She asked.

"Can't I?"

"Tell me. How would you have gone on training if the Martial Contest did not exist?" She asked, in turn.

Rui remained silent at that question.

"At the very least, would your normal training be different from that of your Martial Contest training?" She asked.

"Probably."

"How do you think you'll reach Martial Squire if you allow something like the Martial Contest to dictate your Martial Path?" Squire Kyrie asked him.

Rui's eyes flew wide open at those words. He understood what she was trying to convey.

"Training shapes your Martial Art and Martial Path." She said. "The influence your training has on your Martial Art and your Martial Path cannot be changed too easily. With that in mind, do you think altering training for the sake of the Martial Contest is conducive to your goal?"

Rui shook his head. It wasn't. She definitely had a point. The Martial Contest was not his end goal, he should not bend his Martial Path towards it, as that would inevitably mean it is bending away from its original path. What was the point of training for the Martial Contest specifically?

The Martial Contest occurred once every five years. He would really only to get to participate in it once. After that, it was no longer relevant. It was not worth altering his original Martial Path.

Instead, he should simply train for the sake of his Martial Art itself, and not for anything or anybody else.

"Thank you for your guidance, instructor Kyrie." Rui was grateful. He had gotten bit too fixated on the Contest itself. He was still excited for the Martial Contest, and still intended to grow stronger. But the difference was he was not willing to influence his Martial Path for the sake of the Contest.

He could still train for the Martial Contest to a lower level, within his Martial Path, but he wasn't willing to change his course. Even if the techniques he chose weren't precisely the best for the Martial Contest, he would still choose to master them if he believed that these techniques were faithful to his Martial Path.

Kyrie nodded with a hint of approval. "Good luck. I look forward to your performance in the Martial Contest and the Festival. But never forget, your Path goes far beyond them."

Rui nodded. "Thank you." Before bading her farewell and heading to the Apprentice Library.

His mind was no longer consumed by the incessant thoughts of the Martial Festival.

"My Martial Art is the VOID algorithm. And my Martial Path is Project Water." He whispered to himself. "I'll do whatever it takes to achieve my dreams."

He stopped, having reached the gates to the Apprentice Library.