The Martial Unity

Perhaps Prince Raul had been right. Perhaps Rui's thoughtful nature was overthoughtful and could sometimes be considered a curse.

If that was the case, then perhaps Prince Raul might have found a solution to it, making mind-numbingly stupid statements that absolutely stunned his mind into paralysis.

It was as though the sheer stupidity of the People Prince's game plan was so high that it had temporarily short-circuited Rui's brain.

He was unable to even parse a thought after the Prince explained his brilliant plan to prevent a civil war.

If this was a hypnotic technique, it would be a grade-ten technique. He doubted that even Master Zeamer had such a powerful hypnosis technique.

He simply sat in his seat, staring at the People's Prince with a vacant expression. A small part of him hoped that this was all an elaborate joke that the prince was pulling to mess with him.

Perhaps any second now he was going to get up and yell 'LMAO GOTCHA!', but the rest of him knew that that would not happen.

The People's Prince simply stared at him head-on with eyes brimming with sincerity and hope.

As well as certainty.

This prince was the most delusional member of the Royal Family.

At least they understood the gravity of their decision and that overcoming the fallout was not going to be easy and would require more than just idly sitting on a throne. They were prepared for what it took to become Emperor.

"…You are clinically insane," Rui managed to squeeze out.

The prince did not take any offense at those words. His smile saddened as he got up, leaning forward, putting a hand on Rui's shoulder.

His pure eyes conveyed an impression of warmth and comfort despite the shock his words had delivered. "Ah, my friend. For every ten people who call me a saint, there has always been one who calls me a madman. But…"

He shook his head. "I am neither a saint nor a madman. I am simply connected to my citizens, my people; I am simply connected to the suffering of life. Even to yours."

A deep sadness engulfed him as he beheld Rui. "Help me help you. The void in your soul is not something that any amount of power in this universe can satisfy. There will come a day when it will consume everything and, eventually, even you. You will never find peace."

His words weighed down on the world around him.

"You are able to satisfy it with the power that you supply it. Your astronomic growth as a Martial Artist is able to keep up with its demand. But that won't continue forever. Some day, you will not be able to satisfy that hunger. When that day comes, it will feed on you, instead, until you lose everyone and everything."

Rui was too mentally weak at that point, reeling from the shock of the Prince's political plans, to bother pushing back against the philosophical nonsense that the prince was spouting. "And what would you have me do?"

"Not even an endless universe will assuage the hunger of your ambition," The prince's voice took on a sagely luster. "Look inward, not outward."

His eyes bore into Rui's. "Who are you?"

Rui's eyes widened.

"What?"

The prince smiled mysteriously. "You don't seem to be too aware of why you are hungry."

Rui raised an eyebrow. "I know where my ambition comes from."

"And where would that be? What caused such a deep hunger?" The prince asked.

Rui stared at him. "A famous quote. From a great martial artist."

"A great martial artist?"

"The greatest."

His declaration was firm.

"I see," The prince smiled warmly. "Rather strange, don't you think?"

Rui raised an eyebrow. "What is?"

"A famous quote resulting in a drive so powerful it propelled you to the youngest in the Senior Realm," Prince smiled. "Why do you think that happened?"

Rui stared at him.

His expression grew immersed.

"A famous quote, you said," The prince continued. "If it's famous. Then surely others have heard of it."

"Most certainly."

"Did all of them develop the endlessly hungry void that I see within you?" The prince asked.

Rui's eyes widened. "…No. Not a single one of them."

"I wonder why," The prince remarked knowingly. "Why it is that while everybody else who heard this quote went about their day like it was any other, but in you…In you, it birthed a void that may very well consume this entire world."

He gazed deep into Rui's eyes. "I wonder why."

"…Yeah," Rui's eyes swam around.

The man smiled as he patiently waited for Rui to finish his thoughts.

Rui glanced up at the prince with a refreshed expression.

He recalled what Ms Kayla had told him about Prince Raul.

'He simply does what he will…and people follow him of their own free will.'

'You should meet him, then you'll understand.'

Rui was able to see why the people of this nation were devoted to him. He possessed a magnetic aura. One that drew people in.

He soothed their pain, their anguish. He gave them hope. He cried in their pain and rejoiced in their joy.

"You…are special," Rui remarked.

Yet his eyes narrowed. "Yet you are unfit for the throne."

The prince smiled sadly. "You may very well be right. Yet, in this world, we can only do what we believe we ought to. I am driven down my path as you are yours. I pray it leads you where you hope it will, but my heart fears it won't."

He stretched a hand out to Rui.

"If you take my hand, I can promise to be there for you," The prince offered. "I don't know how much I can help, but I always strive to live up to those who place their trust in me."

Rui considered it for a moment before shaking his head. "The Martial Path is a solitary path. You cannot help me. Good luck with the Kandrian Throne War."

Rui got up, leaving the office and, eventually, the town.