1542 Academy
Rui enjoyed reconnecting with his old friends after a long period of separation. His friends freely shared the past eight years of their lives with while indulging in the finer details of his adventures.
Since Rui had specifically chosen to go to centers of Martial Art that helped Martial Artists train and grow stronger, he had plenty of tales that were of interest to Martial Artists like themselves.
"I must visit the Umiana Trench someday…" Fae murmured when Rui recounted the story.
As a striking-oriented Martial Artist centered around palm strikes, she was quite interested in avenues of training centered around striking. The Umiana Trench was a good place where Martial Artists like herself could train their fundamentals and foundations.
"The Floating Sect sounds like it would be a ton of fun." Nel's eyes flashed with battle lust. "I must check it out myself someday."
Rui smiled wryly. Someone like Nel would fit right in a place like the Floating Sect.
"What was the Great Forest of Hypnonarak like?" Fiona asked with curiosity.
"It was definitely unlike any other forest I've ever been to," Rui remarked, thinking back to the various tribulations that he had gone through while exploring the forest. "I've heard that it was essentially an artificial pocket from the Beast Domain since the Hypnomaster created it using the species of flora from the Beast Domain."
"Interesting," She murmured.
A variety of topics came and went, among which were not only related to their personal lives in the past eight years but also their Martial Art.
Each of them was grateful for the Hungry Pain technique that Rui had given to them a long time ago. He had initially given it only to Kane and Milliana, who then gave it to everybody else in their friend group when the time was right.
"It helped a lot with my stamina," Milliana nodded.
"It also made our Martial Bodies a grade stronger than what was expected right off the bat," Dalen pointed out. "We have you to thank for that."
The others nodded, adding their own experiences with the Hungry Pain technique as Martial Squires. Yet, eventually, even the numerous topics that they had to talk about came to an end. It wasn't too long before their little rendezvous came to an end and they departed their own ways. Most of them were too busy with their own schedules to spend too much time away from them.
Yet, instead of heading back home, he decided to take a little detour.
A detour to a place that had played a huge role in his life and path as a Martial Artist, one that he hadn't visited in a long time.
"Is it just me…or has this place grown bigger?" Rui smiled as he beheld the fortress walls of the Hajin branch of the Martial Academy.
A wave of nostalgia overcame him as he beheld the Martial Academy. His memory of the Martial Academy was quite deep because this location in particular was actually a part of his Mind Palace. That's why he could detect even the slightest of changes over the years.
He could tell that they had expanded their area once more despite being in the middle of one of the largest towns.
As one of the sixteen largest and most impactful sources of new Martial Artists, the importance of the town of Hajin could not be understated. If it weren't for these invaluable institutions, Martial Art may very well regress due to a greater death toll than the Apprentice breakthrough number.
He was just one of countless Martial Artists who were deeply indebted to the Martial Academies.
He went straight through the reception for visitors.
"I am Squire Quarrier," He showed his outdated license to a staff member. "An alumni of the Academy, I'd like to request permission to visit the premises."
"…I'm afraid you're going to need authorization if you haven't booked an appointment," She replied apologetically. "I could file a request although it's unlikely and would take some time nonetheless."
"Please be sure to contact me when that pans out," Rui nodded, before turning around and walking away.
"Excuse me!" She called out to him with a surprised tone, stopping him just as he was exiting the building. "You've just received authorization…from the headmaster himself!"
Rui smiled wryly.
It wasn't too long before he was inside the premises with a visitor card tagged to his chest. Despite having been away for easily more than a decade, his familiarity with the place exceeded those of current students.
The campus was divided into two sections, the inner and outer ring. The latter was for non-Martial Artist students while the former only houses Martial Artists. Students would go through the Foundation and Exploration Stages in the outer ring that were designed to allow them to explore Martial Art, until they broke through to the Apprentice Realm, heading inside to the inner section to join the other Martial Apprentices.
Rui recognized the hopeful and determined looks that the kids in the outer ring had. The desire to become Martial Artists drove these kids to strengthen their foundations enough for them to explore everything that Martial Art had to offer.
Yet it was the inner ring that he was interested in. The first place he went to was the combat training section of the inner ring.
"Ah…there she is," Rui's eyes lit up as his senses picked up on the person that he had been looking for. "It's been a long time, Squire Kyrie."
She turned, gazing at him as her normally calm brown eyes widened with surprise. "Rui…" This belongs to : ©.
Her attention turned towards him as she paused her inspection and oversight on the Martial Apprentices sparring. "You're alive…"
Rui's hands rose in resignation. "Alive and well. Did you think I was dead?"
"I heard from Max and Mana that you died," She remarked.
"Disappeared," Rui corrected.
"In the world of Martial Art, those may as well be the same thing. Do you know the sheer number of Martial Artists who are ruled as dead due to the fact that they never returned?" Her calm voice was stern.