The Martial Unity

As Rui admired the sophistication that hid under the veneer of a primitive lifestyle, Amare found herself at the center of attention from all the dark elves who fawned over her with curiosity and intrigue.

Even after she changed, she hadn’t lost her magnetic personality, making her very easy to be drawn to, even for people of a different species.

“Are you sure that’s ok?” Rui raised an eyebrow as he watched Amare playing with the children. “We are from a different continent that has been isolated from the true world for nearly two hundred thousand years. We are undoubtedly carrying viruses to which we may have gained immunity, but your people likely haven’t.”

“There is nothing to worry about,” the dark elf elder beside him mused with a knowing expression. “All dark elves on the Genora Continent have already been immunized to the pathogens of your continent.”

Rui’s eyes widened. “What…?”

“It’s true,” the dark elf remarked, smiling at him with a tranquil expression. “We have already identified and created vaccines to immunize our entire population against all known viruses on your continent. And in conjunction with the aid of Panamic Alliance, we have enabled your people to also eventually be vaccinated against the viruses of Gaia that you have not been exposed to. This way, we should be able to ensure that nobody perishes from an infection that they have no resistance to.”

Rui stared at her with an impressed expression.

The dark elves displayed a remarkable mastery of medical technology, which was to be expected to a certain extent given their specialization in biotechnology. It naturally lent them a greater affinity towards medicine.

“Alright now.” The elder stepped forth, breaking the crowd that had formed around Amare. “That’s enough. She is our guest, not an animal. Show some respect to one of the most powerful warriors of the Panama Continent.”

The dark elves cooed at those words as they gazed at Amare with renewed respect.

“Are you really that strong?” A dark elf girl in Amare’s arms gazed at her with an awed expression.

“Just a little.” Amare smiled, patting her head.

“Are you as strong as a Mother of Nature?”

“Hmm…” Amare fell into thought. “I don’t know, actually.”

It was indeed true that they had no frame of reference in regards to how elven warriors of the Panama Continent compared to the Martial Artists of Panama. Unlike the other six races, the elves had not come to pick a fight with the Panama Continent.

“We have heard many tales about how strong you ’Martial Sages’ are,” the dark elf elder remarked knowingly. “It is truly remarkable how your Paths are centered around the art of war itself.”

The other dark elves shuffled uncomfortably at those words.

They hated war.

“It’s more like the art of combat,” Rui corrected her. “War is a collective effort, but combat is individualistic. The Martial Path is individualistic. Every Martial Artist must walk the path for oneself.”

The dark elf elder raised an eyebrow. “Fascinating. That is different from the Nature Path. Many believe that the ultimate goal of the Nature Path is to become one with nature and all life. And to an extent, the Mothers of Nature have already accomplished that.”

“Is there nothing beyond the Mothers of Nature?” Rui asked with a raised eyebrow. “No higher echelon of power?”

“…If there is, we haven’t discovered it yet,” the dark elf elder mused. “The Nature Path is a mystical path that only one who has cultivated the deepest bond with nature can truly traverse. But many are confident that it can only be reached together, and not by an individual.”

Rui’s eyes lit up with interest. “That’s fascinating indeed. I did come here hoping to learn more about the Nature Path, and I am truly impressed by what I have seen and heard.”

The dark elf elder regarded him with an amicable smile. “I am happy to hear that. For now, let us dine together before we further speak.”

She glanced about the dark elves who appeared to await her command.

“Let us commence the feast.”

Immediately, roots emerged from within the ground, weaving together as the wood fused to form a long, continuous, spiraling table that continuously spread across the entirety of the little tree-home.

A long, singular, woven leaf covered the surface of the tables as it spread across the continuous spiraling table. An even greater number of branches and roots began serving sets of the same food across the entirety of the table as the dark elves began taking their seats across the large spiraling table.

“Wow,” Amare murmured with an amazed expression. “Everybody eats from the same plate, or leaf, rather.”

Although extremely long, it was the exact same leaf-plate from which each dark elf ate their food.

“In elven culture, we do many things together,” the dark elf elder remarked, gesturing to an available seat. “Including eating. Please join us.”

Rui and Amare took a seat next to the dark elder as they studied their food with interest.

The first thing that Rui noticed, much to his inner dismay, was the absence of meat. The food, while appetizing in its aroma, was entirely comprised of grain derivatives and cooked vegetables.

“Dark elves must be vegetarians.”

“Indeed, we are,” the elder remarked. “We do not consume the meat of animals. Though we are willing to accommodate if you wish.”

“Not at all,” Rui replied graciously, unwilling to push their hospitality. “We will happily partake in your traditions and culture. I just found it curious since elves follow the flora half of nature.”

The dark elf elder smirked. “Did you expect us to be carnivorous? I don’t blame that line of thinking. But in reality, we are able to suffice ourselves with flora, thus we do not partake in fauna. We do not need to inflict suffering on animals for a morsel of their meat when we can gain much more food from nature itself without destroying nature, but by simply gently extracting enough to feed ourselves.”

Amare couldn’t help but smile with admiration. “What a wonderful sentiment!”