The Martial Unity

“You have my support too, Rui!” Kane spoke up with a grin. “I know what it’s like to be tormented by powerful Martial Artists my entire life. I don’t wish that upon anybody. Go Rui for Emperor!”

“I, too, support you, Your Highness,” Sage Ceeran declared, folding his arms defiantly.

“I will join your faction as well, Your Highness,” Sage Zentra remarked. “Law and order are important, even for Martial Artists. Perhaps especially for Martial Artists.”

“As the Pope of the Faith of Dawn, I too declare our absolute support for you, My Holy Lord!” One Martial Sage stood up, representing the clergy that had coalesced together to form the institutions of the Faith of Dawn.

“I, too, support your initiative, Your Highness,” Sage Kyria of the Nest of Terra declared.

There were Martial Sages here and there that chirped up, but a vast majority remained silent.

Rui could clearly see that they disapproved, but had too much respect and admiration for his power, his leadership, and his many contributions to Martial Art.

And then, there was perhaps the most important group of people in the throne war.

The cabinet of ministers and other high-ranking government officials.

“I support your initiative, Your Highness!” The Minister of Domestic Affairs, Danes, declared with a strong tone. “I support your bid for the throne!”

His was the first and only voice of support from the cabinet of ministers. His declaration seemed to weigh on his peers as they directed a surprised glance at him, before directing eyes of consideration to Rui.

’It’s a good start for now.’

Soon, the tide of immediate support began to fade as the most enthusiastic and loyal of people and groups to Rui fully said their piece, leaving a rapidly growing silence in the air.

Rui’s ethereal eyes swept through the crowd as he discerned the various sentiments of those who remained silent.

There were those who were supportive of his vision, but needed more information and confirmation, or those who were supportive, save for some caveats here and there. These were people who were inclined to support Rui, but wouldn’t do so without negotiations with Rui to clear their doubts or gain some firm assurances. There were also people who supported Rui, but did not want to express it so publicly because they were too dependent on Martial Artists who would not like Rui’s vision.

Then there were the neutral folks. They didn’t have strong opinions either way, and simply watched in silence without too emotion, barring the shock from the bombshells that Rui had dropped. This group also included those who were paralyzed with conflicted expressions, like Prime Minister Edward, who had remained silent the entire time.

Then there were the dissatisfied. The largest of the three groups of silent guests of honor. They ranged from mildly dissatisfied to viciously hateful of either the concept of a changing nation and civilization or the changes to the Martial World that Rui wanted to bring about.

Regardless, Rui had picked all the low-hanging fruit by openly beckoning support from the gathered guests of honor. It was one of the reasons he wanted to do this immediately after the royal funeral was completed, to start with high momentum.

The tension in the air began to lower as the final few immediate voices of support began dying down.

“I would like to express my support for your initiative as the CEO of Charlmeign Mining, Your Highness,” an older woman announced, before sitting back down.

Then, there was silence.

It hung in the air for several moments as Rui’s gaze swept across the gathered guests.

Everyone who wanted to express their support had done it.

His little show had come to an end.

He had achieved all the goals that he sought to achieve.

And yet, before Rui could seize the moment to wrap up his little post-ceremony, a final person stood up, drawing everybody’s attention.

Rui’s eyes grew hazy as they fell on none other than the Princess of Harmony, Princess Ru. She smiled at him harmoniously as her golden eyes bore deep into his.

He couldn’t read her mind, and her control over her body language was impeccable.

“My esteemed elder brother.”

Her harmonious voice contrasted with the heavier and intense tone that Rui had adopted.

“You have gathered the world for the funeral of our father and have used the death of our father as an opportunity to announce your bid for the throne and your vision for the future.”

Her expression grew calm and composed.

“I find your cynicism to be a little disturbing.”

She continued seamlessly, as if she hadn’t levied a very serious criticism to his approach.

“More than anything, however, I find your vision for the future to not be compelling. Your understanding of the change in civilization is crude despite having an esteemed immortal sage at your disposal, in my opinion, and I believe that you will destabilize our civilization more than any of the Martial Artists that you seek to subjugate.”

Her tone remained harmonious.

Yet her words cut deep.

“It seems that, in addition to causing the death of our father, you seek to destroy his legacy at his own funeral.”

Everybody froze as their eyes widened.

The atmosphere grew electric with peril.

It tingled the nerves.

Almost every single person felt a deep, deep terror emerge in the pits of their stomach.

She smoothly uttered what was only whispered among the upper class of human civilization, tying it to his current actions to frame the most provocative statement anybody could conceive of.

The depths of her golden eyes bore deep into the ethereal darkness in his as her sharp words hung in the air. Time slowed down to a crawl in Rui’s ethereal eyes, almost freezing entirely.

He understood what she was trying to do.

He understood because he could feel anger rising up within him at her words.

She wanted him to lose his temper.

She wanted him to get angry.

She wanted him to throw a tantrum and look like a child who couldn’t control his emotions, in contrast to her calm and composed.

Her goal was to get the Cabinet of Ministers, who were watching him like a hawk.

Once he lost their approval, it was over.

His ethereal eyes rested on Princess of Harmony, Princess Ru.

The weight of the world seemed to hang in the balance within their face-off.