The Martial Unity

After Kane and Fae left, Rui and Amare entertained several more guests who dropped in to wish them congratulations on the baby and on parenthood, as well as to admire the boundless cuteness that Ria possessed. “So this is my niece…” Julian held Ria in his arms, smiling at her with a loving expression.

Ria wagged her little, puffy arms, staring at Julian with dazzling amber eyes and an open mouth, as if constantly amazed by every new experience she had.

Ru found herself melting to the feminine weakness of cuteness as her mask of harmony fell off, revealing a rather strange manifestation of cute aggression. “Ahhh, she’s so cute I could gobble her up!” Ru cooed at the baby beside Julian, admiring her. “She has our father’s hair!”

The tuft of hair on her little head was undoubtedly golden. “Hahaha, looks like Rui’s genes didn’t work out hard enough. She doesn’t have black hair or black eyes.” Max laughed at Rui.

“She clearly has inherited Kandrian blood, though; it seems big brother’s features were a fluke. Black hair and eyes are extremely uncommon for some reason,” Mana murmured thoughtfully. Rui and Amare shared a knowing glance.

As people who were both of black hair and black eyes, they both knew that it wasn’t something that ordinary people had. All those who were marked with this genetic trait were simply special and had the potential to change the world, as Sage Asmodeous had revealed to the two of them.

Esil had changed all of human civilization by spreading the Martial Art and ushering in the advent of Martial Artists. Rui had changed human civilization even before he attempted to be Emperor, completely altering its future trajectory.

Neither of them wanted her to have such a lofty destiny, for it came with many tribulations and danger. Those who possessed the potential to change the world could never be left alone to live a normal life.

Rui wanted her to live a fulfilling and satisfying life, whatever form it took. As long as she was happy, he would be happy.

“I want to hold her now.” Arastia lifted her arms to Julian, gesturing for him to give her the newborn.

She had grown several inches taller since Rui last saw her, having undergone a big growth spurt and having hit thirteen years old recently. She had lost many of her childish features, and her demeanor had grown a little more mature, even if she had just become a teenager.

She resembled her mother, the Blood Goddess, her blood-red eyes and hair having grown more prominent from when she was a toddler.

“Give her to me, I want to hold her too!” She grew impatient, gesturing to Julian to hold her. Julian stiffened a little, glancing at an uncertain expression on the young girl. Although she had long since gained more control over her strength, her body was constantly growing and changing every day, which limited how stable her control was. Sometimes she grew faster than she could adjust to, causing accidents to occur.

“It’s fine, let her hold her,” Rui smiled, ruffling her hair, much to Arastia’s delight.

“I knew you trusted me, big brother!”

He had had her call him that instead of uncle when he learned that she had royal blood flowing through her veins. Her father was his father and had kept it a secret to ensure that nobody would target her, just like he had with Rui. He hadn’t told her the truth yet; he resolved to tell her in five years, when she turned eighteen. For now, the weight of what it meant weighed on her deeply.

Rui smiled wryly at her words nonetheless. He was constantly using the Eye of Prophecy to ensure that nothing would go wrong. He watched carefully as Arastia held his daughter with amazement and an expression of endearment.

Ru couldn’t help but heave a deep breath to calm herself down. “I look forward to the day I get married and start a family of my own. I want to hold my own children like this when the day comes. I just hope…”

She directed a pointed glance at him. “…I am given a good match.”

Rui tilted his head with a confused expression. “Why are you looking at us like we have any control over that? Just find a good man and start a family. Do it quick too, so that our children can grow up together.”

“That does sound wonderful.” Amare’s eyes lit up.

Ru folded her arms with dissatisfaction towards Rui. “You’re supposed to arrange a political marriage to build deep bonds with other powers in our world. A good emperor would not waste a former princess of royal blood, you know? This is basic diplomatic strategy, brother.”

Rui shrugged with an apathetic expression. “We don’t need such pitiful measures. Just marry whoever you want.”

She frowned as creases appeared on her otherwise perfect face. Her rich, golden irises bore deep into her brother’s ethereal eyes. Her hands placed themselves on her waist. “Now it almost feels like you’re looking down on me. Your words make it seem like there’s no worth in getting me married. I’ll have you know that I’m one of the most desired spouses in the political class. You can forge powerful ties with any party in the world very easily through me.”

“You’re more sensitive than we pegged you to be,” Rui scoffed with a hint of amusement. “I guess no matter how much you are alike to our father, you still are ultimately a twenty-one-year-old lady, huh?”

“Of course I am, time is running out, so make sure you find somebody. I don’t wish to grow old before I marry,” Ru huffed with an immature petulance that she hadn’t displayed before.

He suspected that this was part of the real her, as opposed to the highly refined, harmonious self she presented to others. Perhaps it was too much to expect the maturity of their four-hundred-year-old late father when she had only become an adult a few years ago.

“Alright, we’ll arrange your marriage.” He thoughtfully scratched his chin. “But who…”

He turned towards Julian, who gently watched over Arastia, holding baby Ria. He had grown much younger since Rui had made him immortal, causing him to resemble a man in his early thirties.

Rui’s ethereal eyes lit up. “We found the perfect candidate.”