The Martial Unity

For a moment, Rui was frozen.

He had rushed to the Royal Palace when he heard of his father’s awakening, yet the moment he saw his father, he had been rendered frozen.

What unfolded before him was surreal.

His father, awake, gazed at him with a gentle smile.

“My son.”

“…Father.”

The Emperor’s powerful gaze peered into his son’s eyes as he studied him, noting the many differences and changes he had undergone since their last conversation. It didn’t take him more than a moment to understand the significance of how much his son had changed.

He had many things he wanted to say.

Yet, he held his tongue.

He dared not say them out loud in the presence of the medical staff that swarmed him for check-ups.

“You’ve…grown, my son,” Emperor Rael’s rich and melodic voice contained a hint of pride and sympathy. “…To think you would grow to reach the Master Realm at your age. Truly, you are an exceptional Martial Artist.”

“Thank you, father,” Rui replied calmly. “And congratulations on your recovery.”

“Mmm…” He gazed at his hands with profound eyes. “It is difficult to believe even at this very moment. I cannot help but wonder if this is reality or a dream. I don’t think I would be able to distinguish them.”

“…It is real, rest assured.” Rui’s tone was confident.

“Real…” Emperor Rael whispered. “…If so, it is as beautiful as it is overwhelming.”

Rui didn’t know what to make of those words.

However, he could understand his father’s sentiment.

He had probably dreamed of this for a long time, yet having attained it after he had written it off as impossible, words probably could not even begin to describe how he had felt.

“Your Majesty,” the Royal Doctor addressed with deep reverence and incredulity. “I am deeply pleased and thoroughly shocked to inform you that you have made a complete recovery. Not a single side-effect neurological side-effect or symptom from prolonged unconsciousness has been detected. We have thoroughly scanned Your Majesty for anomalies, yet your condition is as perfect as the human condition can possibly be! It’s a miracle!”

The royal doctor could hardly contain himself, overflowing with ecstasy and excitement.

“…I certainly feel better than I have in my life,” Emperor Rael calmly declared as he gazed at his hands. “Have I truly made a full recovery?”

“Absolutely, Your Majesty. I am extremely confident in our evaluation of your current condition,” the royal doctor assured the Emperor of Harmony with high confidence.

“…Then how did this happen?”

Emperor Rael’s voice was reduced to a whisper.

“Er…” The royal doctor scratched his head. “…I’m sorry to inform you, Your Majesty, but we have no idea how you have recovered to such an extent. The Eternal Dream Disease is said to be impossible to cure. Your case of complete recovery at the cusp of passing away will shock the entire medical community, I’m afraid.”

“Mmmm…” Emperor Rael hummed as he closed his eyes. “Leave us.”

“…Your Majesty?”

“I wish to speak with my son alone.” His tone was gentle yet unyielding.

It demanded deference.

“O-Of course, Your Majesty. We shall vacate immediately!”

In a moment, the medical staff scurried out of the large, extravagant medical dedicated solely to the Emperor of Harmony.

Emperor Rael opened his eyes, turning his powerful gaze towards Rui.

“How much…?” Emperor Rael’s eyes bore into Rui’s. “…How much did it cost to find and procure the Divine Doctor’s services?”

The Emperor of Harmony was no fool.

He knew, more than anybody, that miracles did not occur.

They were created.

“There was always only one possible source of the healing of my condition.” Emperor Rael’s was as rich as it was deep. “The fact that I am here, alive, awake, and better than I have ever been means that someone succeeded where I failed and procured the services that I sought for decades.”

His hands balled into fists. “…It is difficult to fathom that, in the six months I had left, someone managed to track and compel the Divine Doctor to heal me.”

He gazed at Rui with powerful eyes.

Yet, he could not hide the light of confusion within them.

“I do not understand.” Yet, despite his confusion, he never once lost his composure, gazing at Rui with strong yet gentle eyes. “Rui.” He gazed at his son with deep eyes. “Sayfeel.”

“Just what have the two of you been up to?”

Sage Sayfeel disclosed himself in front of his charge with eyes sparkling with renewed drive. “Forgive me for not informing you of the truth earlier when you woke up, Your Highness,” Sage Sayfeel knelt, unable to hide the emotion in his voice. “Confirming your health and recovery was my absolute highest priority.”

“Sayfeel.” Emperor Rael smiled gently at his kneeling follower. “Your humility is only surpassed by your loyalty. Rise, my friend. It is unbecoming of a Martial Sage to prostrate one’s self to such an extent. Unworthy of your loyalty I am should I scorn the boon of life you have given me.”

His powerful voice was rich with sincerity.

“…I am unworthy of you, Your Majesty.” Sage Sayfeel’s closed his eyes. “Please live. Live so that I can be worthy of the grace that I have received from you.”

Rui gazed at the prostrating Martial Sage, stirring.

He had always known that Sage Sayfeel was fiercely loyal to his father, yet he had absolutely no idea how the two of them had met or how and why Sage Sayfeel had come to pledge his eternal loyalty to his father, yet the fact that his father had managed to cultivate a Martial Sage in secret was already a mind-boggling accomplishment that Rui was unable to fathom.

“Rui.”

His powerful voice drew his attention.

A deep gaze bore itself into Rui’s eyes.

“Father.” Rui calmly returned.

A soft smile emerged on his father’s face. “Come now, my son. Do not deprive your father of the truth.”

His rich, melodic voice beckoned Rui.

“Tell me. Tell me everything.”

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