The Martial Unity

Ria and Runark grew enthusiastic at those words. They got to actually partake as part of the ground team. That, too, with their aunt of all people. That was the kind of mission that was both extremely rewarding. Of course, they weren’t blind to the fact that it was quite dangerous.

“Don’t worry, we are armed with the precautions needed to mitigate risk,” Arastia remarked, understanding any compunctions they had. “The biggest danger on an infected world is that even the ground of the surface can be extremely dangerous. That is why the disinfection needs to happen sooner rather than later.”

“With dad’s poison, you mean?” Ria asked curiously.

“Correct,” Arastia nodded. “The moment we get there, we will drop the poison onto the planet and have it destroy the alien virus presence in the infected world. Once the infection is destroyed, then we swoop in, and we start seizing all of the esoteric material.”

“Won’t it be dangerous to set foot on the planet after we poison it?” Runark asked with a concerned tone. “Don’t worry, the poison is programmed to only attack bacterial life so that it doesn’t inadvertently harm the humans who use them,” Arastia replied with a reassuring tone. “It will wipe out all bacterial life on the entire planet. And then we will step forth on the planet and start mining and extracting resources. The task of our pathwalkers is to protect the mining enterprise from any remaining threats on the surface, like native indigenous life.”

“And since this is an infected world, those native lifeforms could actually be quite strong; that is why you need to get so many pathwalkers on board with the virus,” Ria mused. “How long do you think we’ll be spending on the planet?”

“We’ll have to spend at least a few weeks on the planet while we establish more concrete defenses of our ground mining operations,” Arastia replied knowingly. “After that, we will send all the commissioned pathwalkers and maintain a shift of our internal pathwalkers. Of course…”

Her blood-red eyes sharpened. “It isn’t just that you will have to face threats from native indigenous lifeforms. You will also have to face other pathwalkers from competing groups. It won’t be easy. You might also have to undertake space-guard duties if the circumstances demand it.”

“Living on an alien planet for a few weeks sounds like an interesting experience,” Runark remarked knowingly. “But your position on that planet will be precarious until surrounding energy infrastructure is built to allow for smooth transit back and forth, right? Since you have to rely on a nuclear-powered spaceship to get back and forth without energy refueling?”

“Correct,” Arastia replied simply. “We will have to rely on nuclear-powered spaceships for the transport of mined esoteric and potentially negatron matter as well. That will be tedious, but worth it. That’s how valuable these resources are.”

“So we’ll have to fight other pathwalkers and native indigenous lifeforms while living on an infected world…” Ria’s amber eyes lit up with intrigue. “That sounds like a fun story to tell dad when the time comes. I’m in. So what do we do now?”

“Now, you should join up with the other rank-four pathwalkers,” Arastia replied. “You aren’t the only freelancer that we have sought out.”

“Oh, that sounds fun. We get to hang out with other pathwalkers who are more our speed. If we have to spend time with only Martial Sages and Blood Sages, that would be boring.”

“I would recommend you get going and join them, actually,” Arastia glanced at her watch. “They’re surely gathered here, and we’re going to be splitting you, adventurers, up into parties, though many of them already have parties. So make sure you find other pathwalkers and form a group with them. Who knows?”

She smiled at her niece. “Maybe you’ll make some nice friends.”

Ria raised her eyebrow. “I doubt that, they’re all much older than me.”

These were the woes of being the most prodigious Martial Artist in history. She had become a Martial Master even before her puberty ended, and was still only eighteen years old. “You’re pretending to be twenty-eight, aren’t you?” Arastia remarked. “You’d be young among rank-four pathwalkers even at that age, but you would be expected to fit in. If you don’t want to blow your cover, then get along with the adults. Besides…”

She smiled at her niece playfully, knowing exactly which buttons to press. “If you’re truly not a child, like you keep insisting, you should be able to blend in among adults. Unless of course…”

She heaved a sigh. “…you’re just an immature child who needs a chaperone?”

Ria stiffened. “Anything but that! Getting Sage Sayfeel to stay away from me took so much fighting!”

“You mean throwing a tantrum,” Arastia huffed, before directing a pointed gaze in a specific direction. “Sayfeel, come out. I know you’re there.”

WHOOSH

The Martial Sage appeared out of thin air behind Ria and Runark, directing a gaze of respect at Arastia. “Your Highness.”

Arastia smiled at the Martial Sage in a good-natured manner. “I’m no longer a princess, remember?”

“Any child of the Emperor of Harmony is a prince or princess in my eyes,” the Martial Sage replied smoothly.

“Wha—!” Ria’s amber eyes widened as she turned around towards the Martial Sage in bewilderment. “I told you to stay away!”

“I’m under orders from His Majesty specifically not to stay away.”

“But I’m the actual princess, and I’m telling you to stay away!”

“His Majesty told me to specifically ignore your orders when you tell me to stay away.”

She glared at him. “Stalking is a crime! I’ll turn you in and have you arrested!”

“You may attempt to do so if it brings you comfort, Your Highness, but I’m afraid any attempt will likely be unsuccessful,” Sage Sayfeel replied smoothly, unfazed by the threat, earning a bout of laughter from Runark and a smile of amusement from Arastia.

“A grown man stalking a child, don’t you feel ashamed? Pervert! Stalker!” she hissed at him.

Arastia chuckled. “I thought you said you weren’t a child?”

She glared at her aunt. “Whose side are you even on?”