The Martial Unity

”The Security Council of the Gaian Alliance has just unanimously approved the invocation of the Emergency Central Command Act, Your Majesty,” Secretary Claris informed Rui, standing before him. ”Delegate Marlin mentioned the threat you asked him to, and it appears to have generated the impact that you sought of it.”

Rui smiled wryly as he skimmed through some documents detailing the strategic outlook of human civilization against that of Arakai Web Civilization based on the information that he had provided to the Gaian Alliance. ”It was a warning more than a threat, I like to think.”

”Most will not see it that way, Your Majesty,” Secretary Claris heaved a sigh. ”With this, the reputation of neutrality or being hands-off is gone. People know that you are willing to intervene heavily. A reputation that you have cultivated over the span of thirteen years is now damaged.”

”On the contrary, I think it’s reinforced,” Rui replied to his secretary with a calm tone of voice. ”The security of human civilization was always my red line. People have just forgotten about that because human civilization hasn’t faced a real threat in the past thirteen years. Now, they will remember. Besides…”

He turned towards her. ”…the debacle with the Blood Cult should have shocked everybody enough not to try something foolish. Especially when the stakes have risen tremendously. I don’t foresee any resistance from any faction. I doubt even the Evolutionary Army will stir up trouble here. The reality is that with all the territory they have, they have more stake in this war than most.”

KNOCK KNOCK

The door opened to reveal none other than Kane standing at its entrance, gazing at Rui with a serious expression. Rui’s expression also grew more serious, immediately understanding why he was here.

There were dark bags under his eyes, while his beard was a little messy. His clothes were disheveled, not to mention old. He looked like he had aged a decade since Rui last spoke to him.

”I’ll take my leave, Your Majesty,” Claris wisely departed from the Royal Office as Kane walked past her, closing the door behind her.

The air in the office was serious. More serious than it usually was between them. Rui’s expression softened with a hint of guilt as he got up, walking towards Kane slowly.

”How is he?”

Kane heaved a deep, shaky breath. ”Traumatized. The Psycher told me that he has PTSD. That it will not be easy for him to recover.”

”…I see. I’m sorry to hear that, though not surprised,” Rui replied with a tone of regret. ”When he woke up, I could tell from his anguish that this was not going to be something that he would heal from easily.”

Kane remained silent at those words; his green eyes were hazy with thought and emotion.

Rui’s head lowered slightly. ”…I’m sorry, Kane. I truly am.”

A bitter smile cracked at the edge of Kane’s mouth. ”You woke him up, Rui… without you, my son would be in a nightmare forever. I am grateful to you. Forever.”

He gazed at Rui with genuine gratitude.

”Thank you.”

Rui sensed that was not the extent of his thoughts on the matter, however. He simply remained silent, letting Kane continue.

”Runark tells me that it’s his fault,” Kane heaved a sigh. ”That he was the one who made the decision and that he bears full responsibility. And he’s not wrong. I did warn him of the dangers. Many times. But…”

He heaved a shaky breath. ”He didn’t listen. He can’t help himself. After all…”

He turned back towards Rui.

”He’s in love with Ria. Always has been.”

Rui smiled as he recalled how close the two of them were from a very young age. ”Yes, that he does. However, that…”

He directed a pointed gaze at Kane. ”…is not Ria’s fault either.”

”Of course not,” Kane replied with a softening tone, shaking his head. ”I wouldn’t blame that on her. Runark liked her before her talent was discovered, and he liked her after. Still…”

He heaved a deep breath. ”I can see where this is going, Rui. And I don’t like it.”

There it was. The thing that Rui sensed was nagging him.

”I know what it’s like to spend time chasing after someone who is much too far away from you,” Kane told Rui with a serious expression. ”I spent much of my life chasing after you. And I certainly don’t regret it. In fact, I cherish that part of my life. But, at the same time…”

His expression grew a little bit more severe. ”It was not a life that I wanted for him. In fact, it was not a life that I wish for him.”

The air grew heavier as Kane candidly shared his thoughts with Rui.

”The reality is that chasing after someone is grueling, especially when they’re someone who is very hard to keep up with,” Kane continued with a serious tone of voice. ”It makes it hard to appreciate yourself. It makes it hard to ever slow down and relax. It makes it hard to ever feel satisfied. It’s just an endless chase. It’s exhausting. And in this case, he’s driven by his love for Ria; he’s never going to give up. Not unless she gets together with somebody else, which doesn’t look to be the case either.”

Rui’s expression grew melancholic as he thought of the evosapien boy that Ria hadn’t been able to save, Sternon. With him dead, he didn’t see her daughter potentially getting together with anybody. She, too, had been traumatized by the events she had suffered through.

”And your daughter as much of a prodigy as you were, if not even more,” Kane heaved a sigh. ”So I feel like I can see exactly where this is going.”

He turned towards Rui with a serious gaze. ”He’s either going to burn out, achieve his goal, or die. And frankly, the first and third seem much more likely than the second.”