The Martial Unity

Chapter 3351: Lettered Recollection

”So you figured it out,” Rui remarked with a hint of respect. ”As expected of the second Mother of Nature.”

”It wasn’t that impressive, either,” she chuckled. ”But yes, it would be hard to miss the ripples throughout reality. I’m sure the other powerhouses have also noticed. I fear what my older sister has unleashed upon the world. I would rather not have to partake in an arms race to a higher echelon of power.”

Rui’s expression grew serious at those words.

It was exactly what Mother Maeria had alluded to as well. It appeared that human civilization would have no choice but to deal with the consequences of Transcendence getting out.

All because he divulged everything he knew to Mother Maeria.

It was an unfortunate consequence, but he wouldn’t choose to undo his decision even if he had the ability to do so. He didn’t regret telling Mother Maeria the truth about Transcendence because she saved his life, and he was greatly indebted to her for it.

Still, it was something that he would have to inform his father right away, lest human civilization be caught off-guard in a potential race to Transcendence.

”Regardless, you still haven’t told me what you came here for,” she remarked, turning her attention to him. ”I highly doubt that you came here to hear about my brewery affairs, although if you want to, we can go in-depth into that as well.”

Rui smiled wryly. ”Tempting, but I’ll pass. The reason I came is here is to deliver this from Mother Maeria.”

He presented the elderly woman across the table from him with the letter he had been entrusted with.

Her aged sky-blue eyes lit up as she accepted the letter, immediately diving into it, engrossed in her sister’s words.

Several minutes passed as Mother Vyia took her time absorbing the letter and its contents. Rui indulged in the euphoric and heart-warming tea, enjoying the suffusion of vitality and physical satisfaction as he gazed out the window of the little kitchen within the body of the Mother of Nature. The bright light of the morning Sun illuminated the wooden room brightly, warming him while the cool breeze brushed past him gently.

It was remarkable how frequently he marveled at how much of a paradise of nature Genora was. He had always felt that way about the Panama Continent relative to the highly urbanized and modernized world of Earth, but Genora blew even his home in Gaia out of the water in that respect.

”...I see.” The faintest of whispers escaped Mother Vyia, drawing his attention back.

Her jovial mirth had gone away while her expression had taken a more serious disposition, reminding him of Mother Maeria.

”So she has finally taken a step forward towards resolving this so-called Fear,” Mother Vyia remarked aloud as she put down the letter. ”It has taken more than a century, but I’m happy that she is finally more at peace than she used to be. I can sense the changes she has undergone just by reading her writing. It appears this Enlightenment of Oneness that she has discovered is truly profound.”

Rui nodded. ”It is. She changed drastically after achieving it, but I wasn’t aware that you were aware of her capacity to sense the Fear.”

”She had spoken about it rather frantically more than a century ago,” Mother Vyia remarked. ”At the time, almost none of us were able to take her claims seriously, unfortunately. She would speak of a great terror that she experienced when she resonated to the deepest echelon of Resonance of Nature. A source of fear so great that it would surely be a great threat to all of us. Almost none believed her, for none were able to sense it, making them think that there was something wrong with her.”

Mother Vyia heaved a regretful sigh. ”It drove her away from everybody else. I... have tried to believe her, but there was only so much I could do when I couldn’t even fathom what she was going through. However...”

A small smile emerged on her face. ”...It truly seems like she is more at peace with it than she has ever been.”

Her gaze tilted to Rui.

”You have my gratitude for helping my older sister.”

”I was simply paying back a part of a great debt,” Rui replied modestly. ”I would have died if not for her, so it is the least I could do.”

”Mmm... you are remarkably open-minded,” she told him with a serious expression. ”I’m sure you have an inkling of what my sister has sought to write me for. And I’m sure that as one of the highest leaders of human civilization, it is not in your interest to allow that to unfold.”

Rui sipped more of his tea before directing a knowing gaze at her.

”The reunification of Genora and a Greater Elven Civilization.”

”Correct.” Mother Vyia nodded, gazing at him with a hint of intrigue. ”Do you not harbor deep hatred for the light elves for what their attack on your life?”

Rui smiled wryly.

He wondered how she would react if he told her that he was not only aware of the impending attack but also that he had allowed it to unfold without taking any precautions. Given that the dark elves had lost face with the attack, he doubted that she would be pleased, even if it was ultimately the responsibility of the dark elves.

”I don’t hate the light elves,” Rui remarked thoughtfully. ”I appreciate the pressure that they put on me. It helps me grow stronger. It’s the same with the Evolutionary Army. Their desire to kill me keeps me sharp and alert and fuels my progress. It is good that I have such pressure put on me; I wouldn’t grow as fast without it.”

”...Martial Artists are a truly strange bunch,” Mother Maeria remarked. ”Not even the evolutionaries are this battle-crazed. You’re as bad as certain clans of the Clans of Pasupati. It is truly remarkable to see such a blatantly violent path.”