Inside the training center were non-martial Artists who trained out in the open in the ground up-front. Rui was quite surprised to see many adolescent boys and girls and even young adults training their foundations in large open grounds.
Martial Apprentice instructors oversaw the training of the various Martial Artists up-front.
He sharply pieced together clues from the scene before him with everything else in the place as his eyes lit up with amazement.
"Rui," A voice called out to him. Master Ceeran slowly stepped down from the air, arriving before him with a relaxed smile on his face. "I'm glad you came."
All the people around them paused their work as they bowed deeply, offering the respect that a Martial Master possessed.
"Of course, I would," Rui smiled. "I had been wanting to speak to you anyway. This is place…is it an estate of the Ranger Sect?"
"Indeed," Master Ceeran confirmed. "The students that you see here are those that failed to make it into the Martial Academy."
"I figured," Rui glanced back at them. "Although they may have not been able to make it into the Martial Academy, that does not mean that they are without merit or potential, is that correct?"
"That is precisely so," Master Ceeran noted. "We take them into the Ranger Sect and offer them another opportunity to pursue their aspirations to become Martial Artists."
"I see…" Rui murmured. "It is good to know that aspirants who don't make it into the Martial Academy still have hope. I assume that the premise is that they'll join the Ranger Sect."
"They already have," Master Ceeran remarked. "What do you if one of the Martial Paths of those who broke through doesn't align with the sect?" Rui wondered.
"We allow them to leave the sect and enter another that is more fitting to their Martial Path, though they don't need to join another sect if they don't wish to," Master Ceeran remarked. "They usually do, though. Because they didn't make it in the Martial Academy, they usually are much behind those of the Academy in their foundation and training."
"This sounds like the norm among Martial Sects. Do the other sects also let go of newly broken-through Martial Apprentices so that they can join the appropriate sect?" Rui wondered.
"Of course," Master Ceeran nodded. "There is an unwritten mutual understanding between all sects that new Martial Apprentices must be allowed to go any sect of their choice. Not only is it our duty to guide the young, but it would also be a net negative for Martial Art if we prevented them from leaving due to some dark desire to prevent the other sects from growing. We Martial Sects are quite competitive, but there are lines we absolutely do not cross."
"I see, it is best if Martial Artists of the nation do not fall to sabotaging each other in such an underhanded manner."
"Just so," Master Ceeran smiled. "Come, let us head inside. I have much to speak to you with."
The two Martial Artists disappeared in the eyes of everybody around them, leaving them stunned. They arrived at a spacious building, heading into an office-like space with a wide array of books and scrolls, taking seats opposite each other.
"Now then," Master Ceeran heaved a sigh. "We can finally converse without distraction. You have no idea how long I've been looking forward to this. Let me begin by saying this: I would not be a Martial Master if not for you. The Pathfinder technique that you gave me and helped me master became the foundation for my Martial Mind, allowing me to complete my journey to the Master Realm in a little under a decade from that point on. I do not know just how many decades or even centuries it would have taken me to break through to the Master Realm."
He smiled warmly at Rui. "So thank you for helping me."
Rui shook his head. "I didn't do much. I just helped you master a single technique, I can hardly take credit for your breakthrough to the Master Realm."
"But it is true that I would not be a Martial Master if it wasn't for you, regardless of how little you think your role was. That much is undeniable," Master Ceeran pointed out.
Rui shrugged lightly, accepting that bit of credit. "I heard that you proposed that people could benefit from my Martial Art from the Minister of Martial Art."
"I did," Master Ceeran replied. "It is my earnest opinion that Martial Art can benefit from your Martial Path. Your path harnesses thought in a manner unlike anything I've ever seen. Even a fraction of it would bring about a greater balance between the affinity for body and mind in the world of Martial Art."
He stared at Rui with a serious expression. "Of course, you don't have to if you don't care to. Though there are benefits to doing so."
"I am very well aware," Rui heaved a sigh. There was a moment of silence.
"Well, let us put that matter aside for now," Master Ceeran smiled. "I am intrigued to know about your time away from the Kandrian Empire. It isn't every day that a Martial Squire shatters that record for the youngest breakthrough to the Senior Realm. You must have a fascinating story to tell."
Rui smiled. "Everybody is always so curious to know. It isn't that big of a deal, honestly. I just got into a fight with somebody and managed to break through."
"Hahaha, surely that isn't all there is to it. The breakthrough to the Senior Realm can only occur when your Martial drive is challenged. And you are driven by ambition, so whoever you fought must have been truly incredible."
Rui smirked. "That he is. I suppose I can tell you that story."
The two of them conversed with each other, catching up after a long time. They had built a bond of friendship while they were on Vilun Island together all those years ago, thus there wasn't much of a gap despite all the years apart.
