"How do I look?" Rui asked as he adjusted his Kandrian version of a tie.
"You look good, sir. It appears that the suit fits just fine" One of the attendants of the assistance team assigned to him replied.
He had just been provided the formal wear that he would have to wear for his role as a diplomat. It was different from the one that was normally provided to diplomats. This particular set of clothes had been specially designed to incorporate Martial elements to it, making it seem more like the ceremonial battle garb of a warrior king.
"I haven't been this formally dressed since..." Rui's eyes glazed over as he recalled the interviews he had given back when he first announced the completion of the first iteration of the VOID algorithm. It was one of the few times that he had truly gone all out with his grooming for the momentous occasion.
"Are there any discomforts or anything else of the sort, sir?" His personal attendant asked politely. "Alterations or replacements can be swiftly issued."
"None at all, it fits just fine," Rui nodded as he looked at himself in the mirror.
He glanced at his suitcase. "How much more time until boarding time is ready?"
"A little under three hours sir. The crew aboard the Veomine Starling are nearly done with their final preparatory protocols," She informed him with a courteous tone.
"Hm," Rui nodded as he glanced over at the suitcase lying at the other end of the suite.
He had been staying at a coastal branch of the Martial Union for the past day as the final preparations for the diplomatic expedition were being completed.
He spent the remaining time he had in the Kandrian Empire making sure that he had missed nothing. None of his personal belongings that he needed, and most certainly none of the documents and other things that he needed to complete the mission.
"Proof of identification... check, proof of authorization of representation of the Martial Union... check, four sets of official diplomatic uniform... check," He murmured as he meticulously ruffled through his oversized suitcase.
Sure enough, everything was in order and it was finally time to leave for Vilun Island.
"Squire Quarrier," Senior Ceeran grinned excitedly, exerting faint pressure on Rui with his elevated excitement alone. "It's time. I presume you have done everything needed to nail this diplomatic endeavor?"
"Of course," Rui nodded, maintaining a perfect façade of casual friendliness. "I intend to succeed without a doubt."
"Good to hear!" The man nodded with an approving expression.
The two made their way to the harbor, sky walking through the air.
Rui breathed deeply as he enjoyed the distinct odor of the ocean. It was easy for Rui to forget that the Kandrian Empire was a coastal nation of the north-eastern side of the Panama Continent due to the constant cold that the town of Hajin experienced.
The town of Farund was a town that was very different from that of the town of Hajin. For one, it was the only town he had seen that was busier and more bustling than the town of Hajin, barring the capital of the nation; the town of Vargard.
It was also a commercial trade hub, however, unlike the town of Hajin, it was also a coastal seaport. There was an immense amount of traffic in and out of the town. Rui could simply feel the brimming energy in the town as he skywalked towards the Farund seaport.
What drew his attention was the sunrise over the ocean. The rising sun's reflection flickered over the morning ocean.
"Good view, isn't it?" Senior Ceeran said with a surprising degree of calmness.
"The best," Rui nodded.
"You know... One of the best parts of being a Martial Artist is the ability to escape the confines of land," Senior Ceeran sighed, appreciating the beautiful visage. "It was actually one of my greatest driving motivations to become a Martial Artist, if I'm being honest."
Rui turned to him in surprise. "Is that so?"
"It certainly is," He nodded. "I used to look up at the sky and feel a burning desire to walk across it."
Rui felt quite surprised. He had always thought Senior Ceeran was a simple man with a singular motivation and objective not too different from his own at all. A person who single-mindedly pursued a single objective; his Martial Path.
Perhaps there was a greater nuance that Rui wasn't aware of, people were complicated.
"Of course, that was just one reason," The man sighed.
"Does that mean you grew less motivated after you became Martial Squire?" Rui asked.
"Perhaps..." The man admitted, surprising Rui once more.
"That's hard to imagine," Rui admitted. "Given how driven you seem to be,"
"Thank you, it's reassuring to hear that from you," The man smiled. "It gives me more hope for reaching the Master Realm. Perhaps, I still meet the threshold to cross into the upper Realms."
Rui's eyebrow furrowed as he considered the implications of his words. "Did you... just inadvertently reveal the breakthrough condition to the Master Realm?"
"Haha, no." The man chuckled, amused. "It's more like one of the implicit necessities for eventually reaching higher Realms."
Rui raised an eyebrow at those confounding words.
"It makes sense when you think about it," The man explained, noticing Rui's confusion. "How far one can go, in any field of pursuit, depends on how strong their driving force is. The stronger the driving force, the further you can go before you stop. The same is true for the Martial Realms,"
Rui wordlessly listened as the aged Martial Artist candidly offered valuable insights.
"People strive to be Martial Artists for various reasons... Power, money, prestige, and love. These motivations, desires, and objectives are our driving forces. Unfortunately, most driving forces, regardless of which category they're in, aren't strong enough to drive them to the upper Realms. Do you understand?"
Rui nodded. "You need strong motivations to reach the upper Realms."
"Well yes, but that wasn't what I meant," He shook his head. "The truth is, not only are they not strong enough to reach the highest of Realms, but they're too weak to even survive beyond a certain level."
