"Are you sure you don't wanna come with me?" Rui asked. "I'd love to introduce you to my family."
"Not this time." Kane shook his head. "I'll be approached and summoned if my family finds out I returned from the Academy."
"I see, that's a shame." Rui sighed. "Another time then." Earning a nod from Kane.
"It's a shame I have to return to my family too, otherwise I would have accepted the offer in his stead." Fae commented.
"He didn't invite you." Kane grumbled, sparking a round of bickering between them, earning Rui's laughter at the sight.
"Milliana, you're headed back to your town as well, right?" Rui turned to her.
She nodded passively. "It's four hours away from here, so I intend to leave immediately."
The four of them chatted for a bit longer until it was time for those returning to disperse.
"See you guys when I get back." Rui exchanged farewells with everyone before setting out on foot. He didn't have any money on him, but that wasn't a problem. Even without techniques, with just the physical training from his foundational stage, the journey was no longer something that could strain his stamina.
The town of Hajin was a lot less chaotic than he recalled it. One of the reasons for that was the last time he actually travelled around was during the start of the new Academic year. What was a bustling, loud and busy place in his memories had become a much more relaxed environment.
"Man, it's been such a long time since I stepped outside the Academy." Rui said in delight, taking in the atmosphere as he made his way home. The Academy had a lot of open space, but it still could not substitute actual society.
It was a nostalgic feeling, reminding Rui of when his university days. He'd felt similarly back then, although to a greater degree because the universities of sciences back on Earth were nowhere near as large as the Martial Academies.
The further Rui walked away from the core of the town, the more scarce grew the population and infrastructure. Once he exited the districts on the outskirts of the town, the atmosphere grew serene quiet. Gone were the markets, and the commercial hubs and the businesses. Instead, he was greeted with farmlands and small patches of forests with a handful of small village-like settlements scattered across. Winters were harsh in the Mantian region, especially since this region was among the northern most regions of the Kandrian Empire, which was a country that was already deep into the northern hemisphere of the planet, making it quite cold in the very first place.
The country had sets of crops that could only be grown during Winter, currently Rui was walking past these farmlands and settlements.
He paused, when a familiar path entered his sights, smiling as a rush of nostalgia and excitement creeped into his emotions. He picked up the pace running until a familiar house entered his sights.
"They've made a few renovations since last time" He noted happily. The Quarrier Orphanage benefitted greatly from its adult caretakers, each taking contributing to the income of the Orphanage that allowed it to sustain itself.
"This must be courtesy of big brother Julian." He smiled knowingly. Julian had gotten a well-paying occupation as an apprentice scholar in the research and development department of the Kandrian Institute of Sciences. Knowing him, he must have insisted in using generous portions of his income for maintenance of orphanage.
Rui intended to surprise his family, but even before he reached the gate.
"Rui...?"
He glanced up towards the balcony, recognizing both the voice and the appearance instantly.
"RUI YOU'RE BACK!" She squealed with joy.
"Alice!" He chuckled, waving at her vigorously. She ran from the balcony enthusiastically running down the stairs, announcing to the entire orphanage at the top of her voice that Rui had returned. Even as he reached the gate, the front door was already open.
"RUIIII" She dove at him with such force and energy he felt like he was hit by an Apprentice-level technique!
"When d-did you master Flowing Canon?" He muttered gasping for air from her bear hug.
"Huh?"
"Nothing nothing. Forget it. How have you been Alice? I've missed you so much." He returned her embrace in earnest.
"Oh you! We've been doing just fine. Come in, everyone's waiting for you" She let go of him, gesturing him inside, enthusiastically.
He glanced at the door, and several small heads poked through their eyes sparkling with innocent excitement.
"Big brother Rui!"
"You're back!"
They chirped as they ran towards him with enthuse and excitement, gathering around him for hugs and lifts.
Rui smiled at the children, trying to return as much affection as he could, struggling to return fifteen arms with of hugs with his own.
"Alright alright!" He laughed as they swarmed him. "I'll give all of you lifts, so don't worry!"
"Rui." A soft voice called out to him, instantly wringing his attention away, towards itself.
"Mom..." Rui squeezed out, feeling sentimental. She walked over, cupping his face in her hands, ruffling his hair, before pulling him in for a hug. "You've grown so much taller."
"Yeah..." He replied softly.
"Welcome back home, my child. We've missed you so much." She said, squeezing him in her embrace. Rui wanted to respond, but didn't trust himself to not sob. His throat felt choked with emotion upon seeing his mother after so long.
"Come in, lunch will be ready soon." She said, pulling him by his hand.
Everyone gathered to the large living room, hugging him and embracing him, remarking about his growth spurt and his long hair. It took a whole twenty minutes for the excitement to die down, finally allowing him to relax with a soothing cup of tea.
"Maaan a hot cup of tea in the dead of winter really hits the spot." He relaxed as the beverage warmed him.
"Congratulations on becoming a Martial Apprentice Rui." Julian gently congratulated. "You've achieved the first step of your dream."
"Thanks Julian, how's things been going on with you?"
"Better than I could have hoped, I have a lot to talk to you about." He replied, intriguingly.
"Oh? Let's hear it then."
Julian shook his head. "No no. I'm not the first Martial Artist of the Quarrier Orphanage. If anybody has a story to tell..." He smiled. "It's you, isn't it?"
Instantly, everybody's eyes turned to Rui, fixating on him like owls.
"Alright alright." Rui chuckled. "Let's see... Where do I begin?"
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