The two discussed many topics across several different domains. Rui would be lying if he said that one of the reasons that he enjoyed spending ti in the Quarrier Orphanage was thanks to Julian.
While there were others that he cherished as his family, he didn't have too many things that he could talk to them about because they lacked the context to partake in the conversations that Rui would find interesting.
The sa could not be said for Julian.
Not only did he possess a great knowledge of a large variety of topics, but he was exceptionally sharp and had always been a very bright child. Rui found that their conversations outlasted his ability to spend ti with them.
"Ah, so His Majesty managed to cripple the Republic of Gorteau by bribing their congressn and congresswon with longevity potions. I suppose that makes sense. Why else would an entire half of a party be so averse to a clearly dire situation?" Julian mused, curious about the various things Rui had told about the war. "Speaking of longevity potions, I believe that I will be able to get my hands on one soon enough."
Rui's eyes lit up with ecstasy. "Nice! I knew you could do it."
Rui knew that he would be outliving his family by no small margin.
He had always known that, but he had especially co to experience it when his mother died a natural death during his escapades into the Beast Domain. Since then, the sordid thought lurked in the back of his mind.
He beca extra-sensitive when he sensed the passage of ti on the visages of his family mbers.
It was only a matter of ti.
He was glad that at least one of his family would be remaining for much longer, especially one of his favorite family mbers.
"I have received recognition for my contributions to the research and developnt of the alien lifeform and the developnt of a stable control over the manifold through the alien lifeform." He smiled with a hint of pride. "It is only thanks that the Kandrian Empire managed to get its hands on one of the treasures that has caused the war that we have been hit with after all."
Rui nodded. "Your contributions are certainly imnse just on the basis of that alone. On top of that, you've headed multiple teams and projects as well, haven't you? It would be foolish for them not to reward you for those services and contributions."
While Rui certainly brought ho the alien lifeform, mastering its manifold ability was certainly necessary for it to be of practical value. In that regard, the Divine Doctor and his own brother working under him were undoubtedly responsible for giving the Kandrian Empire that ability.
Rui was glad that his father clearly seed to be pursuing a ritocratic approach to the allocation of longevity potions. He seed to be intent on handing potions to those who had contributed to the Kandrian Empire the most and were able to contribute the most.
In that regard, he was sure that the Gatekeeper had also received a new influx of longevity potions for his prior contributions in the form of physical evolution techniques and training thodologies.
"That's good. Not only does it reward those who have earned them, but it also ensures that they'll be able to aid the Kandrian Empire rise beyond its limits in these trying tis," Rui noted. "I do look forward to chatting with you for another century."
Julian nodded with a smile silently.
In truth, he wouldn't have been so eager to prolong his life if he didn't have Rui to spend it with. It was only because he was assured that he would have at least one of his old family mbers in the long run that he didn't think too badly of the option. Especially when it was Rui, of all people, soone he enjoyed spending ti with.
Unlike Rui, who had spent many years away from the orphanage in his pursuit of his Martial Path, Julian had spent his entire life at the Quarrier Orphanage. He was much more viscerally aware of the fact that prolonging his life ant outliving all the people he loved and cared about.
It was much harder for him to accept and represented a much greater shock in his day-to-day life. Although he would loved to pursue the sciences, he did not want to do so in a world where he didn't have anybody to share his accomplishnts and advancents with.
That was where Rui ca in.
Julian was glad that Rui was most certainly going to be around for a very long ti, having not only been a Master but also having consud longevity potions quite early on in his life.
"I'm rather surprised you are able to consu longevity potions or beco a Martial Artist, knowing that you'll outlive everyone you love," Julian confessed. "I don't know if I could handle that alone."
Rui stirred at his words, heaving a sigh. "…There are things that I must accomplish, and it's extrely difficult to do so in a single lifespan."
Julian directed a knowing look at Rui.
He had long known about Rui's ambition when it ca to his Martial Path.
Project Water, he called it.
For as long as Julian could even rember, Rui had harbored this ambition. He had harbored the ambition even in the earliest stages of his Martial Artist career.
Julian could not help but wonder what that was all about. It was just as strange as how Rui had displayed a kind of desperation to beco a Martial Artist from the very second he had seen one at an extrely young age.
These oddities, by themselves, did not necessarily an anything. But when one zood out and looked at it collectively, it made him wonder how soone with Rui even ca to be the way he was.
Regardless, Julian looked forward to another century of stimulating conversation with his brother.
User Comments
0 comments from readers