The Shepherd’s auburn eyes lit up with a deep sense of anticipation at Rui’s words. Her expression was one of deep eagerness and enthusiasm for what was to co. It was at monts like these that her entire path and life as an immortal sage were validated.
’When was the last ti I felt like this?’
Her eyes grew hazy with a distant mory.
An image of a young Rael standing before, beckoning her for her knowledge several centuries ago. She felt an even greater convergence of fate in this mont than she had back then.
The many centuries of knowledge that she had accrued, all the ti that she had spent studying each society, nation, and civilization scrupulously, and the even greater ti she spent identifying patterns in her many decades of work that pointed to fundantal truths of human civilization.
All of that effort would go to waste if not deployed to change the future and produce a greater civilization. Her work was more than just an indulgence of her deep curiosity and her love of human civilization. It would beco the foundation to elevate their civilization to even greater prosperity.
Her attention returned to the man who stood before her as she beheld his ethereal presence, growing darker along with dusk. A cool wind brushed past them, causing his Martial attire and her cloak to sway.
Rui’s ethereal eyes remained hazy, as if still processing the weight of the decision that he had made. Even if he had the resolve to see it through, it was not an easy decision. Even with all of his power, achieving what he had committed to would be extrely difficult.
"I’ll see it through."
His tone was one of determination.
His attention returned to the present and the real world as he beheld the Shepherd, who simply gazed at him with deep anticipation.
She got down to one knee, kneeling before him in deference. "So long as you commit yourself to the goal of elevating human civilization to greater prosperity, I shall be at your service, Your Highness."
A wry smile cracked at the edge of Rui’s mouth. "A conditional oath of loyalty, hm?"
Her expression grew a little petulant. "Hmph, if you think I’m going to unconditionally swear loyalty, then I’m afraid you’re deeply mistaken. But..."
Her tone grew serious. "...as long as you adhere to this one condition, I will remain loyal to you."
She glanced up with a hint of excitent. "That and a copy of the unruined Lost City. A deal’s deal, you hear?"
Rui huffed lightly, shaking his head at the strange immortal sage. She harbored a strange youthful immaturity that contrasted with her profound wisdom when it ca to civilization. "I have no intention of going back on my word. Besides..."
His gaze swept across the ruins of the Lost City. "I wish to learn more about this civilization. There are... certain mysteries about it."
She raised an eyebrow with a hint of surprise, shifting her thick glasses with a finger. "I didn’t think you had any care for it, seeing as you had a copy of the Lost City in your mind the entire ti and never did anything with it."
"I was busy," he remarked with a light tone. "More importantly, I need to return to the Kandrian Empire now, and I’ll have you co with . You can bring the Scrier and your Martial guards with you, if you want."
Explaining the Scrier of everything that had just happened was not easy; the immortal sage could scarcely believe everything he had heard from his colleague. But when he was brought to speed, his decision was unhesitant.
"I shall join the Shepherd, Your Highness."
Rui nodded, opening his arms to them. "Then, let’s go. Ti for a big group hug."
"G-Group hug?"
"For teleportation."
"I-I see... well, if it’s teleportation, then I suppose we have no choice."
The Shepherd grinned as she lunged at Rui with a bear hug, while the others awkwardly wrapped their arms around each other with him at the center.
WHOOSH
They teleported to the Kandrian Royal Palace in the blink of an eye, returning to an auburn sky above the Kandrian Empire where the sun had yet to set. The Martial Sage guards were montarily shaken, almost raising the alarm before they recognized Rui’s very prominent presence.
"Welco back, Your Highness!"
"Hm, sorry for the scare. We really do need to figure out so stuff in regards to negatron teleportation counterasures," Rui muttered as he studied the startled Martial Sages. "It’s way too broken, and I don’t think even mutually-assured destruction can deter all teleported operations."
Although he had so ideas on how to go about it, that was a matter he left for later.
"Your Highness," Royal Secretary Claris arrived at his location in front of the Royal Palace quickly enough, performing a brief curtsy in his presence before continuing. "Welco back. There are several developnts that I need to inform you about. But before that..."
She directed a disapproving gaze at the many individuals group-hugging Rui. "May I inquire who these individuals hugging your royal body so gracelessly are?"
They imdiately peeled themselves off of him, jumping away. Only the Shepherd remained, requiring Rui to manually peel her off himself.
"Oh co on, I’m your royal advisor." The Shepherd complained.
"Yeah, an advisor, not a body-warr. I have a girlfriend." Rui placed a hand between them as he gazed at the young woman with a dubious expression.
"Royal... advisor?" A hint of displeasure entered Royal Secretary Claris’s gray eyes as she shifted her attention to the young woman next to him. "This shaless young wench?"
"How rude," the Shepherd glared at Royal Secretary Claris, folding her arms imperiously. "I’m the immortal sage of civilizations, none other than the Shepherd! Show so respect."
Claris’s aged, elder eyes widened with shock at those words. "The Shepherd...? You...?"
She turned towards Rui with a stunned expression, looking for an obvious denial of the slanderous claim.
"It’s true," Rui remarked casually. "She may not look it, but she’s the real deal."
"What do you an I may not look it?" The Shepherd growled.
Rui directed a dubious glance at her adventurous appearance before huffing lightly. "Enough with the banter. We have important matters to attend to. As of this mont, the two of you and Ranea are the only ones in my faction right now. We need to start building up the faction from this point on. For now, let’s head back to a conference room and discuss things from there."
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