The Martial Unity

His eyes narrowed at her words. "Which one?"

"Your adoptive mother, of course," his grandmother calmly replied, facing him head-on. "She didn't so much as flinch when I warned her of her impending death."

Rui's eyes widened with shock. "...What?"

"Now there was a woman who understood who she was." Matriarch Nephi ignored his incredulity. "When she learned of her impending death, she made sure that when the time came, she could rest without any regrets."

Rui stared at his grandmother in shock. "...You foresaw my mother's death?"

"Of course, I periodically employ prophecy on the orphanage, just in case," she replied. "When I foresaw her natural death and informed her, she worked hard in the next two years to ensure that neither she nor the ones she loved would suffer from regret when it came to pass."

Rui stared at her, speechless.

"She spent more time with each and every single one of her loved ones, imparting enough love to last a lifetime," she closed her eyes. "I suspect that that is why the Quarrier Family was able to move forward with their heads held high and eyes pinned on the future."

Rui's eyes darkened as his fists clenched.

"I should have never left."

"Then you wouldn't have broken through," his grandmother calmly replied.

"...I wonder what she would have imparted to me had I been able to speak with her one last time."

"Hm," Matriarch Nephi's regarded his words.

A single question escaped her.

"Would you like to find out?"

Rui raised an eyebrow as he watched her reach into a counter.

She pulled out an envelope.

Rui's eyes lit up. "Is that...?"

"She entrusted me to convey this message to you when you returned," his grandmother calmly remarked, handing it to him.

Rui accepted the envelope, holding it like it was a priceless artifact, carefully and quickly opening it.

[To my precious baby, Rui.

I write this letter with all the love that my heart is able to squeeze for you.

I write this letter with all the pride that I have for you.

I write this letter with the hope that you will feel my love long after I am gone.

I write this letter with the hope that you won't be burdened by a void in your heart after I am gone.

It isn't easy to walk the path that you have chosen walk.

It isn't easy to walk the thin line between two worlds.

I know that you have always felt burdened by the distance that your path puts between you and the people you love.

I know that you have always felt as though you left your family behind in pursuit of your dreams.

I know that you fear a day when you live past us.

I know the pain in your heart when you learn of my passing.

I know you will plague yourself with guilt.

I know that words alone cannot alleviate the burdens that weigh down on your heart.

However, know that I lived my life to the fullest.

Know that when you read this, I will have passed on with no regret in my heart.

Know that you have brought me more happiness than you could ever imagine.

Know that I am grateful to the universe for delivering you to me.

Know that I am grateful that you were a part of my life.

Know that you have brought more meaning and purpose to my life than you can ever imagine.

Know that I celebrated all your accomplishments, your feats, your successes.

Know that they validated my life.

Know that they are part of why I feel the soulful satisfaction I feel as I write this letter.

The satisfaction I will surely feel as I pass away.

Know that the orphanage, our home, is your haven, not your shackle.

Know that you must live your life the way you must.

Know that I am grateful that you have lived your life the way you have.

And know that I will always love you no matter what.

I hope that this letter will always remind you of the love that you will always have.

I hope that this letter brings you warmth on the coldest days.

I hope that this message brings you light when your world grows dark.

I hope you one day experience the peace that I do as I write this.

I hope my hope reaches you long after I pass.

I hope my love reaches you long after.

I hope it reaches you forever.

With sincere love and adoration, your mother.]

His heart rumbled even as he felt her love gushing into it.

It rumbled even as he felt it filling the void filling it.

Little by little, a part of the lost warmth his eyes once had returned.

Little by little, a part of the lost light they once had returned.

He closed his eyes even as tears escaped them.

He opened his mouth, yet nothing escaped, choked with emotion.

Yet, the symphony of his beating heart was loud enough.

At that moment, he couldn't help but feel blessed.

Blessed that he was raised by such a miraculously wonderful mother.

Blessed that he was born in the Quarrier Family.

Blessed that he was given more love than he could ever be worthy of.

His grandmother waited patiently as he absorbed the message his mother had given him.

Rui went on to meticulously memorize every word she had imparted to him in her final message.

He memorized every ounce of the letter with his enhanced senses, making sure he missed nothing.

Within the depths of his Mind Palace, he stored an identical copy of the letter that he could access any time he wanted.

"…Thank you for showing this to me, grandmother," he finally managed to squeeze out.

"…Thank your mother, not me," she replied gently. "It is she who sought to ensure that her passing would not burden you. It is she who was determined to ensure that you would remember her with love and not regret."

-