"As long as you keep this in mind, you at least won't die due to newfound arrogance." Senior Sarak concluded, satisfied with Rui's response. "One more thing. For the time period that the Martial Heart is active, your body will age much faster than the normal rate."
Rui's eyes widened with shock. "...What?"
"Did you think that power came without a price just because you earned it?" Senior Sarak raised an eyebrow. "There is no such thing. The price of the Squire Realm was maddening suffering and the risk of death. The price of the Senior Realm is not acute, it is chronic. For every second you spend with the Martial Heart active, your body will have aged many seconds."
"...I wasn't made aware of this beforehand." Rui narrowed his eyes.
"Neither were any of us. Besides, none of us ever expected you to break through at the age of twenty-four." Senior Sarak smiled bitterly. "But knowing you, I'm sure you've already figured out why we withheld this."
