F-Finally! A student after so long! Sharma thought with a delighted expression.

"Hello? Sharma?" Ryzen said as Sharma stared at Amber blissfully.

"O-Oh, sorry!" Sharma said as she was snapped out of her trance. "My name is Meu Sharma. I would happily train you if that is what you need."

"Y-Yes! Thank you!" Amber responded.

"Anyways, can we go inside, Sharma?" Ryzen suggested. "Standing in the sun isn't very nice."

"Sigh, you may come in," Sharma obliged as she stepped away from the doorway so they could enter. "But, would you quit calling me by my last name?"

"Why?" Ryzen questioned as they went inside.

Looking around, Amber was mesmerized by the interior of the temple. The interior was designed as a Japanese lodging - a stark contrast to the Victorian design Amber was accustomed to in her home country.

Tatami mat flooring, sliding doors, and wooden engawa verandas were some of the designs that showcased Meu Sharma's Western style and home.

"Because I said so!"

"Well, Sharma, I came to call in this favor of you training Amber," Ryzen stated. "And not to call you by your first name."

Meu gave Ryzen a glare in response. Amber watched blankly as the two of them argued

"Well, Amber. It looks like you have your work cut out for you," Ryzen said. "See you guys later."

"Wait, you're leaving--" Before Meu could finish, Ryzen teleported away and left the two of them. Meu gazed at the open space with a frustrated expression and Amber with a dropped jaw.

"W-What!?" Amber uttered with shock. He left!?

"Sigh, come with me, Amber," Meu requested as she went outside.

"O-Oh, okay!" Amber obliged as she followed.

As they ventured, they approached a dojo beside the temple. Upon entering, Amber immediately noticed multiple swords (wooden and real) fixed to the walls and armor kept on stands. The sight of the dojo was also decorated with potted cherry blossom trees in each corner.

Is this the training ground? Amber thought. I can't wait to start my training!

Much to Amber's surprise, Meu approached a broom resting in a corner and began sweeping diligently.

"Phew, there's a bit of dust in here. Why don't you help me sweep, Amber?" Meu requested as she gestured to a second broom. Amber, surprised by this, reluctantly agreed due to her kind personality.

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Is this training? Amber wondered as she swept. The duo proceeded to rid the dojo of all the dust in a short time.

Great, finished! Amber thought with a smile. Even though there wasn't much dust, I suppose it would be good to train in a clean dojo. It's time to train no--

"C'mon, Amber! While we're at it, let's water these cherry blossoms!" Meu suggested. This left Amber stunned, even dropping her jaw for the second time in the day.

"O-Okay," Amber agreed as her right eye twitched, indicating slight annoyance.

While Amber hoped they would get to training right after watering the plants, this was not the case. From performing menial tasks like cleaning swords mounted on the wall and the armor to even sowing plants in the mountains, Amber quickly became skeptical of why she was brought here.

"Ahh, this is so relaxing, isn't it, Amber?" Meu said as she was weeding a small garden patch while Amber stared. "What should we do next?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't continue with this," Amber suddenly stated.

"What?"

"I would have loved to do this with you if the situation was different, but I can't waste time now," Amber explained. "I came here because Mr. Ryzen said I could get stronger. That is my current goal."

Hearing that, Meu ceased her plant sowing and smiled.

"I see, so you are serious, huh," Meu said as she stood up.

"S-Sorry, I meant no disrespect!" Amber stated.

"It's fine. I'm glad you said what was on your heart," Meu assured. "I purposely asked for your aid in these chores to see if you'd say anything, and I'm glad I did. Any student of mine must possess a great desire to get stronger."

"I-I see."

"Why do you want to get stronger, Amber?" Meu questioned. Of course, the first thing that came to her mind was the friends and instructors she met in the Enlightenment Program. Her desire to protect them was immense, and of course, her need to kill Jack the Ripper.

As those thoughts surfaced in her mind, Amber's demeanor became solemn as she held her head down, which Meu noticed.

"I have lost my entire family...to an evildoer. When I thought I had nothing, I received favor from god. I received a blessing and became a soldier in the English military." Amber explained. "I have made many dear friends, who although cannot replace my family...healed my broken world."

"But because of my weakness, I kept getting my friends hurt. I kept endangering them. No matter how much I trained, my weakness constantly got shoved in my face. I realized how weak I really was when the same demon who killed my family realized that I survived," Amber continued. "That demon hurt and took someone close from one of my friends. He even vowed to make my friends and me suffer. All because I survived him...and because I was too weak to kill him."

I think I know who that 'demon' is. Meu thought.

"My weakness, my uselessness...it all keeps getting shoved in my face. I can no longer stay as I am now," Amber stated. "I want to get stronger to protect what's close to me. I want to get stronger to defeat all evildoers, and I must get stronger to kill that demon, Jack the Ripper."

"I knew it was Jack," Meu responded. "I heard a lot about his rampages on the news."

"Yes..."

"But I have heard your heart, Amber," Meu said. "And I gladly accept you as my student."

"R-Really?"

"Yep, follow me!" Meu suggested. "we should get you changed from that military gear!"

Get me changed? Amber thought.

* * *

The two had returned and were standing in the middle of the dojo. Amber came to understand what Meu meant about getting changed, as she was now wearing a white, size-fitted jujutsu gi. Amber had received this gear from her new master.

"W-Wow! The material feels great!" Amber said as she felt her gi.

"Yeah, I keep quite a lot of gis of different sizes in case I get a potential student," Meu responded. "But enough of that. Let's start the training, shall we, my student!"

"Yeah!"