Twelve days had passed since Amber had begun training with Meu, and she had made steady progress.

Meu, who sat seiza style on her tatami mat in her dojo, was currently watching television. Meu's television was extremely uncommon in the current era, as it was a vintage, old-fashioned one.

She was currently listening to a news report.

"Good evening, this is ABC News. My name is Brian, and I am giving you the 10 am report. This marks the twelfth day since Jack the Ripper's gruesome massacre of the country of London," Brian stated. "Two days after that, the criminal had executed another attack on innocent civilians and soldiers alike. Witnesses have stated that Jack was looking for a soldier named Amber Hoss."

"Word spreads fast, huh?" Meu said. "That's how it always has been, though."

"After doing extensive research, we have found out that Amber Hoss was the only survivor of Jack's attack on the Hoss family. After her family's death, she had joined the military. Is Jack interrogating his victims because he wants to fix his mistake of not killing Amber before?" Brian speculated. "I'm sure this is a question you're asking yourself, as are we. If Jack is causing chaos because of Amber, doesn't that mean the military is placing one woman's life over countless others by keeping her?"

Oh? I didn't remember the news lacking this much objectivity. Meu thought with a smirk.

"In the United States, Jack the Ripper was responsible for wiping out most of their super soldiers. The superpower, America's strongest force amounted to nothing against one person. Not to mention, it is highly likely that the other S-Class criminals are also in England," Brian continued. "Can it be said that the country's military is making a severe decision by keeping the one person that could lead to so many deaths--"

Hearing enough, Meu turned the television off.

"Wow, to think they're talking like this about my dear student," Meu said with a frown. "I better not let Amber hear about this."

Speaking of Amber, I wonder if she's done yet. Meu thought as she stood up and went outside.

Immediately after exiting her temple, Meu heard footsteps near her. They came from the mountainside, which increased in loudness as they got closer. Meu, who had an idea of the source, looked closer and saw Amber running up the mountain.

Behind her back, Amber carried a giant basket with several compressed metal beams inside. There weren't many signs of struggle as Amber ran with slight sweat dripping from her face.

She stopped before her master and placed the basket on the ground.

"Good morning, master. I've done my run!" Amber greeted.

"Yes, well done!" Meu commended. "You've done that effortlessly!"

"Well, thanks to your training, master," Amber responded. "Not only did you teach me some jujutsu, but you also helped me unleash more of my potential! I wouldn't have been stronger if it weren't for you!"

"Nonsense, you've polished your sloppy hand-to-hand combat heavily in the short time I've been your master. It's your determination and ability that made it possible for you to reach these heights," Meu corrected. "As my student, I want you to be more confident in yourself."

"Yes, you're right."

"So, how's it going guys?" Ryzen said as he suddenly appeared in front of the master and student. His sudden appearance visibly surprised Amber.

"M-Mr. Ryzen!?" Amber uttered. "How did you...actually...this isn't the first time you've done this."

"Oh, good timing, Ryzen. We've been making good progress!" Not reacting to Ryzen's popping into the scene, Meu casually responded. "Right, Amber?"

"Yeah! That's right!"

"Well, that's good. So, you think you can return to the Enlightenment Program now?" Ryzen inquired.

Amber immediately became uneasy after hearing that question.

"W-What are you saying, Mr. Ryzen? I thought you agreed with me saying that I can't go back," Amber responded. "Not until I had killed that demon!"

"Sigh, yeah that's true, but your friends are constantly in my ears asking about you. It's got to the point where I don't even go there as much...it's good that I don't have to since they're training with Kreuger," Ryzen explained. "But that's not even the problem. Haven't you wondered why you heard nothing from the criminal, Jack?"

"W-What do you mean?"

"You probably thought it would be fine if you were away from your friends, but there's no way Jack wouldn't search the military after seeing you wear military combat gear. So, I steered him off by telling him that you were in some mountains," Ryzen explained. "Even though this bought time for you to train, he's likely getting pissed off and may just give up and attack your friends out of anger."

"N-No..."

"I can see it, Amber. You've gotten much stronger than you were two weeks ago," Ryzen said. "Let go of all worries...you must make the right choice."

"B...But," Amber muttered.

"Alright, tell you what. Let's see how strong you've gotten. If you don't meet my expectations, you can stay, but if you do, you must fight with everyone."

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"R-Really?"

"Yes, this should ease any doubts you might have about putting your friends in danger," Ryzen assumed.

A look of conflict clouded Amber's face but was quickly dispelled by the sensation of Meu's hand resting on her shoulder.

"Show him what you've got, my student!" Meu encouraged while gesturing with a thumbs-up.

"Yeah!" The newly encouraged Amber responded. With a smile, Ryzen followed Amber and Meu to the dojo to spar.

With Meu spectating at the side, Amber and Ryzen stood off in preparation for their spar. Amber glowed with energy as they exchanged no words.

Hmm, this won't damage my dojo badly, right? Meu thought.

Amber immediately darted at Ryzen to engage him in hand-to-hand combat.

Her speed is much faster than the last time! Ryzen thought with a smirk. I was right to bring her here!

Amber threw several attacks at Ryzen. Her attacks had enough intensity to force him to move around and block her attacks.

Ryzen saw an opening and tried to exploit it with a quick jab to her gut, but Amber instantly redirected his hand upwards with a swipe. That, of course, surprised Ryzen.

Yes! She's fixed her sloppy, wasted movements this much! Meu thought. I'm proud of her!

With his guard broken, Amber simultaneously fired an energy ball from her index finger at Ryzen's chest. Unlike the times she used this against the Dexter family, there wasn't much of a time lag between Amber's charge and her firing.

Surprisingly, the ball performed a near ninety-degree turn and completely missed Ryzen. It hit the walls of the dojo and exploded instead.

What was that? Amber questioned.

"My walls!" Meu yelled, although there was barely any visible damage.

"Um, oops--" Amber said as she dropped her guard. Ryzen took the opportunity and delivered a fast spin kick to the side of Amber's head, but she perceived it in time and put her block up.

Wow, nice.

"Nice reaction, but don't look away from a fight ever, Amber," Ryzen lectured. "That one moment of distraction could be deadly...let's continue."

Amber and Ryzen continued their hand-to-hand combat, with Ryzen performing a couple of jabs and Amber blocking a couple with her forearm and deflecting other jabs with quick swipes.

She's doing well so far. Ryzen thought. But why don't I turn the speed up a little?

Ryzen suddenly appeared behind Amber, attempting to strike her in the back of the head. Amber had perceived this movement and spun around. Amber simultaneously fell to the ground to avoid his strike.

Ryzen expressed surprise as she did this, and Amber grabbed his arm and suit. That meant Ryzen was forced to lean over as Amber held him while falling, and she threw him over her with a kick to his stomach.

While Ryzen soared, Amber fired more energy balls at him. Of course, these projectiles missed him, and Ryzen landed on the floor gracefully. The balls exploded on the dojo, which shocked Meu even more.

Oh, I think I understand what's happening. Amber thought. The demon experienced the same thing with his missed knife throws. It must be Mr. Ryzen's blessing.

Amber not only reacted to that speed but made excellent counter-decisions. Ryzen thought. Very, Very good.

"My dojo!" Meu yelled. "Isn't this supposed to be a spar!? I didn't know you two would use your blessings!"

"S-Sorry, master!" Amber apologized.

"Sigh, you know I can't stay mad at my pupil--"

"No one cares about this dojo, Sharma!" Ryzen retorted. "It's just here to look cool! It's not like it's going to get destroyed easily anyway!"

"W-What! My dojo isn't just decoration!" Meu said. "And would you stop calling me by my last name, Ryzen!?"

"Sigh, let's just continue outside," Ryzen suggested as he turned his gaze to Amber. "Sharma's gonna get a heart attack at this rate."

"O-Okay, sure!" Due to their sudden quarrel, Amber responded with a stutter.

Attempting to quell Meu's concern for her dojo, the two went outside to continue their spar.

"Y-You, ready, Mr. Ryzen?" Amber asked.

"Of course!" Ryzen answered before suddenly striking the air. That produced an intense wind gust, carrying many large rocks and debris at Amber.

To guard against the gusts and debris, Amber created a yellow sphere around herself. That was the same technique she performed on the fly against Jack. The debris deflected from her shield, and Amber charged at Ryzen when it was clear.

Ryzen sent more debris carrying shockwaves at Amber while she approached him. In response, ropes made of light coiled around Amber's fingers and extended around her. The ropes deflected every one of the debris, as Amber easily ran through the wind gusts.

Amber engaged him in close combat like before, but Ryzen immediately noticed something different. Ryzen avoided Amber's attacks, but each of her swipes, kicks, and jabs emitted waves of light, which slightly increased the difficulty of dodging.

She even learned how to augment her hand-to-hand combat with her blessing besides the natural stat boosts it gives. Ryzen analyzed.

She then fired more energy balls, but Ryzen avoided them by jumping to a ridge on the mountain they were on. Amber's radiance brightened as she moved faster, but Ryzen hopped to another ridge before she caught him.

"Sorry for this," Ryzen strangely apologized as he punched the side of the mountain. Simultaneously, Amber felt a heavy force hitting her in the chest, which sent her flying.

"Ugh!" Amber uttered. She quickly recovered, however, as she landed on her feet. What was that? Is that also Mr. Ryzen's blessing?

"Alright, I think that's enough sparring," Ryzen suddenly said. "I've seen enough to say that you met my expectations."

"W-What? Are you sure?" Amber questioned. "I still have more things that I can show, you know."

"That's fine. You can save those for Jack," Ryzen responded. Unlike Nathan, I'm not going to push you heavily. Jack is going to do that anyway. "As you are now, your presence won't be a danger to your friends but a valuable help."

"I...even though I agreed to this, I still don't know," Amber responded. "I don't want...anything to happen--"

"C'mon, Amber. What did I tell you earlier?" Meu questioned. "Be more confident in yourself!"

"Nice one, Sharma!" Ryzen commended with a thumbs-up.

"Would you stop...calling me by my last name...?"

"...But master, are you okay with me leaving?" Amber questioned.

"Of course! Even though there are so many things I have yet to teach you, you have made me proud of how fast you've grown," Meu responded. "And I remember your desire to kill Jack, so I understand why you're leaving now."

...I've met so many good people... Amber thought. I would have never made it this far without them...without you, god...

Suddenly, Amber approached and hugged her master, surprising her.

"Oh my!" Meu uttered.

"Thank you so much for everything. I will come here regularly when everything is finished!" Amber declared. "You will always be my master!"

That put a smile on Meu's face, and she returned Amber's hug as Meu wrapped her arms around her. Ryzen stood there and watched in the meanwhile.

What a lovely sight. Life and hope are once again showing in Amber's eyes. Ryzen pondered. I wonder if that will last.