Sae disliked weak people. He thought they were nothing but a mere pushover. They were worthless compared to him, a proud and skilled samurai who had gone through countless battles and won.

Yet when he found you, abandoned by your own clan in the freezing snow, he felt something unfamiliar. Pity. It was a sensation he had never felt before, a stark contrast from the raging violence of battles and war. He had never felt sympathetic for anyone, so why were you the only exception?

He took you to his estate, unable to leave you to fend the dangers by yourself. He felt a surge of anger towards your clan. They were supposed to protect you, not abandon you.

Starting from that day, he trained you as his apprentice. He taught you how to fight, use weapons, and build your physique. He was quite strict and harsh with his training, but he only wanted the best for you.

Right now, you were sparring with him. He always made you spar, since he wanted to see how much you had improved. He would never admit it, but you had definitely improved a lot.

Sae looked down at your fallen figure, your wooden katana falling by your side as he held his own.

"Get up. I said get up." He spoke sternly, narrowing his eyes.

He knew he was too rough and pushing your limits, but he just wanted you to become as strong as him one day.