"Those are critical points that every true fighter should know," Arthur said, looking at Jada. "Each of what was learned here will help you dictate the flow of a battle… only if you apply it correctly."
Left dazed on the ground, William was still feeling the effects of that tsunami of blows he had experienced as his eyes were still trying to make things out.
"You guys talk about combat like we're in a science class," he muttered, trying to push himself back up to a seated position. "No more beating me up, okay?"
"All part of your second lesson," Arthur flatly stated.
William shook his head in disbelief before collapsing back onto the ground. The sight made Jada giggle.
After approaching him, Arthur brought him back to a seating position and began treatment.
'Healing jutsu…'
His palms glowed, being only a few spaces from William's injuries.
Jada walked toward them to watch.
The same Jada who once looked at him with bloodshot eyes before his departure from the village, ready to kill him, didn't seem so dangerous right now.
But Arthur was no fool.
"Jada," he said, "tell me about yourself and where you're from."
William winced at his straightforwardness. She herself hadn't expected it either.
"Umm," she hesitated, "well, you might not really understand."
"Try me…"
After a moment of contemplation, she finally conceded. And to make it easier on Arthur, whom she thought was from this world, she first had to explain her culture.
✟
Jada Schmidt was born in the early 2000s in Munich, Germany.
Growing up in the lush English Garden, her family lived in a modest apartment. Her parents were two schoolteachers dedicated to nurturing creativity and knowledge. They instilled in her a love for learning and imagination, believing that education was of importance.
From a young age, she displayed an insatiable curiosity. At the age of six, she developed a fascination with stories, often imagining herself as a brave heroine escaping fantastical worlds.
She often found solace in her family's extensive library, where she would spend hours curled up in a cozy corner, reading books ranging from classic fairy tales to modern adventures.
It was during these early years that she developed her vivid imagination.
As she transitioned into her teenage years, the world became a different place.
The rise of technology impacted society, and while many of her peers were enamoured with things like iPhones and smartwatches, she remained tethered to physical books and storytelling.
However, she did find a niche where both interests intersected, casually enjoying her electronic books.
Attending high school in Munich presented its own set of challenges.
Her naturally bright blonde hair, pale skin, and quirky interests only magnified her geekiness. So she kept that part of herself isolated due to not many understanding her personality type.
That's what led her into developing a shy nature.
Despite the challenges, her resilience shone through.
Instead of succumbing to the negativity of what other people thought of her, she channeled her emotions into her creative endeavors.
This self-expression gave her newfound confidence among her closest peers, allowing her to forge connections with others who shared her interests, including a small but tight-knit group of friends who bonded over tabletop role-playing games.
These friends became almost like her support system, motivating her to pursue her dreams.
"Hey, Jada," her friends would ask, "what do you think of those anime-liebhaber?"
An 'anime-liebhaber' was the German word for 'anime fan,' which also meant 'otaku' or 'weeb,' both words representing an anime fanatic.
"I think they're pretty cool!"
"Haha! You're so lame, Jada!"
While she wasn't a genuine anime fanatic, she honestly didn't mind being playfully judged. It's what made her so likable to the more popular crowd.
However, the pressure of school led to many sleepless nights.
She would often find herself watching too much Japanese anime in German dub. Shows like Neon Genesis Evangelion and Attack on Titan.
It was those whimsical characters that never faltered despite the opinions of others that she found just so fascinating.
Upon graduating from high school, she faced a crossroads. She could either head to a local university to study computer science or pursue her dreams further afield.
Being the adventurous type, she ultimately decided to move to Berlin, the heart of Germany's innovation scene.
That city promised opportunities to connect with professionals in art and technology alike. And from how she excelled academically in high school, she believed that she was ready for the challenge.
Moving from Munich, a city where she had established her identity as a shy yet imaginative girl, to Berlin, known as Germany's creative and technological hub, was daunting.
But thanks to the support of her parents, she was able to take that step forward.
Initially, she struggled with feelings of isolation since the city was filled with intense competition from every business.
Needless to say, the vast crowds made her feel small.
So she began attending workshops, art exhibitions, and tech meetups to gradually build connections that encouraged her artistic expression.
Once she familiarized herself with the city's layout and began focusing on her enrollment, her anxiety began to dissipate.
Her school of choice: Humboldt University of Berlin. Getting accepted there was no easy feat.
Students looking to enroll in Humboldt, the best university in that area, had to demonstrate proficiency in the German language with three recognized certificates in passing the Goethe-Zertifikat C1, telc C1 Hochschule, and TestDaF—the German Language Test for Admission to Higher Education.
Jada also had to provide her secondary school leaving certificate.
Thankfully, she didn't have to undergo a university entrance qualification assessment through 'uni-assist,' a program for international students.
All in all, she scored a ninety on the Goethe-Zertifikat C1, an eighty on the C1 Hochschule, and a TDN 4 on the TestDaF.
To score a TDN 4 would automatically put someone in the top percentage of scholars throughout the country.
How she managed that was because her parents had a background in education, making it a little easier for her to pass.
"Just wish I could have scored higher," she said after seeing the results.
After the test, she managed to enroll and chose to major in interactive media. Mainly to conquer her shyness.
During her time in Berlin, she collaborated with fellow students to develop interactive installations for art exhibitions. They also produced compelling documentaries that illustrated the stories of local marginalized communities.
A lot of awards through storytelling were therefore earned.
That's how she managed to land a small internship at a prominent tech company that specialized in developing indie games.
She never thought she'd be working on video game designs. But the pay was too good to pass up.
She had a great career waiting for her, her parents were well-off, and she had a couple of friends she sometimes talked to here and there.
So why wasn't she happy?
By the time she graduated from university, she hadn't really established any real name for herself.
Sure, there were some plaques engraved with her name, but they were just a few letters alongside the other hundreds of students.
Jada felt like she wasn't truly going anywhere in life.
Some time later, at the gaming industry she was working for, she managed to gain some traction. Particularly with the males.
Many tried to entice her with gifts and dates disguised as business meetings, but she turned them all down. Being in a relationship wasn't at all on her mind.
Most of her money was even spent on charities and the poor in her country. This almost resulted in her being recognized as a rising star.
Fellow creators in her field viewed her more as a threat than an inspiration. Yet that hadn't stopped her from trying to fight passionately for those who were targeted by the strong.
With the rapid advancement of technology, she became increasingly fascinated by virtual reality's potential to reshape storytelling. It was during this period of exploration that news broke out about Elysium's desire to select a few souls for their groundbreaking experiment.
Jada honestly hadn't heard too much about that company, only knowing that they had recently made international headlines.
Her English wasn't bad, and many considered her an innovative thinker.
Inspired by her childhood dreams, she decided to enter their lottery.
One fateful afternoon later, while brewing tea in her studio, she received an email that would change her life: "Congratulations, Jada Schmidt! You have been selected for Elysium's virtual reality program."
The little girl who once lost herself in the pages of fictional books was now ready to make a real name for herself.
✟
"And that's my story," she finished.
"I see," Arthur calmly expressed himself.
While the majority of her words were masked so as not to confuse an apparent outsider not from earth, he had understood the majority of her background.
Arthur honestly hadn't expected her to be that diverse compared to the worldly individuals he'd often encounter. Both from here and where they were from.
Jada was her own person with her own dreams.
"You should consider finding a lover," he said with a monotone voice.
Both she and William reacted the same: "Eh!"