Hello everyone. Just letting you all know that I will be using my own character Claire Faye as the stand in for the Warrior of Light!

Chapter 1: Master Musosai

"You are ready, then?" he asked her, and when she nodded he finished, "Good, good, let us take to the arena."

He let her step inside on her own to wait as he met with Momozigo, and informed him that they had a new challenger, whom he believed to be an adventurer, and that was when he realized that he had forgotten to ask the young lady her name.

Momozigo reassured him that oftentimes adventurers didn't really care if their names are spoken in the Coliseum, mostly out of pride should they lose. But he had already gone up to the stands and was calling out to everyone that a new match had just finished being set up for them. Musosai, meanwhile went to one of the gates that led to the arena, and waited behind the gates, almost impatient for them to rise so that he could go out there.

"Gather ye round and bear witness, for another brave challenger has appeared!" Momozigo's voice called to them all, "Next to face Musosai, swordmaster of the Far East, we have… an itinerant adventurer!"

The gates opened after that and he looked out to see this adventurer was already striding across the arena floor towards him. She didn't seem to be paying much interest in the crowd, unlike the last one gladiator who couldn't stop himself looking up at the stands and basked in their cheers.

He strolled out as well, meeting her in the center, only yalms apart. Her eyes had already harden as she readied herself. He could feel his hands twitch slightly in eagerness at a promising fight when…?

"Hold it right there! No one gets to take down that old bastard 'cept me, Beroald the Last Standing! Scourge of the Sands!"

The adventurer blinked, coming out of her battle-ready stance. She turned around just as Musosai's last defeated challenger came sprinting into the stadium from behind her. He didn't even glance at the her as he skidded to a stop, dressed in his armor, or lack thereof, and glared at him as he looked for a fight.

"You made a fool of me earlier, but this time there'll be no tricks!" Beroald shouted. "This time I fight with me own sword, not that pathetic excuse for a needle you handed me!"

"What's this?" Momozigo called from above them in surprise, "Boneheaded Beroald, who was so roundly trounced but moments ago, has invaded the bloodsands!" The crowd around them either booed or laughed at Beroald as Momozigo went on, "For those who came in late, he's the disgraced gladiator who was cast out of the Coliseum for—and I paraphrase—being an all-round odious brute!"

"The rules were plain, and you agreed to them," Musosai reminded him calmly, knowing that he had lost that bout fair and square. He should be taking his time to learn from this defeat and how to improve himself—not trying find excuses that did not exist for his defeat. "There were no tricks."

But Beroald wasn't listening as he held up his sword and yelled, "Shut your mouth and fight me again!"

Musosai wasn't impressed. Why would this gladiator rather fight with a sword that was far inferior to a katana and think that it would give him a fighting chance? He saw everything he needed to see from him earlier.

"Such eagerness for blood," he sighed, not caring that he had the sword pointed directly at his head, "The warriors of this land are as naked blades."

Perhaps it was with all the fighting that had gone on in these lands for the last few decades, but that was neither here nor there. Just because one knows how to hold up a sword, doesn't mean that they are any skilled in using it.

Musosai then flicked out his own katana and with an easy grace and spun he spun about, striking at Beroald's blade. Beroald barely paid any attention, not realizing that he already lost before the battle even began. He just stood there grinning… when his blade broke in half and the broken pieces fell to the ground with a clatter.

It seemed to take Beroald a few seconds for him to fully grasp what happened. The look of stunned shock on his face was more than worth the interruption as Musosai looked back at him. If he was eager to fight him, he would do it, only to win again. But he did not wish to waste his time when he had a new challenger waiting.

Beroald's eyes shook with fear as he took a step backwards away from him.

"I-I'll get you next time!" he warned before he turned and ran for the exit, running right past the adventurer, who had not said a word the entire time as she watched—as if amused in what was going on.

"And with that distraction out of the way," Musosai said apologetically to her as he moved back into a fighting position. "We may continue where we left off."

She nodded in agreement before she unsheathed her own katana, holding it up in front of her with both hands. Ah, already he could see that she had a good grip upon it. Good, this was a promising start. He too, held up his own blade, readying himself to see just what she was capable of.

"It begins! How will this challenger fare against the enigmatic elder?" Momozigo asked as they faced off.

"Now then, let us see how well you wield the katana," he said as she came at him. They met midway and he threw out a strike, which she blocked. "Come at me with all your might."

He stood there as she came charging at him, unleashing an Enpi attack, a flying blade attack that could hit an opponent from a distance.

He blocked it as he swung back, with her using the ability of Third Eye to reduce the attack. Some of the more basic attacks that samurai first learned, but already she seemed to have a good grasp of them. She followed up with a Hakaze and Jinpu combo before unleashing a Gekko, creating a perfect image of the full moon as she struck. Beautiful and elegant were her movements. That was when she sheathed her blade, taking him by surprise when he recognized that stance. Iaijutsu… whenever one successfully pulls off a series of attacks they gain what is known as Sen… and when you have enough, you can execute a certain weapon skill.

She had one Sen, so she was now using the attack of Higanbana, which she brought down upon him in a powerful blow. It struck him hard, which he knew that he was lucky to cast his own Third Eye technique to reduce damage.

"Good, precise movements," he said approvingly as he watched, even offering her suggestions on how to improve. "You have a feel for the blade. There is no need to hold back."

She came at him then, and he blocked, but it was a narrow thing, for the strength that he felt behind that blow was enough that it almost sent him back a few feet. In sheer brute strength, he could tell that she had him beaten, but she was still trying to remember all the techniques that she only just now learned.

That wasn't the point anyway, he was already impressed with what she was capable of just by wielding a katana for the first time. Once more she was using the combo of Gekko before using Hakaze once more. That attack was followed by the move of Shifu, which speeds up a weaponskill cast time! She used that well! What joy it was to see the move of Kasha and the images of ghostly cherry blossoms dancing in the air.

"Oho!" he cried out when she sheathed her blade once more and he grinned, "Yes! Let your blade steep in strength ere you unleash it!"

That was when she used Tenka Goken! The skill that acquires 2 Sen in order to be unleashed properly.

Back and forth this went as she used more of the combos with Gekko and Kasha. After using Hakaze once more, she used the power of Yukikaze… and he felt the cold winds of winter nip at his skin when it clashed with his blade, weakening him from that last attack.

"The stone harbors the techniques of the samurai," he tutored her as she spun about and dealt another blow, which he blocked, "You must draw them forth."

And draw them forth she did. When she sheathed her blade for the third time, he saw the ice forming around her feet and he moved just as she unleashed a powerful blade attack that swung through the air in the form of a full moon and the images of flower petals danced in the wind.

She used Midare Setsugekka?! Already she had learned the three skills of Iaijutsu? Remarkable! It had taken himself years of practice to understand that technique! Never had he seen someone learn so quickly in so short a time! Just the knowledge of that alone was enough to almost knock him off his feet!

He had seen all that he needed to see and knew at once that there was no longer any need to go further.

"That will do," he said firmly, "Victory is yours, young one."

She blinked in great surprise at that as he smiled, showing her that this was no trick, that he meant ebery word.

"And the challenger wins!" Momozigo called out loudly, as Musosai sheathed his sword and observed her with fascination. He knew that there were many in the crowd who were also confused as to what just happened, but couldn't stop smiling.

"To draw forth such strength from the stone in so short a time…" he said in wonder, "You are no ordinary woman. As promised, I shall bestow upon you the rarest of Hingan treasures: training in the way of the samurai!"

She didn't seem to understand as she sheathed her blade and tilted her head in confusion, silently asking him what this was about.

"What is the matter?" he asked, worry inside him that she may refuse, "Our techniques are not found in this land, hence their great worth. As my pupil, you would train under my watchful eye and learn even the most puissant of my techniques."

Her eyes widened and she opened her mouth to ask him something, but before she could even say a sound, a familiar voice yelled from behind him.

"Why, you lying bastard!"

Musosai turned around to see that Beroald was back, this time with a group of other gladiators right behind him as they dashed into the arena.

"All that fighting and there wasn't even any coin in it?" Beroald yelled as he stomped around, much like how a child would when throwing a tantrum.

"What's this?" Momozigo called out from above them again, and this time he sounded more annoyed than surprised. "Boneheaded Beroald is back, and this time he's brought friends! This man doesn't know when to give up!"

The crowd seemed to think so as well, and they were beginning to boo down at him, which got his attention as he glared.

"You got a problem, come down here and say it!" he roared up at them.

"At no point was it said that the treasure is an object, let alone coin," Musosai reminded him calmly, "Besides, winning it was well beyond you."

"Shut the hells up!" Beroald snapped back, his pride already heavily wounded and was close to losing it completely, "This time, I'll show you my true strength!"

Musosai sighed and shook his head, already seeing exactly where this was going, as he said, "Your strength lies in numbers, 'twould seem. Very well, if you insist on another trouncing, then so be it. But know that this time 'tis not I who will deal it, but my pupil."

He knew that it was reckless and thoughtless of him, but he needed to be sure. Besides, he was already worn out from having been on the receiving end of her pure, raw strength that had made his arms go numb as she struck at him with a katana.

He turned around to face the adventurer again as he said, "Having seen your potential firsthand, he and his ilk out not pose you any trouble."

She stepped back, looking startled at the suggestion, but probably sensing that these gladiators weren't going to let them leave this place easily, she flicked out her katana as Beroald ordered his men, "Whoever she is, take care of her, too!"

Beroald had four of his men, each one armed with a bow surround her. Musosai stood off to the side to watch, ready to rush in and help should she need it. But from what he saw himself mere moments ago, he had little doubt that she was more than a match for these men.

"Oh, dear, this isn't in the script!" Momozigo called out as cries of excitement were heard from all over the crowd, some even leaning dangerously far over the side so that they could get a better view, "The duel has become a free-for-all, and it's the challenger against them all!"

But the adventurer barely drew breath as held up her blade, thus blocking all four arrows that were sent at her at once.

"No one makes a fool of me in my Coliseum!" Beroald yelled as she went for one of the bowmen, "Feather her! The so-called pupil!"

But the words were barely out of his mouth when she already brought down one gladiator and was already going for the next. Fine form, truly fine, it was as if she had practice the way of the katana for years. Indeed, Musosai found it difficult to believe that this was her first time using such a blade as she took down the second bowman in just two strikes.

Once all four bowmen were down, Beroald yelled, "Bloody hopeless, the lot of you! Let's see how your puny sword fares against an axe or two!"

He then sent in the two gladiators at his side. She jumped up to avoid the swing of one such axe and Musosai raised his eyebrows in surprise. Clearly she was no stranger when it came to battle, for she was light on her feet as well and was very strategic of where the axes blows would come from.

He was amazed to see her move to face them both and unleashed Fuga, and attack that dealt damage to all enemies in front of her. That was followed immediately by the attack of Oka, and more cherry blossoms danced around her as she struck at both.

"Hurry up and make her dead already!" Beroald shrieked, and Musosai was starting to think that she was showing off when she used Fuga again, and this time using the power of Mangetsu, which delivered another spinning blade of a perfect circle of the moon afterwards, bringing both gladiators down in just one move. Oh, what a sight it was to see as the gladiators, almost twice her size, crumbled.

"Bah, if you want something done right," Beroald snarled as he charged ahead with a new sword. "No one beats me in my Coliseum! No one!"

He seems to have forgotten that he already lost. And now it was clear that he was no match for this fledgling samurai.

"Oho, Beroald joins his own fight! Finally!" Momozigo called as the crowd booed him. "Student samurai versus grizzled gladiator! Who will prevail in this class between good and ugly?"

Beroad was able to send her flying backwards, forcing her to dodge the next attack as she came running up to face him. While she had already mastered many techniques and abilities, it was clear that she still had much to learn when it came to mastering the katana. When he, himself, was fighting her, he was holding back, serving as mostly as a practice for her to get the feel for her new skills. Musosai had been letting her get use to gather Sen for Higanbana and Midare Setsugekka as she fought to weaken him and strengthen her own skills. The more that she fought, the more natural it seemed to become for her.

Beroad used attacks that hit the area around him, as well as bashing her with a shield that knocked her back. He then used an attack that could spread across at least half the arena. But he was too slow and wasted too much time to make it flashy for the crowd as she easily stepped up behind him to avoid the attack.

That was when she used one more technique… Ageha, which was a powerful attack that can only be used when a target is weakened enough. It had been enough for Beroald, who was barely able to stand up from that blast.

"S-Sod this!" Beroald yelled when he finally realized that he was out of his league, "I'm gonna make you hurt, old man, if it's the last thing I do! Yaaaaaaargh!"

In desperation and frustration, Beroald turns his fury upon Musosai and went charging straight at him. But Musosai knew that he wasn't even worth drawing his blade this time.

Beroald attacked him blindly, missing him completely—yet even this seemed to be too much for this disgraced gladiator. Exhausted and spent from his battle with his new pupil, Beroald was gasping for breath as Musosai asked, "…You are done? Then allow me."

He then kicked out at him, sending him flying backwards and collapsed in a heap on the ground, out cold.

He chuckled softly as he commented to the adventurer, who was taken aback by how it ended, "Not even worth drawing my blade. Well fought, young one. I have seen all I need to see."

"And the winner is the challenger! What fearsome fighters these samurai! Let's give her a rounding applause!" Momozigo called and the stands erupted into cheers. But Musosai barely paid any attention to the cries around him as the adventurer sheathed her katana, which he hoped would remain at her side.

"Come with me," he asked humbly, "We have much to discuss."

She nodded silently as she followed him out of the bloodsands, heading back to the arena's entrance where they first met, and he turned back to face her.

"Forgive me," he said apologetically, "I know it was wrong to force that fight upon you. And yet I find I do not regret having done so, for it has reaffirmed beyond any doubt the promise I had glimpsed in you.

She didn't answer as she stood there, waiting for an explanation to what was going on.

"Long did I search in my native land for a pupil, but I found none fit to be a vessel for my knowledge," he told her. "The problem, I concluded, lay in my people's way of thinking—the zeal with which they uphold tradition to the detriment of all else."

Well, that was partially true. But he also knew that no one would wish to be taught under him after what happened…? He pushed that aside, forcing those memories down as he tried to focus on the matter at hand.

"So it was that I set forth for a new land, this Heir's Ear," he went on, "I place myself in the midst of your most able swordsmen, offering myself up as a spectacle in hopes of finding a worthy soul. And find her I did—in you."

He waited for a moment, expecting her to say something, but still she did not speak. He could tell now that she wasn't much of a talker. As a matter of fact, he realized that he had yet to hear her voice.

"Now, I realize how all this may appear," he added, speaking with full sincerity in his own voice now, hoping that she would agree to his one wish. "To you, I could be but a strange old fool spouting nonsense, but I am well past caring about appearances."

He knew that he had found the right person, his hopes of finding a pupil with such potential turned out better than he had ever hoped for, and he did not wish to see this one last chance for atonement to disappear. "I speak with all earnest when I say that other is none other into whom I would pour my knowledge. And so I ask of you, will you consent too being my pupil?"

He waited for what felt like an agonizingly long time as she thought over his request. He could feel his old heart beating so hard against his chest that it was becoming painful. But to his great delight and relief, she nodded in agreement.

"Ahhh, words cannot well express my joy!" he said happily. "From this moment on, we are master and student! Now then, I would know your name. By what are you called?"

Thinking about it, it seemed almost foolish to ask this woman to become his pupil when he knew nothing about her. But at long last, she broke her silence.

"Claire," she told him in a soft voice. "My name is Claire Faye."

Claire… such a gentle name for a warrior. But this only confirmed his belief that he had done the right thing in coming to Heir's Ear. He did not wish to make the same mistakes again… the shame that he feels now is already beyond forgiveness. He wished for a warrior with great potential to wield a katana, 'tis true… but he also yearned for a soul of gentleness. Only time would tell.

"Claire…" he repeated to himself. "'Tis a fine name. Without further ado, Claire, we shall commence your training. Pray join me at the nearby tavern—the Slick Hand."

She looked mildly confused at his request but didn't question it as she followed him out of the Coliseum and into the bright, hot sun of this desert city. They walked on mostly in silence, but he did not mind. It was a surprisingly comfortable silence as she walked along with him and he was already starting to instruct her on her techniques, informing her of which ones were best used against one foe and multiples enemies.

She listened carefully as he also told her the best way to keep her blade sharpened and cared for—taking it all in stride until they arrived at the inn.

*Claire Faye*

Well, this certainly was now how she expected her day to go. She had merely wished to try her hand at a new weapon and see how she measured up to a samurai. The old man, who was now her new master, seemed to radiate a kind of foreign energy to her when she first met him. When he handed her the soul crystal, it resonated with her own soul, much like all the other soul crystals she carried with her.

She had grown used to the sudden rush of power rushing through her mind and body during her studies to improve her fighting abilities. This one, however, felt like someone had taken a hammer to her head and she had to fight to stay on her feet. The sudden rush of new abilities and techniques that flowed into her was disorientating and sickening.

Once the storm calmed in her mind and she was able to walk straight again, she ventured out into the Coliseum to fight with Musosai. She knew from the start that there had to be some meaning behind this… for he seemed more irritated with the cheering crowds than anything else. He was more focused on her and watching how she held the katana in her hands. She had the feeling though that he had held back as she fought him. His eyes had been critical and judging every move that she made like he was looking for the slightest mistake.

When he put up his katana halfway through the fight, it took her by surprise when he declared her the winner. At first, she believed that it was some kind of joke, but when he told her what this was all about, how he had been looking for a new pupil, it all came together in a rush of understanding. He had done all of this, not to fight challengers, but to find one whom he could teach.

And for some reason, he had picked her.

As he spoke to her, she listened carefully to everything that he said, though there were still plenty of questions in her mind. Such as why come halfway around the world to teach someone who was not even from his native land? And… what was that look in his eyes when he looked away from her? Almost like there was a deep sadness that she had seen enough times to know one thing… there was something in his past that weighed heavily upon his mind. Though what part he was trying to hide was something that she couldn't figure out.

It looked like the days to come were to be interesting indeed.

*Musosai*

As they stood there at the tavern, he began their lesson by informing her more of the history of the samurai, which he had a feeling that she may know precious little about. Which is understandable, of course. For it seemed that most people in this land have never even heard of samurai before now.

"I shall begin at the very beginning," he began as she listened intently to his words, "In the distant past, Hingashi underwent a period of strife, during which numerous opposing factions vied for supremacy: the Age of Blood. In this age, full many took to battle with katana in hand, and in the crucial of war our art was forged—the way of the samurai. Eventually, the realm was unified under one banner and peace reigned once more. The people set aside their katana, save for we samurai, who continued to wield it as symbol of authority. And with that authority comes a grave responsibility: protecting the peace."

Otherwise, they can cause as much harm as well as good. They had only begun their relationship of master and pupil, but already he was hiding something important from her, already he was lying. And he hated himself for it. But still, it was necessary that he say, so that he need not worry that she would make the same mistakes that he, himself, had made.

"To ensure that the Age of Blood is never repeated, we samurai seek out the wicked and bring them to account. In so doing, we ward of chaos and preserve wording in the realm. Such is our calling," he reasoned, trying to show her just how important it was that she understand. "Hingashi or Heir's Ear. It matters not where we are; this calling guides us always. To that end, we shall journey the land, you and I, on a quest to right wrongs. As one who has grasped the foundations of our art, it is your surest path to mastery. Our efforts begin in this very city. I shall cast about for evil that has taken root here, and then we may proceed to excise it."

She agreed to this plan, and he was glad to also have such a good listener as well as a warrior for his new pupil.

Just then, Momozigo approached them both with a wide smile on his face.

"Well now, that certainly got exciting quick!" he said happily, "But with some even quicker thinking, I managed to set up a wager and turn tidy profit!"

Musosai chuckled at that as he turned to face his friend and responded with thankfulness, "Momozigo, I owe you a debt of gratitude. Thanks to you, I have found my pupil at long last. I pray that you will live comfortably with your winnings."

But it seemed that Momozigo did not come to him to bid his farewells, rather he had a surprising request to ask.

"Actually, I had a mind to join you; wherever you go, I sense that coin will follow," he answered him quickly. "And besides, it seems you're planning to root out evil in our fair city? If so, you'd do well to have me along. With my connections, I can procure the information you're like to need. Then there's the small matter of your complete and utter lack of knowledge of Eorzea."

Musosai thought that over to himself. Yes, he did make a fair point. In the short time that he had been here, Momozigo certainly seemed to know his way around here, and was able to set up challengers for him at the Coliseum with his connections. And if the aged samurai had to be honest with himself, he had grown quite fond of the young one's company and idle chatter.

"There is that, indeed," he agreed, "Had fate not seen fit to unite us, I never would have found my way here from Fester Bay."

"And I wouldn't be standing here breathing!" Momozigo reminded him. "If anyone owes anything, it's me. You saved me from those cutthroat bandits when I tried recruiting them or the Coliseum. Terribly reckless in hindsight…"

Well, it seemed that they had just taken on a new travelling companion and he whole-heartedly agreed to it.

Momozigo beamed at this as he looked to Claire and added, "As for you, my friend—to be marked out by old Musosai himself, you must be made of uncommon stuff indeed. Not to put the pressure on, but I have the highest hopes for you!"

Claire nodded back at him patiently as Musosai decided to let her spread her wings a bit and test her new skills on her own. She seemed to be a free-spirited one, and he felt that for right now, it may be for the best for her to train and get used to her newfound abilities on her own.

"And here we are, then. I shall undertake my search with Momzigo's help. Until such time as there are developments, pray continue honing your new-found skills," he said to her and she nodded again, leaving with a smile.

"She seems nice," Momozigo said as he waved her off, watching as she left through the doors. "But I thought that the whole point was for you to have a student to teach? You're letting her go so suddenly?"

"Mayhaps," he said, "But you saw for yourself how easily she took to the katana."

"That's true," Momozigo said as he thought back to the fight. "If I didn't know better, I would have sworn that she was a full-fledge samurai when she went out there and started using those moves."

"Indeed, I couldn't have asked for one with more potential!" Musosai said brightly. "But she still has a way to go. For now, I believe it to be best not to try and smother her. But instead, give her the freedom to find her own way. When she has fully come to hone the skills she learned already, she will return and we will begin our quest. For now, we must do our part and search for any evil that may be lurking nearby."

"Won't that be dangerous?" Momozigo asked, sounding nervous. "There is no shortage of things happening behind the scenes. Especially here in Ul'dah where corruption and so much gold is being passed around."

"In my homeland, the best way for a samurai to learn new skills is to test them against other such samurai of equal strength," Musosai explained. "However, that is not possible at the moment. So, we must go for a method that works equally well. The best way to help her improve is to seek out evil and excise it. Tell me, there are a handful of cities here in Heir's Ear?"

"Ah, yes," Momozigo answered. "There used to be several more than what we have now, such as Aha Mhigo, but that is still under Garlean rule at the moment. Right now, we have four main nations where anyone is free to come and go as they wish. The one we're in now is Ul'dah. The other three are the maritime city on the ocean of Limsa Lominsa, the forest-dwelling nation of Gridania, and the frozen lands of Ishgard."

So, the desert, the forest, the ocean, and snow-capped mountains? Almost as if all the four seasons in just one land. Very good. This will give them different types of areas for his new pupil to train in. This is shaping up very nicely indeed.

"Thank you," he said, "I can tell that your aid in this will be most helpful indeed. For now, we shall remain here in the desert and keep our eyes and ears open for any signs of evil. Once we do, we shall await my pupil to return when she is ready."

"By the way, I don't think that I caught her name?" he asked.

"She said that her name was Claire," he answered back and as soon as he said it, Momozigo's eyes widen in shock.

"Claire?" he repeated, as if sure that he heard wrong. "Claire Faye?"

"Is there a problem?" Musosai asked in concern, fearing that he was missing something important here. And it turned out that he was.

"A problem? You're kidding right?!" Momozigo gasped as he went looking around, trying to find her. "To think that I spoke with her so lightly?! She's known around here as the Warrior of Light! The most famous adventurer in all the realm of Eorzea! If not the strongest warrior in these lands! Her deeds in service to the realm are countless! For it was she who slew the Black Wolf when Garlemald threated Eorzea! There is always talk about how she is the primal-slayer! Meaning that she has fought powerful god-like beings and walked away alive! She even was instrumental in ending a 1000 year bloodly war in Ishgard! Oh, to think that I was speaking with a celebrity like her all this time and I didn't even know! If the people at the Coliseum knew that she was there and they had a chance to see her fight, oh, I could only imagine the frenzy there would have been!"

Momozigo could hardly contain himself as he ran to the door as if hoping to find her and speak with her again. But Musosai stood there, thinking to himself the whole time as he let this news wash over him. So, she was already hailed as a powerful hero in these lands? It explained much, not least of all, how experienced she was when it came to battle.

"My, my," he said slowly as he looked to the door where his new pupil had already left and Momozigo was letting out a disappointed cry when he realized that she was long gone. "The kami truly do work in mysterious ways."