Training session! (Stella/Solomon)

Solomon would approach with a firm sense of purpose in his stride. Since he was a punctual man by nature, Stella's admirable series of excersises were cut short. His approaching figure would finally come into full view as he observed the woman with quiet curiosity. She certainly seemed prepared for their training in spirit, if noting else, a fact that only strengthened his opinion of the woman as he slowly allowed an orb of reishi to manifest within his palm.

"Someone looks well prepared. Are you ready to start our training, Stella?"

"Good. Well, let's start with the basics. Specifically, let's address what you specialize in so far. From there, I can develop an opinion on what you can improve on, and build off of that."

No stranger to various forms of instruction himself, Solomon reminded the woman of an essential lesson that had been imparted to him several times in the past. Build on what you specialize in most. Refine that talent, use it as a building block, and adapt to other skills from there. Ideally, this would allow him to recognize her current skill and adapt to her skillset rather than enforcing unreasonable training she might find difficult to grasp.

To provide a visual example, the sparking orb of azure, spinning in the center of his palm, transmuted into his vaunted spirit weapon, a steel blade infused with lightning. Pointing the blade in a direction, a spark of electrified reishi roared into existence. Energy coalesced around the tip until it shot forward, hitting a target in the distance.

"Take my spirit weapon, for example. I can control and absorb reishi through it to execute a myriad of techniques. I've refined it well enough to a degree where I can control and mold the electrified reishi to my heart's content. As Quincy, we must find what speaks to our talents most, and act from there. Whether using reishi to increase our overall speed, using it in concert with divine language to enact a spell, or even using it to strengthen or bolster our internal system, we all fall within a category. Thus, I pose a question. Which do you prescribe to, Stella? Blut? Kreuzen? Steigen? Gebet?"

"Good. That's a pretty solid foundation to work from. Blut is a fundamentally useful tool in battle. Though you likely know this already, it employs an offensive and defensive system. In the heat of combat, it can theoretically decide whether you live or die depending on the situation."

Offering genuine words of praise, Solomon observed her spirit weapon in contemplating silence. A mere spar hardly allowed her to learn much outside of physical patterns and battle repetition. What was the ideal method of teaching her application? Examples, of course. In the blink of an eye, several veins of azure would span his body as he employed Blut Vene.

"Now, I want you to strike me and observe how I shift between systems during our battle. To make things interesting, try and strike me with everything you have. If you manage to cut me successfully, you win. If not, I will turn the tables and test the extent of your Blut."

Beckoning her with a hand, he issued her to step forward and test her prowess with that axe of hers. Solomon felt most battles were always exceedingly entertaining when the notion of victory lay at the end of one's efforts. How much could Stella force him on the defensive? He wondered that single thought as he awaited her attack.

"Shallow."

Solomon simply stood there with a stern expression. The axe failed to test his Blut to any noticeable degree, but it did push him back by a few meters. In retaliation, his palm shot forward across her shoulder like a thunderous bullet. The methods he intended to employ were meant to be earnest reminders of her errors. The palm thrust was meant to discipline her for attacking with a lack of ferocity behind her strike. The strength was there, but he felt no intent to be cut through.

Though he certainly understood the reason behind her hesitation, he had instructed her to strike him with everything she had. He had endured several battles where he experienced damage, where he found himself wounded. A lesson would never bear fruit if it was approached halfheartedly. His voice rose to a shout.

"I instructed you to attack with everything you have. I know you fear the thought of hurting me, but I cannot teach you anything without some collateral damage. For example..."

Solomon shot forward like a bolt of lightning, swinging his sword forward to slash against her arm.

"How else can one test their blut? Do you think they work it like a muscle? For some, it activates without their knowledge. For others, it happens on instinct. I will not go easy on you, so do not dare to go easy on me. Are we clear?"

"Don't worry about that, Stella. I am merely trying to teach you. a lesson here. If I'm cut, I'll simply go to the infirmary to get my wounds healed."

Of course, any disappointment that had formed during the prior engagement was swiftly washed away the moment Solomon perceived those azure lines across Stella's body during her parry. An impressive use of Blut Arterie in the form of a parry. That quick-minded technique elicited a warm smile across his features as their blades clashed briefly.

Since he wasn't striking with killing force, his spirit weapon was cast backward by the fierce swing of her axe and the forward momentum that carried it forward. As such, the axe cut across the cloth, but Solomon maintained Blut Vene, pushing against the force of the strike as he moved on temporarily shifted into defense.

"Blut Arterie transitioned into a parry? Wonderful. Show me more of that. Keep it up, Stella!"