Fields Of Desire [Veralia/Stella]

Sizzling into existence did a blazing vortex of emerald fire rip through an otherwise calm, sunny meadow on a mid-morning day. Light reflected from the other side as the flames began to ease, and two women stepped out of the portal. The smaller of the pair held a relaxed smile as her blood eyes scanned the field to ensure no other traces of spiritual energy were near them. Once the coast was clear, she'd give a nod and gently guide the taller of the pair out of the inferno and to the serene grasslands.

"Mmmmmm, Japan has many rural regions believe it or not. We shouldn't be disturbed here as it'll make a fine place to train."

Speaking aloud, Veralia's voice was unbothered by the trivialities of their travel. By this point, she'd slowly let go of Stella's hand as she decided to take the lead and walk ahead of her training companion. After walking a few feet, Veralia turned around and smirked at the Quincy as it was clear she had something on her mind.

"Alright, I will move away from you. I want to see a demonstration of what you can do with steigen. Come at me as fast as you can and we'll go from there."

Not wasting time, Veralia widened the gap to be a whole city block and motioned with her left hand for Stella to follow in a straight line.

It wasn't hard for Veralia to read the movements of Stella's Steigen, but that wasn't the point of this training. As her blood eyes shimmered with life, the small arrancar used her soindo to leap above her training partner and land straight on her head. While Veralia rubbed her chin, the woman seemed lost in thought for a moment before gently landing and Soindo's back to her original spot a block down the road. When she was there, she waved and called out.

"Are you in tune with the air around you? You Quincy lot drink spiritual particles like your damn mosquito's slurping up someone's blood."

Veralia's words, potent and unyielding, reverberated through the vast expanse that lay between her and Stella, as if the very air carried the weight of her convictions across the distance. As her gaze fixed on Stella, it was as if nothing else existed.

"Charge at me again, but this time be in flow with the space around you. Feel the energy of this world and take it for your own."

With a gentle inhalation and exhalation, Veralia's body relaxed as her gaze narrowed in at Stella. Soon after a smile crept across the woman's face as she was pleased to see the change in the Quincy's demeanor.

Moments afterward the sound of static echoed in the area as Veralia narrowly dodged the Quincy. Slowing her pace to match the rhythm of the unfolding confrontation, Veralia alighted on a tree branch nearby, her landing soft yet assured. The choice of vantage point was strategic, allowing her a broad overview of the area while maintaining the agility to respond to further aggression.

"Beautiful. Sometimes you need coaching to get your body in gear. So in that vain, let's go for a sprint, eh? Follow me to the next goal point and get your ass moving."

The confidence in her voice was palpable, a clear indication that she was in her element, reveling in the role of provocateur and mentor rolled into one.

As a playful smirk etched itself across her lips, Veralia blew a kiss at Stella playfully; winking her right eye before the sound of static noises reverberated in the air and she was seen sitting atop another tree one block down the road waiting for Stella to follow. While she may have found a trick to manage Stegen, it was another thing to repeat it again and again to build stamina, muscle memory, and confidence in the ability to use it at will and get used to the experience of using the world as your weapon.

"Of course, if you use this, you gotta be able to fight.

As soon as Stella reached the branch, Veralia darted upward in the air as static once again ripped through the air around them. Now a city block above her in height, she motioned for the Quincy to follow with a smirk.

"Try to attack and use Steigen, babe. We are gonna push that stamina of yours."

Calm as could be, Veralia smirked playfully before her right palm shat four weakened balas at her. The balas, while diminished in power, zipped through the air with a speed and precision that demanded attention. This was not an attack but a teaching moment, a practical exercise designed to instill in Stella the essential skills of combat that Veralia herself had mastered over countless battles.

The objective was clear: to encourage Stella to engage with the fundamental aspects of combat—dodging, moving, and attacking simultaneously. It was about honing the ability to multitask under pressure, to maintain awareness and control amidst the chaos of a fight.

"Yes, like that babe."

Not phased in the slightest, Veralia snapped back quickly as she could tell they were slowly pushing the limits of Stella. Fortunately, or unfortunately in the eyes of envy, there was still a lot of room to grow for the Quincy. When you are on the weaker end of things, it's far easier to see massive gains in short bursts of time. Whereas in Veralia's case, the ceiling is far higher and more difficult to overcome and grow.

Keeping this knowledge in mind, Veralia motioned with her hand to follow upward into the air with her.

"Now, let's see if you can hit me while using Steigen using your body or powers, I don't care which. Don't worry, I'll be holding back, but I want you to get used to this multi-tasking."

Her challenge was clear—a test of Stella's ability to combine movement and combat, a fundamental skill for any warrior, but especially crucial for those navigating the complexities of spiritual battles. And given the limitations of her body, it was also clear it was a test of the mind's willpower to endure.