The Glove goes on (Stella/Solomon)

Solomon would never turn down a request from Stella. He had made that much clear since they'd grown closer as genuine friends. Whenever she called, he would certainly answer when time afforded him such leisure. And today, of course, was no different. It was one of the perks of being a mere footsoldier, in comparison to a coordinator or a director, but that didn't mean his time wasn't filled with missions, either.

Beyond grueling training and studying the Quincy arts, he was still conducting his work with Valerie in Africa. Additionally, any time the division of stars called upon him, he was there. In other words, his days were anything but free. At any rate, that was neither here nor there. He was free now, and that was the only thing that mattered to him currently.

A firm stride to their destination, and he found himself rendered speechless by her new outfit. It wasn't the common overalls or favorite set of casual clothes, but a genuine Vandenreich uniform. For a moment, his azure gaze looked on dumbfounded until he shook his head, coughing softly as he greeted Stella with a wave.

"Now, isn't this a sight? I hardly expected to see you wearing a Vandenreich uniform and Leidan Hant. It appears that I've missed quite a lot since you've been away, Stella. How have you been?"

"Good, good. Reuniting with family compared to the constant sea of new faces must be invigorating I imagine."

Solomon chuckled softly at his comment. Apart from his father, he was long overdue to visit his sisters. After all, he was curious to see how they were spending their days if they weren't a part of the Vandenreich. Were they spending time with his mother in Greece? Or were they visiting his father in Germany?

His focus was drawn back to reality as Stella followed up with a question concerning her Leiden Hant. For a moment, he wondered why she was given such an item if no one bothered to teach her the base mechanics, but he was a patient soul, and he had little issue assisting her on the matter, anyway. Pointing to his hand, Solomon begins his explanation.

"Quite simply, that glove is a Leiden Hant. For any Quincy who wishes to grow stronger and climb toward greater heights of power, they use the Leiden Hant to improve their control over reishi - and by extension - their spirit weapon by repelling reishi. When a Quincy equips the glove, any reishi they could utilize or employ naturally is repelled."

Solomon would clench his fist as he continued his explanation.

"During this process, their next step is forming their spirit weapon which has now become an immense undertaking. Since the glove is repelling reishi, it becomes a test of willpower and dedication as the user is tasked with summoning their spirit weapon and executing as many attacks as they can all while they maintain control over their spirit weapon.

Solomon's gaze traveled toward Stella's Leiden hant as he finished explaining its importance.

"In other words, it is a harsh endurance training that will test one's mettle as a Quincy, but that doesn't mean it is without its benefits should they succeed. After my training, I was able to learn Letz Stil."

"My one recommendation to you - since this is all relatively new for someone of your level - is to go at a reasonable pace. There is no need to stretch yourself thin. Pace yourself. Learn from those with proper experience since this is a somewhat archaic principle. Seeking instruction from someone like Johann, for example, might be the place to start."

He wasn't exactly sure there was any immediate need for her to push herself too hard, but he also visibly acknowledged that she would have to train and utilize it to some degree considering it couldn't be removed now. As it stood, there wasn't any particular tip he could offer that would expedite an overwhelmingly strenuous process. Pacing herself was the only reasonable advice he could give her without overseeing her training.

"When I underwent Leiden Hant training, I often controlled the intervals of reishi to test myself, increasing the level day by day. One day I would start small, and slowly but surely increase my pace. Additionally, I sparred with members of my family, testing how well I could maintain my spirit weapon. I don't know if that works well for everyone, but it certainly helped me when I was growing up."

"In such events, I would advise avoiding going out on such missions altogether. Of course, I imagine, barring some unique event, that you won't be going at it alone and you'll have others to fight alongside you."

Solomon would have never advised her to equip the glove to begin with. At least not immediately so. It impeded one's ability to consume and utilize reishi, compromising their ability to form a spirit weapon. From his point of view, he could already notice how discomforting this process would be for her. He regrettably wished she could've approached him sooner. All he could do now was support her as he always did. Patting her softly on the shoulders, he shook his head.

"There is more to a Quincy's arsenal than their spirit weapon. We've only ever trained with our weapons... but much like soul reapers have kido, we possess the ability to access arcane abilities of our own in the form of Gebet. Whether through rituals or weaving words into existence, it's a useful skill any quincy ought to learn. Have you seen any of your peers utilize it before?"

"Maybe so, but as the timeless saying goes, practice makes perfect. Refining and practicing with any technique as a Quincy is overwhelmingly important. In any battle, it never hurts to go in well-equipped. Don't judge yourself so harshly."

Solomon was aware of her current demeanor, the visible disappointment rising to the surface. He didn't quite know her background to any meaningful extent. She never spoke at length about her history. Even now, he wondered who allowed her to wear the glove advising her on the potential risks.

By and large, it was not a beginner's glove. It was reserved purely for those who had refined and studied their technique to a degree that might allow them to excel. To tell someone who was still in the process of her own learning curve seemed somewhat... harsh. Since it was not his place to judge, he simply shook his head.

"Don't discredit yourself too much. It might not be ideal now, but the potential that comes with patience and discovering different abilities can be quite exhilarating. Once you move past that phase, everything feels like a breeze in comparison."