The next day, Hanna and Rob decamp to the former Elemental compound once more, partly to have a bit more room, but mostly because Rob didn't want to spend six hours clearing yet more shrapnel embedded all over the balcony and bedroom again.
"I've set up a dozen targets, same as I did for my own training," Hanna informs. "Just let me find somewhere to hide before you let loose again."
"That's probably for the best," Rob agrees.
Hanna sprints behind a large piece of fallen masonry, leaving Rob to begin his meditations. The idea proves a good one; Rob makes the same mistake as the previous day, scattering shrapnel across the entire site. Hanna peeks round the edge of her shelter.
"A little less grenade-like than yesterday, but still not great," she calls.
The third day of Rob's training. Progress is made; Rob's meditations are calmer and more focussed, resulting in a smaller spread of shrapnel. But Rob still cannot control the spread well enough; the most focussed blast shreds six targets at once.
"Getting better," Hanna observes at the end of the day, "but still a little indiscriminate."
"It'll work against a charging squad at least," Rob counters.
"And how many times has a squad charged us?"
"The Elemental guards did. As did those robots."
"Not exactly usual occurrences though, are they?"
The fourth day of Rob's training. The spread of the shrapnel bursts is getting better; Rob can now constrain the burst to hit a single target. Through the day, his aim improves, as does the speed of forming the attacks. By evening, his aim is true, and his attacks swift. But he's still not in full control.
The fifth day of Rob's training. This time, Hanna doesn't shelter behind thick masonry.
"Remember: don't think," she coaches. "Just feel."
"I see we're back to sounding corny," Rob retorts.
"Shush. Now practise."
By the evening of the fifth day, Rob has mastered the use of the Metal Crystal. His attacks are swift, brutal, and pinpoint accurate. Eleven of the targets have neat holes drilled through the bulls-eyes.
"Before you pierce the last target," Hanna interrupts, "I want to make one small adjustment."
"What adjustment?" Rob asks.
Hanna doesn't answer; she walks over to the remaining target, and stands directly in front of it.
"Now shoot," she challenges.
"Are you mad?" Rob exclaims.
"We'll know in a minute. Now shush, and let's see how good you really are…"
Rob closes his eyes and takes a deep breath to calm his nerves. I know you're protected by the Fire Crystal, but I still don't want to do this.
"I'm waiting!" Hanna teases, tapping her foot, mockingly drawing out the vowels in 'waiting'.
Is that from something? Anyway, doesn't matter; now, let's see if I can control this well enough. Rob focusses and unleashes an attack, aiming directly at Hanna's heart; he closes his eyes before the shrapnel hits.
"Did I hit you?" Rob asks a moment later.
"Huh," Hanna teases, "I guess I do look good spiky."
"Be serious," Rob sighs.
"Take a look," Hanna responds.
Rob opens one eye; what he sees surprises him. Opening both eyes fully, he notices Hanna has stepped aside; the target has a perfect Hanna-shaped outline made from shrapnel.
"In the name of the Ancients," Rob breathes, tingling from the dopamine hit. "Wow."