"Your form is decent." Blake's eyes flicked across Salem, lingering for a bit on her grip on the dull blade.

She smiled. "I know the most basic parts. Veve refused to let me avoid the minimum."

Blake's eyebrow raised. "So you originally weren't interested in learning to fight?"

Salem shrugged, breaking eye contact for a moment. "I admit I did not see the point before. But things have changed, now."

"And you chose me to teach you, instead of returning to your sister?"

"Veve's style is her own. It does not...it feels wrong to me. Too rigid and unyielding. I cannot describe it precisely, but..."

Blake nodded. "I understand. The first person I trained with felt much the same to me. He was too aggressive, and it never felt right. I had to find my own niche...and I'm certain you'll have to do the same. My style won't work for you either, which is why I won't be teaching it to you."

Salem stopped, the practice blade dropping to her side as she tilted her head. "If you are not apprenticing me, what is your plan?"

Blake smiled warmly. "You already know some of the basics. I'll help you expand upon them, of course, but your style is yours to develop. It takes a great deal of time and effort to teach your body to fight, Salem, and there's not much I can do to shorten that time for you. You'll have to practice, again and again, likely long after I depart. But that doesn't mean there aren't things I can teach you." She walked to Salem and took a stance. After a moment, Salem copied her, and she began slowly working through some of the nearly-forgotten exercises she'd done when she was a trainee. The very first thing she'd learned: balance.

"Besides some of the exercises I learned, and the help I can give you in your practice...well. I've been fighting for a long time, Salem. And I've fought many different kinds of enemies. I'm going to teach you how to think about combat."

Salem's eyes sharpened as she considered. "Hmm. That is not something I have considered. Or heard others consider."

"Everyone has a mindset with which they approach fights. Conscious or not, it determines many things. If you approach combat aggressively, then even when you react without thinking you'll tend to press the attack. A more cautious individual tends to maintain space. Even people that don't think about this consciously will learn to read others after enough time and experience, but if you train yourself with purpose, it gets easier."

"I see...Then," Salem lost her balance and briefly stumbled. Blake simply patiently waited for her to try again. The girl cleared her throat. "I can see the value of such things."

"You're quite intelligent, Salem. Even with no guidance, I'm sure you'd develop some of these skills...but it's easier to rely on experience. Mine is the greatest thing I have to teach you."

Salem smiled fiercely. "Then I shall endeavor to learn it all."

Ciel Tower is an interesting thing. Magic has clearly run in the Royal Family for generations, and ages of being exposed to dissociation and Cielan magic has steeped the tower in impressions and feelings. Glee and despair, love and hatred, echoes of all flow through the soulstone. Were you less experienced, they would muddle the true depths of the craftsmanship.

But you are experienced, and you brush aside the long impressions to seek the core of the Tower. By what method was it made? What is soulstone, in truth? You have delayed your examination of the Tower, allowing your power to sink into it from both Blake and the Flame, and you follow your own echoes towards the core of the Tower.

Soulstone is...powerful. It is physical, yet there is a magical and Aural layer to the composition. In the same way that the Aura of a mortal enhances them physically, the stones are reinforced by a tiny flicker of soul. This, then, would be the inspiration for the soulsmiths of Ciel, but from what Blake was taught their crafts are merely an imitation of the Tower's craft. These fragments, then, might have belonged to Omen Ciel. Perhaps his Semblance was to cast off tiny pieces of his own soul in physical form?

That is a difficult question. With only the products to judge, it's difficult to discern the truth. And yet...something bothers you as you examine the tower. Each piece of the Tower is slightly different, a distinct echo of Aura for each individual part. Inspired, you pull your awareness back slightly, examining the Tower in its entirety. It still lacks the full perspective, yet you can see where the tiniest lines align, syncing with each other in a complex arrangement, and you reach out to trace the lines in an old Dance -

the world is harsh and unforgiving and all - die it's meaningless but - reject you refuse to watch - people slaughter each other - waste time and energy when - could be so much more if they - do it themselves then you'll lift them up - give them what they need yourself you'll shield - you'll - for them you'll tie them together until you forget - it was like to be alone and -

The missing pieces grate at you uncomfortably. It feels wrong to have an incomplete Dance, yet you can squeeze no more information from the Tower. You have learned from the experience, but the information is corroded by time. However, you have made an additional discovery. Some of those missing pieces were clearly carved from the Tower after its construction. There are physical grooves in the stone, burrowing through the foundation and the walls. There is... something within them. Concentrated magic of a level that surprises you. How is it you did not sense it before? How could -

oh. How interesting. It seems that soulstone functions as a magical insulator. Until this moment, it has never been relevant, because there no unbroken soulstone walls in Ciel that would prevent you from sensing through them. But these...grooves? Pipes? They are not exposed to the air, and without deeply analyzing the Tower you would have never realized they were there.

How curious. What is stored there? Perhaps this is the source of Ciel's magical power, that allows their enchantments their permanence...?

Curiosity gained: Heart of Ciel. {What is this magical power weaving throughout Ciel Tower?}
A skill has improved. Ex Nihilo: D- = D+ - The ability to create physical objects from nothing. At this level, you can use magic to modify compatible materials that are saturated with your power, as well as grant them simple enchantments or enhancements. Additionally, you can "grow" materials from a sample of themselves, repairing items or increasing the quantity of materials. However, at this level, this is inefficient and slow, requiring constant attention and focus.

"You're getting better, Salem." Blake leaned to the side, allowing the dull blade to pass through the air beside her before reaching out to push Salem back with one hand.

Salem panted briefly before retaking her stance. "I do not see it, but I shall assume you are honest...may we take a moment?"

Blake chuckled. "Of course. We'll move on to the other lessons for a while. And - you don't see it because I've been increasing my speed to match pace with you. It's good practice for me to learn how to hold back if I need to, and it keeps you from simply being overwhelmed. Honestly, I'm impressed at your improvement."

Salem shakily made her way to one of the tables, sinking into it with a sigh. Blake followed, sitting nearby and smiling as she caught her breath. "So what topic are we beginning with today, Master Blake?"

"I told you not to call me that."

"And as I told you, I have called all my teachers that." Salem's smile was almost vicious. "And most of them were too afraid to push me as you are."

Blake simply sighed, letting the argument go once again. "Today, I want to talk to you about goals."

"That seems a rather basic lesson."

"It's also the second most important one I have to teach you."

Salem's eyes widened slightly. "The second? What of the first?"

"That one...you aren't quite ready for, and I'm not quite ready to teach it yet. So: goals. It's easy to get caught up in a fight and lose sight of what you're actually attempting to accomplish. I want to get you started thinking about these things now, instead of needing to learn them when you need them."

A train with her team, or the stolen Flame. It should have been a simple choice.

"I...understand." Salem leaned forward. "So you're saying I need to keep my goals in mind even as I focus on victory?"

Blake shook her head. "That's exactly what I mean. Victory will look different in different situations." At Salem's interested look, she continued. "For example, you might be fighting to defend someone. In that case, you 'win' if they make it out safely. Conversely, you might only need to defeat a specific enemy. If you succeed at that, you can retreat. In some cases, your only goal may be to buy time and distract your enemies from something happening elsewhere."

Salem folded her hands in front of her face as she considered. "I see. Sensible. So, next you shall tell me to always be aware of what my goals are?"

"Exactly. They may change and evolve even during battle, but you can't win if you don't even know what winning looks like."

"Clever. Can you give me more examples?"

A nod. "Of course. Let me give you some scenarios. I'll tell you the goals for the first couple...then you'll have to do it yourself. Imagine that you're part of a patrol, and..."

The days passed, and Salem consumed knowledge voraciously.

"So. Shall you be teaching me the first lesson today?" Salem smiled as she always did.

And, as always, Blake shook her head. "I still don't think it's time. I thought we'd-"

"Blake. You have me incredibly curious. Can you at least tell me why you keep delaying?"

Blake held against the force of Salem's intense stare for several seconds before sighing. "It isn't a pleasant lesson, Salem. I don't want to teach you the way I was taught, but I'm not sure how I should."

Salem blinked. "Blake. I trust you, and I trust your abilities both as a warrior and a teacher. Yet, do you think that, perhaps, you may be overthinking this?"

"...What do you mean?"

"You have never gone to elaborate lengths to train me. I would like to believe I understand concepts quickly. Have you considered explaining the lesson to me?"

A sigh. "Of course I have. It's...I don't think it works the same way. But...you're also right. This is pointless."

There was a long pause, as Salem waited patiently and Blake considered.

"I suppose we'll start simply. Salem, the First Lesson is death. When I learned this lesson...I sparred my teacher until my Aura broke, then...I was told I 'died.'"

"That...I can understand why you hesitated, Blake." Salem's expression had turned pensive. "I apologize. We can...choose a different lesson, or-"

"No. It's important. Salem, you-well, you remember the mission. The reason you wanted me to teach you. That feeling of...helplessness and powerlessness." At Salem's wordless nod, she continued. "That is the First Lesson. Accept that each time you enter a battle, you may die. Your comrades may die. You...it's frightening, but you can't ignore it or look away from it. Accept that helpless, powerless feeling...and move past it. Grow stronger. Accept the importance of every battle you ever fight." She looked down at the point of her wrist where flesh gave way to shadows, and remembered the blade as it sunk into her shoulder. "Even when you fear death, commit. Hesitating is the worst thing you can do." Blake shook her head. "I apologize. It's...hard to explain the lesson. 'Win, and live. Lose, and die.' I was told that, and left to figure out the rest on my own."

"No. I...I understand." Salem's face was set, and her gaze burned into Blake's. "That first moment, when that assassin appeared, I froze. I...I was so terrified I couldn't move. I think, perhaps, I would have stayed rooted to that spot until he had slain every one of my sister's guards. Then, perhaps, I would have run. Or perhaps I would have simply shaken in place until I, too, perished. Yet you reacted immediately, and at first I thought it was because you knew you were stronger than him...but that is not the truth, is it? Even if he had been a greater combatant, you would have done the same thing. And I believe I understand why, now. You have faced your own limits, have you not? Faced them and surpassed them."

Salem took a shuddering breath. "I...I wish to be that strong. I...Blake, will you push me further? I understand why you hold yourself back in our practice, but...please. I have a long way to go. If you have suffered in the pursuit of your strength...then I am willing to do the same."

"I don't...all right, Salem. If you want me to push you...then I will."

Something echoes across Time.

"Together."