Another Week was spent trying to polish our fighting styles. Ciella was now getting used to utilizing Wind.
"You've done well Ciella, now it's time to graduate to Earth" I said.
"I'm listening" Ciella said with a smile.
"There are many ways to equip Earth but I'll teach you the simplest. It should be easy for you now that you've gained some mastery over Wind" I said.
Ciella nodded.
"I'm ready to learn" she said.
"The first step is to stir up the particles of dust on the surface of the Earth surrounding you. Ensure there's a protective layer of Wind surrounding your face so that you do not get choked by the dust" I explained.
Ciella obeyed and began to generate a strong Wind by moving her arms swiftly about the space surrounding her. She also created a defensive layer of Wind around her face to avoid inhaling the dust.
"Good, next ignite the dust all around you by channeling flames into the Wind. The goal is to heat the dust rapidly" I explained.
Ciella obeyed channeling intense flames into the Wind surrounding her body where the dust was suspended.
"Now this is the really important part Ciella so listen closely. Once the dust becomes molten hot, you'll need to cool it down rapidly but once you do it will become heavy and compact. If you equip it in that form, you could be crushed by its weight so you'll need to create hollows flowing throughout the solidified dust. These hollows must be parallel to your own body. They should be hollows of compressed air. You will lay the solidified dust all about the hollows so that the dust doesn't make direct contact with your skin. The hollows must compose two thirds of your armour's mass to offset the weight of the armour. You'll also need to avoid linking the solidified dust rigidly about your joints" I explained.
By the time I was done talking, the dust was molten hot. Ciella quickly created layers of Wind around her body where the dust would not flow. She cooled the dust rapidly by utilizing Water. This made the dust as hard as rock. She gradually equipped the dust to herself. She also ensured that the dust was thinner around her joints to avoid hindering her flexibility.
"I'm done" she said after doing everything I had told her to do.
"Well done. How does it feel?" I asked.
"I don't really feel the weight since it's not making direct contact with my body" Ciella said.
"That's because the hollows compose two thirds of the armour's mass. That offset the weight of the armour. This technique should be useful when dealing with Close Combat Types, some Medium Range Types as well as Lightning Affinity Types. It grants you Defensive Capabilities and an immunity to the 'Stun' Stat inflicted by Lightning. It also enhances your raw offensive power but might have an adverse effect on your centre of gravity due to the weight of the armour" I explained.
"It's good to know that there's a way to defend against the 'Stun' Stat however I don't think I want to focus so much on raw offensive power" Ciella admitted.
"That's understandable. I just thought it would be better for you to understand how to apply each element so that you would have a wider range of application and would not be defenseless when dealing with an adversary who has an affinity for a particular element" I said.
"I understand your concerns and I appreciate it. I will try to master this elemental affinity as well if only for that reason" Ciella said.
"Thanks. There are other applications as well. Advanced Earth Element Users have been known to grow Trees in virtually an instant. A very helpful technique when one finds themselves in harsh terrain but…let's not get into that just yet" I said with a laugh.
Ciella nodded with a smile.
"There's another way to equip Earth though this means is more for offense than defense. With this means, instead of focusing the Earth into armour you equip around your body, you transform the Earth into a multitude of Blades that orbit your body. You can control each Blade independently and since the Blades Orbit your body, you completely shut out Close Range Combat Type Adversaries. It's kinda like Concordia's Kraken Andromeda in its Dream Realm Border Wall Defense Mode. Why don't you give it a try?" I encouraged Ciella.
Ciella heated the Earthen Armour around her till it was Molten Hot. At that point, the armour began to disintegrate. She reaccumulated the dust in the form of sharp floating swords and cooled it rapidly.
"This time, I'll create hollows within the Swords where I'll store Air. This should make it easier for me to control the Swords in midair" Ciella said.
"You're beginning to get it" I said as I watched patiently.
"When the dust was completely cooled, sharp swords materialized and now floated around Ciella. She could control the Swords omnidirectionally by manipulating the air within the swords.
"Now this is a fighting style I can get used to" she said happily.
I smiled in contentment.