After her lesson with Instructor Kendall, Isla trained her mana using the methods that the instructor taught her. She improved in her mana control and manipulation. Her activation of spells was faster than usual too, even if the difference was a mere half a second.
Meanwhile, in terms of aether, Isla studied what she could about aether and developed her own spells. The spell that summoned a myriad of mana orbs and chased her opponent—as lasers—was called Python.
This was because it chased its prey and coiled around it, attacking it from all sides, crushing the prey itself.
She developed another variation of Python called Fervent Sky. She would create a massive sphere of aether above her opponent and slam it down towards them. This is supposed to incapacitate the opponent, however, in the likely case that they dodge, Fervent Sky would divide into Python, shooting the target. The girl had one more skill she learned.
She tested out her skills in Ranked Battle and rose to the No.8 place with 1028 points after simply three battles. The only way she would be able to rise in rankings now would be to duel those above her.
Shou Murakami had 2330 points. He challenged an instructor to a duel and won 500 points as a reward. Aria Shinomiya had 1790 points following closely behind. With a mere three weeks left, Isla would be able to catch up to Aria, but not surpass her. The only way left was to challenge her to a duel. One where they would bet all of their points. That was the plan that Isla had in mind.
After lessons had ended and trainees had their free time, Isla went over to Instructor Kendall's classroom.
"Instructor Kendall."
"Ah, Isla, have you come to ask for a favour?"
"Yeah. Can I borrow the training grounds? I want to practice my new spells on targets."
Instructor Kendall whistled. She was not expecting Isla to come so soon.
(She's already mastered the use of aether? I know she only found out she was a Conqueror two weeks ago but she already has spells to use. Interesting...)
She smiled.
"Okay, but let me watch, that's the only way you'll use the training grounds."
"Uh, sure, then."
·———·
The manipulation of mana throughout the body was different from the manipulation of aether. Mana travelled through the channels of the body. It exited through the gates. Everyone had gates in their arms, legs and mouth. Streia could suck in mana from outside or from their core, which was near their heart. People who could not pass mana through their channels were called sealgate. It was as it implied—their gates were sealed.
Unlike the manipulation of mana, the manipulation of aether was different. Aether could be used, like mana, for protection and offence. Aether is an irregular particle. It could not access the channels or gates in the body, however, it travelled the body freely. Those who possess aether had to precisely control it, otherwise, if aether builds up more than the body can handle in a certain area, that part will burst.
(Aether can move freely around the body while mana moves through channels. I wonder how she figured that out. There aren't many books on sorcery, certainly not here, at least.)
Instructor Kendall crossed her arms and sat down as she watched Isla at the open training grounds.
She was at a shooting range—there were targets about fifty metres away from her, moving, side to side, at a steady rate.
"First, I guess I'll test Fervent Sky. I already know how to use Python."
Isla raised her hand towards the sky; a blinding light illuminated the saffron sky. It was a large orb of aether. Wind converged and circulated the orb.
"Impressive. She's been using aether unconsciously until two weeks ago but it seems like she's a master now."
"Instructor Kendall! When I slam this into the target, can you put a barrier around it?! Make it bigger than the orb!"
"Oh, sure."
Isla slammed the orb of aether down at the moving target, immobilising it between the ground and the orb itself. The instructor put up a barrier of mana around the orb of aether. She glanced over at Isla, intrigued, wondering what was to come.
"Now, as I disperse it..."
The orb exploded and a multitude of tiny dots of aether bounced around the barrier.
Isla grinned.
"It worked."
"Nice,"
The woman sitting on the bench began clapping. She released the barrier. The ground, that was in the barrier, was destroyed by the Fervent Sky spell.
(A powerful spell. Nice range too. I'm sure she dialled the power down a little bit but it's still impressive.)
"Now, for the next spell..."
"I wonder what she has in store next."
·———·
After training her aether, Isla went straight to the cafeteria. She wanted to talk to someone who was patrolling.
"Ah, Yusaka-senpai,"
"Isla, I told you just to call me Yusaka. Anyway, do you need anything?"
"You cut your hair, right? Could you cut mine?"
Yusaka seemed confused by her sudden request.
"Wait, me? Cut your hair? Are you sure?"
"Yes, I feel like I need a change of style."
After her duty as a patrol ended, she invited Isla to her room and put her in a chair. She grabbed a pair of scissors and a razor.
"Do you know how to properly cut hair? I thought you didn't."
Isla stated. Yusaka grumbled.
"Why did you ask me then?"
"I was just expecting you to cut most of it off then I would have styled it myself."
"Ow!"
The black-haired girl yanked Isla's hair, getting her scissors ready.
"You know, just for that, I'll give you the best haircut I can give."
"Wait, what are you—!"
From that moment, for the next hour, Yusaka focused on cutting Isla's hair. She cut her hair short. Yusaka styled her hair into two parts with a middle part. Her bangs dangled down to her chin.
In her frustration, Yusaka even dyed the tips of Isla's hair black, followed by pink and purple. It was a flashy hairstyle but it worked for Isla.
It changed her entire look. She looked less like a girl yet somehow looked far more beautiful than before. Isla also became somewhat handsome with that hairstyle.
"I look... strange. It's almost as if I'm looking at someone else completely."
The girl commented, looking at herself in the mirror.
"Ah, right, Instructor Kendall told me about you being an Irregular. I never thought there'd be one in the Secret Force."
"Huh? She told you?"
"Yeah, I was her favourite student when I was a trainee, you see."
Isla did not know. She chuckled, knowing that the instructor had a favourite student.
"So, have you gotten used to aether?"
"I guess. It was easier than learning mana. I was in the training ground with Instructor Kendall before I came here."
"Was she impressed?"
Yusaka teased her. Isla winced as she thought back.
"It was hard to tell, I mean, I destroyed the training grounds."