Markus stood in front of a pretty big crater he created with just one strike. He felt proud. He felt powerful. He also felt tired already.
"Your breathing changed already?" Bailey asked, surprised.
Markus began to breathe harder, a sign of essence consumption. He passively replenished, literally from breathing, however, this meant that from just two body enhancements, a wind bullet and a wind blast, he had consumed a pretty big portion of his essence.
"You're pathetic you know! I told your headmistress you would be back next month but at this rate- I can't send you back like this! You will bring disgrace to yourself and to me! Ugh!" Bailey exclaimed in frustration.
She thought for a few moments.
"New plan. Essence training first thing, then physical. You will spend the afternoon studying and the evening using whatever essence you have left after half a day or recovery. Double the training experience should work…" she schemed with a malicious fire in her eyes.
Markus seemed to disassociate already.
"Get to it kid. You have a month left before you go back, do you plan to let those brats bully you again? Have you not had enough humiliation for a lifetime? Get strong and dominate! That is your destiny as an imperial vessel!" The voice encouraged, pushing his thoughts into a different mindset.
'You… you're right… ugh but this is going to suck-' Markus groaned inwardly.
The day was not nearly over as he did physical training, mainly focused on stamina. Then he picked up a book in two months. Bailey was not only strong but quite smart. One did not advance to be an elite with brawn alone.
Then in the evening right before dinner they stood face to face.
"To get used to enhancing your body with essence, I want you to release essence in a region at a time. One arm at a time, core, one leg at a time, neck and head. Feel what it is like to have one region enhanced and another to be normal. In a battle, you may need to release short bursts of essence to your arm to block an attack but that will throw your balance off unless you know to adjust ahead of time." Bailey taught him.
Markus followed the instruction standing still and then he began to move around. When he walked and only one leg was enhanced, the enhanced leg moved faster and caused him to slip and do a split, pulling his hamstring.
Somewhere in the forest birds flew from trees as a banshee-like scream resounded through a supposedly desolate area, scaring them away.
After a sore night and a cold leg, Markus was up again, training his essence. Despite only having recently started, his essence activation was faster. Sharper. And strangely, from feeling stiff he felt light. As if not being enhanced placed a ball and chain on his legs.
After a week of the same routine, Bailey finally moved him on.
"So far, you've done internal flow. How about you try external flow?" she indicated to her hand which was releasing a red aura, moving and fluctuating as if a bubble of water was stuck to her hand and incapable of being burst.
"Finally!" Markus expressed
"Settle down- this is much harder. When you release a wind blast, it is essentially this but much calmer and slower. Moreover, it must be your intent to let it out but to remain within your grasp." she instructed
Markus focused on the feeling and tried to let essence seep out and take shape
"It is pointless to try it like that kid. Instead release from all your fingers and swirl your hand around, your essence will flow together and surround your hand. It will help you get the feeling down." the voice advised him.
Markus decided to trust his instructor. She had not failed him yet and seemed to not be as creepy as the voice within.
"Suit yourself." The voice said as Markus tried Bailey's method.
He slowly released but it was still too fast. He knew it was about to explode so he reinforced his legs and core, allowing him to withstand it.
"You– hmm. You rushed it… but good job reacting in time and reinforcing your body. I was not expecting you to react so quickly." Bailey said, unsure if she should be mad or happy he was finally learning but still making mistakes. Both. Both were good.
Markus went back at it. He tried to slowly release but he felt the essence rush out too quickly. With an inward sigh her swirled his hand around and the mono-directional essence flew in a circle. He began to release essence from all his fingers and kept swirling.
A strange feeling emerged around his hand, as inwardly he felt his muscles and even bones enhanced… but outwardly, it were as if he was both protected and offered a weapon. A malleable weapon. It was mentally tiring to maintain this shell, but it was there.
"Se…cond try..?" Bailey said as she grew baffled. This was something she struggled to understand for several days before she could even grasp it. Tens if not over a hundred failed attempts!
And he got it on his second try.
'Just who is this kid… the coincidences are increasing. First he has been approved for the training. Second, he has a massive essence reserve. Third, he quickly grasps abstract principles. He learned body augmentation quite quickly but I've seen such talent. Essence shell however… nobody instinctually does it. Nor do they think of this on their second try. I don't like this one bit.' Bailey thought as Markus obliviously looked at the essence shell he created.
"Ahem- not bad. You can go wash up then, we will pick it up tomorrow. You may be able to manifest a weapon soon." Bailey said, dismissing him.
Markus let go and exhaled, as if he was underwater and came up for air now.
"Haha! Yes! I am so going to get back at those bastards!" Markus exclaimed in joy as he went to the cabin.