Due loved Elara's determination and impatience, finding her energy and eagerness a bit entertaining. "Welp, let's get started," he said, his tone holding a touch of playfulness. He paused for a moment, taking a moment to contemplate what training to start with. "Considering you're already adept in Interaction and Projection, let's start with Conversion. Conversion is all about manipulating your aura into specific shapes and forms. So, first and foremost, close your eyes.”

  Elara raised an eyebrow at Due's command but followed it nonetheless. She closed her eyes, standing still and waiting for the next instruction. The determination in her heart still burning strongly, ready for whatever training exercise Due had in store for her. "Okay, eyes closed," she remarked, her tone laced with slight anticipation. "Now what?”

  Due smiled at Elara's compliance, pleased with her response. "Now that your eyes are closed, try to focus on your body and aura," he instructed, his tone slightly more instructive. "Take a deep breath and reach out with your mind, feeling your aura within you. You should be aware of its presence, like it's a part of you, which it is. Now, I want you to imagine it changing shape. Imagine molding your aura like it's clay in your hands. What shape do you want it to form?" He paused, awaiting her response.

  Elara took a deep breath, following Due's instructions. She closed her eyes tightly and tried to concentrate on her aura, attempting to reach out to it and feel its presence within her. She then tried to focus on the task at hand, imagining her aura as if it were clay in her hands, capable of being molded and shaped in any way she wanted. A slight frown formed on her face as she concentrated on the task.

  After a moment, she spoke firmly. "I need it to become something that can capture the woman."

  Due smirked slightly at her response. "A capture tool, eh?" he remarked, his tone holding a touch of amusement. "That can definitely be possible, but we need to start with the basics. Focus on simple, small shapes first. It doesn't have to be complex or large-scale just yet. Just something manageable that you can successfully manipulate." He paused for a moment, watching her focus intently. "So, what small shape do you want it to be? Something simple. A stick? A ball? A knife? Anything like that.”

  Elara nodded, understanding Due's point. She knew that starting small and simple was the key. She took another deep breath and refocused her concentration, trying to clear her mind and focus on visualizing a simple shape.

  After a moment of intense concentration, a small but determined smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "I want it to form a lasso," she responded, her tone confident. "A lasso, strong enough to both capture that muscular woman without much trouble, and be used for offensive purposes. I want it to be like a restraint, a way to tie her up and immobilize her for a while, and a weapon all the same.”

  Due grinned at her response, finding her determination and practicality quite commendable. "A lasso, eh? Nice choice," he remarked, his tone holding a touch of pride. "It's not just a simple shape, but a very effective one. It would be quite useful for restraining and capturing someone, especially if you know how to use it right. Good choice." He paused, his smile growing slightly. "Now, focus on that image. Imagine the lasso forming in your mind, and then slowly try to manifest it in real time.”

  Elara took another deep breath, steadying herself and focusing her concentration once more. She thought about the image of the lasso forming in her mind, imagining every detail. As she focused on that image, a determined look appeared on her face. Little by little, the form of a glowing, ethereal lasso began to take shape in the air around her.

  She continued to focus intently on the rope, willing it to become more concrete and less ephemeral. Finally, a semi-solid, glowing lasso formed, its ethereal edges still flickering slightly but solid enough to be usable.

  Due watched with keen interest as the lasso started to take shape in the air, his expression holding a touch of approval. "Excellent, that's a strong start," he remarked, his voice laced with a bit of encouragement. "You've managed to manifest a semi-solid, glowing lasso. That's no easy feat. But the lasso is still a bit weak and flickering, yes?" He paused for a moment, giving her a moment to respond and potentially agree with his assessment.

  Elara took a moment to observe the state of the lasso herself, assessing its form and strength. It certainly looked solid enough for use, but as Due mentioned, it wasn't completely concrete yet, with the edges still flickering and the lasso appearing somewhat translucent. She nodded slightly, confirming his assessment. "Yeah, it's still a bit weak and flakey," she remarked, her tone laced with slight disappointment but determination. "It needs more focus and concentration.”

  Due nodded, acknowledging her self-assessment. "Precisely, that's exactly right," he remarked, his tone holding slight pride. "The lasso is quite close to materializing completely, but it still needs a bit more focus and concentration to fully solidify. But you're making great progress, and I'm pleased with that fact. So, keep focusing. Keep imagining the lasso solidifying, make it more opaque, more substantial. Don't let up or lose concentration. You're almost there."

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Elara took a deep breath and steadied herself once more. She knew that she was getting close, and she wasn't about to give up or lose focus now. She closed her eyes and focused again with a determined expression. "Alright," she remarked, her tone filled with renewed determination. "I won't lose focus. I've almost got it. I can feel it."

  She continued to concentrate, her mind and spirit focused on the task at hand. As her focus intensified, the lasso in her hands started to solidify more and more, the flickering stopping and the rope becoming more opaque.

  Due watched with bated breath as the lasso became more and more concrete and opaque, a smile slowly spreading on his face. "You're getting there, just a bit more," he encouraged, his tone holding a note of pride. "You're doing great. You're almost there, keep going. The lasso is almost completely manifested now. Just a small bit more effort and focus, and it'll become a solid, tangible object."

  Elara's determination flared in response to Due's encouraging words, and she focused even more intently on manifesting the lasso. The flickering in the rope had almost completely ceased now, with the lasso having solidified considerably.

  With a final, focused burst of energy and determination, the lasso finally became completely opaque and tangible. The glowing rope was now fully materialized, appearing as a solid, usable instrument. Elara, feeling elated, opened her eyes and observed the lasso with satisfaction, a slight smile appearing on her face. "I did it," she remarked, her tone laced with triumph and relief.

  Due grinned widely at the sight of the fully materialized lasso, his expression holding clear approval. "You've done it! Excellent job," he praised, his tone laced with genuine pride. "You have fully manifested the lasso, and it looks solid and potent. You should be proud of yourself for managing that. But the training is not done yet." He paused for a moment, watching her closely. "Now, try to manipulate the lasso. Move it around, control it like an extension of your will.”

  Elara felt a sense of pride and satisfaction wash over her as Due praised her achievement. She observed the solid, powerful lasso in front of her, realizing that she had successfully manifested it after focused effort. But, as Due pointed out, the training wasn't over yet. With new determination, Elara focused on the next step and attempted to control and manipulate the lasso, making it move according to her will.

  She focused on the glowing, tangible rope and attempted to make it move with her mind, hoping that it would respond to her commands.

  As Due watched with keen interest as Elara attempted to manipulate the lasso, his expression held a mix of curiosity and keen observation. "Good, you're doing well," he remarked, his tone encouraging. "Keep your focus on the lasso and try to manipulate it as if it were an extension of your body. Move it to your will. Try to make it move in various directions, or even wrap it around something, whatever you'd like. The goal is to get used to controlling it." He paused for a moment, giving her a moment to respond or act.

  Elara listened carefully to Due's instructions and focused all her energy on the lasso, determined to control it. She began by trying to make it move in various directions, like left, right, up, and down, just as Due suggested. It was a bit awkward at first, but with some effort and concentration, she managed to get the lasso to move in the directions she wanted.

  Feeling a bit more confident, she attempted something more complex - wrapping the lasso around a nearby chair, hoping it would work like Due suggested.

  As Elara successfully made the lasso move in various directions, Due watched with satisfaction, pleased with her progress. "Excellent, you're getting the hang of it," he remarked, his tone laced with approval. "Your control over the lasso is improving, and you're managing to make it move in the directions you want. You're also trying to do something more difficult - wrapping it around the chair. Very good. But you can do even better! Try to envision yourself wrapping up the muscular woman you're after, pretend the chair is her, and you're capturing her once and for all to avenge your fallen people slain by her hands!”

  Elara's eyes darkened at hearing Due's suggestion, trying to imagine herself as if she was wrapping the muscular woman with the lasso and capturing her once and for all. A vengeful look appeared on her face as she visualized this scenario, focused on the image of wrapping up the muscular woman. With that image in mind, she then threw the lasso at the chair with a newfound veracity and tightened it enough that the chair broke under the pressure exerted by the lasso.

  Due watched with interest as Elara successfully broke the chair with her lasso, impressed by her determination and focus. "Very good," he remarked, his tone holding approval. "I must admit, you've made good progress with the lasso and your skills. You've managed to move it effectively and even break that chair with its strength. You've definitely put in the effort."

  He paused for a moment, observing her closely. "But the training is just beginning, friend-o, for you have to work on manipulating the lasso over long distances. Time to work on your Projection skills!”

  Elara nodded firmly in response to Due's statement, determination still burning brightly in her eyes. "I'm ready for the next challenge," she responded, her tone unwavering. "I've gotten a bit used to manipulating my lasso now, and I want to test my limits even further. Having the lasso work over long distances, far away from me, sounds useful. I want to give it my all!"

  A hint of eagerness appeared on her face, eager to continue training and push her limits further. She turned her attention to Due, awaiting his instructions patiently.

  Due smiled at her determination, pleased with her response. "That's what I love to see," he remarked, his tone holding approval. "You're ready and eager for the next challenge. As you said, having the ability to use the lasso over long distances is quite useful, and that's what we'll work on now."

  He paused for a moment, gauging her excitement and focus. "The exercise we're going to be doing is a 'long-distance target' practice. Are you ready, my absolute prodigy of a student?”

  Elara's eagerness grew more palpable as Due explained the upcoming task, even calling her a prodigy. With determination filling her voice, she responded. "Absolutely, I'm ready. I want to learn how to control the lasso from long distances, so let's get started!"

  She clenched her fists, readying herself for the challenge, her eyes sparkling with anticipation and a burning determination to succeed.