[@Xavier Bloodbayne]

[i]Auz climbed to his feet, but couldn't speak immediately. He had to get his wind back. He could only make throaty whistling noises as he sucked in air. Why had he been given time to recover? What was with the mid-fight banter? After several seconds he recovered and looked up into Xavier's eyes. [/i]

[color=9e0b0f][b]*zap*[/b][/color]

[i]It hit him like a jolt of hot electricity, igniting a deep flame inside his ribcage. Some say there is such a thing as love at first sight. Maybe, maybe not, who can say? It wasn't a bolt of electric love that hit Auz though. It was battle-lust, the realisation that he had met a like-minded individual; another combat aethetist who lived only for bloodsport. 

Call it what you want. At the core, it was simply the meeting of a strange and rare breed of true companions. The kind of companions that more often than not meet only once in a lifetime, because that lifetime has been dedicated to the pursuit of strength and violence. Rivals, worthy opponents, soul enemies...[/i]

[color=6ecff6]"On your toes? You'll be a regular ballet dancer when I'm through with you."[/color]

[i]Auz raised his longsword in both hands, sliding his left leg back and keeping a shoulder's width parting between his feet. He advanced two paces and, afterwards with a yell, the tip of his blade darted out towards Xavier's midsection. A surprisingly straightforward attack...[/i]