[center][img]https://i.ibb.co/JKbh9kP/fckr.png[/img]
[sub][color=lightgray]Mentions:[/color] [@Yukitamas][@SSW][@Gracefully][/sub]
[sub][h3][color=lightgray]Location:[/color] District V - River Bank[/h3][/sub]
[sup][color=gray]__________________________________________________________________[/color][/sup][/center]So he missed - no, that wasn't quite right. It wasn't that Rider had missed, but that the spear hadn't hit her. How could that be so? With the mist disbursed for that brief moment and Rider's eyes unobstructed, he drank in everything he could see. The water, dark and stirring, and across it on the other bank the crater his spear had left as it tore through trees and smashed into the icy road running parallel to the river. The other servant's fair features, tousled hair, and her inconvenienced expression. The revelation of just how the attack hadn't connected.

The hint of a smile graced Rider's face. He didn't need to say aloud what he'd learned this time. She already knew.

Now how to proceed? Those that wielded magecraft could be tricky indeed, but surely she would be no match for him in a contest of strength. In that case the correct answer was to move in close. Rider took barely a step forward before the ground at his feet sprang into new life, catching him at the ankles and growing higher.

[i]Ah...[/i] yes, tricky indeed. When he wrenched a leg free of the plants more quickly grew in to reclaim their grip on him. They were growing large, squeezing, but ultimately it was another defense tactic, not something truly meant to harm. 

[color=violet]"Do you always play around like this?"[/color] Rider muttered, tearing himself free of the wood and vines with his bear hands and hopping back a few feet, watching them curl and continue reaching for him. By then the fog had rolled back in, and Caster was obscured again, hiding herself just as she hid her experimental intentions. It wouldn't help her. Rider narrowed his eyes, expanded his lungs, and... 

He blinked, finding only the scent of flowers. Strong petal and pollen wafted around the area. [i]Clever.[/i] It was only natural she'd learned something of him too, after all. However, his strategy hadn't changed at all. Advance. Close the distance... even if he was, currently, at a disadvantage. He couldn't easily locate Caster anymore, and she was waiting for him in the river, her element as it seemed. If he dove in blindly she would have even more of an upper hand now. Then again... wasn't that what heroes did? Walk boldly into the traps laid for them? 

He moved, shooting past the rapidly growing vegetation. It lashed out to seize him again but was too slow, only scraping his legs as he propelled himself towards the river, and the last place he'd seen his opponent. He would reach her in an instant. He'd be in deep if she'd moved, or otherwise prepared a counter for him, but he could fight his way out of a predicament like that, he had to believe that. He could win, even in the worst of situations, and this was far from that. He was [i]Bellerophon[/i], a mighty hero. 

He brought his arms up, his hands poised as claws to take Caster on directly - or perhaps in position to summon another weapon to aid him, but he didn't get the chance.

Another scent reached him, cutting through the frost and floral smells that surrounded the area. Sharp, stinging. Blood.

Rider cut his dash short, grinding to a halt and all but ruining the river's bank. Where he stopped at the water's edge fell apart with the force of his reversal, collapsing into the river. He'd wanted to face Caster a little longer, see what she could really do, but if his master died that wouldn't be possible. Now, the battle was over in one way or another. He was between her and their masters, and by changing course towards them she would have to leave her safe haven of the river, or risk her master's life.

In the next moment Rider was beside the dueling masters. Or, the once-dueling masters. That fight had come to a close, the Eastern woman coming out on top. He took in the state of Lauchme, the wounded and ruined hand that hand summoned Rider there, even if indirectly. [color=violet]"Already, master?"[/color] 

Did he feel sympathy for his master? ...not really, no. The man had made a great fuss about how weak he was, and yet he was participating in this dangerous game. In the future, Rider would have to keep a better eye on him. Rider spared his master's opponent just a simple glance, but his hands were still tensed and battle ready. Compared to the man she'd just been fighting, Rider could rip her apart in seconds. But... it seemed she'd chosen not to be an immediate danger, and slaughtering a woman in any other circumstance... where was the decorum in that?