[center][h1][color=silver]Lucas[/color][/h1][/center] [hr] [center][h3]Watching the others[/h3][/center] [hr] This definitely did not happen the first time, he'd definitely remember if half the family had decided to challenge in one day. Perhaps it was Vincent's decision that inspired them, but why would Vincent do that, did someone suggest it as a cruel prank, feeding him the name of a supposed 'easy target' (a description that did not fit Bennet, even if his swordsmanship pales in comparison to his boot licking). Lucas was therefore decidedly shocked when Vincent cracked Bennet's nuts and proceeded to savage him. 14 year old Vincent was supposed to still be nice, not fight like a demon (literally, you do not want to fight goblins without an armoured codpiece). Isana too seemed to have changed, they'd never been close, but he remembered a rather withdrawn woman, daggers are certainly an unusal weapon, how anyone could stand the lack of reach he will never know. The Ophelia decided that Vincent apparently wasn't going to be the strangest thing to happen today and challenged Sherry, who he's pretty sure would have kicked any of their arses the first time around. And she wins, decisively. Rodin's fight he watches closely, his cousin was a frequent sparring partner the first time around, being close in age and both pursuing the path of a guisarmier, and he was fighting very differently. There were signs of experience, the kind of conservation of energy that let a man keep fighting when the bodies were piling high, but the stronger swings had to be magic, not a skill Lucas had ever cared for (but then that applies to far more things than it should), but his cousin uses it well. [hr] [center][h3]Arena[/h3][/center] [hr] Auxentius Bardas was still a solid inch taller than Lucas at this point, an arrogant smirk was already on his face as he pushed his black hair away from his face with one hand and hefted his longsword with the other. "Not even waiting for classes to start before getting thrashed this year Lucas?" [i]Oh, I remember why I hated this little shit now[/i] Lucas' face remains neutral, his reply, less so [color=silver]"You know, I was just looking for someone moderately competent to demonstrate my own improvement against, but I think you could use a good beating yourself, now shut up and fight."[/color] It's immediately clear as Auxentius' sword clashes into the haft of Lucas' weapon that the older boy is stronger, still, his movement was predictable, and Lucas stance easily transfers the force to the ground without moving. It reminds him of an Orc really, strong, but certainly not his equal in skill, he'll have to remember that comparison for next time he's dragged into a childish exchange of insults, he never was good at thinking of those on the fly. Lucas nearly lets a cut land on his arm before he remembers that he's not wearing armour today, this forces him to move from the spot, stepping backwards. Then Lucas decides to go on the offensive, at first Auxentius keeps up, deflecting each blow, but Lucas' form is impeccable, each strike flowing into the next, each step forwards firm, a feint low finally lets a swing through, a solid strike to the lower arm, though not enough to win the fight with these weapons. That seems to give his opponent the confidence to start talking "If that's the best you can do, then you're wasting my time." Trash talk has no place on a real battlefield, so Lucas seizes the slight distraction and thrusts the unprotected blunt end at his foot, getting a satisfying CRUNCH. To his credit, Auxentius doesn't immediately fold, but each wince as Lucas forces him to put weight on it is an opening to be mercilessly exploited and a thrust to the throat soon leaves him gagging for air with his word on the ground. When the referee declares the match won Lucas walks away without a word, heading towards the section of the stands his half-siblings occupy, something is going on, and he's going to find out what. It'd be nice to not ignore each other until they drift so far apart he doesn't even recognise them this time.