Sapphic Pigeon
SouffleGirl123
Nallore
Vicier
ThatLostDude
Fetzen
AlteredTundra๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ซ ๐
๐ฌ๐ฏ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ฒ๐ต
Interacting with: @Obscene Symphony, @Trainerblue192
As the bell sounded to indicate the end of lunch Lucan stood and glanced to his partner. "I will meet you in the arena after my bout, until then I'm going to go and enjoy a quiet stroll. I'm sure Aaron will be willing to stay with you." He inclined his head once again and then walked off. It was a tradition for him at this point, before any fight he liked to take the time to loosen himself up and mentally prepare himself and since the girl Athena seemed to be decent with martial skills he wanted to be ready for anything.
He took the long way to the Arena, enjoying the gentle breeze from the ocean air. It was a rather nice night and he found himself going over his various techniques and cadences while humming one of the songs he composed. As he arrived he could feel the air change around him and he gave a predatory grin to himself, this was home. This building was his temple of worship, the sand his prayer beads, and the sound of steel his hymns.
He was also expected as he approached the lower levels which would lead to the preparation rooms for students wishing to fight. An attendant welcomed him to the Arena and started his long-winded spiel before Lucan politely informed him that he was no stranger to the rules or the Arena itself. The man simply shrugged and pointed to the gate which would open and let the vampire into the arena. "Good luck." Lucan smirked to himself and nodded, good luck indeed.
After several minutes of waiting the gates opened, and Lucan knelt at the floor to pick up a bit of sand, which he poured over his hands, shaking them off right after and then walked out of the gate and into the arena floor.
The arena was calm as Lucan stepped inside. He walked slowly, taking it all in once again. He had seen the place before of course when he worked at the Academy, but every time he returned, he took the time to appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship. Raised stands surrounded the field and two doorways allowed Duelists to enter and prepare. Between the arena and stands was a dome shaped barrier that shined brightly, a precaution put in place to ensure spectators werenโt hurt by any stray spells when mages fought. A stand full of weapons sat right beside each door which let the fighters prepare while the arena master, a mage by the name of Dracion stood in the center, waiting to dull the blades of the fighters with his magic.
Gravel crunched under Lucโs feet as he stepped further inside, the gravel going all the way around the arena in a circle which would signify out of bounds should anyone happen to get that pushed back. The air was cool and thick with anticipation, as if the room itself knew that a fight was about to begin.
The freshman class, this their first time entering the arena, were shown around the stands and were given advice on which locations had the best views of the carnage. A few upperclassmen stood at the barrierโs beginning to explain what it was for and how it was created, the impressive feat using the magic of every professor and student who added power to it annually to create what is easily the strongest living barrier spell in existence. The fact that existing seniors also left a part of the their power inside so that every aspect was present and the dome was a part of the long history of the Academy.
Back on the field, Luc ignored the weapon rack as he stepped forward out of the gravel, his rapier and gauche already ready and waiting. As such, he simply strode to the middle, flicking out a handkerchief to dust his coat off. He seemed bored, yet also extremely confident. He nodded to Dracion respectfully and removed both of his weapons for the man to dull, replacing the knife right after while keeping his weapon of choice out and ready.
His opponent, the current Arena Guild President, Athena came a bit slower having picked up two twin scimitars from the weapon rack. She too carried herself confidently and seemed more than ready to put Luc into the dust. As her weapons were dulled she inclined her head to Luc who promptly ignored it and instead continued to wipe dust off himself and his weapons. It was a lost cause as the Arena floor was just to dirty and with a sigh the vampire simply replaced his kerchief and stared right ahead, his eyes briefly going to the mass of freshman watching and waiting for the fighting to begin.
With a reminder to keep the fight clean, and with no breaking of the rules Dracion backed away until he was standing a respectable distance out of the way. As soon as he was at that distance he raised a hand and yelled out. โBegin when ready!โ
Lucan stretched his arm out and walked in a circle with his eyes closed and senses in overdrive taking in this place of his worship and when they opened the violet had turned to a much darker and sinister color, the color of midnight, the very interior glowing almost like a star, shining from the soft light. Athena for her part did not back down, her own eyes going darker and a feral smile plastered itself onto her face. The two began circling each other, each one staring and preparing for the first movement.
In his mind, Luc began counting as if he were playing some instrument, and the music pounding inside his ears allowed him to keep a steady rhythm and pace should he require a fast change. Clink, clink, slash! And the first strikes were sent, a quick and simple set from Athena with both scimitars. Luc had parried both blades and then moved his head to the right side lazily as one scimitar slash came towards his face. Clink, clink, slash! The return from Luc with the same tempo and style Athena used, the sophomore parrying with either blade and then copying the same head movement to avoid Lucโs quick slash.
The opening movements were simple attacks meant to test an opponent and how they would respond but by mimicking each other neither gave away any information. A small hesitation as the two vampires stared at each other and then. Clink, clink, clink, clink. And the fighting began fully. The double scimitar attack forced Luc back three paces, before an amazing parry and feint gave the momentum back to the Bordeleaux who forced Athena back the exact same amount of paces. Back and forth it went for the next twenty seconds each one gaining and losing ground, Luc through a combination of feints and ripostes and Athena through her double strikes that didnโt seem to penetrate the defense Lucan had prepared.
It was apparent both vampires were enjoying themselves with the fight and having firm competition as Athenaโs smile was less feral and more impressed while Lucan had just the ghost of a smile which was everything if one knew him. After a particularly impressive block and riposte Athena chuckled a bit. โAh, youโre using Santiagoโs first defense against me eh?โ Luc inclined his head respectfully after parrying a scimitar slash and shrugged.
โI found it quite fitting, considering the open terrain yes.โ The vampire shook his head in amusement and the clinking sounds of blades meeting drowned out the voices as each vampire showed off a mastery of the blade.
โNaturally, youโll expect me to attack with Nero?โ Came Athenaโs reply as she did just that, attacking and expecting a quick hit with the changing style. It pushed Lucan back five paces but no attack landed and Luc simply changed styles as well and utterly countered her.
โNaturally, but Iโve found Valroux cancels out Nero, wouldnโt you agree?โ And the Bordeleaux would continue parrying each and every attack from either scimitar, the clinking once more drowning out the voices as the rapierโs insanely fast speed sent the woman back seven paces. Suddenly Athena changed styles again and the push back was instant, Luc forced to give up twelve paces as rapid fire stikes rained upon him.
โUnless one has studied their Boucher, which I have.โ The smile was growing on Athenaโs face as she continued to force Lucan back. The edge of the ring was approaching fast. Clink, clink, clink, clink, slash, clink, slash!
โYouโre quite amazing Athena, truly marvelous.โ
โIโve practiced quite hard to become so.โ The gravel ring signifying the out of bounds got closer and closer until Lucan trapped one Scimitar with his rapier and stopped the womanโs other hand with his own. โWait, why are you smiling?โ Lucan just let out a soft chuckle and spoke with a soft tenor.
โBecause I know something you donโt.โ The woman just laughed out loud and inclined her head.
โAnd what would that be?โ Luc suddenly untrapped her scimitar and used her own momentum to push her backwards where he then changed weapon hands to his right and slashed the air a few times.
โThat Iโm right handed.โ He let that sink in before launching into an elegant stance utilizing rapid fire lunges and a controlled willow like dodging pattern. His attacks caught Athena by surprise and she was pushed back, the fight having taken a turn and the lost ground Luc had given up was regained within ten seconds and both fighters were back to the center of the room.
Luc began changing styles after every five seconds. First he would attack with the Thibault. Athena blocks it. Then another attack with the Valroux. Athena loses a pace and backs away. Then another attack with the Mantovani. And his opponent loses one of her scimitars. Luc would stick to Mantovaniโs and its pure focus on feinting. Clink, clink, clink, clink, slice. Luc cuts off a lock of Athenaโs hair and the woman seems furious. Clink, clink, clink, slash, slice. Athena is pushed back eleven paces. The edge of the room is now quickly approaching for her. Clink, lunge! With no time to parry Athena is forced to drop her blade and jump to the right.
With mirth, Luc kicked the blade back to her and shrug. โAt least you gave it your all Madam President, no shame in losing to a superior swordsman.โ That got the intended effect and Athena launched herself at the male. Slash, slash, slash, clink, slash. The intensity of Athenaโs attacks were worth nothing and it made her sloppy which allowed Luc to simply dodge every attack, parry one, and then slice off another lump of hair. โNow now, getting mad wonโt help. In fact I think that was worse than my four year old brothers strikes.โ Murder entered the womanโs eyes and once again she launched herself at Lucan. Slash, slash, slash, slash, clink, clink, stab! With inhuman reflexes each and every slice of the scimitar was dodged and then parried once, twice, and instead of a parry, a quick riposte lunge caught Athena and her right sleeve was cut off entirely.
โDear me, I apologize but it was a rather disastrous wardrobe already, perhaps I did you a favor?โ The taunting was clearly getting to the President who screamed and charged like a wild animal. The slashing was wild and wide, easily parried and Luc continued playing with his food until with every attack Athena was screaming. Then something changed, Luc began attacking instead of defending. Lunge, lunge, slash, clink, clink, slash. The other sleeve of Athenaโs garb was cut off but her feral rage caused her to simply continue to slash wildly, but despite the ferocity the woman lost ground and tempo of the fight. The ferocity of Lucanโs attack soon proved to be to much for Athena to handle and with a feinting strike normal eyes couldnโt track Lucan had her blade pushed to the side and he rolled to the ground, swinging his legs and taking the womanโs feet out from under her and sending her crashing to the ground. Within an instant Lucโs blade was at her throat and she glared daggers before just shaking her head and simmering down which tends to happen rather quickly with the point of a rapier threatening to end your life.
Upon her defeat Lucan gave her a single nod in thanks for the bout and then offered her his hand, which she took. Luc helped her up and even patted some of the dust from her back and the two bowed to each other simultaneously. With the fight over Lucan turned back to the gate from which he entered and walked out of his place of worship.
