[1v1] Fourth is Final (Soren/Lan)

[ramenli]

His encounters with insanity, especially after the fog filled house they had went to, were grating on him in small, subtle ways. Ways that he hid of course, that he would not let anyone know about. He was a Guardian, if he chose to stay silent about something wild horsemen could not drag it out of him.

But it bothered him, knowing that he was almost obsolete, knowing he was being depended on by others. He was simply used to looking out for two people, Astridr and himself, and now there were others and he had to be strong for them. He could not let his weakness show again and again.

So he was back to training, intense, focused, taking out his worries on the training dummies, face set in a grim and determined look. He hated training like this, and knowing that he was going to have to buckle down and do this on a regular basis was only a small annoyance, but at least it was a distracting one.  

[ramenli]

Soren let out an angry growl of pain as an arrow lodged in the upper portion of his back. He rounded on his opponent, eyes taking someone that almost seemed a stranger in. Then he noted her hair and she registered. It was...unheard of really, to see the noble in that state. But her little trick had not exactly amused him.

He began to make his way toward her, voice calling out as he drew near and summoned his khopesh. "Our rematch?" he assumed, and while he still seemed out of range he threw the blade, the curved sword turning over in the air as he closed the gap.

HP: 35
Damage: 8  

[ramenli]

His khopesh dissipated after it buried itself in her shoulder, but the damage was obvious. At least it was not "good" robes he was ruining, maybe she had simply had finally obtained the sense to wear suitable clothes to the training grounds.

She seemed different though. Focused perhaps? It was better than her just being flustered around him, but it bothered him. This almost did not seem like the Lan he knew, and so while he moved after her, trying not to let her get the distance she wanted, he did not get close enough to land a blow. "How so?"

HP: 33
Damage: Eyed  

[ramenli]

Back to her rules of Conquest then, truly not that different. She was determined to get down to the bottom of things, to learn each part of her clan?

Her clan did not have Guardians.

"Death will stand after Conquest," he said, a light challenge as he dodged past the bullet, khopesh summoned as he moved forward, the tip of his weapon barely catching her as he lashed out.

HP: 33
Damage: 1  

[ramenli]

He had used his blade for distance, she used her bow for close combat. They were beginning to adapt with their spars. And perhaps the fact that as he lashed out again and again barely clipped her was telling that they were starting to figure each other out, though her next blow would probably be powerful and all but erase that thought from his mind.

"The last shall be first." A human saying, but fitting for Death.

HP: 32
Damage: 2  

[ramenli]

Her scolding was almost tiresome, over a simple little phrase and she kept trying to stay out of his reach.

But regardless of her intentions she had created an opening for him and he took it, physically and verbally. His blade carved back to cut her as he spoke, a faint trace of amusement in his voice, just a tiny hint of superiority that she would probably find irritating. "That why you sought me? A 'better' to teach you?"

HP: 32
Damage: 4  

[ramenli]

Soren did not blush as Lan did, but he did scowl slightly at the idea he would take any lessons from Mengyao. That hurt more than the stabbed blow did, though it did hit him with more power than he would have liked.

"Just admit I make a good partner," he said as he jabbed at her with the hilt of his blade. There was no real reason to make her admit it, other than that bringing out her emotions normally affected the battle, though not always in a good way. And of course, her emotions were not predictable, for all he knew something said to annoy her would have her flustered or raging mad just as easily.

HP: 26
Damage: 3  

[ramenli]

Judging by her reaction she had caught on to a few of his word choices, but really, he had told her he was not interested, and he was not. Just a moment of confusion for her. But taking advantage of that during battle? All was fair in love and war, and the tiniest hint of a smirk played across his lips.

Knowing she was aware, knowing there was an edge he could press, a possible weakness he wanted to be more hands on. His khopesh gone he reached out with his gauntleted hand, the hard metal connecting solidly.

HP: 25
Damage: 7