The Shadows' Favored (Puck)

OoC: Part of me wanted to wait to do this battle after HR was finished and I could give Cadenza her post-HR upgrades, but I didn't have the patience to wait until then. X3 We can always battle again after that. ;P

(Also, let me apologize in advance for sticking some of Cadenza's world's backstory into this, but it seemed like a good place to do it, and a nice opportunity to set up a future storyline of mine. I hope you like it--or at least don't mind. ^^;; )

IC:
When the gypsies of the Earth were nomadic, as they still were on many other Earths, they began to make observations about the world during their extensive travels. Their scholars began to note universal constants; these were not like those of gravity and biology, but constants of the nature of magic and about the elements each wielder of magical energies was born with a bond to. Despite greatly differing genetics and environments, they learned that the same basic elements appeared, and magic developed in similar stages and behaved in similar ways all across the globe.

In these old times, the gypsies came to explain this with the idea of gods—immaterial forces, more commonly called “spirits”, whose energies composed the world and the magic within it. It was said that these spirits rarely ever appeared to any one individual, but rather guided their people’s lives and created the magical energy that coursed through their veins. Often there was an event in a magically-inclined human’s life that indicated which spirit was aligned with them; the others lived their lives unaware of their patron deity, but were helped by them all the same.

These beliefs were carried down through the ages, recorded first in the gypsy language, and then the Old Rubatoian spoken in the land where many of the gypsies made their first sedentary settlements. They were taught to and followed by generations of magic-users, who respected and obeyed the tenets that were passed down with this knowledge.

One of the core tenets of the gypsies’ tradition was that any one magic-user should not strive for mastery of their element; the practice of training in spells granted to others of one’s same element, or of learning more skills than those that one learned naturally was seen as a sacrilege and an attempt to rival the spirits’ power. Most of the magical community followed these rules to the letter, and dared not share their knowledge; others tried to defy the tenets and amass skills, but were consumed and corrupted by their own lust for power.

Cadenza Madrigal, descendant of the line of the Navarre gypsies on her maternal side and an innate shadow magic-user, did not fit into one of either of these cases. Her collecting of additional spells stemmed from a desire to avenge her family, something still very much in keeping with Rubatoian and gypsy tradition, but she had grown far too strong in the shadow arts for her actions to be ignored altogether by the spirits. She was a person of great interest to the spirit of shadow; she was deeply entrenched in magic and it ran pure and potent in her veins; she had access to other worlds and universes, and was a respected figure in the great Dome that connected them all; and she was a gypsy who had familial connections to gypsies aligned with other elements. She could not simply be left to her own, nor weakened by any power the spirits possessed—she had elevated to a level beyond their reach, and it was a concern that could not be left unaddressed any longer.

And so, the only choice was to try and assimilate her and make her a part of the very spirit of shadow itself, returning her energies to the world. But, problem was, Cadenza was not a woman known for her cooperativeness. The attempt would have to be made when she could be taken unknowingly.

Like in her sleep.
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The wooden table rattled with the force of an earthquake, and Cadenza’s chin knocked against it twice with a bony thud before she was roused rudely awake. Her eyes turned skyward to see the disc of a faint moon shining wanly down upon the landscape. Beside her, her dragon Avello was in the throes of a nightmare, and his mighty tail struck the underside of the picnic table with thunderous blows.

Sluggishly, she nudged him with the toe of her boot and frowned at him when he finally came about.

“Quit shaking the table or I’ll cut your tail off. There was a guy back in Agra that was interested in buying it—I’m sure I could still find him.”

The dragon gave a feeble whine of protest and cuddled his tail close to his wildly-thumping chest, where his heart still beat feverishly from his frightful dream.

“So we both fell asleep after the Malmquists left, eh? I thought I told you to keep watch while I got a little rest.”

Avello gave another defensive whine as his master narrowed her eyes at him.

She laughed and her glare relented. “I’m surprised they didn’t take the bounty back from me while we slept—they could have had their man killed and their money back in hand.”

Avello gave something very close to a human shrug.

“Well, I guess people who ask to make their deals at picnic tables aren't the brightest of the lot, huh? No loss on our part, though. Anyway, come on, we should be going.”

As the gypsy gathered her belongings, a strange feeling began to come over her; there was an odd, pervasive sense that the place where she stood now was not the place where she had fallen asleep hours before. It was similar, no question about that, but there was something…different, about it all; a full moon was in the night sky, but hours before, when she was conducting her business with the cattle traders, she could have sworn it was a bright, waning crescent; the tree the bench rested near was originally one with full, lush green leaves, but now it bloomed with blushing cherry blossoms; and the very bench itself where she had slept had been distinctly reddish in color before, but now it was unmistakably the hue of an old oak.

Something was undeniably amiss.

Skepticism coloring her every action, Cadenza called over her dragon and began walking down the path on foot that she had flown over before, trying to retrace her steps. If this world was truly a mirrored version of the place where she had fallen asleep, as she now suspected, then the road she was following should wend its way back to a town where she could get some more answers.

Master and beast hurried along without event across the rolling plains until they came to an old bridge stretched across a frothing river. There was no river in the world she had left, and while at first it seemed to simply be a trick of the light, a closer look revealed that the water gushing under the rickety wooden bridge was black.

It was absorbing all of the moon’s pale light.

Warily, Cadenza and Avello continued across this river and to the path that resumed a few meters down a small hill. They hadn’t been walking for much longer when they came to a fork in the road; dividing the two branches of gray, sandy path was a purely black, adamantine blade that swooped up from where it was lodged in the earth like a pirate’s cutlass with a great, basket-shaped, defensive crossguard that would protect much of a human’s hand. The sword gave off a pulse of magical energy, its effect much like a sort of pheromone beckoning the gypsy and dragon closer; and as they drew nearer, the words “Conquistatore da Luz”—“Conqueror of the Light” in Old Rubatoian—could be seen gleaming brilliantly in the center of the curving blade, glowing with a dark energy that could only be seen by those who could see perfectly in the night.

Cadenza’s hand gripped the sword and pulled it from the ground—and as it whipped up and struck something unseen before it, she was instantly drawn into the blade itself, as if she had used her skill to jump into the shadows without being conscious of it. She emerged at the tip of the blade in a matter of nanoseconds, finding herself on the other side of a once-invisible barrier that had blocked both forks of the path. Avello still stood on the other side.

“Go back to the Dome—I’ll create a door for you.”

The dragon gave a cry, as if to ask, “What about you?”

“I refuse to leave without finding out where this is and how I came here. But there’s no reason you should be stuck here with me, so head back and take the bounty money to my rooms.”

Avello gave another squeal of protest, but it was in vain; within minutes, he was leaving this strange world of shadow through a door that materialized at the mouth of the old bridge.

His master, however, forged on. The first crimson rays of morning were peeking out over the horizon now, but the blade in her hand remained as dark and powerful as ever. She walked for hours, not seeing a soul, and didn’t come to a stop until she reached the ridge that overlooked the town.

Or what had been a town.

Twilight was approaching and bathed the scene before her in a glowing, violet light; evening had come far quicker than she imagined, only four hours after day had dawned at most. It seemed time passed quickly here.

And yet, the scene before her complicated matters even more; crumbling, Greco-Roman style columns built on an expanse of marble lined the clearing before Cadenza, drawing a perimeter around a strange mix of Egyptian white stone obelisks and Greco-Roman pavilions scattered about the tile-covered space. Every inch of stone was open and subject to the weather, light, and shadow, and appeared older than history itself; and in the center of this ancient group of architectural marvels was a battlefield drawn out in a black, conté-like substance that didn’t smudge when the gypsy’s boot slid over its surface.

It’s obvious that this all was laid out for me—there was the sword with Old Rubatoian, and then the barrier, and now this…a battlefield standing in the same spot where the town I was searching for once was. The only question is: why?

OoC: If any of that confused you, let me know. <_<

OOC: I think I understood >_<, Sorry if I seem to be rambling at parts, I just like rambling XD:

BiC:

The essence of the shadow is not that of darkness. While the everlasting darkness, though brother to the shadows that creep along side us, they are not the same. The Darkness, is always assimilated with evil, and thus with the horrors of life, and the absense of light, in a usually unnatural, or chaotic way. While the aspect of creation known as 'shadows” lives in conjunction with the light, as a reflection of the world if you will. As the sun grants light upon the world, and all its masses, the shadows are formed as the rays of light energy hit a object such as a Human, and subsequently place that humans figure on the ground, in a darkened form, and as such Shadow's cannot Truly be evil, unless we as humans claim ourselves to b evil.

No there is in fact the problem when talking about the nature of the world, with the metaphorical shadow. A shadow is in excess the same as what produces the shadow, with the use of light, therefor a Shadow is only as good, or evil as the thing casting it. Now those who live, with, and in the shadows, are often hunted as “evil” beings, now this is not true. As I have so explained for when those who have shadows in their veins, appear to be evil, it is only because the balance of the world, the eternal spectrum of good, and evil has shifted to the evil side, so in turn those who hunt the shadow's they call 'evil” are in fact are the only ones guilty of such a crime.

Then on the other hand the spirits who control the shadows then try to seek balance, and when they feel that people who have too far indulged into the shadows, so much they match the spirits themselves, they should be brought into them, till eternity, and sleep. Those who are only reflections of the living world, often give it, the world, a dark tone by their own actions, and this only adds to the shadow spirits reasoning. All must be in balance, and the world should know well enough of its actions without other interference. In the end all beings only want peace, how, and when they achieve this is entirely up to the person, and persons pending.


In the blanket of the suns shadow, a singular figure rustled endlessly. It had been a long time since he found sleep, and though ever once in a while he wished for it, his mind was usually content with his dreamless world. Life is much easier without dreams after all. Of course then the obvious question is why is he trying to sleep at all, or in reality, why is he resting when he knows that sleep had lost all favour for him? The answer should be obvious, and that is his companion, and friend, Maria, unlike him she needed sleep in order to function, and well live.

And as usual with stories of all kind, this one had something unusual happen (if nothing out of the ordinary happened, then this story would be long, boring, and pointless). As the man who cloaked himself in black stared at the cloudy night sky, he casually blinked his eyes, and when again they did open, that sky was a lit with stars. Even the moon which before had been curved in the o-so famous quarter moon style, was now positioned in a full moon shape shinning its reflected sun down upon the darkened world illumination it.

Now to a normal human being at the dead of night they probably wouldn't have noticed the subtile difference, however Tsuukai, who by all means was observation noticed immediately. It wasn't even the moon, and stars that caught his attention (though he did make note of them) as he sat up in wonder. It was something else, a disturbance in the world around him, though he couldn't put his finger on it, he knew something was drastically wrong.

Twisting his body, to check on his companion, he found quite possible the meaning of the disturbance, as his partner, Maria, was no wheres to be found, only folded down grass that seemed to match her description. With a heavy sigh, more of annoyance then worry (as he knew Maria was capable of taking care of herself in nearly every situation) he got to his feet, and looked around. Something seemed amiss, it was like the world he was looking at didn't fit the mental picture he had made earlier, as if he was in some foreign land.

Of course there is the other hand, where this world did seem to have the same hue, or vague description that the other had. Grassy fields lined with great oaks, Maybe he had just remembered I wrong, or never looked at it from this angle...impossible. He had a keen eye for observation and if it really was this different, he would have caught on, “I suppose I am to go somewhere,' he mused to himself. Obviously someone, or something had set this up, and expected him to do something, what he didn't know but that in essence is entirely irrelevant.

Taking a few casual step forward, he made sue to take note of everything, then taking ore, and more he began a slow walk backwards the way he had came. If his suspicions where correct the answer to the disturbance would be found be returning the way he had came, of course that was only a guess. As he walked swiftly down the dirt path he made careful note to not leave any foot prints, if this was a trap then it may help.

The path was straight, and narrow, only turning when a thicket of trees blocked its path, then it turned and continued straight. As he walked further he got to a fork in the road, or more a sword in the road. There before him shimmering with an unearthly white light was a long white double edged blade. Its length was at least six feet tall, and it looked like something of the gods. Of course the master of Shadows, as he was called, saw this weapon as an interesting phenomenon, but when his hand reached out to grab the blade that seemed to call for, it vanished a second before he could reach it, “What?” He murmured to himself at the odd apparition, a mirage, no that's physical impossible, maybe a vision. Whatever it was, it didn't matter, for when he looked at the two roads that split off the main one he already knew which one to take.

Simply taking the right path, he was already conscious of the barrier that seemed to surround the road, simple enough he slipped into the shadows, and simply emerged, A test? Perhaps but if this was et up for me, surely they would know it wouldn't work. Never the less... Turning to the road ahead of him he once again continued down the seemingly endless road. As he walked he noticed that the sun seemed to move at an accelerated pace, by his mental calculations almost three times as fast, as the sun was above him when he finally reached where he was going.

A large Greco-Roman style ruin, complete with large pillars, and a battle field drawn in black. Surely this is where he was supposed to be there was no questioning that fact, but what was he supposed to do? He could not answer. For the best he decided to wait, and with a jump he landed smoothly atop one of the large pillars, and sat crosslegged waiting for whatever it was he was supposed to wait for.

It was nearly night when she came, a women engulfed by shadows, almost, if not more then he was. Undoubtable she was why he was there, standing up, he called out to the young women, who seemed to be surveying the surroundings, “So...I suppose you are the one I am to wait for?”

OoC: The rambling was good! ;P

IC:
The gypsy had heard the dark figure atop one of the looming, Egyptian-style pillars call out to her, but she didn't respond; her mind was too abstracted by the sudden, abandoned feeling that crept through her as she approached the battleground, sending chills up her spine. It felt like gravity itself had left her, or breathable air--one of those external constants a person would take for granted until it was stolen away, and they were left to a terribly disorienting experience without.

On an impulse that strangely seemed to come from outside her body, Cadenza glanced at the cutlass she still grasped in her hand; and as it whirred and rang with the sound of the wind resounding off its surface, a realization passed through her mind; the presence she had become conscious of since she had awakened in this world, and had only become more conscious of since she found the sword and came to this battlefield, was, without question, a gypsy spirit. It was as familiar to her as anything could be—it was the force that had guided her throughout her twenty-nine years of life, from Rubato, to the Dome, and everywhere she had been beyond, and in everything she had done since birth. And now, it seemed a definite change in that relationship was about to begin.

The gentle, but ever-present pressure of the spirit just dissipated, like smoke in a vacuum, leaving Cadenza viewing the world through new eyes.

And yet this disoriented feeling did not last long--as soon as the woman's gaze trailed back up the obelisk and to the coal-black eyes staring out of the menacing, cruelly-set face, the cutlass in the woman's hand let out another pulse. The magic reverberated throughout the open area, silencing the wail of the winds, but it was all merely the calm before the tempest that would follow. Cadenza felt a sharp pain shoot through what almost felt like her soul, and then all at once, the force that had left her moments before rushed to fill the area, dropping her quivering to her hands and knees as the energy overtook the battleground.

The man atop the pillar was knocked from his perch by the wave of magic, and he fell, rolling violently along the marble tiles until he struck another stone obelisk and came to a jarring stop. Both mages' eyes met and expressed their utter confusion at what was happening.

When the energy finally died down, they stood, both at a loss for words. The hand of some lord of shadow very clearly had a grasp on this battleground, and this world, and they were the players this deity had chosen for this field. As a barrier materialized around the tiled expanse, it become obvious that the two were meant to prove themselves through battle--but for what reason, they scarcely knew.

OoC: Yay, rambling is my seventh favorite thing to do XD.

Bic:

Why does she not respond To truly under stand the world, one must first understand people. Of course such a taste is impossible for anyone in this world, for to understanding of people has nothing to do with knowing of the circulatory system, or the like. No. To under stand people is to understand motives, the driving force that tells us what to do, and when to do it. Now although this sounds simple, it isn't. For in most cases their is more then one motive, and often the two are so highly linked its hard to tell them apart, and as such we can never understand people, or why they do things, we can only give a wager, which more often then nought is wrong. Unfortunately for Tsuukai, he wagered that the women simply did not hear him, which is in fact wrong, it was something much more. A path that he was forced to follow, and the reason why he was there, that is why she didn't answer, of course till the end he would remain unaware.

Something hit him but a second later. His long cloaked blew back, flapping as did his long purple hair. It wasn't wind, though it seemed to sound like wind as it whipped around him it was not. No wind was like that, as soon as it hit he felt his heart race, faster, and faster. It was some sort of God-Like power that was striking him, a level of power that he had not felt in a long, long time.

Then whatever it was, it had left just as fast, as his heart slowed to normal. Though it was not to be, he wagered. It was far to calm, far to peaceful.

Then as he predicted something came, a wave of magic far beyond anything he had witnessed. He was thrown off his perch. As he fell he would swear he had no control over his body. It was like he was falling slowly to his death, and yet could not move, could not alter that path. Slamming into the ground he shattered the marble he landed on, and then continuing to slide across the Arena's Floor, tearing up everything in his wake, until his limp body finally came to a stop as he smashed into one of the pillars, his back serving as a method to put a huge crack in the ominous stone structure.

With his eyes wide opened, he slowly regained his sense, and got to his feet, making sure to keep his night-black eyes deadlocked on the mysterious women, who seemed to share his sentiments. Tightening his grip on his sword, which he had instinctively grabbed, he stared expressionless at the women, “Then I suppose the gods have chosen,” Drawing his Sabre he pointed it at the mistress of shadows face, “Tsuukai...Tsuukai Ita, now tell me yours, I do not wish to fight a stranger.”

The air was positively electric. Every breath that Cadenza exhaled was like an outflame of magical power, a static shock in a charged field of shadow; in it too, she could feel the energy of the man, a foreign feeling mixed with the magic rising off of her and the power the whole battlefield had just become steeped in. Originally she had thought the man--Tsuukai Ita, he called himself--to be a creation of this shadow world she was in, but now, it seemed both were just humans drawn into this realm to fight.

And Cadenza hated being dragged into doing something against her will.

"My name is Cadenza Madrigal," she said, in answer to his question. It seemed pointless to conceal her name when they were the only two in this world--or the only two corporeal beings, anyhow.

She took the Conquistatore da Luz firmly in her hand, the blade gleaming with a sinister light, and gave the barrier behind her a swift, shadow-charged kick with her heel. Her foot sprang back off the wall, magical energy rocketing back to bounce off the four sides and ceiling until it finally dissipated into the static air. It reflects everything, including magic. We're completely contained within this.

That made things infinitely more dangerous--all of her destructive powers would be contained within a small area, and whatever he possessed would be as well. The twisters of Gloom Tornado; the blades of Razorfeathers; the dancers of Dance of the Shadows; all would be constrained to one relatively small area, causing more concentrated devastation that one could imagine.

This fight would truly be serious.

And what or who decides when it ends?

The man known as Tsuukai watch cooly as the girl swiftly kicked the wall, sending a magical blast shooting off. Just by looking at her he could tell her power was unbelievable, finally he would be able to stretch his wings without fear of getting them caught. Tsuukai calmly brought his saber down, as he waited for the girl to make the first move, (even though he was sure that she would never do such a thing.)

A little more then a minute passed without so much as a flinch from either side, Tsuukai duly noted the confident look on Cadenza's face, she seemed to be aware of the situation, and had probably already decided her plan of action. Judging from her appearance the women appeared to be approximately 25-30, about 5'6, and somewhere between 110-120 pounds. Tsuukai calmly deduced that she probably relied on speed, and agility rather then power, or strength, most likely a hit, and run type battling style, coupled with the odd magical attack. Her apparent style seemed to stand boldly in contrast to the large Tsuukai, who more often then nought depends on sheer physical strength, and explosive attacks in order to get his job done. Of course all of these observations where purely based on her appearance, and where only used to get a better feel for his enemies style before he ran into battle.

There was no point to wait for her to make a move. Tsuukai moved his own leg back as if to go for a running sword strike, but with his left hand, he opened it palm first towards his opponent. Just as it looked like he was about to take flight, he shot off five shadow blasts, at blinding speed. Three of the four magical attacks hit directly, the others smashed into the barrier, creating a thick smoke around Cadenza.

Less then a second later the smoke screen seemed to swirl into an opening, as Cadenza charged forward, not even her clothes seemed to be signed by the attack. Tsuukai quickly shot off another blast, which merely blasted off the ground as the gypsy easily dodged it. Tsuukai could hardly she her as she moved, and was shooting blindly, hoping to knock her off her trajectory. Shooting another blast straight forward, the wild gypsy quickly flipped over the attack, and with her sword ready, struck down at Tsuukai at the end of her Flip. It seemed Tsuukai was in luck, the Gypsies dodging maneuver slowed her down enough for the master of shadows to predict where the attack would hit, and subsequently block the attack with his own blade.

OoC: Thank you for saving it <3

OoC: Just one thing I'd like to comment on--"the girl"? She's twenty-nine. Tsuukai's only six years older. XP

IC:
Shadow magic--then it really is confirmed. We're both shadow magic users.

The man's attacks had done little but confirm that in the gypsy's mind; shadow and dark magics hadn't affected her since she first summoned up her first bit of magical energy so many years ago, as a child who would have never dreamed they'd be in such a place. She had played around with the idea of Tsuukai being a light-magic user, or user of some other opposing force earlier, even though light magic did not hold any special power against her, but those attacks had proved her wrong. Still, this Tsuukai appeared to be a formidable opponent, and he blocked a strike from her cutlass without so much as a flinch.

She landed on even footing with him, pressing her blade against his until a point where both of their arms slightly quivered under the pressure; she noticed then a brief flash of surprise in his dark, piercing eyes as he realized that, despite her appearance, her physical strength was proving a match for his. Then, there was a gleam in both of their eyes, and legs swung out blindingly fast to kick the other fighter off-balance--but instead they met with a shooting pain against the other in a standoff. They were left in an strange stance afterwards, with neither backing down, but neither in an ideal position for a grapple between swords, and with a calm exhale, they rested their blades and their boots back in neutral positions at the same moment.

It wasn't until their swords were replaced back at their sides that Tsuukai Ita noticed the gash across his left leg, and the drops of blood from a dagger concealed in the gypsy's boot. He glanced up, and found that the woman was smiling at him, although it was without much mirth.

"It looks like this might only be won by subtle strikes," she said, readying her cutlass again. "But... before this goes too far, can I ask you--how did you come here?"

OoC: Sorry Super-Aiko-Chan V_V I guess I'm just used to every character being a teenager XP

IC:
Tsuukai couldn't help but marvel at the gash in his leg, if only for a second, some how she had managed to strike him, so fast that his brain didn't pick up the pain till after they had both stopped moving. An amazing feat in Tsuukai's eyes, as he looked back at her, to answer her question, “I am not to sure. I came upon this world as I awoke, and this place within a hour of travel. That alone gives me reason to believe our meeting is something predetermined by fate.”

“Perhaps...” The gypsy said quickly, musing to herself for a second, before Tsuukai interjected.

“Though, I cannot say it is entirely disappointing.” Tsuukai replied callously, “Its been a good while since I have fought such an impressive opponent, I hope you'll at least be able to take the rust off my blade,” Tsuukai commented coldly idly spinning his blade in his hand, before putting himself in a battle ready position.

Tsuukai waited cooly for his opponents next move. Thus far her movements where to quick, and fast to decipher properly them, and form a working strategy, as his initial assumptions where already proven wrong. She was far stronger then he had assumed, and a tad bit faster, and he still was unable to get a full grasp on her magical abilities, as he had only seen a quick strike, not even aimed at him.

His black eyes peered closely as the girl prepared for her next attack, Even though Tsuukai was eager to see what the woman had in store, he was also preoccupied with coming away victorious, so without so much as a flinch or distracting movement, Tsuukai already formulated a quick plan, or attack, that had the potential for some serious damage, and in the meantime could properly test the gypsy's skill.

The Plain white obelisks that lined the arena where tall, and sturdy, and probably centuries old. Yet as the Master Of Shadows shot two quick blasts of shadow at a selected two of them, they cracked at the base and the top, now awkwardly leaning, became to heavy for the broken base to hold, and the rentier structure came down, two of them. Both descending towards the Gyps who was standing battle ready. Tsuukai could only watch coldly as the two Obelisks came crashing towards her, his mind remembering every detail to analyze later.

OoC: Edit: 5,500 Posts...>_< I'm such a post whore.

OoC: *nudges you towards Cadenza's post-HR, upgraded profile*

IC:
This is what he calls a subtle strike? a bewildered Cadenza thought as she held up an arm to block the initial spray of dust and stone fragments. Either that, or he just disagreed with me altogether about that, it seems.

The obelisks were dropping like felled white trees in a forest of architecture; and if these trees fell, they certainly would make a sound; never mind if someone was there to hear it. Cadenza imagined it would be something like a squish!--but she wasn't about to find out.

The two pillars eventually would come to a point in their earth-shaking descent where they would strike one another head-on; but before stone could even graze stone, a little feather stole into the sliver of night air between them. Tsuukai merely had shut his eyes to blink then, unsure of whether or not the little violet plume was really there or if it was a trick of the light, when he heard a concussive blast; and when he opened his eyes again, there were a million shards of pearly-white stone erupting from where Cadenza had stood, and flying out along with them, murky razor-like objects shaped as feathers. Twisting his body into a dozen different angles, he managed to evade the worst of the remnants of the magical attack--but he wasn't as lucky with the stone fragments.

Just when he thought he had survived through the first rocky onslaught, the pieces were swallowed up by the deep shadows cast by the remaining obelisks, and somehow re-routed through them to his temples, eyes, and chest--the gypsy's doing, some distant part of his mind later realized. The pieces drilled against his head, beating out a high, staccato rhythm of shooting pain; razor-sharp pebbles and bits tore into the spaces between the chains of his armor, nicking and cutting him all over his torso. He fell to one knee, bleeding from small but numerous wounds, but still far from out of this fight. Cadenza had to admire his tenacity.

"And so the property damage begins, eh?" she said, smirking as the other mage brushed obelisk remnants off his cloak. "If this was anyone's property."

The dark mage could not help but smiles as he, slowly got back to his own two feet, that last attack gave him enough information of her magical abilities to at least give him a Silhouette of her talents, “They can always rebuild,” He commented calmly whipping off some blood that had started running down his face, “Impressive, I must admit. I can hardly wait to see what other tricks you have.” Putting his right hand on his blade, which he had seethed before he dodged the rocky barrage, he continued, “Let us continue, before I find myself bored,” His cold eyes looked forward calmly as he drew his blade.

The arena itself went deathly quiet, as the battle lines where drawn. The master of shadows watched his opponent closely, choosing not to make a move himself. He could tell she wasn't about to hold back, as previously shown by the numerous gashes that laced his body. Enough time wasted, and yet nothing was gained, no battle could be won through silence.

The Master of shadows Started the endgagement attacking quickly to her side, which of course she easily blocked. At this point he cared very little for actually striking his opponent, that would come later, he was still trying to get a feel for her style, only a few more minutes, and he would be able to lash out at full strength.

The swords clashed against each other in rapid succession, each blow quickly blocked, and followed by another. The combatants used preliminarily tactics, and simple dodges, for those blows that where to fast, or to awkward to dodge, but in the end not a hit was pressed into the other, and both were just as well as they where before. Tsuukai at this point had believed himself knowledgeable enough to determine the abilities of his opponent to a small degree at least, as he blocked another blow, and quickly gave her an opening for the right side of his chest.

The Gypsy couldn't help but be lured into the attack, stabbing forward with a good portion of her strength towards the exposed lower ribs. As he had planned, he quickly switched the grip on his blade, pointing it down in the common “Defensive grip” Pushing her blade away slightly, the right handed gypsy moved forward with her blade, as Tsuukai, with his sword pointing down, and pushing her blade out (As she pushed it in, it seemed he was stronger, at least a little), used his other hand to steady his blade by pressing it against its flat at the tip. As she ran by, the Master of shadows turned, and slashed quickly, causing the Gypsy, to duck, and move back, giving them about five feet apart in dead silence.

“This battle will only be won by subtle strikes...Such knowledge...” Tsuukai said with a laugh, holding up his left hand, and the dagger in it, shinning red by the moons light, “I must agree, that is how we shall fight this battle.” It seemed, that as the Gypsie passed him by, his left hand left it posistion and moved upwards as he unconcealed a dagger, and dragged it across her cheek as she ran by, as could be clearly sown by the long gash across her face, that sparkled with crimson.

OoC: Did that make any sense at all? it made sense in my head, but I'm also crazy.

Edited: Fixed...Sorry >_<

With the sort of astonishment a parent shows when their child replies back with their first witty, searing bit of backtalk, Cadenza raised a hand up to her face, and gently touched the gash on h