Duel:Bastrien v Reinhardh

Reinhardh stands in silence, adorned in his leathery trench coat and wearing an arm sling for the disjointed shoulder he'd managed to break in a duel with Gunnar. Whipping about the area a cool breeze fluttered aimlessly causing the Spell Blade's attire and alabaster crown of hair to shift as well as his footing. Regarding Bastrien with a grin, the Spell Blade melts into a battle stance and snakes the gloved digits of his good arm against the leather-wrapped hilt of his blade. Removing it from it's prison, the male hones his focus onto the task at hand. The battle with Bastrien. Reinhardh stands in place before a motion is set into effect, a twisting of his body and limbs as the sword exits it's sheathe and swipes the air before him. Bastrien would soon find the area he stood inside would be engulfed by a swelling orchestra of flames, all bent on devouring his form.

Bastrien drops into a crouch as he watches the flames rushing towards him. With a quickly muttered word of prayer he sweeps his wings out and downward, propelling him up and away from the flames. His timing was slightly off however and the top of the magical flames burned off some of his feathers. Unable to stay aloft, Bastrien unsheathes his sword and pulling his wings in tight to his body, dives at the spell blade. His sword, held tightly in his hand, is aimed directly at Reinhardh's chest. Bastrien's velocity all but assures that should he make contact, it would be a horrific blow.

Reinhardh inspects the area of his attack, recalling the short-sword to his side and aptly placing it inside it's sheathe once again as the rolling flames suffer disappointment and dissolve into the earth. Reinhardh splits his stance, and as the avian comes towards him from the sky, the male quickly lunges his form away. The flashing of the avian's sword goes evaded, yet the strong, flapping wings strike the human and stumble him with their passing. Reinhardh breathes deeply and settles his footing once more, knowing one mis-step may afford him a plunge into leafy boughs and perhaps even death. Bringing his right hand to shoulder, a magical aura seeps from the air and collects within the male's veins. If Bastrien wanted to play in the air, Reinhardh would oblige him with that and a quick plummet into Hell's own maw. Summoning a multitude of needle like threads, the Spell Blade focuses on Bastrien and then steps forward, thrusting his palm out. His magic weaves through the air gracefully and tumbles through individual threads, loops, and other patterns, aiming for the air-born avian in an attempt to pierce and tie his most tangible wings and drag him back down to earth the hard way.

Bastrien plunges down towards the spell blade, determination written all over his face. The human was quicker than he had expected and his sword failed to hit it's mark. Flapping his wings again to remain airborne, he feels one strike the sorcerer and feels some satisfaction that his attack wasn't all for naught. Bastrien spins in midair, only to find the spell blade has already sent another wave of magic his way. With no time to prepare, he opens his wings and plummets towards the earth. Quickly, but not quickly enough to avoid all of the spell. The tendrils of magic felt like barbed fire as they caught his right wing, forcing it close. With only one working appendage, Bastrien spirals ever more quickly towards the ground. Striking the groud somewhat hard, Bastrien feels a pain in his leg and the pressure of a swelling ankle. Calling on his own holy magic, he chants to remove the magician's spell from his wing. Drawing his sword while concentrating all his might on the wing, he manages to remove the binding magics, but the searing pain was still there, essuring that he would be grounded for quite some time. You launches off his good leg, not wishing to keep up this long range combat, at which the spell blade was infinitely more adept. Swinging the thin sword high above his head, he brings it down on the Reinhardh, aiming for his torso.

Reinhardh watches the Avian's tumbling descent. His eyes scan the area he has fallen to, admiring the plume of dirt and dust with his landing. He walks forward, attire swaying in the gentle breeze unlike the agitated arm cast protecting his shoulder. Rein's long alabaster strands flutter in the wind as he walks forward, looking down upon his foe, soaking in the magic the area was now saturated with, from the burned patch of ground, to the aether particles twinkling in the air, Rein felt it all. Before walking too close, his opponent hobbles to his feet and lunges at him, sword held high. Casting his eyes calmly to this sight, the Spell Blade would stand his ground, and eye Bastrien quizzically. His reaction was quick, and his attack even quicker as the garbs of Reinhardh's torso are split open saved from a complete surgical splice by only a quick evasion. Toe to toe with Bastrien, the Human's chest and torso covered with all to recent bleeding, the already injured Spell Blade sees the opportune moment for the final strike. A coagulation of flames bleed from the male's fists as he stances himself for a strong blow against the avian, knowing he would be lacking in momentum to defend from such a strike. With a precise step forward, the Spell Blade sends his fist barreling for Bastrien's gut in an uppercut. His wounds disregarded for now, he pushed his energies forward, offering a blast of power that would leave even Bastrien disoriented for further battle.

Bastrien has only a moment to be stunned at how quick the human moved before he saw the fire forming on his fist. Eye's going wide with acknowledgement, he has even less than a moment to brace himself before the Reinhardh's fist collides with his stomach, denting his finely crafted breastplate with ease. Lifted up off his feet by the blow, Bastrien flies backwards,landing in a heap some distance away. His soldiers training the only thing keeping him from crying out, he grits his teeth in pain, each breath just as painful as the last. Struggling to his feet, he feels what he knows to be a broken rib. Knowing he had lost, he picks up his sword from where it had fallen and plunges it into the earth. And with one hand holding his side,he walks away until coming to a tree near the edge of the cliff. Sinking to the ground, he can only hope that his acceptance of defeat will be enough to suffice, and that the spell blade will spare him anymore injuries.

Reinhardh had landed the final blow in the fight but also suffered from mild blood loss. Following his attack, his hand clutched his chest and his magic burned once more to cauterize the flow of sanguine as he inspected the field for Bastrien. His magic stitched up his skin and simply prevented more blood loss. As a sign of humility, Reinhardh walks forward to Bastrien's position and kneels before him. "Thank you for this battle." He then stands and offers Bastrien a hand up.

Bastrien reaches out, taking Reinhardh's hand. Standing and favouring his sprained ankle. With the battle over and his own internal Paladin magic slowly healing his more major injuries, he he stands on slightly more steady feet seeing the honour of the Spell Blade. Relief breaking over him and muscles relaxing he shakes Reinhardh's hand saying, "You're very welcome. It was an honour to watch a master such as yourself at work."