[MonsterManic]

More of Calen's swift and smooth bladework. What the world had gained in a Hunter it had lost in a potential world-class dancer. However, that Hunter-to-be hadn't yet grasped the concept that if he didn't want to go on the offensive, there wasn't much critical damage that Calen could potentially deal to him.

Moving his blade to parry the high, finding it to be a fake, then hopping the low blow left Setsuna in the air and unable to brace against the kick. Thankfully his shield held strong once more and only pushed him back a few paces. And as Calen lunged straight for his right arm, following the rhythm of the music, he twisted aside and let Calen's momentum carry through. At this early stage, staying purely on defence and letting Calen try and break his wall suited Setsuna perfectly fine. When it came to his turn to attack, Calen had no shield to do the same.

Battle Stats:
     ▫ Aura Status: 98% (2% from kick)

Damage Output:
     ▫ No attacks launched

[Kingnoname1]

OK this would not do. Calen thought to himself spinning his weapon around for another strike. He can't just hide behind his shield the entire fight can he? Calen's thought process continued. But hold it did; again and again Calen's glaive coiled into it's snake like disk only to bounce off against his opponent's shield, again and again did Calen try to dance his way to Setsuna's side only to be cut off by the latter's foot work at the last moment. It was infuriating. Calm. Calen warned himself. Dancing backwards Calen kept moving in time with the music but as the song petered out his movements became slower, more precise as he continued to circle looking for an entry through Setsuna's guard.

Orbiting counter clock wise to try to get himself into one of Setsuna's blind spots on his shield side Calen loosed his stance but still moving in time. Standing completely upright Calen held his glaive in one hand, on the hilt and used it to flicker jab into Setsuna's face. Minimal force could be applied to the attack but Calen was counting on protective instinct to force Setsuna to block the attack regardless. This would be Calen's opportunity to break the stale mate, closing the distance with Setsuna's head, and therefore eyes, covered by his shield Calen hoped to grab the annoying sheet of metal and wrench it out of his leaders hands with the help of his semblance shooting Calen back. Failing that it may but the shields man off balance allow for some decent blows regardless and still keep initiative with the dancer.

Battle Data

Calen: Aura: 90%
          Semblance: 85%
          Attacks: Flicker Glaive stabs 2x2%

[MonsterManic]

He's going to change something up soon, Setsuna thought, listening to Calen's repeated attempts to slip past his shield synchronise with the music, clangs and scrapes not mixing very well with the sounds of Calen's tunes. Two more jabs, aimed at his face, came rushing in with the same speed as before, and he lifted his shield to block, resulting in two "pings" as they bounced off the surface once more. I hope Calen realises I'm not just holding it-- was all he managed to form into a cohesive thought before Calen gave an almighty yank on the shield and sent him rushing forward.

Deciding to use the momentum Setsuna gathered his feet under him and shield bashed Calen to force him away from his shield. Assuming Calen would be able to dodge the headlong rush easily with a pulse of his semblance he quickly slowed the rush and turned to whichever direction Calen would end up in.

Battle Stats:
     ▫ Aura Status: 98%

Damage Output:
     ▫ 4% Shield bash

[Kingnoname1]

Now we are getting somewhere. Calen grinned internally. Of course it would have been better if he could have gotten the shield away but Calen could take any advantage he could get. Feeling Setsuna shift for a shield bash behind his weapon Calen opened his stance allowing the shield to collide straight into his chest. Smashing the wind out of his lungs Calen remained on task wrapping his free arm around Setsunas shield, grabbing the extended arm and pulling back, not to put his opponent off balance but more to position the shield between himself and Setsuna's sword. Collapsing his weapon down to it's sword form Calen now tried to exploit Setsuna's exposed shield side with two quick slashes.

Knowing that he couldn't maintain this forever Calen extended his weapon out to glaive form as he retracts from his second strike. Getting the haft behind Setsuna's leg Calen tries to trip his leader combined with a not insubstantial shove through the shield. If successful Calen will back off giving his opponent space to rise unhindered, twirling his weapon, moving slowly in time to the dying music and smirking, can't forget the smirking. If unsuccessful Calen will release his hold on the shield, spinning Setsuna in the same direction he was pulling free to get some more quick slashes in. After a few moments of quite the song starts to repeat, building slowly and regardless of the outcome of trip Calen moves to continue is assault with the same fury as his opener.

Battle Data

• Aura: 86%
• Semblance: 85%
• Attacks: Quick slashes; 2x4%+2 additional if trip fails
  

[MonsterManic]

Wait, he didn't dodge? Setsuna instinctively tried to pull back but Calen's hold on his shield prevented it. Failing to exit the engagement he raised his sword in time to parry one of Calen's strikes but the latter's agility resulted in the blade slipping past his guard and striking his aura.

Feeling Calen's glaive before he saw it Setsuna felt his mass shift toward the rear. Combined with Calen's shove this resulted in him losing his balance and starting to fall. However instead of doing so he pushed off the floor with his legs in his position resulting in a left handstand, before gathering Aura in his left arm and shoving off the floor in a display of quick thinking and strength, landing on both feet. He couldn't resist doing a curtsy mocking Calen's style.

Battle Stats:
     ▫ Aura Status: 94% (4% from slash)

Damage Output:
     ▫ No attacks launched
After watching the duo have at each other for a while and flinching slightly each time Calen's blade struck at Setsuna's increasingly battered shield, Jocelyn turned to the very silent girl beside her with a question. "Umm...Sorry if I'm interrupting, but...is Calen always that mocking?" She asked, loud enough that Teddy could hear, but not loud enough to pass through the music into the fighter's ears.

[nathan67003]

Anna flinched a bit when Setsuna's sister spoke up. Well, her head jerked up a bit - that's about all that happened, really. She couldn't get out of it this time, though. She had to answer.

With a very small voice, she answered "Y-yes a-and no. I-it varies, but th-this is f-far from his b-best." Of course, this was accompanied by furious blushing fortuitously hidden by her hair.

[Kingnoname1]

'Straight back Master Setsuna, only bend with your neck. Not saying you should never curve your back, or even it doesn't show respect but it belongs more with night work than a curtsy.' Calen remarked regardless of how precise his opponents movements were without not breaking his stride. Originally the plan was to go the entire fight with his usual banter as it would take away from the music but that opening was simply too appealing to resist. Speaking of the music Calen went back on the assault as the music picked up again. Again Calen rushed forward with his semblance striking with the same ferocity as before, alternating left and right side aimed slashes followed up by a stab aimed low. Although Calen understood he wasn't going to break through he still needed to keep Setsuna on the back foot for his strategy to work.

Aware that Setsuna would likely be more protective of his shield after after his attempted grapple Calen tried to edge around to his opponents right side. Although this exposes Calen more to a counter attack it forces Setsuna to rely more on instincts than active decision making due to the speed allowing for exploitation later in the fight.

Battle Data

• Aura: 86%
• Semblance: 80%
• Attacks: Slashes; 2x4%, Stab; 6%

[MonsterManic]

"Thank you, I'll keep that in mind." Setsuna responded with genuine thanks. Once more, Calen engaged with the starting of the music, closing the distance with another pulse of his semblance. This was followed up by a flurry of alternating strikes. In response the sword bits on his shield shifted outward to increase the surface coverage, and blocked each hit with ease. The stab was met with a low parry of his own blade, directing it away from his leg.

Allowing Calen to move to his right Setsuna removes one of the shorter sword bits from his shield, flipping it like a dagger and assuming a slightly more offensive stance. With his sword-wielding hand he shifts his sword into gun mode and fires three relatively accurate shots for freehand aiming.

Battle Stats:
     ▫ Aura Status: 94%

Damage Output:
     ▫ 3x3% rounds fired
This was new. Jocelyn had of course seen girls be shy, but Anna seemed to take this to another level. "Hey, Anna. I'm sorry if I'm the reason why you're suddenly so defensive. I know I'm still a stranger who kind of invaded your group practice, but I heard you talk before. You know what? It's annoying having a brother sometimes. He can be really clueless, and it's kind of sad not having anyone that I can relate to." she said softly. "Maybe you feel the same way, being the only girl?"

[nathan67003]

What.

What.

Anna turned some more towards the Antiqua besides her, completely lost now. Between her face blushing like mad and her head spinning, she had no clue what Jocelyn was talking about. You're the guy's sister, how is this invading the practice? Why would she feel the same because she was the only girl??

The only thing to come out of her mouth was an extremely confused "Huh?"

[Kingnoname1]

Oh that's right guns exist. Calen thought to himself as Setsuna transformed his blade into it's rifle form. Too close to avoid the first two shorts Calen took them in his chest and ducked low beneath the last. Grabbing hold of the rifle Calen tried to hold the arm outstretched, blocking the path for Setsuna's shield and dagger as well as protecting him from future shots, to get some more quick slashes in before the music goes to it's first refrain. Aiming at the harder to defend back and sword side Calen moved gracefully in time with the music before releasing his hold on Setsuna's weapon. As the refrain came in Calen again feinted high but rather than strike low again, drew one of his daggers and tried to slip that through instead. Simultaneous with his dagger trust Calen extended the haft of his weapon into it's glaive form for a good smash aimed at Setsuna's head.

Coming back to the heart of the song the pacing became much more stable and as such so did Calen's assault. Quickly changing his glaive back into it's sword form Calen adopted a more balanced approach recognising his opponent's turn to the offensive while still wanting to dictate the terms of the engagement. Casually twirling both blades in his hands when not striking Calen continued his assault in a more precise and acrobatic way, dancing his way into and out of engagements.

Battle Data

• Aura: 80%
• Semblance: 80%
• Attacks: Light Slashes; 2x4%, Dagger stab; 2%, Haft Srike; 2%
  

[Mikelobmike]

Teddy tried to keep his attention on the fight, he really did. But, the sight of a human being drowning on dry land only a few feet away from him was hard to ignore. He sympathized, he really did. There had to be something he could do for her. Even if it seemed like she didn't like him.

"U-um...hey Anna. D-Do you mind showing me the way to the dorm room, please?" he said, making up an excuse on the fly to get Anna away from Jocelyn. But now he was going to leave Jocelyn by herself, and Setsuna would get mad. And Calen is going to make fun of him again, the rat bastard.

Teddy let out a defeated sigh. It seemed that even when he was trying to help, he dug himself further and further into the shit pile.

[MonsterManic]

(OOC: So so so so so sorry for the delay )

With his arm wrested out of his control, Setsuna couldn't pull his left hand fast enough to parry any of the slashes that flew swiftly under his guard. With Calen's disengage he tried to present his shield side to the moving person, but the agility of Calen's footwork paired with a steadily increasing numbness in his sword arm meant he couldn't keep up. The follow-up low sweep coupled with the haft smash went through completely unguarded, his right arm refusing to move any faster.

Even without the intent to do any lasting harm (at least he hoped), the sudden combined assault sent Setsuna almost flying back, knocking him against the arena wall. The need for air that indicated he was clearly winded, the sore headache from his rude introduction to Calen's glaive, and his now completely stiff sword arm. Never mind keep fighting--he couldn't move in his condition.
Jocelyn was about to say something to Anna to explain herself, but the resounding smack drew her attention back to the battle. Witnessing the events that occurred, she abruptly cut her query off and entered the arena toward her brother, hand moving toward the pack on her waist.

[nathan67003]

While Anna's befuddled (and hair-covered) frown endured, the new guy, a.k.a. Theodore, asked her to show him to the team's dorm. It was this moment somebody busy fighting chose to get smacked into a wall, prompting Jocelyn to get up and go. Probably to see if everything was fine, judging by her earlier behavior, but Anna couldn't see thoughts; just movement. And optical light.

Still, the sudden removal of one person allowed her to feel a bit more at ease, enabling her to say a "Sure." without stuttering. She closed her scroll, gingerly propped herself standing and started towards the exit, keeping an excruciatingly slow pace until her new teammate caught up.

[Kingnoname1]

Calen did not expect the fight to end so quickly, after hammering away mostly ineffectively against Setusna's defenses the dancer hardly expected to slip though in such a devastating way. And before I could get to the actual lesson. Calen thought to himself dejectedly Sheathing his weapons. Looked like their little training session was over with Teddy and Anna already walking off to the rooms and Jocelyn had moved to comfort her brother who lay motionless. 'Didn't even get to the fun bit Master Setsuna but at least we found out the what lessons taught by out sisters was superior. Miss Antiqua do you require directions to the medical bay, the least I can do is assist in carrying our dear friend after putting him in such a sorry state... well more of a sorry state.' Calen remarked walking briskly towards the pair of siblings.

Waving goodbye to the departing two members of their team Calen continued. 'Miss Fall, Master Theodore, I'll see you back at the room I suppose. Try not to jump at your own shadows if you can, it looks bad on the rest of us.' Calen was running even higher on pride and adrenaline than normal which meant unfortunately  his taunting would only get worse for now.

[Mikelobmike]

Teddy stood from his seat, his attention drawn to several things at the same time. Calen flung Setsuna against the wall, Jocelyn jumped from the stands, and Anna was heading for the door. He quickly looked from person to person trying to piece together precisely what the hell was happening. Setsuna seemed hurt, but not seriously so. Teddy was going to stay and help Setsuna get back on his feet, but Calen's particular personality made him decide against it.

Moving to the door, Teddy quickly caught up to Anna. "Thank you." he said, walking alongside her.