Fencing match #5 Summer Camp 2026

Practicing duelling was always an activity she was up to, regardless of the weather and season. But fencing? Fencing was not something she had been able to enjoy often. Between her many responsibilities and other subjects, even as a young girl, it hadn’t been a sport she had had the opportunity to enjoy. Sure, she had learnt and retained certain movements, but she wasn’t an avid practiced of the sport.

Yet, at Summer Camp, she had the opportunity to try and do it once more. Actually, this time competing against an opponent. And even though she didn’t have much experience, it was a welcome break from duelling. So when she could, signing up for the sport was what she did.

After all that, coming to terms that she would be on another piste wasn’t hard. Eugenia received some protective gear, which she put on, and then her foil. It was beautiful, in its own right. Adjusting her hold on it, she practiced a few lunges right before entering the piste.

A younger boy was the moderator, and a younger girl was her opponent. Actually, that girl was from Durmstrang, as if Fate was meant to test her. Her sister was supposed to go there and truthfully, they were quite the militaristic school. She knew it well, not only from her mother’s accounts, but from some acquaintances she had as well, who happened to be students. It took a lot of effort to keep her composure steady, for a rift formed inside her.

Just like in duelling, however, she stifled the agony. No one was meant to see. Eugenia was finding her footing and easily found her place. Memory is practice and practice makes perfect. Just to hit the opponent, she spoke in Russian. “May the favoured one win.” A statement spoken measuredly, yet not with malice. It was even, like Durmstrang’s strategy.

Not one to taunts, she chose not to indulge in it. And she stood ready.

¹: translation:

english - #194935 russian -#9F263E greek - #3E4FA5 french - #B25F5C

@alicia matthews date: 04/08/2026 place: fencing arena phantom returned

From the one duel she had been in, Eugenia preferred to stay on the offensive. But as the match began, she found herself having to dodge. Her opponent, Alicia had responded to her verbally, to which Eugenia took no notice, and physically, attacking her energetically. If Eugenia was meant to be as bouncy, it might as well be in retreat, something she knew she could do given that casting in duelling requires a mouth; she couldn’t really cast with her tongue tied.

And so, back she went, each attack artfully evaded. When her foot was out of the piste, the moderator called them to halt. Seeing that her torso was intact, the heiress happily returned to her place and stood ready once again. She had to change tactics.

Yeah, the whole thing was exhausting and she knew her luck was probably not going to be on her side. Yeah, her head hurt. But couldn’t she attempt to get a point now? Dodging all that couldn’t have happened in vain. And the possibilities on what to do this round were endless, figuratively. In reality, she could calculate about three or four different positions she could go in, all with massively different outcomes depending on the timing.

Swords fighting with tiny metal blades that made absolutely no sense in the context of weapons in the real world was awfully more complicated that needed. Yet, it wasn’t as if she had an option now that she had stepped on the piste. She would only have to prove to herself that signing up was not some grave mistake.
¹: translation:

english - #194935 russian -#9F263E greek - #3E4FA5 french - #B25F5C

@alicia matthews date: 04/08/2026 place: fencing arena phantom returned

Long before she ever joined Hogwarts, Eugenia was told trickery is a measured art. One cannot use it excessively, or they’d become mistrusted by the peers. On the opposite part of the spectrum sits a naïve child, doing exactly as it’s told. Trickery is a sum actions, but what you need to perform them is cunning. If you are not cunning, then you will not succeed in life, because no one will hand things to you. You must earn them. Even if you are kind and honest, you need to have some aces up your sleeve. Predictability is like a plague you must avoid. If they know what you’ll do, they’ve cracked you, and they’ll use you. So, you give them a false impression, or at least, not the full picture.

She took charge this time, choosing not to be evasive like a child running from a stick. She’d play they game. When she could start attacking, she’d do it with cunning. Such valuable life lesson.

Lunging forward, she watched Alicia try to parry and stop her foil. After being deflected once or twice, her foil found an opening. Rather, it found an opportunity to make one. She launched a false attack, her foil heading towards her opponent, but changing direction at the last minute. Alicia may have tried to parry her way out, but she was faster, striking her opponent. A wave of satisfaction washed over her seeing the third year’s best turn red. She sighed when the point was given and rolled her shoulders. More to win.

Brutally tactical.

¹: translation:

english - #194935 russian -#9F263E greek - #3E4FA5 french - #B25F5C

@alicia matthews date: 04/08/2026 place: fencing arena phantom returned