Don't die and you'll be fine pv abandoned

‘Incendio!’ Cynthia said in a firm but loud voice. In a flash of orange and red, the dummy bursted into flames. Uh oh… other people were around. Would I set them aflame? Cynthia quickly said ‘Extinguo!’ And tried another spell. ‘Peri- peri,’ she stood there thinking. I can’t be like this in an actual duel! I must remember everything until it is perfect! Wait… was that even a duelling spell? Cynthia stood there, thinking.

She glanced over to her right to see smoke. Lu-lumos? She hadn’t learnt that spell it. She couldn’t use it to light her way. Very well…. She tried a green sparks charm instead. Instantly, the smoke seemed to light up. ‘Hello? Is anyone in there? Are you okay? What is this spell?’ She asked to no particular person. She just hoped to student in there was okay, because that would save Cynthia a run to the hospital wing.

The smoke cleared a bit, and she found that the student was on the other side instead of in the smoke. Thank goodness. ‘Hello? Who are you? Are you a duellist too? And what was that spell?’ Cynthia said all at once. The girl — and it was a girl — had a cat by her — Silver Siberian, was it not?— which Cynthia found cute. The student herself was a Ravenclaw, just like her. She had dark long locks, but sometimes when it caught the light, several strands looked more light. In general the girl had lighter hair than Cynthia. She had light blue eyes, perhaps almost the opposite to Cynthia’s obsidian colour. She stood at an imposing 170 centimetres. How old was this girl? She could have passed for a seventh year! Yet something about her face looked younger. Why was she so tall? Was she a part giant?

Never mind that. Focus, Cynthia, focus.

@Clair Fernandez

Clair stood calmly waiting for the spell to fade, The Smokescreen spell was one she liked, she rarely used it, but it was still fun to use when she had the chance.
Clair could hear someone speaking, she had not realized there was anyone else in the room, oops she should have checked before fogging up the room. "I'm here!" She said, "Don't worry, the spell will fade in a moment."
A few seconds later the voice was attached to a body, Clair assumed the girl was either in her first or second year. "Hey, I'm Clair and this is Kiwi." She said, Picking up her cat in her wandless hand. She walked over to the other girl and set the cat down before offering her hand, "As I said, I'm Clair Fernandez, Second year Ravenclaw." She smiled, "I'm a broom racer, but I come here to practice my spells because its like the only place outside of class to practice without getting in trouble."
Clair twirled her wand around in her hand as she stood there, mostly because she liked the feeling but also because it kept her hands busy. "Are you a Duellest? Or do you just come here to practice as well?"
(wc 207)
@Cynthia Beaufort

Cynthia fidgeted with her wand nervously. On the one hand, she could say the truth and be done with it. She needed support. Of course, she could get support from Oli, like last time with Sophia. But, perhaps someone more experienced would be better in this situation? On the other hand, she could say no and avoid embarrassment. But, if this girl, Clair, came to spectate a match, then she would know.

She decided to tell the truth. ‘Uhm… yeah, I’m Cynthia, first year Ravenclaw.’ The usally eloquent girl seemed to stumble on her words. ‘Uhm, yeah, I’m a duellist… a very unexperienced one, mind you. The second stage will be my first match… and I’m, uhm, quite nervous. I think I might be the only duellist of my age… I heard Hufflepuff’s got a first year on the waitlist, but the rumours say its Clark. You know, the kid who threw a rock into the herbology professor’s window. So, yeah, I’m very anxious.’ Cynthia was definitely rambling now.

She stepped back. That was probably too mcuh for the girl, Clair. ‘Uhm, Clair, you can continue practising if you want, I know I shouldn’t treat you like you’re my personal therapist or anything….’ Cynthia muttered dejectedly under her breath. Why did she have to ruin everything? Now her house’s dueling team was probably never ever going to win…

@Clair Fernandez

Clair smiled, "I love your name, it sounds very elegant!"
The Ravenclaw nodded, "everyone needs to start somewhere do they not? I mean, even the best sportsmen have had to start at some point!" Clair remembered her first Race, she had been beyond nervous, "You know, practice is the only way to get better, and even if your super nervous you'll do great I'm sure!"
She leaned down and patted her cat, "I've never met this Clark boy, or heard of him for that matter, So I'm sure you'll do amazing!" She paused, "And besides, Your a Ravenclaw! Your in the best house!"

Clair had been in a few unofficial duels in her first year and she had not won a single one of them as far as she could remember, but they had still been fun and Clair would do it all over again with no regrets.
"Who is your Partner? Or do you know yet?"
Clair was no doubt experienced in the feeling of the pressure which one would feel when representing one's house in a match, but she decided not to mention that to the poor First year who was surely feeling enough Pressure at the moment already.
(wc 202)
@Cynthia Beaufort

‘Thank you.’ Cynthia said. She was calming down, not that nervous anymore. And of course Clair was right that Ravenclaw was the best house, she should not pressure herself to much. Cynthia nodded and sighed. ‘You’re right. I’m pressuring myself too much. The match starts in the end of January. I’ve got plenty time to learn and plenty time to practise, too…’ She trailed off at the end.

When Clair asked Cynthia who her partner was, the first year looked up dubiously. Due to the new junior league and senior league regulations, Cynthia thought that her partner was probably either Gemina or Adelaide. ‘I don’t know yet,’ she said. ‘But I think its Gemina or Adelaide. I haven’t met them before, but I know Adelaide has a job in the Headliner. But, of course… I hope I get paired with someone… nice, like Kim Sato. We know each other, we’re not really friends but we know each other pretty well. And, of course… there’s certain second years I do not want to be paired against….’ Cynthia took a deep breath. ‘Like…Fowl.’ Cynthia’s voice wavered slightly. Every interaction with the part-veela went badly. And of course Cynthia had watched her duel. She had to admit that the girl was not bad at the sport.

She glanced over to Clair’s cat. ‘Hey, can I hold Kiwi? She’s very cute.’

@Clair Fernandez

Clair nodded, "Yeah, You've got plenty of time and you don't have to worry about the match. After all, at the end of the day, its just a game. And besides you'll always get a second chance to try again. My first match we lost, but then the next match we won! Its all about how the game goes that really sets things." The Ravenclaw could remember her first race against her nest friend vividly, she could remember all her races vividly, when one is speeding at top speed slinging spells and objects while trying to not die from objects, spells and the track One tends to remember most of it.

Clair cocked her head, "Is it inter-house now? I can't keep up with all the updates." She knew that the year levels had been added in, but that was about it. "I'm sure you and whoever your partner may be will ace it." Clair laughed, she had had one interaction with the Crabby Snake, and while she had not directly talked she had saw the girl duel and she was good. "she is pretty good at dueling if i remember right, I unofficially modded a Duel between her and Colin vs Eddy and Nick." She smiled, "it was something to watch."

Clair looked down at the cat, who looked back up at her. "of course! She might lick you, she is a very lick-y cat"
(wc 238)
@Cynthia Beaufort

Did she make it sound like it was interhouse? ‘No, we can’t compete with ourselves. I was talking about who might be my partner. Though they might pair me up with a third year because I’m younger and all that, but we have to physically similar, like similar strength, accuracy, etc.’ Cynthia explained, or at least tried to, she hoped it was clear enough. The short story was that she didn’t really understand either yet. The match only begins in the end of Januaray, which was still some time away. Her captains hadn’t yet announced what would happen and how it would happen, so she was still on her toes, she supposed. She had spectated some duels before, but things might be different this time.

‘I watched Fowl’s duel with Fand Hui-Ming and against AngelFyre and Emma Wynn. She’s not really good at duelling, but we also have a bad connection. I bet she’ll love duelling with me. Last time we were in a group at a fashion club, well, it didn’t go so well. The first time I met her, I got charmed and said some weird stuff. But I still don’t like her.’ She cocked her head at two unfamiliar names. ‘Eddy? Nick? Who are they?’ Then, a name caught her attention. ‘Colin? Isn’t he the leader of the Snake — Snek — Squad or something like that? One of their members, Applebottom has a bad relationship with my family. I suppose I shouldn’t hate them because of one member, and I don’t hate the whole squad, we just don’t get along well.’

Cynthia knelt down the touch Kiwi, who immediately licked her, causing a smile to spread on Cynthia’s face.

@Clair Fernandez