Finished Spelltacular Meeting PV

Dee was soaring.

Not literally, of course. They couldn't pay her to get on one of those flimsy broomsticks, she liked her life, thank you very much. But after she had breezed through her last few duels and it had been a year and a half since her last defeat on the duelling piste, it sure felt like she was flying.

Ironically, she'd almost quit duelling at the start of the school year. It was something she'd started mainly to impress her grandparents, although that had gone more wrong than right. She hadn't loved it, not in the beginning. Potions had been where her heart was, but becoming a duelling captain barely into her second year at the school, that had been a language her grandparents had spoken. And she'd wanted them to hear her, loud and clear, even if she hadn't wanted to admit it.

To be completely frank, she still wouldn't admit it, not out loud, and certainly not to herself. Denial was bliss, at times.

But either way, when she'd started shedding her responsibilities as prefect and captain at the end of summer to make perfectly clear that she didn't care about what Rosalie and Hayden Creek thought of her - although, of course, all that did was prove the opposite - she hadn't managed to bring herself to quit duelling completely. There had been too much work, energy, and sweat poured into improving her abilities, all the way making meticulously certain that it looked like it all came easy to her. It felt easy, now, the way it hadn't in the beginning. It was a part of her, natural; the nimbleness on the duelling stage that she was so proud of starting to translate into an easy confident grace that was visible in all of her movements, even when she was not duelling at all. She felt at home in the duelling club, more than almost any other place in the castle. It was her kingdom, captain or not.

With the third stage of the duelling championship fast approaching, the practice areas started filling up as they always did. Duellists would spend much of their free time here, even outside of team practices. Finding a free dummy started resembling a miracle, and you really didn't need to actively work on your dodging anymore, because there were enough spells going astray that most people were occupied simply evading those.

Dee had planned to squeeze in a bit of practice between classes and dinner, and stepped into the room already tying her hair into a ponytail, sleeves rolled up to stay out of the way. It was usually advisable to minimise anything long and fluttery that might catch on fire. Clearly, she wasn't the only one who'd had the idea. Many faces were familiar, duellists from all houses liked to use any time they could to practice. And of course, that meant that all of the dummies were taken; and that really wouldn't do.

Her eyes scanned the room, picking out a target. It was really rather easy; first year Gryffindor she'd never seen before? That would do nicely. "Oi, you!" she called easily, snapping her fingers at the brunette girl, voice friendly but careless. She was smiling, but her thoughts were already ten minutes in the future, running through her practice session. She was barely seeing the girl at all. "Two options: If you don't need your practice dummy anymore, I'd be happy to take it off your hands." Generous, wasn't she? "Alternatively, how do you feel about a sparring partner?" Which was really just an offer to take the place of her practice dummy, but it sounded so much better. Moving targets were generally better for practice, anyway, and she was rather confident that any spells the kid managed in return would go wildly astray. Best case, she'd get in some easy exercise.

@Raizel Voltrouz

The first year went through the list of spells she knows in her mind, trying to recall any that's giving her troubles in the past few days. She is rather confident in her spellcasting abilities, but a couple of practices won't hurt, especially when spells could backfire anytime soon and when you least expect it. If anything though, she should definitely work on her dodging and maybe, her accuracy. Just when she's about to fire a spell at the dummy, the sound of a finger snap caught her attention along with a voice, making her turn around. There she came face to face with a stranger but perhaps she had seen her a couple of times before but just can't remember if her name was mentioned. Her face does feel somewhat familiar. What's interesting though is that she wanted the training dummy that she's practicing with.

From the looks of this, this student is in the upper years and despite her wanting to take this training dummy, Raizel was willing enough to give it to her, in exchange for permission to watch her practice. She'd like to see an older student perform spells up close but upon hearing the second option she has, Raizel spoke up. "A sparring partner seems nice, sure." Her eyes widened in surprise at what she had said, the decision she made was something out of whim. Did she really just accept being a free target to the older student? Someone who is far more experienced and probably had countless spells in her arsenal? Yes, yes she did and she doesn't even have the courage to take back what she had said.

Dodging spells, that was the first thought she had but can she have the chance to dodge spells thrown by an experienced duelist? Raizel let her train of thought pause for a minute. An experienced duelist, the word is screaming in her mind, trying to catch her attention and why did she even think that the older student was an experienced duelist specifically when she could just be an older student wanting to have some easy practice. Then it clicked, making her snap her attention back to the person before her, realization kicking in. This person… is an experienced duelist. While she isn't actively watching the offical duels, she is somewhat familiar of the duelists, a little bit anyway. Just… great. What a situation she had gotten into.

Frankly, Dee had assumed that the girl would prefer giving up her dummy to actually sparring with someone several years older than her. First years especially were just so... new. They knew almost no spells, had almost no practice with casting, much less casting and aiming and trying to dodge incoming spells, all at once. Hence, the former duelling captain was already moving towards the dummy, when the young Gryffindor girl's response reached her. She paused, then turned, caught somewhere between amusement and... something like respect? Yeah, maybe. Apparently the kid wasn't afraid of a challenge, at least, even if it was an impossible one. Gryffindors. She should've known.

"Oh," she said, tilting her head to one side, then shrugging. "Alright, cool. Let's do it." She set down her bag to the side, then rolled up the sleeves of her shirt. No robes to duelling practice, she'd learned that quickly. Rolling her shoulders, she considered what to do. After her last duel, it seemed that the one thing she really needed to practice more was her accuracy, rather than fancy spells or her footwork. Back to the basics, then. "Hope you're ready!" she called over to her new, surprisingly willing sparring partner. Were introductions in order? Perhaps, but they'd have to wait.

She didn't wait for a signal, slipping into her duelling stance in a fluid motion, and hardly hesitating before casting her first spell. "Flipendo!" Just because she was up against a first year didn't mean she was going to go easy, after all.

Reducio

Dee casts Flipendo.
Wis: [d20: 13] + 12 = 25, success
Acc: [d20: 13] + 13 = 26
Eva: [d20: 17] + 7 = 24
Hit!

The spell came out well, feeling solid, and she directed it towards its target with little effort. To her surprise, the girl she was facing turned out to be rather nimble, almost managing to avoid the attack, although it still found its mark squarely. Dee raised an eyebrow, mildly impressed. This was already more than she'd expected. Perhaps... she should give her a chance to return the favour.

"Alright," she called over, grinning widely and spreading her arms to the side. "Your turn. Give me your best shot."

@Raizel Voltrouz

She agreed, that was surprising. For one, Raizel was expecting that the older student would decline and tell her she was just joking. First years are easy targets after all. They aren't that experienced yet and sparring with an easy sparring partner might not even contribute to one's growth. But no, she accepted her answer of being her sparring partner and even took her stance in a quick manner. The young Gryffindor was still busy understanding what just happened in her mind to properly prepare for what's gonna happen next. Not to mention, the older student was too quick for her.

A spell had been casted and that was the only time that Raizel had realized that their sparring session had already started. The first year Gryffindor had only one thing in mind and that's to step away from its path. She tried moving to the side but she wasn't quick enough to completely avoid it as it still found its mark, hitting her. The first year had been knocked back, stumbling on her feet but lucky, she didn't lose her balance. That was a strong one, a solid spell. Older students sure are scary but… this will be quite an experience. Somehow, Raizel was glad she made that sudden decision.

Once she was done catching her breath, Raizel returned her gaze from the floor to the older student before her, looking at her curiously when she spread her arms like that and giving her a free shot. She looked at her wand and then back to the student before her. "Okay." She nodded and took aim. Ah, the nerves were getting to her. "Flipendo!" She casted the Knockback jinx as well and it came out better than what she had expected but unfortunately it didn't hit her target. Too easy to read, too easy to avoid. Even if the spells comes out well, it's still pretty much useless when it misses the target which is a bummer.

In true Gryffindor fashion, the girl seemed impervious to common sense or self-preservation. After Dee's first spell hit solidly (and it must have hurt, Dee's magic had been growing only stronger since she'd started duelling), instead of requesting they stop the exercise, it only took the girl a short moment to accept Dee's offer that they take turns casting.

Her eyes flickered to her wand and back to Dee, and Dealla grinned, flexing her muscles, ready to dart to the side. Her eyes wandered from the Gryffindor's face to her shoulder and collar bones - this was where her attack would show first, would give Dee the warning to evade.

Given that she hadn't given a time limit on her offer, it was only fair that her newly acquired practice dummy sparring partner took her time to aim. Still, when the attack came her way - a knockback jinx that seemed impressively powerful for a first year - Dee managed to dance out of the way easily, twisting away light on her feet, ponytail swinging. There's been enough tells, enough time to prepare for her, too. The aim would've been good... if Dee hadn't moved.

"Not bad!" she called over. A smile was tugging on her lips. She did love duelling, after all. "At least, if you're targeting a dummy. You'll have to do better to hit me. My turn."

Without giving the girl a second to prepare, Dee whipped her wand, quick and efficient. "Flipendo." Surprise, she found, usually worked better than taking a long moment to aim. Rely on your instincts - act, don't think.

Reducio

Dee casts Flipendo.
Wis: [d20: 17] + 12 = 29
Acc: [d20: 12] + 13 = 25
Eva: [d20: 10] + 7 = 17

Again, the streak of blue flashed across the stage, hitting its target squarely, and Dee's smile widened into a grin, blue eyes shining in the dim light that was filtering in through the windows. She wasn't going to go easy on the Gryffindor girl just because she was younger; after all, she had gotten herself into this situation herself. "See?" she asked, twisting her wand around her fingers, her stance comfortable, relaxed. "Don't give your opponent time to get ready for your attack. Speed is your friend."

@Raizel Voltrouz

A quick cast and a powerful blast, Raizel could see how big the difference was between her and the older student as soon as that powerful flipendo had hit her once more. The way the older student did it was too fast for her, not giving her any space nor time for reacting to it. Speed? The first year wondered as she bares the pain from the knockback jinx, her arms limping in front of her, recovering from that blow. Speed, the element of surprise. To think that despite getting beaten without any mercy by someone who is older, experienced and powerful, she is still getting dueling advice. In a way, it was making all the pain worth it. That thought was enough to make her grin, glad that she's learning but she can't deny that those blows still hurts. She'll definitely feel that for the rest of her day or even the following days.

She wasn't expecting for this to be easy the moment she agreed to be the sparring partner of a skilled duelist. Sparring partner might be an overstatement, she is more of a moving target dummy if you call this moving anyway. No, she knows this is gonna be hard. The chances of her getting a hit in is very low. There is a high possibility that the spells coming for her would be powerful enough to knock her out in just one shot. She had taken two powerful ones already, and boy, her body is aching so much. Still, she remained standing, maybe not looking as well as before, but still standing.

Dueling, she'd do anything to learn more about it although she may have been reckless with this decision. But ever since she had heard about it, she had already decided she would go down that path no matter how hard it'll be and it is quite thrilling. Well, she's not in her house's team but that won't be enough to stop her from trying. Maybe one day, she could finally become an official duelist. When though, that she doesn't know. Raizel shook her head, getting her focus back, holding on to her wand tightly. Fast casting, that should catch them by surprise right? Hopefully. She will follow that advice then. She has a spell in mind and maybe if she's quick enough to cast it, it could catch the older student off guard.

That idea made her chuckle. There's no way this will work. The girl in front of her is nimble on her feet that maybe even after catching her by surprise, she would just avoid it. Then again, it never hurts to try. "Arresto Momentum!" Raizel made a quick gesture, pointing her wand at her target as soon as possible. Why did she cast that spell? She couldn't get a hit in so perhaps, if her opponent is slowed down, maybe that'll increase her chances. It was a successful cast as shown by the flash of blue light from her wand but unfortunately, it was still avoidable. It was worth a shot although the result was quite disappointing. "That was... unfortunate." Raizel uttered with a small smile, keeping herself together despite the powerful spells that had hit her. She really thought she had that. If she managed to impress the older student with that attempt though, then guess she could take that.

Dee was ready for the kid to give up any moment. She didn't look too sturdy, and she'd taken two rather powerful spells already - there was a reason Flipendo had a place in duels even with fourth and fifth years. Those hits had to have hurt, left her sore, muscles cramping from compensating for the impact and keeping her upright. The realisation had to be coming, that the Gryffindor couldn't possibly win this confrontation, was nowhere near an equal to Dee on the duelling field. Perhaps there would be tears, anger, frustration. Merlin knew Dee would not have taken a defeat like this well.

Yet, the girl kept surprising her. Rather than show her frustration, get sloppy with her casting, or even giving up, the young Gryffindor took her advice.

There was no long pause this time; the girl had scarcely recovered from getting hit with the second knockback jinx when she was already casting, and Dee, surprised, only managed to duck away by instinct. She dropped low, then spun away to the side as she straightened up, a surprised but delighted smile stretching across her lips. "Oh? That wasn't half bad!" she called over, then paused, her brain belatedly processing the spell she had just evaded. "Wait, aren't you a first year?" Had she misjudged her sparring partner's age? She really didn't think she'd seen the girl around before, but then, Dee wasn't exactly known for paying attention to people that hadn't managed to wake her curiosity first. "That was the slowing charm, wasn't it?" She stashed that little tidbit away for later examination.

It wouldn't do to slow down now after just giving her new dummy slash mentee the advice to be quick, so Dee slid back into casting position, body angled sideways and back straight, wand movement quick and precise. Another knockback jinx, there was no need to get fancy now.

Reducio

Dee casts Flipendo
Wisdom: [d20: 2] + 12 = 14
Accuracy: [d20: 20] + 13 = 33
Evasion: [d20: 9] + 6 = 15
Hit!

The spell came out lightning fast and flew straight as an arrow. Her aim had taken into account any movement that the Gryffindor might have made, and the spell hit the girl squarely. Satisfaction ran warm through Dee's veins and her thumb ran down the handle of her wand, as if stroking it in acknowledgement. Her aim was getting better.

Three hits in, and Dee raised an eyebrow at the kid. "Let me know if you need a break," she offered.

@Raizel Voltrouz

Much like before, there wasn't enough time to react or to even avoid the incoming spell from the older student, not even enough time to answer the question that was thrown at her. Fast and precise, always finding its mark, it was astonishing, especially upon seeing it up close like this. The moment that Raizel snapped out of her trance was when she was already on the floor, on her back, looking up to the ceiling of the dueling club with aches running all over her body, feeling a bit dazed. Exhausted and perhaps barely conscious but, these are all worth it for such a spelltacular meeting.

The sounds around her were muffled as she recovered but she did manage to hear what the older student said in the end. "I'm okay! But uh… yes, I would like a break…" the first year responded, raising her arm and waving it as if to say 'time out'. Slowly, she got up, sitting on the floor and then looking at the older student with a smile on her face. How she could manage that with her body aching so much is a mystery even to her. It's probably the adrenaline coursing through her body though. "That was… thrilling." She said in between breaths, still catching it after such an intense practice if you call that practice. The older girl seems satisfied with the result so guess she made a pretty good practice dummy.

She was about to stand up but her legs kind of gave up on her the moment she did, sitting back down. That made her chuckle. "I guess I'm sitting down for a while." She remarked, the floor looking quite nice, making her want to just lie down. "And yeah, I'm a first year." She finally got the chance to answer the older girl's question. "I just stumbled upon that spell and thought 'hey, this seems cool' and before I knew it, I was already trying to practice it and learn it." She shrugged. Spells are nice and some were easily picked up by the Gryffindor for some reason. Probably because of how familiar they are considering that her father showed her a couple of spells to impress her before or perhaps just a natural talent that she herself isn't aware of. Her gaze fell on the older student, grinning. "You're awesome."

The girl accepted Dee's offer for a break from the ground, hand flapping around like a wet flannel, and Dee snorted in amusement. It had been a short practice so far but a successful one, so she tucked her wand safely away, then skipped over to where the Gryffindor was slowly working herself into a sitting position, a grin on her face. Her blood was still flowing fast, fueling her energy, and her eyes were bright in her face. Duelling had that effect on her.

Still, she let herself drop to the floor next to the kid, folding her feet into a cross-legged position and leaning back on her arms, relaxed. "Glad you had fun," she replied, her eyebrows twitching slightly, but unable to fight the smile on her face. Not that she was trying very hard. "Honestly, duelling is thrilling. This was nothing. You should try a real duel." Which would also see her matched with opponents more on her level, and might prove a less... painful experience. Even if this strange child seemed to have enjoyed it either way.

The kid still seemed a little disoriented, legs buckling beneath the attempt at getting up, and Dee giggled brightly. "Wait, hold on." She hopped onto her feet - no trace of unsteadiness there, but then, she hadn't just taken three knockback jinxes to the chest in quick succession - and bounded over to her bag and her ever-present chocolate stash. One bar would do, she decided, returning to her place on the ground next to her victim sparring partner, and breaking the bar in half. "Here you go," she offered with a wink, taking a bite of her own half. "That should help... maybe not with the weak knees, but chocolate helps with pretty much everything else, right?"

She chewed on her own chocolate, listening to the girl's response to her earlier question, and nodded. She'd met other people before who learned spells ahead of their year; Samantha or Jack Burnett were just a few examples. "Not bad," she conceded, her tone approving. "It's always good to have more spells in your repertoire than your opponents." She squinted at the girl. "Are you on the duelling team? I don't think I've seen you before. What's your name, anyway?" No offer of her own name followed the question; a bad habit that had persisted ever since her first year. Introductions were overrated, and frankly, she'd gotten used to people recognising her, for one reason or the other.

She hummed, then blinked, surprised at the unexpected compliment, laughter bubbling up her throat. "I am, aren't I?" she replied, not a hint of self-consciousness visible in her face or posture. If anything, her voice carried a trace of self-satisfaction along with the amusement. "Don't worry, with a bit more practice and my advice, you'll be awesome in no time, too." What likely sounded like either a joke or a self-aggrandising statement was in truth not entirely unfounded - she had, after all, been the Ravenclaw duelling captain for two years. (Of course, it was still all of those things as well.)

@Raizel Voltrouz