Just Once More
As Adeline's second year gradually closed in on her, only one goal rattled around in her mind. While the previous semester had brought an array of new experiences, acquaintances, and a dose of well needed confidence, it would be this year that Addie truly made her presence known at Hogwarts.──────────────────
| Stamina 8 | Evasion 7 | Strength 4 | Wisdom 7 | Arcane Power 7 | Accuracy 7 |
North Beach, Tenby, August 28th 2025
| speaking | thinking | all other dialogue |
Set out in the hot sand before Adeline was an endurance course of her own design. The young raven spent many summer days up in her bedroom, reading up on a newfound curiosity of hers; dueling. Face to face, wand to wand, old-school dueling. It made her heart race to imagine challenging her peers in such a way. It would not be hard to assume that Addie would falter as a duelist, that her passive demeanor would reflect her magical potency. Where Adeline lacked raw power, she compensated with intelligence ten fold. Her opponent’s strength was irrelevant if their magic could never find its mark. Taking a moment to catch her breath, she turned to face the Welsh sea. The seafoam lapped lazily at her purple polished toes.
As frustrating as it may be, students are strictly prohibited from using magic outside of school. Had that not been the case, the girl would have spent her summer hurling jinxes into the ocean, rather than passing her time refining her dueling stance and perfecting foot work. Alas, ducking beneath branches, leaping over driftwood logs, and endlessly performing pivot maneuvers would be the best she could do while in Tenby.
Just once more... she promised herself vainly, pushing sticky brown curls from her forehead. She took a deep breath, before springing forward through the course twice more, ducking, dodging, and diving with perfect precision.
Once satisfied, Adeline collapsed into the sand, exhaustion shown in the rapid rise and fall of her chest. Many moments passed before the breath returned to her lungs, and even then she did not budge. As her body stilled, her brain began to race.
It would be just over a month before Adeline would return for her second year at Hogwarts, and while she was primarily thrilled to be back amongst the magic of the castle, the anxiousness of making the team weighed heavily on her conscience. There were so many students that were stronger, better, after all. "Stop doubting yourself." The words slipped out of her mouth, almost as if they were somebody else's. It would be easier said than done. With a bit of effort, she sat herself up in the sand. "You've earned it..."
Adeline rose to her feet and dusted the sand from her body, ignoring the shaking in her knees, and the sharp sting of sun-burnt shoulders. Her blue eyes turned back towards the course.
"Just once more." She grinned.