#4 - Duel-O-Rama!

Darn it. She got him again. This time, he flung down onto one knee, with a little more force than expected. He cringed internally at the pain, but didn't show it. The last thing he wanted to do was show any physical weakness against a first year. His reputation would be reduced to that of a laughing stock. Instead of him cracking jokes, he'd be the joke. Lucky picked himself back up, shaking his leg at the same time. 'Your spells pack quite a punch.' He paid her the compliment, because why not. She was a young one, and could maybe use the morale boost.

But, let's face it. If anyone needed a morale boost it was Luckett Langford. He loosened the tie around his neck, deciding that was what was holding him back from his true potential. Lucky looked down at the girl and positioned himself, ready to make his next, hopefully last, move. 'I hope this doesn't hurt.' He made sure she heard that one, planning to give his next offense all the intention he could muster. If he learned anything from today, it was that intention when casting had a great affect. He gave his wand a tiny twirl, before punching it toward the girl.

Grace's wand tumbled out of her hand in a fire of sparks. She ran after it, grabbing it off the ground. This would go in with her losses, for sure. Darn! And she was so close, too. "Pretty good for a first year, right?" she said nervously. She liked duelling. She just had to figure out some better strategies next time. "Good match, then..."

She didn't usually shake hands with her opponents, so she made no such move to do it now. Her mind didn't jump there. Instead, she just nodded. It was good enough. Maybe by the time she got to her fifth year, she'd be even better than the Hufflepuff boy was.

Jade was pleased when Tiana came to find her after that Daymoth training thing or whatever it was. They'd caught up very briefly, then headed off to the Duellist Chamber as Tiana had plans that Jade fully supported. She wasn't the biggest fan of Lucky herself, though Jade wasn't as fussy about things as her friends tended to be. If Lucky was friendly enough, she tolerated him just fine. 

She was there to support her bestie though, so that was prioritised over everything else. 'You got this, Ti.' Jade nodded, always supportive of her best friend even if some of their combined ideas tended to be rather ridiculous at times. Jade gathered anything Tiana left behind, such as her robes and bag etc. She kept them neat and guarded over by the nearest seats along the rounded wall.

While she was one to enjoy combat, Jade wasn't in the mood to do any duelling herself today. She was still processing the whole Nyx situation - who, interestingly enough, was also in that room somewhere boldly taking on Amara Seabrook. Jade would loved to have watched, but Tiana was the one who was always there for her and needed her support right now. 

Unfortunately, Lucky got the first hit in and Tiana's defensive spell wasn't enough to shake it off. Jade cheered her on as if she was winning though, hoping to boost Tiana's confidence when needed. She laughed when Lucky landed on his ass though, as deserved. 

Tiana lost the duel, though. Jade grumbled, crossing her arms in shared disappointment. Some brave Gryffindor first year stepped up to challenge Lucky next. Jade was all for supporting her house, but was more interesting in chatting with Tiana. 

'You okay?' she asked. 'That was a pretty terrible loss. Who knew Langford had it in him, huh?' Jade shrugged, offering Tiana a water bottle from the captain's own bag or robes or wherever Jade had retrieved it from. Or maybe it was hers? Did Tiana carry one? Jade was so used to them sharing belongings that it was never clear who owned what or who brought what with them.

'Gonna give it another go once they're done?' Jade asked Tiana, indicating to the first years. Where were those duelling firsties coming from? It hardly seemed fair that they were already that good at wand combat, compared to some 5th years. And Quidditch captains at that.

Grace DP: 5
Gerald DP: 5 3

Grace cast an offensive spell (score: 6), which overpowers Gerald's defensive spell (score: 4). Grace wins the round.

Grace DP: 5 3
Gerald DP: 5 3

Gerald cast an offensive spell (score: 4), which overpowers Grace's defensive spell (score: 2). Gerald wins the round.

Grace DP: 5 3
Gerald DP: 5 3 2

Grace cast an offensive spell (score: 2), which overpowers Gerald's defensive spell (score: 1). Grace wins the round.