#4 - Let's Cut The Tension

The amount of duels taking place was interesting to note. Was there usually this much traffic in the Duelist Chamber? Nyx saw a couple of first years going at it, but quickly deemed it boring. She didn't understand why anyone would want to watch two little kids attempt magic. They still had so much to learn. Her attention quickly fleeted over toward the next duel, where she saw Luckett Langford defeat Tiana Thomas. She didn't know the pair of them had been there, or for how long, but was amused by the fact that Thomas had lost. Served her right. Nyx noticed her cousin too, and would've approached her, but was too preoccupied trying to clear her head.

Then, she heard him. It was the voice of someone so unwarrantedly condescending. Ronan O'Rourke. Her eyes rolled hard at his words. Nordstrom immediately shot him a look, allowing him to see the disgust on her lovely face, the revulsion she couldn't hide. Did he just call her princess? Why was O'Rourke even talking to her? It was the second time that day. "Handle you?" she scoffed, her tone impertinent. "I'll dispose of you," she retorted with indignation. Maybe this is what she needed; to duel someone she disliked. A reboot for her morale of sorts.

Without any hesitation, Nyx retrieved her maple wand from her pocket, quickly positioning herself across from the Gryffindor boy. She didn't know what it was about Gryffindor. They all seemed like a bunch of self–absorbed, delusional idiots. "I can't wait to put you in your place," she said aloud, referring to him, but also to any and every Gryffindor. They all needed to be put in their place—well, except Jade Arwell. She was family, after all. Nordstrom arched one delicately sculpted brow as she sized him up. She hadn't noticed before, but he was pretty well built. Too bad muscles didn't matter in magic. With a flick, Nyx sent a charm his way.

He kept a smirk on his face as he watched on, scanning her movements with a clear curiosity.  She was talented at most things, at best, if he failed perhaps he could learn from anything she did.  Then when she hit him with her spell, he stumbled, almost losing his footing but catching himself.  He had surprising balance for a young man with his physique and managed to regain his footing rather quickly.  Then he sized her up for a moment, still eyeing over at her.

Truth be told his disposition could annoy some people and probably lead to the response he'd gotten. He dubbed her princess not really to snark towards her as one might suggest, but if he were looking for anyone who looked 'royal' like a princess. She had the look.  But he wasn't going to say that...  Instead, "You know if you weren't so, you know, like that all the time you'd almost be cute. Almost."  He laughed as he stood there, planting himself in place like a tree.

He pulled out his lengthy wand and twirled it around in his hand for a moment, before gazing towards her...  with a swift movement he retaliated with a charm of his own in her general direction.

He noticed her block and knocked his charm right back at him.  He should have been angry, but Ronan was honorable when the hit came back at him.  He tried his best to stave off the move and take it like a man, and to some level, he did it.  Nearly knocked off his feet again but defiantly turning back in her direction and looking towards her with piercing eyes.  To be fair he nearly twisted an ankle and it felt kind of horrible being knocked in a circle, but he wasn't going to let her know that.

In spite of things looking grim, one should never underestimate Ronan and his resolve.  He brandished his wand and adjusted his stance and footing.  He made sure not to favor the ankle he felt get a little twisted on that turn around earlier.  "I am nothing if not honorable...  good work on that one."  He offered her a smile, expecting a cold response right back and he wasn't too worried about that.  He had somehow gotten used to it.

"My turn."  He said as he brandished his wand again.  The only way to improve at using this thing was to put it to use, so he swiftly cast another charm, sending it in her direction.

His offensive smacked her in the side of the neck. Nyx stumbled sideways, tossing a glare at him. It felt like with some spells, the more resistance they met from her, the more painful they became. It was quite odd. She didn't understand how Amara Seabrook was able to feel almost nothing. That thought still troubled Nordstrom. Seabrook had to have been so used to taking offensive hits that she had grown numb to them. There was no other explanation. Was she really abused as rumored? Nyx shook the dark thought from her mind, not trying to become distracted from her current situation. Despite taking a hit, she was still leading O'Rourke.

"You're not honorable, you're contemptible," she spat, her words rushing together. You could tell she was angry and annoyed by the way her hand tightened around her wand. Nyx didn't even want to duel the prat anymore, she wanted to curse him. She pursed her pink lips in displeasure, disliking the fact she had even taken a hit from the obnoxious Gryffindor. It was definitely different dueling someone like Ronan O'Rourke. She felt more purpose in her casting, more feeling. When she dueled an opponent like Seabrook, whom she had respect for, it felt more like training. It wasn't as fun without the hatred, but was definitely more educational.

Nordstrom readied herself for the next incantation. She knew it was getting down to the wire, so she had to make this turn count. Nyx remembered what had happened in her previous duel with Amara and knew that going with a spell she was familiar with was her best chance at putting the loathsome boy down. With a wave of her wand, she cast another spell with the utmost confidence. The incantation blasted from the tip of her wand like a colorful flash of lightning, as she balanced lithely in place. If this didn't connect, she had a chance at losing.