Ase was positioned on a small stool in her war tent, surrounded by a semi-circle of four of her closest confidants. The half-fae woman was leaned forward with her elbows on her knees, listening to the susurrant of the others. Her demeanor was marmoreal, as it always was when she was at battle. She cast her eyes outside of the tent and internally sighed, standing from her perch and holding up a hand to cease the conversation.

“Your musings and warnings are inutile. This duel shall continue until..well until one of us falls.”

As their Commander said this, the four others in the tent shot up, their stools falling to the ground. A chorus of objections sounded and Ase heaved a heavy sigh.

“If you’ve forgotten, men, this is war!” She raised her voice over the clamor. How could four people make so much noise? “We come, we fight, we die….or we don’t. This..conflict with that...man is a conflict of respect. Now leave. I have to prepare.”

The four filed out and Ase tied the cloth flaps of the tent closed. She pulled off her normal red dress and went to the chest where her military accoutrement was stored. She pulled open the heavy lid and propped it up with her elbow, leaning in and picking up her vest. She pulled the thick material on before following it with the rest of her wartime apparel.

The woman stood in front of a small, mounted wall mirror and did her hair in an appropriate style. She braided the sides back and pulled up a portion of the back into a loose bun-like situation. She stepped back and admired herself for a moment before nodding, and going off to get her weapons. Though she had options of more advanced weaponry, she thought it best, for the duels at least, to use blades, staffs, and spears.

A shining Pompeii-style gladius was hung on the cloth wall above the bed. It had a slight tawny coloration when the light hit it just right. Ase climbed onto the bed and took the sword from its place. The leather-wrapped wooden hilt felt distantly familiar, yet she had never used the brone-steel alloy weapon. It had been her mothers, gifted to her when she achieved Commandership. Ase examined the sword for a moment and took a few swings. It certainly was a nice weapon.

The woman found a sheath for the weapon and tied it to her waist, turning the sword to its new place. She pulled a short, handheld spear from the chest she’d opened earlier, along with a pair of bamboo sticks, about twenty-eight inches in length each. She placed the spear in a sling on her back and her mini-staffs in a holster on her hip.

Ase lined her face with dark kohl to protect her eyes from the sun before walking out of her tent, head held high. She looked around at her armymen, who filtered out of their tents when they had caught sight of her. She nodded to them slightly and hefted an armor-clad arm into the air. They all did the same and exclaimed a single phrase.

“In omnia paratus.”

Kalen stared up at the top of his tent, his dark green gaze burning through. He saw the images of past battles flashing through his mind, the memories burned into his mind. His family was lost, murdered. His hands gripped the handle of the blade, the leather worn slightly, rough with fraying leather. The blade has been serving him for years now, the broad sword made from a celestial metal that most weapons they used were. It was an incredibly powerful material, mortal blades didn’t stand a chance against it.

His wings shined in the light, the long feathers fluttering in the slight breeze. Kalen’s wings spread, stretching out in the tent. He heard the man outside, calling his name. Sliding the blade back into its sheath on his waist, folding his large wings behind his back once more. Kalen made his way out of the tent, ducking under the opening. He glanced around, noticing the small group of men standing around the burning fire, waiting for him.

Kalen joined the group, looking at each of them in turn as he waited for one of them to speak. He waited, only to be met with silence, the men staring at him, waiting for him to speak. “I know what you’re all thinking, but this is the best way to take them down once and for all” he told him, his voice clear. He was met once more with silence, the crackling flames filling the void left by the lack of replies. Their faces were solemn, some even showing slight signs of anger, hatred.

Kalen knew how they felt, and he felt the same way. But he needed to keep a clear head if he wished to be victorious in the battle. They needed every win they could get, bringing them closer to finally winning the war over the enemy once and for all. He nodded to them, before jumping into the air, his wings spreading wide as he soared upwards, the warm breeze on his skin. He paused, halting himself in mid-air. Giving himself a minute to look around, he looked down at the ground far below him, taking in the landscape underneath.

Kalen pushed it to the back of his mind, taking off once more in the direction he needed to go, the clearing in the middle of the forest. The forest was a decent way away from where they had set up camp, the tents flushed with the emerald green and grey colours of their Kingdom. His metal armour and fabric clothing mirroring those same colours. The tents blended in almost perfectly with the forest when night fell, but in daylight, that was when they needed to be most alert. To prevent any surprises coming their way.

He landed down in the clearing, a slight cloud of dirt and dust billowing out from his feet. His wings outstretched, his hand almost immediately going to rest on the hilt of his blade, ready. “Hello, my dear” he said out loud, looking around, in an almost mocking voice.

Ase turned at the slightly mocking sound of her opponent’s voice. Her top lip twitched slightly in agitation and she rested a hand on the hilt of her mother’s sword. Her nose twitched slightly as the dust tickled her nostrils. She sighed through her nose and rolled her shoulders. She cast her eyes up to the anathematic grumbletonian in front of her. It was a new and hated thing to her; looking up at someone.

The woman had to admit, though, the man wasn’t horrid on the eyes. His voice resonated like a brontide when he spoke and his face held an overall selcouth look. Yes, he might be quite handsome..if he weren’t an enemy! But he was. So, all Ase saw was a slubberdegullion of the opposition. No more than an ant to crush under her boot. She kept her eyes hardened as she stared into her opponent’s

“What a bold tone of voice..for someone who will soon be evanescent. This may well be your dies irae.” It may well be your own..

True, she may have come off as cocky, but that was simply a facade. She knew that, at any time, one of them may be felled by the other’s sword. Her side still twinged with pain. A casualty of one of their past duels. This clearing had become a sort of..deleterious latibule to her. As had her meetings with this man. They had formed a sort of internecine bond. For once, Ase was not solivagant in the company of another.

Maybe it wasn’t the man himself and instead the pain they both received in this place. Maybe it was the coddywomples she developed when she witnessed his wrath, and he hers.

The half-fae’s lips twitched up from their louring form before, into a bitter almost half-smile.

Kalen watched her quietly as she looked up to him, her face one of anger. It was almost amusing. “Bold? Maybe” he replied. He continued to walk along the tree line, his hand remaining on the hilt of the sword, ready for if she decided to make a move. He watched the edge of the trees, as he did almost every time they were here. It was almost a ritual at this point, he’d make a cocky greeting, and then just pace around the clearing, eyes on the trees.

Kalen’s dark green gaze almost reflected the same green of the forest, his wings folded comfortably behind his back. He glanced over at her, with a slight smirk on his face. “How’s your side doing?” he asked her, nodding to her side, where he had previously wounded her. For a moment, he almost felt guilty but then remembered, she was a fae. She almost deserved it.

The Fae and the Dark Fae had been at war for years, generations. Their own little rivalry is the result of it. It was something that had been happening for so long, that it almost felt natural. The species’ needed something to hate, a rival, some form of cause or battle to be fighting. Some of his kind were talking about peace, but it was quickly shut down by the authorities. Their Kingdom needed it, they craved the violence, the war.

Kalen finished his little habit of walking around pointlessly as they greeted one another, walking over to her slowly, his eyes catching her every move. He approached her, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword, ready to have to pull it out at a moment's notice. If she was planning to try something, he’d be prepared for it. Kalen had made the mistake once of underestimating her, and he had paid dearly for it, wounded for quite some time.

Kalen watched her for a moment, before chuckling to himself. Sliding the sword out of its sheath, he stepped back a few steps, holding it firmly in his hand as he watched her, waiting for her to make a move, to try something. Their little bouts were almost entertaining to him, obviously they were still fighting for their lives, but it was amusing to him now.

Ase pulled her sword from its resting place on her hip. The sword gleamed a dark tawnyish silver as the setting sun’s last rays hit it. The wielder whirled the blade in her hand to get a nice grip on it. Her eyes stayed trained on him, simply observing him.

“My side is fine. And yours?”

A flicker of challenge sparked in her eyes and she took a step towards him. She came up to about his chin, but she kept her air as intimidating as she could. That’s right, you channel your inner Chihuahua, girl.

Ase found her mind drifting to their first meeting in this place. That was..so long ago. She was tired..marcid. Her form had gone from prime fighting form to the form of a gaunt, slight woman who had scarcely taken care of herself. Her nights were spent without food and sleep, as she was so concentrated on her strategy for the coming day. Her mornings were spent uhtceare and...also strategizing. Her afternoons were filled with musings and faint memories of her family. Of course, she did eventually consume some nutrition in the form of a rock-like mixture of protein powders, nutritional yeast, and vitamins called hard-tack.

The woman pulled herself out of her stupor and she whelved her agowilt. She pulled one of her mini-staffs from the holster on her hip and made an attempted off-hand hit to his side. WIth her sowrd hand, she took a swing as well. She hoped to the gods that at least one hit. For..if they didnt..

She had taken a chance by using two weapons because if neither blow landed, she would be defenseless in preparation for his retaliation. And, there’s the inertia to think about. So, if neither attack hit, she’d go spinning.

For the sake of these to warring, finifugal kingdoms.

The half fae’s staff swung….and missed. Here’s to hoping her sword would glance a blow.

Kalen watched, intrigued as she pulled out her blade, his eyes not once moving from her as she whirled it around, making sure to keep a firm grip on his own. He chuckled softly, but nodding, “Yeah, good as new” Kalen told her the fae.

He watched in curiosity as she came up to him, relishing in the fact that she physically had to look up to be able to look at him when standing where she was. Looking down at her, Kalen could practically see the anger behind her eyes, the way she wanted to kill him, as did he, but didn’t.

It had become something of a game, a game of cat and mouse. To see who would reign victorious over each little bout, but still coming back the next day to go again. They had both changed since their very first meeting. She had grown into a more dangerous, stunning woman, both refining and improving their fighting skills as time had gone on.

Kalen wouldn’t have even been able to recognize himself from before this had started. He had been full of hatred, seeing no hope in life or the world, but now, he knew if he wanted change, he had to change it .

Kalen smiled as she moved, the small staff swinging towards him, he winced as he let the staff hit his side, moving just enough to avoid any serious damage, focusing on retaliating to her blade.

Ase just managed to duck out of the way of the sword that had been flung back towards her. And when I say just managed, I mean just managed. She managed to miss the brunt of the blow, but acquired a small gash on her cheek. Her lip twitched up into something between a grimace and a snarl.

The woman did not, however, manage to keep hold of her staff. A combination of his words, and his strength managed to catch her off guard, and she loosed her grip on the bamboo weapon. What did he mean by that? Was she not good enough? No, no, she had defeated many others other than he. She’d acquired many scars from others more powerful than he. But maybe this was the decline of her prowess.

Her thoughts moved to the name he’d deemed fit to be her nickname. She knew it was just to antagonize her, but she couldn’t help but read further into it. What did he really think of her? What did she really think of him? Would they have even met if she’d not marched her troops closer twords the opposing kingdom? Or he his troops?

These were not the questions to be posed in a battle, she’d realized. Oh, yeah, she was literally fighting for her life at the moment. Maybe she shouldn’t be wondering if they, as they battled alone in this clearing, could mix the immiscible. Stop woolgathering, Ase!! Now is not the time to recondite.

The woman pulled herself from her thoughts and regained a firm grasp on her sword. Her eyes sparked with even more emotion than before as she cast a glance up at him. “Of course not.”

With that, she swung her sword again, putting all of her weight behind it and spinning on the tips of her feet.

Kalen grinned softly as he watched his blade nicking onto her cheek as she barely managed to dodge the full power of the swing. But his dismay of his blade not having a better effect, was short lived, as she lost her hold on the bamboo, the mini staff now in his possession.

Using the split second of free time he had while she reacted, he used it to toss the stick away from them, out of reach of either of them. Now he just had to get rid of the other one.

The mini staffs a little bit of a problem, due to the thick bamboo it was made off, he doubted they’d break without using some kind of blade. Plus, they could definitely do some serious damage if he were to be hit with one with a good force.

Kalen’s eyebrows raised ever so slightly as she responded to him, her eyes giving away the emotions she had, which was slightly concerning to him. He frowned in confusion slightly, realizing too late what she meant. As she swung, he stepped back, trying to dodge the blade, but felt it dragging along his forearm slightly, the sting of the blade cutting into him making him hiss slightly.

Kalen looked back at her, her eyes almost burning. Flexing his hand slightly, he pushed past the pain of the cut, adjusting his hold on the blade. Using his other hand, he grabbed her sword arm, pulling her towards him.

His blade went up to her neck, the length of it resting threateningly against her skin. It wasn’t enough to cut her yet, but the pressure on it was clear. The blood from his arm began to run in droplets down his arm. “You’re pathetic, darling”