[Lost]-BystanderLC vs Cornelius Haldenburg, A generic character? Might be bad.

(Okay, I'm gonna go with a third-person narrative with the ability to read my character's feelings, not necessarily his thoughts)

(@Cornelius Haldenburg: I'll let you have the first attack. I want your introduction and an example of an attack)

"Sigh, I'm at an academy and I feel like a new guy all over again."

He glanced around. Apparently, a lot of first battles start inside a forest and his wasn't any different. Although, he never expected the arena to be on top of a stump.

To be clear, the stump was a few miles wide. Its surface was considered clean from afar, but ragged up close. Every other tree was just as wide as this one, but miles apart from each other. The canopy, which showed no sign of a sky anywhere, had transparent leaves that let the sun flow in. There was a name for this forest. He read it from somewhere and forgot.

"My name is Checkers Piece." Okay, a little bit embarrassed. "Checkers the mage." Okay, that name sucked after all. No, maybe it'd be better with a capital M. "Checkers the Mage!" ...Saying his name for the third time just made him feel more retarded. Perhaps a poem would be better.

"Nothing rhymes with Checkers." Yeah, talking to himself isn't helping at all. Screw it, he'll have his cliched moments some other time.

...

He's here. Whatever was unnerving Checkers was gone now. His small smile was there, but his face managed a more serious look.

Cornelius walked slowly into the Academy arena, dragging himself along with his cane as always, gently ornamented with his golden handle and ebony shaft. "Welcome to this Arena young one, my name is Cornelius Haldenburg" His voice was hollow ringing in the empty training grounds. The old man was dressed neatly in a duelist fashion, with a longsleeved white shirt and a bright red leather tunic. The old man corrected his gloves in a timely fashion.

"Well then young one - Shall we begin? I am dying to dance" Cornelius had hardly spoken those words before he lifted his cane pointing at the front of his feet, uttering a quick phrase of the Ethereal language conjuring up a small fire catching flame to the old stumb, yet strangely only burning in play. Cornelius body flickered again, partially revealing his ethereal nature, but he didn't mind really - This was a test, if the boy would be disturbed by both his appearance and his small tricks he would not stand much chance in the real world.

Cornelius jumped a bit back, letting his leg slide backwards as expecting a counter attack, his cane gently moving in Cornelius' hand like a rapier, not an expert clearly as well as the improvise weapon he was wielding, but it felt natural to his hand and followed like a paralyze fly into the light.

Cornelius bowed a bit respectively returning Checker's poem back.

"Young Checkers... I can't say that works. I like your poem though." He chuckled for a moment and then took a breath.

"Cornelius, is it? Let's dance." He said it without thinking. He didn't really want to think. He didn't want to be surprised. And so he ran towards Cornelius with a clenched fist. At a close look, his fist started to have a dim red glow. After reaching the center of the stump, he swung his fist around him as if it was a wrecking ball and released a small fireball at Cornelius.

With that, Checkers continued running towards Cornelius while preparing another fireball.

The smile on Cornelius face revealed his foresight, the boy would answer with projectiles, mainly to avoid chaotic damage no doubt, the stumb was flammable, and in any case of conjuring fire on it could prove more deadly than useful. However his plan of retalliation required more finesse than he could muster as the ball of flame clearly wouldn't be the only one. Cornelius closed his eyes, brazing for the hit, refusing to move. If he could lure the boy into thinking he got a good hit in, maybe he could lure out overconfidence too.

The blast from the fireball scorched unto Cornelius' shoulder, making the ethereal taking a step back, his entire true form revealing to Checkers in spirit and essence, the body as if struck by lightning echoed small sparks all over, responding to the magical spell, specificly around a hole where the ball had struck. Cornelius took a deep breath, and the form came together again, however the pain was unquestionable, it hurt the spirit badly to take the hit without making any dodging manoveure.

Cornelius tried to smile as his form began to project his human appearance. "My move Child." Cornelius flickered suddenly appearing right next to Checkers, trying to trip him with the cane, in his run over the stumb against Cornelius' earlier position. Again remaining still tutorly, the old man didn't prepare for an attack, but removed his cane from the ground where he tried to trip Checkers and looked towards him, standing or not.

He was shaking. It wasn't his opponent's odd reaction, or whatever that form was, that startled him. He figured it was a trick of light, or at least the new after-effect of his first fireball. No, his attention was mostly focused on one thing. Continuing his attack. But the second his eyes glanced away from his red hand, he heard something he didn't expect. Not within that time frame.

"My move Child."

His foot suddenly caught on something and the first reflex was to stop his face from hitting the ground. Unfortunately for him, it was the hand he had prepared for the attack.

"Thinking back on it now, it was like making my first step to hell." An unnatural heat seemed to grasp the air in his mouth and tore it away before it could reach the lungs. Granted, his first fireball on the offense was just seconds ago. But his first accident followed right up.

That section of the stump roared in ablaze as he instinctively jumped back to his feet. Whatever magic he had planned, he unintentionally poured it all out in that mistake. Glancing at Cornelius, he saw the old man looking like he planned this out. His third reflex was to throw a blind punch at that face.

Unaware of Checkers intention the fist made it's way towards his face fast, unable to react in time to the blind punch and create a telekinetic barrier to make a sense of firm nature, the fist passed right thought the Ethereal's face, leaving sparkles of magic residue on his hand. It was most unfortunate, jumping back again hoping the boy wouldn't notice. He let out a groan, pointing his cane at the fire spreading, letting the tip of the cane turn blue, as he began to bombard as much fire as he could muster with ice, trying to put out the stump. This was critical - He couldn't await Checker's next attack or they would both be caught by the flame.

The flame weakened, but it was still active, hopefully the fire would at least be slown down by the ice. Checker was still a threat however, he had stend too much time with the magic and his powers began dwindling. He felt numb slightly in his ethereal body, unaware what that meant to be certain, but it didn't matter he had to stop the young chap with a minimum of powers instead. Preferably before his hunger for magic began to set in.

"Hmmfph... Boy, are you trying to kill us both?" Cornelius chuckled slightly, trying to show no sign of weakness, but his movement was clearly slowed down by the slight drought.

The punch landed. It definitely landed, but he wasn't sure what he hit. Jumping back, he stared at Cornelius who diverted his attention to the fire.

Hmmfph... Boy, are you trying to kill us both?"

"Whatever it takes to win, right?" He didn't really know why he said that. He just thought that reply was suited to the question.

The fire could definitely not be ignored. Sure, its uncontrolled progress could engulf them both, but if it came to that, he thought the best option would be jump off the stump and start rolling on the ground. The distance from the surface of the stump and the ground was a few feet. The fire was not going to reach the ground any time soon.

That much he believed. But then he still wanted to be on the offense, even without the strength to add any magic. And then he had an idea. He didn't consider if it was a stupid idea or not.

"Okay, let's try THIS!" He said this, more to himself than to his opponent. He hopped a little bit and then flung his foot in the fire. Just like he planned, the flames went airborne with his foot. Another hop and he leashes out a fiery spin kick at Cornelius.

(( Sorry about this delayed answer - I honestly thought I had posted a reply :S ))

Cornelius had no time to ready for the kick and it went right through, pushing him backwards Checkers had perhaps due to sheer luck, been able to put his own body weight through the kick and into the spell, nevertheless, the fire pushed Cornelius backwards, staggering a bit from it all. He was beginning to loose patience. "Indeed - whatever it takes to win". The voice was hollow, as coming from inside a shelled existance, Cornelius smiled carefully, as his disguise gave in, his Ethereal form became clear as day.

"You fight a lost cause boy - I breathe the very fabric of magic!" Cornelius bluffed, he was not able to resist Checkers' spells nor to absorb them, the body repelled this form of refined magic and the pain flying through his body was evident whenever Checkers had hit him. Cornelius chuckled, again this hollow voice ringing in the air. He pointed his cane at Checkers, aiming for his feet, trying to encase one of them in ice.

He was getting desperate, he could feel the magic drain within, and he had to either end the fight soon or flee, whichever would make the sounder option. Planning a quick escape route in his head Cornelius hesitated, looking carefully at Checkers.

Checkers tumbled back into his stance after he landed that kick. The fire on his foot had dissipated and so had the flames surrounding him. However, one other flame was evident. His opponent.

He erased the idea of light tricks from his mind. Perhaps the person in front of him wasn't human; that was the first time he considered it.

"You fight a lost cause boy - I breathe the very fabric of magic!"

Possibilities whirled in Checkers' head. But he knew he had to be on the defensive. If he rushed in again, he would be predictable. He stood where he was, he was a vulnerable target. And seconds later, he didn't have much choice in movement.

An odd ice spell froze directly onto his once hot foot, interrupting his brief thoughts on how to continue the battle. My foot is cold. There wasn't a better way to say it.

Defensive...

Defense. Breathe in. Hold steady.

If he moves his cane again, move a body part.

If he runs toward me, focus on the frozen foot.

If he vanishes, get ready to duck, elbow, or kick. Whatever instinct goes first.

These thoughts echoed into Checkers' focus.

Cornelius could feel his hunger swell inside of him, if he attacked the mage and defeated him, his being wouldn't be able to resist, but to feed on his arcane powers like a vampire feeding on a victim for blood. He had no choice - He had to retreat, before his inner demons took over. Evidently he had not tried to reach the state yet, but he could feel it, his vision shifted from colour to a white and grey noise, and infront of him was the young mage, probably not trained enough yet, the magic raging inside of him. The raw unrefined essence would be a pleasure to feast upon. He closed his eyes trying to focus as well, he had to feel and quick, turning into a Wraith haunting the mages for food was survival, but immoral, he had to survive on the natural magic around him as well as man-made artifacts.

Cornelius snarled a bit to himself, as he fought his inner dilema. He couldn't think anymore, he just had to get out of there, using his last willpower to restrain himself and forming his human appearance. He gave a quick smile to Checkers "Flame of ambition - We'll meet again no doubt young one..." Before disappearing into the dark forest again, flickering out of vision. It was over, he ran again, fleeing the scenery, passing through the trees at his own leisure, he had to find a magic spring or source somewhere, and quick.

"Be well young one" He thought to himself - "Your potential is great, that is without doubt" as he vanished into the night.