Tournament Finals: Mikage vs Kauchemar

Well this has come down to it, the final day of the tournament. Syx was surprised to get the call to MC this match, but he figures his showmanship is what they need to really put butts in seats.

Ever since the fight was announced, Syx has been promoting it, boosting ticket sales and really putting over both fighters to any Lander or Adventurer who would listen to him. Now the time has come. Syx has set up at ringside with his table, though it seems this time he has no co-commentator.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, and anyone anywhere in between, welcome to the final match of the Journey to Eas Tournament!" He doesn't need a microphone, his Harmonics relic lets him carry his voice like he was using one, "We have a spectacular fight for you tonight. Two undefeated were-fangs facing off in a knock down, drag out match to determine the winner!"

He seems to have been working with some of the crew that is helping, because there's a spotlight that appears to be made out of light magic being focused into a mirror from up above, as he directs it at one side of the arena, "First, representing Plant Hwyaden of the Olympus Alliance, we have the Queen of Nightmares. The Dark Pony Express! She'll kill you and then write a number one hit song about it! Kauchemar!"

Once the Nightmare has made her entrance, the spotlight will shut off for a second, only to focus on the other side of the arena, "And her opponent, representing the Silver Sword of the New World Alliance, she's a literal force of nature, the White Storm Mikage!"

Once Mikage has made her entrance, the spotlight disappears and all focus is on the middle of the arena, "Alright you two, I expect this to be the best fight of the tournament. But no matter what goes down, this year we're crowning a new champion! Lets do this!"

Once more the show of dark mists swirl out onto one end of the arena, though there's no singing accompanying it this time. Just a haunting tone of ambience playing in the background of the entrance. The mists churn as a figure becomes visible in them, swishing away as Kauchemar strides through and peeling back foggy tendrils like the Nightmare Werefang had seperated from the very mists themselves. She walks to the center of the arena with the usual confidence in her stride, but as previously noted Kauchemar is just conjuring some eerie ambience rather than singing this time. That's maybe the most clear indicator that she's taking this monumental moment serious... But the lack of musical flare is probably going to end as soon as the fighting starts. We all know how she really is.

She stops, sweeps an arm forward across the midsection and bows. "Mikage. Rana." She is also a summoner subclass so probably no surprise she'd acknowledge the Ranger's animal companion as well. "As the Rival of the Duelist's League it shall be my honor to fight you this day." She takes a step back as she rises and sweeps her arm back out to her side. Ghostly flames briefly crackle at her sides to form summoning circles, out of one which shoots her Binder Sword. She 'catches' it without actually gripping the hilt, as it follows the motion of her arm to point towards Mikage, as the same time the matching Shield Binder emerges from the other circle to hover in position at the mare's other arm. "Just don't expect an easy fight. We wouldn't want to disappoint the audience that's hear to see the Grand Finale, now would we?"

The finals. It is a place that Mikage has been once before, but that doesn't mean that it is any more comforting. In fact, it is exactly the sort of thing that sets her anxiety to 'high' and leaves the pale girl pacing at the edge of the arena until her name is called. She doesn't have the natural confidence that comes with someone more comfortable in front of crowds, but she does manage to raise a hand and wave, offering a smile that seems tentative.

Rama trails behind her as she joins Kauchemar on the battlefield. Slowly, she clasps her hands in front of her and bows, making sure to pay proper respect before rising again, reaching for the rod strapped to her back, identified to most, by now, as Dawnbreaker, the Elemental Machine weapon. "I look forward to seeing how you fight. You certainly left an impression on Cyrus."

Her lip quirks as she shakes her head, "Let's both fight with everything we have and give them a good show." Unfamiliar with how the nightmare fights, Mikage ends up taking more of a defensive posture. Rama takes a place along the outer edge of the arena. As usual, the cat only seems to jump in at certain moments.

Kauchemar smirks a little at that. They were in the same boat for the most part. Kauchemar had seen her fight with Arashi, but that match was so quick paced there wasn't a lot of time to learn much other than she was a Ranger with a cat for a sidekick. She readies herself, possessed sword at hand... and yeah, there it comes, just as the countdown is starting.
"o/~ Don't dismiss me as I trip your alarm
As certainly I mean you more than physical harm
I'm the reining Bard of Darkness here to rock your world
So just sit tight as my little ballad's unfurled o/~"

FIGHT!

Without missing a beat or a step in her sorray Kauchemar conjures up a burst of water and hurtles it at Mikage ... it turns out to be rank grimy water, contaminated with some manner of noxious irritant.

"o/~ My mission is simple -- neverending strife
I worm into your ears then cut like a knife!
My contention is clear, so just surrender your wills
I'm the predator, and I'm here for the thrills! o/~"

Which is quickly followed up by her moving fast and fiercely, lunging forward with her arm ahead as she does, instructing the Binder Sword to thrust forward with it's ghostly auraed blade!

Musical accompaniment is something Mikage isn't exactly used to when it comes to combat, but it seems to offer an interesting feel to what is bound to be a very tense battle. Mikage blinks, obviously not even attempting to try and join the bard in this kind of musical fight, since her skills with music are dubious at best.

Instead, as the strange burst of water comes her way, she braces, grabbing for a potion at her own belt, chugging it down. The two impact at the same time, causing a flickering effect that seems to counter act one another.

However, the shadowy form of the Binder seems to be ignored for now, gambling on her own natural defesnes in order to focus on the attack. Dawnbreaker extends into bow form, power channeling into it as she reaches for an arrow, wincing as the blade comes across her torso, leaving a red line behind it.

Channeling her familiar storm magic, it begins to form around the tip of the arrow as she aims at Kauchemar, the shot creating a series of waves of magical energy that aim to strike one after another.

There is no resting on the moment in this fight. Kauchemar immeadiately draws back from the thrust, stepping back to turn her body and bring the Binder Shield up in front of her.... which may of been a bit of misdirection on what her defense is really going to be, as the same mists as she entered in abruptly swirl across the arena and around them, casting long shadows as the arena's lighting tries to gleam through them. The Nightmare Were Fang just grins at the bow coming up and seems to fade into the shadows she's created thanks to her coloration as well as her dark artes. Dawnbreaker fires it's stormy shot, the waves causing the mists to roll, but it's difficult to tell what struck or didn't strike her elusive opponent.

Amongst the shadows, aware that she's there but any attempt to look directly at the Nightmare can't seem to focus, seeing movement where it may or may not be.

Until Kauchemar is abruptly right behind Mikage, with a vicious onslaught of her own!

Having taken that first slash across her chest, Mikage seems a bit wary of whatever might come as a counter-measure to her powerful bow technique. Enough so that she seems to kick up the spee in the process, utilizing it as an evasive technique. Something that could, hopefully, avoid some of what is thrown at her.

However, she doesn't seem quite done with that bow, yet. Just as in previous battles, it seems that her cooldowns for the bow seem to come up first, allowing her access to two powerful attack techniques.

This time, it is light magic that is focused through the weapon, almost pulsing like a heartbeat as she breaths out, trying to get enough distance between them for a good shot. The arrow glows white, as light magic focuses down the length of it, fired with a quick flick of her fingers and then exploding with a burst of magic when it gets close to her target.

"And we are off to an explosive start folks!" Syx calls out, as he stands up and leans on the table with both hands, "Wicked strikes from Kauchemar, right off the bat, but Mikage responds in kind with a flash of storm magic! These two are holding nothing back, and it's the finals so why would they!?" Syx seems to be enjoying this fight quite a bit already, without it even really going more than a few hits in.

If there was one technique the two very different fighters seemed to share, it was in the area of speed. Sure, an equine might be expected to be rather fast. But Kauchemar was very light on her hooves, moving with the grace and nimble agility of a dancer.

"o/~ The greatest Nightmare right before your eyyyyyyes... But can't tell what is truth or the liiiiies... o/~"

To the point she even uses similar moves, executing a swift spin mid-stride like a ballerina as she was still moving with the shadows, the arrow of light grazing across her shoulder instead of hitting her directly.

"o/~ Somebody told you this is a dream... Stuck in a world nobody has seen

So all we can do is dance along... o/~"

The whirlwind of motion keeps her moving forward, and Kauchemar comes out of the dervish into a defensive stance... While the sword itself arcs farther out to strike itself at Mikage once more with it's negative energies! "o/~ The Nightmare's Song! o/~"

Once the arrow is fired, Mikage's two more powerful archery techniques seem to go on cooldown, causing her to holster Dawnbreaker back along her back. However, with Kauchemar still pressing the attack, she uses that moment to seemingly go fully on the defensive. At least, it appears that way, as her hand rests in her sword as she darts backwards, a flicker of energy along her heels.

However, just when it seems like she might hvae nothing to bring to the forefront, the Ranger calls out, "Rama, now!"

That is when the lynx darts into the fray. Rama seems to have taken some bit of Mikage's own magic, trailing ice wherever his paws touch upon the arena floor. The cat leaps towards Kauchemar, lashing out with frost-laiden claws and teeth, trying to catch hold wherever he can and bite down, giving his companion a moment to recuperate.

"This is intense, folks! These two are showing no signs of slowing down, and defensive play has been top notch! This is going to be back and forth until somebody slips up!" Syx is now moving around behind his announce table, "Hey if you guys need it I've got a bunch of chairs and kendo sticks stockpiled over here!"

The enhanced shadows seem to recede from the ongoing fight as those mists of hers finally start to fade out of the arena. It doesn't mean Kauchemar is slowing down any, though. Water splashes into being beneath her hooves as she takes a leap back, avoiding the first lunge from Rama. She lands on one hoof and twists to bring up the other leg as if to change her direction, which gives Rama a chance to latch down with the feline's ice enchanted grip!
Then sweeps that leg back to plant behind her, stomping the ground to dislodge the lynx. Behind her. Oh, she took that hit on purpose to move Rama from a position between her and her opponent! She knows not to ignore a companion creature, but not to let it distract from the real target, being one that works with monsters herself.

Almost immeadiately she charges towards Mikage once more. "NIGHTMARE RAVE!" Those who saw the fight with Setsuna might recognize the combination name, and see the bubble of negative energy swell up around Mikage when she chants it.... But this is a different take on it, as instead of summoning undead Kauchemar leaps into the darkness herself, leading for a blow with the shield, and as soon as hoof hits the ground she spins with her own battle rhythm to kick the other hoof hard at her opponent!

As Kauchemar stomps, Rama is dislodged, causing him to roll to the ground in a huff. The little cat scrambles to his feet, even as Kauchemar turns her attention back on Mikage, herself.

It seems that the moment of quiet from the Ranger was not enough to fully recover her mana reserves, as the attack comes barreling at her with an intensity that she likely had not been expecting. Some measure of the initial shield bash is met with a quick movement backwards by the girl, but it isn't enough to avoid the incoming hoof.

It whips across her face, sending her to the ground. Growling, there is a flash of that characteristic Were Fang shift, but Mikage sticks to the fact that she never shifts fully to her monster form in public. Instead, she roars, slashing a hand through the air in a way that might not seem all that effective at first.

However, where her hands sweep, giant monstrous claws appear, swiping out at range and seeming to carry with it a powerful negative status effect right along with it.

Bards and Summoners are usually casters, so it is sometimes a surprise to have one abruptly in your face with melee strikes to take advantage of their debilitating spells. But being a Were Fang, especially a brutal monster species like a Nightmare, has it's perks when it comes to being able to handle both magical and martial combat.

As soon as she's got both hooves on the ground Kauchemar braces herself, mostly at the growl and the flash... and then there's no follow up. "Huh." is all she says, even if that dedication to maintaining the human form in itself is pretty impressive.

She knows better than to let her guard down though, and calls the Binder Shield in front of herself. She just puts her hand to the back of it, likewise channeling some of her own elemental magic through the Binder, which causes the shield to ice over, spreading back into a much larger dome to cover more of the mare as well. When the blows slam against it, a burst of chilbain cold is released from the defensive arte upon the attacker!

It's not an Absolute Zero defense, but instead of worrying about how much damage got through Kauchemar pushes her prozimity, instead trying to slam into Mikage with the shield a second time!

"Would you look at that! What a maneuver!" Syx seems to be quite impressed at the powers on display, "Seems they're really breaking out the big guns now!" The two are just throwing big maneuvers back and forth, seemingly abandoning defense for offense for the moment, "I have no idea who's going to come out on top of this one!"

Perhaps because of the amount of damage that has come her way, Mikage seems to ride the edge of the Were Fang rage more than she would under most other circumstances. It's enough that it makes her shoulders tremble ever so slightly.

So, it may be no surprise that the girl doesn't seem to raise anything that one might consider an attack. Instead, she simply takes the blow, causing her to fall backwards again. To the audience, it clearly looks like Kauchemar is easily overwhelming Mikage, to the extent that even Rama gives a worried whimper from the sidelines.

Getting to her knees, Mikage stabs her sword into the ground with another growl. It looks as if she is bracing for a beating, but there is something else there. There is an aura around her that seems to radiate off of her. Even as it does... the sky begins to darken...

That is when icy shards start to rain down from the sky, lashing across the arena and threatening to do a lot of damage to anyone unable to deflect some of the incoming elemental attack.

It's hard to tell if Kauchemar is playing some manner of long strategy. But what is apparent that she knows enough about player-vs-player combat (thanks to her own methodology and the Duelist's League) to adapt her tactics to her opponent. She's dealing with someone that's got superior damage output, so she has to rely more on her defense and offense than play some of her more subversive tricks. Not that those options she is using don't have potential complications to the opponent as well. They're just a bit more up front about it.

At this point in time, as shards of ice start to rain down, Kauchemar opts into her other elemental pool. Water spirals up around her as she raises a hand over her head... and splashes against her body to refreeze, revitalizing the Frost Armor before it completely times out. It's not a perfect defense, since ice against ice is still uncomfortable to feel, but it allows her to weather out some of the barrage without dedicating her entire effort to it.

The rest of the water churns above her briefly, until she drops her arm in a gesture towards Mikage. The water arcs down, hits the ground, and surges back up into a small wave to come crashing down at Mikage. It's an immeadiate threat, waves have some potent impact power.
The immeadiate threat hides a more sinister one though, as the wave is carrier very tall but very toxic jellyfish within it's current. Ones small enough to find their way through seams and under armor to sting directly to the skin.

Managing to get partially onto her feet, Mikage is able to muster up some of her defensive energies, causing a flicker of motion that allows her to avoid the impending wave that comes crashing in her direction, but she isn't quite able to avoid the jellyfish. One attaches to her leg, looking far too cute for the negative status effect that comes with it.

Wincing, Miki continues brings her sword up, seeming to recover some of her previous battle positioning, if only momentarily. Though the weapon is relatively low level, she is able to sweep it through the air and channel magic through it, creating an effect as three slashes in the air form into discs of storm energy.

Extending her hand forward, she shoots them off in different directions, honing in on Kauchemar from a distance, all the while, giving off that same focused aura as before. Though it is clear from the tension on her features that this battle is pushing her to her limits.

"We're getting towards the end here, fans!" Syx announces as he watches the healthbars of the two fighters drop rapidly on both sides of the competition, "No telling who's going to come out on top, it's still too close to call! Hope you guys got your bets in, because this is going to come down to the wire!"

By now Kauchemar is showing the wear of battle, numereous of the red slashes marring her appearance, and the occasional panting snort out her nostrils. But she's not letting it dissaude her from continuing. Especially not when some of her artes are starting to come off cool-off. Time to push a few riskes and make this count.

This time haunting music spills forth, but not from Kauchemar signing, rather using her Bardic abilities to conjure it like some manner of musical accompaniment to her actions on the field.
o/~ Deep beneath the stable mind, there's a space between Truth and Lies o/~
Darkness is brought forth once more as she draws heavilt from her favored black magic, causing shadows to stretch long across the ground. At the same time part of the darkness starts to condense down towards Mikage once more, almost like constricting the space around her.
o/~ Her sanity isn't what it seems... Real life is a nightmare of a dream
Behind the magic, behind the books... There's more to her than there looks... o/~

Once again Kauchemar takes to the darkness, moving like a shadow herself with that graceful yet hard to focus on method. Mikage's attack, and moreso the method that she enacts it in with multiple projectiles from different directions, makes it hard for even her evasiveness to hold up entirely. But she's already shown herself being able to just bite down and horsepower through taking those hits.

o/~ Just watch out... Don't be surprised... o/~ And then Kauchemar is abruptly in the darkness with Mikage, right in front of her no less, using the 'jumpscare' to strike with her ghostly weaponry once more! o/~ When she shows her Darker Side! o/~

Both combatants seem to have taken a large amount of damage at this point, showing the reason why they have ended up here in the finals. However, between her beast's rage gnawing at her and the exhaustion from such a hard fought battle, it is starting to become clear that Mikage may just not have much in the way of defenses left in her.

So, when darkness starts to form around her again, she reaches back for Dawnbreaker, grabbing the weapon and an arrow from behind her. Kauchemar moves like her namesake, a nightmare in the darkness, and each of those projectiles strikes home, ripping huge gashes in Mikage's form and droping her health.

As the dueling system stops when they first reach the 'red zone', her health hovers just above it, blinking ominously. It's clear that the outcome of this fight is going to come down to whomever can out blast each other in the last moments.

When the nightmare energy clears, Mikage is holding her bow, aiming another of those powerful elemental arrows in Kauchemar's direction. As she fires, there is a blast like stormwind in the nightmare's direction, followed by Rama launching himself upward, trying to aid in a pincer attack from the bard's blind side.

If her high level techniques were coming off cooldown, Kauchemar can only assume that her opponent's are as well. That would be why as the darkness bleeds away and Mikage already has her bow out and armed, the Nightmare also already has her Binder Shield up and ready. That, and if one squinted, they might notice that while visible, her visage isn't.. solid. There's a slight waver to it, like the shadow cast by a candle's flickering flame.

Sure enough when Mikage fires, Kauchemar moves, the shadowy afterimages being pierced by the storm fueled arrow instead! Between shadows and speed she's moving almost too fast to be seen as more than a dark blurr, even as she sends the Binder Shield charging towards Mikage on it's own!

And maybe it's having senses other than sight to rely on that Rama has better luck with his charge from behind! It's not quite a blind spot since Kauchemar herself has senses beyond sight to rely on, but she can only turn fast enough to get her arm up and the cat latching onto that instead of her body. Though the impact is still enough to knock her to the ground. Kauchemar is just as quick to throw the lynx off, and roll in the opposite direction to get back onto her hooves. She's tired and hurt but she is not giving her foe a chance to strike while she's prone. "Calibrating the options precisely~" she singsongs "Chances of surrender -- UNLIKELY~"

Rama is tossed off, landing on his feet as he skids in the gravel beneath his feet. The cat bristles, giving hiself a shake. Kauchemar's comment causes Mikage's lip to quirk, "Good. I'd rather fight to my last bit of health than give up early." Things have been close this entire match, meaning that it is all too easy for this to go either way, and it may all come down to one lucky series of attacks.

It isn't Miki who charges forward, though. Rama, seemingly without command this time, summons up that frost energy again before diving in towards Kauchemar, lashing with teeth and claws, trying to do whatever damage he can muster.

"If I gave up just because even my divination can't foresee the outcome, I'd be terrible at the Rival role," Kauchemar replies between breaths. But there seems to be a mutual agreement that they're not going down without giving their all, as it should be.

Waters of a murky dark hue churn around Kauchemar's hooves as she proves effective at weaving her combo techs out of her defenses as well. "Dark Skater!" she adds, just for a touch of flare. Because that's pretty much what she does, using the hydroplaning effect beneath her stride to skate away from the charging feline and it's snaping icy fangs. Rama manages to nip her heel figuratively, but with how hooves are and the feathering partially protecting them it's not much.

"o/~ I'm the Dread Mare! I'll fill your heart with dismay! o/~" she sings as she banks her slide to redirect her slushing rush towards Mikage once more. "You'll get a big surprise and face a grim demise, when I catch you unawares o/~" As she nears she kicks off the ground, and as she twirls in the air, one realizes that since she launched the shield before she doesn't have one of the Binder Weapons in hand.

Or needs it, as the spin unfurls her whip from where she had it hidden and sends that lashing towards mikage with such force it cracks the air around it to top off her little impromtu beat.

After the series of attacks, Rama backs up a bit. It's hard to tell if he's just preparing for another round, or if he's giving room for Mikage. Whatever the case, as the whip comes towards Mikage, she speeds into motion again, although this seems to take quite a bit more out of her than it had earlier in the match. The end of the whip lashes against her shoulder, leaving a shallow slice.

Then, she reaches for an arrow. By now, those who have watched her fight, will know that there are only a couple of bow techniques that she has as part of her regular rotation, both of which can be quite a challenge. The radiating pulses of light that flow up along Dawnbreaker reveal which it is...

Light forms across the arrow, seeming to almost form cracks along the shaft before she fires, sending another explosive burst of light energy towards the nightmare.

The flickers of light, in combination of knowing which of those techniques she just used a few moments ago, is enough for Kauchemar to glance at her own status display, and see her best options as more of her own techs resync.

She gives a whistle, which calls the Binder Shield back to her. As soon as she touchs it the shield once more freezes over, though with less dramatic expansion this time since she's got less of a stockpile of mana to pump into it. Still, it does the job, though she knows it won't entirely stop the attack.

Sure enough, it stops the arrow with the impact, but some of the energy released from it blazes past the shield to sheer the Nightmare's already wounded form. Being a Monster of Dark alignments, Light doesn't get along with her very well.

But at the same time she turns and snaps out her whip.... not at Mikage, but to grab the Binder Sword around the hilt and pull it back to her from where it was resting. And then she spins around even as the Frost Armor is releasing its retaliation shock of frigid revenge, and quite literally whips the sword at Mikage! "Time to reach out and crush someone!"

Mikage's eyes follow the sword as that whip snaps it back into the hand of the nightmare, her body instinctively preparing for something dangerous coming her way. It's only that keen attention that keeps the sword from lodging itself in her chest. It sails just by her, leaving her gasping for breath.

"H...hah." The sound is both anxious, breathless, and amused. Leave it to the bard to make even the tense final minutes of the tournament finals into something that could draw out a laugh from her opponent.

Mikage raises her bow skyward, calling down another of those storms from the skies above. Icy shards start to rain down from the skies, pelting the arena.

*THWUNK* And true to form, missing it's mark leaves the Binder Sword to sail across the arena, arcing down as it does until it wedges point down into the ground. It wibbles and wobbles but as usual can't free itself immeadiately, the gemstone 'eye' in the crossguard looking irritated by it. Kauchemar exhales a sigh. "That is why I rarely send it to strike on it's own," she admits. Then sucks the breath back in, no time to fuss over it now. "Your cat is better coordinated. And it's a -cat-."

There is a *THWOOM* not unlike peal of thunder as Kauchemar leaps into motion yet again, water roostertailing behind her as the combination of moves launch her like a rocket powered by a hurricane force! Ice rains down once more, causing some of the water to freeze when it splashes on her, but nothing hits directly.

Dark energies crackle along the length of her whip, filling it with negative charge as she closes in and lashes the weapon at Mikage several more times. "One way or another, the finale curtain is about to fall on this tournament!"

Even at the end of the battle, Mikage can appreciate the commentary on her companion. A cat who tilts his head curiously. "I imagine it takes more skill... to control monsters than to train an animal." Of course, she is looking at that from the outside, voice panting as she rallys some of her defenses forward, knowing that in the end, it won't take much from either of them to end the duel.

Dawnbreaker is dropped to the sands in favor of her sword, which is a strange choice. "You're right." Miki takes a chance, reaching for a potion at her belt and making a quick motion to coat it across her blade. "In the end you're one hell of a fighter. So I say this with the utmost respect..."

Her lip quirks, "Cyrus sends his regards." It is his poison on her blade as she charges forward, sweeping it out towards Kauchemar.

"That's it folks, it's all over!" Syx starts waving his hands in shock as the fight comes down to slivers of health in the yellow region so small that its impossible to tell who's going to come out on top. Kauchemar's health barely dips into the red, but it's enough to signal the end of the duel, as fireworks go off, and WINNER! appears over Mikage's head.

"There you have it! The winner of this year's tournement, the White Storm herself! Mikage!"

There is a pause when Mikage speaks up. One might expect shock, or anger at such a reveal.

But no, Kauchemar simply smiles. Genuinely. Because it was something that she didn't know, that Mikage was partners with one of her previous opponents, that is coming into play. Because she does know exactly what Cyrus was capable of. His name mentioned with soaking the weapon? Easy to put together.

Of course, accepting what's about to happen doesn't mean she's going to just stop there NOW. She slams a hoof into the ground, causing it to shake as Mikage charges, making a show of at least still making an effort in stopping her. She pivots on that hoof, twisting away from the lunge in a swirls of shadows.

But the tip grazes her thigh, and that's all it takes. "Heh." Kauchemar stops from the spin with a chuckle. Only to drop to one knee as the poison hits her like a truck, causing the leg she did get struck on to go numb and slip out from under her. "Well played.. well played indeed." She's still grinning though. "I may of lost, but my role as a Rival is fulfilled."

Something about the announcement that follows seems to bring Mikage back to a different time and place. A different arena, standing before a different crowd. Yet, the actions are very much the same. She stands, raising one hand to offer a wave and a grin to the crowd, despite the fact that her emotions might not quite match the expression.

Then, lowering her hand, she folds her hands again in front of her and bows to Kauchemar. "Your strength is something that everyone will remember. And your wit." She offers, looking more than a little rough at the moment.

Rama runs over to her side, nuzzling against the Ranger's leg. "You did good, buddy." He gets a few scratches behind the ears for his part to play in all this. "I hope we can spar again sometime, maybe in the league. Under less... public circumstances." There is nerves there, behind those eyes. Mikage does /not/ like being in the public eye, and this... well this is something she's dealt with both in her real life and now in Elder Tale.

"You'd think I'd have gotten used to this after nationals for Angelic Layer but... it still gets to me." She admits. "Time to go." Rama gives one more circle of the arena before cat and master depart.

The Binder Sword finally manages to pull itself free, and zings back... only for Kauchemar to grab it's hilt, and stab it into the ground again. "No. Fight is over," she states, firmly. "Don't mind him. For a creature with no blood, it's got plenty of bloodlust. Likely why it posessed a sword in the first place." She uses her hand on the hilt to push herself back to her feet. The shield, being a bit more compliant of a spirit since it's mainly a defender, just floats over to sling itself on the Nightmare's back.

She grins again. "Oh, definitely. I'm sure there's tricks I could show you yet... and you could show me." She says nothing else, but what she does say carries the impression that she saw that little flicker. What Mikage was holding back.

"But that's for another time. Good evening to you, as well." She stands as the end of the duel resets finally, and pulls the sword free, resting it to her shoulder as she turns to walk out as well. "We really need to work on your accuracy." There's a hollow creak from the weapon that's probably some manner of ghostly groan, but it's lost to the winds as she exits.