Issuing a Challenge

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Marcus sent Owain to the council, he had the right documents with him allowing him to reach as far as he did. He stood outside of the Rune Knights barracks, Arthur told him he had a special someone in mind for him as a rival. From that day forth he didn't get much sleep, nor was he able to leave the town. In thrill to prove himself and to learn from the knights Owain couldn't contain himself.

Owain bowed to Arthur. "Aye, thank you Sir." Owain raised his head, never did he received such high praise from someone like Arthur other than Marcus. But Owain didn't let the praise get to him, he was more interested in getting stronger so he could become the strongest in the land. Of course he had a long list of people to face before him, he thought.

"I never understood why you praised everyone else more than you praised me." Kamaris said trotting his horse into the nearby stables. "Is this the second challenger of the day?" He asked looking towards Owain before holding his hand out for a shake. "Ser Kamaris Le Fay of The Rune Knights 1st Squad"

Owain left hand raised above covering his face in his usual odd pose. He shouted at the top of lungs after hearing Kamaris words. "A knight shouldn't be looking for praise. The only praise they should look for is the success of their work. Truly knowing that you did the work should be enough, are you a fiend?" As Owain was announcing this his right arm was wailing all over the place. "Calm down my sword arm." Owain turned around to fully greet Kamaris. "Know my name well, it's Owain."

"Oh ho so you know all about being a Knight eh?" Kamaris said thick with sarcasm. "I don't forget those who insult me. I can see why Arthur thought you would make a good rival, I both am intrigued yet annoyed by your comments at the same time." He said bluntly. "Let us see if you have the magic talent to back your talk up. SHIELD" He yelled needing a shield after his battle with Galahad. His arm stung a little but it was barely noticeable.

Owain arm was stinging from his match against Arthur, but his adrenaline was filling his entire body. It felt as if he was fighting after a rest, he didn't feel much during this. Before Kamaris could finish speaking as he preparing to get a new shield. Owain had swiftly dashed and struck against Kamaris. The strike was a strong impact, it left the very ground under the two to shake and heave.

Kamaris raised his armored arm and was sent skidding back several feet. "Apparently you know nothing about being a Knight if you attack in such a dishonorable way as to attack your opponent when he has not engaged you yet." He waved off the trainee that was bringing him a shield. "Nevermind the shield, I shall do this with blade and magic alone." He slowly drew his blade holding it down to his side. "Come. Try that again."

"A knight? I'm a warrior first and foremost, and a swordsmen second. Besides anybody who easily let their guard down is barely fit for the title of knight don't you think." Owain had sunk into a stance and grip the hilt of Horn-Edge with both hands, it was unusual for him to do so, the stance was even different from all of the stances he showed to Arthur. Owain spoke under his breath, as he did the ground had cracked a bit. "Heavy." Owain stomped the ground as he did chunks of the ground protruded out around him. As if a large force landing on the ground leaving devastation in it's wake. Owain using his swift sword movements had sliced the bit of earth that stood out, Owain moving his nimble body had kicked the shards of ground at Kamaris. Owain darted pass the moving shards he kicked at Kamaris just moments ago, he struck Kamaris again with another powerful strike.

The movements were fast, but nothing too fast for a man who had spared with Arthur daily for the past few years. He summoned Aegis shields to deal with the shards and met Owain's slash head on their swords locking up for an instant until Kamaris slid out of the way letting the force of Owain's slash carry him off balance, he fired a ball of Holy Magic at his back.

As Owain strength from his force led him off balance, Horn-Edge had transformed in an instant. As the blade slammed down against the ground, around Owain had erupted from the impact of his sword. A tower of light covered around Owain shielding him from the attack. The clash in power left an explosion, Owain quickly getting back on his feet and dive rolling out the way to avoid taking full damage from the explosion. The force of the explosion lifted Owain away, but not before Owain stabbing his sword in the ground to gain his balance.

Kamaris' eyes squinted as if he was pondering something. He looked over Owain and the ambient eterano left in the air after their clash. "You..." He started to say. "You aren't using magic yourself but through the sword exlcusively. Can you not use magic yourself?" He asked honestly wondering, not being condescending.

Owain dusted off his shoulder, his hand moved over his nose to rub it. "Aye, that is correct. I can't use magic." Owain looked at Kamaris a bit confused as to why it even mattered. "Why does this concern you so?"

"It's intriguing that is all. If we are to be rivals though you should probably develop the ability to at least use another magic outside of your sword." He said kind of impressed that this man had managed to survive all this time passing off as a mage without actually knowing magic. "Wouldn't want you to be one dimensional, even if that sword can change forms." He rushed in at Owain giving a faint slash with his left before letting the blade go and catching it with his left hand to bring a fast slash back across.

"Aye, I'll keep that in mind, once I'm finish up here." As Kamaris rushed at Owain, his sword had oddly glowed red. Owain quickly had slashed at Kamaris direction but he aimed his sword at the ground, as his sword came into contact with the ground an explosion filled with both light and red energy had covered the field, the dust from the explosion was thick. From the thick smog blades of light shoot at Kamaris, hidden within the blades of light where quick slashes from Owain. The strikes didn't come from a set destination.

"Wall" Kamaris said summoning his replica of Galahad's defense, looking at Arthur to see if he was impressed at how he did that. This shielded him from red energy blast, then he dissolved it to meet the light strikes and slashes with his own, all the while blitzing towards Owain. His sword began to give off a dark aura as he slowly unsheathed it "Celestial Sword Magic: Meteor Blade!"

Owain bounced back as his blade carved thru the smoke. He held Horn-Edge with one hand and made a hand seal with the left hand. As he did Horn-Edge reverted back it's former look. Owain blitzed at Kamaris to meet with his strike, the two swords clashed Kamaris celestial technique would be sealed. Owain taking the chance to get in close, he kneed Kamaris midsection before vaulting off of the very midsection he hit. He quickly spun to the right of Kamaris to strike him from his side.

Kamaris was impressed that his sword technique could be sealed, one as powerful Meteor Blade. "An impressive blade" He said once again praising the sword. He had a plan in his head now how to win this first little duel of theirs. The knee dented his armor but stopped when he reinofrced the spot with Aegis magic. He risked his head by not parrying the blow and instead moving his head below, a few hairs shaving off the top of his head. He grabbed Owain's arm that held Horn Edge and brought his sword up to slash at his opponents Wrist.

Owain quickly took in a deep breath, controlling his chi he quickly act. He dropped horn edge and took the scabbard that was attached to his waist. He quickly blocked Kamaris strike and moved in to head but him. All in a swift motion he yanked his arm way from Kamaris clutches as he quickly grabbed Horn-Edge with his other hand. Using both the sword in one hand and the scabbard in the other. Owain quickly sheath his blade ready for Kamaris to make a move.

"Hmm" Kamaris said walking around his opponent wiping a little blood from his nose as the headbutt connected. "So you do have a few skills of your own instead of relying on the blades power exclusively." He summoned some of his magic to his feet, using the Holy element to boost his speed as he blitzed at Owain bringing his foot up as if to kick him but instead put his heel on Horn Edge to keep it in its sheath. He swung both his hands out wide as the clouds above seperated revealing a rather large lance of Holy Light coming down on them. "Lance of Longinus" Kamaris said looking up at it as it came crashing down. He coated himself in an Aegis barrier except for his heel to keep the blade in place, the barrier then took on the property of Holy element shielding him from the impending attack.

Owain was taken by surprise, before he could try to knock Kamaris back he looked up to the sky to notice the bright light. Quickly reacting out of pure instinct and reaction his arm began to bulk up, his chest swelled as his breathing changed in an instant. Quickly moving his free hand to grab Kamaris foot, and using his immense strength he flung Kamaris back. Owain sunk into a deep rooted stance, and quickly drew out Horn-Edge, his arm swiftly moving to deflect the spears of light. His hand started to bleed from him holding onto Horn-Edge to tightly. Deflecting one of the spears he quickly weaved back to avoid the rest from raining ontop of him. Owain on his backing up had kicked one of the spears he deflected at Kamaris, figuring it would have no effect but would distract him enough for Owain to get into range and counterattack with a quickly jab of his elbow.

Kamaris was impressed by his raw strength, nothing like Arthurs but still monstrous. "All brutality and leaning on the sword. You could be a worthy rival if you ever learned any notable amount of skill to go along with it." Kamaris said before inhaling deep and letting his barrier down. His eyes seemed calm as if he wasn't thinking just reacting. He grabbed the Holy Spear kicked at him and spun throwing it back at Owain in one swift motion follwing right behind it grab Owain's armpit throwing off the trajectory of this elbow before throwing an armor covered elbow of his own to the top of Owains thigh where the knee meets the femur to give him a serious charlie horse. He then deftly spun out of range with both of his hands held out and the same calm look as if he was waiting again.

"Mushin" Arthur said having taken a seat to watch the battle. "He must've attained it during the skirmish he recently lead the resistance against." The other Knights that stood around watching looked confused by Arthur's use of the word. "Mushin is a state in martial arts, where you forget technique and just go with the flow of battle, instantly able to respond and retaliate. You can't make it through countless wars and battles with pure strength and skill. The mind is just as if not more important." He concluded his lesson.

Owain grabbed at his tight, he was in pain. The shock was something new to Owain, even tho he trained his body and endured much pain he never experienced the pain that Kamaris his displayed. Owain clenched his fist aimed it at his leg and paused. He quickly punched at the very spot that Kamaris had struck. Owain stopped rolling shortly after, struggling to stand up. "HAHAHA.... Aye it's been to long since I felt such pain. But I won't give in so easily to something that's triggered from the mind." Owain started to stomp, he was trying to hype himself up using his adrenaline to get his mind off the pain to help ease the pain. However unknown to Owain he was channeling his magic, his muscles flexed and his eyes began to glowed. The ground under him began to thump as his foot slammed against it. Owain put Horn-Edge away and tossed it to Arthur. "I respect you, and because of that I'll fight you with my fist." Owain waited for Kamaris, to see if he'll accept his little duel with fist. The limits in Owain mind began to uplift the restrictions that the mind usually put on body to keep it function regularly.

Marcus walked in he finished Arthurs words with his own. "The mind is a terrible thing to lose considering how strong it truly is. Some monks believe that the mind have the power to manipulate even the elements. While some scholars believe that as the mind reach near full capacity that the wonders are something to note." Marcus had took Horn-Edge from Arthur and slung it on his back. "His talent is raw, with enough practice I'm sure he can overcome even histories greatest warriors. It seems this generation is filled with many young talent."

"Aye, I'm honorbound to accept" Kamaris said unbinding his armor letting it fall piece by piece until he was down to his civilian clothes. He kicked up his blade to his hand and tossed them to his master as well. He jerked his neck from side to side and cracked his knuckles before starting to hop on the tip of his toes. "A slugfest befits men the most don't you think?" He said, moving as the last word rolled of his tounge in a flash infront of owain throwing two quick jabs one at his head, one lower should Owain lower his head to avoid the first before throwing a low kick at Owains ankle. Testing the new limits of his opponent.

"Yea" he replied to marcus before catching Horn Edge, then subsequently being buried by Kamari's arms and armor. He shook them off placing them neatly next to him. "Scary talents, almost as if they aren't human. Though the same has been said of me." He chuckled. "They still aren't even close to your level let alone mine." He said getting a jab in at his friend.
(Had I seen you replied to this months ago the response would've been much swifter!)