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meximango · 4 months ago

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Day 20 - Duel - Cahsi + Alisaie - G

Summary: Two red mages have a friendly spar

“I challenge you, Cahsi–to a duel!”

The teen had come bounding up to her just as she set her backpack down on the table. “Wh–now? Alisaie, I just got back from a long day of channeling my aether into injured folks. As you know. I was with your brother.”

Cahsi didn’t heal often, preferring and excelling at an offensive role instead, but she didn’t want to get rusty at it–so she’d spent the better part of a day playing the part with Alphinaud. Even after getting rid of the threat to Tuliyollal, there were still plenty of people who needed aid with their wounds. They’d both left when they felt their mana reserves fizzing out faster and faster between bouts of applying lucid dreaming and ethers. “Does that mean you forfeit? Afraid you might lose?” The cheeky grin wasn’t quite genuine. The poor girl was betting on Cahsi’s competitive nature getting the best of her and prodding her into complying. Alisaie would hate to win by default. “Hey now, I didn’t say that… But I’ve always known you to be a chivalrous young lady. Doesn’t this seem a bit underhanded, asking me when I’m exhausted? It wouldn’t be a fair fight!” “I do feel a bit guilty about that, but it’s just a friendly spar, Cahsi. The stakes are low.” “You know I love a spar between friends, but if you’re itching for a fight, I could probably find some quests for you to take on, or there’s always Arya. She’s more at your level, so a spar between you two could benefit you both. Also, she probably misses you. It’s been a while.” Alisaie's face reddened a bit at that, whether from guilt or something else, Cahsi didn’t know.

“Mor Dhona is a bit far… I’ll visit her soon, but I want to duel you. Right now, if you’re amicable to the request. Besides, a one-on-one fight with you is never fair. I would have to gather at least a light party of our compatriots to even the odds. This is my best chance.” Cahsi chuckled. It was probably true, but all of the former scions were incredibly competent, when it came down to it. After everything they’ve been through, she really couldn’t ask for a group of people better at what they do. She’d trust any of them with her life any day. Cahsi didn’t run through everything alone, she had her companions to help her where it mattered. “You’re selling yourself short, Ali. You really don’t have to wait until I’m low on aether to ask for a duel. I’ll do it anytime–yes, even now. You’ve done amazing things I couldn’t have even dreamed of doing when I was your age. I’m pretty sure I was just cleaning tables at the Drowning Wench at that point. Hadn’t even picked up an arcanist’s tome yet!” Alisaie flushed again, this time at the praise. She was so hard on herself, Cahsi would need to remind her more often how fantastic she was.

“You’re right… I want to challenge you as a true test of my skills, to one day overcome you when we’re both at the top of our game. But I never beat you at anything!” “Not true. You are quite the little diplomat, often more tactful than me, though we both lack patience. And you could beat me at navigation skills or cooking any day, trust me.” “Well. I never beat you at anything I care about, then.” That had earned her a smile, at least.

“Oh, then what about flips! You always do more than me during battle. Show-off.” “Please, your style is just as dramatic and full of flair. You compensate with pirouettes and moves that shine as brightly as you–literally. You are not allowed to limit break anymore, you’re going to blind us all at this rate–” “Says the girl who is always doing it before me, first chance you get! Greedy.” Cahsi shoved Alisaie’s shoulder playfully. She didn’t really mind, but the teen was one to talk! She started making her way back outside, with Alisaie following close behind as expected. “Not my fault you wait on it too long.”

Cahsi shrugged, then pulled out her rapier and magic crystal. “I’ll try to be quicker next time, then. Now, would you care to do this out here in the training grounds or find a clearing? I’m not sure how far you planned on going with your moves.”

“We probably won’t be too destructive, what with your mana levels. I was thinking this could be more of a physical fight, after all. You’re right, I shouldn’t take advantage of your low magical reserves. But your muscles are perfectly intact, so have at you!” Alisaie went and grabbed two wooden training swords (close enough to a rapier), threw one at Cahsi who naturally caught it without issue, and changed her stance. She bent her knees and made a ‘come hither’ motion.

“You’re on, sister!” And with that, Cahsi gave her friend no more time to prepare herself before she lunged forward with her weapon.

Normally, one or two people on the outside of their track would be keeping track of the score, but they hadn’t bothered to find anyone to act as referee. They hadn’t agreed on normal rules, but they never sparred any other way, so the head was off limit, but a tap to any other part of the body with their fake sword counted as a point. The first to ten points was the winner of that round, and they generally did the best two out of three as the overall winner.

Both red mages excelled at offensive moves rather than defense and parrying, so it tended to turn into a race of who could move faster, harder, more unpredictably to get a jump on the other. They could spin and flip out of the way here and there, but mostly they jumped forward and stabbed at each other wildly (and lightly! Though there might be some bruising later).

In lieu of a ref, they counted out loud: “That’s one for C!”

“Yeah, well that brings it up to three for A!”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, I just coun–oof!”

“Two for C.”

“I was still right about my score.”

“Yeah, but you let yourself be distracted. Eyes open and light on your feet, girl!”

“Still winning here, aren’t I?”

“Not for long~” Cahsi sang out.

It went on for a few minutes before the first round was won by Alisaie, ten to nine.

“You better not be going easy on me!”

“I wouldn’t dream of it. You got that last point before me fair and square.”

Cahsi knew it would just make Alisaie angry if she didn’t bother trying, so Cahsi was putting effort in, but she was distracted. Despite not doing any physical work today, the spellwork made her more sluggish overall, and she had forgotten to eat or drink today (and normally Alphinaud would have been on her ass about it to make sure she was being healthy, but while they separated to take their lunch breaks at separate food stands, Cahsi had run into Thancred and spent the entire time talking to him instead), so she was beginning to feel faint. She’d powered through far worse, though, and her pride wouldn’t allow her to end this early.

Round two nearly ended much the same, but Cahsi gathered a burst of strength and speed to let it end in her favor. The score was tied. “Last round declares the winner. Think you’ve got this, Ali?”

“You bet I do! I will gracefully sweep victory from your hands on this day, I can feel it!”

“I look forward to it.”

About halfway through their final round, Cahsi stumbled as she became dizzy. Her partner must have noticed, because she stopped mid-lunge to check in with her, concern drawing her brows together slightly. “You good there?”

In lieu of a verbal response, Cahsi gave a slightly shaky thumb’s up, but her stomach betrayed her, taking the chance to growl loudly enough, it could startle a beast into fleeing. The elezen in front of her widened her eyes. “We can grab dinner after this, if you’d like? Loser pays?”

“Sure.” The lackluster response from Cahsi made Alisaie’s eyebrows pinch together in worry.

“I don’t think I’ve heard such a loud grumble from you in quite a while. Didn’t my brother feed you? He’s the one who dragged you along with him on his job, it was the least he could do.”

“Eh. Don’t get mad at him, It’s not his responsibility. I got caught up in other things during our breaks. I’ll make sure to eat plenty after this to make up for it.”

“I’ll hold you to that! Are you even good to finish? You look a little pale. I don’t want you keeling over in my moment of triumph, that wouldn’t feel very satisfying.”

Cahsi waved her off, took a few deep breaths and shook her hands to get some feeling back into them. She flashed her a winning hero’s smile. “Thank you for your concern, but I’m perfectly fine to continue, see? The sooner we finish this, the sooner you can buy me some tacos.”

It was convincing enough apparently, because Alisaie sighed and relented. “Fine. Here goes our final few points. May the best warrior win!”

Despite the disadvantages, Cahsi still managed to pull through. She could have gotten away with letting the other win, especially with how she’d given the other a little scare about her low blood sugar, but Cahsi didn’t want to just give away a free victory. It was for the sake of not only her pride, but Alisaie’s as well. The girl would accept nothing less than a win on her own. She got better and better each day and trained hard, so Cahsi knew it wouldn’t be that long before she’d be able to match her, and from there, surpass her.

“I’m proud of you, that was a really good match!”

“I still lost…”

“It was very close, to be fair.”

“You weren’t even at your best!”

“Lies, I’m always at my best.”

“I am literally half-carrying you right now because you almost fell over during your victory lap.”

Cahsi laughed sheepishly. “Well, you should take that as a sign of your skill. You really tired me out!”

Alisaie sighed. “I’ll get you one day, Cahsi.”

“You’ve already got me, look!”

The hand around her waist tightened a bit, and the teen’s face predictably got red. Cahsi suspected the kid crush never fully went away, so she’d have to stop teasing her or let her down easy if a confession ever came (partially why she wanted to get her to visit Arya again. She knew the sparks would fly between them if they just spent a bit more time together!).

“Save your energy, we have a lot of stairs to go before getting to the restaurant.”

#I didn't really describe it but just imagine this as a fencing match without the protective gear. That's basically what it is #ffxivwrite2024 #ffxivwrite #ffxiv oc #cahsi theia #alisaie leveilleur #mango writes #abrupt ending bc I ran out of time lol

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