daemonized | RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

[He sure is. But Ardyn hardly seems bothered at all; in fact, the young man's enthusiasm makes him smile on his end.]

I'll be here. Don't expect me to go easy on you, now.

[And he'll be waiting for him at his home, as promised, when Noctis arrives.]

wouldnt dream it

[ The guy doesn’t go easy on him in class. Why would he here?

Noctis eagerly gets in his car and drives over. And it doesn’t take long before he’s knocking on Ardyn’s door, wearing his workout clothes with his Engine Blade and practice sword strapped to his back. Once Ardyn opens the door, Noctis is still wearing a rather eager grin. ]

Ready?

[One will hardly ever find Ardyn Izunia sporting something like workout clothes, but that doesn't mean he won't have shed his layers, obvious when he greets Noctis at the door. He's learned from experience that it's easier to fight when there's more range of movement available to him, so Ardyn answers dressed simply. Nice slacks, nice shirt. No scarf.

Don't have a heart attack, Noctis.]

Of course. Come in, Noctis.

[And through the house they'll go, eventually to the backdoor which leads outside. He comments along the way.]

I see you brought more than just a practice sword with you today. Eager, are we?

[ Noctis follows along inside with ease. His smirk still in place, he snickers at Ardyn’s choice of wardrobe. ]

Barely recognize you without all the obnoxious layers.

[ He’s gotta feel naked or something.

Noctis follows Ardyn tonthr backyard, loosening the straps for his weapons before carefully setting them down. The Engine Blade leans against a nearby wall, and he takes his practice sword in his right hand. ]

I usually do a few practice swings with that thing after using the wooden one. To get used to its weight. Can’t exactly use it on a person, but I might need it if monsters decide to spill out of TVs again.

[He just gives a "ha!" at the remark about his layers, but honestly, he doesn't feel terribly strange without all of them. It's not his usual mode of dress, to be sure, but for the sake of sparring he can deal with not having a heavy coat get in the way the entire time.

Outside, it's cool and crisp. It feels like December, though not too cold for sparring -- they'll probably not notice the low temperature soon enough, anyhow, what with all the physical exertion. Ardyn turns to face Noctis once they've walked in a bit farther, and extends an arm to summon a practice sword with his magic. It forms in his hand with ease, a flourish of flickering red and crystalline light.

Something he's kept, just for instances like these. He's had his fair share of practice ever since his fighting skill with swords returned to him.]

As long as you don't use it against me. That might be what some would consider slight overkill.

[ Noctis can’t help but feel the slightest bit of envy to the ability Ardyn has in summoning his weapons like that. He has to wonder if, given their shared name, he has the same abilities. They both seem to be able to warp, so it’s likely.

Noctis comes forward with a preliminary, warm-up swing of his wooden sword, cracking his neck to get loose and limber. It’s not like he’s good at this yet. Practiced, not polished, and he has very feint memories to go by here alongside what little training he’s had. But he’s not worried about facing Ardyn.

In fact, he’s stoked. Moreso than he might have expected, but he doesn’t focus on that. ]

Nah. I’m not in this to kill you.

[ One last swing, and Noctis gets into his stance, gripping his weapon with both hands on the hilt. ]

Show me what you’ve got, old man.

[A spark of excitement runs through Ardyn as well, something that's always happened ever since he "relearned" how to wield a blade properly. He smirks a bit at Noctis' bravado, and while the "old man" comment might normally make him react more, the promise of a good sparring match makes it easier for him to shrug it off.]

Careful, I might be more of a challenge than you think.

[Case in point? A twirl of his sword, a gentle, swift arc-- and he closes the space between them, lunging forward a bit, meeting Noctis first with a horizontal swing.]

[ He’s not the most prepared— Not for combat at least, but the skills he’s learned in classes have him on his toes. Noctis narrows his gaze the second Ardyn rushes forward, lifting his wooden blade up in a block.

A loud *clack!* echoes between them, the impact heavy but Noctis has at least built enough upper body strength to withstand it, even if his arms tremble ever so slightly in protest. Ardyn is obviously confident, made acutely obvious by that little spin of his blade before rushing forward, and Noctis feels very much a need to mirror it.

What he notices immediately is this energy between them, this bubbling sense of adrenaline that picks up quick. Not exactly something he’s experienced before, even in training, and Noctis gives a strong parry. He thrusts his blade forward to break them apart. ]

You’re gonna be a bad influence, being so arrogant. It’s contagious.

[ With a burst of energy, Noctis rushes forward, jumping into a strong, downward swing. ]

Do as I say, not as I do.

[The clack rings loud and sharp, and while Ardyn moves with no dearth of confidence, he hasn't put his entire strength into it. This is a friendly match, and he's still cognizant of the fact that Noctis might tire sooner rather than later; still, he won't patronize the boy by putting no effort into it.

They break apart, but when Noctis rushes forward, it's Ardyn's turn to move his blade to block the attack. He digs his heels in, wrists feeling the shake of the impact as wooden sword meets sword.]

Who's been teaching you?

Been taking classes.

[ Spoken through a grunt, given that Ardyn's weight manages to force Noctis back a touch. But it's odd. His energy increases; not to a point where Noctis pays much mind, but certainly enough to spike his confidence.

He shoves forward, crushing his shoulder against Ardyn in an attempt to knock him off. ]

What, impressed?

Only moderately.

[-he says, though the last part of his word is coupled with a faint grunt as he's taken backwards by Noctis' shoulder check. It isn't enough to toss him off-balance (he's too big, too tall of a man for that), but he still has to step back and re-adjust his footing.]

You're fast learner, if you actually apply yourself, you know.

[HE WOULD KNOW, HE'S YOUR PROFESSOR... Regardless, it's the only reprieve that Noctis gets before he lunges forward again, this time in a feint. If Noctis falls for it, he'll swing upwards in the moment of advantage given to him.]

[ Noctis might have the fundamentals down, but only in his head. In execution, it’s a totally different story. His reflexes fail him, where Noctis falls for the clever disadvantage Ardyn manufactures. The upward swing snaps at his arm, forcing his practice blade from his hand and sending it clattering to the ground.

Noctis grits his teeth, pulling his arm back and turning his head for a moment to see how far its gotten. Not too far. But now he’s forced to find a decent way to run back to it without getting hit.

And wow, that sends his adrenaline into a frenzy. His eyes narrow, looking to Ardyn with a look suggesting that he’s watching and prepared. Even if he isn’t.

Okay, he could... Knock him off his feet? Try to steal his weapon? No, that would be a bad move. Why does he feel so frantic all of the sudden? He tends to take challenges rather seriously, it could be that. But this is a touch different.

For now, Ardyn’s caught Noctis completely open. ]

Tell that to my GPA. I’m doing way more than applying myself.

Well, your GPA won't help you here, Noctis.

[It's said after he returns to stance after his "attack". He feels it, too, that slowly growing competitive edge; though Ardyn is quick to blame it on how enthused Noctis seems to be. The both of them, wound tighter with adrenaline spiking in their veins.

He rushed forward again, but it wasn't a feint this time. It was another swipe of his sword, forceful and horizontal.]

[ Noctis exhales a sharp, frantic sort of sound. The distance he has is inconvenient to grab his practice sword, but he's conveniently fallen within reaching distance of the Engine Blade he'd let lean aside. It's not safe, it's not appropriate in this setting, but that's not exactly on the forefront of his mind for some reason.

Ardyn throws his sword down in a strike, which Noctis reacts to by closing his eyes, willing himself to move. And in a flash of blue light, he shifts away from the attack, leaving a glowing blue hologram of his previous position.

It gives him enough time to stumble and grab the Engine Blade, adrenaline dictating his every move. Noctis feels something in his chest tighten and wind up the second his fingers clench around the handle, and the energy he feels gives him ease of lifting the heavy, metal blade. With a rush forward, Noctis skids his feet along the grass as he slashes diagonally, seeking to knock Ardyn's weapon out of his hand in turn. ]

Try again!

[That flash of blue, that still-image of light left behind in the form of Noctis is all that Ardyn’s practice sword swings acoss. It hits nothing. The buzz of magic in the air, its signature almost identical to his own, is prominent to him. Ardyn frowns, not having expected that — his muscles coil tightly as he steps back when Noctis picks up the Engine Blade, its metal catching the light. He shifts away, just out of range of that blade, and any chance at blocking it with a wooden sword is laughable at best. It’s cleaved in two, and Ardyn just lets it drop to the ground to lie in the grass.

He scoffs, disbelieving, but something in him tells him to continue. That this is clearly fine, this is just how it should go, that practice weapons might never have been enough to begin with. Adrenaline dictates it so, and with a laugh, he just summons his sword in his hand. It flourishes into existence with the usual flair of shattered, red crystal.]

Gladly.

[Ardyn puts his strength into this time, a forceful swing meant to cross against Noctis’ blade, so that he might feel its weight, its pressure.]

[ Something... Shifts. It's not tangible. Not visible. But Noctis feels a strange shift both within and without him, warranting a look of defensiveness. His blood starts to boil and for some reason he's angry, and he's not sure why. Yet all the while, he feels this constant buildup of energy, something that's very quickly boiling over and burning.

And he feels... Good. Angry as he is. Noctis doesn't feel any strain when he moves the blade, and it nearly feels light as a feather. Something akin to certainty and preparedness washes over him the second he sees Ardyn conjure up his own blade from its unseen storage. Noctis has been aware of it for some time, but he hasn't seen it in action since he passed out in front of him.

But now, it's a whole other side. Noctis is forced to work quickly, blades clashing with a loud clang that echoes through their surroundings and he feels his body jolt. Strength he never knew he had kicks in instantaneously, and Noctis is able to shift himself away from the pressure. Another warp, another hologram, he turns on his heel to get out of the line of Ardyn's sword. He tosses the Engine Blade, something he has never been able to do and it flies far, digging itself into the top of a tree where Noctis disappears into thin air and appears dangling from the top.

He's out of breath, amazed at how easily he was able to do it, no illness to follow. And it weirdly increases his energy, kills the lack of ability to catch his breath where he may as well have taken a seat for a few minutes. Before long, he tosses the blade back down, mid-air where he grabs it to throw down into a downward strike.

He has no idea where this prowess came from, but he's too busy to reflect on it right now. ]

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