Santa
Noctis sang an old travelers song as he traveled down the dirt trade road that existed on the northern edge of the rhakotis desert. Today was a rest day for him- it would be spent walking, but not burning his magic. His primary method of travel was to put everything into his senses that effected balance and spatial awareness and his legs and back. This allowed him to move at ridiculous speeds reliably across the country for prolonged periods of time. 

With wind magic to regulate airflow against his body for aerodynamics and fire magic to regulate his body temperature, Noctis could "Mana Drag" Himself for hours on end. It was a unique trick that he had developed over years of working for the First Emperor. 

*"My lady shines when the moonlight is bright, 
Her skin is polished and her wits are sharp, 
She stays by my side through the longest of days, 
And chases away the strangest of strays. 
My lady sings when I kiss her awake, 
She holds my hand with the tightest of grips, 
And I scrub her clean when the blood starts to drip. 
My lady is my blade and she goes before me, my lady is my sword and I am her lord, my lady, my lady the blade."* 

Noctis wore a script on his back that contained some foraged food, dried jerky and his sword in the center. A canteen hung on his hip and his cloak was a deep midnight black, with gold embroidery with beautiful symbols that seemed to flicker in the low light. His face was obscured from view by the deep hood, but the voice that came from within it was beautiful. 

With a slight rasp and an ever clear tune, it was as if his voice could create its own symphony- it was a work of auditory art that carried clear and seemed to have even the emerging fireflies dancing to the cadence he set. 

The swords pommel gleamed on his back, a glittering rubied rose that seemed to flicker like the flames of a candle beneath the dying light of twilight. He almost seemed lost in thought. 

The truth of it was that he nearly was- his thoughts going ba

Ck once again to his final moments in a life that would never return. The blast of magic energy from the dragon, the cold smile from the woman he'd loved, the fall... The endless fall and then... Nothing. The last thing he'd heard, at least so he'd thought, was his fathers voice. 

Whatever it was- it had all lead him here, on the way to Capitol. Broke, bored- and totally and utterly without purpose for the first time in centuries. 

It's in this thought that he wouldn't notice the other traveler, not as soon as he might have usually. His senses were unusually sharp for what looked like a humans- today he'd only notice them within a hundred yards or so.
Marla
Nyx was on her merry way along this road, she headed in the direction of profitable work yet she also looked for something along the edge of the desert. Bandits, monsters and creatures alike faired no chance against even her fists let alone her Mothers tanto- For her they were boring, weak and pretty much dishonorable and lacking in perfection or mastery of their body or choesn art. For her, ever since the obliteration of the tribe that killed her father she has only taught or shined the way the for the young but for her, she felt like she was loosing her sense of purpose, her reason to fight, the adrenaline she was addicted to was fading away even though as of now she was in her prime.. 

With her natural resistance to heat and cold due to being a dragonborn and because she didn't want to waste any energy she chose to walk yet her eyes locked into something that was fast but.. Not fast enough for her eyes to miss and well it caught her attention like a magnet, Her urge to fight, no, she was no barbarian, the urge to duel ignited with thunderous sparks inside her core once more though she dare not draw her blade first.

Nyx wore her fathers armor, the intricate sapphire patterns and noble look upon it screamed to those who were knowladgable in the culture that she was indeed a leader and a warrior, a Samurai.. The intricate gold lining and the large and Long Odachi on her back matched her size as her tail followed behind her. On her left, attached to her hip was her Nodachi and Katana, two blades that craved to bathe in the blood of her foes while her Odachi craved to be drawn into duel once more.. To keep herself occupied she kept herself deep in thought, so deep that she could be considred in deep meditation but her awareness kept her "Awake" One could say.

The Aura she gave off to those who were inelligent in the art of dueling and fighting screamed that she was like no other, a Gem amongst gems and something that could give anyone a challenge and even bring lig

Ht to those who have long since lost it due to lack of talents to fight yet at the same time it was as if she was like a stream of air that was fluid yet beautiful. To the bandits she killed and left alive she earned the tittle of Fist of the Blood-Moon as was the red moon on the back of her armor..
Santa
As the Dragonborn woman came into view, it was as if the sun had risen at the same moment that a dark shadow passed alongside it. For the first time since his awakening- no, for the first time since the Cousin Conflict when he'd been forced to face a Daughter of Torrstein, a foe that had been so monstrous in strength that he'd felt like a fly in her path. It had been a harrowing encounter and nearly cost him his life- had the fight not been interrupted he surely would have died that day. 

This woman didn't radiate that same level of *Raw* Power- but she radiated the same intent. She was an apex predator who treasured her strength and the art of her craft, the art of battle. Slowing down some fifty feet from her, he'd come to a stop and throw back his hood as he rolled the script off his back, setting it standing up beside him. 

Noctis had a face that could only be described as ethereal beauty. It was a level of allure that bested the fairest of elves, raven black hair and pale skin- he looked both femininely beautiful and masculinely handsome. Yet what would likely matter most to the Dragonborn, were his silver eyes. 

Swirling pools of silver mist that seemed to flash with light that could only be obtained by someone who'd seen many battles- and been at the front line of them all. He'd battled beasts, men, angels and a dragon, demigods and many of the races of Aeterna, and he still lived to tell the tale with all his parts intact. 

"Good evening. I am a fellow traveler upon this road-" He began, giving her a bow before rising again. 

"I'm never quiet this forward with people I've just met, please you have to understand, but would you perhaps be interested in a wager? You see, I've found myself short of coin and I would like to earn some more for when I come to another inn. You carry blades- a duel, victor takes the others coin. I have six golden coins here, they'll be yours should you get me to admit surrender, and I'll take six from you should I make you utter

Defeat. No death blows. On my fathers honor I swear that I shall bring no permanent harm to you, aside from a few scars maybe." He said with an impish grin, which displayed dazzling pearlescent teeth. 

Fists or blade, I can do either- that choice I'd leave to you. After the fight we can perhaps have a proper introduction of names. What say you?" He asked, his beautiful melodic voice carrying across the road towards Nyx. 

Her daunting height, her sheer presence, the comfort that she showed with those blades, the flame in those eyes- she nearly looked *Bored* As he was, the kind of bored that came from a lack of being challenged and pushed, the kind of look that came from someone who hadn't met an equal in some time to push them to greater heights and was on the verge of stagnation. Oh his mind whirled with the possibility of this travelers skill, a woman, a dragonborn... But not a dragon. She and her kin had no part in his downfall, no... That answer wouldn't dare come to him so easily- and he would not hold sins of one to another just because of some slight similar appearances.
Marla
Nyx was not just a Apex predator, no she was far more.. Lethal if she chose to be, especially if she snaps and taps into her instincts, that of which has not happened since the obliteration of the Lizardmen all those years ago.. During that time her rage induced madness and her grief forced her to reach a height by insanity. Looking the traveler over he was.. Attractive to say the least but alas she wasn't looking for love, no she couldn't even though his silver eyes allured and lulled her heart strings.

"Scars are a due process for a proper duel but alas, I also agree to bring you no permanent harm, aside from some proper scars. I take it you only have six gold on you? Hm, Arrogance is not my Neo-Forte but.. I'll raise it to ten so you can get a hearty meal-" Out of respect for the challenge she too would bow as she paused.

"I vow, on the legacy of my tribe and the legacy of my father who used this blade and wore this armor and who died standing to not take your life and to accept this challenge and wager, I hope you fight with honor because If not, I will show you the honor I teach to the young. For now, you can call me the blood-moon, only when this is over shall we learn of each others name." Her Amber eyes burned with the same strength a dragon would have but these eyes belonged to a dragon whom was known for her strength, gravity manipulation and Lightning breath.

Stepping to the side of the road she would drop the backpack that contained all of the items she could possibly need on her travels she would then untie her belt and carefully set the Nodachi and katana on top of her bag before moving the Long odachi she had to her waist and tying it up on place of her Nodachi and katana. She would then carefully grab her mothers Tanto and set it down with extreme respect.

She would then get onto her knees and lower her head to him, a sort of bow that came with respect for the duel, a thing she and her people commonly did before a duel, only then would she retur

N to her feet to not only prepare properly but to see him eye to eye.

"I hope you can enlighten me traveler, good luck." Getting into a half bent stance her feet would scrape against the and she placed her left hand upon the scabbard of her Long odachi keeping her right hand over yet untouching of the handle of the blade, the handle of which was beautifully made. 

Her Aura changed, it was different, it matched her breathing as her breathing slowed and she became extremely relaxed, her body becoming fluid like water yet her muscles became as quick as lightning.. The wind would begin to lightly pick up as if her Aura was forcing it to change and become more dramatic, the tension in the Air rising as she was ready and because of tradition she would not make the first move

"Your move." She simple said as she waited there, stiller than a statue, her mind already calculating the bodily enhancement spells and gravitational spell she was to use.
Santa
Noctis had never seen a ritual like the one she did on her knees, but he was not above the ways of others. Scipio had taken to Noctis because he'd managed to retain humility- despite having been born beautiful, despite being blessed even among demigods, Noctis had known love and abounded by it. 

He mirrored her, getting down to his knees in the dirt and bowing his head to her as well. His raven locks curled at the end and created a silky curtain as they hung down, before he raised those silver eyes like twin full moons, and gazed at her, only rising when she did. 

Her offer had been generous- now he really wanted to win. He wanted a hot bath, a warm bed and some information on the adventurers guild. All those things would cost coin, even if he was good at talking down prices, payment was always necessary. 

He pulled out his own black blade, the inlaid rubied roses of the sword glittered like fresh wet blood, as if the sword itself was bleeding from an eternal wound. It was a dark and gorgeous blade- his Ebony Rose. 

The second her aura shifted, Noctis knew she'd be no push over. Without a doubt her strength would be a league above the strongest men, and Dragon blood coursed her veins... The dragons he'd faced had carried terrible breath weapons of different elements. Would she have severe elemental power? Breath magic like the dragons? He'd have to be wary, that wasn't counting any techniques she had alongside strength and potential elemancy. 

In his normal body without using Enhancement Magic, Noctis had low level superhuman physical abilities. He would test her prowess first, and see how far he needed to go with his enhancement. 

Enhancement, Illusion and his very specific wind and fire abilities. For wind, he could float and regulate air streams around his body. For fire, he could shoot fireballs, coat his blade and regulate his body temperature by reversing the flows of the flame magic and working them into his body. 

Honor... She wanted an honorable fight, I

Llusion magic was known far and wide as the least honorable of magics. Used by tricksters, thieves and criminals primarily. He'd try to limit its use. 

"Very well..." 

With that he launched towards her. It wasn't just that he was fast- it was that his acceleration was inhuman. He'd studied a beast once for months, hunting and battling it, never killing it and managing to survive it every time. It had a unique ability to accelerate at incredible speeds, 0 to roughly 60 killed per hour in seconds. After study and aid from companions, he'd deduced that it's unique bodily composition allowed that. Using his Enhancement magic and the aid of a Master Healer, he too had manipulated his body to accelerate at a similar speed. His top speed without enhancement was faster than a horse at full gallop, somewhere between 45-55 miles per hour. It wasn't a human strength he possessed. His body was this strong from two sources- one was a boon from his father, Masculo treasured the body and Noctis had been born with the perfect body in every way. 

The second was his particular brand of Enhancement Magic. It allowed him to enhance his body through allotments of "Stats". Prolonged use over time had caused his body to adapt, and had caused his base form to "Level up" So to speak. 

All that to say that he crossed the distance between them in seconds and in a flash, his blade struck out in a thrust to the chest, but the attack was a feint and instead like a striking snake, the blade moved back and then struck out again with a whip cracking sound towards Nyxs thigh. While he did this, he also had a... Rather strange stance. His free hand that did not hold the blade was brought up almost like a boxers defense, a gleaming vambrace on both arms, greaves on both legs, two pauldrons and seemingly no other armor, all a gleaming platinum.