Dawn
Gryphon, being unarmed, may pick up to two weapons from the arsenal to match the number of weapons of William Rojas. Rojas may sacrifice both of his weapons to reduce the number of weapons Gryphon is permitted to choose to one, furthermore allowing himself to pick one weapon/item from the Regni Medeas' arsenal.

**Mythos:Gryphon** Is chosen to start the battle via coin toss.
Michael
Right. So this was the ritual combat she'd heard of- she hadn't actually... Seen it performed, the past few years she'd come to the festival. Normally she was far too busy to put it into her schedule. But this year, being able to participate? That... Changed things. It was frustrating to have to abandon her schedule for now, of course, but this was not an opportunity she should pass up.

All the same, it came with its fair share of concerns. Her first came before she even stepped foot into the arena, or chose her weapon- the healing meant to be given by the royal physician. She wasn't sure to what degree their attempts would affect her eye... And wanted to speak with the physician before they did anything that might alter it. Permanent damage to her eye would be more than a bit of a problem-
Wilma
Walking closely behind Athena till they reach the dueling arena, he was confused to say the least, *People still have duels? Shit, I don't really want to be doing this. Primary objective keep watch to make determine any threats to the king, that's what Athena wants, winning this duel is optional.* He thinks to himself, viewing over the arena before stepping in, he decides to leave his rifle behind, *This small an area ain't best for a rifle of mine. I've done duels before.* Now walking towards a 'physician' to check himself before the fight and hopes to speak with his opponent before starting
Michael
Having conversed with the physician, resolving her first concern, she returned to the arena. Deciding her weapon was, by comparison, a much simpler process. She knew immediately that her options were... Limited. All the same, the decision she was forced to make was the one she would have made regardless. A spear was the weapon she was most confident with- even one unenchanted with unfamiliar magics.

Claiming her weapon and taking up her position on the arena, her second concern came into focus. As she waited for her opponent to be ready, she had to consider just how likely she was to actually *Win* This fight, given...

That she was incapable of using her ***SOUL***

Her body had adapted to this world more and more over the years, yes, but she still had yet to be able to actually *See* Her soul- let alone use it. She had gotten along using only what magic still lay manifest in `[keen]`. But it would seem this ritual combat may... Challenge that prospect. She'd already been restricted from three weapons on that basis alone, but that wasn't the problem. 

*"It's a battle of the SOULs, understand?!"*

*That* Was the problem. If, as they had said, the SOUL was the weight behind a swing in this battle... Then she had no weight. And if they couldn't describe this kind of combat without experiencing it... Then she had no way to plan ahead for this.

She hated to *Guess* In combat. But here... She would have no other choice.
Wilma
Walking towards the physician he notices that he missed his opponent, *Damnit, I needed to talk with whoever it is I'm fighting. Now I gotta check in and hopefully talk later in the arena.* Looking at the physician he tells him about the recent fights he was involved in and the damage he took in his legs and arms, he also asked if it was anything serious or if he could just go into the arena and meet his opponent

Learning about the physician already healing him when he entered the area, he thinks to himself, *This time period has some really weird and cool magic, I gotta learn more about this stuff when I can.* Giving a hat nod to the physician he says "Thank you wizard man" And makes his way to the arena, spotting Gryphon standing on the other side with a spear. *This doesn't seem good for me, a fight also based on a soul. Hell, I barely know how to make fire in my hands. Well let's do this.* He finally thinks to himself, taking off his coat and tie, he wraps the tie tightly around his left arm to act as a bandage if necessary and tight his left hand incase he needs to fight hand to hand, he whispers to himself, "Te veré de nuevo Bonney" And yells out to his opponent, "Your move!" He shifts his position into a fighting stance ready to draw if needed
Michael
Her gaze sharpened. She shifted from idle standby to favor her left side, the tip of her spear lifted only a foot or so off the ground. At a glance she didn't find anything particularly impressive about her opponent- he seemed to be physically weaker than her, at the least... But in a situation such as this, she couldn't assume that he was harmless.
Especially given the firearm, of course. It had been the first thing she'd really noticed- the way he stood inclining him to be ready to draw for it, despite his posturing for a hand-to-hand fight. Given that seemed to be his plan for things... She felt it best to start by disrupting it.
Her first move would be a sharp lunge forward, spear trust towards her opponent's right side. An aggressive, frontal attack, with her footing set to allow for a follow-up- a movement even closer, to try and get into true melee with her opponent. The closer she could get, the more she could restrict his options of reaching for his weapon. And, should he attempt to go for it now, she was still in a position to try and contest his stance.
Her eye wouldn't leave him for a moment.
Wilma
Seeing his opponent get into position for an attack and leap forward, he immediately side steps and jump back as far as he can to get out of range of the spear deciding not to grip his revolver yet. *Shit, she's fast and trained, okay keep out of reach. Bandage over one eye, blind spot maybe.* He thinks to himself, deciding to take a more defensive approach with this new opponent, he lifts up his arms into a boxing style of fighting and using light foot work to move out of reach of any attack with the spear, *I'm not sure if I can match her speed but just get the right chance, all I need.*
Michael
A leap back... An attempt at defense.
If he wanted to keep distance, than she just had all the more reason to not let him get any. He'd moved back from her, but she'd prepared for evasion- her footing given follow-through as she surged forwards again, making sure to keep her left side firmly forward- not giving him an opportunity to even attempt on her blind spot. She saw his gaze lock on the bandage. She wouldn't be letting him take advantage.
She would begin surging her attacks towards his left side, now- at attempt to lock him down from moving to his left. With her body, meanwhile, she kept him from advancing forwards, pushing towards him with every stab and strike.
She intended to box him against the edge of the ring. Given the apparent limits of his physical capabilities, she felt she could end this if she got fully into striking range- especially if she managed to get point-blank. He may have good footwork, but she could match every move he could make. Every shift of his leg, every turn of his heel was caught firmly in her vision.
Wilma
*Fuck, I'm almost cornered* He thinks to himself seeing the barrage of attacks aimed at his left side preventing him from moving into that area, and the shifting of her body is preventing him from moving forward to get into striking distance in hand to hand. *For someone blind she can see fast saw me shift into a new position and ready a stike before i got ready, let's see how fast.* He immediately grabs 4 30-06 cartridges off his belt and imbues them with fire, making makeshift bombs. He throws them ahead of him hoping that the smoke and small explosions will effect her, if not then she would have to deal with the small pieces of lead and brass flying everywhere. Immediately after the cases left his hand he jumps to his right side and drops three more cases where he was, causing more explosions. While still moving he scans the surrounding area with his eyes attempting to spot anyone out of place, *Main objective, find a threat to the king*
Michael
`[keen]`
His motion to drop the next three cartridges would most likely be interrupted, her spear piercing through the smoke to aim right for where his leg was moving towards. The smoke he had been hoping to delay her with had hardly even registered to her- especially not to her enhanced vision. Even through the smoke she could tell where he was going, even if she hadn't been fast enough to dodge quite all of the shrapnel from the blast. She'd only been hit with smaller bits and pieces, though, and most of it had only grazed her. However fast he was, she could more than keep up.
Any tricks he tried to pull, she could see him moving to make them faster than he could believe. Her strike aiming for his leg was intended to injure him- given she was already able to keep up with him like this, if he got any sort of wound that slowed him down, it should spell the end of this fight. Not to mention he'd just obscured his own vision in an attempt to block hers- something which hadn't affected her ability to fight him in the slightest.
If he was distracted trying to find something somewhere else, he'd be out of this fight faster than he thought.
Wilma
Before he even got to his new position a spear tip came through the smoke, just barely fast enough to catch the movement he attempted to move his leg but wasn't fast enough, feeling the blade cut his skin he immediately grabbed the shaft of the weapon with his left hand, he quickly raised his arm imbueing it with fire and slamming down onto the shaft, if successful then he'll immediately reach for his pistol and fire two shots with his experience in both quickdrawing and marksmanship, if she tries to pull the spear away he'll pull with it and throw a punch with his right hand using his training in the AEF and experience in the wars.
Michael
Unfortunately for him, neither of his plans would be able to function.
Rather than puller her spear back for follow-up, on striking skin she instead moved for a more close-quarters move- a sweeping kick through the smoke. With his leg already hurt, not to mention his weight on her spear, another hit to his stance should be able to give her a complete upper hand. The kick was aimed to knock him entirely off-balance, relying on her full vision of him through the smoke to catch him by surprise. Given superior physical speed and strength, she felt she should be cleanly capable of doing this- and simply hoped the enchanted weapon she'd been supplied would be strong enough to withstand his assault on it. Otherwise she'd have to improvise with another weapon, most likely having to disarm him if it came down to it.
For now though, a sweep to the legs. If she could get him fully off-balance, *Then* She could focus on following up.
Wilma
Feeling the shifting of the spear, and the sudden sound of air moving with her movement, he quickly let's go of the spear in his left hand and preforms a cavalry draw and fires 2 shots at the area she would be at, given that she is already in motion it would be difficult to suddenly chance movement and dodge the bullets. Knowing full well that it will hurt more and cause more blood loss, he pulls out the spear to move his position into a better more stable situation, but of course it's not impossible to dodge and he will still be at a disadvantage with his new injury and her sight
Michael
Feeling the removal of his weight from her spear, she uses its grounded position within his leg to twist the implement, having seen him draw his weapon- intended to throw of his aim, while also altering her incoming angle to further obscure his shot angle. She's relying strongly on her advantage of vision here, given that he is still essentially firing blind at her rather nimble form. The result of both his shot and his following attempt to remove her spear would depend on just how effective her throwing off of his aim had been... If it had worked as intended, she'd be ever-closer to knocking him fully off balance.
Wilma
Feeling the twisting of the spear in his leg, he let's out a pained grunt but also senses the shifting of angles and the incoming kick, for a regular person it would've thrown off their shots but William has been doing this his entire life and has the training from multiple walks of life to support his marksmanship, he shifts his own angle and fires off 2 more shots, this time imbueing them with fire placing a strong amount into both shots.
Michael
She internally tensed as he shifted his angle of aim once more- this time imbued with... What she could only assume was some portion of his *SOUL*. No matter the quality of his aim, however, firing in smoke is not an exact plan of action- one bullet grazing her right shoulder, with the other piercing her forearm. Despite the clear pain she was experiencing... She'd dealt with much worse before. Scoring her blow meant progressing into victory in this match- taking a few hits in order to ensure it was worth it. Her sweep kick was now nearing contact with his legs, carrying significant force given her angle of approach.
Wilma
Quickly he drops down to his right knee, and lifts up his right arm once again imbued with fire magic to block the income kick, while also readying his pistol for another shot this time due to the angle, it would go through one leg and possibly graze the side of his opponent, if the kick connects then he will use it to pinpoint where he would have to shoot. "Viva México" He says to himself as a reminder to fight and serve
Michael
Unfortunately for her opponent, he would seem to have miscalculated how close she was to striking him.
Before he could fully fall to his knees, her sweep would hit- both legs, with more of her weight hitting his uninjured leg due to her positioning. Whatever the fallout from the hit was, it would almost certainly knock him off balance, and knock his shot off-target. His arm, coated in fire magic, struck where her leg *Had* Been moments ago, a block too late to serve as protection.
She twisted to pull her spear free of his leg after her strike, intending to end this with her next follow up.
Wilma
The impact on his legs forced him to fall down onto his back, grabbing 3 casings off his belt he throws them up in the air to catch her in the insuing blast and shrapnel, while doing this he grips his revolver tighter and aims it at her person and fires 2 shots center mass. "Señora, no quiero pelear, necesito tu ayuda." He says loud enough for only them both to hear and hoping that she understands Spanish. Gryphon now needs to deal with the 2 bullets flying at her center mass while the pieces of shrapnel fly at her direction too, *I ain't winning this, but hopefully my plan can still work* He thinks to himself, getting ready to dodge out the way and seek a new position in the center of the arena
Michael
It was a bold assumption that she'd be giving him a chance to *Hit the ground* Before her follow up
As the casings left his belt she had already pulled her spear fully back to her, raising it in her left arm as she braced for a downward stab at her opponent. *No more sparring- fight like your life depends on it.*
As his shots left the barrel of his revolver, her spear slammed down towards his chest- towards his *Heart*. They said the arena would prevent killing blows, right? Best to trust that it will. 
`[keen]`
The spear sharpened itself to an exact point as it moved to strike her opponent- sharper than any human or medeian hand could ever hope to accomplish. She aimed to *Kill* Her opponent, even if his shots landed.
Dawn
*`"...It's a bit late, isn't it?"`*

...The Physician murmured. The white-cloaked, beetle-headed Medei at his side shrugged lightly, her *Elytra* Fluttering lightly as she did so.*

```
"Human SOULs are... Eh, a step weaker than a Medei's' I s'ppose. 'Least, lest they find their individuality."
"The Medei are much better attuned to magic, spirituality 'n-all the realm related to it."
"...Sometimes, a sharp impetus 's-all that's necessary 't bring out change, though."
"Keep 'yer eyes peeled. We might yet see someth'n beautiful today."```

*`"Perhaps."`*

***`THUMP THUMP.`***

...Was it the beat of the Medeian guard, slamming their weapons against the ground once more?

***`THUMP THUMP.`***

...No, it came from within. From within their chests.

***`THUMP THUMP.`***

...That same cadence beat.

***`THUMP THUMP.`***

It wasn't their *Hearts,*
But their **SOUL**S.

Gryphon's spear travelled true toward her opponent's heart. It would have plunged it straight through. It *Would have.*

***`THUMP THUMP.`***
***`THUMP THUMP.`***
***`THUMP THUMP.`***

Sharp pangs flowing throughout all the body. Heat like fire through the veins. Sulfur and brimstone in the blood. An inferno in the heart; a blaze engulfing the mind. One's whole body lit ablaze.

***`THUMP THUMP.`***
***`THUMP THUMP.`***
***`THUMP THUMP.`***

On the edge. On the edge of life of death. On the edge of here and not.

***`THUMP THUMP.`***
***`THUMP THUMP.`***
***`THUMP THUMP.`***

On the ***Edge of eternity.***

__***`IGNITION—`***__

The floor of the arena glew alight, arcane runes glittering in harmony as a spell fluoresced the world and stage a brilliant golden-red. William's **SOUL** Manifest in equally-as-brilliant fashion, as all the world and space that backdropped the two duelists on the stage turned to dark, further exaggerating the brilliance of the spiritual light. Flames engulf the stage around William as he is pushed to the brink, the weakness of his **SOUL** Overcome by both the enchantment of the arena and his closeness to death, its projection enough to deflect the oncoming blade to his heart and protect him from certain death.



This is one's **SOUL** Taking shape for the first time. Primal manifestation. **Incarnation.**
It is William's **SOUL**, and its form by his nature decided.
Major
Everything happened so fast but it seemed so slow, the spear moved close almost piercing his chest but then suddenly everything was bright. His body ached and his memories became stronger and vivid, all the friends he lost in battle, all the people he had to kill. The hiding from the army in the mountains of Chihuahua, to the trenches on the western front in France. To finally a face, one with soft features and blue eyes, their short hair hidden under the black hat that belongs to William, the face of Bonney the only person they ever loved, then suddenly a bang. The embers burn and the smoke clears, there sitting beside the barely conscious body of William, sat a coyote the eyes black as coal and the fur bright as fire. "HE IS MINE TO PUNISH AND KILL NOT YOURS" The coyote let's out a booming voice with the faint echos of cannons and anger in it's voice. It began to shifting, taking different forms ranging from big and small until finally resting on the size of William and the face of him but this entity was not him or not all of him. Shifting its gaze to look down at William, it speaks once more with poison and hatred on its tounge, "I will not allow you the peace of Death, there are sins you must pay but I will kill you when the time has come." Now shifting its gaze back to Gryphon it throws a blade made of brimstone towards her, "PICK IT UP, ITS BEEN AWHILE SINCE IVE HAD A FIGHT." It says with pure joy in its voice. While forming another blade and raising it towards Gryphon while William speaks, "Lo siento bonney." As he passes out due to the stress the soul had on his body
Michael
She'd hit the ground hard.
The degree of shock she'd felt when his soul had... Ignited like that, below her spear, was tangible.
`Incarnation?`
This was a problem. She'd read about this before- someone being able to turn their soul into an object. Sometimes a living thing... Seems she'd run into the latter. Normally she wouldn't be worried about this- she'd handled strong magic before, and could certainly hold her own when fighting in comfort.
But her right arm was out of comission. Her adrenaline had run out with that final attack- or what was meant to be the final attack, anyway- and her right arm had gone limp. She brought herself up to one knee, using her spear in her left hand as an aid to get to her feet. She didn't even consider lifting the weapon her opponent had thrown her. She wasn't stupid enough to take someone else's magic without knowing what it did.
"You talk far too much when you fight."
A disdainful remark as she regained her composure, retaking her initial stance from this fight- left side forwards, spear raised slightly off the ground. She was used to fighting to her own death. And surrender was something she only did against an insurmountable opponent.
She'd hardly call some human with a bit of magic 'insurmountable'.
She could feel the arena humming under her feet. This fight was going to hurt.
Wilma
Looking at the new opponent in front of the creature of magic and fire, it gave a sad look on its face and lowered its arms, "Aw you ruin all the fun of this." As its twisted smile returned back to its face and lifted up its blade once more, "Now HE didn't want to fight you but me?" Placing its hand onto its chest, "I love a good fight and a good play." This is Williams' soul, more importantly, the hidden parts of it. Its tail and ears perked up and dashed forward with great speed, that same twisted smile across its face and the fire growing more intense. With each step it burned the floor and the smell of fire and burning flesh came with it, suddenly it appeared before her and slashed at her still giving enough time to make a counter, to the creature this was a game
Michael
Faster than the person who created it.
She adjusted immediately to the higher speed, her eye fixed fervently on her opponent as she blocked their... *Its* Approach with her spear, keeping it at somewhat of a distance. If it wanted close quarters, she'd be keeping it as much at range as possible. She wouldn't win if it got in close- not in her condition.
Wilma
The smile growing on its face, it immediately said, "I thought you wanted a fight." As it slashed once again this time aimed for her chest. The smell of sulfur becoming ever more present and the crooked smile growing ever more bigger with each movement. "I haven't had this much fun since the second Battle of the Somme!" It forms another blade and slashed at the left side of Gryphon but still giving enough time to counter, *IT* Wants fun
Michael
She wasn't here for fun. She was fighting for survival.
Even with her vision, her wounds were slowing her down- her counter came in time but.. Just barely, parrying away the incarnation's attack. She definitely needed to keep them at range. As close to the end of her spear's striking range as possible. She wasn't sure how many more injuries she could take, even at this distance... The ache in her right arm was becoming distracting.
She tried not to think about how much blood she'd lost already.
Her eye stayed fixed on the incarnation, and she refused to say a word.
Wilma
It takes a step back, watching its opponent the smile faded again, now turned into a grimace, "You're no fun, even the people I killed gave a better fight than you, tell me how did you lose that eye? It'll be such a shame if I took out the other one." Finishing its sentence with joy in its voice, and the smile returning once again, this time instead of striking with its two blades, it replaced both blades with a chain made of fire and slashed at her with it, still having the devilish smile and eyes filled with hate but hidden behind, regret. "Oh how rude of me, I never told you my name, call me coyote what's your name?" It taking joy from the game its playing
Michael
It was toying with her. Of course it was.
She simply had to dodge the chain's lash, assuming the incarnation would simply attempt to disarm her if she blocked. Its words made her blood boil, but her outward expression reflected no change. It was trying to goad her into fighting on its terms... She wouldn't let that happen. Even should it threaten her eye, or taunt her for her injury- it didn't know anything of either of them. Her eye wasn't gone, simply wounded... Healing. She didn't use it for risk of damaging it further.
She still didn't respond to its questions. Her name was something of honor- something she'd earned. She wouldn't give it out so freely. Not to something like *This*.
Wilma
It wasn't aiming for her to block, the creature suddenly slingback the chain behind her the chain now heading to the back of her head and the fire left behind creating a small coyote charging from behind readying to bite down, the twisted smile growing more and the venom in its voice becoming more clear, "Don't have a name let's fix that, I will call you... Lobo, that's a wonderful name." It continues to speak and reaches for the gun on its hip to keep the attention on itself and not what's behind.
Michael
Her composure cracked at its statement.
She hadn't failed to notice the incarnation's attack- she wasn't oblivious to any movement her opponent made. It must have assumed she would have to turn around to stop the attack, taking her eyes away from it.
It was mistaken.
`[keen]`
The back of the spear she held sharpened to a point- a javelin-like end.
An end she plunged through the attacking coyote behind her without skipping a beat, nor turning away.
"You have no right to name me."
Her eye stayed fixed on the incarnation.
She wasn't one to be toyed with.
Wilma
The smile grew wide, "Oh she does speak! May the lords speak it true!" He says as he let's go of the chain and it vanishes in thin air and turns to address everyone with its booming voice. Then suddenly faster than William drew before it pulled its pistol and fires 6 shots each at some part of the body, 2 at the chest and the other 4 at each of the limps. It's smile is wide and it's loving the thrill
Michael
Well.
That's that, then.
She was able to see it draw its pistol, certainly- it wasn't anything she hadn't seen before.
But... She was already hurt. Worn down by multiple injuries, and the ignition of William's SOUL.
Her right arm was serving as nothing more than dead weight- a problem without a solution, right now.
She couldn't dodge six bullets at this range, with this much time. Even getting hit by one would most likely put her out of commission.
So- she would not go out running away.
In the moment between its draw and its shots, she straightened up.
Her arm holding her spear relaxed, the tip resting on the ground lightly.
She would lose this fight in a dignified stance, by her own choice.
Her eye didn't leave the incarnation as it fired.
Wilma
*BANG* A shot rang out before the incarnation had the chance to fire its own pistol, it turned back to see a smoking gun held by William himself, his eyes barely open and shaking, nearly unable to lift himself on his knee. The creature begins shifting once more, growing shorter and smaller body than William has, its hair turned dark brown with streaks of dirty blonde and eyes as blue as the sky, the tail and ears now no longer visible, it's now wearing a black coat and brown pants matching its boots, "Oh Willy you won't shoot me will you?" It speaks in a soft and tender voice, a voice William knows too well, a voice that haunts every dream and the coyote that haunts every nightmare, it was Bonney. The creature gave a soft smile but 2 more shots rang out, *BANG* *BANG* And the entity fell, turning into dust and fading embers. Now only remain an injured Gryphon, but William didn't shift his attention but instead stared at where the entity once was, tears staining his cheeks..."I'm sorry dear" He says with pain in his voice only low enough for the ghosts to hear him now, as he falls back down and passes out from the pain once again unable to fight any longer

*William loses the duel*
Dawn
The duel meets its conclusion. Gryphon is its certain victor, as the Royal Physician steps into the arena — its invisible magical wall dissipating with a touch — as the flames die down, calmed by two assistants trailing alongside him. Kneeling down to William, he casts a potent magical spell to stabilize his condition, patting him on the shoulder as he does so. He does not say a word to William, who he perceives as grieving, instead giving him a solemn nod and stepping away. **William's wounds would passively regenerate as he returned to a state of normality over the course of several minutes.**

Then approaching Gryphon, he murmurs a brief chant before hovering his hand close to her right arm. Magic courses all throughout it as it is rapidly revitalized, the Medeian magic-doctor carefully examining it with his discerning, avian eyes...

*`"...Mm. You should be ready to continue fighting in about five-or-so minutes. Take a brief break, and your next duel will begin afterward."`*

As the Physician concluded his examination, the Captain of the Custos Regni makes an announcement—