[X] Jump out the window after them. You definitely don't like this situation at all. It's troublesome and a huge problem for everyone, but there has to be a way for you to resolve it somehow, right?
- [X] Assist Siusan against Neil.
Even as you try to make sense of your tangled and muddled thoughts, your body quickly jumps into action. Your mind barely has time to think things through before you're already leaping over the windowsill, Šapinuwa's afternoon wind suddenly brushing your face as you gracefully drop onto the cold grass growing all around the building. You have no idea why you just did that. You just can't understand why you have gone and thrown yourself into the fray. There's still no reason for you to get involved in any of this! Neil's been violently removed from the Foreign Film Club's vicinity, so -
Why are you doing this?
It's not like you need to be responsible for Neil's actions. He's little more than a stranger to you. The trouble he's found himself in - that should have no bearing on you whatsoever, right? Just because you're a newly minted member of the Archaeology Club doesn't mean there's any necessity for you to embrace this ... idiocy with him. Dominique would understand that you did your best! It's not like you planned for this to escalate into a duel or something, your hands are clean of that! You proposed fighting him as a rhetorical device, that's all - not because of him being a little too exasperating or anything of that sort but ... now everybody else is fighting him and you're already rising to your feet to ...
Your head is a mess. There's definitely no reason for you to be involved. But as if the Divinities had once again decided to play a cruel prank on you, you just can't escape this
stupid situation! You take a deep breath. The jumble of words and feelings bouncing around inside your skull are too much to make sense of right now. Adrenaline fills your every vein, the rush of blood audible against your ears. Did you really just ... jump out the window? Your cheeks grow red - it's unthinkable for somebody like you to act so recklessly, yet ...
There are butterflies in your chest. Motes of light squeezing against the walls of your heart.
You definitely did not enjoy the rush of it. You were simply ... temporarily caught up in ... whatever this is. That's all. It was simply a minute loss of composure on your part, and absolutely nothing else. And given how troublesome this situation is, it's not wrong to go with the first solution you think of, right?
You violently shake your head.
Your mind feels as if it's been torn in two directions. Contradictory emotions and loose, fragmented thoughts spin around inside, twisting you into knots. What are you supposed to feel? What are you supposed to do, now that you have so recklessly put yourself in this mess? But ... even despite the haze of confusion ... you know that you don't like any of this. You definitely don't like it at all. Because ... not only do you ... want to still try and fulfil Dominique's request to keep Neil out of trouble ... you think that this is - that this entire situation is - utterly ridiculous. You want to resolve it. But if the fight has already started ... then what can you do to de-escalate things?
How can you ensure that the duel ends without creating any bigger problems?
You glance up at the fight. Siusan is a picture of power and agility - she's focused entirely on the attack, her fast and hard strikes leaving Neil little room to breathe. Every time he manages to parry or block one of her wild, unrefined punches, the deer girl is already following through with another attack, trying to break through his defences like a wrecking ball. And every time he takes advantage of an opening to put space between them, she is quick to move as well - even managing to dart behind him and -
"Your butt's open!" she says, entirely seriously. "Prep those cheeks for a pounding!"
... In any case, how can you ensure that this duel doesn't devolve any further?
Simply talking them into stopping seems to be very unlikely. Both of the older students are still clashing, and they show no sign of stopping any time soon. Nor do you think the Foreign Film duo - disgruntled and irritated as they are - would let the battle end so quickly before they arrive. Despite the fact that Neil is no longer actively headhunting those interested in joining their club, they likely still want to take him down several notches. You briefly wonder what would happen in the rare likelihood that they lost - you doubt they would be willing to accept his continued presence. And that would probably create even more of a grudge!
As much as it ... feels strange to consider ... the only choice you think you can make is ... to join the fight against Neil. You don't really want to fight him - and you're definitely not going to be able to correct the stupid stubbornness that led to this situation - but even so, him losing as quickly as possible would be the best option, right? Even if it's entirely unfair. Thinking about it stings your pride. But it's not like you want to do this at all. You don't want to just ... gang up on another student like this, but it's the only possibility that comes to mind! Help the others defeat him quickly, and no more disrepute will come to anyone involved!
Energy crackles beneath your skin.
With every breath, the voice of the cosmos pulses in tune with your soul. The energies of the ether - the quintessence of the higher planes - gather within your body, and in a single flash of white, your beloved silver longsword manifests once more in your hands, sharpness singing as it displaces air in its wake.
You're still hesitant. You have no real desire to do this. But this is the path you have committed yourself to. Retreating now would only leave a bad taste in your mouth. No, you will assist in this fight against Neil. You rapidly run down the possible approaches in your mind - right now, those two warriors are distracted, so if you were to follow Siusan's lead and exploit the youthful student's vulnerability to take him from behind -
A cough.
You're ... definitely not going to do that. Such behaviour - launching that kind of surprise attack, that is - would be dishonourable! Unbecoming of your position.
... But really, this Siusan girl's phrasing is just the worst.
As the two combatants disengage from one another, the horned girl quickly makes use of the opportunity to produce two hefty cudgels from her baggy uniform. Their metallic shafts are simple and unadorned, and both end in heavy leaden knobs. And despite their relative size - even when compared to weapons of similar make - Siusan wields them with utter ease, loosely gripping onto the weapons with a familiarity clearly born of experience.
"Yo Neil, don't keep me waiting," she announces, thrusting one of her thick clubs in the black-haired boy's direction. "Let's take it out of your pants."
... It's absolutely terrible.
"... I don't think that's quite ... hm, the best way to say it?" Neil is clearly in agreement, because his expression looks the hybrid of mildly exasperated and having chewed on something a little sour. "You should maybe pick words that have more dead-on meanings, else you might confuse people! Or worse, scare them!"
"No clue what you mean," replies Siusan blandly.
The black-haired boy shakes his head. "Well, it doesn't quite matter," he says cheerfully, a smile gracing his face once more. "As long as I can see how you've improved over the break, that's all I need to worry about! It's been quite a while!"
"Sure, but there's three of us you're fighting." Siusan shoots a glance in your direction. "Four?"
The answer catches slightly in your throat. "I, ah ... yes."
"Not too big a problem." Neil starts to lean over. "I think I can still give quite the fierce performan -"
He pulls his entire body back in a single fluid motion, Dilşad's cane swinging harmlessly past his nose. A bare second later, he catches the end of Enara's thrown chain with a free hand, tugging it close to entangle the other disgruntled club member's weapon and halting the momentum of the strike. But he cannot capitalise on the response, solely able to push the cane back in an attempt to maintain his balance. Despite the failure to catch him entirely off guard, the ambush by the two Foreign Film Club members was enough to create an opening - one that (much to your own surprise) you instinctively find yourself making use of.
The distance between you and Neil is closed within seconds. Your training takes over, body springing into action to deliver a thrust towards his midsection. The older student's surprise lasts for only the briefest of moments - enough time for him to react - and you find your blade parried by Dilşad's cane, sparks flying as the steel of your respective weapons shriek against each other. And when Enara tries to pull back her chain - suddenly removing the weight in front of you and leaving you and Dilşad both stumbling - he's moving once more, dipping and weaving past the sudden hole in your sloppy "formation" to try and give himself some breathing room.
And then Siusan is on him, her newfound range forcing him onto the back foot. His movements can only be described as "playing keep-away", and his footwork ... the way he bounces off his feet in sudden spurts ... you are reminded in a way of a court fencer. But without his weapon free, no matter how well he attempts to cover his openings, the powerful, dangerous swings the deer girl sends his way will soon overwhelm him.
Unless you or the others do so first.
Dilşad charges, rushing past Siusan to take an overhead swing at Neil. You can see him wince in pain as he catches the cane's downward arc between his palms, but with an ally in the way, Siusan's relentless assault is forced to halt. And it's enough of an opening for him to drop the ground, driving a kick straight into Dilşad 's lower torso and then pushing his hands against the ground to roll into a back-flip - and as something flies free of one trouser leg.
It's impressive beyond belief.
Enara swings into action. Her chain, spinning in the air to build momentum, flies true and catches Neil in the leg. He stumbles, almost on the verge of tripping forward to the ground, but as Dilşad goes for another attack, eager to take advantage of his glaring openings, the black-haired boy catches a stake, stabbing it into the ground as support and barely avoiding the next swing. Despite the disadvantages, he's quick to recover.
And by the time you return to the fray, he's already patching up his openings.
Your slash (admittedly half-hearted) - and Dilşad's next swing - is immediately blocked by the stake. It catches your weapons, pushing you back, and then for the first time since you joined this fight, he's actively on the counterattack. You're barely able to deflect his rapid thrusts, the flow of the battle changing to one where you and Dilşad have to retreat, forced to cede ground as he bats aside cuts and strokes. Again, you think to the fencer comparison - but his creative use of the stake, the way he quickly switches his grip and direction - it's almost like dagger fighting.
That added year of experience ... you very much feel it. Not that he's devoid of raw talent either. Neil wastes little energy in the delivery of his strikes. Every one of his attacks has a purpose, and he aims for your openings with great speed. His own vulnerabilities are patched up rather quickly, leaving you few chances to take advantage of him. You can't imagine what fighting him alone would be like - seven times out of ten, his speed and experience would likely triumph over you, and with your hesitance, his victory would be a certainty. Even with both you and Dilşad pushing back, he is surprisingly capable of holding his own. Your muscles are already growing sore. Eking out a win in this situation is not as easy as it seems.
As another chain strike flies at him from the corner of your eye, he pulls back, letting it miss him by inches. You're about to take the initiative, blade readied for another strike, but Dilşad's goes ahead before you can, and Siusan is taking action too. Neil parries the film club boy's thrust and delivers a frightening riposte, but it leaves him little room to fully avoid the horned girl. He has little time to reorient, barely able to switch the stake between hands to block before her cudgel smashes into him, steel ringing against steel as he's forced (painfully) to retreat again.
While he can hold off you and the Foreign Film Club, when it comes to Siusan -
- It is a different story.
Yet despite your advantages, Neil refuses to fall easily. At times, the numbers on your side are more a curse than a boon, the disunity between you and the other students allowing him the freedom to weave through the holes in your defences. All three of them are complete strangers to you, whose disparate fighting styles you lack the preparation to account for. It's awkward and unwieldy, and every time you attempt to make an approach, you have no clue how any of them will also react. Do you move into close range, whose attacks do you follow up on, what can you do? You are not at all in sync with any of them.
And to be perfectly honest with yourself, you are not even in sync with your own blade either.
There is no unity of action. Your lack of desire to fight here, the lack of will behind your sword ... it adds up to a hesitant and restrained performance. Despite everything, you don't really want to fight the older student. Ending this farce of a duel ... you lack the drive to translate to your weapon.
So the weaknesses become obvious. And Neil is a skilled enough warrior to take advantage of as many of them as he can.
Whenever any of you are on the attack, he's able to push through your openings, temporarily forcing you back before turning his attention to Siusan. Neil is able to somewhat defend himself against you and the Foreign Film Club, but when the horned girl is added to the equation, the situation changes entirely. Just like Neil, she's able to minimise the openings she leaves, and despite how wild her strikes seem, she attacks with intent and purpose, consistently pounding away at the boy's defences. Had it been a one-on-one fight, you could see the result go either way. But with so many attacking him from so many directions, the result remains a certainty.
Neil stamps down on Enara's chain, pulling her in for a sucker punch. It is the last success he manages, because a second later, Siusan has him laid out on the ground.
Groaning, exhausted, and finally brought down.
Your arms burn. Your lungs scream for more air. You dissipate your blade, holding your knees to catch your breath.
That had been ... a gauntlet.
So this is ... the calibre of the House of the Dawn's students?
While you try to recover, the two members of the Foreign Film Club stagger over to where the boyish student is lying.
"You see?" says Dilşad breathlessly, exertion evident in every part of his body. "This what you get for being a ... fuck."
"Keep your nose out of our business from now on," Enara bites out. "No more ... dicking around with ... our members."
Even in the thrall of exhaustion, Neil still manages a smile. "Fair play ... I'll honour the deal."
"Good." It's enough to satisfy the duo. With one last annoyed glare his direction, they begin the walk back inside the building.
"Hah, nice work." Siusan is next to approach, a quiet smirk on her face. "But too bad you're the one munching grass."
"This is ... why you don't ... have a girlfriend," the boy wheezes.
"Sorry, what's that? You still want your meat beat?"
"... Haaaaaaa." But Neil soon starts laughing. It's a cute and melodious chuckle - entirely sincere. "You certainly got me quite good today. It was a deadly show."
"Thanks." She stretches, looking relieved as the tension leaves her body. "So what's the story? What did you do?"
"Did you come fight me without knowing a reason?" Neil stares up at her with large, questioning eyes. "Not even a speck of one?"
"Dude, being annoying's enough for you," she retorts, ignoring his expression of ... mock hurt. "But let me guess, helping Zoya?"
"... That's correct."
"Bleh, figures." Siusan casually dusts off a horn. "Well whatever, it's fine by me. I don't have to get involved with that."
As she turns to leave however, she pauses for a moment, eyes meeting Neil's once more.
"Are we still on for tomorrow?" she asks. "Not going to be too tired after your dig?"
"It'll be quite the opposite," he answers. "I will definitely be there to answer the door ... unless I'm showering."
"Rad."
She throws a small, loose salute. "Catch you later, Neil. Oh, you too, first year. But right now - I've got my just desserts to receive."
And just like the Foreign Film Club, she's gone.
Neil breathes out a quiet sigh. He pushes himself off the ground, arms resting on a raised knee. The smile has returned to his face, and despite having suffered that exhausting marathon of a battle, he doesn't look too worse for wear. In fact, he almost seems satisfied in a way. You ... don't really understand how his mind works. That entire farce, everything that led up to it … it's almost unreal that it had all even occurred.
"Sorry for dragging you into all of that, Miss Sieghild," he says apologetically as his sparkling green eyes look your way. "I had never intended on fighting you like that. It was unexpected. You were quite skilled though!"
"Ah ... thank you." There's actually more that you want to say, specifically things regarding his behaviour, but right now, you're too tired to do pursue the point. "But I ... don't believe that I deserve that ... ah, praise."
"There's nothing wrong with accepting it." Somehow, Neil is still able to sound upbeat. "I don't have any reason to lie about anything that, hm, can be learnt in the heat of battle! You did a grand job. Trust me on that."
... How does his mind work anyway? You look back down at the grass. Not because you're hiding anything like embarrassment. You definitely don't feel any of that. He can give as much sincere praise as he wants and it definitely doesn't matter to you at all. It has no effect on you whatsoever.
"Ahem." You cough into a fist. All things said, however, there is ... one thing you want to ask about. "On another ... ah, note - I ..."
You hesitate for a moment, searching your mind for the right words.
"I want to know - what exactly motivated you to do ... all this?"
The brief fragments of conversation tell you absolutely nothing. And given your involvement in the fight, you think you deserve to know what originated all this absurdity.
"Well, it's quite the long story." With a quiet huff, Neil pushes himself up into a crouch, then leaps to his feet. "I might have to spend some time to explain it! Is that fine?"
He strolls over, offering you a hand.
You let out a sigh. There's very little reason to refuse, it seems.
"I have ... no problem with that," you reply, taking his proffered hand. "But ... you still, ah, need to return to the Archaeology Club."
Neil laughs again.
"No trouble at all, I can tell you everything on the way back. Maybe even buy you a drink!"
... You suppose that's no problem either.
"Then, please lead on."
Part Two coming sometime (ideally this week).
