Quartz by any other name... (Afina)

[Ebiris]

After a charge like that she's wide open, and Afina punishes her for the sloppiness by staying in place and meeting Crystal's attack with a flurry of her own, eschewing her more mobile style of battle for the moment.

[18:08] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+43
[18:09] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+43 --> [ 1d20=5 ]{48}
[18:09] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+38
[18:09] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+38 --> [ 1d20=17 ]{55}
[18:09] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+33
[18:09] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+33 --> [ 1d20=16 ]{49}

Her own expression is calm and focused as she goes to work on her fellow pixie, treating their sparring with appropriate seriousness so Crystal won't feel looked down upon. She can't bring her full scope of abilities to bear against Afina after all, so this isn't truly representative of her capabilities when compared to how she'd fight a devil.

Spoiler: ShowHide

AC 87, CMB 80

[Anastasia]

Hit, hit, hit. Each hit is just a tap but Crystal reacts to each one, trying to stop the next. She fails each time.

"Like fighting the zephyr," Crystal mutters as she braces in place and trades blows.

> roll 4#1d20 let's be honest, she needs 20s
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 4#1d20 let's be honest, she needs 20s --> [ 1d20=18 ]{18}, [ 1d20=16 ]{16}, [ 1d20=17 ]{17}, [ 1d20=14 ]{14}

Parry, dodge, weave, duck. Each blow is countered entirely, not a one seriously threatening you.

Go.

[Ebiris]

"I'm far faster than one of those," Afina says with a smile tracing her lips, slapping her blade on Crystal's arm and leg as she dips beneath her fellow pixie and flies thirty feet away from her.

[18:15] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+46
[18:16] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+46 --> [ 1d20=6 ]{52}
[18:16] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+41
[18:16] <Rei-chan> Ebiris rolled : 1d20+41 --> [ 1d20=13 ]{54}

Spoiler: ShowHide

AC 92, CMB 85

[Anastasia]

"So you are," Crystal lowers her blade, "Match to you. Morwel's throne, you've gotten faster, Afina."

[Ebiris]

"Speed is life," Afina says, sheathing her sword now and fluttering more sedately over to Crystal. "Even if I've developed my magic in other ways lately, that fundamental remains true."

[Anastasia]

"How do you do it?" Crystal asks, "I've gotten faster over the years, but you brush that aside like a child tired of a sand castle."

[Ebiris]

"A lot of it is magic," she admits, floating down to land on the roof and sitting down with her legs over a ledge. "Even without casting a spell, the energy of a haste spell has passed through my body so many times it's built up a lingering charge even when I haven't cast it. Beyond that is pure focus, never letting my attention waver so that I can perceive everything my opponent does, reacting to their attacks even before they themselves realise what they're committing to."

[Anastasia]

"Still impressive," Crystal says wryly, "I feel as a novice humbled before a master."

[Ebiris]

"Take it as a learning experience," Afina advises. "I do actually enjoy teaching, though few come to me for it." Mostly it's for crafting apprenticeships anyway.

[Anastasia]

"Who can catch the zephyr and demand her lessons?" Crystal smiles at that, "Who demands the winds herself to teach them?"

[Ebiris]

"Someone who wants to better themselves. You don't see me being shy about visiting archomentals to learn about their elements," Afina says. "I suppose the Graceful Blow's style is a good one as well, and they're more accommodating to potential students."

[Anastasia]

Crystal concedes the point with a nod, "Speaking of, that was a good spar. We should do it again, testing myself against your speed spurs me to improve."

[Ebiris]

"Let me know whenever you want to go another round," Afina nods agreeably before she stands up. "For now I suppose I really should go check on the forges."

[Anastasia]

Lemme pause you here, Jaela should be ready for you soon.