Scurvy shrugged, like the reason why he was "standard" didn't matter before leaping into the air. She flung out a card, slicing it with a dagger and summoning a tempest. The water rose to Talons knees, and as powerful, electrically charged wind created a massive wave, cancelling whatever ground spell he had casted.

Talon swore violently, stepping backwards amongst the water. He frowned, but the dark expression quickly transformed into a smirk, dark laughter catching in his throat as lightning arced from his fingertips across the water towards her. Didn't matter who she was anymore. She was going to entertain him.

Upon seeing the electricty accelerating towards her, Scurvy's facade was over. Using her daggers she pirouetted, using her storm abilities to surround her in water in a vortex and redirecting the lightning towards the sky. She dispersed the Tempest spell with a snap of the fingers. She rolled her head, smirking as she cracked her neck. Up in the stands, Shina was watching with a critical eye. 'Boy she's playing you still. She's not dancing, but she's playing. Thalomir or not, she's a warlord. She's going to win.' While the hybrid was half-tempted to warn Valdus's son of this, she kept her thoughts to herself, instead taking interest in who would win this bout.

Talon stabbed his spear into the ground, and sat on his haunches, a yawn escaping his throat. "I'm bored. Riser and Penny and Duncan gave me a better fight than this." He rubbed his eyes, gazing at the stands bleakly.

"Then try harder." Scurvy drawled. "Or are you just pissed you can't kand a hit on me?" Shina hoped Talon wouldnt attack then. She would give the girl credit though; she knew how ro play, and judging from her standings, she knew how to fight as well. Perfect for the Arena.

Talon shrugged again. During his stay in prison, he learned to humor people. And how to kill them. "I won't hold back if you don't hold back."

"Alright, if you say so." Scurvy was growing bored, and impatient. She suddenly darted forward, mid-run casting three consecutive spells: a treant, a kraken, and a treasure card earthquake. As jagged rocks jutted out at random from the ground, Scurvy used her agility to leap from them, one to the other. A boulder barreled into Talon from the treant, and the Kraken was summoning a bolt of lightning. Scurvy herself was using her weaker magic spells to juice up her daggers. She landed on top of hom, daggers poised to slit his throt and feet pinning his arms to the fround. She cursed out loud as her own Kraken attacked her with hot white lightning, and she was extremely drained from casting those three simultaneous spells at once, but it had done the trick. The whistle blew, ending the match as the referee called out, "Kill blow!" Scurvy, panting, sat back as stand-by theurgists csme out on feild. Dizzy and drained of mana - not to mention pained - she gratefully downed the potion offered to her. "And that," she grunted, "is what a PvP match is about. Irrationality that can kill in a real duel." 'Irrational indeed," Shina thought. What idiot would cast three spells like that?

Talon stood, spitting a wad of blood and cracking his neck. He turned to the referee. "And I didn't get to do anything yet. Why is the match over?" His eyes flashed a vivid scarlet as he and Thalomir both willed the same thing. Unification was key to unlocking true potential. He felt slightly dazed, but he wasn't done yet.

"The Arena isn't a fair fight, boy," Shina had come down from the stands. As she strolled over, Scurvy bowed respectfully, taking a swig of water. Shina stood with arms crossed in front of the smaller boy. "The Arena presents a simulation of a real battle, which is real practice. Do you think in the real world you'll be given turns and chances?"

Talon shrugged, his gaze turned towards Shina. Flames of determination and wistfulness lingered in his red eyes. "I'll make chances."

"You don't make chances!" Shina snapped. "Thats what had your father slain, child. You win or you die." Scurvy raised an eyebrow at the duo, then quietly ordered the referee and theurgists to leave; their job was done.

Talon glared at Shina. "I'm not my father! I survive! I am strong! He...was weak." Talon said somewhat hesitantly. "I don't care what I'm supposed to do. I make chances..." He muttered. "For Astra....for mom....for Hunter." Without waiting for a reply, he pushed past the Theurgists, and Scurvy, exiting the arena.

"I wish that you were, child," Shina murmured to herself. "I wish you were." As Shina sat there reminiscing, Scurvy collected her things, mutteted a quick apology, and made her own way out, intent on following the boy.

Talon sat in the vacant arena lobby, his eyes focused on the ceiling, tapping his fingertips together in an act reminiscent of boredom. He sighed. Fuck. He was weak. He knew it. He was reckless. Lackadaisical, maybe. He didn't think. Impulse fueled him. He was cocky. Arrogance made him powerful. But dwelling on the past made him weak. And he knew it.

"Hey," Scurvy greeted quietly, settling down beside her latest opponent. "Good job out there. You did well for a first time PvP." She paused, then added, "Who was the warrior?"

Talon glanced at Scurvy, almost relieved to see her. "The warrior? Oh, you mean Shina. She's...kinda like my mom." He muttered in a slightly embarrassed tone. "She trained me."

"Well, you have a good teacher then. Once a teacher, always a teacher." She flashed Talon a lopsided grin. "Same can be said for a foster mom." She extended a hand ro him. "Name's Scurvy."

Talon took the hand with vigor. "I'm...uh......" He paused momentarily, searching the depths of his mind. "I'm Talon. So how old are you?"

Scurvy smirked. Typical boys. "17, 18 come two months from now. Nearing the point of graduation actually."

Talon nodded knowingly. So she was about his age. He smirked. "What can I say? Damn near nine obnoxious voices in my head, influencing me every second. Valerian is one with the ladies." He chuckled slightly.

"Well then, Talon, a tip for the future: damn near every boy has tried getting with me, and none succeded, so dont go getting your hopes up." Scurvy forced herself not to roll her eyes. Guys flirting was too hilarious sometimes.

Talon burst into laughter. "I doubt I'd succeed without Valerian's help." He noted, and then asked, "So, what kind of magic do you do?"

"Theurgy and storm are my main schools," Scurvy tapped her chin in thought. "Although, I'm decent with every other school, though I haven't officially picked a third school. TC's are good and all, but dang expensive and a hassle to obtain." She shook her head. "What about you?"

What's TC?" Talon asked, raising a brow. "And Dworgyn taught me all he knew. Thalomir taugut me the rest."

"Treasure cards," Scurvy elaborated. "And I'm mainly self taught with a few side lessons from the teachers. Who's Thalomir?"

Talon began to speak, but paused for a moment. "Well, he's my ancestor. He taught me how the world works. I don't use cards. Do they help?"

Scurvy tapped her chin in thought as she replied. "Sometimes," she confessed, "they're more of a hassle than anything. Really it depends on the situation.I personally prefer not using them unless they're a TC. Otherwise I cast and adapt off practice and memory."

Talon chuckled. "I would use a war hammer," he began thoughtfully, shaking dirt from his boots. "But Shina would make me train harder if I tried."

"I'm too light to fight properly with a warhammer. I know how to use one, but I'm sloppy and slow, and my arms hirt after a while." She shook her head. "I much prefer my swords and daggers. Diego thinks so, too."

Talon chuckled again. At the mention of Diego, his heart stirred with slight jealously and avarice. "So....what's with you and Diego?"