Round Two ((Ojobi))

It had been quite some time since Eric had been at camp. Even longer since he had visited the Roman side. The last time he had been there was shortly after he had been claimed… Which had to be almost a year ago at this point. The son of darkness had had a duel with his Roman friend in the Greek arena, got claimed and went to the Roman camp for lunch. The claiming itself had burned itself into the boy’s memory. Compared to that, the rest was a blur. Now that he was back at camp for spring break though, the son of Erebus figured he’d visit the other side for a change. So this morning he wandered the Roman camp, dressed as he usually was at camp: A light bronze chest plate and bracers, black shirt and jeans, his Celestial Bronze swords at his sides and his Stygian swords Darkness and Shadow on his back. While he had first thought about paying a visit to Gimlar, the son of darkness found himself more drawn to the arena. Or that’s where he concluded he was when he stepped through the entrance.
 
Numerous legionnaires could be seen practicing around the place. Some duels, some form and technique training. Looking around, Eric recognised one of the latter: his sparring partner from almost a year ago, Ojobi Lithién. This time not practicing with the rapier and dagger he had used against the Greek demigod. Now the fencer wielded something that looked neither Roman, nor European. It reminded Eric more of something from a Japanese or Chinese arsenal.
“Hey fencing boy. You found something new to play with?” Eric called as he approached his friend. “What do you say about a rematch?.. Think you can beat me with that?” As far as the son of Erebus was aware, Ojobi wasn’t exactly up to date on his new and improved techniques, so that would be fun. Then again, the Roman too, held a very different weapon this time. ‘This could turn out interesting.’ The boy thought with a smile.

Lately, after getting his physique back more and more, the place where Ojo camped most through the week was the roman arena. Some figured it weird probably, as he already reached the point of strength he had before his visit to the infirmary, yet he felt a drive to continue training, hone his skills, and be more familiar with the weapon that had helped him so much lately. He had sworn he would take revenge on what had happened, and even though his paranoia about it all was fading to the back of his mind, a promise was a promise. Someone had to pay for the death of his friend, and that meant him needing to be tougher, better, faster and stronger than he had reached already.

For this reason a dummies head went flying upwards, before thudding down at his feet. Wearing only a breastplate, preferring the lighter armor. His forehead was lightly beaded with sweat, his hand clenching the now scimitar-form of his Guan Dao, his position showing he had just made a horizontal swing, and had frozen at the end of it. He tilted his head to the side, hearing a familiar voice calling out something about a fencing boy. He grinned and relaxed, standing upright and turning around, facing the son of Erebus that had been claimed at the greek arena a year before. A friend and a rival, that's what he considered Eric to be for him. And a perfect sparring partner, if they managed to keep each other in one piece. That thought in itself put a smile on the guys face, remembering their previous go at each other. Bringing the scimitar-like blade up, he gave a nod to the greek. "Eric, good to see you. Yeah. You like it?" He answered in return, running a finger over the edge. Still as sharp as ever.

As he had expected him to, he invited him for a rematch. The situation was too good to resist, bringing such a memorable event back, and he needed the experience it would give him. Last time, they where evenly matched. Now though, with them both having some upgraded weaponry, and he guessed, some hardship experienced for the both of them, he wasn't so sure about how this was going to end up. He might even need to pay a visit to Mia in the infirmary again, although this time, not for sweet-talk. "Can I even refuse?" He shook his head, giving the greek a grin of anticipation and answering his own question. "Not for the life of me I would."

He started walking, the small golden boeing glinting on his belt as it swung around with his steps, starting a circling face-off between him and Eric, practically inviting him to get ready for a fight. "Let's keep the guessing to the spectators shall we?" He said, bringing his scimitar up again and summoning his rapier from his key-chain, mimicking Eric's double-swords method. This, he was sure, would be another memorable event.

As soon as Eric had called out, the Roman recognised him. Seems few people still called him ‘fencing boy’. "Eric, good to see you. Yeah. You like it?" He answered, running a finger along the edge of his weapon. “It is different. I guess I’ll find out about liking it in a bit.” The son of Erebus replied with a grin. The challenge to another duel was met with a similar enthusiasm. "Can I even refuse?" He shook his head, giving the greek a grin of anticipation and answering his own question. "Not for the life of me I would."
 
With that, the Roman started circling the Greek. Holding his scimitar in his left hand, he reached for his belt. "Let's keep the guessing to the spectators shall we?" As soon as Ojobi had said it, he held up a golden version of the rapier he had used a year before. “Hm, going for the dual-blade technique now as well?” Eric laughed as he drew his own swords from his back and mirrored Ojobi’s circling motion. “You mind if I go straight for these two?”
 

Not waiting for an answer, the Greek swordsman went in with a quick slash to his opponent’s left side. As expected, the scimitar was where Eric thought it would be: well in time to block his strike. Backing off again, the son of darkness studied his opponent. This time he was wielding two very different weapons. Dual-sword style, yes, but both blades required different techniques to work well. “I remember your rapier being made of steel last time. Anything interesting happened?” Eric asked after parrying a lunge from said rapier. He would try to go without his shadowy tricks for as long as possible. No sense in spilling your trump-card on your first turn.

As Eric drew his two Stygian swords, a glint of anticipation lit up in his eyes. Ever since that claiming he'd wanted a rematch with him wielding those two swords, and now that time was here. He shrugged curtly at his remark, continuing to circle around the arena with the Greek. "Figured I'd try it out once. And no I don't, I've been waiting for those two."

A slash from Eric ensued, one to test the waters. It was easily parried, and he didn't counter it, just letting Eric get back to his own position. The circling continued, and he made a mental note to keep his scimitar a scimitar for as long as possible. As long as he didn't know it could extend, the better a surprise it would be later. Eric commented on his rapier, and he gave him a quick grin before answering. "You weren't the only one who got claimed. Let's just say my dad improved it." Hardly had he finished the sentence, when he suddenly lunged forward with said rapier. It was hardly a surprise-attack for Eric, and it was hardly a surprise for the son of Mercury that his rapier only connected against the Stygian swords. They stood there for a moment, swords locked, only his scimitar passively by his side as he looked the Greek in the eyes. "Like old times huh?" He whispered, before disconnecting and taking his distance again from the Greek. He stood his ground this time, watching his opponent, his hands itching to continue. 

Moments passed before he moved again, this time sprinting forward with both weapons low to his side, ready for an upwards swing. He had no doubt as to Eric blocking this attack, but the resulting moment would be enough to make further moves possible. This time, it would rain blows.