"Good." Aeryn waited calmly, the offensive part of his strategy finished. Now, to let the pieces fall into place...

Though outwardly he seemed relaxed, Aeryn's mind was busy analyzing his opponent's techniques, and finalizing his plans to achieve victory.

Sereg realized his opponent must be reviewing his fighting techniques. While Aeryn was thinking, Sereg was spreading the blood that had been leaking from his wrist along the forest ground.

Za'rel watched Aeryn. He was playing with the elf. Playing with the enemy is always the first step to disaster. She clucked her tounge, saying to herself, "Just kill him already."

Meanwhile, Sereg seemed to be doing odd things himself. Za'rel wondered just exactly what they wanted with the group. The Elf's interest in her from the beginning made the reaver uncomfortable, a feeling she had not felt in a long time. He was noticing what Aeryn was doing, also, and adapting just as Aeryn was. A truly dangerous foe, and she could not pinpoint just exactly WHAT he was.

((What the heck is Sereg anyway? Blood Mage/Healer/Arcane archer?))

OOC: he's a member of the Bishonen prestige class...which is part of the reason he must suffer.

IC: Aeryn sensed the magic creeping across the ground below, a sweep of his hand spreading a curtain of fire across the forest floor...the blood drying out, then burning to nothing.

"Can't you do better than that? If you expect to speak to that beauty you set your eyes on, you'll have to prove yourself worthy first..." he smirked...while inwardly apologizing to Za'rel for using her as bait.

While Aeryn was speaking, blood dripped down from the branch above him. Sereg had bleed on it when escaping from Aeryn's attack, and was waiting for it to drop on him. As soon as it landed on Aeryn shoulder, the blood began to swirl around on him, forming a seal to supress his magic.

Blood landed on Aeryn's shoulder, and was subsequently burned to ash by the white-hot flames still wreathing his form. Aeryn stepped out from beneath the branch, chuckling, "Your magic is indeed, quite interesting...but nonetheless flawed."

Sereg knew what Aeryn was planning something, and was either delaying for time, or trying to tempt him. He didn't sense any magic being used, so the half-drow wasn't doing anything. So, Sereg waited for Aeryn to make his move. While waiting, he used the broken arrow to cut his chest, spilling blood onto his torso, forming several seals.

The carpet of flame began to writhe, forming a circle around Sereg...magic flowing through it as Aeryn's will animated the flames, also strengthening them in case Sereg tried to dispell the effect.

Za'rel frowned as the two mages just stood there, waiting for each other to make their moves. The duel had gone on much longer than a great portion of the one on one trials she had experienced. She grew tired, and had examined enough of Sereg's abilities to her liking.

Knowing that jeers and shouts during a trial were expressly forbidden, Za'rel still had to struggle not to yell out, "The two of you fight like inferior old men with broken limbs!" but instead merely muttered it to herself. She did realise that neither of these magi were worthy of an honorable duel, but still, she could not interfere, as much as she wanted to. she merely sat down by the tree, examining the fauna around her, with little interest.

Sereg leapt up and back, landing on one of the higher branches in a tree. He slit his wrist, and spoke some words as he held his wrist with his other hand, letting the blood gather. He continued to do that until Aeryn's next move.