Atticus dodged to the left, narrowly missing Elian's shot. He could tell this was going to be a challenging duel, but was determined nonetheless. Elian was a year older than him which meant he had potentially learned more advanced magic and even if not, he might've had more time to practice dueling. Atticus studied his opponent carefully before pointing his wand to the ground and jumped, wordlessly shooting a propulsion spell downward to help launch him into the air towards Elias. He had been practicing this for the last two weeks but he was still an amateur at best.

Mid-arc Atticus thought "REDUCTO!" and shot at the ground in front of Elian. The ground exploded, causing a stir of dust, dirt, and grass in the air to block his vision. Atticus barely flew past Elian and landed into a shaky roll and sprung up behind him, want pointed forward.

"So it begins."

"You don't scare me, little Atticus," Elian said as he turned with him watching the jump. He didn't need to see him. He could hear him. The rustle of fabric, the sound of the wind he created. He knew exactly where Atticus would land. Wand pointed he let off another spell, a shooting spell, not aimed at him but close enough that it would graze him. He wasn't going to hurt him bad so it was just a warning.

Atticus ducked, Elias' second shot missing him by about ten inches. He rose quickly, thinking it was time to get creative. He muttered "Avis!" and a half dozen yellow birds burst from his wand. He knew it was one of Winona's favorite charms so it came to his mind the quickest. The actual conjuring was less relevent than the spell that would follow.

"Oppugno!" He shouted, sending the birds to attack Elian's head. Atticus sprinted laterally to create a larger distance between the two of them so the real 'fireworks' could get started.

The birds flew at him and attacked but Elian had thrown up a shield at the last minute. Glaring at Atticus he scanned the area a moment before flicking his wand.

"Bombarda!" he said casting the spell and watching a small explosion send dirt and small rocks spraying out.

He'd sent it close enough to Atticus but far enough from Winnie that she wouldn't be caught up in it.

Atticus cursed as he saw Elian deflect the avis attack. He was so focused on his irritating from not landing his attack that he did not see the bombarda spell come and land right next to him. Atticus was sideways and into the ground, his clothes singed from the blast. He turned, too angry to try to cast nonverbally, he shouted "DIFFINDO!" and launched the spell towards Elian. A second later he cast it again, this time managing to do so wordlessly.

The first spell missed Elian by inches and exploded a small boulder nearby, sending debris everywhere.

By now, Winona had set down on the ground, a couple feet away. Her wand was at the ready to stop any mischievous, unruly, unfair spells they may use. Her blue eyes concentrated, watching. Atticus was more focused on his nonverbal spells and jumping... while Elian was focusing on not hurting him too badly. She bit on her lip, watching as they went at in. As small debris came towards her, she created a small shield, careful not to get pelted in the eyes or anything.

Her mind was telling her to intervene soon-- but not yet. She had to wait until someone was bleeding or near unconsciousness.

The second shot did land and made a pretty decent slice in Elian's upper wand arm. Growling he switched hands and sent one back at Atticus. He saw the first miss but he was quick with the second using the same spell that had been used on him. He growled as a third and fourth landed on him slicing open his side and his leg. He could still walk all the while sending out spells of his own.

Atticus smiled when he saw Elian get hit by his diffindo spell and was prepared to dodge any attacks. He leaped into the air with help of his wand and dodged the first, landed and rolled to dodge the second. By this time he was out of momentum and by the time he stood he was hit by two spells, one slicing open his side and another on his thigh.

He winced and grinded his teeth as he fought through the pain and ran forward, firing off two diffindo spells before sliding into cover behind a tree. He tried to catch his breath before he tried to leap out and attack again.

Elian growled as Atticus dove behind the tree. He flexed his injured arm as he moved to take a step but stopped feeling how bad his left leg was shaking. Stupid boy had sliced something. He could probably still walk but it would be with a limp until he got it looked at. Holding out his wand he sent a few more Diffindo spells at the tree making it clear he wasn't about to back down.

The fight had been clean from both ends. Winona was watching them carefully. It seemed like she only glanced down for a second when she saw red out of the corner of her eye. Standing quickly, she looked around quickly. The blood on the ground trailed to where she saw Atticus sitting behind a tree, but yet another splash of red was saw out of the corner of her other eye. Her head turned to see Elian's leg shaking. "Damnit," she grumbled. Running in the middle of where they were dueling, Winona held up her hands, her wand hand moving back and forth between them.

"Okay, STOP!" She said, crying out loud. The blood was making her nervous, tears resurfacing on her eyelids. Her lower lip was quivering some, but her stare was hard with attitude. "Elian.. Are you okay?" She asked, since he was closer to her. His leg was shaking pretty badly. She walked over and bit her lip, seeing he had got cut on the leg. "Just sit," she whispered, her hand on his cheek softly. "I'll be right back." Standing upright, she walked to where Atticus was behind the tree. Blood was more profound and she could see the slice in his shirt and pants.

"Oh no..." She gasped. Tears were flowing now, but that didn't change her hard stare. Taking a piece of the ripped part of Atticus' shirt, she bent down and tied it right above the cut in his leg tightly. Standing up, she looked at him, her stare icy. "There wasn't supposed to be any blood," she said, not really saying it directly to him. Waving her wand, she gently stopped the bleeding from his leg and side. "That's only temporary fix," she said. "You'll need to go to the Nurse." She looked over at Elian and walked over. With the same wand motion, she stopped the bleeding and bent down, running her hand gently over his head. "You both need to head to the infirmary some time today, got it?" She said loud enough for the both of them.

"Okay, STOP!"

Atticus groaned, putting pressure on his leg and side to prevent bleeding. He had been able to hit Elian twice as well. He cursed himself for getting struck by Elian's spells in the first place. He heard Winnie go to Elian first as he was closer to he did what he could to straighten himself up. When Winona came over and gave him an icy stare he met it back with apologetic eyes. He let her bandage him as best she could, then stood up and put his wand away. He glanced at Elian, his gaze as hateful as it was when the duel started then turned and walked back towards the lake where he left his pack of cigarettes.

"You both need to head to the infirmary some time today, got it?"

Atticus looked back at Winona and solemnly nodded before picking up his pack and lighting a cigarette. He turned and continued limping away from Elian and Winona. He would visit the infirmary in an hour or so. Right now, he needed to think about what had just happened.

Elian returned all the glares being directed at him as he sat down on the grass and let his leg bleed. He'd been hurt worse when the hippogryph attacked him and left the scars on his face. He waved Winona off and let her to attend to Atticus first. It may have ended in a tie but Elian knew from the blood he had gotten the upper hand. Dueling wasn't always about practice and abilities to fire quickly, like his archery sometimes you had to wait for the best opening.

Looking up at Winona as she came back to him and fixed up his wounds for the moment he had to close his eyes a second as she touched his head. It was somewhat of a weakness when someone had their hands in his hair. He looked up at her and sighed. He knew it would get ugly and he just regretted that she had to see that.

"I'm sorry. I truly am," he said softly.

 "I'm sorry. I truly am."

The apology near broke her heart, hearing how soft his voice was. "Shh," she shushed gently. "I was so afraid," she whispered. Kneeling down next to him, she leaned her weight on one hand, as the other gently caressed her hair and face. His skin was hot with the running about and casting of spells. Dueling did suck the life out of you. She wiped her eyes some, and continued gently rubbing his face and hair. Her fingertips gently grazed where those four scars were down his jawline. Her eyes looked at them, before locking onto Elian's eyes.

This was it.. She had made up her decision during the duel, thinking over everything and taking everything into consideration. Now, it was just a matter of breaking the news to him and Atticus. Biting her lip some, she broke their gaze and looked down.

"Elian.. I--" She stopped, her voice catching in her throat. "I made my decision," she mustered to say.

Her bright blue eyes locked onto his. The decision was on the tip of her tongue, ready to tell him. Her other hand went to his other cheek and she gently leaned her head in, eyes locked to his. Hovering her face only two inches from his, she took in a breath and gently placed her lips against his in a deep kiss.

The choice was made... and Winona was 110% sure.

Elian was expecting heartbreak. He'd given her up, he had no right to her anymore. Though he couldn't help but half melt as she ran her hands through his hair. It relaxed his body as he let her trace the scars. This was goodbye, he had been steeling himself for this, he had lost so much sleep over this and even now his body was telling him it was about to shut down for sleep.

She had made her decision. Hearing those words the archer nodded silently as he looked at her. He knew her choice and he wasn't going to be it. It wasn't worth it. But then something happened. Something he didn't expect. She was close...too close. Another goodbye kiss? When her lips touched his it was with emotion. Not a goodbye kiss. This was her choice. He was her choice. He blinked several times in shock before closing his eyes and returning the kiss.

One hand moved up to settle at the back of her neck, the other on the ground to brace himself. He kept the kiss until they both needed to breath and pulled back looking at her with a smile. Touching her cheek he stroked it with his thumb.

"I'm....thank you."