Some would say the best part about having this conversation during a duel was that matters could close gracefully. In any other context Lancer might have sniped, argued, sought the last word, made some brash and impassioned speech where her emotions outran her theoretical framework and embarrassed herself in the process. As it was she simply slid face-down across the grass for over two hundred meters before coming to a gradual halt, trail of torn mud behind her, and then gradually curled into a ball and clutched her head. Don't be sad for her - it's better this way.

And besides, a moment later she is hidden away as the mighty lioness crashes to the ground.

Aeglesia's shield had held many advantages, and she'd been preparing for this fight above all others. Somehow it had transformed, twisting itself into a ribbon of steel and carbon fiber and forming a set of knots binding Princess Jezera's paws together, linked by a short chain to her neck. The divine lioness roared and clawed at the earth, covering Lancer in dirt, trying to scratch the bindings off before in a panic reverting to her human form.

Aeglesia gasped for relief in that moment. She'd [i]won[/i].

Jezera hadn't realized it yet but the binding had been illusory - the bondage equivalent of a finger trap, growing tighter in proportion to her opponent's strength, popular amongst dragons who were into that sort of thing. If the lioness had maintained her cool and committed to the strength of her monstrous self then she'd have been able to wriggle out of it before long. But she'd observed Jezera's reaction when put in a bad situation was to [i]shapeshift [/i]- and that meant that the chain, grown strong on the stolen strength of her lioness form, was now unbreakable.

The Princess was dark skinned, blonde haired, wearing denim shorts and a white sleeveless shirt tied up into a knot. Her hands were tied to her neck by the crimson steel ribbon that had once been Aeglesia's shield - but she wasn't done yet. Holding her sword in an awkward grip close to her throat she charged without hesitation, and Aeglesia - third place regional swordfighting champion - suddenly found herself fighting desperately to hold her off. She didn't have her shield and so was desperately backpedalling, short gladius at a range disadvantage against the huge machete wielded by Jezara.