[center][h2]Kikka - Common Realm[/h2]

[h3][i]--- Coliseum Interior ---[/i][/h3][/center]
[@SilverPaw], [@Zeroth]
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As Nephertys floated high up in the arena, watching the chaos unfold below, safe behind her bubble-like shield, she also made sure to keep ready. The group of contenders who she had snatched the sphere from earlier were quickly approaching from below, and their insults and spells were being slung with equally reckless abandon towards the desert-dwelling beauty. Unfortunately for Nephy, the human body only has two eyes, and when you're focused on looking at something in a particular direction, you don't often tend to see stuff that's coming at you from an entirely different one... Such as a crazed drunk flying upside down on her broom, being chased by the world's angriest dentist wearing a tiger head...

Only when the draconic drunk shouted her warning of something being on the way in, Nephy turned her head to her side, looking at the peculiar sight. There was a girl, flying very... Wobbly? While clinging to her broom and holding onto a golden ball of her own, and also wielding a sword... While being flipped around... That... That couldn't be good for your head... More pressing though was the person [b][i]behind[/i][/b] this new arrival, which was the aforementioned tiger-headed dentist, who came charging forth with a whirring spear/drill while roaring like a savage and wild beast. Under normal circumstances, Neph would've simply moved out of the way, but the joint attack from below and this new flanking assault left the girl pincered and unable to react or respond in any real way. Basically, there were no good options to her in the amount of time she had to react.

With a mighty crunch, the spear-drill slammed against Nephy's Binary Bulwark, and sent the caramel-skinned girl into a horizontal spin, sending her floating off in  a direction away from the spear-woman. The shield only [i]barely[/i] held up against the kinetic force of the blow, and it was a good thing the spear had been made out of magic, otherwise Nephy would've been eating dirt.

Speaking of eating dirt though... Remember the pack of assailants moving in to nab Nephertys orb? Well, they all suddenly found themselves charging into the path of the wild amazoness and her dental drill of doom. A cacaphony of 'arrgh' and 'noooo' and [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP7WJL2JtLs]cinema-licensed Wilhelm-screams[/url] followed, as the cluster of competitors were caught by the circling weapon. The spear-wielder herself didn't fare much better though, as she'd moved into the exact spot where multiple spells from below had been aimed - as that had been Nephy's location prior - and she now found hersself in the litteral crossfire of water ribbons, giant plant thorns and metal spikes, along with other bits and bobs being flung at her.

Meanwhile, Nephertys had to lean forward on her broom, wrap her free arm and legs around the broom handle and cling on for dear life, letting out a sound that was a mix of excited amusement and terrified confusion. What the heck had just happened!? With that one question in mind, she kept spinning away from the clusterf*ck that was now going down at where she'd been just mere moments ago...

Only to slam into another body, shield and all. There was a muffled yelp as Solveig was nearly bowled off of her broom. She clung on just as desperately as her unlikely rescuer, [i]somehow[/i] managing both to keep in flight as well as keep her hold onto her sphere and sword. If nothing else, the extra weight and resistance was enough for Nephertys to finally stop rolling around. [color=ff7f00]"Oouch..."[/color] the fiery haired girl complained. When the star mage next caught a glimpse of her, Sol had finally managed to turn herself the right way up - possibly, the rotating shield-encapsulated Nephertys had even managed to aid in that effort. [color=ff7f00]"I feel sick,"[/color] she blinked dazedly. As the noble went to rub her face, she stopped with a blink as she gave her hands a slightly confused look, as if she was surprised to find them both full. 

[color=ff7f00]"Oh, right,"[/color] she blinked some more, and shook her head, frowning. Bright magical scales still shimmered around her body as she took her time looking around. [color=ff7f00]"Huh, looks like they're all gone."[/color] She tilted her head at Nephertys. [color=ff7f00]"Thanks? And sorry. There was this liquor mage..."[/color] she smiled awkwardly, then winced. [color=ff7f00]"Oooh, I have a hell of a headache."[/color] With a grimace, she rubbed her temple with her left hand, unintentionally mimicking how a cat would clean its face with its paw since her hand was still balled around her target.

Having now stopped, thanks to the living speed-bump that was Solveig, Nephy finally managed to slowly rise from having been clinging onto her broom. Buuuut, she was looking kinda dizzy, with the whole big swirly eyes and tweety-birds flying around her head... At least until the exotic sorceress shook her head just like Sol had previously, and then blinked a few times to regain her senses. Which was just in time to catch the dragon-damsel's delivery of her apology and explanation.

[color=gold]"N-No worries! I've never gotten to be spun like that before while in the air. It was a most splendid new experience!"[/color] Nephy replied, all smiles and starry eyes, and completely ignoring the [i][b]horrible screams[/b][/i] and [i][b]pain[/b][/i] that her and Solveig's respective pursuers had just endured due to this kerfuffle. Then, the star mage used her free hand to briefly cover her mouth, letting out a small gasp.

[color=gold]"Please, pardon my manners! I am Nephertys Setet of Sankrah, a pleasure."[/color] She gave a slight bow with the upper part of her body... Since, y'know, she couldn't exactly stand and give a proper one while [b][i]flying[/i][/b]. Still holding onto her sphere, Neph began to pour magic back into her shield-spell, slowly repairing the 'cracks' that had been left by the iron tigress. Hopefully, this half-drunken girl wouldn't get any sudden ideas of trying to procure [i][b]an additional[/b][/i] orb for herself out of the blue.

[color=ff7f00]"Oh! Yes!"[/color] Solveig suddenly nodded which she immediately and visibly regretted. She queezed her eyes shut, waited a moment for the world to stop spinning, then opened them to give Nephertys a proper greeting. [color=ff7f00]"Solveig von Brandt, from Zagros,"[/color] she introduced, mimicking the bow. [color=ff7f00]"A pleasure to meet you...even if it was under very strange circumstances!"[/color] Noticing her fellow mage repairing her shield, she grinned. [color=ff7f00]"Hey, that's a great idea! Mine was also..."[/color] with her left thumb, she traced her jaw and mouth while her other fingers remained clutched around her prize. This was how she discovered there were still traces of sick there from when she'd previously vomited, so she cleaned herself off as best as she could. [color=ff7f00]"Hm, yes, damaged,"[/color] she concluded, making no mention of the messy state she'd found herself in. Instead, she channeled just a slight boost of magic through her body, and wherever the shimmer had previously been dimmed or lacking, scales formed anew.

[color=ff7f00]"There!"[/color] She hmmed and looked around. The great and terrible clash of multiple magic knight aspirants who had been promptly felled from the sky seemed to have served as a deterrant for any others. [color=ff7f00]"I think..."[/color] she tilted her head this way and that. [color=ff7f00]"I am starting to feel better."[/color] In all this time, Solveig hadn't so much as glanced at Nephertys' sphere, so the star mage's worry seemed to be misplaced. [color=ff7f00]"I [i]would[/i] rather get a check up just in case."[/color] Better didn't mean she was fine, after all. [color=ff7f00]"How have you fared?"[/color] she suddenly questioned, zeroing in on Nephertys. By her rambling, it did indeed appear the von Brandt heiress was still somewhat affected by that one spell.

Nephertys ceased her repairs  of her own bulwark when prompted by Solveig's question. The girl with heterochromia smiled brightly, extending her arm and hand that held her prize, while at the same time puffing out her - rather ample - chest in a display of pride and self-satisfaction.

[color=gold]"I've fared most excellently, for behold! The coveted prize is mine!"[/color] She loudly and proudly proclaimed, followed by a genuinely warm and honest little laugh. She then looked at Sol once more. [color=gold]"It seems you've always performed most splendidly, Lady Von Brandt. Splendid performance."[/color] Although she said that, Nephy likely hadn't seen or witnessed any of Solveig's various escapades and tribulations during this exam. It was more of a [i]'Oh, you managed to get your hands on a ball too? Good show!'[/i] sort of compliment, rather than an actual, factual comment on the dragon mage's skills or abilities.

[color=gold]"Ah, but we must remain vigilant. There're still those who'll try to challenge us for our balls!"[/color] Her choice of words could've been... Better... But at least Neph had the right idea. Things had - hilariously - worked out in both their favor this time, but who knew when the next wave of angry, ravenous sphere-seekers would come knocking to take what was theirs? To that point, Nephertys tapped her chin momentarily, seeming deep in thought, before looking over at Solveig yet again.

[color=gold]"May I suggest a proposal? If we join forces, we can aid each other and help retain our hold on these golden globes. As true knights and shield-sisters, we can fight side-by-side and display both chivalry and camraderie! What do you think?"[/color] Nephy said this with great enthusiasm and a big sunny smile, eyes sparkling and twinkling with even [i][b]more[/b][/i] stars in them now than before.

[color=ff7f00]"Congratulations!"[/color] Solveig smiled kindly at Nephertys. Her sunny disposition was cute and infectuous. [color=ff7f00]"Thank you. It has been more eventful than I'd initially bargained for, to be honest,"[/color] she admitted. [color=ff7f00]"I would rather this than simply flying, though."[/color] Saying so, she braced herself on her broom with her forearms, attempting to stand up. She was unsteady, but did pull herself up. [color=ff7f00]"Still a bit unbalanced..."[/color] she commented but remained standing. Nephertys' unexpectedly humorous comment caused her to laugh, shaking her whole body and the broom with it precariously. [color=ff7f00]"Yes, indeed, we should keep ahold of them,"[/color] her lips twitched but she didn't give into the juvenile impulse to make more jokes about balls.

She nodded at Nephertys' proposal. [color=ff7f00]"If you hadn't asked, I would have,"[/color] she smirked. [color=ff7f00]"Of course, I accept. Getting through the rest of this trial [i]with[/i] our spheres will be much more agreeable in a team."[/color] Solveig tightened her grip on her sphere and the sword. With an incantation, curling flames sparked into existence around her left hand. The riotously swirling flames would serve as yet another layer of protection for her sphere. [color=ff7f00]"Let us cover each other's backs."[/color]

With a goofy big smile and a cheerfully lyrical 'huzzah', Nephy performed a joyful swirl on her broom, in celebration of Solveig's aceepting of the proposed alliance. When she was done though, her head tilted and she had a slightly confused look on her face.

[color=gold]"Are you certain you should be standing like that? You look a bit... Wobbly... And it's much easier to keep your hold of your broom if you're actually holding onto it, yes?"[/color] Nephy asked, out of sincere concern for her new partner. After all, if you didn't have a hand on your broom, it was that much easier to get knocked off.

Still! Regardless, the Von Brandy lady had made a good point. They needed to watch each other's backs, and watch it she would! With great motivation and determination, Nephertys adjusted her position on her own flying stick, fixed Solveig in her vision and took to position herself so she could always keep an eye on both Sol and any incoming enemies from most any direction! Well, except from behind herself. 'Cuz she didn't have eyes in the back of her neck.

But with the unified forces of the Setet heiress and the Draconic Maiden of the Von Brandt-family, any opponent would have their work cut out for them if they wished to challenge this powerhouse of a duo now!

[color=ff7f00]"My hands are full,"[/color] Solveig chuckled. To demonstrate, she shook her flaming fist which held the sphere, while artfully slashing the sword through the air with the other hand. 

[color=ff7f00]"I do prefer standing, because it makes melee easier. Besides, if I fall, and the broom is close enough, I should still be able to call on it. Do you know, there was this boy - Alwin Dawnthorne - who controlled his broom from afar while throwing himself into freefall?"[/color] As she explained, Nephertys inexplicably positioned herself in such a way that she could only really see her allied mage. Confused and baffled, Sol just stared at the star mage for a prolonged moment.

[color=ff7f00]"Oh!"[/color] she then exclaimed, realizing the Setet noble must have misunderstood. Was the girl clueless about basic tactics? That would be rude to ask, so instead, Solveig repositioned herself, flying behind Nephertys. The two were soon back to back and looking in opposite direction. [color=ff7f00]"This is a good way for two people cover each other's backs on the battlefield,"[/color] Solveig explained while adjusting where she was facing. [color=ff7f00]"Like this, each of us can see what the other wouldn't, we just have to trust that we will both alert each other about incoming enemies, and deal with them. Don't forget to look above and below every once in a while."[/color]

[color=gold]"Indeed!"[/color] Nephy exclaimed with great enthusiasm.
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[hider=TL;DR]
[b]Actions & Interactions:[/b]
- Nephertys' Brilliant Binary Bulwark was struck by the Iron Tigress chasing Solveig, which sent her flying. The shield held, but just barely.
- Nephy and Sol collided in the air, then watched as the Iron Tigress and Nephertys' own pursuers collided in a massive mess, resulting in multiple KO's and wizards getting punted off their brooms.
- After the two regained controlled of their brooms, they engaged in some light conversation.
- Nephertys proposed to work together as a team, to which Solveig agreed.
- Solveig helped a rather clueless Nephy by giving her some basic battlefield tactics when it came to "watching another's back".
- The two are now defending each other and work in conjunction to retain hold of their respective spheres.

[b]Relevant People:[/b]
- Solveig ([@SilverPaw])
- Iron Tigress NPC
- Nephy's Contender NPCs[/hider]