Kissed By Fire

***Date Finished***:

***Setting***: Spade Kingdom-Heart Kingdom Border

***Characters Involved***:
* Heart Kingdom:
	+ Spirit Guardians
		- Shinzui
* Spade Kingdom
	+ Armor Division:

## A Friendly Exhibition

Kildare was the town of crossings known for being nearly smack dab on the border between Heart and Spade. The town had been in one kingdoms hands one day and another the next but as a new era of peace had arrived it was being used for something else, the town square was bustling with noise and laughter. A celebration was being held to commemorate the years of peace between Heart and Spade and it was being enjoyed vendors hawking wares on the street and a band of musicians playing music for a dance.

Soliel walked through the town enjoying the atmosphere and general air of the town, her shield on her back and sword by her side. She was here for official business, an exhibition match but most of her division was off enjoying themselves grateful for the break and the festival. Honestly there was no blame there.

Heart wasn't particularly concerned about the situation in the town at all. In light of the fact that the reclusive nation was carrying on with its pursuit of rather questionable tasks, it is possible that they have completely forgotten about the festival; on the other hand, they might not have. The presence of a single intoxicated person was enough to cause a commotion, despite the fact that many of the higher-ups in Hearts were absent from the festival.

Shinzui, the Enchanter, a member of the Hearts Spirit Guardians who specialised in dungeon crawling and one of the strongest mages known among the four nations and beyond, made himself at home in the roadside stall while waiting for his opponent. By the time the wait was over, he was already pretty tipsy, and he decided to pass the time by challenging as many of the locals as he could to a match of arm wrestling. In other words, he was gambling his day away. Why would someone with that level of authority be at that location? Nobody was enthusiastic enough to join in, or at least nobody was as enthusiastic as Shinzui was.  It seemed as though someone else was supposed to be there, but given that he is one of the Spirit Guardians with the fewest restrictions, he was the one who was sent in. The majority of people, with the exception of Shinzui, would view it as a pointless expenditure of time.

Shinzui's eyes lit up as he caught a whiff of a specific kind of magical scent drifting in his direction; he knew without a doubt that it was one of his opponents. He did not move from his seat at the bar as he waited, instead remaining seated there with a large mug in his hand and slowly drinking the finest rum that the town had to offer.

Soleil went into the bar walking up to the counter and getting some rum. She was allowed to drink before the match anyways and her armor division was only sent there because as their old hometown several of the members viewed it with fondness. As she got her rum she looked around the tavern. Some people were obviously from Heart, some from Spade but there was one presence that stood out its mana having a unique feel to it.

She walked up to the table where said unique presence was currently drinking and sat down as well taking a sip of rum from her jug enjoying its taste. "So you're the person I am to beat in the middle of the town?" she asked noticing the arm wrestling. "May I inquire to your name then?"

When Shinzui saw the girl with the fiery red hair walk into the bar, it was quite the spectacle for him to take in. While he continued to take sips of his sake, he focused his attention on observing her every action. He paid attention to the sound of her footsteps, the air that passed in and out of her nostrils, the way the hair behind her headdress moved in response to the breeze, and the movements of her eye pupils—each and every individual pattern. Shinzui places his jug on the table and does so with a splash. "My name is Shinzui," he said, which was a peculiar name for someone who was born in the Four Kingdoms; however, Shinzui wasn't born in any of the Four Kingdoms. He maintained his focus on her the entire time. It would appear that he had been anticipating the arrival of another individual, someone else whose company he was looking forward to having, "And you are ?" he questioned back.

She walked up to him and sat down at the table noting his drink and money before taking a sip of her rum. It was good if a little too sweet. “Soleil Excandescentia.” She responded giving her family name. She observed him as well from how he drank to how he had wrestled putting a portfolio of him together in her mind. Before putting her arm on the table to add the last part of her portfolio . “You were arm wrestling correct? May I try?” She needed to gauge his strength somehow and this seemed like a good way.

"Soleil Excandescentia….." Shinzui recited the name in an effort to assimilate it into his memory; it was not a name he was familiar with, but he didn't mind because new people meant new experiences. His response was, "That would be impolite," as he deftly sidestepped the woman's attempt at an arm wrestle. "The crowd has been waiting long enough, and they are eager to see us put on a dance performance." "What are some of your thoughts on the matter?" Shinzui asked the question while looking around at the environment, which was filled with interested onlookers. He was demonstrating his way with the crowd while he spoke. Shinzui asked his adversary, "Are you ready?" as he stood up from his seat and leaned over toward her in preparation for the match.

She looked at him sizing him up. This was interesting. "You need music for a dance." she responded looking at the crowd. He had managed to get them interested in a dance of all things something that she wasn't exactly good at. She thought for a second before saying "How about a test of strength?" He seemed to be an interesting person to know at the very least and she might as well keep at her attempts to size him up. "Perhaps of magical strength rather then physical?" she let a bit of her magic swirl around her making the bar hotter. The crowd was slowly getting more interested onlookers although a few stepped back due to Soliel's mana. A few of her divison members were here as well.

Shinzui beamed with happiness as his adversary released her mana. The heat made him feel as though he was being communicated with by a person he knew extremely well. He wasn't messing around when he said he was ready for the fight; he meant business, A dance performance of mana, Shinzui responded with a smile, "All right, you win; we'll do it your way." He was referring to the situation. Shinzui didn't feel threatened by his opponent's threat to use her own mana, so he kicked the ground from his seated position and then leaped into the air, carrying the momentum. "Don't you think the bar is like a little playground for people like us?" "No, I don't think that at all." Or, as he questioned, "are you finding that this is too much for you to handle?" the ceiling of the bar, which was only a couple of inches above him at that point.

She just raised an eyebrow. "I do not think this is 'to much to handle.' " She saw him jump slightly surprised that he didn't hit his head. She didn't show it though. "I do think however the owner of this bar wishes for us to leave before things get destructive." Said owner of the bar appeared to be tense during the exchange between her and Shinzui and she knew that they would get kicked out if they started competing in there. She walked outside into the festival gesturing with a flick of her head for Shinzui to follow her. The crowd parted before her and followed her outside the bar. Soleil wasn't exactly used to manipulating crowds that was Challea's job but she had some skill in it. Only a few people were left in the bar the bartender looking both relieved that the fight was outside and disappointed at the lost business.

After Soliel left the bar, Shinzui went out. People gathered around to watch the match, but they kept their distance from each other to avoid getting too close to the players. The day was extremely hot, and the town was bustling with festive decorations. The spectators were protected from any magic that could have an effect on them by mages from both nations who stood in a defensive position. "What are the guidelines by which you play?" The question was posed by Shinzui, giving Soliel the opportunity to propose the competition. As the expression goes, you should compete against them using their own methods.

She looked around noticing that her soldiers were using the magic. "Well we should have a warmup before the exhibition match correct?" she then thought for a second before coming to an idea. "How about something simple. We both project our mana into this space and let it clash until one of us gives up or their mana comes back to them." It was simple and she was good at projecting her mana without losing mental capacity having refined it in her Fire Titan form. She didn't know his mana and that could prove a problem but if she lost then she knew more about him and it wouldn't show him much about her.

Shinzui considered Soliel's proposal for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Sure, that sounds like a good warm-up," he said. "I'm game if you are." He took a step back and focused his attention on the space between them, gathering his magic and readying it for the clash. Shinzui was confident in his abilities, but he also knew that Soliel was a skilled mage in her own right. He would need to be on his guard if he wanted to emerge victorious from this contest. "Ready when you are," Shinzui said, his voice steady and focused. He took a deep breath and let out a slow exhale, letting his magic flow freely through his body as he prepared to unleash it upon Soliel.

She let her mana flow through her body lighting her up preparing to unleash it. She took a deep breath, her eyes opened and with a flare she unleashed her mana upon Shinzui's. Her mana flowed around her like liquid fire bright, blazing and utterly merciless. It was almost like a giant of the old tales.