Tobias utters an inaudible curse that drowns in the rain as Tarquin's plan had came to fruition. He takes to a knee shortly after he passes by Tarquin's counter-strike.
       Despite any thoughts that may have cross his mind when he chased after his opponent, Tobias would narrow back to one singular focal point--Lorielle. Conjurer. Would he have taken a different course of action if she were anything but? If he were to think upon that question, there would be no luxury of time to give an answer as the assailant went to strike down the woman--or so it seemed.
       It was a split second decision and there was too much momentum to stop entirely, so instead Tobias tries to push past towards the incoming arc in a clockwise spin. However quick Tobias was to react to Tarquin's feigned assault on Lorielle, the man proves himself capable enough to devise his own strategies and time when to strike. For that reason, Tobias would not go unharmed from this exchange.
  "They take priority. Always."
       The saying resonates through him as Tobias remains stoic despite Tarquin's blade biting into him. There was a steely edge to his gaze as he glances down to see metal splice through skin, leaving rivulets of crimson to appear wherever the sword glides through. It was not so deep that it would prove fatal, however, it strikes true enough to where his right pectoral would be gashed under the clavicle. The cut would travel all the way and exit from his right shoulder. The warmth from his own blood contrasts against the relentless cold of the pelting rain, but it matters little to him; the Conjurer was left unharmed.
       Like the ebb and flow of the rolling tides of Limsa, Tobias executes the rest of his spin in a graceful spiral down until he takes a knee as if he were not struck at all, though the tell tale sign of bright red blood mixing into the sands would tell a much different story. Though his back was turned to Tarquin, his steely gaze never left vision of him; and like the violent waves of Limsa during a typhoon, he was unyielding in his movements. He was already back in motion, moving back up while he turns to meet Tarquin's charge as if to meet him head-on. Naturally, Tobias had other plans.
       As the Hyur gets back up after being struck down, his hands dig into the saturated sands of Thanalan. Clumps of wet earth fling suddenly from his hands the moment he turns to face Tarquin. In a more comical sense, it would look like Tobias was making a poor attempt to mimic Lorielle's skillful use of combining aether and nature into one. In reality, there was enough damned sand that was catapulted up towards Tarquin that it could easily blind or temporarily stagger the man. Tobias would have to give thanks to the Keeper of the Twin Moons if the darkness hides his actions until it was too late to react.
       The Chocobo would not let it's presence be so easily forgotten either! The large beast dashes towards Tarquin the moment he had stopped to strike Tobias, and would soon be upon the man that now attempts to ram the Chocobo's owner. Regardless if Tarquin were to face the beast or leave his back exposed, the Chocobo would strike out in a vicious kick with it's talons.
       Now the only question remains: would Tobias follow up his assault and charge back at Tarquin if he were blinded by the rain of sand or would the man with the Chocobo have to rely on his companion to assist him again in his counter-strike?
       Despite any thoughts that may have cross his mind when he chased after his opponent, Tobias would narrow back to one singular focal point--Lorielle. Conjurer. Would he have taken a different course of action if she were anything but? If he were to think upon that question, there would be no luxury of time to give an answer as the assailant went to strike down the woman--or so it seemed.
       It was a split second decision and there was too much momentum to stop entirely, so instead Tobias tries to push past towards the incoming arc in a clockwise spin. However quick Tobias was to react to Tarquin's feigned assault on Lorielle, the man proves himself capable enough to devise his own strategies and time when to strike. For that reason, Tobias would not go unharmed from this exchange.
  "They take priority. Always."
       The saying resonates through him as Tobias remains stoic despite Tarquin's blade biting into him. There was a steely edge to his gaze as he glances down to see metal splice through skin, leaving rivulets of crimson to appear wherever the sword glides through. It was not so deep that it would prove fatal, however, it strikes true enough to where his right pectoral would be gashed under the clavicle. The cut would travel all the way and exit from his right shoulder. The warmth from his own blood contrasts against the relentless cold of the pelting rain, but it matters little to him; the Conjurer was left unharmed.
       Like the ebb and flow of the rolling tides of Limsa, Tobias executes the rest of his spin in a graceful spiral down until he takes a knee as if he were not struck at all, though the tell tale sign of bright red blood mixing into the sands would tell a much different story. Though his back was turned to Tarquin, his steely gaze never left vision of him; and like the violent waves of Limsa during a typhoon, he was unyielding in his movements. He was already back in motion, moving back up while he turns to meet Tarquin's charge as if to meet him head-on. Naturally, Tobias had other plans.
       As the Hyur gets back up after being struck down, his hands dig into the saturated sands of Thanalan. Clumps of wet earth fling suddenly from his hands the moment he turns to face Tarquin. In a more comical sense, it would look like Tobias was making a poor attempt to mimic Lorielle's skillful use of combining aether and nature into one. In reality, there was enough damned sand that was catapulted up towards Tarquin that it could easily blind or temporarily stagger the man. Tobias would have to give thanks to the Keeper of the Twin Moons if the darkness hides his actions until it was too late to react.
       The Chocobo would not let it's presence be so easily forgotten either! The large beast dashes towards Tarquin the moment he had stopped to strike Tobias, and would soon be upon the man that now attempts to ram the Chocobo's owner. Regardless if Tarquin were to face the beast or leave his back exposed, the Chocobo would strike out in a vicious kick with it's talons.
       Now the only question remains: would Tobias follow up his assault and charge back at Tarquin if he were blinded by the rain of sand or would the man with the Chocobo have to rely on his companion to assist him again in his counter-strike?
