Give me a Second (Sectos)

[Preston Salabim]

It pained him that he had to resort to this, but there was no other way to make her listen.  If she was prepared to listen to reason then she would have been talked down by Mom and Dad, or her peers in the Academy.  He understood her desire to feel useful, to not sit back and do nothing.  But the simple fact was, she was not ready.  She was still a child.  And there was so much to battle and war that she couldn't possibly understand.  That he needed to shield her from.  

It was the only way.

Thankfully, he knew that he was not alone in cabal when it came to his home.  Or their customs.  While the idea of a second was mostly as a witness and formality.  Along with some duties of being a mouth piece.  He didn't wish to entrust it to just anyone.  People who may not know what their customs were, or how important it was.  That left him with two options here in Cabal for such a short time period.  Miss Alison Kazim, she knew about dueling first hand.  But he suspected with her temper and lack of respect for nobility and their traditions asking her would be more trouble than it was worth.  A last resort.  Which left him with Sectos.  An eccentric mage.  But one who was smart, capable, and respectful enough.  He was confident that he could entrust these duties to him.  And so Preston began looking for Sectos. 

[Sectos Barker]

Currently Sectos is making notes and coming up with new spell calculations to try and enhance the magic his Fiends use when he summons them. He is most obviously lost in his equations in the study hall and the horrible mess of paperwork, scrolls, and parchment detailing blue prints and designs which seem to currently surround combustion or oxygen flares within wild fires. He is once again shirtless and shoe-less, though there are now robes near by for him to wear when he isn't in the middle of his musings.

[Preston Salabim]

Preston would approach and wait for what seemed to be a break before speaking up.

"Pardon me, Sectos. May I have a moment?"

[Sectos Barker]

If by break he means the moment he realizes his sixteen line equation hit a brick wall and would be catastrophically powerful to the point of unusable and he fell into a cross legged position holding his head and chewing his quill like a hurt animal, then a break did happen. He would stop his extravagant motions and look up at Preston. Putting his arms down and pulling the quill out of his mouth of sharpened teeth.

"Ah... Yes."

He would stand up to address the nobleman appropriately.

"Sorry about my study area, what can I do for you, sir?"

A tack of formality.

[Preston Salabim]

His eyes glanced at the area and the formula, but decided to leave it. He worked better with order, but he did know a few talented mages that insisted chaos helped them reach their breakthroughs. As long as he had results, his methods could be of his own choosing.

"Thank you."

Preston bowed his head slightly.

"I have come to humbly ask that you be my second. I have issued a challenge for a duel."

[Sectos Barker]

Sectos head would tilt to the side and he would return the bow, but at the mention of a duel, issued by Preston non-the-less... He was taken aback momentarily. There were some serious implications there and Preston didn't strike him as the battle mage type, philosopher, researcher, leader of a field of study sure. While it's a rare thing for someone to die in a mage duel a Second was part of the ceremony and with Preston actively seeking one it was a serious matter. He knew he could not refuse at this point.

"Very well, it would be my honor."

He would give another more formal bow to show his acceptance and humbleness in this particular issue.

"May I ask what brought you to issue a challenge? It seems out of character."

[Preston Salabim]

He breathed a sigh of relief. A proper second meant he could focus on the task ahead of him.

"It is my sister. The youngest in my family. She has decided to sign up as reinforcements for Cabal after the Blackwater incident. She is only 16 years old and not finished with her studies.

If reason would talk her out of it then my parents would have. I fear this may be the only way to make her see sense. To illustrate how serious this is."

[Sectos Barker]

Sectos would contemplate the description for a few seconds before his eyes would widen slightly, then narrow.

"The pangs and throngs of real combat. As something only a survivor of the Blackwater Incident can show. You would prefer she become a more stable mage in her own way before stepping out into dangers she doesn't understand fully."

He heard the words echo in his head from another source. A different voice with different subjects and battles, but the same sentence in meaning.

"I can agree with that outlook. It's one thing to hear about the losses at Blackwater, it's another thing to see it."

[Preston Salabim]

"If this is a path she would choose in the future I may not like it, but I can respect it. But as it is now, she is still a child. And if it is in my power to keep her out of a war then I will do so."

It seemed they were in agreement however.

"I have a plan, it is not without risk. But I would see that she have a glimpse at the worst of it without her coming to harm. Or feeling the full brunt of how horrible it can be."

[Sectos Barker]

This was an agreeable argument to make. Sixteen was too young for a normal born child no matter ability to go head long into battle. However, the idea of a plan during a duel...

"That sounds too good to be true. I will trust your plan however. Is there anything I need to know or prepare?"

[Preston Salabim]

"Just the usual. Negotiate with her second to have them see reason. If that fails then negotiate the time and place. I will have a letter written to my family should the worst happen and I die. Just in case."

Which if the worst happened he would trust Sectos to see delivered.

[Sectos Barker]

"Easy enough."

Sectos would nod. He didn't like the implications, but he had agreed and this was now his duty.

"I will however, prevent you from dying if I can."

[Preston Salabim]

He smiled at that.

"Thank you. I don't expect it is a likely outcome. But when matters like this arise, it is always best to be prepared just in case."

But there was always a chance, no matter how slim.

"We will be meeting her and her second in the Dining Hall in around two hours time for the first negotiation. Will that work for you?"

[Sectos Barker]

"That should be fine. I've hit something of a wall with my current research so I will be cleaning up until then."

He explained.

[Preston Salabim]

"If you would like, I would be more than happy to assist you in your research. It is the least I can do to show my appreciation for your help in this matter."