🎄 Holiday Prompt Challenge 2022 🎄

Day 7 - Ice Jousting - Vulgora

    Spiced coffee, the smell of nutmeg and allspice and cloves dance in the air. You take a deep breath and sip. The warmth of the stove salamander melting away the worries of life. A cold breeze weaves its way under the door, tickling the back of your legs with chilly feathers of snow. Life is good.
    The door SLAMS open with a terrible crack, you jump out of your seat as if the Devil himself has lunged for your throat.
    In your defense, that's not too far off.
    "Y/N, IT IS FREEZING!"
    You breathe a sigh of relief, thanking the powers that be that it's just Vulgora.
    "Yeah, I know, why do you think I had the door closed?"
    "MY LAKE IS FROZEN, YOU FOOL!"
    They swiftly drag you outside and promptly throw you into a scarlet-gold carriage. The inside is almost too warm, like a sauna. Blood red Velvet surrounds you, dressed in bones and antlers and insectoid motifs. For most, this might be unsettling to say the least, but you were quite used to the Pontifex and all their "interior design" choices.
    "You could've at least waited for me to finish my coffee,"
    "BAH! WE HAVE BETTER COFFEE AT MY MANOR! NOW, ONWARD PEASANT!"
    The coach whipped into gear, hurdling down the street and off into the Pontifex's estate. They were half-right about the coffee, if you enjoyed darker roasts mixed with ground chili peppers and cinnamon, then yeah, it would be better. You didn't really have the option to complain.
    The ride there was short and Vulgora was awfully quiet. Excitement gleaning so brightly in their eyes only meant one thing: you were about to crack some ribs. Theirs or yours was anyone's guess (although anyone in their right mind would probably guess correctly).
    They speeded through the gate and into the yard, with you strung along in tow. The lake really had frozen solid as a rock and eerily dark. A heavily bandaged servant is startled out of their stupor as Vulgora begins demanding for their ice skates. The "well-worn" lances by the shed, the skates, the dark stains on the ice, you realized too late what was going to happen.
    "ICE JOUST!!!"
    "Oh, gods, Vulgora, please not again,"
    It was no use. They screeching laughter as the bundled up Pontifex skidded onto the ice drowned out all protests. You would have to ice joust them. You readied yourself, donning what protective garb they'd allow, and headed onto the ice.
    You weren't exactly too good at ice skating, but the Pontifex was... stunning. They had a nimble grace, their explosive personality wouldn't lead one to think of. As they threaded their way across the ice, you were reminded of the way a cat might chase its prey.
    "READY OR NOT!" And they dashed towards you.
    You had less than a moment's notice before they came crashing into your chest. You managed to get out a weak protective barrier, preventing their jagged black lance from stabbing into, but failing to keep it from brutally bruising your ribs.
    They skated around again, deft movements, and once more, the charge. Barely had you recovered when you readied another barrier, this time stronger.
    "Oh?! The puny witch needs their spells to keep them safe, huh? HA! HAHAHA!!"
    They distanced theirself this time. Allowing you a "fairer" chance. You knew you were going to get hit again, but this time, so would they. You steadied the lance and cast your carapace again, sturdier, and slid forward with determination in your eyes. You pushed into your opponent with a resounding crash...
    "How are you holding up?"
    "BAH! I am fine, puny human,"
    You sat the cup of cocoa-coffee next to the Pontifex, before collapsing into the seat next to them. The hearth was blazing, tendrils lapping at the sweat on your legs. Your bones were sore. Your body bruised into tender violets. You didn't win, but you didn't exactly lose either. When you finally got a chance to fight back, you ended up driving the lance through Vulgora. Then they knocked you so far back that you were almost back on land.
    You had to admit. It was pretty fun.