For this first challenge they were both ideally situated to play to their strengths. Hadama had his full concentration on the small amount of water he could command to do his bidding; a forbidding focus on using the water to--
Not reflect or repel. A projectile would never be fully repulsed by such a small, weak amount as he could currently control. But deflect? To turn aside, knock askew, even if just a few vital inches? Ah, therein lay the intention. The mermanta knew his element's strengths and weaknesses intimately and he adjusted his expectations accordingly as he leaned into the magic.
It was easier still when Melita's aim was steady and true and the arrow flew straight and dead-center to the watery target. There was only a split second to react and speed the small whirlpool's spin to meet the approaching projectile but it was enough. Blunted wood hit swirling water and passed through with a splash, though not quite on the same course it had been before. Hadama felt the wind of its passage as it whistled into the water behind him but his tattooed hide was unbruised for the moment.
Nodding to himself, he began to swim slowly to the side. "A moving target," he called out next. More fun for Mel to shoot at, and more challenging for him to maintain his focus as he tried to hold the spinning water between him and the archer while not swimming into a rock or the side of the Pool.
Not reflect or repel. A projectile would never be fully repulsed by such a small, weak amount as he could currently control. But deflect? To turn aside, knock askew, even if just a few vital inches? Ah, therein lay the intention. The mermanta knew his element's strengths and weaknesses intimately and he adjusted his expectations accordingly as he leaned into the magic.
It was easier still when Melita's aim was steady and true and the arrow flew straight and dead-center to the watery target. There was only a split second to react and speed the small whirlpool's spin to meet the approaching projectile but it was enough. Blunted wood hit swirling water and passed through with a splash, though not quite on the same course it had been before. Hadama felt the wind of its passage as it whistled into the water behind him but his tattooed hide was unbruised for the moment.
Nodding to himself, he began to swim slowly to the side. "A moving target," he called out next. More fun for Mel to shoot at, and more challenging for him to maintain his focus as he tried to hold the spinning water between him and the archer while not swimming into a rock or the side of the Pool.
