No. No no no no.

That was exactly why that spell had not been part of his original plan. Because if it hit him after it was deflected. Thornton sidestepped the ricocheting rictusempra and promptly tripped over his own feet in his haste. As he hit the ground and rolled, it meant that he also avoided the confundo, however accidentally.

Pushing himself to his feet, panting to catch his breath, Thornton considered a change of approach, rapidly running through spells he thought he wouldn't cast during a duel.

You don't get a win unless you play in the game..

First, he needed a distraction, casting Ventus directly at Zeke, hoping to disorient him with the gust of air. He had no idea if Zeke could cast non-verbals, so silencio was an option but not a great one... and this was where the change of strategy came in. He rapidly followed up with a whispered, discretely cast slugulus erecto.

Thornton took the moment to drag his sleeve across his eyes, the only thing he could hear the pulse in his own, well, kumquats. He didn't have much left in him.