Chapter 22: Loud and Bold
Axelius strolled back toward Elias with a grin plastered across his face, his steps light and full of pride. As soon as he reached his butler, he scooped Owen up into his hands, placing the invisible creature on his shoulder. "Well? How was my fight, Elias?" he asked, his tone dripping with smugness.
Elias smiled warmly, bowing his head slightly. "You did well, Young Master. Quite... unpredictable, I must say. Your tactics were effective," he replied, placing his hands neatly behind his back.
Axelius's grin grew wider, but before he could respond, Owen piped up, practically bouncing on his shoulder. "Effective?! That was reckless, you lunatic! I thought you had this grand plan, and all you did wasdodge and provoke! I swear, if I had hands, I'd slap some sense into that thick skull of yours!"
Axelius burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. "Hey, it worked, didn't it? You gotta admit, I looked cool out there," he replied, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye.
"Cool? You looked like a rabid squirrel!" Owen huffed, crossing imaginary arms. "I thought you actually had some kind of strategy! All you did was provoke him and dodge like a maniac!"
Axelius chuckled, stretching his arms lazily. "Yeah...well, the truth is," he began, his expression softening a bit, "I'm nowhere near Cyruz level. I get tired easily. Just dodging around like that wore me out." He looked at his hands, flexing his fingers slowly. "If Cyruz wasn't so angry, he would've noticed. I was just bluffing, you know?"
Elias, still standing beside him, nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed, Young Master. Even so, what you did was smart," he remarked, his eyes glimmering with a touch of admiration. "Provoking your opponent...making them lose their focus. An angry person fights recklessly. Their form falters, their movements become predictable."
Axelius looked up at Elias, and chuckled, "Hear that Owen?"
Elias confirmed. "You may not have the strength of Cedric or the experience of Cyruz, but you have something else...your wits."