Once the sparring match had begun, Lucian quickly noticed one thing. Cyrus was extremely skilled with a weapon.
He had tried to land a kick to the side but the other had parried it with ease using the kendo stick.
"Damn he's good…" Lucian frowned, jumping back to gain some distance.
"You've been using that damn twig since we started…Don't you use your fists?" Lucian asked, his voice filled with annoyance.
"I'm not exactly skilled when it comes to throwing hands, but…" Cyrus shifted his stance lifting the kendo slightly above his head. "I'm pretty confident in my swordsmanship."
Seeing this Lucian smirked. "Alright then if that's how you want to do it!" Lucian charged forward at the other. "Then I'll just snap you both in half."
He pushed himself off the ground with one foot, and went for a running knee strike aimed at Cyrus' face but the other used the kendo to block the attack before it connected.
"Gotcha…" In one swift motion, Lucian aimed another knee strike into Cyrus' chest with his free-leg, causing the other to stumble a bit.
It took him a few seconds to start breathing properly, but Lucian wasn't done, he lunged at him again—this time going for a straight hook.
Luckily, Cyrus had read him and threw his head back to dodge the attack.
Following that, Lucian proceeded to deliver a few more punches at Cyrus who narrowly dodged then.
"Damn it! If you're just playing defense this is no fun!" Lucian threw yet another kick at the other who blocked it, but the impact made him skid a bit. "Fight me already!"
The thing was Cyrus wasn't just playing defense for no reason, he intentionally wanted his cause he had been carefully observing the way the other fought.
"His moves aren't traditional martial arts…" He commented as he blocked a kick from the other with the stick. "…And he's definitely not just a brute brawler too…wait—is he?"
Lucian attempted a flying roundhouse but Cyrus had dodged leaping back to get as far as he could.
"Your techniques…" he said calmly as he stood up. "…aren't the standard ones, they seemed to be more like a street fighter…which is weird form where you're coming from."
Lucian gave a scoff. "You think just because I'm from some rich family I don't have my own life to live?"
"Point, but still, I find it strange…Where could you have picked that up?"
"That doesn't concern you! Focus on not losing more…remember our deal?"
Cyrus froze up a bit, the deal they had struck still rung in his head.
"Of course not…Now let's do this!" Cyrus finally charged at him and Lucian quickly got ready to block the attack but the other came to a sharp halt in front of him.
Cyrus swung the kendo forward instead, taking the other by surprise and the attack connect with his chin, forcing the other's head back.
"Time for me to win this thing!" Cyrus gripped the stick harder and went for another strike for the head.
Lucian lips curved into a toothy grin.
"So you've just been on defense to study me, huh?"
He instantly caught the kendo stick mid-swing, which took the other by surprise. He clenched his free hand into a fist and drove it into Cyrus' face, sending back a meter.
"I knew it. You mostly think inside the box…typical amateurs" Lucian pointed to the side of his head. "If you think that way then you're as good as dead in a real fight."
Cyrus got up and wiped his mouth, cracking a small smirk. "You pack a hell of a punch for a prince."
Lucian sneered, "Aww. Are you gonna cry."
Before he knew it Cyrus was behind him in a second. "Like hell I would."
He swung the kendo but the other ducked low and swiped his legs doing a sweeping kick. Cyrus jumped back and lunged.
The two exchanged a good number of impressive blows and attacks, neither of the two showing signs of victory. Then the two clashed blows, before both backed off a little.
"You…lil' elves are…really damn formidable." Lucian said between gasps, sweat trailing down his chin.
"Elf?" Cyrus, who was also equally exhausted, tilted his head. "What do you mean Elf?"
Lucian arched a brow. "You else do you f*cking think. I saw your ears when we were sparring and they looked like an elf's."
Cyrus signed. "You just saw my ears and thought I was an elf."
"Then if you're not an elf then what are you?" Lucian frowned.
"Isn't it obvious…I'm an Imp."
Lucian's brain short-circuited. "You're joking right?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?" The other said narrowing his eyes.
Imps. They're known for their mischievous nature and deeds. On the Island, most of the crimes are caused but them, of course they were some that were a bit composed and lived a decent social life but their mischievous, reckless or impulsive sides still shown every now and then
So while the lot was known for their behavior, the one who stood in front of Lucian was dead calm and was completely logical.
"Nope. Nah-uh. You're trying to get a kick outta me." Lucian shook his head back and forth.
"Two things: One, My logical behavior is my area of deviancy and Two…" Cyrus brought his empty hands in the air.
Lucian gasped. "F*ck! I lost concentration!"
The kendo came spinning down, coming to a horizontal position in front of Lucian, Cyrus dashed driving a kick at the other end of the kick.
Lucian, who had been on the other side of the kendo, had it thrust into his stomach making him cough out some spit, before rolling on the floor.
Cyrus adjusted his glasses. "…I had this thing won from the start."
There was a moment of silence before Lucian let out a chuckle, as he slowly got up.
"You're good…really damn good. So that's why I'm winning this. Right. Now!"
Before Cyrus could blink Lucian was already in front of him, the gap too close to dodge so he attempted to block the attack with the kendo stick.
SNAP.
The sound was unmistakable as Lucian's fist tore through the wood and straight at Cyrus' face, but it stopped mere inches from it, though the sheer force of the impact made the other's hair flow slightly and his glasses dropping askew.
"K.O." Lucian smirked dangerously.
"No way. Don't tell me this guy had been holding back all this while!"
Lucian withdrew his fist and pocketed his hands, the smirk seemed to even widen. "A deal's a deal, now you're official my lackey Glasses."
Cyrus groaned, suddenly regretting his decisions. "Why did I agree to that in the first place…"
"Now as my lackey, you are to: One, Follow me everywhere I go. Two, we're to share our things together. Three, if anyone's after any of us, we back ourselves up and Four, there's no fighting between a lackey and his boss.
"Got all that?" Lucian said as he finished listing his terms.
Cyrus gaped, the already askew glasses already tiling even more.
"Did you just indirectly say I'm a friend?"
"NO I DID NOT!" Lucian yelled, his cheeks turning a little red. "You're a lackey. I'm your boss. Major difference!"
"This guy's ego is obviously bigger than his net worth." Cyrus chuckled as he shook his head. "Fine then, I'll be your 'lackey'."
Lucian crossed his arms. "Good, now let's get outta here. I'm already bored."
Lucian turned and started walking as the other dusted himself off before following.
"Whatever you say, but first I have to ask…How did you know how to fight like that?"
Lucian hesitated for a bit. "I learned it from a friend." He simple said, shrugging.
"Well, that was some heck of a friend…"
Lucian scratched the side of his head giving a faint smile. "Oh you don't know the half of it."
The two walked following side by side, casually chatting as if they had met at some library or at the cafeteria and not at a sparring match with a ridiculous deal.
"I wonder..." Cyrus stared at Lucian, who was busy talking about something utterly irrelevant. "How was this guy's childhood like? Seems like he isn't talking about any of that yet. But I can tell…"
He smiled when Lucian faced him asking if he was listening, he just nodded.
"Tagging with him wouldn't be so bad after-all."