Axel Gauthier

Axel's eyes fell back on the fire. It hadn't occurred to him before that some of the kids didn't do their offerings. "I-I guess..." he gave a small shrug. "I mean, that's just the rule, ain't it?" He wondered what Devon meant by "what the rest of us have." He'd had his share of hardships long before the monsters started showing up. Still, he'd never blamed his mother for them. Not since... his mind flashed back to the place he'd once called home. There had been a time, he supposed, when he'd been angry. When he'd wondered why he didn't have a mother like other kids. But when his stepdad came into his life, any vitriol he'd held had found a new and more worthy target. And once he knew that his mother was a literal goddess, it had been no surprise that she hadn't made it down to earth for visits. He wasn't worthy of a gods' attention, was he? Not yet at least. But he'd keep practicing, keep getting stronger, and some day...

The mention of quests brought his attention back to the conversation. "Whoa, really!? That's awesome!" his mind spun with pictures of young demigods fighting epic battles with the weapons forged by Devon. The "camper's don't come back" part was unfortunately lost on him. He wanted - no, needed - a blade like that. "I'm a sword man myself," he said, feigning more confidence than he felt. "My favorite from the training hall is - er - was a xiphos. Now it's kinda just a hunk of metal." He scratched his head and paused to down another mouthful of fish. "I get ya. I know you're busy, it's totally fine if it takes a while!" Impatient as the kid often was, he wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth either. "I'll figure out some way to pay ya back, promise!" He wasn't sure exactly how, but there had to be something. Maybe if he could get ahold of some of those rare materials? Though how one would obtain such things he had no idea. Still, he'd figure something out. He just had to.

Axel's eyes sparkled at the thought of taking on the Ares kids. While he and his Nike siblings were unmatched in combat prowess, the Ares children often outpaced him in raw strength alone - especially the older boys. One particular bully came to mind... one he'd take great satisfaction in showing up.

"Thanks, man!" he piled his plate high with fresh fish. The Dining Hall was one of his favorite places at camp. Second only perhaps to the training fields. Like most teenage boys, he was fully capable of eating his weight in food. Though before coming to camp he'd scarcely had the opportunity. After his dad had gotten sick, the family finances hadn't been in the best place. Even if they had it was doubtful that his stepfather would have given young Axel more than the bare minimum. So the piles of fresh meats, fruits, and cheeses that filled up the Dining Hall had been enough to bring the boy to tears when he'd first seen them.

Following the line of campers, he approached the fire. By now the procedure felt more like habit than a true act of reverence. "Nike," he whispered as a chunk of fish descended into the fire. He'd long ago stopped expecting it to smell like burnt fish, but he doubted he'd ever get over the wonderful smells that did rise from the flames. The smell of god food... he dreamed that perhaps one day he'd taste it. To dine with the gods as a true Demigod Hero like Hercules did in those old stories. But for now he was more than grateful for the fish.

He waited for Devon to finish his offering and joined him at the table. "I don't need anything fancy," he explained through mouthfuls of meat. " Just somethin' weighted for me, y'know. Somethin' that won't break down from training every day. Gods, I'd love to go on a quest. It could happen you know. I've heard the Oracle can send anyone anytime. Even kids my age." He washed down his meal with a goblet of conjured root beer. "You ever been on a quest?"

To Axel's surprise, a response came not from behind the door, but from behind him. His anxiety was already through the roof. He spun around a bit tooo quickly for casual conversation and found himself face-to-face with a man covered in the soot and sweat of the forge. No doubt one of the Hephaestus kids he was looking for. The guy seemed friendly. Friendly enough to address the random kid at his doorway anyway. Though it appeared that he - like Axel - was a bit of a fast talker.

"Not lost. Axel." The ginger boy managed to mumble in response to the man's questions. He followed him into the hallway, hanging back a bit a the older boy went in and out of his room. Axel hadn't been quite certain how to initiate the conversation, but it looked like Devon - as the man called himself - was already aware of what the boy was after. Well, he supposed that shouldn't be surprising. People probably asked the Hephaestus kids for favors of this sort all the time. "Sure, I'll follow ya."

As the two set out toward the mess hall, Axel awkwardly explained his weapon predicament. HE described the dented weapon he'd found this morning, along with his general frustrations with the training swords.  "Most of 'em are off balance. Just real old, y'know. An' I'm... well I'm pretty short, so a lot of 'em are big for me. I- it's not like I can't handle a bigger sword! But it'd be better to have my own. I ain't that good with the forges though." He spoke quickly, half out of nervousness and half to quickly move past talking about the things he wasn't good at.

"I ain't got any money... but I can find a way to pay ya back. I'll do all your camp chores for as many weeks as you want! Or whatever y'all require, really..." 

Axel Gauthier was good at a lot of things. He was a fine archer, a quick runner, and even among his fellow halfbloods, his combat prowess was nothing to sneer at. If ever a competition occurred, the small ginger boy was surely the first to sign up. He was also quite likely to win. But if there was one thing the child definitely wasn't good at, it was communication. He spoke hastily and bluntly, often accidentally insulting the others around him. Still, he'd been improving. His fellow campers had thus far proven far more understanding than his classmates back in the outside world. He'd even managed to make a few friends. But there was a single form of communication that he dreaded above all others: asking for help.

Unfortunately, that was exactly what he needed to do. Just a few hours prior, he had been making his usual rounds in the armory shed in search of a well-balanced weapon to train with. As usual, the effort had been fruitless. The celestial bronze training swords were all... well-loved, to put it kindly. But this morning had really set him over the edge. His favorite training sword - the one that closest fit his weight and had previously been less damaged than the others - had a massive dent in the hilt. No doubt a result of someone else's training.

Axel had long wanted to consult the Hephaestus cabin about getting a weapon of his own, but his awkward nature had stopped him thus far. The dented sword was just enough motivation to push him in that direction. Still, it was... absolutely terrifying. So it was with baited breath and wringing hands that the young man approached the cabin door. He took a deep breath. In. Out. You got this, Axel. It's just a question. Before the doubt could fully take hold, he forced himself to knock on the door.

"Y-yes ma'am. I mean... Krystal." Axel shifted awkwardly from one foot to another. He was never really sure how to deal with adults. He knew that he tended to talk too fast or say the wrong things. Back home it had gotten him into quite a bit of trouble. Having been caught by Krystal once before, his instinct had been to go extra polite. It took a moment for his mind to course correct. "The soccer field? Was there a tournament today or something? I - ah - I forgot if there was. Sorry ma'a - a - Krystal." Honestly, the possibility caught him by surprise. He was always up for a competition, even if it was in a sport with which he had no experience. It wasn't like him to forget about an event like that.

As he moved to place his chosen weapon back on the shelf, he failed to notice the cabin leader exit the room. "I ain't much good at soccer, to be honest. Well, I don't think I am anyway. Haven't done it before actually. But I can come if you want." His eyes fell back to the wall of swords. He was hesitant to abandon his normal morning routine, but if his cabin needed him then well... he supposed there was no helping it. He'd just have to get some evening sparring in later. "Who're we playing? Another cabin? Is MK coming? I bet she's good at soccer. She's good at everything."

He turned back around, only to find that Krystal had already left!  Guess I'm ranting to myself again. Whoops! "Better catch up, " he told himself. Axel grabbed a pair of cleats from the stash and headed out. He sprinted to the field, expecting to see his cabin mates and opponents preparing to play. But oddly it was only Krystal there when he arrived. Was it... not a tournament after all? Then why come and get him, if not the need for extra bodies on the field?

The question left his mind as he watched the cabin leader play. The ball followed her footwork like a choreographed dance. And she danced with it, pulling off kicks and tricks as though it were as easy as breathing. There was passion in the way she played. It was a bit like... well, like Axel felt with a sword in his hand. "Whoa!" he exclaimed. "You're real good at that Miss Krystal!" 

Another fine morning here at Camp Half-blood. Not that the place had any other sort of mornings. The enchanted barrier around the camp kept out most of the negatives of the outside world - rain included. So, as with every day, it was a perfect day for some early combat practice. And Axel Gauthier was nothing if not a creature of habit. He stood at the back wall of the armory shed, his small frame casting a shadow over part of the sword rack. The shadow shifted as he paced back and forth. He examined each blade carefully, noting the subtle differences in the bronze. He'd tried out every one at least once in his year-long tenure here. That made his decision so much easier. A few he dismissed out of hand. That one's weight is off. This one has a weird bump in the grip. That one's shorter than it ought to be. Ugh...

One of these days he intended to ask one of the Hephaestus kids to make him a weapon of his own, something custom and well-balanced. Though that would require quite a bit more courage than the boy had at the moment. Little Axel would go toe-to-toe with any other camper without a second thought. But to ask for a favor? That was a far more terrifying prospect. Just as he'd finally settled on a weapon of choice, a voice broke the silence from behind him.

"Hey Axel, how are you doing today?"

The boy froze. The last time he'd heard that voice in this room, he'd nearly jumped out of his skin. But he'd been training intently since then. Only his mind reacted in panic. The cabin leader? What was she doing here? Last time she'd tacked him down here, he'd been about to get himself into a heap of trouble. "O-oh!" he stammered, turning to face her. "Mornin' ma'am. I ain't up to trouble this time, promise!"

Axel blinked rapidly, struggling to banish the spots from his vision. It had all happened so quickly. One moment the girl had been standing before him, still shaking and bruised. Glowing, but otherwise harmless. Then there'd been a flash and he'd felt his arm twist backwards. Though his vision had been blurred, he could've sworn he was still striking Emberlynn. But as he'd been forced to drop his weapon, the blurry form in front of him had vanished into thin air. Was that... just light? He rubbed his eyes, mumbling under his breath while the two girls celebrated. "What... happened... couldn't... see..."

When his sight finally returned to him, he saw Sage congratulating Emberlynn on her success. He was overcome by another rush of mixed emotions. Not anger and guilt this time, but excitement and embarrassment. On one hand, he'd just been disarmed by a chick who was clearly behind in her combat practice. On the other, it had worked! With Sage's guidance, they'd managed to discover something new about this odd girl and her light-bending abilities. "That was some sage advice there," she spoke aloud what popped into his head, then cringed at the bad joke as it left his lips.

He looked at the rainbow-haired girl, unable to keep from returning her smile. That joy... he'd helped make that. It struck him just how odd that felt. Back "home", all he'd ever managed to cause was trouble. When he did something bad or said the wrong thing, he'd get yelled at. When he'd accomplish something "good" by the world's standards, he'd get yelled at for "intentionally" overshadowing his stepbrother. But today he'd done something that was met with smiles and excitement. It felt good. Almost good enough to assuage the sting of being beaten by a girl.

"Good one," he admitted. "That was... pretty cool I guess."

"On it!"

Axel took a step forward, wielding his stick menacingly. He moved much slower and more precisely than he had before, intentionally giving Emberlynn the time to process Sage's words. Trust your instincts, and remember that we're here for you. The first part made perfect sense to the boy. After all, it was his souped-up demigod instincts that had kept him alive up to this point. But the second part brought back a bit of that guilt he had been feeling. He hadn't been there for her. Not really. He'd been trying to for certain, but had once again gotten too wrapped up in his own head. Were it not for Sage's intervention, he may have even hurt her. Though that frustrated him too. what demigod didn't know how to defend herself? He hoped that power of hers would get her out of sticky situations, because her combat prowess left a lot to be desired

Stop. He told himself. With a slight shake of his head he quelled the judgmental thoughts. Emberlynn was annoying, and not a great fighter. But she was a demigod like him, and one with something he could only hope to have. Powers. A true, deep connection to their Olympian heritage. She was one of the lucky ones. If any godling could truly be called "lucky", that was.

"Alright!" He raised his tree branch for a slow, deliberate strike. "Stop me!"

Axel strode proudly through the woods, the hellhound fang resting heavy in his pocket. He'd been tempted to find something to string it up with. A keychain, a necklace... something to tie that weight to him more permanently than simply letting it rest in his pocket. It was a good weight - a wonderful weight. Something to remind him of the battle he and his sister had just won. The boy found himself daydreaming, picturing the hefty fang tied around his neck by a solid leather band. In his dream it was accompanied by several other trophies. Talons and teeth of various monsters represented the many battles he'd fought and won. One day he hoped to make that dream a reality.

Though for now he supposed he should focus on a less lofty but still important goal. They were in the middle of a game after all. Speaking of...

The commotion in the north part of the woods alerted him to his target. Axe pivoted directions, pacing toward the source of the noise with a determined stride. As soon as he broke into the clearing, he noticed one of the Ares campers fighting the blue defenders. He moved in beside her in fighting formation. "Got your back."

- 4 - 

Axel's face beamed. The two combatants moved in perfect harmony, driving their blades into the whimpering monster. It's misery did not last long. One final push from the Nike siblings, and the massive hound erupted into smoke. Monsters were odd that way. Rather than dying the normal way, slain monsters would vanish in flames or dust only to resurface sometime later. It could be weeks, years, even centuries... but no monster was truly beaten for good. Though while being denied a permanent victory didn't always sit well with Axel, he had to admit he'd rather not deal with cleaning up a hellhound corpse.

"T-thanks!" the boy stammered, clearly unused to being complimented. It was funny really. He'd never been in this much danger in the outer world. (Actually he had been in more danger, but he'd been unaware of it so it didn't count.) Yet here at camp he felt more secure than he ever had. Here he had a purpose, a talent... and a family. "You too," he told his sister. He doubted she needed any encouragement from him, but it seemed like the right thing to say. "Well done."

As the two turned to continue their quest for a flag, he felt his foot brush against a hefty stone. No... not a stone. A fang. A trophy. One wouldn't have thought it possible for the boy's expression to be any brighter. That person would be wrong. Axel scooped up the prize and stuffed it in the jacket pocket beneath his armor. He hoped MK wouldn't mind him keeping this one. Nah, he thought. Something told him she wouldn't.  It was his very first monster trophy! And besides, he had no plans to hog all the glory for himself. Now that he had proof of beating a real monster, it was certain he'd be bragging to anyone who asked. Bragging all about this intense battle, and about his amazing older sister.

-3-

Axel gave the monster no time to recover. The moment he heard it yelp, he knew it was a perfect opportunity. Invigorated by MK's declaration, He drove his blade deep into the hound's side. "Yeah!" he echoed his sister. "Take that!" The beast reeled and growled, it's massive jaws lashing helplessly at the two Nike children. This thing was no match for MacKayla Johnson: Seasoned Warrior and her quickly-developing little brother. It never stood a chance.

The hellhoud let out a strained howl, signifying that it was on the brink of death. "Thanks!" Axel's grin grew wider. HIs sister, whom he had grown to look up to quite a bit this past year, was proud of him. Honestly, it felt strange to recieve a compliment from family when it came to his achievements. Every time he did something right, he half expected to be berated for "trying to look better" than his foster brother, his stepdad, his peers... whoever. So to be so readily recognized for his progress felt odd. Odd, but great. "I've been practicing!" He explained eagerly.

The creature lashed out again, but it was heavily wounded and clearly out of moves. The young boy easily sidestepped it's claws. His eyes locked with MK's. "I almost feel bad for it," he chuckled. "Almost. Let's finish this!"

Axel nodded at his sister's instruction. Normally he wasn't the best at taking orders, but this was something different. Real combat. The situation was both terrifying and exhilarating. MK was far more experienced with battle than he was. In all of his daily practices, he had never encountered something so vicious as the hellhound they were now faced with. Still, in the heat of the moment, and with his sibling beside him, there was no fear in his eyes. If anything there was something eager and childlike about his expression. He looked like an elementary schooler who's only good subject was PE and it was finally the school's field day. Aside from chess, melee combat was perhaps his greatest skill and passion. And today he finally got to show that off.  

The boy moved in lock-step with his sister, coming in beside her to strike a blow at the mighty beast. It was surprisingly quick for something so large. It swiped its claws in large motions, yet still they seemed to come in at lightning speed. MK parried and countered with ease, while Axel backed her up as best he could. Even with all his extra training, he knew she was the one with actual field experience, so he deferred to her lead. 

"WHOAAA"

A single swipe made it through MKs defenses, breaking the hellhounds previous patterns of movements. Playing dirty I see. Axel sneered at the beast, taking a step forward to block the next lunge at his sister. He spun his blade round and bopped the thing in the nose. It took a step backwards, letting out a dazed growl. The move would only buy them a second, but he was confident it would be enough for his skilled partner to regain her balance. He seamlessly slid into position for a pincer attack, grinning wildly from the excitement of the fight.

Axel had missed last year's capture-the-flag by a matter of weeks, which was unfortunate considering such an event was right up his alley. This time he was not about to let the opportunity pass him by. He walked proudly beside MK - both his literal sister and sister-in-arms - ready to take on whatever came their way. It had been a little while since he'd gotten to spend time with his sister. The boy spent most of his free time away from the cabins, honing his skills on the training fields or at the archery range. Still, he felt more than comfortable at her side. He never had to worry about being too awkward or too competitive for MK. The two were of similar mind when it came to combat and tactics. As they walked, he found himself wondering if his sister would enjoy chess. It would be fun to play with somebody who wasn't his awful stepfather...

He was about to broach the topic when a low growl set him on edge. He drew his blade, instinctively shifting his focus to the source of the sound. A large black dog with fiery red eyes was approaching from the foliage. His sister was already preparing, her shoulders squared to take on the beast. "Do you see this Axel?"

He gulped. "Hard to miss," he joked, though it sounded more like a blunt statement. He'd never faced anything quite so large and vicious-looking. But he certainly wasn't going to pass up such an opportunity. It was time to prove himself. He readied his blade, prepared for the beast's first lunge.

Axel nodded, allowing Sage to take the lead. Perhaps he was pushing her too far. Or maybe letting himself go too far... it was difficult to tell. It was hard for him, being a Nike camper, not to go all out in a fight. That may have been the reason his mind kept coming up with excuses to go harder. That, and the strange mixture of guilt and frustration that came to him when striking an essentially helpless opponent. He did truly want to help, but Axel absolutely despised bullies. The feeling of being one, even for a moment and even with understandable reasons, was wreaking hell on his normally levelheaded disposition in this fight. Honestly, he was glad that Sage was here. Whereas he had the drive, it seemed she had the plan. 

Still, he found himself feeling a bit defensive at her remarks. His strikes were precise and controlled. Sure, he'd gotten emotional for a bit there, but it wasn't like he was flailing wildly at the poor girl. He was, however, definitely frightening her. There was certainly no rebuttal for that particular accusation. He obeyed the blonde girl's instructions and paused a moment to analyze his opponent. The girl was staring at him with wild, purple eyes. Her hair, a mess of rainbow colors, was matted with dirt and sticks from being knocked to the ground. And her glowing prismatic skin was covered in shallow cuts and welts - his fault, he recognized with a pang of shame. 

Wait... glowing prismatic SKIN!?!

Axel blinked, nearly dropping his sword. Surely that wasn't normal, right? "Sage!" He called out. "It's working!" The Athena camper was moving in to make a strike. Had she noticed? He moved into flanking position. For the first time since the "battle" began, he allowed Emberlynn time to think. He stood there, half due to Sage's instruction, half mesmerized by the flickering rainbow light. Honestly it felt very odd. It was usually the objective to keep an enemy on their toes. But the blonde seemed to have a good head on her shoulders, so he decided to trust her instincts.

Axel made a strange face. It was something between a smile and a frown, but far too expressive to be neutral either. The thrill of combat had quickly faded when he'd witnessed how helpless the rainbow-haired girl really was. As much as he loved to fight, there was no pleasure in beating down a weaker opponent. Well, not an innocent one at any rate. Had he been up against an underpowered monster it may have been fun to display his hard-earned prowess. But Emberlynn was just a girl - an annoying girl - but a relatively innocent one in the grand scheme of things. Beating her up like this just felt mean. A slight sense of guilt rose with each blow, bringing back memories of his schoolyard days. He'd mostly been the victim back then. Now he felt like the bully.

But... this was all to help her, wasn't it? Guilt turned turned to anger as Emberlynn scrambled around the field. His strikes became a bit more forceful, a bit more precise. She asked for this. His clouded mind told him. She wanted help bringing out her powers. But she wasn't striking him back, she wasn't getting angry. She just kept giving that helpless look that made him feel like a horrible person. Yes, she was making him feel this. This darn girl was the source of his guilt, the center of his frustration. He raised the stick once more.

"Axel, you and I should come up with a plan and not just wing it as she might get hurt." Sage's calculated words broke the spiral. Of course... what was he thinking!? Well, clearly he hadn't been. Axel was normally an incredible strategist, a chess prodigy even, but it seemed some unresolved trauma had gotten the better or him for a moment.

"R-right! I wasn't gonna hurt her," the boy insisted. Though it was more a reassurance for himself than for Sage or Emberlynn. He definitely wouldn't have... right? Definitely not. "Why do you think I'm using this?" He waved the tree branch. If he'd truly intended harm, he would've drawn the dagger at his side. But that rush of emotion Sage had interrupted still ate at his consciousness.

Sage was correct though. They did need a plan. "She keeps dodging backwards. Come in from behind. Flank her!" He paused for a moment. "And uh... if I'm going too far..." He shook his head. He could control himself, surely. What Emberlynn needed was to be put under stress, not to see him holding back.

"You want me to stop?" he said to Emberlynn. "You'd best stop me then!"

Axel's grip tightened on his blade's handle as the two swords met. Ideally he would have an advantage here - his weapon was larger after all - but he knew better than to underestimate an opponent like that. Larger meant slower, and though his superhuman strength made the thing easy enough to weild, he knew he couldn't hope to match her strike for strike if the pace escalated. That wasn't to say he was an ametuer though. The boy simply recognized his shortcomings in certain areas. And as far as he was concerned, that was the first step in making up for them.

Another blow... another parry... each strike sent a jolt down his arm and through the rest of his body. She wasn't kidding, a smile formed across his face as the thought struck him. This girl really is fierce. It was honestly rather invigorating to go up against someone who shared his passion for the craft. It wasn't that the other campers were lacking in skill or interest necessarily. Heck, many of the older campers were far more seasoned - having seen actual battle on multiple occasions. But his superiors here were rarely willing to engage with a younger child during sparring practice, and the others his own age fell far below his skill level due to his constant, almost obessive practice. But this felt different. More equal... and far more fun.

He kept his distance a bit, relying on his weapon's reach to keep him out of harm's way while he studied her movements. She was graceful and quick, exactly what he'd been woried about. If only he could find an opening... There! For a moment he thought he saw it. A weak point in the pattern. Yet with the next stroke it was gone. So again he waited patiently, watching closely. Again, the spot revealed itself. He seized the opportunity, lunging in in hopes to strike a blow.

"Gotcha!" he declared, hoping his words would prove true. Though even if they did, one blow does not a battle make. 

"Oh... I guess you're right..." Axel's pictured himself in the middle of taking a math test when suddenly his pencil shifted into a blade and impaled the test paper. He thought made him chuckle aloud. "I guess it wouldn't exactly be efficient as a real pencil, huh?" So it was a gift then. Axel forgot at times that the other demigods had life before camp. Frankly he'd been so happy to get away from his that he was reluctant to think back.

He supposed that past may have something to do with his preference toward combat. There was something about the feeling of steel - or in this case bronze - in his hands that gave him a sense of safety. Having spent so much of his youth feeling powerless, the ability to stand his ground in a very real and physical way had been a precious discovery for the boy. As he looked at Mei, he wondered if her experience was similar. Was it always rough experience that made for seasoned fighters? Or was her story entirely different from his own? He found himself interested, more so than he had been in the lives of his other fellow campers. It felt as though this girl might speak his language. That language, of course, being the song of blades.

He drew out the longsword, dropping into a fighting stance. "I'll have to pay that cabin a visit," he noted. While he'd gained quite a bit of experience with the weapons in the armory, they were common property. The way she held hers... the boy could tell those belonged to her and her alone. "Maybe one of them could make me a blade of my own."

A smile spread over his face when she called herself "fierce". Perfect, he thought. There was so much more to be learned from a fierce opponent than one who fought half-heartedly like some of the others in class. "Thanks for the warning, but I think I can hold my own. At least I'd better... it's not like the monsters out there are gonna hold back." He held his sword firmly but not stiffly in his hand, ready to defend. Then he nodded at his opponent, beckoning her to make the first strike.

"I didn't mean... uh, yeah... it's pretty..." Axel stumbled over his words, realizing that he really had insulted the girl. It seemed she was nearly as awkward as himself. A part of him felt bad, as it always did, but another part of him simply felt frustrated. It couldn't always be his fault. People just didn't understand him. Something Emberlynn had said had struck a nerve. He wasn't explaining it well enough? For goodness sake - he knew that! Axel was never good enough, especially with his words. Why couldn't she just get it!?

The boy looked down to find his fists had clenched. Wait - was Sage right? We're they... fighting? Fighting... The flower girl's suggestion put a wild idea in his head. Sure, he sucked at talking. Perhaps he really couldn't help that way. But combat was something he was exceedingly good at. And if all Emberlynn needed was a bit of pressure, he certainly didn't mind providing it. Especially after how her words had made him feel. Of course he knew she could no more be blamed for that than he could for his accidental insults. But that little bit of extra motivation was enough to transfer thought into action.

A wicked grin flitted across his face. "Good idea, Sage! And better said than I could've put it for sure." Before the rainbow-haired girl had time to react, Axel stooped to grab a nearby fallen tree branch. He crouched into a fighting stance. "Maybe we should be fightin'!" With that he brought the branch down, swinging viciously at Emberlynn. Hope this helps, he thought. And if it didn't, well, at least he could say he tried.

"I know." Axel could certainly be blunt at times. It wasn't out of malice or anything. He just wasn't exactly god at talking to other people. Plus he was secretly a bt proud of himself for recognizing the blade by name. "That it's a gladius I mean. I used one for my practice last week." Indeed, the child of Nike was rather keen on weaponry. He knew the names of every blade in the arsenal, along with a bit of their histories too. He called it an interest - others would probably call it an obsession. There was just something about the feeling of a blade in his hand - and knowing how to use it - that made the world feel a bit safer. And "safe" was a pretty rare feeling in his experience. "That one didn't do anything cool like yours though."

"Interesting!" The boy stepped in closer to take a look, entirely unaware of any personal boundaries. So the thing looked like an ordinary pencil, but could transform into a gladius at a moment's notice. His mind raced with possibilities. Such a weapon would be invaluable in the field, particularly if it came down to stealth. It was portable, lightweight... he wondered how much force the transformation itself exerted too. What if, for example, she were to press it up against and enemy and then allow it to transform. Or was it always a sword and the illusory magic just caused people to perceive it differently... Ah! He realized he had been staring far to intently at Mei. He probably looked like a total weirdo.

"So... uh..." he scrambled for something to say. "Who made it? One of the Hephaestus kids? Woulda been cool if they made it work in pencil form too. Er - not that it's not already cool but-"

Mei continued on, recalling his name. Axel silently thanked the gods for the opportunity to end his blabbering. "That's right! I'm Axel."

Her response confirmed that she was indeed practicing alone today. Struck by a sudden eagerness, he spoke up quickly and displayed his own sword. "Want a sparring partner?" He'd briefly seen Mei's abilities on their last excursion and knew she could handle a blade. No shock, with her being a daughter of Ares and all. What better way to hone his skills than by fighting a talented opponent? "I mean - if you're not too busy of course."

Axel ambled accross the grounds, absentmindedly spinning a longsword in his hand. To most boys of his stature it would have been considered a hand-and-a-half sword, but his celestial blood gave him that little bit of extra strength he needed to weild it one-handed. He was headed to the training grounds - a normal part of his daily routine - but was in no particular hurry. After all, he had all day to get his training sessions in. There were no classes or events today. That fact left young Axel to face his greatest adversary: bordom.

A glimmer of light caught his eye. Turning his head, he quickly identified it's source. The sun was glimmerring off the blade of a weapon. It wasn't dissimilar to his own, though quite a bit shorter in the blade department  The child of Nike was familliar with the weapon of course - a gladius - but the surprising part was that it appeared to have transformed from an ordinary pen! Fascinating... he'd heard mention of the magic that made their magical weapons appear as household objects in the outside world, but hadn't been at camp long enough to have much experience with it. Curious, he approached it's weilder.

"Oh, Mei!" he exclaimed, recognizing the girl as he drew closer. She'd once caught him at one of his lower moments, rooting through the armory in a desperate determination to go out and prove himself.  She'd used a different weapon then though. "Using a gladius today? Or..um..a... pen? What happened to the polearm?"

It was nice to run into someone he actually recognized around here. He supposed there was time to stop and chat. "You practicing on your own today?" 

"Oh! Uh... Axel. Well, you knew that I guess. Sorry." The boy wasn't used to not having to introduce himself to folks he didn't know. Even the awkward child knew the basic conventions of a conversation. But the exceptions, like this one, tended to leave him floundering. "Sage. Weird name. I mean, not like, bad weird but... unique, ya know?" He smiled a sheepish smile, hoping his comments wouldn't come off as too insulting.

"Athena's the smart one, yeah? Maybe you can help better than me then." Come to think of it, it wasn't a bad idea at all. If anyone might have some new idea that could help their situation, it would be one of Athena's brainiacs. Axel hadn't had many interactions with that particular cabin, but had admired from afar their metal prowess. As a chess prodigy he was quite tactically-minded himself, but he got the feeling that any of them might be able to give him a run for his money. Maybe this Sage would be willing to play with him later... he shook his head, realizing he'd become a bit distracted.

Axel motioned toward the rainbow-haired girl, who was giving him an incredulous look. Was he really being that rude? Well, no turning back now. "Emberlynn here's got an issue with her ability. It ain't working right. I tried telling her to take a different approach but I don't think she gets it." Axel looked from Emberlynn to Sage and back again. "Go on, show her!"

He extended his hand the way Emberlynn had earlier, though sadly his didn't start glowing. He supposed he'd have to stick to the regular combat training. Giving the girl an expectant look, he waited for her demonstration.

"An ability!? Whoa..." The child of Nike was struck with a sudden pang of jealousy. He had been working hard ever day to keep up with and eventually surpass his fellow campers in combat prowess. But this... this was the one thing he couldn't fairly compete with. The boy had been blessed with the usual superhuman gifts of a demigod, alongside an exceptional talent with various forms of weaponry. Other kids though, at least some of them, appeared to have real magical powers. That girl Savannah could put people to sleep with just the sound of her voice, and there were rumors of an older camper who could literally raise the dead. No skill with a blade could compare to such gifts.

But until now, he hadn't really thought of them as something that needed development. Savannah had mentioned actively avoiding her powers, to the point where they inconvenienced her and happened when she didn't want them to. But Emberlynn here was trying to make hers work, and to make them stronger. He supposed not all powers worked the same way. There was something he admired though in this girl's approach. There was a determination in her voice that sounded all too familiar. He wanted to help her. But... how? It wasn't like he really had any experience to draw from.

Yet there was one idea that struck him. "Well, maybe it's like a fighting style, y'know? Like, you're focusing real hard on making it work. But if one style ain't workin' for ya, then you should switch it up!"

Before he could elaborate on what he meant, another girl emerged from the foliage. A cheerful sort, with golden hair and a wide smile. Axel didn't know her, but from the sound of it she knew him. Was he becoming famous already? He supposed that was his intention - one day. But for now running into somebody who knew who he was was a very rare occurrence around camp. She knew Emberlynn's name too though, so he couldn't really credit his own popularity. Unfortunately.

"Oh! Uh.. hi..." he stammered, unsure how to invite the new arrival into the conversation.

"An ability!? Whoa..." The child of Nike was struck with a sudden pang of jealousy. He had been working hard ever day to keep up with and eventually surpass his fellow campers in combat prowess. But this... this was the one thing he couldn't fairly compete with. The boy had been blessed with the usual superhuman gifts of a demigod, alongside an exceptional talent with various forms of weaponry. Other kids though, at least some of them, appeared to have real magical powers. That girl Savannah could put people to sleep with just the sound of her voice, and there were rumors of an older camper who could literally raise the dead. No skill with a blade could compare to such gifts.

But until now, he hadn't really thought of them as something that needed development. Savannah had mentioned actively avoiding her powers, to the point where they inconvenienced her and happened when she didn't want them to. But Emberlynn here was trying to make hers work, and to make them stronger. He supposed not all powers worked the same way. There was something he admired though in this girl's approach. There was a determination in her voice that sounded all too familiar. He wanted to help her. But... how? It wasn't like he really had any experience to draw from.

Yet there was one idea that struck him. "Well, maybe it's like a fighting style, y'know? Like, you're focusing real hard on making it work. But if one style ain't workin' for ya, then you should switch it up!"

The guilt that Axel felt over startling the girl quickly shifted to defensiveness when she began to speak. "I - I didn't mean it like that! And what do you mean I have a loud mouth!?" He instinctively lashed out, only to realize a moment later the irony in shouting that sentence. Way to go, Axel. Another great start to a conversation. But oddly enough, the strange girl didn't seem too perturbed. Actually, she was... laughing? Oh! It took him a moment to realize that she was, in fact, joking around with him. Or possibly laughing him. Best to believe the former until proven otherwise.

She might've been a bit on the slow side though, judging by her response to his question. "I know we're at Camp Halfblood." He tried (and likely failed) not to sound too sarcastic. "And if by "orientation" you mean twenty questions with the scary dude in the Big House, then yes." Axel was quite intimidated by the Aries cabin leader, though he realized this was his first time admitting that out loud. Were it someone else that may have been embarrassing, but there was no shame in acknowledging a superior warrior. "I mean where on the grounds are we? I... don't really know the layout yet," he confessed.

That was all he had intended to say, but another matter had gotten him curious. What was that light that had flashed in front of the girl when she'd jumped away? She wasn't holding anything, and it had appeared to come from her hands. There were all sorts of strange and wondrous things he'd encountered here at camp. Could this be another one of them? "Look - crazy hair - uh... what's yer name? I'm Axel. Anyway, what'd you mean by breakthrough? And what was that weird light just now. You got like a magic weapon or somethin?"

Much as he never liked to admit it... Axel was lost. Most days, the child of Nike could be found on the training grounds getting his extra practices in. In fact, he'd hardly taken the time to explore the rest of the grounds. Perhaps it was this very fact that had compelled him to go wandering today. But his lack of expertise did put him at a disadvantage. Namely that he had no clue where he really was - or how to get back. 

He was just calculating how far he must have gone so far in his head when a voice interrupted his thoughts. "Oh... gods damn it!" It was a female voice, and one he vaguely recognized at that. Not that he could immediately place it. It didn't sound too far off though. The next question was whether it was worth the embarrassment to track them down and ask for directions. Though the alternative was following his own internal compass - a skill he'd far from fully developed. With a mental note to practice navigation so it wouldn't happen again, he started moving toward the noise.

It wasn't long at all before he found himself in a clearing. It was a pleasant little area - might make for a great solitary training spot. That is, if it weren't already occupied. At the moment there was somebody there - a girl with multicolored hair. She must have been the person yelling before. Although now it looked like she had stopped cursing the gods and was standing with her eyes shut. She was mumbling something under her breath. What an odd person, he thought.

Still, there was something familiar about the girl. He'd definitely heard that voice before. And seen that hair. Right! It's her! How could he have forgotten that terrible incident? This was the girl who had chewed out Levi over bullying that other kid. Something he was a bit miffed he hadn't gotten the chance to do himself. Though when he finally got back at that jerk, he wanted it to be with more than a few useless words. I should say hello. Get directions. Perhaps brining up where he recognized her from would help break the ice.

"Hey, it's you! The chick with the weird hair and the loud mouth! Where are we?" He spoke in his usual blunt tone. He meant nothing by it of course, but the boy always seemed to pick the exact wrong words for any given situation.