"He's... not moving? He's clutching his chest too, is he okay? Did something happened there? DID MY BLUFF WORKED!?" Such were the thoughts of the Farmer as he'd watch the Mentor struggle. Not expecting such an outcome, the man was quick to try and take advantage, inching himself closer and closer while Cupid was disturbed by such a discovery. Alas, even the slightest movement was enough to set the blind man immediately upon his sights, making Mawkin pause and panic again, backing away almost immediately, raising his arms up to defend himself as if he was a turtle with their shell.
As he did so, however, the Straw was able to go deeper, immediately irritating the skin underneath, making the Mentor struggle further in trying to weed it out. He'd even try to slip his fingers through the stitching to ensure it doesn't go into any vitals, but every push only made the stray straw get closer and closer to his core. He was starting to get worried, as if what he said is true regarding his Final Gambit, a single attack means death. "If I keep focusing on this for now, it'll only result in my undoing. I just need to push on and try to extract it out in other ways... Maybe if he were to attack me, the force of such punches can send the straw back out. Heimlich maneuvers do a similar function when coughing up foods lodged in one's throat. Perhaps with such pockets I made, I should expel it out with enough power." An idea, as Cupid rapidly approached, throwing a telegraphed feint. Such an attack felt ridiculous, and such was the idea. If he were to play it true, the opponent would have to see it and take advantage.
Mawkin, however, immediately backed away, tossing up more straw in the process, letting it swirl and cloud the area in order to sink into his skin. Cupid, shocked, would be forced to back away, watching such a cloud settle and depart. Even if his acts were cowardly, the fact he potentially read his feint signaled that he was being more unpredictable the longer the battle's going, a counter to his entire fighting style. "HE WAS GONNA HIT ME! HE RUSHED AHEAD AND WAS ABOUT TO CLOCK ME UPSIDE MY HEAD!! I knew he saw through me, I'm so DEAD!!! I just need to keep my distance and find a way out. I don't wanna be around the guy that can atomize me any second here...!" Despite such fears visible in Mawkin's face, his strategy in backing away and watching out for any advances would throw off Cupid further. No matter how many times he tried to close in, those pesky straws both in and out attacked the Mentor in its own manner.
Inside, the straw would slip deeper, puncturing into his heart again and again, poking at it like a live animal, tormenting him and forcing him to play along in keeping distance. Outside, they swarmed like wasps in trying to sink into his flesh, hoping to assist those inside and rip into more vitals to weaken him. He would have to take a risk and dismantle his own seal if he wishes to create an opening, and thus, potentially abandon his summoning conditions to instantly win his battle of attrition. That was, however, until the seal picked up something further, as the Straw quickly became a cost alongside its deficiency. His blind eyes widened when he felt that energy, watching back to Mawkin. While he may not see it, he can start to understand why he was unpredictable.
And conversely, how to force those odds back towards him.
"For the son of the King of Nihil, you sure do have a lot of hope in your eyes. Seeing me in this state, you're assuming you have the advantage, don't you?" He'd ask, as he'd begin to approach a third time, balling his fist up, staring his empty eyes into his opponent.
"...I am? D'AH! I-I mean, Yeah! I told you, didn't I?! My Final Gambit is one of the strongest out of the Shadow Mages! Of course my Dad would entrust me with this!" Mawkin's words were hesitant, not even believing he himself was truthful in such a claim. He'd even pondered if he should bite his own tongue for such lies, but chose not to for the sake of wishing to stay alive.
"And yet... I found it. A flaw..." No further answer, as Itanos charged ahead, aiming for a pure strike into him, no longer holding such punches back. Mawkin, in such panic, flinched and stuck his arms and hands out, pushing his straw as a response, hurling him backwards to the other side of the hallway. As he was thrown, the brickwork breaking off and damaging his spine, the impact made would act exactly what he was planning, feeling it forcing its way out like bullets, stabbing through the layers and nearly reaching to the surface, prompting Cupid to burrow his hands into the stitching and tear it clean off, layer after layer, slowly peeling away and freeing such straw away. The Farmer screamed in horror, both at the grotesque imagery, but also his magic no longer affecting him. "... You bound it to my own body. Your magic can stem to the person it hits, rather than the person who casts it. You were going to sap my energy away with your Gambit, weren't you?" The man bored a massive grin, blood visibly pooling down as he'd feel himself waning, struggling to keep himself steady from such loss.
"HE TORE OFF HIS SKIN!?! THERE'S STILL MORE THERE!??! I'm gonna be sick, man..." Mawkin thought to himself, covering his mouth as he'd try to regain his breath. Such hyperventilation, however, would only act as Cupid's signal to advance and attack again, now free from such binds. The Farmer tried to throw up as much straw as possible to home in, but Cupid was able to freely weave around and get close to him.
WHAM!!!
A direct hit, right on his nose no less.