Felix's work on sharpening the blade with the whetstone must have done the trick, because it does cut pretty well. However, he's not expecting a counter-attack so soon, because he doesn't expect superhuman speed from such a large man. In Fodlan, large men in heavy armor are slow as hell. Felix doesn't know yet that Caldera is a much bigger pond than Fodlan; people have lifespans and abilities that are far beyond what he thinks possible.

The push slams him against the wall, and he grunts as some of the air is knocked out of his chest, but stays on his feet, light on the balls of them. He recovers and darts quickly toward Gadriel, feinting in one direction before going the other, to attempt another slice at a more exposed part of his abdomen.