Sereena stepped forward, her steps measured, forcing down her nerves. She could feel the eyes of the soldiers and servants stationed in the area on her, adding to her self-consciousness. As she reached Lucas, she stopped a few feet away from him, her hands clasped in front of her, trying her best to maintain a composed facade.
Lucas studied her for a moment, his gaze flickering over her stance and demeanor, before he spoke again. "The first thing you need to remember is that strength isn't everything in a fight. Your opponent can be stronger, bigger, faster than you, but you can still defeat them if you're smarter and more strategic."
Sereena nodded, trying to commit his words to memory. Her heart rate had picked up speed, her pulse thrumming in her ears. She was standing mere inches away from Lucas, and even in her nervousness, she was acutely aware of his presence, his proximity sending little bolts of electricity through her.
"Now," Lucas continued, his voice steady and authoritative. "I'm going to show you a basic stance." He took a step back and demonstrated, his feet shoulder-width apart, his weight balanced. "Pay attention to my feet," he instructed, keeping his gaze on her.
Sereena forced herself to concentrate, her eyes zeroing in on his feet. "Balance and placement are of utmost importance," Lucas explained, his voice steady and commanding. "A strong stance allows you to maneuver better, to dodge attacks and counter-attack effectively."
He moved around, shifting his stance slightly at every step. "You always want to keep your feet light and ready to move," he continued. "Never place them too close together or too far apart. You need stability but also the ability to react quickly."
Sereena watched, committing every detail to memory, her eyes glued to his movements, her mind working to process the information. As he shifted and demonstrated, his movements almost hypnotic, she found herself getting lost in the sight of him, his body lean and powerful, every muscle taut as he moved.
"Now," Lucas said, stopping in his place and fixing his gaze on her again. "Copy the stance I just showed you. Try to do it exactly as I did."
Sereena took a deep breath, trying to push the distracting thoughts of Lucas out of her mind. She took a step back, mimicking his stance as best she could. She hoped she was getting it right, but her heart rate was still sky-high, her nerves making her feel shaky and uncertain.
*You can do it Sereena* she said to herself. She repeated those words in her mind like a mantra, forcing her body to adopt the stance. Her legs trembled a bit from the effort, but she held it steady, her eyes flickering back to Lucas to judge his reaction.
"Good," Lucas said, his tone still firm but not unkind. "You're getting it. Now bend your knees a bit more, transfer your weight a little bit more to your left foot."
Sereena adjusted her stance, following his instructions. It felt a bit awkward, but she managed to shift her weight and bend her knees as he had instructed. She looked up at him again, seeking his approval.
"Much better," Lucas said, his eyes appraising her stance. "Now try shifting your weight forward, then backward, then side to side. Feel how you're in control of your balance and positioning?"
Sereena obeyed, slowly shifting her weight in each direction. As she did, she began to feel the difference in her own balance and stability. "Yes," she said, her voice a bit shaky. "I can feel it."
"That's good," Lucas said, a hint of praise in his voice. He gave a slight nod, his gaze still steady on her. "Now, let's try a basic block. I'm going to attack you with a slow swing, and you need to block it. Ready?"
Sereena swallowed hard, her heart hammering against her chest. She nodded, gathering her courage. "Ready," she answered, her voice a little higher than she would've liked.
Lucas retrieved his wooden training weapon and took up a position a few feet away from her. He raised his weapon slowly, his stance steady, telegraphing his attack. "I'm coming at you now," he warned, giving her a moment to ready herself.
Sereena tensed, her mind focusing on the incoming attack. As Lucas lunged forwards, his weapon moving deliberately, she forced her body to react. She brought up her own blocking arm, her whole body moving to defend herself.
Their weapons connected with a dull thwack, the force making Sereena's arm vibrate from the impact. She stumbled back slightly from the force, her breath catching in her throat. "Good," Lucas said, lowering his weapon. "You held your ground, and you didn't let the impact knock you off-balance. That's good."
Sereena exhaled, her breath ragged. That had been more difficult than she had expected. But hearing his praise sent a small wave of pride through her, making her stand a bit taller. "Okay," she said, forcing a steadiness into her voice. "What's next?"
"Next, we'll move on to a basic lunge," Lucas said, taking a few steps back and readying his weapon. "I'm going to move towards you, and you need to lunge forward to meet me, using your weight and momentum to drive your weapon forward. Understood?"
The training session continued for hours, with Lucas teaching Sereena various techniques, positions, and maneuvers. By the end of it, she was exhausted, sweaty, and sore in muscles she didn't even know she had. But there was a sense of accomplishment too, an adrenaline-fueled satisfaction in having learned something new.
As Lucas finished demonstrating a particular move for what seemed like the umpteenth time, he pulled back, lowering his weapon. He looked at her, sweat gleaming on his brow, his chest heaving slightly from the exertion. "That's enough for today," he said, his voice slightly hoarse.
Sereena almost collapsed with relief. Her arms and legs felt like jelly, every muscle screaming in protest. She nodded, too tired to speak, and leaned heavily against a nearby wall, trying to catch her breath.
Lucas watched her as she rested, his eyes taking in her disheveled state - her hair sticking to her face, her clothes damp from sweat, her chest rising and falling with each breath. Despite her tired state, he couldn't help but notice how she glowed with an almost intoxicating allure.
He forcibly pushed those thoughts aside, schooling his expression back into seriousness. "You did well," he said, his voice a bit gruff. "You learned quickly, and your form is decent."
Sereena managed a weak smile, her heart fluttering a bit at his praise. "I'm... I'm just glad it's over," she admitted, her voice hoarse. "I've never felt so exhausted..."
Lucas snorted faintly, a shadow of a smile playing on his lips. "You'll feel even more exhausted tomorrow, and the day after that," he warned. "Proper training isn't a walk in the park."
"Then I wished I have Bows and Arrows"
Lucas chuckled, the sound low and amused. "You think archery is easier?" he said. "It takes not only aim but also strength and stamina. It's not as easy as it looks, trust me."
"I'm not saying it's easy," Sereena said, a glint of challenge in her eyes. "Just that I might be better at it than I am at this. At least arrows don't move back and forth by themselves."
Lucas smirked slightly at her comment, appreciating her feistiness. "Is that a challenge?" he asked mildly.
Sereena met his gaze, her chin lifting defiantly. "Maybe," she said, her tone confident. "Why? Are you afraid I might be right?"
Lucas chuckled, his stance shifting slightly. "I'm not afraid of anything," he said, his voice a low rumble. "Including a little competition. How about we have a little challenge, then?"