Blacksmith

Daisy ran face first into me, falling flat on her back. I looked down at her with mild amusement. She looked up at me with surprise and embarrassment, her face flushed red as she scrambled to her feet. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to -"

"It's alright," I said, offering her a hand to help her up. With the portal closed, me and Daisy approached Hephaestia. She looked up as we approached, her face lighting up with surprise and recognition. "My lord! You've returned." Her crimson eye shifted to the nervous bunny girl beside me. "And you've brought a guest."

"Daisy here was a **** to the orcs, but I've freed her and brought her here for training. I need a weapon for my new companion." I placed a comforting hand on Daisy's shoulder, feeling her tense slightly under my touch but not pulling away.

Hephaestia bowed her head slightly, acknowledging the nervous bunny girl. "Welcome, Daisy. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Hephaestia, and I serve the Scourge." Her crimson eye held a warmth and sincerity that seemed to put Daisy at ease, if only a little.

Hephaestia summoned a rack from the ceiling where a selection of swords, daggers, and other blades were displayed. "I want you to choose a weapon that feels comfortable in your hands. Something you can use to defend yourself if needed." I said.

Daisy's eyes widened as she took in the impressive array of weapons hanging before her. She stepped closer, her fluffy ears twitching with a mix of apprehension and curiosity as she examined the array of weapons. She reached out tentatively, her hand hovering over a simple dagger with a leather-wrapped hilt. "This one?" she asked, looking back at me for approval. I nodded encouragingly.

"Go ahead, pick it up and see how it feels in your hand."

She wrapped her fingers around the hilt, testing the weight. "It's not too heavy," she said, her words carrying a note of surprise.

Hephaestia stepped closer, her crimson eye scanning the dagger critically. "It's a good choice for a beginner."

I took the weapon from her hands and held it up, examining the blade and balance. "It's well-made and fits nicely in your grip. The sheath will protect the blade and make it easy to carry at your side."

I stepped behind Daisy and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her back against my chest as I positioned her hand on the dagger's hilt. "Hold it like this, with your thumb along the spine of the blade for better control," I instructed, my breath warm against her ear.

Daisy's body tensed slightly as I held her, but she didn't pull away. Her hands wrapped around the dagger's hilt as I guided them. "Like this?" she asked, her voice shaky but eager to learn. I loosened my hold on her waist as she found her stance, stepping back to examine her form.

"Perfect. Now, let's practice some basic moves. First, we'll work on drawing the dagger quickly. You'll want to be able to pull it out and be ready to defend yourself in an instant." I demonstrated the motion, pulling the dagger smoothly from its sheath. "Watch closely - it's all in the wrist." I demonstrated the motion a few times, showing how to grip the sheath and draw the blade in one fluid motion. "Now, you try it. Remember, it's all about practice and muscle memory." I watched as Daisy attempted to draw the dagger, her hands wrapping around the hilt and pulling it from the sheath. She managed to get it out, but the motion was clumsy and awkward. "Good job, but we can do better. Let's break it down into steps. First, loosen your grip on the sheath just a bit." I guided her hand as she loosened her grip, then demonstrated the proper way to position her fingers. "Now, when you're ready to draw, quickly rotate your wrist and pull up and out. The blade should come free smoothly." Daisy nodded, concentrating hard as she tried again. This time, the dagger came out a bit more smoothly, but she almost lost her grip on the hilt. "Excellent! You're getting it. Remember, a firm grip is key." I moved behind her again, placing my hands on her hips to help guide her stance. "Keep your body angled slightly away from your attacker, and when you draw, step forward with your lead foot for stability."