Melee combat

The sun beat down on the dusty training ground. It wasn't a large space, and a fair portion was taken up by training dummies. Still, there was ample room to swing, thrust and dodge.

The trainer on duty today was named Matarun. He wore only leather pants, with his muscular, hairy chest exposed. He was clean-shaven; that and his messy, short-cut brown hair gave him a youthful appearance, though he moved like a veteran. He paced back and forth, glancing at Rasa, swinging a wooden sword in his left hand. "All right," he said. "What is the most important part of combat?"

"Strength!" Rasa said. "Er, no. Agility? Reflexes?"

"Survival," Matarun said. He pointed the sword at her. "If you really want to learn combat in one lesson, you must remember that."

"Ooh," Rasa said. "Wait, one lesson?"

"That's what you paid for."

...

Rasa swung, her wooden weapon bouncing off the training dummy.

"No, no." Matarun stepped up behind her. "You're just waving your arm. You have to get strength from your shoulders and hips. Here." He pressed his chest to her back, and he guided her arm.

...

"Left. Right. Left. Right." Every time he spoke, Rasa jumped over a sword in the dirt. Soon she began to pant, and her head hung low.

"Halt." Matarun smirked down at her. "You look like you're bending over. Why is that?"

Rasa wiped sweat from her brow. "I. I'm tired?"

Matarun sighed, and he shook his head. "Yes, but no. You're starting to move natural. Keep your center of balance lower." He put his hands on her hips. "Okay, again. Left. Right...good." He grinned. "Not bad. Have you ever tried dancing? You might be good at it."

...

"Okay! Halt." At the words, Rasa collapsed to her knees, and Matarun chuckled. "Not a bad session," he said. "You learn quickly. I think you've got the basics down, at least. Just do those exercises every day, and in a few years you might be a good warrior."

"Right," Rasa said. She pushed herself to her feet, and she gave a shaky bow. "Th-thank you, sir."

Matarun put the training swords in a cabinet, and he glanced back at her. "Yeah. No problem." He nodded, eyes flicking up and down to take in the sight of her. "It's good to have such an apt pupil."

Rasa couldn't keep herself from watching the way the sweat gleamed on his muscles. She bit her lip.