Training with Talanah

In the middle of a small glade in the forest, the dull thuds of clashing wood were the only sound that filled Kazex's ears as he tried to survive Talanah's onslaught.

"Come on goblin, you will never get better if you cower behind your mighty stick!" joked a smirking Talanah as she swiped at him with a powerful lunge that sent him reeling.

"Blasted elf, I'd give you a taste of a true mighty stick if I could..." he muttered to himself, trying not to wince when the bruises on his skin flared up in protest of him straining his body.

That he had bruises at all had become a painful reality of his training sessions with Talanah. Foolishly enough, he'd thought that a goblin's tougher skin density would mean an easy time in learning how to fight from her. How was he supposed to know that Talanah had such monstrous strength?! It was so unfair, her rather lithe body would never ever suggest that she could put such power behind her blows!

"Don't get distracted! Do you want to be killed?!" the elf yelled and though Kazex tried to react in time with his wooden stick, Talanah kicked his feet off the ground, sending him down. Before he could even blink, her own stick was pressing just under his chin. "Dead," she announced with a serious look before backing off. "It's unlike you to be so distracted, Kazex. Is something wrong?"

Talanah had eventually agreed to train his martial skills, though by the pensive frown she had after the initial test to see where he stood, it definitely looked like it was more about creating something that didn't exist before rather than improving things that were already there. Not that Kazex minded, he knew where his strengths lay.

And though he was no masochist, he could put up with getting beat up on a regular basis if he got to see Talanah in action as her beautiful body rippled with the coiled strength of her muscles. Where Helga was generously curvaceous, Talanah had flexibility and muscles going for her. Though it was still quite impressive to him, the elf's bust couldn't compete with Helga's; not that she had any need for it, of course. Talanah's was a different type of beauty: her attractiveness came from her own drive and determination. The elf was a warrior in every sense of the word and that nature of hers was reflected in the raw shapes and angles of her body.

He'd be understating things if he said he found them both attractive, which is why he'd been quite pleased the day Talanah stopped by and told him she'd decided to teach him.

"Kazex, are you still with me?"

The goblin blinked, refocusing on the conversation. "I'm sorry, I got distracted. Today's just not my day, it seems."

"I can see that. You know, if you're not going to give this training your best perhaps we should stop it," she said with a frown, crossing her arms over her chest.

Something else he'd learnt about Talanah, apparently. The woman was incredibly stern and demanding when she thought he was slipping; she really took training very seriously. Regardless, he wasn't about to give up on these lessons. Firstly, he'd lose his main reason for interacting with Talanah on a regular basis, which was unacceptable. Secondly, he'd lose his chance of actually improving his fighting skills - sparring with Talanah had definitely taught him that there was much more to a fight than brandishing wildly his spear.

He hated being ignorant in something he might have need of, which is why he was so determined to get better.

"Absolutely not," Kazex barked as he brought his own stick to bear.

Talanah grinned at his response, obviously pleased. "Good. Still, are you sure you don't want to put any salves on those bruises? Don't think I missed that wince. Better yet, are you sure you don't want to wear something for your chest?" she questioned, looking intently at his bare chest.

Seeing a perfect opportunity, Kazex made sure to subtly flex the muscles of his chest and arms as he assumed the most indolent gesture he could manage. His more muscular frame gave him an edge on that and with his chest slick with sweat, he hoped it'd have an effect on Talanah.

Trying to find the best dismissive tone for his words, he spoke up. "Don't worry, this will toughen up my skin in the long run. Better to train it further in the future," he said, looking closely for any reaction from her. However, it seemed Talanah was too absorbed in her thoughts while staring intently at Kazex's chest, eyes clouded with something the goblin couldn't quite discern. "Talanah?"

That snapped her out of her daze. "Ah... yes, of course. That seems to be sound reasoning,"

"Now, who's not paying attention, huh?" he teased with a grin, though he made sure to avoid mentioning he knew where she'd been looking.

"Oh shut it, goblin. Let's see how much you pay attention when your mouth is full of dirt," she retorted with fiery eyes as she readied herself for another, round. It might have been a trick of the light, but he was sure the tip of Talanah's elfin ears had reddened.

"Bring it, elf," he said with a smug smirk.

In the end, he did get his mouth full of dirt just as she promised.

'All for the prospect of getting her heavy with my children.'