“Hey Luca?” Said the captain in a quiet voice. She was still wearing the same armor as that morning when they first met. “Sorry for the commander back there; I wanted to ask the director to be discreet about it, but it feels like she didn’t get the message.”

  “I-It's fine. Don’t worry about it, captain.” They walked up the main stairs of the building in order to get to the second floor.

  As she led Luca to an undisclosed location, he stole peeks at her bottom that presented before him as they went up the stairs; though an older woman, the captain had a very defined body, obtained through years of fighting and training; she had a slight sway to her hips as they made their way onto the second floor, and Luca felt the warmth rise to his chest.

  “Did you hear me, Luca?” Her voice made Luca realize he wasn’t listening, so he straightened his posture to focus on her words.

  "Sorry, m-ma’am, I-I was distracted, um… w-what were you saying?” Luca knew he had been feeling more aroused since getting out of the environment he had been in all his life, but it was getting to a point it really shouldn’t get to, the point of distracting him. He’d have to 'release some pressure’ when he had the chance, hopefully sooner than ter.

  “Huhu, no matter; I was just asking how your first day had been going.” Long was what Luca wanted to say.

  “Challenging.” For some reason he felt like he could be at least a little honest with her, just a little. “I really hope I can get a rest soon though.” He admitted sheepishly.

  “Well, you can rest if you want, but that’ll be after the training.” She then turned in the opposite direction of where he and Alyska went that day.

  “... Yes ma’am.”

  Finally walking into the pce, Luca found himself in a long room with wooden walls and a soft and padded, almost bed-like floor. Against the walls were weapon racks like the ones on the training grounds, but these weapons were made of wood, filled with blunt swords and spears with a ball on the top.

  “Well.” Said the captain as she turned around. “Pick a weapon; today we’ll see exactly what you are good at and what you are bad at.” She talked in a serene tone, like a patient teacher who really believes you can solve the problem you have been assigned.

  “Um.” Luca hadn’t picked up a weapon in his life. But he had pyed as people had, and before realizing it, he was already walking towards a weapon. He gripped the handle and pulled it off the stand, feeling it in his hand.

  “Short sword, pin and simple, a good choice for a rookie.” She then walked up and, getting very close to him, leaned over and grabbed the next sword on the stand, an exact replica of his. “May I ask why?”

  "Oh, uh, Victor the undefeated used one.” Luca shrugged. “His stories have always been my favorites.”

  “Walk over there.” She said as she pointed to a point on the soft floor. “‘The undefeated’ stories are your favorites? Aren’t they more of fables?” Luca did as he was told while tossing the sword from one hand to the other.

  “I don’t know; he always seemed like the coolest, you know? He was just a guy, but not even two dragons could defeat him.” Suddenly he heard a snap of fingers right on his ear, and the sword dropped to the ground.

  “Stop pying and grip your sword.” Said the captain with a stern voice. He had spaced out a bit, so he leaned and grabbed it again. “But didn’t those dragons fight each other?” She took a step back and seemed to almost eye him up and down.

  “Well yeah, but he talked them into fighting each other.” Luca smiled. “It’s not always the strong one that wins.”

  “Heh, fair enough. Still though, very much a fable.” She smiled at Luca’s enjoyment of a simple children's story and finally stood straight, using the training sword as a support in front of her. “Enough of that, however. Assume a fighting stance.”

  The rookie opened his eyes wide; his mind was bnk. He looked down at his body and thought for a second. Luca then positioned his body like he had seen all the violent drunk people do before they started fighting someone (the ones who won at least), and he put one foot in front and the other a bit in the back. Then, instead of raising his fists, he gripped the sword with two hands and presented it forward. After a few seconds of silence, he side-eyed the captain, nervous in case he was missing something.

  “L-Like this?” The captain remained silent, and Luca swallowed his spit, trying to keep his cool.

  “Okay, here, let me show you.” She stopped supporting herself on the sword and walked towards him, actually dropping the sword in the process. Luca thought she was going to stop, but when she spped one of his hands to get it off the handle, he was shocked to see she was now pressing against his back, mimicking his pose, with not but an inch in between them. “Move your leg a bit forward.” She put both hands on his hips and slowly pushed forward his leg with hers; Luca moved it as she showed. “Good, now get your other leg closer to your center; it’s too far away.” She withdrew her leg and pressed her hand gently on his thigh to pull it towards her. Luca once again followed her moves. Her words were soothing, and her breath was hot against his ear. “Better, now grip your sword harder; it’s getting loose.” He stammered and cleared his throat as he did as he was told. Luca felt the heat build up inside him; her hands were still on his hips, but thankfully she pulled back slightly to admire the form. “That works better. See Luca,” she finally let go of his hips and took a step back. “You are strong, and focusing all your strength on the shortsword is gonna make it weaken; maybe break if the enemy’s defense is strong enough. The shortsword isn’t only about strength, but of a perfect bance of swiftness and strength.” She then grabbed his free arm and secured it in an angle sideways; her hand was armored, like most of her body, but even then Luca felt his heart rate increase as she moved it in pce. “Here you’d wear a shield, or maybe even have another sword! But let’s focus on the basics today, shall we?” She giggled, and Luca tried to imitate her, but his ugh was more awkward; thankfully she didn’t seem to realize.

  “Th-thanks Captain.” He said, putting all his efforts into not crumbling.

  “No problem, oh, one st thing. Since I’m going to be teaching you 1 on 1, you should address me as such.” She picked up the sword and positioned herself in front of Luca, bumping his sword and assimiting the exact same stance he had.

  “Sure. So like, teacher? Teach?”

  “Hehe, not quite; you’ll have other teachers. Something more... formal.”

  “Oh. Tutor?” Answered Luca, controlling his breathing. She ughed at his genuineness. Luca’s first impression of the captain was of a rough and powerful (and weirdly friendly) warrior of Zenith, but when she ughed, he just saw a pretty woman in front of her, and surprising Luca, the fact that this beautiful dy was around the age of his mother, wasn’t exactly bothering him at the moment. But he shook his head; he needed to concentrate, he couldn’t let the thoughts cloud his mind.

  “Not quite. I was thinking more of ‘Master’.” Oh boy.

  “A- Ahaha… S-Sure, wouldn’t it be mistress though?” He answered, somehow sweating even before the training.

  “I prefer master; I like the ring more.” She decred smiling, though when Luca nodded, her smile grew even more genuine; she then cleared her throat and focused once again. “Now then, my pupil, prepare for your first training.”

  Luca took a deep breath. He felt his feet on the padded floor and tightened the grip on his wooden sword. He didn’t know exactly why he was apparently so obsessed with romance and sex, but he wouldn’t let it distract him now. Now more than ever, on his first (pretend) fight, he’d put 100% of his abilities to it. Luca looked at his new master in the eyes and, full of determination, nodded, agreeing to beginning the training, his thoughts clear, and his objective of fixing his ‘ailment’, would have to wait just a little more; now was time to fight.

  Time: 17:15