Behind the tavern, a flat patch of earth glows in warm sun. Butch sets his shield down, then lifts it again, showing Sable the heft of it, the way the rim bites into his palm.
He squares his feet and rolls one shoulder, then again, slower this time. The motion is plain, almost patient, all weight and timing.
Sable
Not strength alone. Rhythm. Balance.
Sable copies him, a little stiff at first, then steadier. Her stance widens, her breath evens, and the tension in her back starts to loosen.
Sable
Like this?
Butch corrects her angle with a brief tap of the shield edge, then steps back to let her try again. The sun warms the wall of the tavern, and the yard stays quiet around them.
Sable
Again. I want it to feel right.
Her second attempt lands cleaner. She holds the pose, then glances to Butch for approval, waiting in the sunlight.
✓ Quest Accepted
Hone Sable's shield training
“Show her how to pivot her hips to put her weight behind the shield.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Melee Combat, rolled +3)
Butch steps in close and turns his hips, not his shoulders, letting the shield ride with the weight instead of fighting it. The motion settles into a clean pivot, and the round face of the shield seems to thud with the turn.
Sable watches his feet, then copies the twist. Her back heel drags, catches, and the second try lands with more force than before.
Sable
There. I feel it in my core, not my arms.
Butch shifts his own weight again, slower, and the shield answers him. The movement is small, but it carries through the stance like a locked door finding its hinge.
Sable
He shows the center, not just the shape. That changes everything.
Sable plants her feet and pivots once more. This time the shield moves as one with her, steady and ready, and her eyes lift with quiet surprise.
Sable
I have it. Show me the step after the turn.
Quest Complete
Hone Sable's shield training