Welcome to Gaia! ::

Kromli gestured to the stand, similar to an armor stand that bore a fencing jacket and mask. "Suit up," he said with what he hoped was a warm smile. "Today you're going to put what I've taught you into practice and work on techniques."

"Yeah, just like that," he said. "Now this will be more of a teaching match. I want you to come at me. I'm going to defend with less than my full ability, rather than attack, but I will give you a poke if you leave yourself too open."
Kromli touched his epee to his mask and then brought it swiftly down, giving a fencer's salute.
"Ready when you are," he said.

(Rollin some dice!)

"GAH!" She squeaked in surprise at the first jab.

...And then again at the second.

...And then once more at the third. Well dangit. It was only a matter of time, she supposed. "Okay!", she thought to herself. "No more being sloppy. I will get this to do even if it kills me. Time to step it up!" She slowed down with the attacking, and concentrated more on raising her guard to avoid another poke. Not getting in as many hits, now... but at least there'd be less jabs too.

Kromli watched her second attempt with much more satisfaction. Beneath his mask his lips parted to form a quite crooked grin.
"Very good!" he said, encouragingly, bursting with enthusiasm. "Much, much better."
"Do you see?" he asked, hoping that he wasn't distracting her, too much. "Do you see what you did differently, and think you can keep this up?"

Kromli kept at it, keeping with the training for nearly a half hour longer, until she began to tire.
Seeing this, Kromli no longer waited for her to make a mistake, but brought the match to an end by knocking her epee to the side and scoring a solid (if unusually gentle). He then held up a hand for her to stop and removed his mask.
"You made a lot of progress, today," he said, still smiling, broadly. "Great job." He held out a gloved hand to shake.

Kromli tried with some success to will away the blush that he felt forming.
"Go ahead and take the rest of the day off," he said. "But be ready for a longer match, tomorrow."

Kromli had trained Shanderaa nearly daily, using what he knew and had read about optimal muscle healing, hoping for best results. He wasn't sure if she noticed it, but she was moving much more nimbly in her armor and her body had grown very much accustomed to it. She had also, through some very extensive training sessions, learned to use the rapier like an extension of her arm, keeping a firm enough grip to make powerful thrusts, but also keeping it loose enough to be able to change directions, and make the subtle shifts that are important to a fencer. Shifting into her stance looked nearly as accurate as walking now... But there was still more to teach her.
He stood, having arrived early as was his wont, bundled against the chill, which was always colder on this hill, rubbing his hands together, awaiting the warming physical activity.