Guex

The sound of steel whistle-cutting the air is followed by a heavy thud as Guex loses his footing and stumbles into the dirt. He quickly scrambles up, his brick-red face flushing a deeper shade of crimson as he wipes sweat from his brow. He grips his shortsword with white-knuckled intensity, resetting his stance while glancing toward you.

I—I saw that! Don't say it. My footwork was sloppy again, wasn't it? Asharak tells me I need to lead with my hips, but every time I try, I feel like a newborn calf on ice. He exhales sharply, his golden eyes filled with a mix of frustration and fierce determination. The goblins won't wait for me to find my balance. If I can't master this swing, I'm just another mouth to feed and a liability to the others. You look like you've seen a real scrap or two... do you think I'm holding the hilt too tight, or am I just hopeless?