After a quick stop off to check on Reina, I ventured back down the aisle looking for a place that sold shields. Surprisingly, it wasn’t next to the armorers like I thought it would be, but further down the other way, closer to the mages.

The trainer was a short, stocky woman with wide shoulders and an even wider middle. Her added weight gave her enormous breasts that spilled out of her low cut medieval dress. She had plenty of meat on her bones, and I knew a couple men who would love that.

“Well, hello there, traveller, I’m Boudica. What brings you to my tent? Looking to get trained in shields?”

She had a maternal sing song voice that reminded me of happier days. While she wasn’t exactly my type, I could see someone wistfully wanting to be with her, all motherly and caring.

She grabbed her two massive breasts through her dress and hefted them up in front of her face. “These aren’t gonna do much good against a horde of stampeding orcs, are they?” She let them drop back down to her chest and let out a peal of laughter as she slapped me on the shoulder.

“Now, before I can train you, I need you to do something for me.” She pointed across the way. “You see my daughter over there? Little blue dress?”

I squinted, I saw a small child wielding a rather large bow. She wore a blue and white polka-dot dress and her golden hair sparkled in the sunlight. She couldn’t be more than ten and was clear on the other side of the garrison.

I pointed. “Her?”

Boudica stuck two fingers in her mouth and blew a whistle so loud it shook the tent walls.

Wwwwwwoooooooo!

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

She then turned, grabbed a buckler from a stack against the wall and tossed it to me. “Don’t get hit.”

Shields:

Boudica, the Shield Queen, tasked you to avoid getting hit by her daughter’s arrows. Get that arm up!.

Reward: 100 XP. Skill Increase: Shields Level 1! Reputation with the Territory Garrison increased by 100.

I stared at the small buckler in my hands as a small sound whistled to my left and an arrow slammed into my side. Pain lanced up my torso and down my leg.

“Ow!”

Boudica cackled with laughter. “I told you to not get hit! Now get that shield up and block those arrows!”

The next arrow sailed at me just as I turned around, catching me in the right shoulder and sending me sprawling back.

“Medic! We’re gonna need a medic over here!”

I struggled to my feet as a slender woman with long brown hair and a satin gown came around the corner from the next tent and healed me with a spell.

I got to my feet just as the next arrow came at me and barely got the buckler up to block the shot. I yanked the two arrows out of me as I kept eyes on the little girl in the distance. The same woman healed me again, stitching up my wounds.

Before long, I’d gotten the hang of it. Watch the arc, keep the buckler at the ready, anticipate the blow, and absorb it with your body rather than just your arm.

Completed: Shields!

Gained 100 XP! Reputation with the Eastern Garrison increased by 100.

Skill Increase: Shields Level 1!

As you learn to concentrate, anticipate, and react properly, you grow to understand shields better with each use. You receive +5% to block and will continue to gain more skill as you use your shield more.

“Yay!” Reina came from nowhere to my side, clapping her hands and giving me a big hug. “I’m so proud of you, Yazen.”

I basked in the glory for a moment enjoying her form pressed up against me, but knew I was far from done on my training. Time to move on. I nodded to Boudica. “Thank you very much for the training.”

I picked up Reina in my arms, getting a squeal of delight from her, and strode out of the tent.