When Flitz saw the sleeping girl, he made a sign to Kyon to stop and pointed to one of the dummies, a sly grin creeping over his face:

«Hide behind it.» - He picked up another punching bag, sneaked up behind the girl and gently woke her up.

The girl opened her eyes, still looking drowsy. A terrifying blurry silhouette loomed over her. It had a mouth fixed with the mattress seam, a chipped nose, one eye hanging by a thin thread...

«The bill comes due! Here comes a reckoning!» - A harsh, inhuman voice growled.

Juno did a backward roll, flexible like a cat, and kicked the troublemaker in the head. She landed gracefully, taking a defensive stance.

«Huh? A dummy?»

«I thought I’d scare you! What the wrong with the girl… She not a kid anymore…» - There was resentment as well as pride in Flitz’s voice.

The girl clenched her fists tight:

«Are you completely bonkers, old fart?!» - She jumped on him.

«Ouch. Stop it! I was just kidding!» - Flitz playfully fought off the girl’s attack, visibly enjoying their “fight.” - «Alright. Chill out! I have a present for you…»

Immediately, Juno stopped trying to punch Flitz straight in the nose and eagerly asked:

«What is it? Something tasty?»

Flitz theatrically waved his hand:

«It’s a new slave. He is going to be tougher than the others!»

The girl’s sweet smile slowly turned into a cunning unkind grin:

«Hmm, a living dummy? That's what I like.» - Her big eyes started searching the training ground: - «Where is he?»

Flitz got down on one knee and put his hands on the girl’s shoulders, giving them a squeeze:

«Juno, the boy has good movement skills. Don’t treat him like the rest. Tell your maids to give him shelter and food. Don’t break your presents on the very first day, please.»

Juno grunted skeptically.

«It's the first time that you’ve spoken for a slave. You know how much I hate boys. They always drool during the fight. In fact, they are nothing but stupid idiots. And the slaves are even worse. If you've brought one of those snivelers, don't expect me to go easy on him.»

Flitz whispered in her ear:

«Calm down. He is devoid of lust for sensual pleasures, unlike the rest of them.»

Juno’s eyes widened in fear, her jaw nearly fell to the floor:

«You... Did you take his thing away? You…»

Flitz threw up his hands indignantly:

«Is that what you think of me? I'm not that heartless, Juno!»

«Who knows?» - giggled the girl. – «So, what’s the catch? Did you find someone who prefers boys?…» - She wrinkled her little nose, which made her look even cuter.

Flitz heaved a sigh and shook his head with a smile:

«He doesn't like anyone. To be more precise... Well, he’s been injected evilball. So he is neither a boy nor a girl. Besides, if you ever need something, all you have to do is give him an order. He is under a subjugating formation. By the way, he can dance very well. I highly recommend to checking it out. I did!»

Juno defiantly crossed her arms over her chest and grunted:

«Thank you, I'm not interested in dancing slaves…» - She looked around impatiently again: - «Where's your asexual gift?»

Flitz smiled and clapped his hands:

«Come out, Kyon!»

Kyon had been eavesdropping all the time behind a dummy. He had enough time to appreciate the girl’s melodious voice. He would give anything to hear her sing him a love song. That’s a good sign. His master once told him the voice is the mirror of the soul. However, his wife was a smoker and had a low manlike voice, which suggested some conclusions. At least, no one was surprised to find out that the master had three lovers from the theatre choir.

In an instant, time seemed to stand still. The young girl embodied all the charm of the world. Her stunning beauty made everything else fade and blur as an unnecessary distraction. The world seemed to shrink to the size of her delicate body. The lovely creature was about the same height as Kyon. Apparently, the universe did its best to create a perfect miracle. She had a small nose, large lovely eyes the color of spring grass, framed by long ravishing eyelashes and thin, graceful eyebrows. Her hair was the color of liquid gold, descending in waves like rays of the sun just below her shoulders. A pair of emerald earrings complemented her eyes, swaying playfully in her neat ears, attracting all eyes to her delicate skin.

The girl was slim, with neat B-cup boobs. Her graceful posture was befitting of a noble lady. Her slender legs had ideal proportions. The miracle of a girl was dressed in a tight training outfit: ballet shoes, black leggings, a tight T-shirt. She was casually wearing a jacket over her shoulders. A simple green bracelet gleamed on her hand. No man could help stroking her hair, caressing her, pressing her to his chest, kissing the top of her head, inhaling her scent. Then he could die in peace with no regrets after seeing the best in the world. A girl like her must be kind, affectionate, gentle.

Kyon had always had a weak spot for everything beautiful. However, no one had ever had such a strong impact on him. He instantly put on an air of reverence with a pinch of admiration. It would be strange if a slave had a different reaction.

Juno looked at the boy with icy disdain. How dared a pathetic thing, not even a human being, look at her in any other but powerless, pitiful, humiliated way? She had to do something about it.

Actually, Kyon looked pretty good in his smart black clothes. He had a pretty face, shaggy black hair, dark brown eyes, athletic-looking body, confident posture. However, in Juno’s eyes, he was nothing but a dummy even if made by a skillful craftsman. He wasn’t worth a damn. She was a noble lady, one click of her fingers and the yard would be crowded with the pretty slaves like him.

A chill ran down Kyon's spine. He had a gut feeling that it was no heaven on earth. He was in a hell of a trap, and there was no way out.

Flitz sat down on the bench, holding a pipe in his teeth, and said briefly:

«Attack him. I'm sure you'll like his skills…»

Juno rolled her eyes skeptically. Nevertheless, she attacked. Her cultivation helped her exceed the average human speed by 1.3 times.

Kyon took an unusual defensive stance, kind of those used in karate. He was ready to prove himself worthy.

Juno reached the boy with a good kick.

Kyon jumped out of the way, dodging her.

The girl was not surprised at all. At the moment of inertia, she swung her other leg in a kind of a pinwheel and stepped gracefully to the ground. Her attack looked impressive. Flitz couldn’t take his eyes off her.

When her kick almost reached the goal, Kyon wriggled past her leg as if jumping over the rope. He could have struck back at once. Juno had recklessly revealed herself with this dashing trick. And yet, he didn’t dare.

Kyon’s moves looked spectacular. Flitz enjoyed the scene, puffing on his pipe: {The boy’s technique is incredible... At the age of 130, I still don't get it how and why he's moving like that. Maybe, I shouldn't have given him to her mercy.}

Juno frowned. In her opinion, the slave’s landing sucked. Still, he took a stable position quite quickly and even could have kicked her in the leg if he wanted to! It just didn’t add up.

«Flitz, do you know for sure that he can't use the elements?»

The slave wasn’t moving too fast, but there was something unusual about him.

Flitz smiled:

«He can’t use them at all. He moves well, though. lost to him, moving at his speed. Ha-ha-he!»

«Are you kidding me?» - Juno stopped for a moment, just for the pleasure of giving the old man a puzzled look.

«I mean it. He is an ordinary boy at the 2nd stage. Can’t you feel that there are no energy vibrations? Don't be ridiculous. If you think he isn’t strong enough for you, let him master the basics of the elements… Maybe, he will learn to move even better.»

Juno’s nose twitched with irritation. She looked like a cute rabbit whose favorite carrot was taken away.

«I won't let him anything.» - She growled.

Kyon frowned, disappointed with her words.

Juno burst out laughing. An inanimate object, at least that’s how she saw him, dared to show discontent! She found it amusing. As if a dusty cupboard that no one needed had suddenly fallen because it felt so out of place.

Juno elegantly shrugged, slightly stretched her back, took another fighting position and attacked. This time her speed was twice as much as average human speed because she started using pure energy.

Kyon was alert. He had already estimated that she had the 3d or 4th level of the battle fist, but with her advantage in speed, even a loser could hit the target.

When Juno was in the menacing proximity, her small fists didn’t seem so harmless anymore. They hit Kyon’s chest swiftly like meteors.

Kyon began to dodge, mostly retreating. He knew the most effective ways of fighting: dodging – maintaining the balance, the momentum, the inertia – vulnerable points, pressure points, points that disrupt the balance, points that take a punch – ricochets, effective blocks, and much more.

In his understanding, ten percent of speed could stand for each missing level of the battle fist, which allowed them to fight as equals. Increasing the speed by 10%, he could stay on equal terms if the opponent had the 9th level of the battle fist. He would need to increase the speed by 50% against five battle fists, and by 90% against one battle fist. A simple line chart could explain it all.

What did “equal terms” mean? He could give the opponent an equal liver punch. Was Kyon allowed to beat the lady? Highly doubtful. Besides, Juno’s 100% advantage in speed and her 3d level of the battle fist went beyond the concept of “equal opponents.” In simple terms, Kyon was placed at an unfair disadvantage, and he had no idea what to do next. The only thing that kept him from getting depressed against the existential crisis caused by his helplessness (temporary!) was believing that the cutie (even if they had a rough start) couldn’t possibly be too violent. A couple of punches and he would be forgiven.

The prospects he had made up for himself kept his morale high. Kyon smiled and sighed dreamily.

When Juno saw the relaxed expression on his face, she went wild. Her eyes sparkled with green lights. Her eyebrows changed their angle from “I am an innocent child” to “die, please!”

Her movements had drastically changed. The defense component had completely disappeared as if her only goal was to punch the boy in the face as painfully as could be, harm him as much as possible. She did not care that she was open to his counterattacks. Come, what may! God help this slave if he ever laid his hands on her.

After a few seconds of the storm of blows, a small and seemingly harmless fist hit Kyon straight in the chest.

* bang *

{What the...?!}