Chapter 41

Jean proved himself to be a true professional of his craft during the wind bending practice with the sweetest creation. But there was a “but.” He was constantly trying to touch, hug, smell the girl. It would be no sin to cut off his balls for this perversion, but Jean’s talent to escape notice sincerely amazed Kyon.

By virtue of his position, Jean had long noticed that all noble ladies smelled nice, but this young lady’s scent was outstanding. A glass of booze an hour before the training had become his good tradition. It helped to keep it cool, but he found it harder and harder to keep it together with every passing day. Well, Yurich’s daughter was a beauty, no doubt about that. After Elsa escaped, she became a symbol of the family for a reason. Everyone had heard of her charm.

«That’s right. Good girl! Very good! And can you do this?» – He kept praising lady Juno. There were purring overtones in his voice. Jean was immensely pleased, and Juno’s success was not the only reason.

Jean understood that Juno was way out of his league, but he was quite content with their indirect contact. Her smell, grace, cute face… Watching her slender flexible body… He was having the time of his life. Later at night, he would empty the tension accumulated during the day. Luckily, the moons, the only witnesses to his weakness, were not inclined to reveal the secrets of those who trusted the cover of the night.

About five minutes later, Juno broke off the battle and wiped the sweat off her forehead.

«Маster Jean, I am out of energy…»

But her master was “unrelenting”:

«Just a little more, and we’ll call it a day!»

Another minute and Juno lost her speed, her attacks became equivalent to the fragility of her delicate body.

Another moment, and she lost her balance, her nose inches from the master’s chest. The latter, taking advantage of her weakness, held her tight and got away with it. It was the boost he needed for a couple of days.

Kyon snorted with contempt. {Sick bastard… However, this little bitch totally deserves her master.} Juno was completely unaware of Jean’s motives. Was it naiveté, or simple stupidity? It had to be sorted out.

Jean paid her another smarmy compliment:

«Excellent! I admire you, my lady. Take a rest. We’ll resume our practice in two hours.»

Juno nodded.

«Yes, master!»

Kyon observed that Juno had an excellent upbringing, judging by the respect she paid to her master, even if he was below her status. Look up to your teacher, that sort of thing. Traditions and customs of patriarchal families were highly appreciated there. {What the deuce did you swear like a fishwife when taking to Flitz?}

Juno left the training ground and went to the mansion. Her master straightened his uniform and decided to take a walk in the park, whistling something under his nose.

Kyon slipped out of his hiding place and followed the master in the shadows. It was time for his perfect plan. He caught up with Jean and said respectfully:

«Great master Jean. Tell me, please. What is your rank in the family?»

The master glanced at the slave with contempt, lingering at his bruised face, and waved him like an annoying fly.

«Stay away from me, scum.»

Кyon was taken aback and lagged behind the master. The little people were not welcome here. It was like in the Middle Ages, the noblemen looked down on their servants.

Kyon bit the bullet and caught up with the master again.

Jean turned quickly and was about to punch the insolent slave in the nose but then he stopped short, rooted to the spot.

Kyon bowed his head, holding a piece of snow-white cloth, spotted with bloodstains.

«Sir, this handkerchief belongs to my lady. I am giving it to you so that you could give it back to her and prove yourself a true gentleman.»

Jean snatched the handkerchief, turned away, and pressed it to his face, smelling it noisily. His whole body shivered with excitement, delight, happiness… He was in seventh heaven, giving himself up to the turbulent emotions of his heart.

Once Kyon wondered what’s the point in smelling dirty underwear. Science gave him an intelligible, straightforward answer. Sex pheromones, chemical cues that signal sexual status, were produced mainly in the armpits and groin.

What were they for from an evolutionary point of view?

– You get more looks and smiles from the people you know, as well as complete strangers.

– Everyone says you are the hot one.

– Love experience is way more passionate.

– The opposite sex is constantly attracted to you.

Kyon found out that it was better not to shower 3 hours before going on a date to maintain the concentration of pheromones. The smell of stinking sweat won’t have time to develop in such a short period of time.

Pheromones are odorless. They reach the vomeronasal organ in the nose, take hold there, and evoke different feelings: from affection and passion to love and blind worship.

The pheromones get absorbed into clothes, and some people can get pleasure sniffing them. In a sense, Kyon understood Jean’s maniacal desire to smell Juno’s things.

The master hastily hid his treasure in the pocket like a thief. When he heard a tsking sound from Kyon, he turned around and said with almost no disdain in his voice:

«I like boys like you… Your name is Kyon, right?»

Kyon nearly collapsed at his words. Jean liked the boys like him, sure thing. However, he bowed his head respectfully, pulling a sweet smile on his face:

«Yes, sir. May I ask you something? Is there anything I can do for you to get the basic grade of pure energy.» – Kyon decided to take the bull by the horns. He couldn’t miss the moment of good nature this master of hypocrisy deigned him. As he understood, pure energy was the most simple yet most significant element.

Kyon’s words perplexed Jean for a moment and then outraged him: how dared this scum ask him for the basics of pure energy! It was a great sin and humiliation for any master to give anything concerning cultivation to anyone but his own students!

He wanted to send this “obliging dog” to hell, but there was something in his words that made him stop…

«What do you mean by anything?»

Kyon answered immediately:

«I can do anything for you… I often come into contact with my lady, which you can easily tell by my face…» – He chuckled softly. – «Sometimes I am allowed moments of free time, even if only for a short while… I can get you any of her belongings in exchange for the basics of pure energy.»

Jean’s eyes bulged out. He grabbed the slave by the neck, shook him roughly, and hissed in his ear:

«Trying to get killed, scum?! What are you up to?»

Kyon exhaled and mumbled miserably, faking fear on his face:

«Master Jean, my lady beats me severely. I can’t stand it anymore… Once I asked her to give me the basic grades, but she turned me down flat! I beg you, give me the basics. I will give the world for them! Without them, I will die…» – Kyon’s acting skills were god-level: trembling chin, raised eyebrows. He seemed to be on the brink of tears…

Jean gasped: the boy was serious! It was no joke! He looked cautiously around, put Kyon on the ground, and straightened his collar. Then he whispered:

«Can you really get me something that belongs to lady Juno?»

The master was a different man now. The irritated, contemptuous, scathing hater of slaves was in business.

Kyon nodded weakly, a single tear rolling down his cheek.

Jean scratched his chin thoughtfully, ran his fingers through the hair, swung heel to toe, portraying the mental process. Could he give away the basics of pure energy to this miserable slave? It would hurt his pride. On the other hand, his pride had long been wringing in torments of hell since he had a crush on his student! Banal lust had long taken the place of his pride.

It was the lust that gave him one final push. Jean had absolutely no fear that the boy would tell anyone about this conversation. No one would ever believe a slave.

Jean bent over Kyon and said quietly:

«The basic grade of elements costs an arm and a leg, but I will exchange it for an item of lady Juno’s clothing.» – He hastily added to conceal his dirty secret: – «Actually, it’s not about lady Juno’s clothes. The point is to check if you’re worthy of the sacred knowledge! Any noble master will let you grow if you’re motivated enough. I don’t care where you stand, all that matters is what’s inside you» – His straight finger hit Kyon’s heart area.

Kyon was about to throw up, but he managed to keep a straight face.

«Yes, sir. I’ll do my best to complete the mission until tomorrow!»

Jean snorted and patted him on the shoulder:

«Fingers crossed. Above all, never give up… The energy is worth mountains of gold! Laugh in the face of danger, and you will be rewarded. You know, I was just like you… And now what I’ve become, hehe!» – He was about to stroke his nonexistent beard, playing in the part of a wise old man.

Kyon was at the end of his contempt. He bowed, squeezed a smile, and asked:

«I am willing to give my life to get the basic grades! I don’t have much choice, anyway… Can you tell me more about the basics, please?»

Jean frowned but nodded. He wanted to keep his image as a master for any worthy student.

Kyon learned a lot from his words.

What is power? There are who-knows-how-many phases of soul evolution. With each next phase, you acquire ten times more elemental energy and a way more powerful body. Strength and talent are always a priority in assessing social status. Wealth, authority, beauty, intelligence, rank are also important, sometimes essential criteria, but power is the most reliable, illustrative indicator.

Each phase has ​​ten stages. However, numbers are not in use. When referring to one’s position, they say, for example: “This gentleman is at the beginning stage of the base phase,” “That lady is at the middle stage of the second phase,” “This young man is at the finishing stage of the superior phase,” “That young lady is a noble phaser at the peak stage (4).”

Every three stages, the name changes: “at the beginning/middle/finishing stage” and the 10th stage is always referred to as “the peak stage.”

Jean mentioned that each of the nine elements had specific grades: basic, advanced, superior. For example, the basic (1) grade of the wind, the advanced (2) grade of the fire, the superior (3) grade of the ether. The exception is the principal, the lightest, and most crucial element of energy, which went under different names, from spiritual power to pure energy. Its key is situated in the navel.

The thing is that pure energy had only one basic (1) grade and nothing else. That’s what Kyon wanted to master first.

He had already set his heart on being an all-embracing elemental wizard when Jean added that a student could acquire only a few elements, depending on their talent.

Mastering one element is for mediocrity, for pathetic practitioners who existed to be defeated, for doormats to be used by more powerful masters. They had a low cultivation limit. No one would ever pin any hopes on them. In almost one hundred percent, they chose pure energy as their first element because it was the simplest, most multifunctional, fundamental element for any formation, attack, defense, movement technique, military equipment, etc.

More confident practitioners would choose to master two elements to reach certain heights. They were appreciated in any family. They made valuable tactical warriors who could make their attacks more specific due to the additional element. They were not highly respectable, but some of them were talented enough to reach certain limited heights.

Mastering three elements was a rare occasion. These students were destined to become respectable people. Their cultivation level was way higher. They were bound to get a high position and become respected formasists or no less respected alchemists (medicine creators). They may become unsurpassed warriors, commanders in chief, or someone more important. Three element benders were the central part of any family, or they were quickly adopted if they had none. Famous masters took them as students. Rich people were happy to marry off their daughters to them, even happier to marry off their sons. Juno had mastered 3 elements.

Four elements were for a genius who would be cherished and encouraged all the way. Elders were honored to adopt them. Great masters took them as students, girls were crazy about such guys, and guys would kill for such girls. A four-element bender could shake the whole empire, be number one.

Five elements were for heaven geniuses. Few people believed they existed. Even gods were against their existence. They had to take too much luck from heaven so that the lightning of justice wouldn’t kill them. It was officially confirmed that only the empress had acquired five elements, and it was no myth. She was respected, honored, and worshiped for this. The empress was a truly legendary person who deserved her title of a blood-drenched sovereign.

The more elements a practitioner could bend, the faster they evolved, the purer were their keys, the greater was their fate.

At Kyon’s reasonable question – «Is there any sense in grades above the basic one?» – Jean pulled a face that expressed his contempt for stupid slaves. He replied, however, that the basic grade gave only primary skills of element bending. The advanced grade enhanced the element and the skills for its bending. It allowed practicing some complex techniques. It took a whole life of practice to acquire the superior grade. Those who had it could create a powerful technique that would make all enemies drop dead just by saying its name. The phase of ​​cultivation didn’t matter much. The practitioner could be a base phaser and have all three grades at once. It all came down to talent.

{So, the higher the grade, the more powerful the element, and more ways to apply it.} – Kyon nodded to his thoughts.

Jean added that the efficiency of mastering the basics, the rate of understanding, and the limit of comprehension depended on innate talent, race, kin, or mental abilities. Everything as usual. Rich families rule the world.

After the story, Jean wanted to continue with his walk, but Kyon asked him one more question. The master was about to strangle the stubborn slave, but he stepped on his pride instead and answered.

Using different techniques was much more effective than exploiting elements. A simple stream of fire is nothing compared to a powerful fiery arrow. The difference in power can be enormous at the same cost of energy.

At first, Kyon thought it violated the law of conservation of energy, but then he realized it didn’t. Any technique or release of the elements is limited from the outside. The fewer the chains (limitations), the closer the energy to its real power. Higher grades of elements and skillful techniques can remove the limitations. A more powerful technique requires a higher grade, so it’s interdependent.

Jean added that a technique could combine several elements at once. For example, powerful ice techniques combined “water + cold.” However, it would take time to master the technique, even with the basics of water and cold.

The higher the grade, the easier and faster the way to master the technique, the more powerful it gets.

Jean explained that as soon as the technique was acquired, there was a characteristic click in the soul as if reaching enlightenment. After that, it could be used easily enough, almost automatically.

{As if “the program code” of the technique gets engraved in the soul.} – Kyon liked this interpretation.

To put it simply, higher grades of elements made life easier, made the practitioner stronger, allowed them to master different techniques quickly, and enhanced those techniques.

Kyon rubbed his hands with glee. He licked his chops at the thought of getting the basics of pure energy. There was only one problem. Where could he get an item of Juno’s clothing?