<span style="font-family:Assistant">"A fine gift." To most it would be a sober compliment, not even a compliment to some, but the people who knew Cassia would know that at least the smallest compliment was worthy of gold. Her emerald green orbs eyed the slave up and down. He was young, but he already possessed a slight muscular figure. His dark hair, along with the cautious look in his eyes, however, was what caught her interest. The combination of a tad of darkness, along with a whiff of mystery and a flash of caution, was exactly what caused the older blonde to tilt her head in brief curiosity. Aelius, they had called him. Aelius, who was mere a slave right now, would become the woman's first project. She had trained body slaves before, possessed them even. A gladiator was something entirely new to her, and it made her wonder if her very own technique would be wise to use. The last thing she wanted, was for a man like him to grow dominant over her. This would become fascinating. A challenge, even.<br/>
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"Has he been trained yet?" Ignoring the watchful eyes of her husband, she took a casual step closer towards the new gladiator, closing the mere distance between them. His skin was covered in dirt, and she could tell that his hair looked darker simply due to the sweat, blood and other things that had managed to get stuck in it. Even his scent caused Cassia to pull her eyebrows into a bit of a frown. It was something she was not used to, especially because she usually did not set a single foot upon the ludus' grounds. Her own slaves were to be clean and tidy, their bodies washed and their hair brushed. Diona, her favourite, was even dressed in clothing that were made out of good materials. They could not be compared to the rags that the gladiators were supposed to wear outside of the arena. A soft sound out of disapproval rolled over her lips. <br/>
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Doctore did not appear to be surprised by Cassia's behaviour. "He has been here for a couple of weeks, Domina. His training has only started recently." A brief pause followed, and he bowed his head as soon as the blonde laid eyes upon him. <br/>
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"I wish to see him practise." Her glance moved back to the face of Aelius, and she could hear how her husband moved closer to her. He wrapped one of his arms around her waist, tugging slightly at her body, and she knew that Maximus did not want her to make such requests already. Not when he was still around, and when he obviously knew better. Perhaps that was exactly why she decided to tilt her chin upwards - and ignore his gesture. Her eyes found those of the gladiator. "Impress me, but be wise. Choose your opponent." </span>