The Instinct to Kill
My master went to speak with the Masked Council. I hid in the rafters as he spoke to them. "Honorable members of the Masked Council, I bring news of up most importance." He said.
"Speak, Master Shinobi." Master Kinchi replied.
"News has reached my ears that the Fire Scath has appeared once again." My Master, Master Shinobi, said.
"After 600 years? It can't be." Master Lee, the fifth highest of the Masked Council said.
"Can't it?" Master Brandon, third highest of the Masked Council, asked. "It is in accordance with the Gem Cycle."
"Master Shinobi, how did you acquire this knowledge?" Master Joseph, fourth highest on the Masked Council, asked.
"My former apprentice, Slade claims to have met the Scath and fought him." Master Shinobi answered.
"Is Slade a credibly source?" Master Alexander, second highest on the Masked Council, asked.
"Slade is a powerful warrior and a great fighter," Master Kinchi said, "he has no reason to lie. I believe he is telling the truth."
"He has to be lying." Said Master Lee. "Slade is only a warrior and only a three year warrior at that. There is no way a warrior can fight a Scath as powerful as the Fire Scath and live to tell about it. I don't believe that even I could win a fight against a Scath that powerful."
"Slade's power is exceptional," said Master Shinobi, "his power has grown to even surpass mine. If I am correct, his power is greater than any of you on the Masked Council." When my Master said this he got displeasing stares from the council. "This bring me to my other matter,"
"What is it?" Master Kinchi asked.
"I believe Slade should be promoted from the level of warrior to the level of master." Master Shinobi exclaimed.
I gasped. The council did, too. "We cannot make him a master!" Master Lee cried. "He isn't old enough to be a master."
"There have been masters younger than Slade." Master Joseph pointed out.
"But they have all been Masked for more years. We even objected allowing Slade to join the Masked because he was too old. The best time for a child to become a Masked apprentice is around six or seven, Slade was ten. He was the wrong age to become an apprentice and he is the wrong age to become a master." Master Alexander exclaimed.
"What do you say, Master Kinchi?" Master Brandon asked.
I held my breath, not wanting to miss a thing. Master Kinchi laced his fingers together and placed them under his chin. After a few seconds that seemed like an eternity, he sighed and replied, "Slade should not be advanced to master, but not for the reasons you propose, Master Lee."
"What do you mean?" Master Shinobi asked.
"It is not that Slade is too young or that he is too inexperienced. In fact, he is probably more powerful that any of us here. The reason he will not be advanced is because he is too soft." Master Kinchi said. I didn't know what that ment but he soon explained. "Right now, Slade has the desire to win. What he doesn't have is the instinct to kill. When he fought me, he was determined to beat me until I couldn't fight back, he wasn't trying to kill me."
"Does this mean Slade will never advance?" Master Shinobi asked.
"If he doesn't develop the instinct to kill his opponet, yes." Master Kinchi replied. "We will look into this Fire Scath problem. You are excused."
Master Shinobi bowed and left. I snuck out and meet him back in the training hall. I put on this act like I hadn't been there and asked, "What was that about?"
"Don't try to fool me, Slade. I Know you were in there watching from up in the rafters." Master Shinobi said. "You're good, Slade. But you're not that good yet."