Heart of an Assassin
The samurai stares at you, and then slowly opens the door again, a wry smile on his face. "You're very spirited," he says in a low voice. "But I think you'll find that *you* are the one who won't be able to keep up with *me*."
You toss your head, though are inwardly pleased with his reaction to your words. At least he seems to be willing to listen to you.
"Why do you want me to take you on as my pupil?" the samurai asks.
"My family has just been killed by an assassin," you explain. "I want vengeance for them."
The samurai looks at you steadily for a long moment. Then, he turns round, and walks into the hut, calling back over his shoulder, "Come in."
After a moment's hesitation, you follow the samurai into his hut.
The interior of the hut is quite well-lit, and the floor is soft under your feet. Tapestries hang off the walls, and there are a couple of small windows in the far wall.
The samurai runs a finger along one of the tapestries as he speaks, "I once swore that I would never take on another student."
"I *want* to become a samurai," you insist. "The assassin does not deserve to live after what he has done to tear my life apart!"
The samurai gives you a sharp look. "You know who the assassin is?" he asks.
"Not by name," you respond. "But I have seen him. He has a scar running down his cheek..."
You could swear that you saw the samurai jerk slightly at your words, but decide that it must have been your imagination when he shows no other reaction.
"All right, I will take you as my pupil," the samurai says, not looking at you. "Though I warn you that it will be extremely difficult. You could get seriously hurt during training."
What do you want to do?
You toss your head, though are inwardly pleased with his reaction to your words. At least he seems to be willing to listen to you.
"Why do you want me to take you on as my pupil?" the samurai asks.
"My family has just been killed by an assassin," you explain. "I want vengeance for them."
The samurai looks at you steadily for a long moment. Then, he turns round, and walks into the hut, calling back over his shoulder, "Come in."
After a moment's hesitation, you follow the samurai into his hut.
The interior of the hut is quite well-lit, and the floor is soft under your feet. Tapestries hang off the walls, and there are a couple of small windows in the far wall.
The samurai runs a finger along one of the tapestries as he speaks, "I once swore that I would never take on another student."
"I *want* to become a samurai," you insist. "The assassin does not deserve to live after what he has done to tear my life apart!"
The samurai gives you a sharp look. "You know who the assassin is?" he asks.
"Not by name," you respond. "But I have seen him. He has a scar running down his cheek..."
You could swear that you saw the samurai jerk slightly at your words, but decide that it must have been your imagination when he shows no other reaction.
"All right, I will take you as my pupil," the samurai says, not looking at you. "Though I warn you that it will be extremely difficult. You could get seriously hurt during training."
What do you want to do?