Snippet #1280466

Shadow's smile returned as his eyes disappeared under his bangs when he tilted his head down.

"..."

Shadow couldn't help but laugh, though he did so quietly to himself.

"I must admit to you Matt... I was setting you up with that question..."

His laughter died away, but his head stayed down.

"You think you actually killed an Assassin?" He asked quite angrily.

His eyes came back into view as he raised his head, and the look in his eyes was menacing to most, and even Kain took a step back. His voice was low, but audible as he slowly began approaching the building Matt was on.

"You killed a scout my dear thief. Assassins of Teisei don't waste their time on thieves like you, as they are too busy training or performing tasks of importance, and killing a common thief is not his on the priority list of Assassins. I should know. Do you think you honestly received the training of an Assassin while you were in Teisei? Little fool! Takai told me about you not long before I eliminated him, and I know for a fact that he trained you to do nothing more than what you do best, pick pockets. His plan for you was to use you to steal documents that I am now in possession of, but now that he's dead, you needn't worry about them unless you think you have what it takes to relieve me of them. Your training in Teisei was overseen by an average instructor who taught you the basics of our ways, but nothing that would put you on the level of an Elite."

His smile faded once more.

"You are a fool to think that an Assassin would waste his time on you boy. You're lucky that you aren't worth anything to Konjou, the man in charge of Teisei right now, otherwise, I'd have killed you already. You're what we call a fledgeling, in other words, a raw recruit. Elite Assassins, which are only called upon in cases of emergency or extreme importance, bear light grey cloaks with the Teisei insignia on both the chest and center of the back, with a visible brown belt around their waste, also bearing the mark of the Teisei Assassins. Scouts wear dark grey hooded robes, and are nothing more than fledglings looking to prove their survival skills in the field. Wraiths, all of which were killed off by Kain and myself about six months ago, wear white cloaks with no hood, as they have no need to hide their faces from view. Anyone unlucky enough to see them will be dad before they can even scream a single syllable."

Shadow smiled once again.

"It's nice of you to think so highly of yourself, as your confidence could be a boon to you in life if used properly..."

Shadow's smile turned impish.

"I noticed that you pride yourself on your speed, as you seemed quite happy about not being found out until the squirrel blew your cover on the roof back there by ducking before Kain could see you. Again, your confidence in your speed might indeed save your life someday... However... Your speed is impressive, but unremarkable."

Shadow's smile dropped into a scowl.

"Consider this a warning Matt: This belief that you are a match or a threat for a true Elite Assassin of Teisei is ridiculous and childish. Even Kain is uneasy around Elite Assassins, as one nearly took his life shortly after we first met. In fact, against a large enough group, even I would be overwhelmed by true Elites, and I have been trained all my life to be what I am today: a Master Assassin. If I had so chosen, after I killed Takai, I would now be in command of Teisei. I chose otherwise, and am now hunted as a traitor, but I must admit that I relish in the hunt. Scouts are the only ones who leave Teisei's walls unless the Master Assassin, in this case Konjou, has plans that have need for a different rank, and you, my troublesome little thief, are no cause for alarm to an Elite Assassin. So don't get any ideas that the Assassins view you as a threat by boy. That scout thought you'd be an easy kill, and it proved to be his undoing."

Shadow walked back over to where Kain stood.

"You would do well, my dear young thief, to take things like this more seriously. Looking at the world through arrogant and overconfident eyes is going to get you killed. If not by Teisei, than by someone close when you least expect it... As I had to experience the hard way. Learn from my mistakes Matt. Look at the world through calm and even eyes, not eyes that see only yourself and what you possess, as that will lead to your undoing."