Kian sat at a lab table with test tubes around him. He poured a little bit of some kind of powder into one of the test tubes. He then took that test tube and poured its contents into a lab rat’s water bottle. The rat, which had been deprived of water for a few days scampered out of its tunnel and began sucking on the metal tube. In a split second the rat toppled over dead. Kian’s eyes lit up with excitement.

“Hey men I’ve just discovered the secret formula used to make venom that’s found in certain people!” Six scientists ran over to Kian’s table. The head scientist picked up the test tube of homemade venom and smiled.

“Good work kid. Now we know how to make our own venom and it’s all thanks to you.” He gave Kian a pat on the back. Kian smiled up at him.

Kian was a very brilliant boy. He loved science more than spy work and so he was usually found helping out the older scientists with their projects rather than training to become a better spy. Once they found out his great potential, the scientists had him work on special projects with them and when he improved they assigned him to his first solo project—creating the perfect formula to make venom, and he was to test it out using lab rats. But even though Kian was an excellent scientist for his age, he wasn’t fulfilling his leaders’ main goal, for him to become an outstanding spy. He was so far behind on his training that he wasn’t even ready to be assigned a partner yet and certainly not a mission, but he didn’t mind. He loved life at home at the Freedom Fighter’s Headquarters. He felt safe and happy there.

The head scientist cleared his throat. “Now you better go on and practice with the others.”

Kian turned to leave but stopped when he saw one of the scientists pulling out rolled up sketches of a very interesting looking gun.

“Aw man! Can’t I stay and help make the venom gun?”

“Absolutely not,” the head scientist said. “You’re much too young to be building a gun, let alone hold one.”

“But I’m thirteen—”

“Besides,” he interrupted, “you need to practice your skills with the blade.”

Kian sighed, “yes, sir.” He walked out with his head hung.

Kian walked to Master Zinto’s training room, the second one to be built out of all the six that were located in various places all throughout the gigantic building. He took his seat, sitting cross-legged on the floor in a row with the ten others who had decided to show up.

So I’m going to see Master Zinto today then, he thought to himself. Out of all the weapon instructors in the place, he got stuck with the oldest and strictest of them all. Master Zinto was an okay guy but his ways of teaching were kind of difficult for Kian. And the instructor was so old that he should probably retire already. His long untied hair was blinding white and he had wrinkles on his wrinkles!

Master Zinto came out of his room to the left of the training room and walked over to the front of the class. All eyes were on him. No one dared to say or do anything disrespectful or they would soon regret it. Master Zinto stood in front of the class counting how many had actually decided to show up. If he had his way all of his students would have to come everyday and on time.

“Stand up,” Master Zinto commanded. All the students immediately rose in unison. The old instructor eyed each one of them sternly until he felt each one was giving him one hundred percent of their respect and attention. They all usually did so that went quickly. But Master Zinto was taking more time than usual. Kian gulped. He knew this meant a harder lesson day.

“All of you go quickly and pick up your swords and then get back into line.” Master Zinto gestured to the corner were each students’ swords had been laid down.

All the students rushed to get their swords. Kian picked his up swiftly with a swoosh. and placed it at his side. His class members did the same. They all went back to their rows, waiting for their next command.

Master Zinto placed back and forth in front of them as if he were studying his troops in the army. He wrinkled his brow.

“Everyone form two lines!” He yelled strenuously. He had his students, two at a time, practice a certain skills with the sword from one end of the room and back to the other. Once the first person in each row completed the simple task, the second would begin, and so on.

“Go!” the instructor shouted. Immediately the first two students began by swishing their sword around their head and then thrusting it into the floor. Then they would take a few steps forward and begin and process over again.

Twenty minutes went by.

What? That can’t be right. Kian looked up at the clock. He was so thankful he was in the back of the line again. The class had been working on the same line drills since the beginning of class! He never makes us do these drills this long. We should have moved on by now. He groaned. Today was going to be an even harder day than the normal hard days.

Ten more minutes go by and the class is finally temporarily dismissed, to take a break and get a drink of water. Kian wiped the sweat off his brow, grabbed his water bottle and sat down with the others. Usually at this time a few of his classmates would chat quietly amongst themselves, but not today. Today they were way too tired to do anything but just sit there.

After a couple of minutes, Master Zinto instructed everyone to get up and find a partner for dueling. Dueling was Kian’s least favorite thing to do of all. He paired up with his friend Siat and prepared to be drained of all his strength once again. Siat gave him nod, reassuring Kian that he’d go easy on him.