"Well... that was fun while it lasted."
Zenith's ring shrunk and flew back into his hand. He takes one last look at Saber before saying:
"I'll be leaving an ear open for whatever happens in there. I have a feeling that we'll learn a lot of juicy stuff. Might even clue us as to how to get in."
"Master," Saber says to him as Zenith started walking away, and the armored servant turned to follow him back out of the ravine. "With all due respect, I have a feeling your "peers" will not be pleased to know that we aren't making real progress. I for one am eager to sink my blade through the flesh of our enemy."
"I would imagine so..." Zenith remarked as they closed in at their van. "You will get your due justice as I will."
They ascend the rockwork as the master shared a thought with his armored servant.
"Typical, isn't it? Your kin stole your country... mine disowned me and willed everything to one who lacked true vision. You and me got it really rough when it comes to matters of family... one could say we're two of a kind..."
Zenith gives Saber a sideways glance and adds:
"Aren't we... my king?"
The servant contemplates before giving him a reply as they come up to the clearing.
"Yes master. I am fortunate enough to contract myself to one who knows my burden all too well. You would make for a fine general had we met in my time..."
"I don't like playing second fiddle..." Zenith remarks." But if I were to, I could think of no better homicidal warlord to partner-up with..."
"Your sentiment is... gratifying," The Saber said flatly, not very keen on being referred to the way Zenith did. "Indeed... it takes a leader of strength and conviction to lead a nation. You need it to fight... win... and take everything, crushing all who would challenge you."
Zenith chuckles at that.
"Simple, bloody, but effective... I can dig that..."
"Contractor..."
The duo is met by Assassin as they reach the van. Berserker then appears from behind it, pushing two uniformed men to the ground before their feet. To the lack of Zenith's concern, they were both terrified.
"We captured two strays," Assassin explains. "They are drivers hired to bring Chaldea here."
Berserker pulled the two men by the neck and on to their knees. They stay silent and trembling as Saber looks at Zenith as if to ask him something. The master meets his stare, and as if to make his boredom apparent, expresses sarcastically:
"What are you looking at me for?"
Zenith calmly turns to enter the van, but not before adding:
"Don't forget to clean up."
In a snap, Saber turns back to the men whilst summoning his sword. They barely had time to scream as all Zenith heard afterwards was blood splatter, followed by a pair of audible thuds of somethings hitting the ground. Dirty work was something Zenith would rather not dwell over needlessly when he could just leave that to others.
He had bigger priorities than watching heads roll...
---
Gudao and Gabrielle stood over Mashu's shield as it was lying face-up on the floor of Castle Dunscaith. The Demi-Servant was standing beside the masters with Fou on her shoulder as her weapon lit up, forming an ornate magical circle. An image materialized directly over it, projecting the form of the Chaldean Director.
"Roman, come in," Gudao said to it as the projection finished taking shape. The holographic form of Roman responded and looked at the trio.
"Gudao? Gabrielle? What happened to you guys? We tried reaching you for hours."
"We're alright doctor," Gabrielle tells him.
"That's good to hear, but why are you communicating through Mashu's shield?"
"Sorry, but It was the only way we could reach you in here," said the Demi-servant. The shield doubled as a direct link to Chaldea during a singularity, and could even act as a portable ritual circle to summon a servant. "We found it doctor... We are in the Land of Shadows."
"Fou!"
"Really? That's incredible!" Roman said ecstatically. "And Scathach?"
"Lancer was right," Gudao said. "She's alive, and she is every bit as powerful as he said she was."
"Wow, I can't believe it! What happened when you found her?"
Nearby in the atrium, the servants were sitting nearby, taking a breather after Scathach's first trial. They could all hear the masters reporting back to the Director:
"Scathach roughed-up the servants a little-bit," Gabrielle told Roman. "But Lancer convinced her to help us."
Mordred huffed at that and whispered under her breath:
"A "little" bit?!"
The red Saber's response went unnoticed by the masters as Roman remarked:
"She took them all on huh? I'm glad you didn't lose anyone, but by God that sounds amazing..."
"There is a catch though," Gudao adds. "She wants us to train with her here instead of taking her back to Chaldea. We won't be coming back for a while."
That did not go over well with the Chaldean Director, who was taken back by what the young master just revealed.
"What?! But you are all outside the barrier! It's imperative that you get back before Solomon can form another singularity!"
"We're sorry doctor," Gabrielle apologized. "But Scathach insisted that we stay if we want her help."
"This isn't part of the plan guys! We already took a huge risk sending you all to Scotland. The longer you guys are gone, the more likely you could be lost to time!"
"I'm afraid we have no choice Roman," Gudao said. "We found who we were looking for, and we're in too deep to go back now. I need you to trust us doctor."
Holographic Roman looked at him, wanting to keep reasoning with the master. After a momentary silence, the Director relented with a sigh.
"Guess there's not anything I can do about that. You two are all sorts of stubborn..." Roman said before turning to Gabrielle in defeat. "What's happening now?"
"Scathach took us to her fortress and gave the servants a trial by fire," said the female master. "She went hunting to give us food for tonight."
"That's good..." said Roman before turning to the Demi-servant with a smile. "How are you doing Mashu?"
"I'm fine doctor. How is Da Vinci?"
"Oh yes, Leona. Well..." Roman said rather awkwardly, much to the Shielder's confusion. "To be honest, Mashu... I'm not quite sure WHAT she's doing."
"What do you mean?" Mashu asks.
"Since you guys left, she cooped herself up in Engineering, and I have NO idea what she's up to. She hasn't even bothered to tell me about her little project when she was with us in the control room. It's not like Leona to be this secretive..."
"She's probably just bored doctor," Gudao assured him. "I doubt Da Vinci would do anything that will end up burning the place down. Whatever it is, I'm sure she knows what she's doing."
"You're probably right," Roman agrees, shrugging off any worry he had. "Oh, by the way, Fairborough called me earlier. She was less than pleased..."
Gabrielle giggles before telling the Director:
"Well, she's okay at least. We couldn't have her complicating things while we were looking for the Land of Shadows. It's better this way Roman."
"I sure hope so. If she calls back for a chat, I'm handing her off to Leona..."
---
Later on, the masters and servants went to wait in the Great Hall as per Scathach's instructions. They found themselves in a spacious room with wooden tables gathered around a fire-pit. Mashu and the masters sat at one table, observing Fou who was keeping them relatively entertained. Astolfo, Mordred, and Jekyll sat by themselves at another while Jeanne sat with Arturia and Emiya. Cu came back with pitchers of water and goblets for everybody, letting them nourish themselves while they wait for their host.
The Lancer joined his masters at their table along with Mashu. He merely listened to them conversing while the other servants were engaged in idle chit-chat; all having nothing better to do while waiting for Scathach to join them. Cu had been wary ever since the end of their trials earlier, growing more suspicious as to what his mentor had intended when she made the Sabers fight. Unbeknownst to the masters, this was something Cu feared could happen by bringing everyone here to her domain.
-She was really pushing them... I hope that Teacher isn't up to her old tricks again...-
Meanwhile, Arturia and Mordred sat silently at their tables, not actively paying attention. The King of Knights was lost in thought as Jeanne and Emiya conversed without notice. She looked around the room of the mysterious fortress; the unnatural splendor and eerie atmosphere had unsettled her since they all walked through its doors.
-There are strange forces at play here, and Scathach is undeniably linked to it. What does someone with such staggering power do in this place? How did it even come to be?-
"Saber... Saber."
Emiya's voice snapped Arturia out of her thoughts. He looked concerned as the Saber seemed very distracted, which was so unlike the King of Knights.
"What?"
"You zoned out, Arty," Jeanne told her, equally worried for her as Emiya was. "What are you thinking about?"
Arturia looked at her friends' concerned faces, and reluctantly shared her thoughts with them. Emiya watched her carefully as the Saber took a deep breath.
"I was just wondering about our host," Arturia told them. "Before our first meeting, I had a hard time believing that someone so powerful existed, even while we were all alive."
"I hear you," Emiya said. "I had no idea what the dog was getting us into by bringing us here. Now that she fought all of us and put us through her little test, I understand why."
"Fight is a pretty generous word for it, all things considered," Jeanne remarked. "Compared to servants, Scathach is on a whole other level. I'm honestly still kind of shocked that she stood toe-to-toe against seven of us."
"Indeed," said Arturia, her voice then turning grim. "I couldn't even scratch her with Excalibur. I wonder what would've happened if Scathach decided to try and take Camelot. I don't know if my army and my knights would even stand a chance."
"It is a very chilling thought," Jeanne pondered out loud. "Imagine what Scathach could've done if she was present at any of our time periods. Her power would've changed the course of history."
"I'm sure she would just breeze right through a Grail War," Emiya shared with them. "I would've paid to see her square up against Gilgamesh. How about you, Saber?"
Arturia replies before pouring herself some water.
"Now that would be a spectacle..."
"Speaking of spectacle," Jeanne cut in, gaining both servants' attention. "Did any of you notice the way Scathach was observing us during our trial?"
"How could we not?" Emiya deadpanned. "I for one could practically feel her burning holes into my head."
The Archer took a sip from his goblet as Jeanne then turned to Arturia; The Ruler's voice dropping to barely above a whisper.
"And Arty... Did anything strike you as odd about that girl?"
"Uathach?" Arturia asked, to which Jeanne nods. "Yes... she didn't like being touched."
"It's not just that," Jeanne told her. She takes a pause to look around before telling the Saber: "She and this whole place feel unnatural. You must have felt it too."
"I have," Arturia reveals. "What did you say about this whole forest being cursed, Jeanne? Is the fortress part of it?"
The Ruler nods.
"It doesn't feel sinister, but I don't like it at all. Whatever power flows through this place, it weighs on us... like a sad burden."
"Yeah," Emiya said while putting down his drink. "And if her Revenants are anything to go by, this place is just all sorts of weird."
The hall's doors burst open. The room became dead silent as everyone turned to see Scathach walking towards them carrying a butchered boar carcass over her shoulder. She walked towards the fire pit, ignoring the gaze of everyone, save for Gudao and Gabrielle.
"I hope I didn't keep you all waiting too long..." The warrior queen said to them.
"Oh, not at all," Gabrielle politely assures her. The master then noticed someone missing. "Where is Uathach?"
"She won't be joining us..." Scathach stated evenly before changing the subject. She looks around at everybody as she asks; "Is everyone okay with eating boar meat? Best I can do on short notice..."
"We'll make do," Emiya remarked while taking a glance at Arturia, who was practically drooling at the sight of raw meat on The Shadow's shoulder. "Some of us are especially eager..."
Upon hearing that, the Saber turned back at him and blushed in embarrassment. Jeanne giggled while Scathach set the slab of meat down and started fire with a rune.
"Let's not waste time then."
Later on, everyone was eating the perfectly cooked boar meat prepared by Scathach. She took a seat with the masters along with Cu Chulainn and Mashu. The Lancer stayed silent as his mentor and masters were thick in conversation, vigilant of what The Shadow's intentions were throughout.
Emiya and Jeanne were just eating casually and watching Arturia elegantly devour a tower-full of meat. The blue Saber was clearly too immersed in eating for anymore talking, so her friends simply let her be. Jeanne knew any words about the sin of gluttony would be lost to the King of Knights.
"Interesting..." Scathach remarked. "So more than one version of the same hero can exist as a servant?"
"Yes, they can," Gudao tells her. "In fact, just in the last singularity, we had Lancer Cu Chulainn here fighting against another of himself as a Berserker."
"Is that true Setanta?" The warrior queen turned to her former pupil.
"Sure is Teacher," The Lancer replies. Astolfo, meanwhile, was eating happily at his table until he notices Mordred secretly glaring at The Shadow between bites of her stack of boar meat. The Rider grows more concerned for how focused the Saber was and what she could be feeling. Even before they were all eating, Mordred had not even made eye contact with himself or with Jekyll since their first trial. The way the Saber was acting was if her friends didn't exist.
-Mordred's been grouchy ever since the forest... I wonder what could be up with her now...?-
The paladin had the urge to speak to her and get to the heart-of-the-matter, but the sound of someone clearing their throat stopped him. Astolfo turns and sees Jekyll slowly shaking his head at him. The Rider reads the message that the Assassin was silently relaying to him.
-Now is not the time...-
Astolfo reluctantly leans back in his seat as they listen in on their host. Cu humors his mentor as their conversation continued.
"According to my masters, there was also a Caster version of me before I was summoned. Imagine that..."
His response was met with an amused chuckle from the warrior queen.
"You were not particularly good at rune-magic... but I'm sure getting to fight yourself in some form was a unique experience for you. I'm wishing that I could've cross-blades with that..." She stops herself to turn to the masters. "What did you call him again?"
"A Berserker," Gabrielle clarifies for her. "Heroes that get summoned as one trade most of their sanity for a huge boost in strength. If you'd like, I could give you rundown of all the servant classes and how we summon them."
"Hmmm, I'd like that." She replied. Cu shifts in his seat seeing her eyes shift briefly between the two blonde Sabers nearby, raising his suspicions. Scathach then leans forward, making sure she had the masters' undivided attention. "For now, let's turn to the matter at hand..."
The overall mood drops as Mashu, Cu, and the masters listened attentively.
"King Solomon... he is your enemy?"
"Yes," Gudao affirms to the warrior queen. "He is altering history in order to wipe out all of humanity, and Chaldea is the only thing standing in his way."
As Scathach was listening intently to him, Mashu was wondering just how informed The Shadow was on the King of Mages. She seemed remarkably resourceful for someone isolated from the rest of humanity. The Shielder paid close attention while Scathach continued conversing with her masters.
"He was known as a wise king who made magecraft accessible to all mankind, was he not? Why would he be doing this?"
"We don't know," Gabrielle told her. "But he made a former ally of ours turn on us; killed dozens. Me and Gudao are pretty much the only ones left who can fight him."
Gudao then leans forward and explains:
"There were over 40 of us, all handpicked to summon servants from the Throne of Heroes and resolve the singularities Solomon created before they become our history."
"Couldn't your organization recruit more masters?" Scathach asks with skepticism. "To fight a war across time seems quite a burden for two younglings like yourselves..."
"It's not that simple," said Gabrielle. "While true that any mage could become a master and command a servant, it isn't enough for what Chaldea needs from us."
"Senpai and Gabby are both what are called "Prime Mages"," Mashu explained. "Their magic circuits are optimal for taking the strain of commanding multiple servants, and without the same level of difficulty that a regular mage would have."
"That's right Mashu," Gudao told her before turning back to Scathach. "When Olga recruited us, she searched the entire globe for others like us. With magecraft in decline, the number of mages in the world is fewer than it used to be. To find a Prime Mage would be next to impossible, and I'm afraid most if not all were already in Chaldea when Lev attacked..."
"So they're all dead..." Scathach said in a low voice, yet strangely both the masters thought her somber tone held a tinge of envy. "And your Director?"
"Suffered an even worse fate..." Gudao replied sadly. "Olga really believed in us, and we don't want to let her down."
A silence hangs over the table before Mashu eventually breaks it. Cu takes a swig of his drink as the Shielder asks Scathach:
"Enough about us. What about you?"
The warrior queen gives the Demi-servant a sideways glance.
"Depends on what you want to know..."
Cu slowly brings down his drink down from his mouth as he pays attention with growing nervousness.
-Pick your questions carefully lass...-
Oblivious of the Lancer, Mashu shares her thoughts to The Shadow.
"You went through a lot of trouble to hide this forest. What exactly is so special about this place?"
Scathach narrows her eyes suspiciously at the Shielder. Mashu wondered if this was information the warrior queen was reluctant to share.
"I'm sure Setanta has already given you some idea, but if you insist..." She says to the Demi-servant, leaning forward before continuing. "The leyline running through this forest acts as a bridge between the living and the dead. Phantasmal creatures spawn in this forest from the afterlife, and I kill them again before they get a chance to find human souls to feast on."
Mashu and Gudao gaze in amazement. Gabrielle then asks Scathach:
"Is that why so many attacked us earlier?"
"My guess is... they were attracted to the mana signature given off by your servants' spirit cores. I was wondering why they were all converging on a single area until I found you."
Scathach eases back in her seat before giving them an amusing smirk.
"So in a sense, I should be thanking you gathering them all in one place... made it easy for me."
"Oh... well," Gudao awkwardly responds. "You're welcome then..."
The master pours himself some water while Mashu continued.
"If these things used to be dead, how are they using the leyline to return to this realm?"
Gudao takes a sip from his goblet as The Shadow's expression turns serious, narrowing her eyes in the Shielder's direction. Gabrielle's blood ran cold as Scathach (disturbingly) said plainly:
"If I told you that, I'd have to kill you..."
Upon hearing that Gabrielle and Mashu's faces turn white while Gudao chokes on his drink. Fou freezes and hides in Mashu's hoodie, while the other servants stop eating and turn to The Shadow's direction horrified. Cu was the only one who didn't react, instead letting out a sigh.
"Was that really necessary Teacher?" The Lancer says casually under his breath.
Scathach merely sat back in her seat like she said nothing wrong, ignoring her former pupil's remark. Gudao clears his throat after a coughing fit, and exclaims to the warrior queen.
"You can't be serious!"
"I am..." Scathach states bluntly.
"B-But why?!" Gabrielle stammers, some color returning to her face.
"That information is beyond any of your understanding," Scathach said in a serious tone before then turning somber. "I've seen first-hand how far people would go for that knowledge, and that road usually ends in death... a lot of it. It's something I don't want ever repeating, no matter what."
Everyone was stunned into silence as Scathach calmly pours herself some water. Mashu eventually gathers the resolve to shamefully apologize.
"I'm so sorry... I had no idea."
"Don't be," Scathach responds stoically. "I've misplaced my trust before, and it's bad enough I let someone live with some of that knowledge."
The Shadow's eyes briefly dart towards Cu, and masters could perceive a silent agreement pass between them. Scathach then said under her breath:
"-Against my better judgement..."
She gulps down her drink and sets the goblet down. The other servants resume eating as the tension in the room slowly dispels.
"With that out of the way..." A composed Scathach leans back and crosses her leg. "What else would you like to know about me?"
Now that everyone was feeling more comfortable, Gudao says to her:
"Well, there is one thing I've been wondering about."
"Yes?"
"This castle is far too advanced for anything man-made before Egypt. Did you build it?"
"Goodness no," Scathach replied lightheartedly. "Most of this was here long before I took over. I will say for how grand it is, this is too much space for one person. This fortress wasn't made by human hands..."
"Divine beings then?" Gabrielle asks in amazement. "The Celtic deities?"
"Partly," Scathach responds with a smirk. "How this place came to be is a long story. If you stay on my good side these next few days, maybe I'll tell you more if we get time..."
"When did you settle in here?" Gudao continued, curiosity getting the better of him. Cu notices The Shadow's expression gradually faltering, much to his horror. "You could have been around well before Cu's time if you're an immortal. Just how ol-?"
"Say, Teacher!" The Lancer interrupts, suddenly standing up from his seat and startling everyone. "You probably have much work to do tonight. How about you let us finish-up here and after I'll show my comrades to their quarters? Alright?"
Mashu and the masters stare at him in surprise and confusion before looking back at the warrior queen. Gudao in particular sees Scathach glaring at the Lancer, not understanding what could've been the cause for the sudden reversal in her mood. Her gaze eventually softens and tells everyone calmly:
"Fine with me." Scathach eventually stands up and everyone watches as she leaves the great hall. "Everybody... help yourselves to what's left. The Revenants will clean-up after you. Goodnight..."
She shuts the doors behind her, leaving the servants and masters flabbergasted. Once Scathach was out of sight, Cu breathes a sigh of relief and turns back at Gudao.
"You're welcome..."
Gudao remains bewildered, still not knowing why Cu was acting so strangely.
"Lancer... What on Earth was that about?"
"Sorry masters, but maybe I should've warned you before bringing you here."
"Warn us of what?" Gabrielle asks, feeling just as lost as everyone else. "Gu-dork was just wanted to know how old-mmmph!"
"SHHHH!" Cu exclaims, quickly putting a hand over Gabrielle's mouth and stopping her from finishing her sentence. She is frozen in shock as the Lancer discreetly explained to all of them: "DO NOT talk about Teacher's age!"
"Huh? Why?" Mashu asked, noting how scared and serious the Lancer was. If the mighty Cu Chulainn was afraid, then the Demi-servant took it as a sign of grave concern.
"She is very sensitive about that, and I mean very... VERY sensitive," Cu warns. "So, unless you invite the possibility of her murdering you in cold blood, keep whatever questions you have about her immortality to yourselves. Got it?"
Gabrielle's eyes dart between Gudao, Mashu and Cu respectively. The Shielder looks back worriedly at her Senpai, thinking of could have happened to him if Lancer hadn't intervened. Gudao slowly nods, finally understanding the Lancer's actions. Judging about adamant Cu appeared to be about this, the masters now believed that it would be wise to heed his words.
"Yes, we got it..."
"Understood Lancer," Mashu complies. "Me and Senpai will be careful..."
"Yeah, dit'o'" Gabrielle says in a muffled voice, giving a thumbs-up. " Hy Lanc'r?"
"Yes, lass?"
"N't compl'inin', but..." She points to the Lancer's hand that was still over her mouth. "Could y' pwease mov' yr' han' frm' m' m'th' now?"
Cu notices and promptly removes his hand, leaving a flustered Gabrielle almost gasping for breath.
"Sorry master..." Cu humbly apologizes and casts his head down. Gabrielle composes herself and brings a hand up to her cheek to hide a blush.
"I'm not..." She says tenderly as she flashes him a soft smile. She doesn't even try stifling a giggle, for which Cu was oblivious to. Seeing all of this, Gudao leans towards Mashu and whispers to her.
"You know Mashu... I think Gabby likes him..."
Mashu merely smirks in amusement and whispers back:
"You've only figured that out now, Senpai?"
Sometimes her Senpai just couldn't take a hint...
---
After dinner, Cu led everyone to another part of the castle; this one having a series of rooms where they could all sleep for the night. After all the other servants picked a room, all that was left was Mashu and the two masters.
"No one has used these rooms in a while, so don't expect hotel quality."
"We've stayed in worse places Lancer," Gabrielle said to the servant. "We'll be alright..."
"Good. Get some rest master."
"Of course," said Gabrielle before turning to Gudao and Mashu. "Have a goodnight, guys."
Mashu gives her a little wave as she and Gudao watch Gabrielle as she enters her room. Before shutting the door, the female master gives Cu Chulainn a quick glance and coy smile.
"Goodnight, Cu..."
She closes the door leaving a confused Lancer, and awkward-feeling Mashu and Gudao in the hall. Moving on, Cu takes the duo to another set of rooms.
"Alright, these ones are yours..."
"Thank you for everything Lancer," Mashu said to him. "I really hope Scathach's training will work out for us."
"It will lass," Cu gives the Shielder a cocky smirk. He kindly opens the door for her to enter her room. "Solomon is not going to know what hit him."
Mashu reciprocates with a smile.
"Is there anything you need Mashu?" Gudao asks her. "After all that's happened, I could have someone check up on you from time-to-time."
"You don't need to worry about me Senpai. I'm feeling fine..." Mashu assures him. She takes a step through the doorway before stopping and turning to face the master once more.
"If anything," She adds. "I should be concerned about you. It's a servant's duty to protect their master after all."
"I'm good," Gudao tells her, not wanting to make her feel worried. "Really..."
His convincing tone earns him an assuring smile from the Demi-Servant; one that always hits the master's heart whenever he sees it. Mashu figures that at last finding Scathach has relieved his stress considerably.
"That's pleasing to hear. I know you'll call me with your seals if anything happens Senpai. You wouldn't keep anything from me, would you?"
Mashu had asked rhetorically, but Gudao's heart sank upon hearing that; The Shielder's condition coming to the forefront of his mind. He does his hardest to hide his growing shame as he answers her with all the resolve he could muster.
"No Mashu... Not at all..."
Mashu blinked for a moment, and Gudao thought she could sense the deceit behind his words... at least until she giggles and gives him another joyful smile.
"Of course not... My Senpai would never lie to me."
Those sweet words of hers stab Gudao's heart like a knife. The Demi-servant had no reason to believe that her Senpai would be anything short of honest with her. With that, Mashu takes another step into her room and reaches for the door.
"Goodnight... Gudao..." She says warmly. The affection behind that was not lost on the master.
"Sweet dreams... Mashu..."
Mashu's smile never left Gudao's sight until she at last closed the door. Gudao lets out a sigh, but is then suddenly patted on the back by Cu Chulainn. The master almost forgot he was even there.
"She seems like a keeper, master," Cu says to him lightheartedly. "You are one lucky lad."
The master looks at him in surprise.
"Am I really?" Gudao asked awkwardly, rubbing his back where the Lancer bumped him. Part of him however still felt bad for misleading Mashu like he did. The Lancer, thankfully, didn't pick up on it.
"Give yourself some credit master," Cu said wearing a smile. "She's no damsel. Let me tell ya, if you treat her right, she'll show you a good time, both off and on the bed-"
"Lancer!" Gudao stops him as his face turns red from Lancer's words. Cu looks at his master in confusion.
"What?"
"Me and Mashu are just friends," Gudao insists as his voice drops, and he casts his head down at the servant. "That's all she sees me as..."
"Oh, come on..." Cu dismisses him. "I don't believe that for a second. You'd have to be a blind man to not see how she looks at you. You're really special to her laddie. And I can tell she's the same to you."
"You... you really think so?" Gudao asks hopefully, looking back up at the Lancer. However, it is not long before Cu hears doubt returning in the young master's voice. "But... she is..."
"She is what master?"
Gudao clenches his arm and looks away in embarrassment.
"She's out of my league..."
Cu laughs out loud at that, and his outburst makes Gudao look back at him in surprise.
"That's nonsense! You've fought demi-gods... evil mages... dragons! And you think you're not good enough for a sweet young lady like Mashu? She was with you during all of that laddie, and you shared in each other's triumphs. If you ask me, she's not out of your league at all!"
Gudao was lost for words. He had the urge to try and refute what the Lancer said to him when the servant suddenly put a hand on his shoulder; like any father would do to a son...
"Look, I get you lad," Cu's voice drops as he speaks to Gudao with the kind of care the master never knew he had. "Confessin' to a good woman seems more daunting than walking into battle. They both take real courage to do, and that's the real test for a man. You definitely have that in spades. So do yourself a favor laddie, and tell her how you feel. I can tell you right now... she's eager to hear it."
After that elating speech, Gudao didn't know what to say. He was caught off guard by how warmly the Lancer was in lifting his mood, and up until recently, he never saw the Hound of Ulster as a father figure. To him, Cu Chulainn always seemed to be the quintessential mythical hero; strong, brave, and always looking for a fight.
To see anything like this from him made Gudao wonder if the Lancer was ever a parent in his life.
-Suppose it goes to show,- Gudao thinks to himself. -Sometimes our heroes are more than just their legends make them out to be...-
Cu at last removed his hand from the master's shoulder, and Gudao notices the Lancer suddenly looking conflicted. A silence hangs over them until Cu breaks it.
"I just realized," he begins, sounding unsure of himself. He rubs the back of his head as he looks away from the master. "I'm not sounding like a seasoned warrior, am I? Guess I tarnished my good image..."
"Not at all Lancer," Gudao assures him, making Cu look at him again. "In fact, I... I appreciate the pep talk. I'll think about it."
Upon hearing that, Cu gives the master a smirk.
"Don't think too long master. It's not nice to keep the good lass waitin'." Cu then turns to leave before telling Gudao from over his shoulder; "I'll see you in the morning."
The master notices Cu was walking in the opposite direction of his quarters.
"You're not turning in?" He asks the Lancer as he walks further away.
"Not yet," Cu tells him before his tone turns more concerning. "I just need to check-up on a certain someone..."
"Oh Lancer?"
Cu stops to look back at Gudao.
"Yes?"
"Thanks again for taking us here," The master tells him humbly, giving a bow of respect. "You really came through for us..."
The Lancer smiles at him.
"I've done my part. The rest is all on you lads. Try not to disappoint Teacher..."
"Duly noted," Gudao nods in affirmation before turning to enter his quarters. "Goodnight Lancer."
"Rest well, Master."
Cu takes his leave as Gudao enters his room and shuts the door. Now in solitude, Gudao runs his fingers through his hair lets out an exasperated sigh. There was still a lot on the master's mind: The threat of Solomon, risking getting lost to time, and getting through Scathach's training, whatever it could involve. Now Cu Chulainn had inadvertently gave the master something else to think about.
Gudao was always a dedicated, hardworking boy who never found time to even think about being in a relationship. With the fate of humanity in the balance, finding himself a date was low on his list of priorities. It never occurred to him that the Demi-servant that he had fought side-by-side with would ever show interest in him, even if he always thought that she was very attractive in her own right. After the way he and Mashu interacted earlier, Gudao was forced to accept the facts:
Cu was absolutely right... the master had feelings for Mashu.
And Mashu had feelings for him...
{"My Senpai would never lie to me..."}
Gudao heard Mashu's kind words echo in his head, and felt like bashing his head against the door. Instead, he pressed his back on it and slid down to the floor, angrily fighting back a tirade of tears.
"Damn it..."
If it was true, then that revelation made him feel terrible for keeping the truth from her. If Mashu knew how he really felt, it would make the damage of her finding out of her limited lifespan even more crushing. Yet, losing that smile of hers was something Gudao never wanted to happen. Even if it meant sacrificing his own happiness, he refused to let Mashu lose hers.
The servants can't know... SHE can't know...
And he can't have her...
-It's for her own good. Whether I tell her or let her close... it'll only make it harder on both of us.-
After all, how on Earth do you tell the person you care about most that they are going to die?
---
Scathach was standing in front of a table with a bunch of vials and assorted ingredients, using them to brew a series of potions. She poured the liquid contents of one glass vial into a large flask; the new mixture turning a sickly green color as the two parts mixed together. Scathach then added an herb that was grounded up in a mortar, and dumped the contents into her brew. The liquid then turned to a dull purple color as the additives dissolved. She chants while putting a hand against the flask and it glowed with blue flames dancing around her fingers.
With subtle movement of her hand, Scathach stirred her potion as it boiled. The Shadow watches carefully as her brew turns to bright violet and gave off a distinct aroma. From the test she had done on the servants earlier, Scathach had realized that she would have to reign-in their strength for the exercises she has in store. She was optimistic that this potion she made will do just that.
As she continued, Scathach sensed a presence from the doorway of the room despite the intruder not having made a sound while entering.
"You can't be wandering too close to strangers Uathach," The Shadow spoke to her without turning around. She continued attending her brew while Uathach walked up beside her soundlessly. "I know that it has been a while since we had guests, but you should've kept your excitement in check."
"I'm sorry, Mother," Uathach says solemnly, putting her hands together in front of her and casting her head down in apology. "This has all been so sudden, and it's been boring with just the two of us. They seemed very friendly too."
"Assume nothing, child," Scathach instructs her with a flat tone. "If Setanta hadn't been with them, I wouldn't have let them come within a mile of this place."
She leaves her prepared potion alone and starts preparing another batch; pouring more components from a vial into a new flask before looking over shoulder at Uathach.
"I would like to avoid them finding out what powers are at work here," Scathach continued. "That includes us... So, you have to be careful around them from now on. Understand?"
"Yes Mother," Uathach nods in acknowledgement. She was used to her mother speaking to her like she was just another one of her students. It was what she did when she became guarded and focused. The little girl missed the days when they were as loving and affectionate as a family could be; a time when Uathach would be laughing and playing with her mother whenever she came back from her hunts. Her mother always used to smile when they were together.
Fate and time had a way of changing people...
"If I may ask..." Uathach begins, unsure if was wise to bring this particular subject up. "If you're going to start teaching again, does that mean you...?"
The girl lets her question hang in mid-air as her mother suddenly stops what she's doing. A brief moment of silence later and Scathach turns to her, and giving the little girl a mournful expression.
"Uathach..." She said softly as walks up and kneels in front of her, meeting Uathach at eye level. The tone of Scathach's voice reflecting the gravity of the subject matter. "Please try to understand..."
The warrior queen looked directly into Uathach's eyes, and saw the dread and sorrow behind them. Scathach wanted so badly to embrace her daughter; let her know that everything would turn out okay. Yet against every instinct she had as a mother, she sadly relents, knowing it at the moment that it was fruitless and would only add to her grief. She steels herself, briefly looking away to choke back tears from her crimson eyes.
"I'm doing what's right for both of us," Scathach says as she raises her head to face Uathach again, her voice heavy, yet full of conviction. "I never expected this to happen after so long... we are fortunate to have this chance and I need to take advantage of it."
Uathach contemplates, then looks into her mother's eyes again. Her young face starring back at the warrior queen innocently as she asked:
"Will you be happy with this?"
Taking a deep breath, Scathach answers her. The Shadow's face softens as she assures her Uathach:
"If it works out... then I absolutely will be. I have to do this..."
Suddenly a new voice breaks the atmosphere.
"I knew it..."
Scathach makes an inaudible sigh as her daughter looked to the doorway, startled to see Cu Chulainn standing there. The Lancer was glaring at the warrior queen who slowly turned to face him, unsurprised of his intrusion.
"Uathach," Scathach said to her coolly, making eye contact with her former pupil while standing back up to full height. "Please excuse us..."
"Yes lass," Cu Chulainn spoke with the same tone as his former mentor, his eyes not leaving hers. "The grown-ups are going to have a talk..."
Uathach briefly looks between them, the tension between the two warriors becoming quickly evident to her. She walks past Cu Chulainn and out of the room, leaving the master and student alone.
"Setanta..." Scathach said to him in an authoritative tone. "You should've knocked before entering my quarters."
"You already knew I was coming, so it wouldn't have mattered," Cu replies as he walks up to her, crossing his arms defiantly. "What DOES matter is that I know what you're up to."
The Shadow narrows her gaze at him from that accusation.
"I didn't make that clear to you before when I agreed to take your comrades in? Because I'm pretty sure I did..."
"I gave you the benefit of the doubt until you put the other servants through your little test. Don't think that I didn't notice you being more thorough in testing the Sabers; your trademark favoritism."
Cu's tone was almost accusatory, yet it didn't faze Scathach.
"I don't think you get to judge me after coming all the way back here, after two-THOUSAND years and asking for MY help," Scathach scolded the Lancer, putting a hand on her hip. "Thanks to my test, I know I'll have to reduce the strength of your fellow servants for when actual training begins. Those two just happen to have impressed me the most..."
Cu intensified his glare, knowing there was more to it than what his teacher shared. Scathach saw how unconvinced he was at her response and questioned him in a lowered voice.
"Was it not YOU who said that this would be worthwhile for me, Setanta? You know very well the only reason why it would be."
"It was the only way that I could get you to help my masters," Cu insisted, growing more frustrated at the Shadow. "That doesn't mean that they will go along with it, OR the servants for that matter. You shouldn't be forcing this on them!"
"You're getting what you bargained for," Scathach stated evenly. "What exactly did you expect?"
"I hoped after finding you alive after all this time would mean that your outlook changed!" Cu argued. His teacher's demeanor was really getting on his nerves. "But I was so wrong... You're doing exactly what you did to me and so many others before. This is all about YOU..."
Scathach was slightly taken back by that, but quickly countered.
"Like YOU weren't being selfish when you sought me out all those centuries ago?" She said as she crossed her arms, earning a stammering reply from the Lancer, who was caught off-guard. "As I recall, you only wanted my spear to impress dear Emer back in Ulster. You weren't studying under me just for the sake of your homeland..."
"Well I earned it didn't I?!"
"You shouldn't have..."
"Oh sorry the outcome was not what you had in mind..."
"You knew the terms... MY terms..."
The Lancer grit his teeth as he tried to calmed down.
-WHY does she always have to be so difficult?-
"Are you really just going to stand there and tell me that you can't understand WHY I tried to stop you?! Why I couldn't let you..."
Cu's agitated voice drops as he trailed off. His eyes meet Scathach's red with wavering resolve, and her stoic façade cracks as she looks back at him with brief astonishment. The warrior queen stood frozen as Cu was breathing deeply, watching her, waiting for a response. He sees her stance shift and cast her head down, wondering what was going through her mind. A tense silence hung between them, until...
"You got too close..." Scathach's voice was shaking and barely above a whisper as she looked at Cu Chulainn with strict fervor. She takes a step towards him while crossing her arms, resolve eventually returning in full. "I taught you to leave your emotions on the ground when you fight. What you did was FAR from doing me a favor. You honestly want me to thank you for that?"
The Shadow glared as Cu defiantly as he then stepped forward into her personal space undeterred.
"You felt something that time too," He tells her as matter of fact. "I know it."
They stare at each other, not one of them backing down from the other.
"You are mistaken..." Scathach denied quickly, knowing the Lancer was challenging her. "That's simply impossible for me."
"No, it isn't," Cu insists. "You just didn't give yourself a chance..."
He searched her eyes, seeing a fleeting glimpse of vulnerability. It lingered for the shortest of moments before the warrior queen once again raised her walls.
"We both knew better," Scathach stated coldly as she then turned away from him before adding with finality:
"There was no chance to begin with..."
Cu stood bitterly silent as his teacher returned to her table and continued preparing her potions. It was clear that she was done arguing with him as she said to him with complete indifference:
"You should go rest along with your comrades. We start at daybreak."
With that, Cu sighs in defeat.
"Fine."
The Lancer turned to leave the warrior queen to her own device. Before he made it past the door however, he stopped and spoke over his shoulder.
"Teacher..." He said carefully, his voice dropping low and devoid of the frustration he had before. "I can't imagine what all this time since then was like for you, but my comrades are good people. Try and get to know them..."
Cu couldn't tell if Scathach was listening or ignoring him, but he felt the need to add solemnly:
"While you still can..."
That last statement made Scathach pause. Before she could do anything else, The Shadow heard his footsteps as he finally left her alone. She set her potion-brewing implements down and puts her hands on the table, curling them into fists. She leans over while breathing heavily, her stoic façade broken as a tear at last falls from her face. Scathach sobs, trying to fight back more from escaping her eyes. Very few things could ever make The Shadow question herself, but the Hound of Ulster had a way of tying her up in knots. The conflict within her had been building since his unexpected return, knowing he was going to oppose her motives for taking on his comrades as students. While she felt justified in her reasoning, she felt a pang of guilt for fighting him on this matter.
Just like before...
-You care too much, Setanta...-
Scathach gradually calmed herself down; her hands relaxing as she takes a deep breath. Between sharing the company of strangers after centuries of isolation, and clashing with her former student, the warrior queen and seasoned teacher had an uphill battle ahead of her.
The price was well worth the reward...
---
Cu stomped down the familiar, torch-lit hallways of Castle Dunscaith, biting back anger and frustration that threatened to bubble back up after his argument with the warrior queen. The Lancer was fuming at the knowledge of his former mentor's intentions, and was mad at himself for involving the masters in what Scathach had planned.
-Are you just going to use them like you did to me, Teacher? I thought you were better than that.-
Cu debated on telling the others about this, but he ultimately decided against it. He feared that by doing so, they will all leave empty-handed and not be prepared for Solomon. The other servants, especially Emiya, will never trust him again. He would be a disgrace to his masters that he cared so much for, and would tarnish his honor. Whether to Scathach or Solomon, Cu Chulainn refused to let his masters down like he did with Bazett.
There was even still the matter of what Cu himself came back to Scathach's domain for. Familiar words echoed in the Lancer's mind:
{"She never taught me that one."}
The Hound of Ulster wondered if there will ever be a good time to ask her about it, considering their rather tense moment earlier. Not to mention that doing so would also mean bringing up another person; one Scathach would no doubt never want to talk about.
Very few things could invite the wrath of The Shadow any more than the mere mention of her sister...