The Servants were waiting while the masters underwent their lesson with Scathach the Shadow. Her daughter, Uathach, had treated them to some recuperation after their tumultuous day enduring the warrior queen's gauntlet. Tensions between them were still somewhat high after the revelation that Scathach slipped them all a potion that severely limited their strength, but most of it was melting away as the remaining servants indulged themselves in the service being given by the Shadow's Revenants.
"Ahhhh..." Astolfo lets out in sweet relief as one such Revenant massages his aching back while he laid face-down on his chest. Everything from the waist-down was covered by a cloth-towel; something the other two servant occupants with him were thankful for. "Scathach wasn't kidding... these Revenants sure know their way around a person's spine-" he cuts himself off as the Revenant's remarkably supple hands hit a knot in his shoulder-blade. "Oooh! Right there..."
Jeanne stifles a giggle at the paladin's expense while she was nearby with another Revenant giving her a similar treatment.
"Around someone's feet too..." She remarks as her Revenant starts tending to her toes. "For something undead, their hands don't feel nearly as clammy as I thought..."
"Mmm hmm..." Mashu was inclined to agree. She was currently having her shoulders massaged while having her feet dipped in hot water, feeling the fatigue from today melt into nothingness. She, Jeanne, and Astolfo were the remaining servants to receive such treatment after their session with Scathach, with the others outside waiting for the masters to finish their turn with her. While Mashu was enjoying herself at the moment, it has given her time to reflect on how much things have progressed since finding the elusive Queen of Shadows. The Demi-servant eventually spoils the serene atmosphere with her fellow teammates.
"You, know," she starts reluctantly. "I still can't believe how Scathach handicapped us, and Cu knew about it the whole time. Made us leave the masters alone in the fortress too..."
Hearing this, Astolfo is pulled out from his euphoria while Jeanne seriously considers the Shielder's worries and offers her opinion.
"With the aura I'm getting from this place, I wouldn't have left them alone if I'd known our strength as servants would be briefly taken from us. With the masters being humanity's last hope, if something did happen, would even the masters' Command Seals have worked when we were under the effects of Scathach's potion? I still can't believe this is Cu's idea of "helping" us..."
Mashu sighed, knowing this was where the conversation would eventually lead. They all still have less than positive thoughts on the matter, but after the initial bombshell, Mashu wanted some assurance that the Hound of Ulster meant well when he led them here.
She was coming up short...
"It was awfully reckless of Lancer," she remarked. "Does he really expect us to trust a stranger who has power to overwhelm several servants and null our abilities? We're gambling a lot on Cu's word, which is now questionable at best."
Astolfo groans as the mood drops from the topic at hand, diminishing the relief given to him by his massage.
"As if the monsters lurking in this place didn't by itself set off alarm bells..." he says with slight annoyance. He tilts his head to speak directly with Mashu. "What I want to know is just how Scathach made that potion and nerfed us hard. How did she do that?"
Thinking about it, Mashu speculates:
"I think it reduced how much mana we get from our connection with Senpai and Gabby. Servants use mana in a more fundamental way than mages do. It's the very fiber of your being."
Saying this, Mashu was sadly reminded that she is not like the other servants, yet the potion still worked on her. If anything had happened to her masters, she'd be ashamed of not being able to protect them.
"Scathach must be pretty resourceful to have determined that just from one day of working with us," Jeanne said. "She must have made something like this before in the time she's existed. So much strength and knowledge accumulated over the centuries... it makes her dangerous."
Jeanne's eyes narrow as she said with finality:
"I don't feel good leaving the masters alone with someone like that."
"Me neither," Mashu admits, knowing things won't get any easier as their time in Scathach's fortress continues. "And this was only our first day training with her. Perhaps this wasn't a good idea after all..."
Jeanne sadly cast her eyes down upon hearing that, while Astolfo sulks knowing they were in for more blood, sweat, and tears after today.
"I don't care if I get one of these every time I run through one of her deathtraps..." he remarks as the massage is now completely spoiled for him. "I wanna go home..."
---
//Meanwhile//
"That wasn't fair of you Saber..."
Arturia was sitting on the steps as listening to Emiya, who was giving her a lecture about her altercation with Mordred earlier. Emiya was being as stern as he can be without hurting her feelings.
He was only trying to help her after all...
"What was I supposed to do Shirou?" Arturia responded with her arms crossed, stubbornly trying to appeal to her former master. "Mordred has been acting immaturely since we arrived here, and I cannot standby whenever she tries to challenge me."
"You called her out first," Emiya pointed out. "Did you not think bringing up her rebellion was going to provoke her?"
"She had no right to call out Lancer like that. I'm sure he had his reasons for acting as he did."
"Don't you think you're giving the dog too much credit? He kept the potion a secret from all of us."
"He's helped us frequently during the Holy Grail War despite being held against his will. Cu Chulainn may be a bit of a scoundrel, but he is also an honorable warrior. Unlike Mordred..."
Emiya watched as Arturia clenched her fist and cast her head down.
"What does SHE know of loyalty?" Arturia said in a hushed, strained voice. This was one of the few times the Archer ever heard anything resembling anger come out of her. "Every knight I appoint has sworn fealty to the king! Mordred broke her oath the moment she rebelled. She doesn't deserve to question someone's loyalty when she herself went against what me and my knights stood for, and she needed to be reminded of that fact..."
"So you thought to talk to Mordred as her king instead of as family..." Emiya states with disapproval. "There was only one way that could've gone and you've known it."
Arturia fell silent at that. Emiya took the opportunity to hammer his point home, his face creasing beneath his hand as he rubbed his temples before continuing.
"Look, I don't know exactly what happened between you two before... that, but it's all in the past. BOTH of you need to move past it for the sake of the team and Chaldea, so enough fighting. I know you're better than this, Saber; you've proved it time and time again. What's so different this time?"
Arturia sighs and casts down her eyes. Sadness seeped into her voice as she eventually said to a disappointed Emiya:
"You heard what she said Shirou... She isn't sorry at all for what happened..."
Emiya's gaze softens with sympathy as he stares at the blue Saber. The Archer can tell that Arturia knew what she did was wrong but didn't want to admit it. On top of that, Arturia's feelings toward the fall of Camelot and her mistakes as king only added to her sorrow. He was convinced he had helped Arturia move on from her past when they destroyed the Holy Grail back when. Remembering their moment on the Fuyuki bridge and Arturia revealing her wish made Emiya certain of the fact that her former servant was experiencing those feelings of shame and self-loathing again.
He was reminded that as amazing as she is, Arturia Pendragon was a broken individual. She was human even when she did her best to hide it...
"I did hear her," Emiya said with a low voice, trying not to add anymore sorrow upon his former servant. "And I don't think Mordred meant to say half the things she did. She just wanted to rile you up after doing the same to her. We've all had a rough day, and I guess everyone just took all our frustrations out on each other."
Arturia barely listens, mulling over Mordred's hurtful words:
{"Remind me who had most angered the people... who turned a blind eye to their needs, and made Camelot believe that their trust was squandered. Many of Camelot were glad to be rid of you...!"}
It tore into her heart like a knife. Arturia thought she did everything right as a king. She always made just and fair decisions, all for the greater good of Britain. Yet despite all of that, the people hated her, and they all jumped at the opportunity when Mordred rebelled.
It was the sad truth. After everything she did for them, the people thought they were better off without her... Arturia cursed herself for being so blind back then...
As much as she wanted to do the same to Mordred for ruining everything, Arturia knew that the red Saber was merely a byproduct of her mistakes as king. She can never fully fault Mordred for Camelot's fall.
"Of course she meant it," Arturia said while refusing to meet him in the eye. "She was only speaking the truth after all."
Her sorrowful tone was crushing to him, but the Archer couldn't let it stand.
"Please don't, Saber," Emiya tells her, as he can't stand by and listen to her beating herself up. "Never mind whatever Mordred said about your time as king. You're a different person than who you were back then, a better person. So don't blame yourself..."
Emiya watched her as Arturia finally looked at him, and he could see just how lost she felt when their eyes met.
"If not me Shirou... then who?"
//At that same moment//
"This attitude of yours is getting out of hand..."
Elsewhere in the fortress, Jekyll was having a similar talk with Mordred, who was sitting on a stone bench, grumpy and cross-armed while the doctor stood over her.
"Father was asking for it, Beansprout! Did you hear what she said to me?! The nerve!"
Jekyll wasn't fazed at the Knight of Treachery's usual brashness, but it didn't mean that he doesn't sympathize with her. From the way Arturia said about Mordred not having the right to question Cu's loyalty, she meant it as an obvious reminder of their past.
"You're missing the point!" Jekyll insists, trying not to raise his voice. "Her Highness may have acted out of line, but you didn't need to perpetuate it further by arguing. Would she have even done so in the first place if you weren't being so abrasive to Lancer?"
Mordred huffs at him, trying to spin the topic on him...
"Oh, don't pretend that you weren't surprised to know that he kept that potion a secret from us!" she said to him callously. "Somebody had to call him out...!"
"I WAS surprised," Jekyll replies, not falling for Mordred's attempt to justify herself. "But that was no reason to act immaturely and make way for everyone else to start arguing."
Mordred looks away and scoffs, but the Assassin continues his lecture and ignoring her childish reaction.
"Maybe your father wouldn't have said what she did if you didn't continually show that you're the same person who made half of Camelot revolt-"
At that, Mordred snaps and cuts him off.
"But she did!" There was clear anguish but also pain in her voice. "Father said what she did to hurt me. She was itching to throw that my way and was going to do that even if I kept my mouth shut."
Jekyll stands back and listens with an almost surprised expression. He knew it wasn't her fault, but mentally, Mordred was an eight-year-old child with a body that was double her age, therefore unable to express emotion in any way that wasn't blatant. The doctor-side of him determined that it was best to let his patient get their thoughts out in the open before he can respond.
"Telling me about loyalty..." Mordred said under her breath, casting her head down and putting her hands on her lap, clenching them into fists. Her voice grows as it sounded to Jekyll that the red Saber was holding back tears. "After everything I did for her as her knight... when I showed who I was, my loyalty meant NOTHING to her!"
She stifles a sniffle, her voice dropping back low and refusing to meet Jekyll's sympathetic gaze.
"I'm not apologizing for what I said Jekyll... I told Father that Camelot was better off without her and that was the truth. She deserved it."
Mordred falls silent trying to fight back more tears. Jekyll does not say a thing for a while; his mind mulling over what he should do to try relieving the knight's distress. He decides to kneel and meet her at eye-level. The Assassin said in a hushed yet firm voice:
"You never meant any of that."
The red Saber just scoffs defiantly between her tears. As frustrated and distraught as she was, Jekyll was sure that her appearing so vulnerable before somebody was wounding her pride also.
"Try me..."
At that, Jekyll leans in slightly and softly pleads:
"Mordred, please listen," he was now speaking as her friend instead of as her doctor. He sees Mordred's cast-down head rise ever slightly from his tone. "Lashing out at your father like that only proves any false assumptions she has about you. What she said to you was uncalled for, but if that happens, you sometimes have to swallow your pride and just look past it. If you don't want her to see you the way she does, then show her you're better than that. Promise me you'll try..."
He thought he got through to her when Mordred simply stood still for a few moments but then turned her head to the side, expressing her lingering doubt. Feeling slightly defeated, Jekyll's gazed travelled down to her still clenched hand. It troubled him to see Mordred in turmoil like this, and he felt an instinctive need to hold it as reassurance and a sign of faith.
However, Jekyll hesitates; that non-indulgent and selfless side of himself made him worry that he would be taking advantage of Mordred in her current state. Also of course, a familiar voice in the darker part of his mind was taunting him.
-Grab her hand you idiot... or are you too scared?-
With Hyde pestering him, Jekyll found himself torn. No doubt taking her hand like this would have been selfish of him even if Mordred accepted it, but he was worried if Hyde would take over once he did. Who knows what he would do to her if Jekyll couldn't control himself. Yet sadly, on the other hand-
"Oh hey guys," the sound of Gudao's voice snapped the doctor out of his thoughts. "Sorry we kept you waiting..."
Jekyll turns to see both he and Gabrielle approach while Mordred reflexively turns away to hide her face full of tears.
"Masters," he greeted before asking, "How did things go with Scathach?"
"Pretty well, all things considered," Gudao said, eyeing Mordred with slight concern. "She taught me and Gabby some new tricks, which we can't wait show you all..."
Gabrielle, sounding cheery, adds for her brother:
"Yeah, spoilers... me and Gu-dork can project some runes now!"
"That's cool I guess..." Mordred suddenly said for fear of seeming troubled with silence. Unfortunately, her voice still sounded distraught, and as she feared, the masters sensed it.
"Are you alright, Mordred?" Gabrielle asks with genuine worry. Acting quickly to defend the red Saber's pride, Jekyll steps in.
"She's fine," he answers with seamless assurance in his voice, even if it was feigned. Mordred looks at him in surprise as Jekyll's eyes silently send a message to Gudao, who understood immediately. "We're all trying to wind down after this morning." He then turned to Mordred. "Right?"
The knight blinked in astonishment before composing herself and followed his lead.
"Yeah," she said with a livelier voice now that her mood was lifted by Jekyll's gesture to hide her weakness. Feeling better, Mordred asks the masters "So what now?"
Gabrielle's concern was gone after that, and she told both servants:
"We are all to meet Scathach and the others in the Great Hall for dinner. She'll call us as soon as she's ready."
"We'll... leave you two alone," Gudao told them as he and Gabrielle turn to walk away. Once they were out of sight, Jekyll helps Mordred off her seat. They stood there for a few seconds, both looking like there was something they wanted to say to the other but were hesitant to. Jekyll eventually breaks the awkward silence.
"You should- probably get yourself cleaned-up," he starts off, unsettled by the way Mordred was staring at him. It wasn't hostile, but a rather curious look he had never seen from her before. Still, he tries to be considerate. "Wouldn't want the others seeing you like this..."
"Good idea..." she said in agreement, while also sounding... disappointed? Conflicted? For once, the doctor had no idea what was going through the Saber's head. The next time Mordred speaks, she starts hesitantly and tucks a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. "I'll just be- I'll see you later."
Not wanting the awkwardness to continue, Jekyll simply said:
"Right..."
Mordred starts walking away, leaving Jekyll to watch her leave. He assumed she was going back to her room to change her clothes before joining for dinner, but then after ten or so steps, Mordred suddenly stops and turns to look back at him, making his heart skip a beat.
"Hey Beansprout?"
"Yes Mordred?"
She averts her eyes, as if searching for words. Then, with a modicum of a smile, the Saber looks back at the Assassin and says:
"Thanks..."
Jekyll just stared, absolutely speechless. Was that for their talk after her tirade? Or for hiding her pain from the masters? He had the urge to say something to her, but Mordred quickly turned and kept walking with a heightened pace.
The doctor couldn't see it, but Mordred was hiding an embarrassed blush...
When she was out of sight, Jekyll was internally kicking himself for being rude to her after the masters left them alone, along with not being to be able to say what he wanted when she unexpectedly thanked him. As if on que, Hyde came to the forefront of his mind to add salt on the wound.
-Missed a prime opportunity Doc... you really ARE spineless...-
Jekyll steels himself in annoyance as he could picture the twisted mirror-version of himself standing beside him all but sneering in his ear. The good doctor knew Hyde really meant that he should've done something vulgar... just how Hyde liked it.
-And you know NOTHING about how she feels Hyde... nor would you even bother to...-
He could hear Hyde shoot him a raspberry as he jeered:
-Who wants to deal with this petty drama?! I bet you a fun night with Mordred in her bed will cheer her up...-
Jekyll angrily forced Hyde's image out of his head. He wasn't about to indulge in any vile fantasy the mad sociopath wanted to torment him with.
-ENOUGH. I won't take advantage of her like that. She deserves better...-
-If you're talking about yourself you spoil-sport, then damn straight...-
Hyde then went silent, and Jekyll could picture him leaving him alone. He was relieved that the madman was gone, but had left him with something for Jekyll to sulk in. With a sigh, Jekyll shamefully to himself.
"For once Hyde... you might be right..."
No matter what he felt for Mordred, Jekyll knew he will just end up hurting her or pushing her away as long as he and Hyde are at odds with each other. One wanting healthy emotional attachment, and one just for sick, bodily pleasure. The good doctor could never put the Saber through that.
Jekyll can never have her...
So the most he can do is help Mordred with her relationship with Arturia. No doubt Emiya was going through something similar with her, and it could be high time that they meet soon to deliberate as equal partners...
---
Cu Chulainn was wandering the fortress by himself and away from the other servants. He figured that after his secret spilled, it be best if he distanced himself while the rest of his teammates recuperated. Deep down, the Lancer knew there was truth to their words; leaving the masters alone while the servants were weakened, but assured himself that it was necessary for Chladea to get stronger through Scathach's teachings. While on that note, Cu began having doubts to if his former mentor was really up to the task, recalling her words from the previous day:
{"You were my last student... I don't do that anymore..."}
While she seemed like she was being honest, Cu didn't want to believe that Scathach lost her touch. Now that she nearly snapped in front of everyone, he was worried that she would go too hard on the masters. The Lancer had not yet heard back from them, and only knew that Scathach went out to hunt afterwards. He hoped Scathach still had the foresight to re-adjust herself when it came to his masters. Magecraft is not what it was two millennia ago...
And yet... Cu couldn't shake the feeling that there was even more behind her words. There was still the one thing he wanted to find out since coming back to Scathach's domain, yet had no idea when or even if he should bring it up with her...
-Connla...-
Taking advantage of his solitude, Cu Chulainn walked through the familiar passageways of Castle Dunscaith; knowing his way around having been a resident here before. He had a destination in mind, and curiosity guided him there. Turning a corner, he found what he was looking for-
And stopped when he saw someone was already there...
Scathach was standing over a wide display, filled with trinkets and mementos of notable warriors she had trained while in her prime. She was looking over each one with a look of contemplation. Cu stood mesmerized at the sight of her gazing at each of the "trophies," wondering what was going in her head as she looked over them. Working up the nerve, he starts walking towards her and broke the serene silence.
"You always were sentimental," he began. Scathach slowly turned her head to face him, not seeming too surprised of Cu's presence. Cu then asked coyly, "Where's mine?"
"It's safe..." Scathach replies in the same manner, facing the display again as the Lancer came up beside her.
"Back early from your hunt I see," Cu said while having his gaze on her. He then followed his mentor and turned his attention to the myriad of objects in front of them. "I figured as such..."
Scathach narrowed her eyes and allowed a barely subtle smile form on her face, taking some enjoyment in this verbal dance of theirs. "Checking up on me, are you?"
"I was... concerned," Cu answers; the wariness in his voice telegraphing that he was being serious. Understanding, Scathach's face and tone turn stoic.
"For me, or your masters?"
As he thought about his response, Cu's eyes scan the mementos, recognizing some that belong to other warriors during his tenue here in Castle Dunscaith. He fixates on an ornate pendant beside a symbol of Connacht.
-This belonged to Ferdiad...-
Pushing down his sentiment, he finally answers her.
"After everything that happened today, I thought maybe you weren't feeling up to this. You had a bit of a shaky start with the others after all."
Scathach releases an inaudible sigh, and her façade softens as she scanned the items before her as Cu was doing.
"I thought after taking your servants through my gauntlet, I might've pushed too much and too fast."
"Oh?" Cu lets out without looking at her. He suspected that Scathach felt out of practice since he left, but to actually hear her admit it was eye-opening to say the least.
"However," Scathach corrects herself as her tone turns more self-assuring. "Getting to tutor your masters privately was a refreshing change of pace. I simply needed to refamiliarize myself."
Cu lets a smile slip through, amused that she didn't want him thinking she had gotten dull. He knew Scathach had more pride than that.
Intimately well he would add...
"I'm surprised," he remarks. "I thought you would force them to fight one your runic golems from the onset."
"That would have been... tactless of me," Scathach tells him, feeling amused by his words. "It's pointless to demand so much of a student when they don't even know the basics of runes yet. I may be thorough, but I'm not unreasonable."
Cu's gaze travels to an empty space beside what he believed was Ferdiad's pendant. What made him curious was that there were signs that something used to be there; outlines of dust betraying that fact. It seemed Scathach has not tended to this place in a while, but some trinket had been moved... recently. He stayed passive as he responds:
"Not quite how I remember our time... I'm actually kinda jealous of the masters getting an easy session with you."
Scathach took a quick glance at her former student, wondering what he was looking for, but decided not to pry. Just looking at the man he's become and the fact he was living again as a Heroic Spirit gave the Shadow a stroke of pride in the fact that at least one of her students became a renowned warrior worthy of legend.
Part of her wanted him to divulge everything that the Lancer went through after-, Scathach pushed that thought down just as the reminder became painful.
"Do not worry," she assures him while staying composed as she usually was around him. "Your masters picked up on runes remarkably quick..."
She consciously lets a smile form, knowing her next words will grab his attention.
"So quick in fact... that I feel I can start to really move things along."
Cu's gaze broke away from the assortment of items and took a sideways glance at his mentor, noticing the all too familiar glint in her eye.
"Uh oh..." he said with feigned trepidation. "I know that look..."
Scathach chuckled under her breath at getting this reaction out of him. She couldn't explain it, but something about it made her want to act more... crudely.
"What's the matter Setanta?" she lightly teased as she turned to face him. "Don't you trust me?"
Cu blinked at Scathach in surprise, but quickly pulling himself together, he meets her challenging gaze and replies:
"I trust ONLY that you won't put them through something overly dangerous. They're humanity's last hope you know..."
Scathach merely raised an eyebrow and tilts her head ever so slightly.
"What do you think I am? A sadist?"
Seeing an opening, Cu smirks.
"That thought had occurred to me before..."
"Oh, stop it," Scathach looks away and cast her head, trying to hide a smile. Cu quietly relishes in seeing his usually stoic mentor be so approachable and easy going like this, even for a fleeting moment. It reminded him of old times, especially near the end of his stay...
And it seemed his teacher was reminded too.
It was fleeting, as Cu saw Scathach look back at her display of keepsakes and her face became devoid of amusement; her walls reappearing as she seemed to once again be in contemplation. Cu found himself missing the amusement Scathach allowed herself to feel just moments before. Silence hung between them as Cu followed her gaze towards the assortment of objects. Cu's tone turned serious as he broke the quiet atmosphere.
"You still think my masters and teammates will give you what you want..." Cu stated, at which Scathach evenly replies.
"That remains to be seen..."
Cu's face didn't show it, but he felt like someone drove a knife through his heart. Reflecting on the past even more, the Hound of Ulster was painfully reminded of their last time together.
"I still don't agree with why you're really doing this..." Cu tells his mentor as the familiar and conflicting feelings were being reflected in his voice. "I'm sure Uathach wouldn't either."
Scathach's eyes narrow, and her fist closes...
"You ought to try being in my position, Setanta," she said evenly. Though not evident in her voice, the Lancer had a feeling she was experiencing the same feelings he currently was. "See how YOU take it..."
With that, Scathach turned to leave. Cu didn't bother watching her as she turned a corner and disappeared. Cu lets out an exasperated sigh, haven't once again failed to change her mind.
This wasn't the first time he tried...
The Lancer stayed looking over the trophies before following Scathach to the mess-hall. They both knew what these trinkets truly represented, and Cu was worried that his mentor would add his masters or the Sabers to this collection.
For the objects here belonged to warriors that Scathach had trained successfully, while at the same time...
They were also her failures.
---
Later on, the masters and servants gathered and waited in the mess-hall, with Uathach accompanying them. As per usual, Arturia and Mordred sat at different tables, staying away from each other after their argument earlier. Sitting across from the red Saber were Astolfo and Jekyll. Everyone else, save for Cu Chulainn, sat at a table with the daughter of the Shadow listening to her with interest. The paladin was listening to the little girl who was telling the masters, Mashu, Arturia, Emiya, and Jeanne more about Cu's time at Castle Dunscaith. The Lancer was standing up and leaning against a nearby wall as he heard all of this with a tinge of embarrassment.
"So what happened then?" Gudao asks Uathach.
"Mother made Cu clean out the halls for 3 nights straight," she tells them a smile. "Said it served him right for stealing all the bread in the kitchen and swapping them with rocks he charmed to LOOK like them. There were a lot of broken teeth to pick up..."
"So mischievous," Gabrielle remarked, almost dreamy like. "I never knew Cu was such a trouble-maker..."
The Lancer in question sighed and said to save face:
"I was like 14 at the time. I didn't know any better..."
"Mother made sure you DID..." Uathach lightheartedly scolded him. "She didn't appreciate you using an illusion spell she taught you for something so juvenile."
"It was Ferdiad's idea," he insisted. "Compared to me, Teacher let him off easy..."
"Who was he by the way?" Jeanne asked out of the blue. "I recall Uathach mentioning him earlier this morning."
Uathach didn't mind explaining to the Ruler and whoever else was interested:
"Ferdiad was a young soldier from Connacht who came here with Cu Chulainn with the same goal of training with Mother. He and Cu were great friends, even after they competed for the right to challenge her."
"Challenge her to what?" Mashu asks with curiosity, but before Uathach could give an answer, the hall's doors burst open, revealing Scathach.
"That's not important..." she answers for her daughter, ending the conversation right then and there. Everyone figured that she must have been outside listening the whole time. There was a tense silence in the room until the warrior queen's demeanor shifts to become slightly more outgoing.
"Anyways," she starts casually, walking towards the group. "The Revenants are preparing my catch. They're beginning to cook it as we speak..."
"Boar again?" Gudao asks.
"Yes," Scathach replied, understanding the master's slight disappointment. "I don't get a large variety of food in this place, so it's usually game-meat along with whatever plant or fruit I find. Not ideal for a sizeable number of guests I'm afraid. Not to mention there's only one way I can serve it. Crude, I know."
Most of the others were trepidatious at the thought of having only to eat one or two different meals during their stay, but Emiya had a bright idea that he thought he'd share with their host.
"Scathach, I believe I can help with that..." Scathach looks at the Archer with mild surprise as he stood up and then asked: "Do you have a kitchen?"
The Shadow stared in confusion before answering him.
"It's back there," she pointed behind her before telling him: "But just so you know, there's no oven or fridge, or much of anything else you might be used to..."
"That won't be a problem," Emiya assured her before cracking his knuckles and grabbing a bag full of supplies he bought from Edinburgh. "Time for me to do my thing..."
Everyone watched as Emiya exited the mess hall. Scathach was left visibly confused and asks the masters:
"What is he going to do?"
"Many a great thing gracious host," Arturia answers for them, anticipation evident in her voice. "Shirou's cooking skills are worthy of legend."
At that, Cu Chulainn brazenly scoffs.
"Tch... it's the only thing that gives that bastard any merit..."
Scathach glances at the Lancer, getting the feeling that her former student doesn't like the red Archer very much. Despite that, she was curious as to how Emiya was going to cook and prepare dinner for them.
---
Soon after, Emiya was working his magic in the kitchen; or rather a room that would be considered as such from the first century. Aside from a firepit, a stone table, some pitchers of water, and an empty pantry, there wasn't much for Emiya to work with.
But luckily, the Archer came prepared...
With the meat already prepared and ready to cook (courtesy of Scathach's Revenants), Emiya plopped his canvas bag on the table. It was ordinary looking while not seeming very large, but Emiya reached his hand in and pulled out an absurdly large cooler; WAY too large to fit in that bag first place (The Archer thanked his masters for giving him one that was charmed with spatial magic for that to happen). Setting it down, he opened it to reveal all the food and supplies he bought back in Edinburgh, including some potatoes, vegetables, and assorted spices. Pulling some more cooking supplies out his bag, including cutlery, a cutting board, and some pots and pans, Emiya was ready to get started.
It would be a basic meal for what he was usually used to making, but as a self-taught chef, Emiya knew that even basic dishes can be memorable and tasty if prepared just right. As he tasted a sample of cooked boar, deciding what to add to it, and preparing everything else, Emiya was taken back in time as he fell into an almost meditative and automatic state, like he could cook without it needing his complete attention.
Growing up in Fuyuki after being adopted by Kiritsugu Emiya, young Shirou took time to properly learn how to cook as his father was admittedly lousy at it. Cooking was one of the few joys Shirou allowed himself to have after his father unexpectedly passed away, even more so when Arturia enjoyed it while she was his servant during the Holy Grail War. She explained in her time that food was only cooked and basically thrown together with no care or thought going into flavor or variety, so even something like rice with curry would be enough to impress her. Shirou used to see the blue Saber smile whenever she indulged in his cooking; a glimpse of the cute, naïve girl that lay beneath the brave and noble exterior of a king.
Whether he knew it at the time or not, seeing the Saber smile even from something as mundane as eating a well-prepared meal brought even greater joy to him. After learning of her past and regrets, Shirou took it upon himself to see that Arturia never went a day without showing one.
After what seemed like an hour, Emiya was satisfied with the way the boar-meat turned out, having been slow-cooked over flame rotisserie-style, along with the carefully seasoned potatoes and vegetables. He started to arrange the portions of him and the others in a way that the dishes would look as they will taste, cutting the sections of boar-meat into slices that fanned out along each plate.
Again... basic, considering what Emiya had to work with. However, Emiya had a feeling that Scathach would NOT be disappointed. For if there was one thing Emiya learned in Chaldea, it's that it doesn't take too much for historical heroes to be impressed with the cuisine of modernity...
Eventually, Emiya presented his dish in front of the warrior queen; placed in front of her as she was sitting down at a table in the mess hall for everyone to see.
"Scathach," he begins cordially. "Since you are our host, it's only fair you get the first portion."
"Ummm... thank you," she said awkwardly as she stared back at the dish of food in front of her. Scathach was inaudibly amazed and confused at the arrangement before her; the meat looked especially appealing and much juicier than she ever cooked it, even with whatever spices Emiya put on it. The vegetables and herbed potatoes didn't look bad either and seemed to compliment the meat itself. Taking it all in, it baffled and yet intrigued her that someone would ever present food in this way. She was of the mindset that food was to simply be consumed, so it seemed pointless for anyone to go through the trouble.
Yet Scathach would not deny that it made the dish so delicious to the eye. But does it taste as good as it looks?
Before she could ponder that too much, Emiya gave her a knife and fork and whispered at her to "try the meat first." Arturia was eager to eventually eat Emiya's meal, but she wanted to see how the Shadow would react. The Saber, along with everyone else watched as Scathach took some delectable boar-meat and put it in her mouth. She started chewing and then...
-!
Scathach's eyes widen as she lets the taste of juicy, seasoned meat sink in. She found herself blind-sighted by how flavorful it turned out. Once she finished her bite, she was left speechless.
"This is-" She struggles to formulate a sentence. "This is-!"
Emiya just smirks in victory while Cu Chulainn was astonished by his mentor's reaction.
-By the gods... Teacher is lost for words!-
The Lancer wasn't the only one. While everyone else knew Emiya's cooking skills were top-notch, it never ceased to amaze them how anyone who tries his cooking for the first time are left in awe. Still reeling, Scathach turns and said to the Archer:
"I've had boar countless times...This is just so... delicious... how in Lugh's name did you...?"
"I've had some practice..." Emiya tells her with a hint of modesty, but nearby, Arturia knew it was huge downplay on how good he was in the kitchen.
"But never in my life have I-!" Scathach starts off before changing direction. She looks unsure of herself before and says hesitantly; "I might be out of line for saying this but..."
Everyone waited to hear what she was going to say next, and were left surprised when Scathach asked Emiya with utmost conviction:
"Can you please cook for me during your stay?"
Emiya blinked at her in astonishment before composing himself to answer.
"I'm already someone's personal chef," the Archer said while rubbing the back of his head in slight embarrassment. "You will have to take it up with her..."
At that, Emiya glances to his side and Scathach's gaze follows to see a content Arturia looking back at them. The blue Saber then said to the Shadow.
"I do not mind at all actually," she says with sincerity. "Shirou's skill in the kitchen is too good to not be shared with. After all, hunger is the enemy..."
Eventually, everyone helped themselves to the meal prepared by Emiya. Arturia for one happily mowed through some extra servings he prepared for just that very reason. Jekyll and Mordred hardly touched their food as they were both trying to avoid contact with each other after their awkward moment earlier; something that still weighed on their minds. Fortunately (or not...), the servant sitting with them as per usual, was never one to let silence hang in the air.
"Emiya's dishes are still dynamite! I don't know how he does it." Astolfo said happily as he indulged in his meal, seemingly oblivious to what was hanging between the Assassin and the red Saber. "It's good to know that we'll still be well fed in this place. No offence to Scathach of course..."
He then sees that the two of them still had full plates and stops to ask them:
"Aren't you two going to eat?"
"I'll save it for later..." Mordred says casually without even looking at the Rider.
"You can have some of mine," Jekyll replies in similar fashion as he nudges his plate forward. "I'm not hungry..."
Astolfo's eyes dart between the two servants briefly in bewilderment, not expecting this reaction out of either of them.
"Uh thanks..." He awkwardly took the plate, not hungry enough to want to have it. Looking around, the Rider sees Uathach just standing nearby watching everyone eat.
"Aren't you hungry, Uathach?" He asks her, offering Jekyll's plate.
"I've eaten already, thank you..." She politely declined, yet the Rider couldn't recall ever seeing the Shadow's daughter eat anything.
"Are you sure?" Astolfo asks again, holding out the plate in a tantalizing manner. "I guarantee you... it's absolutely delicious..."
"I'm sure it is..." Uathach said with a smile, leaving no room for further offerings. The Rider was left baffled and dismayed. "Reading the room" was never a strong suit of his, but Astolfo could feel if something was... off, even if he couldn't put his finger on what that something was.
-I can't really be this oblivious, can I? I'm a paladin... I help whoever I can. It's the right thing after all.-
Whether it was Mordred or with Chaldea, Astolfo wanted to help everyone. It was why he became a hero after all. It irked him whenever he felt he couldn't do anything to help his friends, even if for some reason they kept their woes to themselves. The Rider knew he wasn't the most reliable person, but he never minded being the one person that brought positivity to the whole team.
Since their VR training session, the paladin thought it was needed more than ever. He can't understand why it seemed like he was the only one wanting things to be better for everybody. Astolfo lets out an exasperated sigh.
If only his fellow paladins could see him now...
-I know-! I know, Roland. I'm trying my best here...-
Before he let himself dwell on it too much, Astolfo thought it be best to "drown" his soured mood.
"Hey Emiya?" He called out to the red Archer at the adjacent table, who was just previously watching Arturia eat. "You got what I asked for back in Edinburgh?"
"As a matter of fact, I did," Emiya answers him before reaching in his bag, and eventually pulled out a black and green soda can, which he then tossed to the paladin.
"Yeah!" The Rider caught it, and his mood was immediately lifted. Mordred heard the hiss of the soda can open and turned to see the paladin bring it up to his mouth, reading the brand of the beverage:
MONSTER ENERGY™
Before Astolfo could take a sip, he notices Mordred staring at him like it's the most peculiar thing she has ever seen.
"What?" The paladin asked honestly as if there was something wrong. Mordred slowly looked away and said quietly:
"Nothing..."
The red Saber returned to letting her mind wander, letting the Rider enjoy his odd choice of beverage in peace. Mordred was still thinking about her and Jekyll's private moment earlier and found herself unsure of what to make of it. On top of that was her argument with Arturia and how they attempted to wound each other's pride. It was a lot for the less-than mature knight to sort through and it frustrated her to no end. Wanting something else to focus on, Mordred glances towards the masters' table and her attention falls on the conversing warrior-queen, remembering their confrontation vividly...
Mordred was ashamed of this fact, but when Scathach talked down to her, the knight would feel a familiar yet unpleasant feeling in her arms. She found it frightening...
"I wish to try more of his dishes," Scathach tells the masters as she nearly finishes her plate. Gudao, Gabrielle and Mashu could not help but notice that her smile had not left her face since her first bite. "I would also like to know how he learned to cook so well."
"I'm sure if you ask nicely, Emiya can tell you all about it," Gabrielle says to her. Gudao then adds:
"He is a relatively recent hero, so he knows all about modern cooking techniques."
"I'd like to learn them all..." Scathach said with a smile, and Cu Chulainn had to resist the urge to scoff again at the Archer getting his mentor's praise.
-It took me years to earn it by fighting, and that sod just had to cook a meal for her. SO not fair...-
"So you never had food prepared like this before?" Mashu asks the warrior queen as she gives Fou on her shoulder a piece of a potato. This was often the case for any historical hero her masters summon, but considering Scathach has been alive so long, the Shielder figured she could learn for herself.
"Indeed, I haven't," Scathach answered somewhat sadly. "It's a trivial thing to prepare food beyond being simply edible, considering MY daily schedule, so I never really bothered. I've heard of all your innovations, but I sort of overlooked some more than others it seems..."
Mashu and the masters all looked at each other with questioning looks. They were all stumped by what they just heard from the warrior queen and all thought about what that meant. After all, Scathach had said previously that she never left the forest in ALL these centuries.
Something wasn't adding up...
"Say, Scathach?" Gabrielle was the first to ask, earning the Shadow's attention. "How do you even know what an oven or fridge is? You don't seem like the kind of person to be so knowledgeable of something like that when everything in this fortress is beyond ancient."
"Not to mention what you said about Solomon..." Gudao added on top of that. "How could you have learned about him? It's not like you have internet..."
Scathach nearly let out a chuckle upon hearing that, and Gudao was surprised that she even understood the joke. Cu Chulainn was himself curious about what his mentor has been up to since his time training under her.
"I'm actually glad you both asked," she revealed. "It's a bit of a secret of mine, except I had no one to share it with until now..."
"What secret?" Mashu asked as the other servants were now paying the warrior-queen attention. Scathach saw this, and after some contemplation, she said to everybody:
"I think it would be better if instead of telling you all, that I simply show you. All of you are welcome to join me after this..."
Jeanne was equally curious as everyone else, and turned to ask Uathach who had been standing nearby with a look of excitement:
"Do you know what she's talking about?"
Uathach giggled as she gave the Ruler a beaming smile.
"Let's just say... you are ALL in for a treat, o' honored guests."
---
Later on, Scathach led the masters and servants through the halls of Castle Dunscaith, joined by two of her Revenants. They've been walking for what seemed like several minutes into an area of the fortress that they haven't explored yet, still amazed at the enormity of the complex as well as feeling the anticipation of seeing what the Shadow wanted to show them.
"As you can no doubt tell...", Scathach said as they walked on. "My abode is quite large. So large in fact, that there are several chambers that are completely empty and connected to each other. I felt that I needed to put all this space to use somehow..."
Hearing this made everybody that much more curious to what they were in for. Things became more questionable when the group had reached their destination:
A very large set of double doors...
With a wave of her hand with a flashing rune, Scathach disengaged whatever seal was on the doorway and pushed both doors open. The Revenants motioned everyone to follow the warrior-queen inside, footsteps creating echo indicating the expanse of this one room. And yet, all around was pitch black with no light of any kind. Nobody could see what was inside this chamber just from taking a few steps inside. Everyone was filled with even more questions as Scathach said to them all:
"My way of living is... antiquated, I would say." Her voice reverberated like an echo as she stepped in front of the group. "Doesn't mean I'm not curious of how much humanity has progressed..."
(SNAP)
Scathach snapped her fingers, and one-by-one, a series of braziers, torches, and candelabras that hung from the pillars and vaulted ceiling lit up the entire chamber in flame-light seemingly in perfect domino effect as far as the human eye can see. The darkness of the chamber was gone, lit-up to reveal just how enormous the space truly was.
Yet, that wasn't the most amazing feature of the room, as Gudao lets slip from his mouth:
"Whoa..."
And he wasn't alone. To EVERYONE'S amazement, the chamber was seemingly filled to the brim with various objects and artifacts from select eras of human history, packed together closely and yet neatly organized. From shelves full of old manuscripts and scrolls to huge displays of boats, siege weapons, jewelry, paintings, armors, sculptures; and all of that was only scratching the surface of the vast collection. Any object one wished to see from history, chances are they could find it in here.
The masters and servants were all in awe of the sight before them. Even Cu Chulainn, who was arguably the one who was least surprised, couldn't hide his wonder.
After all, none of this was here during his time...
"I never figured you for a hoarder, Teacher," he remarked as Scathach walked back in front of everyone.
"It's not hoarding Setanta," she clarified as matter-of-factly. "I've been "collecting"..."
Gudao stood there looking around, while at the same time wishing he had more eyes. What he was experiencing essentially was any history-lover's wet dream.
"You're all free to look around but stay close," Scathach tells the group. "I imagine it would be easy to get lost in here..."
Everybody wandered around to browse the myriad of antiquities and other note-worthy objects around the chamber while remaining within each other's line of sight. Cu Chulainn stayed close to Scathach while letting his eyes wander. Mordred went by herself with Jekyll following closely, and they found themselves browsing a row of European weapons, including spears, axes and swords. Jeanne was examining some religious objects, including a jeweled crucifix from the Gothic period, right next to some French paintings. Nearby, Astolfo was happily darting between displays, pausing only momentarily to admire each object.
"This is unbearably cool!" He said aloud as he looked over a set of calvary equipment, including spurs, a saber, and ornate horse armor; Late Medieval if he had to guess the time period they came from. Astolfo immediately honed-in on another curiosity until he saw something out of the corner of his eye that made him freeze on the spot. Jeanne looks up to see everyone else has moved on far from them and she didn't want to get separated.
"Rider," she then called to Astolfo. "We should keep up with the others..."
Turning to him, the Ruler sees Astolfo standing on the spot and staring at something she couldn't see. What really perturbed her was the look of astonishment on the paladin's face; not something Jeanne was used to seeing from him. He seemed genuinely distracted...
"Rider!" She called again, and this time grabs his attention.
"Huh?" Astolfo said absently as if he forgot about the group. He came to senses and realized why Jeanne was calling him. "Oh, right! Coming Jeanne!"
The Rider takes one last glance at the mysterious object before reluctantly following Jeanne to re-join the group. Meanwhile, Arturia was browsing some particular artifacts with interest.
"These artifacts date back to when Rome colonized Britain," Arturia said as her eyes shifted between a Roman ballista to a display of legionnaire armor. Her attention was then grabbed to a table full of assorted trinkets. "Shirou, look at this..."
She motioned Emiya to come beside her, and he saw the blue Saber holding up a type of dagger* carefully while inspecting it.
"This is of Saxon design," Arturia says as she showed it to the Archer. "Camelot seized a lot of these after we quelled a series of skirmishes. Someone went through the trouble of engraving this one and etching lines on the hilt. It was clearly made for a soldier of high rank but looks like it never saw a day of battle. It's quite pristine..."
The former Counter-Guardian was intrigued, then spotted something out of the corner of his eye.
"There's stuff from Japan as well," Emiya said as he motioned Arturia to follow him. She put down the Seax and joined the Archer across the aisle in front of a stand of Samurai armor. "Nice to see a little taste of home..."
"Indeed," Arturia said as her gaze traveled from the masked helm to the chest plate, which she saw had a jagged scrape running directly across. Whoever wore this must have survived what could've been a fatal blow and lived through a bloody battle.
-I wonder if everything in here has a story to tell...-
"Check out these books," Gudao said in wonder as he carefully rummaged through a shelf full of reading material. In addition to old books, there were scrolls and other ancient forms of text. "The first printings of the Bible, Quran, Torah..."
"Encyclopedias," Gabrielle muttered nearby as she scanned another shelf; her fascination was apparent. "Complete sets... as far back as the late seventeen-hundreds!"
"There are novels here too," said Mashu as she was leafing through a copy of Doyle's A Study in Scarlet*. "All original prints!"
"Is this some kind of private museum?" Gudao asks Scathach who was merely standing by watching everyone.
"Not quite," she replies. "I actually take time to familiarize myself all of this. I have memorized most of these word-for word..."
Gabrielle carefully puts a book back in its shelf and takes a step back, taking in the atmosphere of the room and what she has seen so far.
"This is... overwhelming..."
"That hardly begins to describe it Master," Cu Chulainn said to her as she then turned to see what the Lancer was pointing her attention towards. "Look..."
Gabrielle follows Cu's gaze further into an unexplored area the chamber, and Gudao, Mashu and everyone else did the same. They all walked on and found themselves in a new section of the room; the contents of which were noticeably more... contemporary.
"Modern technology," Gudao said out loud as the group browsed another myriad of objects; all of which seemed to be 20th century inventions. From the first production car to the first personal computer, and even modern conveniences such as the refrigerator, microwave oven, and even television sets.
And it looked like Scathach had a sizeable collection of cars in particular... something Mordred indulged herself with.
"Beansprout, look at this!" she said excitedly as Jekyll came up to her looking through the window of one special antique sportscar that was bright red. "A 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO... one of only 36 ever made! It must've cost a fortune!"
"How would you know that?" Jekyll said as he watched the red Saber fawn over the automobile.
"I have a B-Rank in Riding," she replied as she crouched to look at the wheels. "You think I wouldn't like to know what I could put that skill towards?"
"Fair point... I must say, it suits you..."
"Oh really?" Mordred felt her face heat up slightly from the complement. Stamping that feeling down, she shrugs and then stands up to look inside the car again.
"I don't see the keys anywhere," Mordred said before a devious smile formed on her face. "I bet I can hot-wire it..."
That made Jekyll's face morph into one of horror. Did he hear her correctly?
"Wait, you know how to hot-wire a car?!"
"Part of my Riding skill, duh..." Mordred said casually. Jekyll was stunned into silence as he thought:
-I hope the Masters are aware of this. Last thing we need is Mordred taking one of these expensive cars for a joyride...-
-Sounds like MY idea of a good time--
-SILENCE.-
Nearby, Mashu and the masters were walking with Scathach as everybody was busy browsing; a couple of Revenants were following them. Cu Chulainn was a good distance away but could overhear the kids talking with the warrior-queen.
"There is so much stuff in here," Mashu said as they walked. "Any museum would pay a lot for just a fraction of this..."
"The 20th century was quite progressive," Scathach told them. "I'd wager this section makes up nearly a third of this chamber alone. And from the looks of it..."
She stopped and showed Mashu and the masters a section that held even more modern inventions; ones that the trio could tell were even more recent and made within the last few years. There was more empty space here compared to everywhere else in the room; a sign that this section was the latest to be filled.
"The twenty-first is shaping up to be quite the same..." Scathach finished as she crossed her arms over her chest proudly.
"It's all incredible," Gabrielle expressed her admiration of everything she has seen so far, and from the look of joy on both Gudao and Mashu's faces, they felt it too.
But one nagging question remained. One that all three of them wanted to know...
"But Scathach?" Gabrielle begins. "How did you even get all of this stuff? I thought you couldn't leave."
Scathach smirks, anticipating that question to come her way at some point.
"How indeed..."
In response, her eyes light up, and from behind the trio-
"It is true that Master cannot leave," Gudao, Gabrielle, and Mashu all turn and saw that the sound came from one of the two Revenants behind them. Both the Revenants eyes were glowing the same as Scathach's. "But we are under no such restriction..."
The trio stare agape at one of the Revenants actually speaking to them, and in a surprisingly smooth voice that was uniquely its own.
"What the-?" Gudao said in surprise. All three of them have never heard any of the Revenants speak before. "The Revenant is talking?"
"With some help," the other Revenant clarified. "Master can share her consciousness with us which lets us communicate. She can let us use suggestion magic, which is how we've procured these items."
All three of them turn back at Scathach after hearing that.
"You stole them?" Mashu asked with visible disbelief. Scathach's eye's dim down and looks at Mashu sternly.
"Of course not," she said as Gudao and Gabrielle look back at the Revenants, whose eyes have returned to normal and were now bowing humbly, silent once more. They turned back to Scathach as she then explains, "There's a stock of gold that can replicate, left behind by my predecessor. When this fortress was built, he was provided everything he could conceivably need to carry out his duty. Naturally, I inherited everything in this place..."
"All of this... just to prevent monsters from leaving this forest?" Mashu asked again, feeling that there was more behind this fortress than she or her masters previously thought. "It seems unnecessary if you ask me."
"There's more to it than simply that," Scathach reveals rather reluctantly. "That's all I can safely say..."
"So, you have your Revenants going outside the veil, and bringing artifacts back here?" Gudao asks rhetorically to which Scathach nods. Now it all made sense to him as to how remarkably informed Scathach was about the modern world. "That's understandable. I imagine if you didn't occupy yourself with learning about the outside world, then just hanging out in this fort and hunting would be pretty boring."
"That is right..." the Shadow said almost sadly, something not unnoticed by Cu Chulainn as he and the other servants gather close-by.
"So why are you showing us all of this?" Gabrielle asks the warrior queen.
"Well... after all that's happened today, I thought I could motivate you all by letting you in here between lessons..."
Everyone was visibly surprised. Scathach was going to let them explore and interact with EVERYTHING in this chamber? The masters and servants all collectively said:
"REALLY?!"
"-Provided..." Scathach swiftly added, curbing the excitement. "-That all of you take part and work hard to impress me or continue to do so..." she turns to wink at Gudao and Gabrielle upon saying that last part. Jeanne and Astolfo happened to be standing near a helmed suit of European armor holding a halberd as everyone paid attention to the warrior-queen. "Since I am granting you access to these items, I trust that all of you will not take anything out as well as treat every object in here with utmost respect and-"
(CLANG!)
Having blindly leaned against the armor, Astolfo accidentally knocked the halberd loose, along with the helmet off the suit. Everyone watched as the paladin quickly scrambled to grab both before they fell and sloppily put them back in place.
"-care...", Scathach finally finished and watched Astolfo skeptically as he composed himself and breathed a happy sigh of relief. The paladin then sees Jeanne beside him glaring and putting her hands on her hips, silently scolding the clumsy Rider; to which Astolfo rubs his head and meekly laughs in embarrassment. The minor slip-up aside, the rest of the servants all felt that their stay at Castle Dunscaith had suddenly become much more interesting...