"Sensei!"
Feeling the breaking of their Master-Servant contract, Shinji's eyes widened in despair as he ran frantically to Scathach's side.
With him came Justeaze.
"Shinji, quickly use a Command Spell, there might still be time," Justeaze urged.
"In the name of the Command Spell—"
Before the order could be given, Scathach preemptively covered Shinji's mouth with her empty right hand.
"No need. My spiritual core has already shattered. Even with a Command Spell, it cannot be restored," she said.
Shinji's eyes instantly turned red.
"Why? Why didn't you dodge? Others couldn't dodge Saber's strike, but you could have. Why didn't you?"
"Why do you say that?" Scathach chuckled as she pushed Justeaze away with her hand.
"I know about the 'Wisdom of Dún Scáith
' ability. It allows you to 'Reposition Yourself' and immediately retreat from the battlefield. If you had used this ability, Saber's self-sacrificing charge wouldn't have harmed you in the slightest. And with her depleted magical energy, she wouldn't have been able to withstand your subsequent attacks. Victory should have been yours!"
Shinji's hysterical roar was like a bucket of cold water that extinguished the joy of victory in Saber's heart. She stared blankly at Scathach and asked.
"Is this true?"
"Well, you could say that. Living for a long time, you tend to acquire more skills," Scathach nodded helplessly. "Unlike other Servants, my spiritual core didn't disintegrate thanks to the 'Battle Continuation' skill."
"Why?" Saber asked the same question as Shinji.
"Do you remember my wish? I yearn for death. Since the Holy Grail couldn't kill me, at least let me experience the sensation of being killed in the form of a Servant."
Unlike anyone else, Scathach was filled with anticipation of the impending death. She reached out and gently touched Shinji's sulking head.
"My dear little Master, I know exactly what you're planning. If I were the victor, you would use a Command Spell to reestablish our contract before I disappear, right?"
"I-I just... don't want to be separated from you."
Scathach bent down and embraced her disciple, who revealed a vulnerable expression.
"Ah, I know, I know. That's why I have to leave you even more. If not, you won't be able to truly grow."
"Sensei... Will I see you again?"
"Of course, we will meet again. Didn't you say you wanted to end my eternity? I'll be waiting for you in the Land of Shadows."
"But that may take decades or even longer," Shinji buried his head in Scathach's shoulder, not letting her see his tears.
"It's okay, it's just a few decades, and I've already lived through many decades," Scathach gently patted her disciple's back, revealing a rare moment of tenderness as they faced their parting.
"If there's another Holy Grail War, will you respond to my summons?"
"That depends on your performance," Scathach smiled faintly. "If you haven't grown enough, I won't answer your call—unless you can last ten minutes under my spear."
Shinji's body suddenly stiffened. Although his tears stopped, his expression grew even more grim.
"Sensei, isn't that requirement too high? Can't we negotiate a discount?"
"No negotiation. You've obtained various Noble Phantasms and consumed that thing. The ten-minute requirement is already quite low."
To be honest, this requirement wasn't particularly high, but Shinji had his concerns.
"Without your guidance, relying solely on my exploration, I don't have much confidence. The 'Child of Light' also underwent careful cultivation by Fergus and studied in the Land of Shadows for a year and a month before achieving their later fame."
"You don't need to worry about that; I have made arrangements."
The words in his ear left Shinji feeling puzzled.
"What does that mean?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
Scathach released Shinji, a faint smile playing at the corner of her lips. She looked up at the "hole" in the sky, continuously oozing black mud.
"Justeaze, after a Servant's death, does the remaining fragment that remains in the world become fuel for the Holy Grail?"
"Yes," Justeaze replied affirmatively, though uncertain of Scathach's intentions.
"Well, that's not a good place to go. I won't be going in there."
Starting from her feet, Scathach's body began to crumble. Instead of dispersing into spiritual particles like other Servants, it coalesced into four magical crystals of varying sizes and colors.
In the moment her body completely disappeared, the magical crystals scattered. Two of them flew into Shinji and Justeaze's bodies, while the other two flew over the walls of Ryuudou Temple and descended towards the mountain.
"Rather than becoming fuel for that thing, I'd rather become your fuel—accept it, this is my final guidance."
The last words, along with the magical crystals, conveyed Scathach's intentions to those she wished to reach—her beloved disciple and her trusted friend.
This was Scathach's final gift, the true essence of the Wisdom of Dún Scáith.
Acquiring skills and imparting skills were merely degraded versions limited by the container of the Servant. The true nature of this skill lies in the transmission of knowledge, experience, insights, and other elements worthy of being called "wisdom."
At the end of her Servant career, just before being devoured by the Holy Grail, Scathach transformed her essence, her spiritual foundation, and everything remaining of herself into "wisdom," passing it on to the four individuals closest to her.
This was something only Scathach could accomplish, the remarkable achievement of the one-of-a-kind Queen of the Shadow, who was neither living nor dead, nor a Heroic Spirit.
It contained Scathach's heartfelt hopes and aspirations, capable of benefiting each recipient for a lifetime.
When all the crystallized inheritances were in place, Scathach lost sight of the mortal world and awakened from the dream of the other side.
Before her eyes was still the monotonous landscape, composed of only three colors—black, white, and gray. The sky and the earth were dim, and boundless shadows extended into the distance between heaven and earth.
This was the Land of Shadows, the domain ruled by Scathach.
"Have I returned?"
The sole color within the realm rose from the throne, and the shadows receded around it, seemingly in awe of this eternal queen.
The queen's gaze did not linger on the shadows but instead turned to the endless sky, to the mortal world beyond, to the places where her fates were intertwined.
She saw Sakura and Kariya weep in mourning for her passing.
She saw Justeaze comprehend the meaning of sadness.
She saw her most hopeful disciple wipe away tears, clenching his fist with determination, a unique aura brewing within him.
Casting off impetuosity, heading toward composure.
Casting off youthfulness, and heading toward maturity.
Just like the death fang of the Beast of the Waves, Curruid, finally takes shape as a spear.
"I'll be waiting for you to become the true Spear of Mortal Thorn, piercing through this eternal body!"
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