"Ah—!"
The scream echoed through the forest, sharp and desperate, slicing through the stillness like a blade. Kevin, who had been quietly tracking prey through the undergrowth, froze in place. His hand instinctively tightened around the hilt of his sword, his sharp black eyes scanning the trees.
Hesitation flickered across his face. A scream in these woods was no small matter. But after a moment's pause, his resolve hardened. Whatever the cause, he couldn't ignore it.
"If it's a hunter, I'll save them. If it's a thief... I'll deal with them." Kevin muttered the words softly to himself, as if trying to fortify his courage. With that, he turned and began running toward the source of the noise.
The dense foliage soon gave way to a small clearing. Kevin slowed as he emerged, his gaze sweeping across the scene before him.
And then he froze.
His wide, disbelieving eyes locked onto the figure at the center of the clearing. A tall woman stood there, her form silhouetted against the backdrop of crimson-stained grass. In her hand, she held a spear, its scarlet blade gleaming ominously in the dappled sunlight.
"No... Impossible!" Kevin's thoughts spiraled as he tried to make sense of the sight before him.
Her dark, purple-red hair cascaded down her back, swaying slightly in the breeze. She was dressed in sleek, combat-ready attire that emphasized her graceful yet imposing figure. Around her, the bodies of two men lay sprawled on the ground, their lifeless forms stark against the vibrant forest.
Kevin's heart raced as he watched her withdraw the spear from the chest of the third man. A soft, sickening sound accompanied the motion. The man crumpled to the ground, his life extinguished in an instant.
"Why is she here?" Kevin's thoughts screamed in protest. His mind flashed to every story and legend he knew about this woman.
Scathach.
The Queen of the Shadow Kingdom. The King of Martial Arts. A legend in her own right, known for her unparalleled skill and ruthless precision.
And here she was, standing before him, as real as the blood-soaked ground beneath her feet.
Kevin swallowed hard. His body trembled slightly, not from fear but from the overwhelming realization of the situation. Scathach wasn't supposed to be here. She belonged in the Shadow Kingdom, training heroes and slaying gods. What could have possibly brought her to this quiet forest?
His thoughts raced, trying to piece together a reason, but one conclusion loomed above all others.
She was here for him.
As if sensing his thoughts, Scathach turned her gaze toward him. Her crimson eyes met his, and Kevin felt as though the air had been knocked from his lungs. Her expression was unreadable, her beauty ethereal and otherworldly.
"Calm down," Kevin told himself. "Don't let her realize you know who she is. Don't let her figure it out."
Forcing his body to relax, Kevin lowered his gaze to the three fallen men. He took a shaky breath, doing his best to sound calm and natural.
"This..." He gestured to the bodies. "What's going on? These are hunters, not thieves!"
His voice was steady, but his mind raced. He needed to act like a simple bystander, someone completely unaware of the gravity of the situation.
"...They attacked me first."
Scathach's voice was calm, almost melodic. Kevin chanced a glance at her face and noticed the faintest hint of amusement playing at the corners of her lips.
Kevin's thoughts churned. If what she said was true—and given her beauty, it wasn't hard to imagine—it was likely these men had tried to accost her. And if they had... well, they had clearly underestimated their opponent.
"Fair enough," Kevin muttered under his breath.
As his mind scrambled for a way out of this encounter, he realized something critical. Scathach didn't seem inclined to reveal her identity. She wasn't wearing the traditional garb of the Shadow Kingdom, nor had she introduced herself by name.
"She's keeping up appearances," Kevin realized. "If she's not going to blow her cover, then neither will I."
Forcing a smile, Kevin raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. I'm not with them."
With that, he began to slowly back away, careful not to make any sudden movements.
"Don't call me, don't call me, don't call me..." Kevin repeated the mantra in his head, silently praying for an easy escape.
"Wait."
Kevin nearly tripped over his own feet at the sound of her voice. He turned back to face her, his forced smile still plastered on his face.
"Yes?"
Scathach tilted her head slightly, her crimson eyes studying him with a curiosity that made Kevin's skin crawl. "You say you're not with them," she began, gesturing to the bodies. "But how can I believe that? A child like you shouldn't be wandering alone in these woods."
Kevin clenched his fists, though he kept his expression calm. "You know I'm just a kid. Can't you let me go?" he thought bitterly.
But instead of voicing his frustration, he took a deep breath and said, "My name is Kevin. I'm a warrior of Ulster."
The words felt strange coming out of his mouth, but he said them with confidence.
Scathach raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching as though suppressing a smile. "A warrior, you?"
Without a word, Kevin drew the sword from his waist. He turned toward a nearby tree and, with a single swing, sliced through its thick trunk. The tree groaned before toppling to the ground with a heavy crash.
Kevin turned back to Scathach, hoping his demonstration would be enough to satisfy her.
For a moment, she said nothing. Then, to Kevin's surprise, she smiled—a small, genuine smile that sent a chill down his spine.
"Impressive," she said simply.
Kevin frowned. He wasn't sure what to make of her reaction. What did she want from him?
As the silence stretched between them, Kevin realized something important. Scathach hadn't attacked him. In fact, she hadn't made any overt moves against him at all.
"She's testing me," Kevin realized. "But why?"
The answer came to him in a flash.
"You're here because of me, aren't you?" Kevin thought, though he didn't dare say it aloud.
Scathach didn't respond immediately, but the way her gaze lingered on him confirmed his suspicions.
Kevin took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm. "If she's here to observe me, I just need to play along. She hasn't revealed her identity, so I'll act like I don't know her. For now, at least."
With that in mind, Kevin sheathed his sword and straightened his posture.
"Is there anything else you need from me?" he asked, keeping his tone polite but firm.
Scathach's smile widened ever so slightly. "Not for now," she said.
Kevin didn't wait for her to change her mind. With a quick bow, he turned and began walking back toward the trees, his heart pounding in his chest.
As he disappeared into the forest, he couldn't help but glance over his shoulder. Scathach was still standing in the clearing, her crimson eyes watching him intently.
"Why are you here, Scathach?" Kevin thought. "And what do you want from me?"
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