"Master, can I ask you a question?"
Kevin's voice trembled slightly as the excitement of becoming Scathach's apprentice began to settle into something more sobering: curiosity mixed with disbelief.
Scathach, who had been leaning lazily against a tree, tilted her head and gestured for him to speak.
Kevin hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to phrase his question without sounding foolish. Finally, he spoke, "Why... why did you agree to train me?"
He had mentally prepared for rejection. He had even considered ways to convince her if she initially refused. Yet, here he was, now her disciple, with barely any effort. It felt unreal.
Scathach's lips curled into a sly smile, her crimson eyes glinting mischievously. "Because I like you."
Kevin froze. For a moment, his mind went blank. What did she just say? He blinked rapidly, wondering if he had misheard her.
"L-Like me?" Kevin stammered, his voice cracking slightly as he stepped back instinctively, his face growing warm.
The reaction only seemed to amuse Scathach further. She chuckled softly and clarified, "Taking on disciples is my job. But I don't take just anyone. I set obstacles to weed out those who aren't worth my time. As for you..." She trailed off, observing his flustered expression with amusement. "You're determined. You're interesting. And you amuse me."
Kevin's shoulders sagged as relief washed over him. So that was it. She didn't like him in the way he'd initially feared. She simply found him... intriguing.
Still, he couldn't help but feel embarrassed by how he had overreacted. He lowered his head awkwardly, muttering, "I see."
Scathach raised an eyebrow at his subdued response, her gaze narrowing slightly. "What's wrong? Did you think I agreed because I saw some hidden potential in you?"
Kevin flinched, but before he could deny it, she continued, "If you'd grown up normally, you wouldn't even make it past the first trial of the Shadow Kingdom's entrance. You're weak. Ordinary."
Her words hit him like a slap, and Kevin felt his chest tighten.
"But..." she added, her tone softening, "you have something that most lack: persistence. Even the weakest stone can be sharpened with enough effort. You've earned this chance. Whether you can make something of it is up to you."
Kevin looked up at her, a mix of gratitude and determination in his eyes.
"Well," he began cautiously, "do I need to follow you to the Kingdom of Shadows right now?"
Scathach shook her head. "No. If you went now, it would be suicide."
Her bluntness was nothing new, but it still made Kevin shudder.
She stood abruptly, her long, crimson hair swaying as she began walking deeper into the forest.
Kevin quickly packed his things and hurried after her, wondering what she had in mind.
Though Kevin had wandered the edges of the Yari Forest many times, he had never dared to venture too deep. The forest was a dangerous place, teeming with beasts and monsters that could easily take a man's life.
Yet Scathach moved through it with ease, as if it were her private garden. Every now and then, she would casually dispatch a lurking beast with her spear, her movements fluid and precise.
Kevin watched in awe, marveling at her mastery. He wanted to learn to move like that—not just with skill but with confidence and ease.
Finally, after what felt like hours, Scathach stopped in a clearing. She scanned the area, nodding to herself.
"This will do," she said, turning to Kevin.
Kevin tilted his head in confusion. "Do for what?"
"Your first task as my apprentice," Scathach replied with a smirk. "You have one week to build a wooden house here."
Kevin blinked. "A... wooden house?"
"Yes," she said, picking up a fallen branch and expertly carving it into smaller pieces. She etched runes onto each piece, her movements swift and precise.
"These will create an illusion," she explained, handing him the carved wood. "Scatter them around the area, and they'll shield your presence from unwanted visitors. Keep one for yourself—it will allow you to come and go freely."
Kevin accepted the carved wood, studying the runes with interest. "What about you, Master?"
"I'm just a clone," Scathach said nonchalantly, waving her hand. "My real body is in the Kingdom of Shadows."
Kevin's eyes widened. A clone? He had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed was still shocking.
"Then why are you here?" he asked before he could stop himself.
Scathach's lips twitched. "Because you interest me."
As Kevin set about scattering the rune-carved wood, he heard a familiar sound. He turned and saw a beautiful bird perched on Scathach's hand.
"Hey!" Kevin exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
The bird blinked at him with wide, watery eyes, clearly uncomfortable in Scathach's grasp.
"I caught her," Scathach said matter-of-factly. "She's been following you."
Kevin's stomach sank. The bird was one of Ruger's servants, sent to deliver the divine fruit.
Scathach tilted her head, studying the bird with mild curiosity. "Go back and tell Ruger that I've taken Kevin as my apprentice. And yes, he can continue sending the divine fruit."
The bird hesitated, looking nervously at Scathach. "Should I still deliver it to him directly?"
"Yes," Scathach replied before Kevin could speak.
The bird quickly flew off, and Kevin sighed.
"Speaking of the divine fruit," Scathach said, turning to Kevin, "you've been eating it for three years?"
"Yes," Kevin admitted. "It helped me recover my strength when I was younger, but now it doesn't have much effect."
Scathach raised an eyebrow. "And Cu Chulainn? Does he eat it too?"
"No," Kevin said. "Father said he didn't need it."
Scathach's expression grew thoughtful. "So Ruger gave you the divine fruit and the magic sword," she mused. "Tell me, Kevin—who among you is the biological son?"
Kevin froze, her question catching him off guard. He opened his mouth to respond but found himself at a loss for words.
How could he answer that?
Scathach smirked at his silence, clearly amused by his discomfort.
"Well," she said, clapping him on the shoulder, "I'll leave you to figure that out. For now, focus on building that wooden house."
Kevin nodded, relieved to change the subject. As he watched Scathach walk away, he couldn't help but wonder if she had asked the question just to tease him—or if she had seen something in him that even he didn't understand.
Either way, he had work to do. And more than that—he had something to prove.
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