"When we first met, I thought you were a clever boy..." Standing atop the city wall, Scathach gazed into the void before her, her crimson eyes unusually gentle.
"And now, the world probably thinks you're a smart, brave, resourceful, and indomitable warrior," she continued, her lips curving into a faint smile that no one could see. A playful breeze teased her crimson hair, and she tucked a loose strand behind her ear with a gesture that belied her usual aloof demeanor.
"But I understand better than anyone—you've always been... just a fool."
To Kevin, those five grueling years might be a chapter of his life he wished to bury forever. After all, the number of times he narrowly skirted death was greater than most people might face in a hundred lifetimes. But for Scathach, those years stood out as something more—a collection of memories that had somehow grown precious.
Of course, this did not mean Scathach wasn't occasionally sadistic. As the Queen of Shadows, a touch of ruthlessness came naturally.
The reasons Scathach had taken Kevin as a disciple were layered with coincidence and intrigue. Her initial curiosity about him stemmed from his peculiar lack of "destiny"—a trait she had seen in no other mortal. But a deeper influence had come years earlier, when she had been approached by an enigmatic old man in the north.
The man had taught her the original runes and spoken of a warrior destined to challenge the threads of fate. Though she had declined his request to stand against fate herself, his cryptic words had lingered in her mind. Over the years, she had pieced together his identity: Odin, the Allfather of the Aesir.
When she met Kevin, his peculiar existence had triggered memories of that encounter. Initially, her interest was purely observational—she found him intriguing but had little faith in his potential.
After all, Kevin was a child with no exceptional talent for martial arts. He came to her out of obligation, driven only by a desire to repay Cu Chulainn for saving his life. Scathach had taken him under her wing more out of idle curiosity than true belief in his potential.
But to her surprise, Kevin persevered.
Despite his complaints and occasional declarations of quitting, he endured her relentless training. Day after day, year after year, he pushed himself beyond his limits.
At first, Scathach had dismissed his persistence as mere stubbornness. But when she asked Kevin why he worked so hard, his answer took her aback.
"I'm not trying to change Cu Chulainn's fate," Kevin had told her with a wry smile.
"Then why work so hard?" Scathach had asked, genuinely curious.
Kevin shrugged. "If I don't, won't he be too pitiful? In the future, when the Kingdom of Ulster is under siege, I don't want him to have no one to trust at his back.
"He's going to be a hero—someone who fights to protect everyone else. If I'm not strong enough, he'll have to fight alone. And that's not fair to him."
Scathach had been stunned into silence. She had seen countless warriors strive for personal glory, revenge, or power. Kevin's simple, unselfish motivation was something she had never encountered before.
As Scathach waited on the city wall, these memories flitted through her mind. She had seen Kevin grow from a clumsy child into a formidable warrior. Though she would never admit it aloud, she had come to admire his tenacity and selflessness.
Now, she gazed into the distance, waiting for Kevin to arrive.
…..
Half an hour later, Cu Chulainn, who had been unconscious in the crater where Scathach had left him, finally stirred.
He groaned as he sat up, rubbing his head. His bright blue eyes darted around, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. When his gaze landed on Scathach, who was now watching him, he froze.
"You're awake," Scathach said coolly. "You've lost. According to the rules, you are now my prisoner. You will remain in the Kingdom of Shadows until I permit you to leave. Any objections?"
"Just one." Cu Chulainn took a deep breath and pointed at the red magic spear in her hand. "Are you Kevin's master?!"
Scathach raised an eyebrow, then nodded.
"Then there's only one thing to do!" Cu Chulainn exclaimed, standing tall. He hefted his weapon, and for a moment, Scathach thought he was preparing to challenge her again.
But to her surprise, Cu Chulainn snapped the weapon in half and tossed it aside.
"Queen of the Shadow Kingdom," he declared, dropping to one knee. "I swear my loyalty to you. Please, accept me as your disciple!"
For a moment, Scathach stared at him in stunned silence. Then a small, amused smile broke across her face.
It was obvious to her where Cu Chulainn had learned such an audacious move. The strategy reeked of Kevin's influence.
"Why?" Scathach asked, her smile fading as she regarded Cu Chulainn with a serious expression.
"Do you know, Queen," Cu Chulainn began, "that Kevin's killed nearly a hundred people since coming back? And that's just recently."
Scathach folded her arms, her crimson eyes narrowing.
"He doesn't like fighting or killing," Cu Chulainn continued. "He hates the smell of blood. But he still did it—nearly a hundred lives, just like that.
"That's why I need to be stronger. Stronger than him."
Scathach tilted her head, intrigued.
"Because if I'm stronger," Cu Chulainn said, his grin widening, "then he can stay the way he is—watching me fight, watching me kill people. Isn't that enough for him?"
For the first time in centuries, Scathach laughed aloud. A genuine, amused laugh that echoed across the Shadow Kingdom.
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