Kara (POV)
"Huh…" I murmured, staring up at the strange ceiling. My head throbbed, like someone had tried to crack it open. As the fog of unconsciousness started lifting, I remembered—I'd been fighting Scáthach. Or, more accurately, trying to show her what I could do. It seemed like I should've been out cold by now, considering her strength. I hadn't held back, knowing I'd need every ounce of skill just to keep up. But Scáthach, with her godly mastery and reputation as a Godslayer, was just as overwhelming as I'd imagined. Honestly, no matter the universe, she'd be ranked near the top, hands down.
I'd taken two direct hits from her magical spear, even though I could tell she'd been holding back. Apart from the pounding in my head, my injured arm actually felt… fine. Better than fine, even; it felt warm like it was being cradled. Turning my head, I found myself looking right into Scáthach's piercing purple eyes. Wait… Scáthach?
A wave of unease rolled over me. Why was she lying next to me? This didn't match her usual severe demeanor at all.
"People have different sides to them," she remarked as if reading my mind.
"Wait, did I say that out loud?"
"You did, and you might want to work on that," she replied with a slight smile, brushing a hand against my forehead. A calming sensation spread through me, though I could still feel a hint of reprimand in her words. "From what I've seen, you're barely thirteen. Whether your skills are natural or the result of some unique method, they're clearly advanced for someone your age. Even among gods and demigods, someone like you is rare."
Noticing my discomfort, she added gently, "I didn't mean to pry… it's just, your fierce fighting style contrasts so sharply with your appearance. You're young, yet you fight like a seasoned warrior, without fear. I find that… unsettling."
"It's nothing, really," I muttered.
Her gaze grew more curious, almost puzzled. "Also, your current appearance doesn't match what I saw with my clairvoyance."
Crap, busted! 'I didn't mean to pry,' she says, then pries anyway? Like those people who start a conversation with I don't mean this as an insult, but proceed to insult you. My mind raced, scrambling for an excuse, but I was drawing a blank.
Scáthach's smirk deepened as she watched my hesitation. "If it's a secret, you're not very good at hiding it. You even introduced yourself as Kara before our match. Reincarnation isn't unheard of, you know. My best guess is you died during the Grail War since my clairvoyance could no longer see you, and then reincarnated elsewhere."
I kept my face neutral, though it was clear she thought she was onto something. "What puzzles me, however, is how you died and still won the Holy Grail War."
"Wait, what?" I stammered, my confusion turning into disbelief. "That's impossible."
"If you got it some other way, I'd be even more impressed," she replied calmly.
"Got what?" I asked, still reeling.
"Your wish," she said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"The Third Magic? But… how?" I muttered, still struggling to piece together her words.
Scáthach's expression softened. "I don't know the specifics, but yes, you're the Magician of the Third Magic." Then a slight frown appeared. "It's surprising someone with your skill in magecraft knows so little about their own body. We'll have to add meditation to your training."
I took a deep breath, only to feel the throbbing in my head intensify. "Your observations are sharp, Teacher, I—" but my voice faltered.
She held my gaze with a patient look. "I just want to understand your situation. Talk when you're ready."
I gazed out at the gray sky beyond my window, memories drifting back to everything I'd endured. Surviving against all odds in Terror Infinity, facing down monsters in Danmachi, challenging oppressive regimes and hostile ninjas in the Shinobi World, protecting Spirits in Date A Live… Each experience demanded my all, with no promises of return. Yet each time, I stepped forward without hesitation. What choice was there, really? There was a thrill in it—fighting with all my strength, confronting every obstacle head-on. My purpose remained unchanged: defeat my opponents, grow stronger, and never entertain failure. From the moment I first woke in an Afghan desert, my life had become an endless battle.
I let out a sigh, followed by a soft chuckle at my wandering thoughts. Patting my cheeks, I felt warmth beneath the soft, snow-white blanket. A small, amused smile slipped out. "Funny how some goals evolve over time, becoming… something else entirely."
Scáthach nodded, her voice tinged with understanding. "Indeed. You're no longer chasing approval but focusing on what's within reach. Even when your goals might seem daunting, talking about them this way must feel new."
Her voice held the warmth of someone who saw me deeply. Scáthach often had the insight of a teacher, something instinctive in her. But with me, there was a subtle shift in her tone—a friend's understanding, perhaps even something more intimate. In a modern sense, she felt more like an older sister.
"To put it simply, keep striving to grow stronger, and quickly. When there's something you truly wish to accomplish, it will feel within reach," she said, ruffling my hair. Then, she extended a hand, helping me sit up. "I've noticed your curiosity about ancient runes. Let's start there. Prepare yourself."
I nodded, still a bit dazed, managing to stand and pull on the neatly folded dress within reach. Leaving Scáthach's chamber, my heart beat a little faster than usual—I hadn't expected her to hold me in her arms the entire time.
That warmth… I hadn't imagined it. Her embrace had been gentle, almost maternal. I didn't know why she'd held me, but it felt surprisingly comforting.
Shaking off the lingering thoughts, I took a deep breath. "Well, time to get ready for the lesson ahead. Then wonder about other things like, the Third Magic."
General (POV)
Meanwhile, as Scáthach watched Kara depart, she lapsed into contemplation. "'surviving at all cost in Terror Infinity, facing monsters in Danmachi, confronting an 'oppressive' regime and hostile Ninjas in Shinobi World, protecting the Spirits in Date A Live,' Parallel worlds, or perhaps multiverses? It's no wonder my future self considered you exceptional. Maybe that's why I departed from this world long ago and refrained from meddling in its affairs... You truly are remarkable!"
"Was it due to this that she displayed such an unrestrained combat posture?"
"In the river of time, where the culmination of life remains an enigma, within this sun-obstructed realm of shadows, how much could the presence of a warm-hearted child like her truly influence? Ah, come to think of it, when did I find myself in the Land of Shadows? And when did it transform into the Kingdom of Shadows?"
After a moment's pause, Scáthach rose gracefully. Her movements unfurled like a dance, causing the blanket to slip gradually from her form, unveiling her proud figure. An imperceptible smile graced Scáthach's typically composed countenance as she spoke, her words carrying a hint of amusement: "But this kind of unconsciously expressing her thoughts is troublesome, even though this happens to most individuals facing me."
....
As Scáthach watched Kara depart, she lapsed into quiet contemplation. "'Surviving at any cost in Terror Infinity, facing monsters in Danmachi, challenging an oppressive regime and hostile ninjas in the Shinobi World, protecting Spirits in Date A Live… Parallel worlds, or perhaps multiverses? No wonder my future self found you exceptional. Perhaps that's why I departed from this world long ago, choosing to refrain from meddling in its affairs... You truly are remarkable."
"Was it because of all this that she took such an unrestrained combat stance?"
"In the river of time, where the purpose of life remains an enigma, I question what change your presence here might bring or how this realm may transform you. Within this domain cloaked in shadows, could your influence rekindle something lost?" Her gaze turned inward. "When, I ask myself, did I first arrive in the Land of Shadows? And when did it transform into the Kingdom of Shadows?"
After a pause, Scáthach rose gracefully. Her movements were fluid, almost like a dance, and as she stood, the blanket slipped gently from her form, revealing her proud figure. An almost imperceptible smile softened her composed expression as she murmured with a hint of amusement, "But this habit of unconsciously revealing one's thoughts… it's troublesome, though it seems nearly universal when people stand before me."
...
"Runic magecraft originates from Northern Europe. It was discovered and passed down by Odin, the king of the Nordic gods. In my youth, I was fortunate enough to learn that runes were originally composed of twenty-four symbols. Each symbol represents different meanings and powers, and combining them produces unique effects, like this."
While speaking, Scáthach, now dressed more conservatively, turned gracefully. Radiating an air of intellect and maturity, she elegantly traced fiery runes in the air. The symbols shifted and aligned, culminating in an explosive impact. Without a second thought, Kara, positioned before the impact, instinctively reached out and pulled Cú Chulainn, who sat beside her, to shield herself.
"Hey! Let go of me, you jerk!"
Initially came the instinctive struggle, then surprise and perspiration as the impact played out. Cú Chulainn's previous enthusiasm for escaping the half-month long-distance run vanished in an instant. He grasped the situation: sticking close to Kara was far riskier than he had anticipated! Teacher, I'm done with learning runes; just make me run long distances instead!
However, the anticipated impact that would send him flying didn't occur. Scáthach's fingers subtly moved through the air. The impact, initially on a collision course with Cú Chulainn's face, dissolved into a gentle breeze. Almost getting smacked, Cú Chulainn heaved a sigh of relief. Meanwhile, Kara, who'd used him as a shield, smirked. "Hey, you actually changed the rune combination in the end."
Casually releasing the red-eyed Cú Chulainn, who was itching for a fight, Kara's eyes slightly emitted a peculiar blue light, and a faint crimson circle appeared abruptly. Shrinking back, Cú Chulainn resumed his seat. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead.
"Kara!"
"Right here, Teacher!"
"By layering different combinations of runes, you can achieve varying levels of Magecraft. A single rune serves as the foundation, while two runes can be compounded for specific effects, and managing three becomes more intricate. What you should grasp now are the fundamentals of individual runes and the potential they unlock when sorted and combined."
In reality, Kara had taken Ancient Runes as an elective subject at Hogwarts and had learned this concept before. However, she wasn't a master at it as she found their application quite limited in combat. It wasn't until she came to this universe that she really started getting interested in runes again. Unfortunately, without a teacher, she didn't get far on her own. This made Kara recognize the complexities of mastering rune combinations. It's a bit like delving into the complexities of a puzzle, with each piece having its own place and function.
Intrigued by the vast potential of runes in this new world, Kara began to pepper her Scáthach with questions.
"Teacher, can you elaborate on the specific effects of combining, say, a fire rune with a water rune? Does it create steam or extinguish the fire?"
"And what about the limitations? Is there a maximum number of runes that can be combined at once? Or are there certain combinations that are simply incompatible?"
"Finally, how does one go about learning new rune combinations? Is it through trial and error, or is there a more structured approach?"
With each question, Kara's excitement grew. She was eager to delve deeper into the world of runes and unlock the full extent of their power.