Chapter 25: The Seraphim/Landslide (Part 3)

Over 2000 years ago:

"One... Two... Three... Sweep, slash, thrust..."

Scathach demonstrated her spear movements for her two students. Aife and Kihli had gotten into rhythm, copying Scathach's movements with practice spears. They have done countless reps and their muscles were cramping.

"Again..." Scathach instructed, ceasing her demonstration and allowing her students to continue without visual aid. She walked up beside Aife as she kept repeating movements, and Scathach scrutinizes her technique.

"Mind your stance..." she stoically told Aife, poking the blunt end of her spear against her sister's legs, nudging her into correct position. Scathach then did the same to Aife's drooping elbow, getting noticeably lower with each rep. "Raise your arm, and don't lower..."

"I'm trying..." Aife said, taking breaths between reps, giving away her growing fatigue. Scathach watches until her sister gradually makes another mistake, and she taps Aife's leg again much to her annoyance.

"Step into your thrust, you're not stepping far enough..."

"I know, sister...!" Aife spat in frustration, only to be met with an unamused response from her sister.

"That's "teacher" to you, Aife... Stab and pierce. Thrust and impale."

Aife grunted under her breath. Not only was Scathach's training wearing away at her physically, but her sister being authoritative with her was not something Aife was used to. She bitterly complied and corrected herself as Aife continued the exercise.

"Right..."

Scathach returned to the front and allowed both Aife and Kihli to continue for another minute, until she instructed them to change technique.

"Thrust... return..." Scathach demonstrates for them with her spear before then finishing with a sweeping uppercut. "And flourish..."

Aife and Kihli did their best to replicate Scathach's moves despite the grueling toll that her training was taking on them. Inevitably, Kihli ended up dropping his spear trying to perform the last part of the rep.

"Sorry!" the boy said quickly, only for Scathach to say to him:

"Pick it up and try again, Kihli..."

Aife watched as Kihli complied and picked up his spear to continue, all without complaint.

"Yes, teacher..." he said as despite being out of breath, Kihli resumed his training. Aife looked back at Scathach and could not help but notice a slight smirk on her face after Kihli's reply. The training continued until Scathach signals them to stop.

"That's enough. Next, we're going for a run, around the lake..."

Aife had to resist the urge to groan. This is not exactly what she signed on for when Scathach offered to train her. Aife was eager to learn new spells and spear techniques so one day she could fight alongside her sister to exact revenge on the Heralds. But so far... there was not as much of what Aife thought was the stuff worth learning, but instead near endless training and conditioning. Aife could not help but feel slightly dissatisfied with Scathach's "lessons" so far.

Even more so at the thought of her own sister exercising authority over her...

At least she had the entity in her crystal...

_____

Seven years later:

"(Sigh) Why am I here...?" Scathach asked herself as she stood before the front gates of Castle Dunscaith, high on the mountain over the village; the first time she had done so in over seven years despite vowing never to return. She soon sarcastically reminded herself, "Oh, that's right..."

The reason was what happened last night at the Red Grove, when her former teacher nearly took her by surprise. Scathach came to the conclusion that if she wanted to continue protecting the village in the forest below, then she would need to get stronger. Focusing her time on training Aife and Kihli had made Scathach neglect honing her own skills.

And if the Shadow's warnings about the Heralds biding their time to attack the village again, then Scathach could allow herself to stagnate any further.

Still, her standing before the Shadow's domain made Scathach feel a bit apprehensive, considering the reason why she never came back until now...

This is just for training, Scathach thought to herself, taking a deep breath. The moment HE tries roping me into the whole business with the Gate and all, I leave...

The revelation that the Shadow had only trained her just to get her to guard the Gate of Skye for him still stung. It was a betrayal of not just Scathach's relationship with the Shadow as teacher-to-student, but also a kinship that bordered on friendship... at least in Scathach's eyes.

Her teacher inviting her here could be a trick to make Scathach his unwilling replacement again...

Scathach cared only for the people in the village... the Shadow's business was of little consequence to her.

But with her students not able to give Scathach the assessment she needed as a fighter, only the Shadow could make her fight with all her strength. She needed to know where she currently stands.

So with another sigh, Scathach stepped forward and pushed the doors open.

Stepping into the entrance hall to the fortress, Scathach was met with a familiar atmosphere, cold and lonely as she proceeded to walk through the halls. It was almost nostalgic as it seemed the fortress had not changed even a day.

Scathach walked by a Revenant, an undead servant of the Shadow, who seemed to know why she was here. The Revenant pointed a finger in the direction of the Shadow, and Scathach followed without stopping for a greeting. She soon found her mentor meditating in the vast chamber in the higher levels of the fortress. As soon as Scathach walked in, the Shadow coldly greets her, without even turning.

"You actually came..." he sounded only slightly surprised, no doubt silently mocking Scathach for breaking her vow to never return. "Here to refresh yourself?"

Scathach stopped several feet behind the Shadow, summoning her spear to her grasp and making her mentor finally turn around.

"I'm only doing this because I have people counting me," Scathach said stoically, wanting to quickly get what she came for without getting more than she bargained for. "I need to stay sharp..."

The Shadow slowly got up, almost lazily as if playing a mind game on his former student. Scathach stayed focused as she got into a stance.

"And you need an opponent who can push you past your limits," the Shadow said, summoning his crimson-red swords. "For that, I will oblige; allow you to let out some pent-up steam..."

His lack of enthusiasm for this inevitable confrontation gave Scathach the impression that she will not be much of a challenge for him. The Shadow had not even bothered to ready himself as Scathach only tensed further, ready to unleash everything she has against him.

If she was honest, Scathach would love nothing more than to wipe that growing smirk off her mentor's face.

"Let's just get this over with..." she said before charging at the Shadow at blinding speed, thrusting her spear only to meet the Shadow's raised swords; a resounding clang echoes the throughout chamber and a pressure wave disturbs the still air...

_____

Back in the village, Kihli was busy sharpening spears for the hunters near one the huts made for the guild. He had nothing better to do while he waited to begin his early morning training with the sisters, Scathach and Aife. With Scathach in particular being absent since last night, Kihli need only wait for Aife… who was running very late.

So late in fact that it was not even morning anymore.

Kihli cared deeply for the sisters, having known them since they all made this hastily put together village since its inception. He was aware that things have grown uneasy between Scathach and Aife in recent months, with Aife becoming increasingly restless and challenging and Scathach remaining unyielding in her sister's defiance with ever greater exercise of authority; one that came with being a teacher as well as family.

It pained Kihli to learn from Scathach that she and Aife had an argument during his late arrival at the party. They were just as much family to him as he and his ill mother, Fimir were, and there was nothing he would not do for them, with both sisters having helped him become the capable young man he was now, and a pillar to Dunscaith.

So Kihli was at a bit of a loss as to how he could resolve this matter between the sisters. It was not like them to squabble to the point where one would avoid the other…

Aife had always been brash and overly eager when it came to training… at least when it came to learning magecraft. Aife wanted to move on to new knowledge as fast as she could, caring less for the "little details." Aife wanted to advance faster than what Scathach would allow…

Speaking of whom…

Maybe I can reason a bit with Aife… but with Scathach… she seems to have her own set of problems. Only I don't know what they are…

Scathach seemed to occupy the majority of Kihli's thoughts as of late, since their little interaction last night before she abruptly disappeared on him. He could not help but feel like it was something he said that made Scathach do so. Kihli did not mean to cause her pain, and he wanted to hear what it was that troubled her.

What it was that made Scathach look at everybody like they were ghosts… it was not hard for Kihli to notice in recent days, especially when Scathach just stood in the background all herself observing the populace…

He needed to know… but Scathach even kept him at arm's length.

Kihli then stopped what he was doing when he heard approaching footsteps. Looking up, he saw Aife approaching… and looking like she had the worst night of sleep in her life.

"There you are, Aife," Kihli greets as he grabbed two spears from the rack. "Time for our morning training..."

"I'm not in the mood today, Kihli..." Aife replied, sounding tired and irritable.

"That why you slept in? It's the middle of the day, what are you doing Aife?"

"I just don't feel like training, okay?!" Aife suddenly snapped, taking Kihli back.

"Okay, sorry... you're clearly down. I'm just asking because I know Scathach is going to want to know why you were late for training..."

Kihli could not tell for sure, but the look on Aife's face when he mentioned Scathach's name made him swear that Aife was gritting her teeth.

"..."

Clearly, this was getting Kihli nowhere, so he decided to just cut straight to the issue.

"Is this about last night? Scathach mentioned you two had an argument."

Kihli watched as Aife's gaze dropped. Out of his sight, Aife's hand clenched into a fist.

"It doesn't concern you. I really don't want anything to do with my sister at the moment..."

Kihli was seriously concerned at this point. Aife never had the most enthusiasm when it came to training, but the way she was acting now… it was completely detached. It seemed like Aife was deliberately avoiding mentioning Scathach, her own sister… even by name.

From the way Scathach described it, her and Aife's argument last night was not anything too awful to get over. There was no reason for Aife to be so abrasive towards Kihli right now. He found the young woman's behavior unsettling…

"It might help you to talk..." he offers anxiously, hoping Aife will not take offense since there was no telling how she would react in this state. "And I bet a good spar will get that frustration out of your system..."

Aife stared blankly into open space, but seemingly contemplating Kihli's words. He felt a bit of relief when Aife slumped her shoulders and sighed.

"I guess..." she said, taking up on Kihli's offer. He hoped some practice would snap away whatever dark cloud was hanging over Aife.

Because right now, he hardly recognized her…

_____

Seven Years ago:

Aife stood and concentrated, holding her hands up in front of her while channeling mana. Nearby, Scathach was observing her sister carefully while Kihli watched from farther away. Aife traces a series of runes in front of her, and once complete, she launched a barrage of ice crystals at her target; a scarecrow. The shards sailed and shredded her test dummy. Kihli clapped in applause and Aife stood boastfully, turning to her sister ecstatically.

"See what I did, sister?!"

Scathach offers an encouraging smile, marveling at how quickly Aife was progressing her skills in magecraft. With a snap, she resets Aife's target.

"Yes, Aife... you seem to be getting the hang of it."

"Hang of it?" Aife repeated, sounding overly confident. "I got it perfect ten times now! I'm ready for the next spell!"

"Patience, Aife," Scathach rebukes. As her sister, Scathach wanted Aife to be pleased with herself, but as her teacher she cannot allow Aife to develop complacency. "Just because you got it right a few times, doesn't mean you can stop practicing to focus on something else. You're supposed to now keep going until you can't get it wrong. Last thing we need is a slim chance of you failing a spell under pressure."

Alas, her teaching Aife this lesson came off too soft; something Scathach wanted to avoid as Aife looked surprised and dismayed at this.

"How can I get it wrong at this point?" Aife questioned rather harshly, turning to face her scarecrow to cast her spell again. "Look..."

Aife's circuits glowed to life as she starts to trace her runes. Scathach then poked Aife's ribs with the blunt end of her spear, ruining the cast. Aife turns to her sister/teacher in protest.

"Hey!" Aife exclaims, her newfound anger not fazing the strict and stoic Scathach. "That wasn't fair!"

"See?" Scathach ignored her sister's outburst. "If you had truly mastered it, no amount of distraction would've spoiled your cast. Keep practicing..."

"But-!" Aife attempts to answer back only to be swiftly shot down.

"No buts, Aife," Scathach rebukes before going on to lecture Aife. "Practice makes perfect. You are dealing with forces beyond a normal person's comprehension, and only through constant practice and discipline can you hope to master magecraft. This is a power that can easily turn against you if treated like a one-and-done party trick. Treat your magecraft with RESPECT, like you would with any weapon."

But Aife was unwilling to listen. The only reason she wanted to learn how to fight and use magecraft was all to get revenge on the Heralds for destroying their home. Aife wanted to learn all she could for when that time came. Scathach telling her about practice and honing her craft just made it feel to Aife that she was being barred from learning everything that her sister could teach her.

Aife did not like the way Scathach was talking down to her in times like this. She was not used to being treated like a child who was playing with fire, with Scathach not mincing words when criticizing Aife. It felt like Scathach was getting gratification from lecturing to her, seemingly forgetting that it was her own sister that she was scolding.

Scathach was a completely different person when she was deep into teaching.

Angry and bitter, Aife just glared at her sister, who saw her dissatisfaction and decided:

"I believe you've had enough lessons for one day," Scathach said, turning away. "We'll continue once you've cleared your head."

Scathach walked off, and Kihli soon followed, leaving Aife in the corral to stew. She grunted and clenched her fist in frustration. Part of her was feeling a bit guilty for questioning Scathach like she did, realizing it was not the place for a student to defy their teacher like that. But the need to learn all that she can and having her progress impeded at Scathach's insistence was waning at her patience.

The guilt did not last long, as Aife's fingers brushed her pocket that concealed a trinket, a voice in her head assured the young girl that she was not wrong to lust for the power of magecraft. She remembered when Scathach unleashed her power upon the Heralds... it was majestic... and Aife wanted it.

If anything, her sister was wrong for keeping it from her…

_____

Present:

Scathach yells as she rushes at the Shadow again, having been deflected and parried at repeatedly with none of her attacks landing. Still, Scathach gives no moment for her opponent to breathe as then goes into wraith form and circles to strike the Shadow from behind, only for him to raise his swords behind himself as he blocked a strike from Scathach's spear and then kicked backwards to send Scathach skidding across the ground until she flips on to her feet and slides to a stop. Scathach pants, having exerted herself over this five-minute bout so far, and the Shadow standing there not having broken a sweat.

"Getting tired yet?" he taunted her from over his shoulder.

"You wish..." Scathach replied as her magic circuits burst into life and she went back into wraith form, dashing and blinking around the chamber every which way in hopes of disorienting her opponent. She ultimately appeared above the Shadow to fire a lightning spell, but he already sidestepped before the bolt can land. But Scathach thought ahead and channeled her lightning rune through her spear before throwing it down to where the Shadow was at that moment.

The Shadow seemed to be thinking several steps ahead as he went into wraith-form himself and flew backwards suddenly to avoid the empowered spear-strike. Scathach followed suit and dashed around the room herself, rapidly firing orbs of flame wherever the Shadow materialized.

Scathach intensified her assault, raining hellfire across the chamber until it was a smoldering mess, but even still, the Shadow eluded her as he briefly materialized to cast an ice rune that summoned a blizzard into the room. With pillars of ice appearing spontaneously, it became difficult for Scathach to track her opponent as she materialized on top of one such pillar and listened close for any sign of him.

"I know you're better than this..." the Shadow's voice bounced around the frozen chamber, but Scathach could not pin down where he was, like he was toying with her. "Have I taught you nothing, lass?"

Scathach grunts in frustration and decides against playing this little game of his. Her circuits lighting up again, she jumps down and summons a wave of fire that cleared and shattered all the ice pillars in the room. Catching her breath, she sees the Shadow appear before her, rubbing his face with one hand.

"Ooh, I felt that..." he remarked, much to Scathach's annoyance. "Don't tell that's all you have..."

"It isn't!" Scathach yells as she goes into full shadow form and empowering her spear. She flew at her opponent, clearing the distance in a split-second. She jabs Gae Bolg forward, leaving the Shadow with barely any time to deflect it away with his blades. Still, Scathach relentlessly sent a flurry of slashes while parrying retaliatory strikes from her opponent, driving him back little by little.

Scathach was fighting like she had every intention of killing the Shadow, but in actuality it was only so that she could know just how strong she really was at this point, and only the Shadow could help her measure it. The strange thing was that her mentor had been treating this bout like a simple spar, hardly making an effort to defend himself against Scathach.

She wanted to see him cut loose…

With her spear-strikes not getting through the Shadow's defenses, Scathach found herself open when her weapon was deflected away, and the Shadow sent a blade-swing upon her. Scathach wraith-dashes backwards, casting an ice rune where she was standing, forming a block of ice that was shattered and creating a cloud of mist, momentarily obscuring her. Scathach then projected a rune that created duplicates of her spear and she launched them towards the mist where she knew the Shadow was caught in.

The spears sailed… and struck…

Catching her breath, Scathach slumped forward as her shadow-form abated, leaving her exhausted. When she did not hear the Shadow's heartbeat, she thought by some miracle that she had won.

But when the mist cleared, Scathach saw that her spears had only struck the floor where he stood… and his body had disappeared.

Scathach tensed, not understanding how the Shadow avoided being skewered when she did not sense him move. Scathach could not even sense him in the room at all. No heartbeat… no breathing… nothing, until-

Her senses screamed in alarm when she heard them all of a sudden, coming from above her! Scathach had just enough time to turn and see the Shadow, empowered and coming down on her with his swords, having appeared literally out of thin air. She spun and cast a barrier, which was swiftly broken before she had time to complete it. Scathach felt herself launched off her feet and suspended in air from the impact of the Shadow's blades creating a shockwave upon striking the floor. In an instant, the Shadow blinked in front of her, grabbed her by the throat before spinning and throwing her against the wall with tremendous force.

Scathach impacts the stone wall, leaving a massive dent and shattering her spine. She coughed up blood as her limp body slid down until she was sitting on the floor. Just then, she caught a glimpse of the Shadow's swords spinning and sailing towards her neck.

When they came within a few inches of her, Scathach for the first time felt an unnaturally cold sensation; one that would have sent a shiver down her spine had it not been broken.

The sting of imminent death…

(SHRNNT!)

Scathach gasped, eyes widened as the blades narrowly missed her, embedding themselves against the wall behind her, and crisscrossed across her throat leaving her trapped. She sat frozen as the edges of the Shadow's swords pressed against her neck, threatening to cut it open should Scathach move even a little bit. She dared not until the blades dissipated, and Scathach took a deep, painful breath as her lungs, her spine, and her ribcage healed.

The Shadow appeared before her and crossed his arms, standing over the defeated Scathach.

"That's three for three..."

Scathach fell against the floor, panting and exhausted. She had given it her all sparring against her mentor, and here she was… well and utterly defeated.

Yet, Scathach could not help but chuckle; a reaction that mildly surprised the Shadow.

"Hmm?" he tilted his head curiously. "What's so funny?"

Still breathing heavily, Scathach revealed to the Shadow:

"I... haven't gone all out like that in a while... it was... fun."

The Shadow knelt beside her, looking perplexed.

"Three defeats in a row, and you're not mad about it... did I hit you on the head too hard?"

He offered his hand to help Scathach on to her feet, but she declined, choosing to instead push herself off the floor.

"No... I... guess you're right," she starts as she tries to stand up straight, or rather as straight as Scathach's wobbly legs would allow. Hunched over and wincing from the lingering pain of healing, Scathach tells the Shadow, "I haven't been training myself properly... I've been too focused on training Aife and Kihli."

"You probably would have prevailed if you hadn't used your full power so soon," the Shadow informs her. "With no souls to reap, you can't sustain it for long. That and you rely too much on your senses."

Scathach groans as she straightens her back, which cracked as she finally stood straight.

"How did you do that, by the way?" she asks. "It was like you weren't even in the room after I sent my spears on you…"

"That's because I wasn't," the Shadow said with a grin. "I used this…"

He held out his hand, and projected were a set of runes that Scathach had never seen before.

"Apparition runes," the Shadow explained. "Allow instant teleporting to any place that caster has already been to. I happened to be at the lake, grabbing my catch of fish while I waited for you to power down."

Scathach's face turned appalled.

"You cheated!"

"I never said we were confined to fighting in here…" the Shadow replied unapologetically, and Scathach could only huff in defeat. She should have expected him to bend the rules of a fair fight.

Still, Scathach supposed that she should never expect fair play from any opponent. It would make it too easy for her to be blind-sighted. Scathach's strength did NOT mean that she was invincible.

Speaking of strength, it became clear that over the course of fighting her former mentor, Scathach was still not up to his level. She wondered how he learned to hone his strength, considering he was alone in this fortress for almost his entire existence. It made Scathach curious.

"Shadow…" she starts in a quiet voice. "How could you have grown so disciplined and skilled with your powers? How did you learn… without anyone to push you?"

The Shadow's gaze narrows as he contemplates. Scathach notices him shifting his weight, almost as if he was slightly embarrassed to admit to something.

"I... had a bad encounter with a Netherlyst early on..." he reveals. "It was a long-time ago..." "Teaching myself to fight with weapons and magecraft was a trial-and-error process. But as I got better, the creatures became easier to deal with... I got complacent... then I got humbled by my first Netherlyst... then the other creatures started changing their tactics... made fighting them even harder. The best teachers are our opponents... defeat motivates us to be better."

Scathach was silent, not disagreeing with her mentor in the slightest, especially since she was just humbled by him not moments ago. Then to her surprise, she felt the Shadow's hand on her shoulder.

"I've got to say, lass. I honestly thought you had me back there..." he revealed, sounding almost proud of her. "I think it was the first time when I thought I was going to lose for a split second. I trained you well... even though you've still got a ways to go."

Scathach was speechless. On one hand, she felt a stroke of pride that she got the Shadow to feel that same sting of death same as she just did. But on the other… the Shadow was quick to not give her too much credit. Scathach understood why; her mentor never wants her to be content and become complacent in her strength. Now matter how powerful you get, there is always room for improvement, and that Scathach should strive for it.

"Scathach..." hearing her name suddenly made Scathach give the Shadow her full attention. "About that time seven years ago... it... wasn't fair to you..."

Scathach's demeanor dipped at the reminder of the time when the Shadow revealed to her the Gate of Skye, along with the fact that he only trained the young girl to one day replace him as its guardian. She felt a ripple of bitterness at the memory.

"No kidding..." she remarked sarcastically, reminded of what the Shadow did to her. "Do I sense an apology coming?"

She stared at him, wondering how he was going to respond. Scathach was not expecting a heartfelt apology at all, knowing she would never get one from the Shadow. Instead, her mentor slowly walked towards the exit doors of the chamber.

"Come with me..." he instructed. "This is so you understand..."

Scathach raises an eyebrow as the Shadow motions for her to follow.

"Where are we going-?"

"Please..." he said curtly, not wanting to argue. "Just come..."

_____

Aife was staggered back after defending herself from Kihli's assault with his practice spear. She took deep breaths as Kihli went back to his position on the opposite side of their training arena. Aife expresses her admiration for Kihli holding his own against her in a fight.

"You have improved a lot Kihli..."

Kihli just shrugged as he prepared his stance.

"Well, I don't like stagnating... Scathach tells me to never become complacent if I want to get any better."

Aife got back into stance herself once Kihli was ready. After a pause, she charges at Kihli and attacks with her practice spear. Kihli blocks and parries but found himself stepping backwards from Aife's blows. Unable to find an opening, he eventually crosses a ring, making Aife win this round of mock battle.

"You can't seem to go five minutes without talking about my sister," Aife says as she returns to her side of the ring.

"It's because of her that I can lead the hunters' guild," Kihli replies, taking a quick stretch before taking back his position. "We go into the forest that's full of monsters wanting to kill us, we need to stay tough and vigilant."

The next bout goes more both-sided. With a decisive parry, Kihli holds the end of his training spear to Aife's throat, winning him the round.

"And without her," Kihli says to his opponent. "You would not know magecraft."

Aife sighed and this time went to the edge of the ring to sit down on a log. Seeing this, Kihli decides it best to take a break and listen to what was on Aife's mind, having tired her enough to share her woes after training.

"I don't even get to use it very much," Aife said as Kihli sat beside her. "Sister tells me it's unwise to use it for something she considers "mundane"." She likes to boss me around most of all. I don't think I have ever heard sister give you a stern lecture Kihli."

"She was plenty tough on me, believe it," Kihli revealed. "Scathach is probably more strict with you because you're her sister. Whatever you do reflects on her..."

Aife's face morphed into mild disgust as she leaned back and tilted her head up.

"What is she so worried about?" she complained. "We can do way more for this village if we use our magecraft frequently. Think of how fast we can build homes or how much crops we can harvest. Heck, we can go build another kingdom elsewhere, or we can take one from some barbaric tribe. Nothing can stop us."

"Now you just sound egotistical," Kihli remarked, put off a bit by Aife acting arrogant, but decided to humor her first before trying to be serious with her. "Magecraft is not a crutch. Scathach doesn't rely on it for the same reasons she tells us to keep training; it breeds complacency. I'm able to live without it..."

Aife scoffs.

"Now you sound just like her," she said, unamused. Silence fell between the two of them, then without her looking at Kihli, Aife asks out of the blue, "Tell me, Kihli. Has it ever occurred to you that whatever Fimir is sick with... that it could be cured with magecraft?"

Kihli was surprised, having the topic of his ill mother brought up unexpectedly. Thinking about it, Kihli contemplates before admitting to Aife:

"It has crossed my mind..." he said cautiously, and when he got no response, Kihli brushed off his growing doubt, shrugging and remarking, "But then again, I'm no mage. What do I know?"

"You know who does?" Aife said immediately after, at last turning to Kihli and giving him a serious expression. "My sister..."

Kihli looks back at her with an astonished expression. What Aife was implying to him sounded unbelievable, but Kihli could tell that despite the strange way that Aife was acting that she was being dead serious.

Scathach could in theory magically heal his mother… but-

"Scathach can't do anything about it," Kihli said firmly. "If she could, then would have done anything to help mother."

"Did she tell you that?" Aife asked, narrowing her eyes as if knowing Kihli's answer. The shocked look on his face said that indeed Scathach never said anything on the matter, despite inquiring into Fimir's well-being.

"What are you getting at, Aife?" Kihli asked even though he was afraid to. Aife just straightened and calmly revealed to him:

"I'm willing to bet sister is the complacent one. She's keeping us on a leash to ensure her place of power. And she refuses to help Fimir because she knows everyone will want to take that power from her. She'd rather let Fimir die than wound her pride."

"That's not true," Kihli insisted. "Scathach isn't selfish. If it weren't for her, then I-"

"Haven't you ever wondered why sister distances herself from us?" Aife cuts him off, looking at him like he was a blind man refusing reality. "Why she's so uptight? We're all inferior to her. She's a god among insects. I'm the only other mage in this village, and not even I measure up to her. She treats her words as law... and she holds us all back."

Kihli found his assuredness in Scathach's character shaken, remembering how she had disappeared on him last night. He just assumed he said something that hurt her.

Or could it be that Scathach did not see Kihli as anybody worth her time? Kihli highly doubted that, for despite Scathach's strictness as a teacher and as powerful as she was, Scathach never stopped trying to raise everyone else to her level, whether it be through instruction… or compassion.

"The village would not be what it is without her help," Kihli said, defending Scathach's honor. "We'd be at the mercy of the monsters and invaders."

"But now we're at hers," Aife quickly replied, driving her point home. "And she knows that. Sister chooses to sit on her powers... if I had them, I reckon I'd put them to better use..."

Kihli was lost for words as Aife then slowly put a hand over his and stared possessively into his eyes.

"Don't you think so, Kihli?"

_____

Seven Years Ago…

"Here I come!"

Aife charged at Kihli with her practice spear, unleashing her assault on the timid boy who was barely holding his ground against her. From the sidelines Scathach did her best to coach Kihli through this "friendly" spar.

"Keep your spear up to block, Kihli..."

Kihli vainly obeyed, blocking and being pushed back in attempt to wait for an opening, which Aife was not going to give. Scathach notices Kihli's stance begin to deteriorate.

"Spread your feet...or you'll lose balance!"

Aife then feigned, baiting Kihli to step-forward and counterattack, but after Aife sidestepped, Kihli's flawed stance allowed to easily sweep his leg with her spear shaft and send the young man tumbling to the ground. Kihli freezes when Aife sets her weapon against his throat, ending the round. Scathach sighed while Aife cheered in victory.

"I win!"

Kihli groaned as he forced himself back on his feet. Scathach could see that the boy was beaten and exhausted. Before she could do anything, she heard approaching footsteps and saw that it was Kihli's mother, Fimir coming to see them.

"Looks like you children are really honing yourselves," she remarked before turning to Scathach, clearing her throat before telling her. "I hope you don't mind, Scathach, but I need to borrow Aife for a moment."

"I'll be glad to help Fimir..." Aife perked up and immediately went with the widow. Scathach said nothing as her attention was still on Kihli, who now appeared frustrated.

"Kihli, you okay?" she asked hesitantly, and the answer she got came swift.

"No... I'm not getting any better!" Kihli exclaimed, throwing his spear to the ground. "Aife keeps getting the upper hand on me!"

Scathach was dismayed. As far as she was concerned, she had not gone any harder on Kihli than she had with Aife over the first several months of her teaching them how to fight. Scathach made sure they got all the moves and techniques memorized before getting Aife and Kihli to practice on each other.

But Kihli started falling behind, and each day he would lose more and more bouts with Aife, and each defeat was making the boy lose motivation. Scathach knew he was better than this…

"You're just frustrated-" Scathach offers before Kihli yelled:

"Look, I'm not like either of you, okay?!" he ranted. "I can't use magic, I can't use a spear, and I can't even stop myself from falling over! I'm hopeless!"

Kihli turned away and kicked the dirt with his foot, almost making lose balance. Panting, Kihli then said in defeat:

"I'm not my brother... I'm no warrior... I'm just not cut out for this..."

Scathach felt sympathy for the boy, who wanted to prove to himself that he could be strong like his late brother and be the defender of his home here in Dunscaith. But from the way Kihli was acting, it sounded to Scathach that he was about ready to quit despite her efforts to get him into shape.

When Kihli had fallen silent, Scathach had a decision to make. Little did Kihli know, this whole mentor business was a learning experience for HER as well. Scathach had been putting herself through a trial-and-error process of how she should go about passing her knowledge to Aife and Kihli, as well as learning where their boundaries as students stood and how to work with them to push past their limits.

And it became clear that Aife and Kihli both take in knowledge and apply it differently from each other. A method of motivating one of them might not work for the other.

Scathach wanted Kihli to succeed; wanting to see that fire within him turn the boy into the brother and warrior he idolized.

Yet, she could not be too harsh or soft. Unlike Aife, Kihli was not arrogant. He can keep going with his training as long as he believes it can pay off. Scathach weighed her options:

Does she tell him to suck it up and keep going?

Does she try reverse psychology and tell him to quit if he wants to?

Scathach doubted any of those would work to keep Kihli motivated. She cannot tell him to just call it a day and rest either, as leaving their training a low note could make Kihli never want to do this again.

Scathach would have to try something unconventional…

"Kihli..." she begins. "I didn't get to where I am now overnight. There were times I never saw improvement in myself; made me want to quit. Training is not something you do in a day and then be perfect at the end. It's a constant process of honing one's skills. And just because YOU don't see improvement, it doesn't mean I don't either. You and Aife are taking spear-combat better than I did at first. And mind you, I had a very strict teacher."

She hoped that little pep-talk would snap Kihli out of feeling down on himself, and Scathach thought it did just that at first when Kihli looked up to her and appeared to consider her words, only to then lower his head again in shame.

"You're just saying all that to make me feel better…"

Scathach was perturbed at first, but she was not finished yet...

"I can prove it, Kihli. Pick up your spear…"

Kihli was mildly surprised as Scathach turned to slowly walk and grab her own practice spear, but thinking this was just going to be an inconsequential spar, Kihli was not keen.

"What's the use?"

Scathach suddenly stopped and in her hand materialized Gae Bolg.

"Because I'm going to kill you…" she said menacingly, making Kihli alert.

"Wait, what-?!" before he could finish, he saw Scathach turnaround and charge at him. Kihli quickly grabbed his dropped spear and held it up to block an overhead strike, one that would have INDEED killed Kihli had he not reacted. Scathach quickly repositioned and sent a flurry of strikes that the astonished Kihli tried to block.

And block he did… protesting between each in succession.

"WHAT. ARE. YOU. DOING?!"

One of Scathach's attacks was deflected, and Kihli pressed the counterattack despite his initial surprise, catching Scathach in a deadlock while maintaining perfect stance and pressure… just as she planned.

"Making you fight like your life depends on it!" Scathach replies before redirecting her spear and breaking the tie, forcing Kihli to fall back and withstand another assault.

"But I can't beat you-!" Kihli exclaimed as he sidestepped and sent a swipe across that was intercepted by his teacher.

"That's not stopping you, is it?!" Scathach said, briefly making Kihli have a look of realization before suddenly Scathach's magic circuits lit up, and before Kihli could react, she sent a palm strike that had just enough force to knock the boy off his feet and fall backwards.

"Oof!" Kihli let out after falling on his backside. He was livid as he saw Scathach banish her spear, and her circuits powered down. "What in Lugh's name, Scathach?! That wasn't fair of you using your powers like that! What was I supposed to do against it?!"

"That wasn't the point, Kihli…" Scathach goes on to explain as she walked towards him. "You're only measuring yourself by wins and losses. I was extending beyond my natural strength, and yet you lasted a full minute! That's longer than your bouts with Aife. You kept your stances, you parried at the correct moments, and you executed your counterattacks perfectly! And you did all that while believing you were going to die."

Hearing this, Kihli's face morphed from anger to surprise, realizing what had just happened. He just held off an assault from Scathach, someone more skilled than he was and fought with the intention of harming him. But how did he do that when he lost to Aife moments before? Had he not taken that fight seriously?

"Your instincts took over," Scathach said while standing over the boy. "It allowed you to apply what you've learned, albeit subconsciously. See? You HAVE been improving…"

She holds out her hand and helps Kihli on to his feet, even kindly dusting off his shoulders.

"Mind you," Scathach adds coyly. "I spotted a few mistakes in your technique, but nothing that can't be rectified with some… target training."

"Target training?" Kihli asked curiously, his self-doubt now evaporated. Scathach could tell that slowly but surely the boy's enthusiasm for training was returning.

"Your insecurity is partially my fault," she told him somewhat embarrassingly. "I should've seen earlier that you and Aife don't learn at the same pace… nor in the same way."

Scathach then put a hand on her hip and offers:

"I propose… that you and I train privately. Comparing yourself to Aife is not good for you. At least with me you'll be more motivated to improve, should you feel you need to. So how about we give it a shot?"

Kihli was speechless, but he took the moment to consider Scathach's offer. She had just proven that he was better than he gave himself credit for. Looking back down at his practice spear, perhaps there was still the chance Kihli could become the warrior he still wanted to be.

He was equally amazed that Scathach could reignite that fire in him when it was snuffed out… helping with that was the hopeful she was giving him. Her confession betrayed her slight insecurity in living up to being a good mentor to him and Aife. It was clear that this was as much a learning experience for Scathach than it was for Kihli.

Powerful as she was, Scathach was not infallible, and she seems humbly aware of it. Kihli liked that about her…

"Sounds good," Kihli at last replied. "Guess I was right when I said back then you were naturally a good teacher."

Scathach was surprised by this, then for Kihli to joke:

"Minus making us climb up and down mountains, I'd really have no chance of being like my brother without you, Scathach…"

Scathach beamed at him. Kihli could tell the praise he gave her was Scathach's motivation to continue mentoring him and seemed very grateful for it. Scathach had even shed a tear in joy as Kihli's words sank in.

An image that would be burned into the boy's memory…

"Just don't be overly critical of yourself, Kihli," Scathach offers as the end of her lesson. "Remember... failure is part of the process of training. Live and learn..."

After silence lingered between the two of them, Kihli quickly realized that he and Scathach… were still holding hands. They both notice and quickly recoil from each other and blush. With the atmosphere turning awkward, Scathach tries brushing off this moment whilst avoiding Kihli's gaze.

"We- should take a break…" she said before adding, "Wouldn't want you straining a muscle…"

Kihli was inclined to agree, if nothing else but diffuse the tension.

"Uh, right…" he starts, wanting to change the subject. He thought of something about Scathach that he had not considered before. "Say Scathach, can you tell how you're able to read my moves perfectly? It's almost like you can tell well before I make them. What's your secret?"

Scathach looks up at Kihli hesitantly. Thinking about it, she supposed that she could share with her student this particular trait of hers.

"My… teacher showed me this," she explained, pointing at her ear." With my enhanced hearing, I can hear muscles tense and flex as each move is being performed. Each makes a distinct sound, and being familiar with what combat moves engage which muscles allows me to anticipate them."

Kihli was intrigued and reasoned:

"So if I use a sword instead of a spear… it might catch you off guard. You've only been teaching yourself spear-fighting so far."

Scathach had a look of realization, having only been training herself and her students in fighting with a spear. As opposed to another weapon like a sword, she was a total novice as much as Kihli was.

"I suppose I have been…" Scathach said, scratching her chin. "I'm not as familiar with moves in swordplay. I'd get trounced if I was forced to use one."

Kihli smiles coyly.

"Really? Now I'm thinking of maybe learning swordsmanship as well… Maybe you can learn from ME…"

Scathach looks at him in surprise, taking that statement as a challenge. She then mirrors Kihli smile with one of her own.

"I'd like that…"

_____

Present:

Scathach reluctantly followed the Shadow as he led her through the halls of Castle Dunscaith. At first, she thought this whole charade was a trick to groom her into being the Shadow's replacement as guardian, but the further they went on, Scathach felt a sense of somber foreboding. It was becoming increasingly obvious that the Shadow was not taking her beneath the fortress; the caverns that led to the Gate of Skye.

Judging by the Shadow's silence, it was instead somewhere more personal.

Scathach was proven correct when the duo turned the corner into a small room, which was empty save for a few lit candles and a set of woodcarvings; crude figures of a woman, and three children.

"Is this... your room?" Scathach asked the Shadow beside her, who simply nodded.

"This used to be where my wife, Agatha would comfort me after I came back from a long hunt. She was left to raise our kids, almost all by herself while I did my duties for the day. I returned every night reminded of how hard she worked herself, and guilty for never being here with them. I wasn't there when my children even walked on their own for the first time. She never held it against me, for she'd known all along there'd be countless days like that when we decided to start a family. I apologized every time, and yet… she never lost her smile. Agatha said she understood… and we would…"

The Shadow's voice started to crack as he stepped forward and knelt beside the wood figures.

"Agatha came down with illness after some time, and eventually our children would suffer from the same. They all took after her…"

The Shadow picked up the woman-figure gently and held it up. Scathach watched in great sympathy.

"Agatha was my first wife…" he revealed. "All others have gone the same way in time. Yet, I kept seeking love until the very thought of being happy was surpassed by the guilt that would follow once it was lost… so I stopped."

Scathach's gaze fell to the floor, unable to imagine the pain her mentor must have felt when wanting a family did seem worth it to him anymore. She was soon startled when the Shadow then raised his hand to cast an Unveiling Rune.

Within moments, the walls of the room were revealed to be littered with countless scratch marks' lines that covered the floor, the ceiling, and all four walls. Looking more carefully at these, Scathach made a barely gasp when she realized these were not just lines…

They were tallies.

And they did not stop just in this room. As the Shadow put down the figure of his wife, Scathach was compelled to follow him into the hallway, where she saw the tallies kept going… and going… and going. The count was far beyond measure…

"All of these scratches on the walls are all the days I've counted..." the Shadow revealed to Scathach. "Made after my family passed... the last of them..."

Just then, Scathach felt a presence behind her. Turning around, she saw the three Revenants that shared occupancy in the fortress the same as the Shadow. Cloaked, gaunt, and stoic, they all slightly bowed to their master. Scathach looks back at the Shadow who gazed at his Revenants with… regret?

That was when a terrible realization crossed her mind.

"The Revenants... are they-?"

"My daughter… and my sons..." The Shadow replies, wasting no time affirming Scathach's fears. She could not believe that this was the fate that befell her mentor's children, but how?

She did not have to wait long for the Shadow to explain himself, who was struggling to keep himself together out of shame.

"I was distraught, going mad from grief and isolation. I begged the Gods to bring them back, just so I can keep some semblance of them... but as you can see, they are but husks of who they were... I can't even speak with them, not how I'm speaking to you now anyways. They're here just to tend to my mundane needs, including cold company..."

The Shadow leaned back against the wall and slowly slid until he was sitting on the floor. He seemed beyond exhausted… tired of existing Scathach thought sadly.

"At some point," the Shadow continued. "Life stops giving you things and then it only takes from you. That is the ultimate downfall of eternal life."

Scathach was lost for words as suddenly the Shadow summoned one of his swords in his hand. He then looks at the blade longingly, turning as if inspecting it.

"And when company is not enough to keep you tethered, up here... all I thought about was joining my family... in the afterlife."

It was that revelation that shook Scathach to her core.

"By the Gods... is that why you were training me?" she asks. Scathach was too devastated to be any bit angry at her mentor like their last meeting seven years ago, especially not after the Shadow had been letting out his deepest regrets all for her to see. The Shadow nodded in reply before explaining.

"My plan was… you would best me in combat, and I can die a warrior's death... it will take nothing less for me to see my family in Valhalla."

The Shadow then held his blade closer to his body until it pressed against his skin. Scathach could tell that any harder, then the red sword of Curruid bone would cut him until he bled. Whilst she could tell that the Shadow was not about to go through with it, Scathach saw in his eyes that the temptation was indeed there to drive it through his heart, which she could hear was pounding vigorously.

Like her spear, Scathach knew if that weapon was used on him, it could kill the Shadow.

"Where I come from, those who die a happy life or gloriously on the field of battle rest in Valhalla, whilst wrongdoers are sent to eternal punishment in Helheim. I've tried many times, all methods short of this last resort."

The Shadow tensed, closing his eyes as his sword was still pressed against him. Scathach tensely watched as eventually, the Shadow banished his sword with a pained grunt.

Scathach finally exhales, glad she did not have to watch her mentor die in front of her. Scathach was not sure what she even could have done if he indeed wanted to go through with it.

The Shadow then took a deep breath and slumped further against the wall in defeat.

"But I soon realized that taking my own life will prevent me from seeing my family, just as they were. The peaceful fields of eternal rest do not grant access to heathens who willingly surrender their lives. That's why I could never bring myself to that… and there'd be no one to protect the Gate."

It all finally made sense to Scathach, who just stood over her mentor; a man at the end of his rope and yet unable to die unless he did it himself, or someone stronger than he is defeats him. It just showed her just how broken of a man that the Shadow was, and why he took the time to train Scathach in his ways, so that one day she would give him a death that he could be satisfied with…

As well as being succeeded by someone he trusts to guard the Gate of Skye. And the person the Shadow trusted more than anybody to do that was… Scathach herself.

"You wanted for me not just to take over this place" she eventually said, kneeling to meet her mentor at eye level and keeping her voice low. "But me defeating you would give you peace of mind that I can protect the Gate as well as you could... and giving you a proper death so you can see your family..."

She felt so conflicted. Scathach still felt that she somehow wronged when the Shadow revealed his plans for her back when he first showed her the Gate, angry at being led on and forced to bear the massive weight on his shoulders. But seeing her mentor now, having laid bare everything he was ashamed of revealing about himself; what his eternal life and duty has done to him…

Scathach could not imagine just how many times the Shadow turned his blades on himself, standing on that precipice between living in pain and just ending his misery. She hoped that she would never be in the same position as her mentor one day.

"I... I think I see why you want me to... replace you."

The Shadow slowly gave Scathach a sideways glance. Silence continued to hang as Scathach could for the first time see the fatigue of centuries etched across her mentor's face.

"That doesn't matter to me anymore," he said in a tired voice. "You were right for calling me a selfish bastard back then. I may have grown sick of this one-note existence, but the last thing I want is to condemn someone to the same fate and have them be as bitter and lonely as me."

He finally turns his head fully to look upon his student, who was absolutely speechless.

"You may be immortal and powerful like I am, Scathach, but unlike me you are not bound to this place. You can go out in the world and do whatever you want with my teachings and the power you are burdened with. Who knows? Maybe you can succeed in finding lasting happiness where I could not. You'd be around for so long you'd eventually be related to everyone on the Planet, and have many kingdoms named in your honor."

The Shadow at last stood up and once again put a hand on Scathach's shoulder. By this point, she had let got of what resentment she held against him.

"I know whatever you choose to do with your power..." he tells her. "You'll make me proud."

Scathach's face turned into astonishment. The way the Shadow was talking to her was like a parent to their child. Scathach had never thought her mentor saw her as such same as his student. She supposed that she in turn saw her mentor as a parental figure in a sense; giving her guidance in a time when she needed it more than ever, having lost her home, struggled to survive, and bearing the burden of having Void-blessed magecraft awakened in her.

She need not seclude herself in this forest as the Shadow. He gave her the choice to lead her own life, wherever it would take her… which begged the question:

"How would you know?" Scathach asked, knowing the Shadow would never see her triumphs and struggles in person. To her surprise, he sounded very sure as he told her:

"You came here to make yourself stronger... for the sake of all those people down the mountain; people you care for. You'll do right by them..."

Contemplating, Scathach felt rather elated, having the blessing of her mentor and now having a newfound respect for him. Deep down, she did care for him, even if the Shadow could be overbearing and callous at times.

With countless years of loneliness and mental turmoil, Scathach thought it a miracle her mentor was not any worse than this…

"I'd feel bad leaving you here..." she tells the Shadow, who just for the first time she could remember… laughed and shrugged ironically.

"Heh… What more can this place do to me?"

_____

"I think… that's enough… venting… for one day… Aife," Kihli said between breaths. He sat there on one knee, exhausted after enduring the last few rounds of sparring with Aife who stood nearby, doing a stretch while looking refreshed.

"That was fun," Aife remarked, seemingly oblivious to Kihli's fatigued state. Khili struggled to stand up, having taken a beating from Aife's brutal assault from training. He figured that Aife was still releasing pent-up frustration after her argument with Scathach last night as she turns to ask him, "Say Kihli, did sister mention where she was going today?"

Rubbing his head, Kihli replied:

"No… I haven't seen her anywhere in the village, not with the guild or the farmers."

"That so?" Aife asks cryptically. Kihli notes the tone in her voice that Aife still held some animosity towards Scathach, wondering if their training did anything to alleviate that

"Tell me, Kihli," Kihli's attention snapped back to Aife as she continued. "Don't you think sister is deliberately avoiding us?"

"What?" Kihli said in confusion. It did bother him that indeed Scathach had not been present this morning, but knowing Scathach, she must have had a good reason.

But that would not explain why she disappeared last night…

Between that and Aife's strange behavior left Kihli wondering what on Earth was going on with the sisters.

"I think she knows that we're not good enough for her," Aife then remarked out of the blue. "What do you bet that she is up there, right now? Looking down on us?"

Kihli sees Aife gesturing to the fortress on top of the mountain.

"The fortress?" Kihli asked rhetorically. "But Scathach has not gone up in years…"

Aife chuckled, much to his surprise.

"You're so naïve… sister is up there with her mentor. Two gods among a cesspool of ants. Don't believe for a second that those two haven't conversed in a while. They were made for each other…"

Kihli could not believe what he was hearing. Then again, he could not think of anywhere else where Scathach would seclude herself.

Even if she was… then what from?

"Maybe she and her teacher are making amends?" Kihli asked hopefully, only for Aife to scoff.

"Perhaps…" she mused while starring up at the peak of the mountain. "Being friendly after all this time, and sister gone for this long… alone with the Shadow… it is like they're hiding something up there… something they don't want anyone knowing about. Keeping it all to themselves…"

Kihli was deeply disturbed by the way Aife was talking. She made it sound like Scathach did not care about them in the least, nor of "regular people" for that matter. Kihli knew that Scathach had traits that differentiated her from most people, even to mages like Aife, but he could not believe that Scathach could be anything remotely heartless.

"Scathach would not keep anything from us for no reason," Kihli stated, giving his teacher the benefit of the doubt.

But Aife rebuked him…

"Oh, there's lots that sister is not honest about," she said before turning to Kihli. "And she's never around to share them. Don't you find that strange?"

Kihli's face fell, remembering how Scathach left him alone last night with no explanation. At first he thought it his fault for saying something that offended her. But Scathach not being with them this morning made him wonder if Scathach simply could not stand being in his presence.

Why would she? Kihli found himself thinking. Scathach is a goddess among men… and what am I but a lowly peasant? She wouldn't care…

The feeling of being treated as Scathach did to him last night made Kihli feel uneasy… hurt even.

"It kind of is…" Kihli admits, casting his head down as Aife's words sank in. Silence hung until Aife smiled and said to him:

"Kihli… it's good to know that there is someone is village willing to listen to what I have to say. I don't know how dull this place would be without you…"

Kihli was caught off guard when he noticed that Aife had wandered close to him; uncomfortably close. He struggled to find the right words as Aife looked at him like… that.

"We're friends, Aife," Kihli told her. "There shouldn't be anything we have to keep from each other…"

Aife just smirked, taking one of her fingers and tracing along Kihli's chin, making him stiffen.

"If you don't mind me saying… there is a certain "something" I've been keeping from you, but didn't know how to share it…"

Aife's tone had turned suggestive. Kihli had never seen her like this as he asks hesitantly:

"What might THAT be?"

Aife giggled and broke away from Kihli, leaving him stunned.

"Meet me tonight and find out…" Aife said with a wink. She then turned and walked out of sight, leaving the stupefied Kihli alone in the corral. His mind was racing, wondering how Aife could make an advance on him when he could not recall her being remotely "interested" in him. Perhaps Aife had grown feelings for the boy and she just kept it hidden? Or Kihli never noticed?

His heart hammering, Kihli considered maybe taking Aife up on her offer to join her tonight in the village. Regardless of his feelings on the matter, if maybe a more laid-back, and joyous interaction with Aife would help mend things with Scathach-

Kihli's heart skipped a beat. He could not go for one minute without thinking about Aife's sister. Scathach always had a way of invading his thoughts.

What in Lugh's name is wrong with me?

_____

Later on…

Kihli was waiting in the village center while there was still activity, even after daylight had faded. He came at Aife's request, standing nervously as he scanned the crowd of celebrating village folk and colleagues from the Hunters' Guild. So far, there was no sign of Aife, but Kihli thought the atmosphere was perfect with the amount of people enjoying themselves, having survived to see another day in this impossible miracle of a settlement.

But he was not just wondering where Aife was, but was also secretly hoping Scathach would show up as well. Kihli did not get his hopes up however, remembering what Aife shared with him about her sister earlier.

Kihli still had trouble believing that Scathach would think herself something akin to an indifferent deity that looked down on ordinary people like himself. But the more he thought about how detached Scathach acted towards them in recent days, Kihli found himself doubting if he really knew her at all. And for Aife to suggest that Scathach's powers could help his sick mother, and yet she had not done so…

Kihli felt a pang through his heart, reminded of what little time Fimir had left… he could not help but question how Scathach, with all her magic, could simply let this happen to his mother…

Is Scathach really that selfish? Maybe she does look down on regular people…

Kihli shot that terrible thought down. He had known Scathach for years, and she taught him to be a warrior; one Kihli thought he was not good enough to be, yet she helped make that happen. How could-?

Kihli's thoughts were halted when out of the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar flash of purple. He turned and saw who at first was Aife entering the crowd.

But noticing how long that woman's hair was… his heart skipped a beat.

It was Scathach… she was here… and she looked beautiful as always…

Kihli did not expect to see Scathach here, but she appeared to be looking for someone; him most likely. And when he caught a glimpse of her face… she looked sullen; almost ashamed of herself to be here amongst the people.

The elation that Kihli felt initially upon seeing her was replaced with trepidation. Scathach was heading towards him, and with it came conflicting emotions; not helped by what Aife had said to him earlier. Kihli turned away to instead gaze up at the full moon, standing out bright white against a black canvas of stars, and away from the luminance of torches and campfires. Kihli doesn't react when he heard Scathach walk up beside him, and somehow, he could sense her hesitation to speak, knowing what she did to him last night. Kihli brought it upon himself to open the conversation.

"Missed you today..." he starts standoffishly, remembering her disappearance and Aife's musings. "Had to improvise our training. I guess shadows DO make for poor company after all…"

Kihli thought that it came off as a bit harsh, but out of the corner of his eye, Scathach appeared to expect that response.

"My apologies, Kihli," she said regrettably. "But I had business elsewhere."

"With the Shadow…" Kihli's response came off as a statement rather than a question. He could not help it with Scathach continuing to be vague with him despite how "sorry" she was.

"How did you know?" Scathach asked in slight surprise, signifying to Kihli that Aife's assumptions were dead-on. Which made it all the more frustrating…

"Aife entertained the idea…" Kihli revealed. "I thought you and your teacher aren't on good terms."

"We… weren't…" Scathach said hesitantly.

"Then what changed?" she heard him ask rather accusingly. Little did Kihli know, Scathach had only just come back from the fortress after the Shadow revealed more about himself to her. She came looking for Kihli hoping to clear things up with him; why she had been alienating him. But this was proving difficult as Scathach could not see a way to explain everything that happened with her today.

When Kihli got no response, he grew fed up.

"Aife's right, you're too uptight…" he lets out harshly, much to Scathach's shock.

"Kihli, let me explain-"

"Is that where you disappear off to every night?" Kihli asked, at last turning to face her; his anger palpable. "You don't like being around people less gifted than you-?"

"Kihli!" Scathach said, appalled. "What's gotten into you? I never spoke to Shadow until last night when-"

"Was this before or after you disappeared on me?" Kihli cuts her off. Scathach stood speechless as Kihli let out his frustrations on her. "Look, Scathach. I'm not stupid. In recent days, you've been looking at me the same way I do with my ill mother. It's like you're dreading the day of my passing… like I'm already on Death's door. Not just me… everybody."

Scathach was astonished. This was not how she wanted this to go… perhaps she indeed was alienating everyone, including Kihli, while she was bearing the burden of her immortality. Kihli had every right to be upset, having known him for a while, but Scathach had hoped that he would at least be willing to hear her out now that she could not keep this to herself anymore.

She cannot open about her plight to him like this…

"You don't understand-"

"Because you won't stay around long enough for me to even try!" Kihli exclaimed. "I'm not just your student, you know. I thought you would know after all the time we had that you could tell me what's the matter with you! Have you never had any trust in me, Scathach?"

"I do!" Scathach insisted as this had turned into a full-blown argument.

"Why stay silent, then?! Why disappear like a ghost, when all I wanted was to relieve your burden?! Are ordinary people not worth your time? Am I not worth your time, Scathach? I thought we were-!"

Kihli suddenly stopped, almost shocked at what he was about to say. All the anger drained from his face as seemed lost on what to finish with. Scathach seemed just as surprised as he was…

"Friends?" Scathach asked in a hushed voice, still devastated by Kihli's tirade. Granted, some of what the young man said was warranted, but it sounded to Scathach that Kihli was spilling his emotions out on her.

How could she blame him though? Between trying to be as strong as his late brother, and dealing with a terminally ill mother, Scathach figured that Kihli was bearing a lot on his shoulders on top of being distanced from a dear friend.

"Friend," right…? That thought lingered in Scathach's head oddly enough as she watched Kihli carefully, seeing that word sinking in.

"I guess…" he finally said, having calmed down and looking ashamed of himself for berating Scathach as he just did. "I've seen the things you can do, and… I get the feeling you see a different world than… everybody else. There's nothing "special" about me. Just a peasant boy trying to be like his late brother… who is currently lamenting the loss of his mother."

A pang of guilt pierced Scathach's heart. Kihli did not have the most confidence in himself as a student, but was he really so insecure that he could not help but compare himself to her? Scathach knew her level of prowess was impossible for a regular human, but she would never let that stop her from helping other people realize their potential.

Kihli most of all…

When they had their private training sessions together, Scathach dedicated herself to making sure Kihli never doubted himself, and no matter what, he could learn anything within his ability as a human being to achieve his goal of being a strong warrior like his late brother.

And when those times came… and Kihli passed her trials with a smile of achievement on his face… Scathach marveled, feeling pride for the young man as his confidence and thirst to learn something new grow with each success. That and their friendly spars outside of lessons made her-

Scathach stopped that thought when she felt her heart flutter. Snapping back to reality, she gazed upon the young man she helped build into the honorable leader of the Hunters' Guild, and again felt immense guilt for hurting him like she had in recent days. Raising his head, Kihli met Scathach in the eyes.

"Tell me truly, Scathach…" he starts, his voice pained. "My mother… Is your magecraft really incapable of healing her?"

Scathach hesitated. She supposed after all this time, if she wanted to open up to Kihli on her burden, Scathach had to relieve the young man of his. It was the least he deserved, but was he ready for it?

Mustering up the courage, Scathach decides to come clean. She will keep this to herself no longer…

"I'm afraid so…" she says solemnly. "The truth is Kihli, I've been aware about her condition before you and Aife did. Hearing and sensing Fimir's body failing her… I- I should have known there was nothing I could do."

Kihli looks at Scathach in astonishment.

"But how could you know if you haven't even tried?"

Scathach hesitated again, for this was the most difficult thing she ever had to say to Kihli…

"I did…" she revealed, and Kihli's face morphed into shock as Scathach told him, "One night, against everything I've been taught about misusing magecraft. I went before Fimir while she was asleep and-"

Scathach cast her head down and grasped her arm.

"I tried giving her my blood… I thought my fast healing could be passed on and at the very least buy Fimir more time."

Kihli said nothing as he saw a tear escape Scathach's eye.

"It didn't work. My power can't be shared. And worse was when I realized… that this would be far from the last time I would watch someone I care about die, if there ever will be a last time…"

Scathach let go of her arm to inspect her hand, watching her magic circuits glow softly.

"The Shadow was right… my immortality means I would mourn everyone forever. Unlike you, and Aife… there will never be rest for me…"

She closed her hand, and her circuits dimmed down. Scathach looked up at the moon, seeing it stand out in the darkness, more than the less bright stars around it, so incomprehensively far away.

"I cannot stay attached to anyone…" Scathach said, the bright moon reflecting even in her crimson red eyes. Kihli stood mesmerized at her beauty, outshining the moon even in her melancholy. "But the more I distance myself from the people I care about… the more painful it becomes…"

Kihli felt his heart break for her. He always thought of Scathach as strong and always doing right by herself, but he had never seen her so vulnerable before. It explained why she never opened about this before… why she bore the burden of living forever and distancing herself from the people around her. It was not because Scathach thought herself better than others… quite the opposite. Kihli should never have doubted her. Not even he could comprehend Scathach's fate as an immortal being, simply because he was naturally part of the cycle of life.

But nonetheless, Kihli would have done all he could to relieve Scathach of her sorrow… after all she did for him… and because he wanted to see her smile.

"I wanted to tell someone…" Scathach continued, lowering her head again. "I wanted to tell YOU so badly, Kihli. But I feared you would never understand my predicament. I never looked down on you, or anyone else in this village. All of you are the fortunate ones… I'm destined to be alone…"

"Scathach…" Kihli let out, unable to stop himself. Scathach turns slightly towards him and wondered if she heard him. Even so, she kept going.

"Even now, I'm losing Aife… the village… you…" Kihli felt his heart skip a beat by how tenderly Scathach said that last part. He could swear that he was even seeing a growing smile on her face as she then said, "The truth… is because you're not special that you are special to ME, Kihli. Despite not having what I have, you still strive to better yourself, push your capabilities beyond what you thought was possible of you. And the beauty of it is… that you do so with an open mind and learning what you can with the time you have. "

Kihli was still as Scathach looked up at him and met his eyes.

"That's… what I love about you…"

When it came, Kihli's heart might as well have stopped altogether because he was beyond surprised and shocked by Scathach's words.

"What did you say?!" escaped Kihli's mouth before he could properly process it. Scathach herself quickly realized that she got carried away with her words that she broke eye contact and blushed with embarrassment.

"I- I shouldn't have said that-!" she let out, silently kicking herself for how that confession turned out. She was supposed to assure Kihli that he was indeed a trusted friend, but out of nowhere, Scathach revealed her admiration for him, her own STUDENT no less! It was completely inappropriate! What in Lugh's name had come over her-?!

Her self-admonishment was halted when Scathach felt a finger on her chin. Suppressing a shiver, she felt her head lifted slowly by the one person with her. Soon enough, Scathach found herself looking deep into Kihli's eyes, and the look he was giving her… it made her feel small… vulnerable.

Scathach could hear her own heart hammering wildly in her chest, and quickly realized his was doing the same too. She was so overcome with emotion that she failed to notice a tear escape her eye… not until Kihli wiped it away for her…

Could her heart beat even harder than it did a moment ago?

Her gaze softens, and so does Kihli's… as without looking away, he held one of her hands… not tightly, but firmly… almost assuredly so…

But sure of what? Scathach wondered. She got her answer soon enough as she felt a warmness wash over her at that gesture. Did he feel the same? Scathach found herself believing it...

Without even thinking, Scathach began slowly leaning in, closing her eyes… anticipating the moment to come.

But it never did. Fate as it would turn out is not so kind…

"You bitch...!"

Scathach was so caught up in the moment that her senses failed to pick up on who happened to be watching them for the past minute. With a gasp, she snapped her eyes open and broke away from Kihli, turning to see-

"Aife...!" she said in shock. Aife was standing several feet away, furious at what she just watched her sister and Kihli nearly do. She turns away, storming off from a stunned Scathach and Kihli. Aife even shoves some oblivious bystanders out of the way and wrecking a table as the joyous atmosphere was utterly shattered. Briefly looking at Kihli in apology, Scathach decides to go after her sister, leaving the conflicted young man behind to try and explain to everybody what happened.

_____

Overcome with anger, Aife left the party, devastated that despite her advances, Kihli chose Scathach over her. Oddly, her fury was not directed at him. Aife should have known that Kihli was too much of a "teacher's pet" to ever leave Scathach's side, not even after getting him to doubt Scathach's credibility. Her sister was simply irresistible.

Envy burned in Aife's veins. Scathach really was capable of getting what she wanted while making Aife feel insignificant. As if treating Aife like an impudent child like she has the past few years of lecturing her, dismissing her, hindering Aife's path of growing stronger was not enough… Scathach would not let Aife surpass her in any way. Not even as a person…

And when Scathach denied her power, she denied Aife of any happiness aside from vengeance on the Heralds. Scathach had stolen it from her…

The almighty goddess of Dunscaith has everything… Power, admiration, love…

And what did her own sister, Aife, get? Nothing…

I hate her… I hate her! I hate her, I HATE HER!

Aife's mind was in turmoil, and she felt abandoned… not just by the World for the tragedy that befell her old home, but by her sister, for refusing to heal the wounds. Aife could not rely on her sister anymore.

The whole World was against her… all it did was take from her…

From this point onwards she decided, Aife was going to take from the World.

Blinded in her fury, Aife passed another group of people who were celebrating. She caught the attention of one man holding a pint of mead and stepped in front of her, offering her to join. Aife on impulse grabbed the man and threw him to the ground. The nearby crowd of people gasped at this unexpected display of hostility. The man frantically apologized, clearly in pain from the initial assault. His words failed to reach Aife in her enraged state…

She only saw the peasant as a lowly insect, his weak existence next to a mage like herself was a crime to Aife. How dare he make a move on her! Aife was hellbent on punishing this man for his transgression, letting mana course through her circuits making the man's eye's widen in fear.

Aife savored it…

"Do you have any idea of what I am?" she said, pointing her hand at the terrified man as it lit aflame. "What I can do to scum like you?!"

A crowd around her gathered, too afraid of Aife to intervene on the man's behalf, lest they were to receive the same fate. With the peasant too scared to speak, Aife's fire rune grew brighter, ready to end this pitiful man's existence-

"Aife, let him go!"

She was only stopped by Scathach's authoritative voice, turning to see her standing there with utmost resolution. The man took the opportunity to get up and run as Aife confronted the source of her immeasurable anger.

"Oh, big surprise," she said mockingly. "Look everyone... your queen has arrived..."

"What madness has come over you, sister?!" Scathach asks in astonishment, believing Aife never had it in her to openly attack anyone like she almost did. She could not imagine how Aife could act so cruel after what happened moments before…

"Madness?!" Aife repeated, as soon Kihli emerged from the crowd, observing the scene. "Is that what you call neglecting your family... your REAL family?!"

"What are you talking about?!" Scathach responded, only for Aife to continue throwing accusations at her.

"Don't play dumb, sister... you enjoy basking in the praise of these strangers... you have fame... glory... all this power you just must have all to yourself! You just love it here... living comfortably while I relive the horror of losing our home, OUR family... a life you no longer give two shits about!"

"That's not true!" Scathach denied, all while being shocked at Aife's words, and having no idea what brought this confrontation on.

"You think yourself so high and mighty with your shadow powers..." Aife proclaimed, letting years of pent-up animosity and living in Scathach's shadow boil over. "Must be great being immortal... you look down on everybody... including your own sister! You can't even stand being around me, let alone let me have even a fraction of the gifts you've been handed! But you just couldn't let the Netherlyst give me power back then, could you?!"

Scathach's eyes widened. This is how Aife felt about her for all this time? Did Aife envy Scathach for her powers and status? Hating her for shunning her like Scathach almost did for Kihli? Aife had not the slightest clue what Scathach was going through, wrestling with her immortality.

A power Scathach would not have gotten if she had not saved Aife from having her soul devoured back then by the Netherlyst.

"Aife, you don't know what you're saying!" Scathach tried reasoning with her enraged sister. "The Netherlyst would've killed you-"

"You don't know that!" Aife snapped, Scathach could her heart beating erratically. "Look at YOURSELF! Look at the power it has given you! I bet the very idea of me being like you is terrifying... it threatens you...!"

"You don't understand!" Scathach said. "It's not a blessing-!"

"Still trying to lecture me?!" Aife yelled, Scathach's words failing to reach her. "You won't let me have strength... you won't let me have love... you just want to take whatever you can from me! Well guess what… I don't think I need your guidance anymore!"

Just then, Aife stretched out her hand and summoned her copy of Gae Bolg. Scathach's blood runs cold at having that horrific weapon wielded by her own sister directed at her. Aife was beyond reason at this point, but Scathach did not want this to come to blows.

Not because Scathach thought she would lose… but feared for Aife's safety.

"Aife, what are you-?!"

"I know this can hurt you sister..." Aife said to her, distraught to the point where she looked to really be considering using the spear. Scathach knew that Gae Bolg, a weapon crafted from the bones of an ancient beast of Gaia, could effectively kill her. "You think I'm not strong enough? I'll show everybody what strength is!"

Scathach summoned her own Gae Bolg, hoping the sight of it would get Aife to back down. When it did not appear to sway her, Scathach grew more tense as she heard a handful of children crying and saw them appearing fearful as their parents shielded them. Kihli watched from the crowd, growing ever more fearful of one of the sisters getting hurt… or worse.

"Everyone… get back," Kihli told the people around him in a hushed voice, knowing this whole confrontation can escalate at any moment.

"Aife..." Scathach warned. "You're scaring the children... don't do this..."

"Last chance to make up your mind, sister," Aife declared, her circuits lighting up again. Scathach feared for the surrounding crowd of people if either her or Aife started firing spells. The collateral damage would be immense. "Will you lend me your power and take back our home from the Heralds? Or do I have to go through you and take that power for myself? You're either WITH me... or AGAINST me..."

"Aife, our home is gone-"

"WRETCH!" Aife shouted as she suddenly launched herself at Scathach with blinding speed, her spear raised to strike her…

(Gasp!)

Scathach's breath caught in her throat, stunned stiff and hesitated for but a fraction of a second. Adding to her shock was Aife's delivering the death blow; her face betraying her anguish and hatred for who she was attacking. Her eyes wide, Scathach had momentarily left her guard down, not believing her own sister would try and kill her. Scathach wanted to protect herself, but doing so would harm Aife. As upset as she was, Scathach could not bring herself to raise her spear against her flesh and blood.

Still, she saw the blood-red tip of Gae Bolg inching closer to her face, feeling the same creeping sting of death encroaching on her as she did earlier. If it were to land…

That was when Scathach's warrior instincts kicked in.

(CLANG!)

Scathach had just enough time to raise her weapon and deflect Aife's deathblow; the blade of her spear glancing off to the side where it sliced off a few strands of Scathach's long hair.

Time sped up again… the crowd screamed and dispersed after the ensuring shockwave from Aife's initial attack. As it would turn out, Aife was only getting started as Scathach found herself guarding from a relentless assault, both frantic and calculated as Aife directed her spear in every direction in attempt to hit Scathach.

Scathach was blocking every blow sent her way, and ideally, she could make an opening and end this fight decisively. But with so many people here, and her not wishing to harm Aife, Scathach held herself back. Just then, Aife broke off, jumping back several feet away to fire lighting runes at her non-stop. Panicking, Scathach cast a ward on herself, blocking the barrage.

Despite this, Aife intensified her assault, pouring more mana into her lighting runes to brute-force her way through Scathach's defense. This caused electricity to spill out towards the surrounding crowd. The people panicked and screamed as they tried to get away, almost trampling each other to avoid the lightning strikes.

Scathach's barrier started to crack from the electrifying assault. She knew Aife had great potential as a mage… but to think she could output this much magic power…

Forcing herself to look through the blinding barrage, she suddenly realized what was happening with Aife. Her circuits were burning through her skin, her eyes glowing bright, and she was muttering something to herself. Using her enhanced hearing, Scathach could barely make out what Aife was saying…

"I'll show them! I'LL SHOW THEM ALL!"

Aife had lost all reason… her magecraft was taking over, fueled by her rampant emotions.

Just like when…

_

Flashback:

"Stop it… Stop it! STOP IT!" young Scathach screams as she swings her spear wildly at the Shadow; her circuits alight, channeling mana uncontrollably as her mind became ravaged by the sneers of kids calling her a witch, throwing stones at her, destroying Fimir's hut just to hurt her… Scathach was blinded, carried away as her powers took over. It took the Shadow pinning her down and restraining her to eventually calm down…

"I HAVE TO MAKE THEM STOP!"

_

Now:

Scathach needed to stop this! With a yell, she stops holding back, channeling mana and launching herself forward with her failing barrier in front of her. Scathach closes the distance on Aife, causing a surge as her ward met the origin point of Aife's lighting runes. Aife was sent flying backwards, but before she hit the ground, Scathach went into wraith-form and flew forward, catching her sister before then taking her a far distance away. From the crowd, Kihli could see them heading for the front gate of the village and went after them.

Moments later, Scathach's shadowy mass carrying Aife emerges out of the front gates of Dunscaith. She drags Aife's thrashing body against the ground before letting go and casting several strand runes as she circled around Aife, restraining her. Scathach materializes in front of Aife as the strands wrapped and tightened around her body, completely immobilizing her. With nothing left to do now, Scathach just watched as Aife struggled before her circuits finally dimmed down. Aife collapses and pants as mana exhaustion kicked in. Aife had no more fight in her…

But what of her anger?

"Are we done?" Scathach said finally. "We both know how this will end, Aife."

Aife opened her eyes. Despite pushing herself further than she ever had before, she was bested. There was no way she could measure up to Scathach even with everything she had learned from her.

Scathach was on a level above plain mages. All thanks to her being touched by the Void. All it did was add to Aife's contempt for her gifted sister, and at herself for not being strong enough to face the World. Despite her exhaustion, Aife's animosity did not fade with her strength.

"You fool..." she decried to her sister, even in her low, strained voice, Scathach could hear her just fine. "You can have anything with that power of yours... nothing could stop you, yet you choose to squander it here... you're wasting that strength... we can make the whole World bow before us... no more invasions... no more burning of homes... no more killing of families... we would never suffer again!"

Scathach's face remained passive and stoic, but deep down… hearing this from Aife of all people… it was breaking Scathach's heart. This was how Aife felt all this time… why did Scathach not see it?

"I can guarantee you, Scathach... I would not let such power go to waste... I'll take what I want... punish whoever wrongs me..."

Aife recoiled and shut her eyes, letting a tear escape as she said with finality:

"The World will never hurt me!"

Scathach was speechless, as Aife declared her intentions. As much as she wanted to question how despite teaching Aife right-from-wrong, how to be responsible with her abilities… how still Aife thought the World owed her more than what she and Scathach lost…

How did it come to this? Where did I go wrong? Was it because…? I wasn't there for her?

Scathach could not help herself from asking herself all of this. She did all in her power to help Aife grow… to believe in something bigger than herself…

But in the end… Aife wanted more… something Scathach could not possibly give her. Not after what such anger and hatred nearly cost her.

The kids who bullied her… the chieftain who held Aife at knifepoint… the Heralds who burned her village…

There are no winners with vengeance… Aife had failed to learn that. Her actions and eagerness for violence made her a threat to Dunscaith. No one would look at her the same again after harming that innocent peasant. Scathach herself hardly recognized the monster before her.

With a heavy heart, Scathach decided what she should do with Aife. Closing her fist, the Guardian of Dunscaith said to her:

"You want to carry pain and anger with you, Aife?" she said in a low voice. "Then take that burden elsewhere... see where it leads you..."

Scathach cast her head down and with all the resolve she could muster in her upset state:

"There is no home for you now..."

Aife looks up at Scathach in shock and total disbelief.

"You'd disown your own sister?" she asked, almost heartbroken and remorseful. "After all we've suffered together? After I tended your wounds... after I shielded you from the people who scorned you? What...? What happened to US?"

Scathach said nothing, instead turning around to walk back through Dunscaith's gates. This act of indifference enrages Aife.

"Don't turn your back on me! You KNOW I'm right! You don't deserve this power!"

Scathach kept walking, noticing Kihli at the gate, waiting for her. Despite Aife's continued protests, Scathach refused to look back against every fiber of her being, shedding a tear for her estranged sister.

"When I come back, and I WILL... I'll take it from you! You and that hermit... whatever you are hiding in that fortress... IT'LL BE MINE! I'LL BECOME STRONGER THAN YOU WILL EVER BE!"

As soon as Scathach was through, the gates slammed shut behind her. But not before-

"SCATHACH!"