Fate: How About a New Savior?

"Don't be so nervous, you idiot disciple." Scáthach's usual calm tone carried a trace of indulgence. "There's nothing wrong with this garden. It's just that when you created these things, you unconsciously gave them qualities they originally didn't possess."

Her words put Shiomi somewhat at ease, and he listened quietly as Scáthach continued.

"Magecraft that creates life borders on taboo, but it isn't impossible," she said. "What you've done is even more unusual—bringing life into a place that had none to begin with. Life like that is, by its nature, exceptional."

She pointed toward the far end of the lawn.

"At the end of the day, even though they look like plants, all of these are born from your Mana. No matter how real they appear, they're ultimately just Mana made manifest in physical form."

"Mana made manifest..." Shiomi nodded, still not fully grasping it.

Scáthach gave an example. "There's a Magus like that, isn't there? A half-human, half-Incubus with clairvoyance that sees through everything. He's called the Magus of Flowers."

"Merlin, right?" Shiomi replied.

His master clearly knew things beyond the Land of Shadows. Sharing such knowledge was also part of her teachings.

It was wisdom drawn from the abyss—attained by transcending humanity, slaying gods, and existing outside the world itself.

"That man merely passes by, and flowers bloom. If he intervenes, he can make even this place blossom with beautiful things," Scáthach said calmly.

Shiomi turned away slightly. "So what are you trying to tell me?"

As if answering the unease stirring in his heart, white blossoms began to bloom along the tree's branches—mirroring his hidden thoughts.

"Don't be so petty. I'm comparing you to the Magus of Flowers," Scáthach said, gently brushing one of the nearest blossoms. "In that sense, even if you don't have clairvoyance, you already rival that Magus."

"I guess I really let you down, Master, not having clairvoyance," Shiomi muttered.

"What a childish response." Scáthach found it amusing and didn't press the matter further.

This boy was even more resilient than he looked. Judging from everything he'd done here, even Cú Chulainn would fall short.

Who would've thought that in an age where mystery was fading, someone like her—cut off from the world—would end up with a disciple so endearing?

The more fond she grew of him, the more she wanted to teach him everything… and the less she could bring herself to go easy on him.

"..." Shiomi almost said, "I'm just a kid, so what?"

But his sharp sense of danger warned him that saying that might strike a nerve.

It wouldn't be fatal… but it definitely wouldn't end well.

"There's one more thing," Scáthach said. "Merlin only ever made flowers that looked good. But you—your magic turns into nourishment. For me, it's just Mana, but for humans, that's something that can sustain life."

As she said this, she gave Shiomi a pat on the shoulder in recognition.

"Okay, okay, if you keep praising me, I won't be able to take it anymore." Shiomi looked a little embarrassed.

The flowers on the tree were still in full bloom. It would take some time before they bore new fruit.

He jumped down from the branch and landed on the grass.

"Since we're not training today, I'm going to get some rest. Are you coming down, Master?" he asked, half in jest.

Scáthach leaned against the tree trunk. "Yes. I've seen enough of the view—time to come down."

She descended lightly from the branch. Though it wasn't necessary, Shiomi instinctively reached out to catch her.

As he held her silk-covered left hand and watched her land gracefully, his gaze dropped, and he noticed her feet—bare, but not exposed.

"...Let me help you put on your shoes," he said, as if the words slipped out on their own.

"It's fine."

To this strange, even questionable offer, Scáthach responded without a hint of hesitation.

Matching Shiomi's slow crouch as he reached for her boots, she sat down on the grass and naturally extended her legs toward him.

Shiomi's hand paused briefly, then he took hold of her foot, also wrapped in that smooth, silk-like material.

"I thought you'd think I was being weird."

"That wouldn't be wrong. But even though I'm a queen, as you can see, I have nothing in this domain. Let alone servants," Scáthach said casually. "Even if it doesn't really matter, there's still a natural curiosity. But asking a disciple to do this is... not the easiest thing to say out loud."

While fitting on one of the boots, Shiomi asked, "No one's ever done it before?"

"Sétanta wasn't the type for this sort of thing. Neither is his son. They were both excellent students—but that's all." Scáthach met Shiomi's gaze. "Maybe it's because you come from a different era and country than the others that you're prone to such odd behavior."

"It just crossed my mind. After all, I've been training here, but I've never found a way to repay you." Shiomi shrugged. "I'm just glad you don't mind."

Scáthach nodded in thought. "I see. No need to be bothered by it. The moment you survived in this place, it was already certain I'd accept you as a disciple. This is the Realm of the Dead. The Mana concentration in the air is so high that if a normal person ended up here, a single breath would cause them to rupture from the inside. In a sense, it's no different from a vacuum."

As she spoke, Shiomi finished helping her into her short boots.

He was about to say something else when he suddenly sensed an unusual flicker of life.

"What's that...?" Shiomi asked.

"Oh? You're already able to detect such things?" Scáthach took his hand and stood up from the ground. "You guessed right. Another unfortunate soul has, for some reason, fallen into this realm."

Humanity's numbers were vast. One or two disappearances rarely caused a stir—just another local tragedy.

"There's no saving them." Shiomi frowned, feeling a pang of pity.

Scáthach confirmed, "The moment they fell into this place, they were already dead."

"I want to see for myself. Is that alright?" Shiomi asked suddenly.

"It is." Scáthach didn't release his hand. "Think of it as a test. Use your Magecraft to teleport us there. Let's see if you can reach the location of the deceased within three tries."

Shiomi nodded firmly.

"Alright then, Master—please watch me closely."