"I bestow upon you this pair of Gáe Bolg spears, forged from the skull of the sea beast Curruid, as proof that you have completed all your training in the Land of Shadows."
Within the royal castle of the Land of Shadows, in a corner garden created by Shiomi.
At this moment, he knelt on one knee beneath a tree, extending both hands to receive the pair of Gáe Bolg spears held out by his master, Scáthach.
"Thank you, Master." Shiomi accepted the crimson spears with solemn respect.
The solid weight, the icy chill, and the lethal aura coiled around the scarlet shafts all proclaimed the same truth: these were no ordinary weapons. They were the crystallization of humanity's noble fantasies, true Noble Phantasms.
"To think you'd actually ask for a prototype identical to my own…" Scáthach let out a quiet laugh, then relaxed and leaned back against a nearby tree.
The castle was vast, the Realm of the Dead empty and desolate. There were only the two of them, master and disciple. The so-called graduation ceremony had no witnesses, its entire process reduced to the simple act of bestowing the spears.
It only carried the air of a ritual because both teacher and student truly valued it.
"Is that so strange?" Shiomi rose to his feet, holding the spears close.
"Not at all." Scáthach shook her head, smiling as she looked at him. "As a warrior and a Magus, you're still far from mature. But there's nothing left that I can teach you. Even the secret art of the dual spears, among all my disciples, you're the only one who truly mastered it."
"Is that so…" Shiomi tightened his grip on Gáe Bolg.
Though the weapon was cold as iron, holding it in his arms brought with it an indescribable warmth.
"All right, enough brooding." Scáthach raised her hand and flicked Shiomi on the forehead. "My previous disciples came here to learn skills for the battlefield, to win glory and fame. Once they reached the point of graduation, they couldn't wait to leave. But you're different…"
By sheer chance, he had fallen into the Land of Shadows, met Scáthach while hovering on the brink of death, and been taken in as her disciple.
Because of that, Scáthach felt that the bond between them was something truly special. So much so that when he finally had the time to learn everything she had to teach, a quiet, indescribable joy welled up within her.
Especially because… beyond what she taught him, Shiomi had gone on to touch even deeper, more profound realms on his own.
The ever-present wind swept through the cold, silent castle. Scáthach lifted her head, gazing at the rustling branches above, a swell of emotion passing through her.
Shiomi followed her gaze, looking up at the tree as well.
Ever since the garden had been carved out, his master had spent more and more time there. Eventually, she even began holding lessons within its grounds.
There was no doubt she loved this place.
And for Shiomi, that change alone was something worth being happy about.
He smiled quietly to himself. The Gáe Bolg spears vanished from his arms.
They hadn't disappeared. He had simply put them away.
Now that the pair of crimson spears had been formally bestowed upon him, they would remain bound to his soul forever. Until the day they were damaged beyond repair, they would be the Noble Phantasms he trusted and cherished above all else.
"As for what comes next…" Scáthach took a few steps forward, then suddenly turned her head back and smiled at him softly. "Do as you like. Time doesn't really pass here in any meaningful way. Once you've got nothing left to do, you'll probably start getting bored. If it becomes unbearable, I can send you back out."
"I… don't want to leave." Shiomi hesitated for a moment before finally voicing what he truly felt.
Scáthach raised an eyebrow slightly, looking not the least bit surprised.
"If you don't want to, then don't." She gave a small, amused smile. "I get bored on my own too. Having a good apprentice around would make things far more enjoyable."
"…Mm." Shiomi murmured in response, lowering his gaze. Something complicated flickered in his eyes.
Seeing that expression, Scáthach more or less understood what was on his mind, but she chose to leave the decision to him.
"Is there anything else you want to say?" she asked, her tone carrying a quiet implication. "If not, I'll go rest."
"…I…"
Shiomi didn't know how much time he had spent here.
But the person who had always stayed by his side, and who had only ever had him as her companion, was the one he understood better than anyone.
Sometimes strict. Sometimes witty. Sometimes mischievous… and sometimes gentle and considerate.
And always, in her eyes, that loneliness that never faded with time.
It was something Scáthach inevitably carried as a queen, guarding this Realm of the Dead that existed beyond the world, all on her own.
So… if he could soothe that solitude, even a little…
"Hm?"
Rapid footsteps sounded behind her. Shiomi hurried up, wrapping his arms around Scáthach from behind, resting his chin against her shoulder.
"…I like you, Master," Shiomi said.
"I like you too," Scáthach replied with a quiet laugh. "After all, you're talented, and you work hard. My training is hardly gentle, yet you've never complained even once."
"No…" Shiomi caught her arm and turned her around to face him. "That's not what I mean. I like you not only as your disciple… but as a man."
He looked straight at her, voice steady despite the tension in his chest.
"I admire you as a woman."
At his words, Scáthach's eyes widened slightly, but her surprise lasted only an instant.
Long ago, during that mission to hunt down the undead, when he had stolen a kiss during their rest… she had already known this day would come.
"So… how do you see me, Master?" Shiomi asked, unable to hide his nervousness as he sought her answer.
Scáthach deliberately folded her arms and acted as though she were thinking it over, taking her time. Only when his anxiety had nearly reached its breaking point did she finally let a slow smile bloom across her lips.
"I don't know exactly how I see you, my beloved apprentice," she said. "But one thing is certain. You matter to me. That much is beyond question."
Her smile deepened, her gaze calm and inviting.
"So… why don't you show your master what answer you can give me?"
It sounded like a question, but the meaning was already clear.
"…Master." Shiomi's voice trembled without him meaning it to.
He stared into Scáthach's eyes as though he needed to confirm it again and again, his gaze flickering with curiosity, with the budding desire of youth, and with unmistakable shyness.
"You only want one answer?" Scáthach asked.
Inside, she couldn't help but sigh. It seemed she still had to stand in the role of his master and teach him properly.
"I-If what I do offends you, Master… you can hit me," Shiomi blurted out.
He nodded nervously, then quickly shook his head, as if even he didn't understand what he was trying to deny.
Then Shiomi stepped closer. His eyes stayed locked onto hers as he slowly lowered his head, moving toward Scáthach's soft, sakura-colored lips.
And when he saw her close her eyes, her lips parting slightly in acceptance, everything suddenly became unmistakably clear.
From cautious, tentative touches to gradually finding the rhythm between them, master and disciple kissed beneath the tree.
Scáthach ran her fingers through his hair, while he held her slender waist close.
And at last, the two of them fell together onto the soft grass beneath the tree.