-Break-

Waving goodbye to Laeg and Minagrain, both Ferdiad and Scáthach exit the room and as they do.

Ferdiad says, “Thank you, master.”

Scáthach says, “No problem. Ensuring the woman at Setanta's side can criticize him is essential for his growth as a leader. He needs a partner, not a pet.”

As the two of them walk. Ferdiad says, “Now I need to go find Setanta and stab him with a spear a couple of times. I had never thought his stupidity would ever reach this extent.”

Gripping his fist so tight it bleeds, Ferdiad says, “Please join me, master, because I am so pissed I could kill him.”

Scáthach says, “Punishing him for this is a necessary result of his actions. Though I do think you would be better served, letting it go for now. We both know he is going through a few rather intense things so at least give him some time to figure things out. A few days will be great.”

Ferdiad stops, and says, “What do you mean Setanta’s been going through things?”

Confused Scáthach turn around, and says, “Don’t you know? It has been written all over his face. We had a talk about it after you guys defeated Aoife, so I just assumed you would have noticed like usual?”

Ferdiad with some anxious embarrassment, says, “I didn’t notice anything.”

“You have also been preoccupied with a lot so don’t allow it to weigh on you. Let’s continue on.”

Ferdiad's heartbeat accelerates, and he says, “Master why did you make me your student?”

Scáthach turns and says, “Why do you ask?”

“You’re a warrior who has only trained the greatest in the empire, you find those with great potential and refine them. Many would kill to be chosen by you, but you chose me as a student, so master why is that, why was I picked?”

Scáthach falls silent, and Ferdiad says with a trembling voice, “It wasn’t because of Setanta, was it? Am I only your student because Setanta took a liking to me or am I someone with potential?

Am I someone who is worthy of standing beside, and surpassing Setanta? Do I have a place here as something other than Setanta’s keeper? Did all those people who died to keep me alive do it for a good reason? Master, am I special?”

Ferdiad trembles and shakes as he speaks, but at the same time there is a fierce desperation in his eyes, that would shake anyone’s soul.

Seeing this Scáthach says, “Hey Ferdiad what do you think is the single thing that life cannot exist without is?”

“Master, I don’t need riddles I need answers.”

In a rather proud and playful voice, Scáthach says, “Students don’t get to choose how they learn, they just learn. Now answer my question?”

Ferdiad sighs which releases all the tension in his body, and then he says, “Fine.”

After thinking about it for a moment, Deji says, “Death. Life must always be countered with death, it cannot exist without it.”

Scáthach then get uncomfortably close to Ferdiad's face, and says, “BORING!”

Ferdiad then headbutts her, and says, “WELL THEN DON’T GIVE ME A RIDDLE.”

Pouting Scáthach says, “What a brute.”

“Stop pretending your feelings are hurt and give me an answer.”

Composing herself, Scáthach says, “The answer is rather simple, life requires others. Life can only be brought from others.

There are countless things in this world that exist, but one thing that must be certain in the creation of our lives is that we must come from others. Even death can only happen if life exists.”

Moving closer to Ferdiad, Scáthach puts her hands on his face, and says, “No one in this world was born to walk alone, are minds simply aren’t made to handle such things.

Even Setanta is the same. If you truly believe Setanta is an exceptional person, then remember that others were born to walk at his side as well, and the first of those people is you.

You are special Ferdiad, no one else like you exists, and I am sure there are countless lives that will be brought forward from your own.”

Ferdiad with a little smile appearing on his face, says, “Thank you, master.”

“But no illegitimate children, I have rather bad luck with my students' illegitimate children, and don’t feel like dealing with any more of them!”

Moving her hand off his face, Ferdiad says, “Stop being gross, do I look like Setanta to you?”

Scáthach gives Ferdiad a kiss on the cheek and says, “Not a bit, and that will be a mark of something you have that Setanta doesn’t.”

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Scáthach disappears into the shadows as Ferdiad holds his cheek, and then says, “I think I need to go to my room.”

Ferdiad then slaps his cheeks and says, “No training comes first.”

-Break-

Location: Culainn Blacksmiths

With passion in his eyes and a ripe motivation Setanta tries to use one of Culainn's tools to engrave on a metal shield, but it breaks as he tries, causing him to say, “Ooops.”

Culainn smacks the back of his head, and says, “That’s the fourth one today, get the hell out of here!”

“I AM TRYING MY BEST IT ISN’T MY FAULT YOUR SHIT IS CRAP!”

Culainn whacks me in the head again, and says, “Ge the hell out of here you brat.”

“You get out of my city you old shit!”

He whacks Setanta again, and says, “That’s it, your execution is happening right now you old shit!”

“You don’t need to do that, just keep doing your abhorrent work and I will die anyway.”

“YOU PIECE OF SHIT!”

Setanta and Culainn continue to fight against each other. Until they both tire out and lay on the ground.

“How the hell do you have so much energy? It makes no sense?”

“Never underestimate an artist’s scorn, I will sooner die and kill all in the empire than allow you to desecrate my work.”

Sitting up, Setanta says, “I am sorry about what I have done so far, I didn’t mean to break your sword. I am just distracted and am letting that get in my way.”

Culainn sitting up says, “Go shove it up your ass.”

“HEY I APOLOGISED!”

“So what? I need results not words!”

Setanta is about to argue against him, but then says, “You’re right.”

Culainn stares at Setanta who hangs his head down low, and says, “If you cannot concentrate today, come back tomorrow and I will give you another chance when your hands steady.”

“Steady hands? I think I have an idea wait here you old fart.”

Setanta runs off towards Gorias castle, and as he does Culainn says, “That boy has far too much energy, it isn’t good for my heart, but for my soul, it is an exquisite meal.”

-Break-

Hearing a large amount of noise outside, Culainn says, “What is going on?”

Then riding on top of his pet he moves outside and there he sees something that makes his mouth drop to the floor and says, “Setanta what is this?”

Beside Setanta stands an adult human male.

Setanta responds, “I have brought some help!”

Culainn looks around at all the peering eyes, and then says, “Get inside now!”

As they arrive at the back of the shop, the man says, “Hey, so how am I going to escape if all of these people are watching me?”

With an uncomfortably cherry smile, Setanta “You’re not going to escape dummy.”

“BUT YOU PROMISED!”

“I lied, you’re here for slave labour.”

“YOU BASTARD!”

“My father is the king of Gorias, so be careful calling me a bastard because he might hear.”

Culainn whacks Setanta on the head, then puts him in a headlock and says, “What is wrong with you child!?”

“I don’t really see the issue; I was unable to focus so I brought someone who can.”

“But he is a human, this could attract a bunch of troubles towards you for no reason.”

“The concern is nice, but it is unnecessary. Besides what is most important is worrying about accomplishing your goal.”

Culainn sighs, then says, “It is fine for me to throw away my dignity and reputation at this old age, but don’t be so quick to damage your own.”

“I will keep those words in the back of my mind.”

Turning to Aurelius, Setanta says, “Now come on and help us we need to get this work done.”

Pouting like a child, Aurelius says, “No.”

“What do you mean no.”

Getting on the floor and throwing a tantrum like a baby Aurelius says, “No I don’t want to work, I just want to escape and leave this empire. You promise and now you’re taking it back, asshole, coward, scum.”

Setanta proceeds to kick Aurelius in the air, and every time he falls down, he knocks him back up and juggles him in the air like a ball.

“I forgot when a slave had the ability to refuse his master's request.”

“A good slave has the same principles as their master.”

“A good slave shuts up and listens!”

Setanta stops and Aurelius falls to the ground, and then Setanta says, “Hey if you help us I will give you something you want?.”

“Like my freedom?”

“A snack maybe?”

“Then no!” Aurelius says as he turns his head away from Setanta.

As Aurelius looks away, he sees a few pieces of broken metal on the floor and for a moment he admires the beauty even in the broken piece of metal, and then asks, “Why are you doing this?”

Setanta is about to say something, but Culainn cuts him off and says, “I want to return the broken weapons my people used to slaughter humans back to them.

You don’t have to help if you truly don’t want to but if you can I would be pleased for you to do so.”

Aurelius sits up on the ground, and says, “I will under the condition I get fed three straight meals while I work here. If I am working, I want bigger meals than I had at the castle.”

Culainn says, “That’s fine, and I thank you.”

Aurelius freezes for a moment and says, “Did you just thank me?”

“Of course I did. I have met people who would rather die than help me and some have actually taken their lives than to come near me. We all have some degree of choice in our life, so if for some reason those choices have allowed you to help me now, I thank you for making those choices.”

Aurelius sits up and says, “Ok then let’s get to work.”

-Break-

Holding up a shield Aurelius says, “Is this good?”

Culainn grabs and inspects it then says, “This is wonderful, far better than Setanta.”

“HEY!!”

Culainn continues and says, “You have drawn the beastkin characters far better than most do in this empire, where did you learn this level of skill?”

“For the first few years, I was a slave I worked on a plantation, but one of the guards had a client who liked to buy humans with hair like mine and collected them to be her little servants.

She didn’t really like other beastkin, so I guess keeping humans where a lot easier for her. She taught us a bunch of little things; it was rather nice even though I would have preferred to be free.

After all of the beastkin conquests, humans were sent to the newly conquered lands and were forced to help grow and maintain them. It was a rather harsh experience, and it was the first time I made an escape.”

Both Setanta and Culainn fall silent, and then Setanta says, “I have heard how the humans are treated in the outer colonies where we cannot really monitor the beastkin actions. I am surprised you could even look a beastkin in the eyes after that.”

“I don’t really care. My first master was a rather lonely lady, I think in all honesty her wish to be cared for by us made us have quite a bit of power over her a times.

I really wish she let us go, but at the very least I can definitely say after spending so much time with her, that she was on a functional level no different than a human. I cannot fully despise her.”

Culainn smiles a bit, but Setanta says, “Don’t get cocky human we aren’t the same.”

“I know, we aren’t but humans aren’t as similar as you think. From all of the other slaves who used to live with me, I learned that the way my people lived was only one of many.

In all honesty, if those other humans all had different appendages attached to their bodies I could make a rather splendid argument that they aren’t the same as me.”

Culainn says, “You can both keep your thoughts to yourself regarding that matter, right now I only welcome skill, so show them to me.”

The three of them continue to work until the sun sets.