After arranging their schedules and fabricating a reason about travelling for novel ideas whenever anyone asked, Scarlet and Kyle arrive in a small town in Scotland.
“Now I understand why this place has such mythology,” Kyle remarked, standing on the vast, rocky landscape. He gazed into the distance, where dense mist shrouded the horizon.
Scarlet consulted her map again. It was a store-bought map of Scotland, covered with numerous handwritten notes. “Remember to be respectful when we get there. Though I’m not sure if we’ll see anything.”
Kyle observed her from behind. He could see she was nervous, constantly pinching the corner of the map and biting her lips.
He asked tentatively, “Well, Scarlet, if you don’t find anything there – if it turns out to be just an ordinary fortress ruin in a misty setting - what’s your plan for next?”
Scarlet appeared thoughtful for a moment, then responded after a long silence, “That would mean two things. One, there are no spirits in this world, and I’m just wasting my time for looking it. But I can still perform some chants, which suggests there’s some magic in the world that I’d need to learn about through various artefacts and ancient studies. In that case, I’d need to pursue further education in this field, aiming for a solid academic record and possibly some funding. Two, spirits do exist but aren’t here. They might be found more easily in Japan or other parts of Asia, given Japan’s reputation for its shrines and such. If that’s the case, I might need to stay there for an extended period...”
“You’re really good at planning things,” Kyle complimented. He wouldn’t have thought of such detailed steps himself.
Scarlet smiled, “I plan to write a few more books for Akahime’s Diary series. You’ll see how I developed this habit.”
“Sounds like a long story.”
“Indeed.”
They resumed their journey after the brief pause.
Driving in Scotland proved challenging, as many areas lacked proper roads and the land was largely undeveloped (Scarlet: not to mention without Waze or Google Maps for satellite view). Nevertheless, the nature scenery was stunning, with an indescribable, whimsical quality that even Scarlet who had seen many places in her previous life, couldn’t help admire.
Finally, they reached their location: the ruins of Dún Scáith near Tarskavaig. The ruins were said to be the Castle of Shadows from long ago, and Scáthach, the legendary warrior woman and martial arts teacher, was reputed to train only those young warriors who were already skilled and brave enough to penetrate the many defences of her fortress and gain access. The most famous warrior she trained was Cú Chulainn, the legendary hero.
However, these legends were unfamiliar to Kyle, who only knew about Thor from American comics, and had vague understanding of Egypt from a Japanese shojo manga about a time-travelled girl who become a Pharoh’s or something like that – hardly his usual reading material.
To Kyle, it was simply a place on a cliff near the shore, with a scattering of rocks and grasses. The outline of the once legendary castle was so vague that, if Scarlet hadn’t pointed it out, he would have thought it was just an assortment of oddly shaped rocks.
Scarlet hopped out of the car, and Kyle followed her to the spot.
“What’s next?” Kyle asked, “Do you need to perform some kind of dance or ritual?”
“Huh?” Scarlet looked at him, puzzled.
“Well, you mentioned a priestess, and the closest thing I can related it to is a shrine maiden in Japan, wearing a specific uniform and perform ceremonial dances,” Kyle explained, scratching his head.
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Scarlet shook her head, “No, I’ll just have to ask politely. However, I think I might need to pass some tests.”
Kyle looked bewildered. “Could you elaborate?”
“She’s the teacher of all legendary heroes in Celtic legends. To win her favour, I think I need to pass her test, much like how Cú Chulainn did,” Scarlet said softly. After a moment of contemplation, she added, “You just stay here and don’t do anything. Even if I disappear, just stay put and don’t panic, alright?”
“Wait, what?” Before Kyle could say anything more, Scarlet trotted into the ruins, knelt down, and said in a calm voice:
“O Great Scáthach, teacher of all heroes, Queen of Shadowy Land who drew the line between life and death, guardian of the gate to the other realm. Here I pray, for your kindness, for your favour, for your guidance, to tread upon this mortal land on your behalf, to fulfil your will and achieve greatness, to embody the courage that pleases you...”
Her voice gradually faded as she slowly disappeared into thin air, while dense mist began to gather around the ruins of the legendary castle. The sky seemed distant, shrouded in a greyish haze, and Kyle suddenly felt as if he had entered a different realm.
Tension built, and nervousness grew, but Kyle, believing in the little girl, clutched the jade pendant hanging against his chest tightly, waiting patiently for any outcome; It was a two-piece jade pendant: one with an enchantment to protect him from danger, and the other bound to Scarlet’s vitality. If anything were to happen to Scarlet, the smaller pendant would crack, and shatter if she was to cease.
Kyle did not know how long he had been waiting there; he dared not look at his watch. After what felt like ages, the sky cleared, flower began to bloom, and Scarlet appeared, stepping forward with confidence, dressed in a tight, fitted attire, and holding a delicate spear taller than him.
She seemed tired, but pleased.
Kyle rushed to her and hugged her tightly, “Thank goodness you’re alright!”
“Thank Queen Scáthach,” Scarlet said with a smile, “I passed her test. She agreed to be my bond and lend me her power, I’m her priestess now!”
“Great, but I’m more concerned about you,” Kyle said, looked at her, “I mean...your hair?”
“My hair?” Scarlet looked puzzled.
Her hair, which had always been a long, brownish-black, had now turned red, and her eyes had changed to a deep blue, reminiscent of the ocean...She looked like a typical Celtic redhead.
Scarlet blinked, then realised, “This must be the effect of power bestowed upon me. It’s making me look more like a Celtic girl...Which makes sense, considering the Queen was a Celtic legend and had red hair, though hers was a bit darker, while mine is more normal.”
Kyle felt a twinge of jealousy toward the legendary lady he’d never meet, “Well, what is she like. I mean, is she kind? Gentle?”
“She’s a kind but strict teacher...And I still have much to learn.” Scarlet pulled out a stone with runes carved into it. “This is my textbook, and I’ll need to come back here next year to take her test again.”
“A rock?” Kyle looked sceptical.
“Enchanted rock,” Scarlet explained, “There’s a hidden chamber inside it, as large as a house, filled with tons of knowledge I need to digest. Thousands of years ago, she would have kept me here to study until I passed her test to become a hero, but times have changed. Her legend has faded, so she’s decided to go easy on me.”
“Meaning?” Kyle asked.
“It means I can go home and study on my own, and I don’t have to leap like a salmon from the shore to get into the castle.” Scarlet held up her spear, looking a bit troubled. “I’ll need a martial art teacher – preferably someone who can teach me how to leap high like a salmon.”
Salmon? Kyle was puzzled but didn’t press further. He carried Scarlet to the backseat of the car. Her spear and unusual attire gradually faded as she fell asleep.
She was clearly exhausted. Kyle could see the dark circles under her eyes. With everything settled, he had a moment to examine his overly mature daughter. Her hands were covered in scratches and healing scars, blisters dotted her hands and feet, and her skin felt dry. Dust could be shaken out of hair...
It was clear She had been through a battle, presumably the test given by the Queen. It likely took longer than he experienced; legends often say that time flows differently in different realms - a minute here could mean a hundred years there, or the other way around.
Judging by her condition, he guessed she’d been away for no more than a week, probably just two to three days.
She had admitted that she wasn’t skilled in combat, serving mostly in supporting role in her previous life. But “not skilled in combat” didn’t mean she didn’t know how to fight. Given her cautious nature, she must have known she’d facing a battle in the test.
Yet she came, and willingly accepted the challenge, which showed her affection for the Queen’s legend. Among the many legends and folklore, he recalled seeing ones with more fantastical and magical traits, but she chose the Queen.
“You really like her, don’t you?” Kyle murmured at the sleeping girl in the backseat, sighed, and began driving back to the homestay he had rented for the week.