I don't know how much time has passed.

A similar thought had popped into my head numerous times throughout my stay in this desolate realm. Yet, I couldn't find myself particularly caring anymore.

Days, weeks, months?

None of that mattered, because I was with someone I have come to care for greatly. Even the cold and death of this place seemed insignificant, every time I saw her smile, it was incomparably warm.

Gradually, the amount of training began to decrease. That is to say, she would beat me up less if I were being honest. I don't think that had anything to do with 'us', she would show no mercy when in teacher mode regardless of everything going on.

Demands for certain physical exercises ceased, and her desire to engage in sparring had dropped to a bare minimum. To say it didn't give me pause for concern would be a lie.

Still, she would stay by my side whenever possible. Even if we had no words to each other, we were content to merely stay within arms reach.

There began to be days where I didn't even touch my sword. Times when she took me on adventures throughout the land of shadows, or times when I told her stories of the outside world.

I don't know how much time had passed...is something I kept telling myself at this point. Because if I kept count I knew I would regret it.

But I suppose it didn't matter, certain words I dreaded eventually came, words that made my heart drop in my chest.

"It is time for you to leave." She didn't even look at me while saying it.

Was it a courtesy for me? I don't know if I would want her to see me when those words reached my ears.

"I still haven't learned enough, I still can't beat you, I –"

She turned around, placing a finger on my lips. "Silly boy, do you expect to be trained until you surpass me?" She gave me a sad smile. "You will never be able to surpass me if you stay here. You exist for the outside, to spread your wings there and live your life. You no longer require my tutelage; you can venture forth on your own path now."

I wanted to argue, but the look on her face…. She didn't gave me any room. "Come with me" I grabbed her hand, letting my fingers brush against hers. She looked at me, her eyes…I could tell what she was going to say but I couldn't help myself. "Please?"

Her eyes softened considerably, squeezing my hand. "I cannot." She pulled away.

"It's easy, just come with me, I can take you out of here."

"It's not that simple…." She said quietly.

"You were originally guarding this place, not allowing the dead here to escape, but it's not connected to the world anymore, nothing can escape. Your duty is over, you don't have to stay here any longer." I pointed out.

"Yes, nothing here can leave anymore." She mimicked my words.

I just stared at her in confusion before a horrifying realization came across me. "You can't leave either…"

"My age has passed, I persisted because I became something no longer human." She quietly explained.

"You're bound here, not in a metaphorical way…..if I were to forcefully take you from this place….."

Scathach shook her head. "It would be the most unpleasant death one could imagine."

Bound, it was quite literal. This place sustained her existence, but it also was her prison as much as any of the abominations that still walked its snowy tundra. A death by being forcibly separated, maybe it would be worse than persisting here through eternity.

No….. "There has to be a way, we can think of something!" I quickly tried to reassure her, but she had a resigned look on her face. "I don't want to lose you." I couldn't help but have some tears form at the corners of my eyes.

"You sweet boy." She gently moved her hand up, cupping my cheek, thumb wiping away the liquid. "Just because it wasn't for a lifetime, it doesn't mean this time we spent together wasn't wonderful. You need to let go, I no longer belong outside."

"I don't care." I clenched my teeth. "Fuck the world, fuck that nonsense. I'll think of something." I clenched my fists, and my mind was turning up blank. "What If I –"

She flicked my forehead, a scowl forced on my face. "If you were about to suggest staying here with me, I will become very angry." She shook her head again, a bittersweet smile replaced her previous annoyance. "I won't allow you to waste your life searching for something that does not exist." She looked, hesitant, she wanted to say something, but the words didn't seem to form. "Don't let this old woman drag you down."

"There's something you're not telling me." I immediately pressed. Such a thing was unlike her, to actually not speak her mind and look so…reluctant.

"Please don't ask, my resolve will shatter." Her words barely a whisper to my ears.

"Tell me." I pressed again.

She turned away. "Kill me."

"W-what?" I couldn't help but have my eyes widen in surprise.

"Kill me." Her eyes hardened. "Take your blade, and defeat me, plunge your sword through my heart."

"I…..how could I possibly do something like that?" I was taken back by her sudden request, my brain practically coming to a halt, unable to properly process her words.

"I am no longer human, I exist as something that will never die a natural death. My existence turned into curse" She stated. "I have killed gods, men, demons, and everything in between. I no longer age, I will no longer die, I have turned into something that is immortal. My happiness is that I was able to raise warriors such as you throughout my existence. No one will ever reach here again, my purpose has thoroughly been extinguished."

No….nonononono….

Her words were heavy, filled with countless emotions she had been holding in for who knows how long. "Please, allow me to die as a person, spear held high, the warrior I wish to be."

"To ask of me something like this…..knowing how I feel…" I couldn't find the correct words. "You...you are..."

"I know, I am a cruel woman."

There were tears streaking down my face at this point. "If….if it were possible, for you to exist outside this realm, would you go with me, content to stay by my side?"

"Yes." She answered immediately, no hesitation in her voice.

I wiped away my own tears, regaining my composure. I clenched my fists. I was overcome with anger, sadness and almost everything in-between. I wanted to shout and scream, but the thought of ruining the possibly last few moments with her made me crush those impulses. "To ask something like this from me, are you ready to pay the price?" My mind raced, I tried to think of many different solutions to this problem, but one thing stuck in my mind for now. I started to create a plan in the back of my head.

"Anything you want is yours."

"You." I declared. "For now on, you are mine."

"Of course, this Scathach will forever be yours." She smiled brightly, enough to make me almost break down.

"Good, because I'm greedy and possessive. You're my woman, and I refuse to ever give you up." I stepped forward, placing my lips against hers, she returned my kiss just as passionately.

This wasn't how it was supposed to go.....

To finally have her, for her to be mine and yet, it felt so hollow.

Fine.

I'll kill you then, if you want to die like this, even if a part of my dies along with you. I couldn't ever deny a request when you look at me like that anyways.

But this will not be goodbye, you promised me.

You are my woman now, and I refuse to ever give you up.

Our lips parted, and a mutual understand formed between us. I don't think either of us would drag this out, my resolve was already starting to crumble just from seeing her face.

I withdrew my swords, Boosted gear appear on my hand and all my enhancement spells covered my body. I remember the words she first said to me when I entered this realm. "Defend yourself." But there was no excitement on my face, only a bitter look of determination.

***

I limped across the snow, pulling along several wooden logs. Stacking them up nice and tidily, into a funeral pyre.

There was dried and frozen blood all over my body. Clothes had been torn to shreds, and I had new holes in several places. Even with copious amounts of magical healing, I was barely on my feet, yet, I couldn't stop moving.

Even if it was painful, even if the tears wouldn't stop falling, I couldn't cease my steps.

I set everything up, taking out flowers to set along side the pyre, to make it acceptable for someone like her, a proper send off. Alchemic resources, precious commodities, but this was far more important.

I retrieved her body, eyes closed, a content smile on her face and I almost dropped to my knees along side her.

In my heart, I knew this was only temporary, I was already devising plans….but I couldn't help it.

Gently, I placed my lips on her forehead, giving her one last goodbye. I made sure to tidy up her body, wipe away any blood stains, not that were many. A small stream that had dripped down her lips, and a small wound right above her heart.

One last time for who knows how long, I held her in the arms and carried her to the last leg of her journey involving this wretched place.

I would not allow this place to claim her corpse, for it to be defiled by the disgusting things here.

Setting everything up, putting her on the pyre and finishing my last touches I looked over her again.

"Fuck you." I spat out. I tried to be angry, but I think the tears made me look just pathetic.

"Fuck you for making me love you then asking me to do something like this." I wiped my hand across my eyes again.

I slowly drew a single Rune in the air, and flicked it towards the pyre.

It ignited without any effort, the flames overtaking the wood in matter of seconds and the fire reaching high up into the air.

"And fuck you for letting me win." We both know I lost that fight.

I was going to kick her ass the next time I saw her. I don't care what I have to do, I will bring you back and I'll never allow you to leave me again.

I just need to get my hands on a Holy Grail.

***