"I'm so exhausted."
Asher lay on the bed, letting out a long sigh.
He had trained all day, and then in the evening, he even had a match with Cú Chulainn. That person never knew how to hold back. Although Scáthach had healed his physical injuries, there was still a bit of pain.
After all, physical injuries could be healed with Rune magic, but psychological trauma was different.
Even if the injuries were healed, there would still be a lingering pain.
"And I was even despised by Big Sister Uathach," Asher thought of the contemptuous look Uathach had given him just now and couldn't help but bury his face in the pillow.
It was so embarrassing! He was actually seen by Uathach having some bold thoughts about Shishou.
Aaaah!
Then, Asher hugged the pillow and rolled around, only to hear a "thump" sound.
"It hurts..."
Asher covered his head, curling up into a ball.
"So the power of prophecy didn't trigger at this time?" Asher muttered to himself, covering his head, looking thoughtful.
According to Morgan le Fay, he could foresee dangerous scenes that would occur to him within the next four seconds, but when his head hit the pillar just now, no images flashed through his mind at all.
In other words, in the "prophecy," that bump just now wasn't considered dangerous?
"Try again?"
Asher glanced at the pillar beside him, hesitated for a moment, and touched the swelling bump on his forehead.
Honestly, unless one's brain was broken, no one would deliberately hit their head against a pillar.
But now he couldn't help his curiosity and wanted to try the "prophecy" again to see how he could grasp its power.
Thump!
Asher hit the pillar with his head again.
"Still no reaction. Could this power of prophecy be broken?" He muttered to himself, covering his slightly aching head.
Then, he glanced at the pillar in front of him.
Should he... try again?
Anyway, he could ask Uathach to help heal him later. It would just hurt a little now.
"Try again!"
Asher was about to hit the pillar again when the magic power in his body quietly circulated, hoping that the prophecy could be activated.
Thump.
Strange, why doesn't it hurt?
Asher felt his head seem to hit something soft, and there was a faint fragrance. He looked up.
"Asher, even if you can't beat Cú Chulainn, there's no need to harm yourself like this. Or are you just that cowardly?" Scáthach looked down at the boy whose entire face was pressed against her chest, her eyes still calm.
"Shishou?! Why did you come in?" Asher hurriedly backed away, saying apologetically, "I didn't notice you coming in just now. I'm sorry."
Scáthach shook her head. "I came in on my own accord in the first place. You don't need to apologize."
"This is for you." She placed the magic cauldron in front of Asher.
"There are a total of 26 Rune characters. I have engraved 12 characters on the surface of the cauldron. Although it hasn't reached its limit, it's enough for you to use."
Asher took the magic cauldron but didn't thank her.
Some things didn't need to be thanked verbally. Keeping them in his heart and repaying her in the future was the right thing to do for Asher.
Besides, Scáthach had taught him all her martial arts and magic without reservation and had taken him in. This was already an unpayable debt of gratitude.
"Rest well. Cú Chulainn will undergo his final trial tomorrow. You'll go with him as a way to mentally prepare yourself in advance," Scáthach paused. "If you have confidence, you can participate in the trial as well. If you pass, you can successfully complete your training."
Asher was stunned.
Completing his training... wouldn't that mean he couldn't learn anything more here and would have to leave?
But he didn't want to leave the Land of Shadows. Although the daily training with Scáthach was tiring, he had gotten used to this kind of life—morning practice every day, and then telling stories to Uathach when he returned, like Grimm's Fairy Tales...
Asher didn't have any specific goals. He just wanted to become stronger and then protect the people around him.
If he left just like that... honestly, he wasn't mentally prepared for it yet.
Seemingly seeing Asher's thoughts, Scáthach's face softened into a gentle smile as she ruffled his hair. "Don't worry, I won't chase you away. Even if you complete your training, you can still stay here."
"After all, that child seems a little impatient too..." As Scáthach said this, she turned her head to look towards the entrance.
In a few months, Asher would be sixteen years old. According to the rules of this world, sixteen could be considered adulthood, and she would betroth Uathach to Asher.
This wasn't a forced requirement for the two to marry, but rather something Uathach had proposed on her own initiative.
Thinking it was just something her daughter had suggested out of childishness back then, Scáthach hadn't taken it to heart and had agreed to her daughter's request. But recently, Uathach had brought up the matter again.
Without a doubt, her daughter was serious.
"What?" Asher seemed not to have reacted, blinking his eyes and asking in confusion.
"It's nothing," Scáthach sat down on the edge of the bed. "So, let's continue the story from yesterday."
"Mm," Asher nodded, casually placing the magic cauldron aside and sitting down next to Scáthach, continuing to tell some of the stories he had read before.
Stories about battles between certain powerful individuals.
"That person was super strong, possessing chains that could restrict divinity, and a super strong weapon called EA..."
Scáthach looked at Asher, who was now engrossed in his storytelling, his long eyelashes fluttering, his dark eyes focused and earnest.
Five years ago, he was just an ordinary child who would often run to her in the evening because he was afraid of sleeping alone, only able to fall asleep peacefully while pillowed on her lap.
And unknowingly, he had grown so big.
Scáthach's gaze slightly blurred as she ruffled Asher's hair.
Let's postpone the wedding date a bit further...
Although sixteen was adulthood, his mind wasn't mature yet. It should at least wait until he was twenty.
"Shishou, are you daydreaming?" Asher's voice pulled Scáthach back to reality.
"Not daydreaming, just considering some things," Scáthach replied calmly. "Continue your story."
"It's probably about your sister Uathach... actually, you don't need to come over every night to accompany me. I'm not a child anymore," Asher muttered.
Although it made him quite happy that Scáthach would accompany him until he fell asleep every night before leaving, still being treated like a child now wasn't something to be happy about.
"This is a Shishou's duty, to ensure the psychological well-being of the disciple. No need to say more," Scáthach's tone was flat but left no room for defiance.
"Alright," Thus, Asher had no choice but to compromise.
Anyway, once Scáthach said something, it was impossible for anyone to change her mind. Even if he wanted Scáthach to leave, he couldn't do it. Moreover... Asher didn't want Scáthach to stop coming over in the evenings.
That would make him feel like something was missing.
Unknowingly, he had already gotten used to life here and the time he spent with his Shishou every evening.
--------More Bonus Chapters!!!!
Every 300 power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter