Fate: How About a New Savior?

"My beloved disciple, what is your most unforgettable memory?"

In the ever-spotless workshop, Scáthach's voice lingered in Shiomi's ears.

"Eh? What's with the sudden question, Master?" Shiomi looked away from the Mystic Code and turned toward Scáthach, who was leaning casually against the table, her expression relaxed.

Scáthach suddenly let out a soft laugh. "You mean you haven't realized it yet?"

"Ah... you're talking about that line I said, right? 'The memory I'd never forget, even if I fell into hell, was the day you stood before me'—something like that?" Shiomi blinked in realization.

It was how he truly felt, but the mood right now wasn't right. Coming down from work mode to get into that sort of sentimental exchange wasn't easy.

"I do want to hear you say that," Scáthach said with a hint of amusement, crossing her arms. "But no, that's not what I meant this time." She turned her head to look at him. "I was wondering if, by now, you've become aware of it."

"Aware of what, exactly?" Shiomi walked over, leaning on the table across from her, eyes fixed seriously on his master.

"You're going to live a very long life. By the time it truly matters, I might not even bother counting the years between us," Scáthach said.

Shiomi frowned slightly. "Why are you suddenly saying things like that? It sounds so... old."

"I'll deal with that comment later," Scáthach chuckled, brushing it off. "But have you ever thought about what it really means to live that long?"

"Not really..." Shiomi paused.

"I've had many disciples, but they all died young," Scáthach said, shaking her head. "Looking at how things are now, you're set to live longer than any of them. That alone makes me feel at ease."

"Living is what matters most. If you die, everything else is meaningless, right?" Shiomi thought for a second. "Wait—actually, if I die, wouldn't I just return to the Land of Shadows and end up back by your side? Unless, of course, I get dragged off to some other underworld."

"But in the Land of Shadows, the rules for the living and the dead are completely different. If you're dead, no matter how you lived, you fall under my dominion," Scáthach said with a sigh. But that wasn't the point she wanted to make.

"I see." Shiomi nodded, raising a hand in a mock gesture of respect. "Please go on, Master. I'll commit it to heart."

Scáthach lifted a finger. "When life drags on too long, memory wears thin. It starts to slip beyond your control. Everything becomes dull. Each day ends up just like the last. There's a stark contrast between a life that stretches endlessly with no end in sight and one that's sharp and finite, where you can see the ending clearly."

"That doesn't sound fine to me. If you had to face that endless time alone, I don't think I could accept it," Shiomi said, shaking his head sincerely.

A sudden pang of regret swelled in Scáthach's heart. Maybe she shouldn't have chosen this moment to bring up the topic of lifespan.

She would keep existing until the world itself ended—until the Land of Shadows disappeared along with it.

But he would continue as well. Someday, he'd return to the Land of Shadows—not like now, where the crisis of the Incineration of Humanity had allowed her to stay by his side and lend her strength.

Her beloved disciple had long since become someone capable of standing on his own. Even if she stayed uninvolved, he'd be fine.

But Scáthach couldn't do that. And she didn't want to.

"You bastard..." Scáthach raised her hand.

Shiomi instinctively flinched, thinking she was about to settle the score with him, and went to shield his head.

But instead of the usual well-placed tap, a heart-shaped box was pressed firmly against his chest.

"Take it."

"Huh?"

"I heard from the children that today should be Valentine's Day. Even though time and holidays have lost their meaning in this world of Human Order Incineration, I still think they matter—for us." As she spoke, a faint blush colored Scáthach's cheeks.

Her brow was slightly furrowed, trying to mask her feelings behind a forced sternness.

"You're always saying I'm your woman too, aren't you? I can't exactly deny that, so I'm just doing what comes naturally."

"Master..." Shiomi carefully accepted the chocolate. "So that question you asked earlier... that's what it was about."

Scáthach was impressed by his insight, though it didn't surprise her. "Of course. I wanted this to be something that would stand out in your long life, something you'll remember."

"The fact that you made a heart-shaped chocolate with your own hands, delivered it yourself, and even gave me a lecture to go with it—there's no way I'll ever forget." Shiomi opened the box and found a large heart-shaped chocolate inside.

Scáthach's name was written across the surface.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"It's huge. There's no way I can finish this by myself," Shiomi said.

"You don't have to eat it all today," Scáthach replied casually. "Just don't share it with anyone else. As long as you finish it before it goes bad, that's fine."

"No, I mean—" Shiomi took a bite, held the piece between his teeth, and leaned in close to Scáthach.

The sweet scent of chocolate enveloped her, rich and heavy, making it hard to breathe or pull away—like drowning in a deep, still pool. But this pool had traveled far, carried on a breeze of spring warmth, completely unlike the frozen world outside Chaldea. It felt like a dream, close enough to touch.

"I can't finish it on my own. So, will you share it with me, Master?"

After they finished that piece together, Shiomi wrapped his arms around her waist and asked sincerely.

"You're always so unexpected," Scáthach said, cupping his face in her hands. "I'm starting to wonder how I'm supposed to be surprised next time."

"Then don't be surprised. I just felt like... given the time and place, we should do something that makes you happy too," Shiomi said. "Of course, if you don't like it, I'll stop."

Scáthach raised a finger and gently wiped away the chocolate at the corner of Shiomi's mouth.

"Do you want me to stop?"

"Of course not. But you have your position as Master—I won't force anything on you," Shiomi said, leaning in to kiss her.

"Then, as you wish." Scáthach nodded.

"But seriously..." Shiomi smiled as he licked his lips. "That's a lot of chocolate. Even with the two of us, we'll probably get sick of it before we're done."

"Well, it was my first time making chocolates for someone. I'll do better next time."

As she said that, Shiomi picked Scáthach up and placed her on the table. She caught on to his intent and met him with a knowing smile.

"Looks like my dear disciple wants to savor more than just the chocolate."

"Master knows me best."

Fortunately, no one would interrupt them in the workshop. For now, this moment belonged to just the two of them.