Disclaimers: Persona series and Fate series belongs to their awesome owners. I do not own anything.

"The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world."

G-Man (Half-Life 2)

When he slowly regained consciousness, he can hear the sounds of cracking thunder, felt the stinging wind that touches his whole body, and the rough surface he is lying to. When he opened his eyes, the dark thunderous clouds from the skies greeted him, it reminded him of that time on the forest, where he unknowingly finds himself in Seraph. Feeling his body recover their senses, he tried to pull himself up into a sitting position.

His effort is been rewarded as he manages to sit on the ground. However, in doing so he felt his mind is swirling like a vortex, it's giving him a headache. "You should rest a little more." He heard a female voice near him, following where the voice came from, he saw the familiar woman with long purple hair and possess an extreme beauty, she wore armored shoulder pads and full-body outfit that emphasize her curvaceous body.

Even though he doesn't know her name, he remembers her back when they fight each other in that cavern near Lundy, and that time in Rome. The woman's presence made him alarmed, why is she here and where he is? Recalling his memories, this place doesn't look like Rome, he does not recognize this ominous barren-looking wasteland.

Scáthach notices the look in the raven-haired young man. He's wary about her, and she understands why. She did have the motive to kill him, but the question of whether or not he remembers them piercing each other with the cursed spear is unknown to her. Regardless of the answer, the result is still the same, every time they'd meet there is always a weapon in hand.

To him, she is an enemy. To her, well she going to explain it later on. For now, relieving the pain his feeling should come up first. Making a quick hand motion in the air, she murmured the rune's name softly before it a green colored light orbits around the young man's body.

To his surprise, Ren felt his headache disappears instantly, he even felt his body rejuvenate. Unsure what is her reason for helping him, he will thank her later, but for the moment he shouldn't let his guard down, not until he found a valid reason to trust her.

"Being alert is a good practice to learn, but its unnecessary right now. My name is Scáthach, you don't need to introduce yourself to me since I've already known you, Ren Amamiya, also known as Joker." He heard the woman's introduction. Scáthach, if memories serve right, its the same name of the persona that disciplines his soul. The strangeness of seeing a servant form of that persona is weird for him. Anyway, there is something else that caught his attention.

"How did you know about my alias?"

Seeing his confusion, Scáthach pointed to the ground below him. "That on the ground is a summoning circle. I've used it to summon you, to become my servant after almost dying." She explained before expressing a mild dejection on her face. "Let me rephrase it, you're already dead when I retrieve you and make it here. But luckily, your body manages to stay long enough for me to do the ritual and resummon you."

"Using myself as the cataclysm and your mask for the ritual, I've become your master without the Moon Cell being aware of it. By doing so, I can supply you the mana to use to keep living, solving that dilemma of yours." The female lancer said while showing a bit of pride in her voice for the accomplishment she just achieves. It wasn't an easy feat to do, not only she saves him from that servant, but she also needs to stop him from dying. Unfortunately, she wasn't fast enough to save that saint…

"I'd died but get resummoned…" Ren murmured to himself. Taking everything he just learned with a considerable amount of understanding. He knew about that situation of his, it was really serious that made everyone worry about him. However, he doesn't remember much after that desperation call of persona to save Jeanne. Whoever that persona came to his call, it should have killed him, but she said he'd survive long enough for her to retrieve him, which tells that he didn't die immediately after he'd blackout.

Maybe something else killed him? But then, she fixed his problem with mana after he'd got resummoned. Perhaps, the lack of mana killed him in the end, and Scáthach saves him from dying. But why? What is her reason for doing so? "If you summoned me behind the Moon Cell's sight then aren't you afraid of the consequences that might come after you?" Ren asks. If he takes everything she says as face value then his thankful at her, but at the same time worried about the troubles that will come after her.

Moon Cell isn't very forgiving, he knows about it since he got the treatment for saving France, he guesses.

"They've already come." She said before showing the back of her hand. "Because this summoning went under the Moon Cell nose. Even though I'm your master. I don't have the command seals to prove it, which is expected since my authority of being your master is not approved after all. There is that thing as well…but you don't have to mind it."

Ren notices her downhearted voice at the end of her statement. He wanted to ask what it was, but then perhaps its not the right time to do it. It looks like a personal problem.

"You, on the other hand, is still not a proper servant." Before her servant could ask a question, she explained further to save some time. "You're still tied with the Phantom Thieves of Heart, without them around, you cannot become a servant. Unless, if you harness the 'World' arcana within you. Only then you can become a heroic spirit and a proper servant."

"How do you know all about it?" He asks in disbelief. First his alias now she knows about The Phantom Thieves and the 'World' arcana? Is he sleep talking during the ritual and told her about that stuff? Also a proper servant? What does she mean by that? Isn't he a servant already?

"Well, a magus told me about you and also because I'm 'technically' your master even without the command seals." The Witch of Dun Scaith answered calmly. Maybe she should leave the magus part out, to leave further confusion and causes alarm to him. But then again, the two will meet someday, maybe it is the best for him to know. "Before you ask who's this magus is. He's not a foe, but you'll meet him someday." She said before moving to a much important subject.

"Forget about the magus and listen to what I'm about to say. Since my status as your master and the summoning I did are not authorize by the moon, added to that, your ability to summon and command historical and mythological beings at ease. The Moon Cell realized that your power is incredibly strong that it cannot be contained in a class, which is why you are not assigned in any classes. A non-class servant, picture my surprise when it not the only thing I've seen. Your parameter, personal skills, class skills, and even your noble phantasm are all blank. I don't think to call you a not proper servant serves any justice to your predicament."

Scáthach wasn't disappointed about it. There are no anger or stress on her voice when she explained it to her servant. Truth to be told, the queen of the land of the shadow liked the circumstances of the thief. It just means that her non-class servant has open rooms for things to learn. She begun to remembers what Merlin had said about him being the fool in the tarot deck, the one that started with the number zero. Very fitting for him, she cannot help herself but to smile about the thought, the potential she saw at him, she just wants to start his training now.

But then she needs to tell and make him realize the situation his in. "Ren, I'm sure you wanted to know the reason I'd save you." She said with a collected voice, the queen of the land of shadows needed to know if he's willing to learn under her or wanted to deal with this problem. "That magus I've said earlier, both of you are in a dire situation. One that dictates the fate of this world on the moon and the one we are born to. He told me about a man that created an army of Gods and Goddesses, its goal is to claim the Moon Cell and bring the end of humanity."

"However this man believes to himself that he'd personally give a warning to that magus. He wanted an opponent, someone that will oppose him, someone that will fight him and his army of divine beings." Scáthach pause for a moment, she wanted to see his eyes before continuing, that way she can have an idea with his behavior in this kind of situation. "He wanted you, he wants you to create armies of angels and demons to fight his own. To save humanity on his hands."

Ren cast his mind to that dream on that beautiful tower standing in the bed of flowers. That man in that tower said the same thing, even Metatron and Satan are aware of what this man had said. Could it be that the magus she talking about is that man on his dream? He's also curious about who is this man that created an army of Gods and Goddesses, and why he wanted him to become his opponent.

"That magus, he asks me to train you, prepare you, turn you into a proper servant so that you have a chance against him and his army. Which is why you're here with me, on the far side of the moon, a place where the Moon Cell will never find you, a land under my rule. The land of shadows." Scáthach announces introducing the name of the barren-wasteland. "Knowing your problems haven't end just from surviving the dilemma, I'm still going to respect your decision. I'll be giving you three choices."

"First is to leave this place and face the assassin that is waiting for your return on the near side, not that I'm scaring you but that servant is a walking personification of death, his not waiting for you for greetings, his there to decapitate you. Second is to stay here and avoid that servant, but know if you choose that I'm going to leave you here alone to survive this unforgiving land. If you choose the third option, you'll be going to do the first and second choices while undergoing to my lessons. You are going into a hellish type of training, that will break your bones, tear your soul, and potentially kill you in the process."

Even having a lionhearted gut, Ren felt cold running down his spine. This woman is that same persona that is strict and taught him discipline like no one has ever done. Whatever he chooses to pick, it's all leading to death! "So what is your answer, Ren?" Calming himself, he thinks about it more. The first one is a servant waiting for his return, a servant that personify death, he wonders if fighting that servant in this condition is the right choice…Of course, it's not why did he even consider picking that option.

The second one is him surviving this place all by himself. He may not be going to fight whoever that servant of death, but this place looks ominous enough that it is going to kill him slowly from starvation or perhaps get eaten alive by who knows what monster living here. Both aren't a pleasant way to end so choice number two is a no. The last one is a death wish, he's going to do all of the choices while going through a hellish training that can potentially kill him. Scáthach didn't give him any easy choices.

But then again, that magus asks her to train him so that he could stand up against that army of gods and goddesses and the man behind it. If he fails, then both this world and the one he knew will end. Even though his free, fate still wants to test him by throwing this world-ending situation at him, and it's all because it started from a girl he saves from a drunk politician, who would have thought. Even though the world is cruel to him, fate still wants him to lend a hand for it.

Smiling to himself, Ren made up his mind. A tough choice, but needed to be done. "I'll choose the third option." The hellish training and everything that will come after, he's going to survive it, after all this 'man' wants him, even challenging him. A gentleman thief never backs down on a fight, not when he knows he has a chance of winning. Seeing a glance of his master smiling before turning away, it seems his answer made her happy.

"Then as for tradition, you need to find where I am before I'll accept you as my student," Scáthach said before starting to walk away. "Wait!" she heard the thief voice behind her. "Are there no clues on where I can find you?" Hearing that, she smiled softly before answering. "As a servant, you should know where your master is. Also, I did tell you that you're going to do both if you pick the third right? Well good luck, hopefully, you survive the faceless beast and wraiths roaming on this land."

"I'm giving you a week if you didn't find me or use any of your personas. Then the offer is done." Scáthach then disappears in an instant, leaving no trace on what direction she took before leaving. Her past student did the same as well, and like she said its a tradition, if he cannot find her, then he's not qualified to learn under her.

Ren let out a sigh of defeat. "Unbelievable…she didn't leave anything to use." He whispered before feeling the cold wind touches his body, looking at the vast mountains on the distance and the dread looking valley, he wonders which direction he should take first. "Everything start with a leap of faith, I guess I'm taking left." The thief braces himself for any possible things that may happen on this land, he should prepare for the worse.

This place, even though its very weird to compare it to this. It reminded him of Alice's journey in wonderland. One moment ago, his just passing the leafless forest, then he just saw an old looking town vibrant with colors full of lively people going through their daily lives. It is like putting a colorful photo on a book dedicated to black and white pictures, It is very out of place and strange, why would a town as lively as this will be built in a middle of the forest on a land called the land of the shadows.

Letting out a sigh, he promptly spun around in one-eighty and about to leave the area. "Maybe I should find a higher place to get a better view." Ren murmured to himself while not paying attention to his front and accidentally bump into someone. Luckily it's only a light collision and they didn't fall to the ground, however, the thief is in an awkward position, he can feel the soft breath touching his skin, and the resting head on his chest. Quite a cliche since when the person looks at him, it was a beautiful young woman. She has long straight silver hair and aqua-colored pupils, she wore a white silk dress and appears to be on her late teens.

They look into each other eyes, he can feel himself slowly getting absorbed by the woman's beauty. Not wanting to cause any misunderstanding if anyone sees them or to this girl, Ren tried to talk his way out. "Um, I'm sorry I wasn't paying attention." He said with an awkward smile.

"I was looking for you." He heard from the young woman. "You made me worry, honey." Before the thief could ask or say anything, the young woman locks his arms with her own. His complaints then got shut down when he felt the woman's bosom on his arm, her hold become tighter when his arms tried to break free. Feeling embarrass from the guilty pleasure, the young woman easily pulled him and they enter the town.

Realizing his mistake, Ren stopped before this woman could take him somewhere in this strange town. He does really have a weakness against assertive girls, regardless he needs to get out of here. "I'm sorry, but I'm in a hurry. I think you've mistaken with someone else."

"What are you talking about? It is not a funny joke to act like you've forgotten your wife." The young woman said before a pout appears on her face. "Come on now, my father is excited to meet you, honey." Holding his hand, she pulled the thief toward their destination.

This girl is strong, he tried to stop once again but she didn't bulge or halt, instead, she keeps pulling him somewhere. Not only that, he notices the way everyone looks at him, those gaze it's like they're looking through his soul. He felt something bad is going to happen, however, the girl's hold onto him is unbreakable, due to Scáthach's instruction he cannot use his personas, and the girl won't let him go until they'd reach whenever their destination is. Softly letting out a voice of defeat, he needs to pull a fast one to escape this strange town.

The two entered a bar, it was full of people drinking whiskey while happily chatting at each other. They reach the bar's counter and a man behind the counter approaches them with a smile painted over his face, he looks like in his seventies and the owner of the bar. "My daughter! I'm very delighted to see you here." The man happily said before pouring two glasses with alcohol. "How's the newly wedded couple? I hope he's treating you right."

Ren felt his face is burning from embarrassment as he felt that guilty pleasure on his arm once again. "He is!" He heard from the woman while smiling at him. The thief feels somethings wrong here, even though he should feel lucky for having a beautiful wife like her, the fact still remains, he should not be in this place. "Here let us take a seat and have a drink, honey." Yet, he felt absorb by this girl and made his body follow her sweet soothing voice.

The two seated on the round wooden chair in front of the counter. There he saw the girl and her father smiled at him as he picks up the poured glass. They're waiting for him to drink the alcoholic beverage, once the scent reaches his nose, he smelled a foul smell. Ren knew the smell of alcohol, he worked on a bar in Shinjuku after all, however this one it smells so bad that made him drop the glass on the floor.

"I'm sorry!" Ren apologizes to the owner before picking up the shattered glass. "Here, let me help you." He heard from the young woman as she lends a hand at him to help. "No, I can-" He replied but then caught off guard when he saw the woman's reflection on the pieces of glass. A skull with missing pieces around its mouth, its terrifying empty gaze from the eye socket can make anyone run out cold from staring. A specter, he could not describe it any better than that.

The woman notices his shock and tried to snap him out with her voice. "Did you hurt yourself, honey?" She asks her beloved in concern before moving closer to him and checks his hand. Seeing there is no sign of blood or cut, she let out a sigh of relief and smiled. "You scared me, I thought you've cut yourself."

Ren forces out a smile before answering. "Did I? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…I shouldn't let my clumsiness get with me, especially if your father is here." He said before standing up with the broken glasses he picked up. "There is a trashcan outside, I'll throw this away." Quickly making an excuse, he let himself out of the bar easily.

Once outside, he picks up one of the shattered glass, then tried to get a reflection of the people near him with it. Even though it's little and hard to see, Ren still notices the difference between the people outside and the image through the glass. "I knew something is wrong with this place. I should leave before they notice." He murmured to himself before tossing the last piece on the ground.

"You're not going anywhere, honey. Not until you've become one of us."

Ren heard the beautiful woman voice behind him. Turning around, he saw no beauty on the woman anymore, her body started to shake uncontrollably, her skin shown some cuts and begun to tear itself from her body, and the eyes that charmed her earlier, now its horrid to even look at it. The woman's body begun to transform similar to the reflection he saw earlier.

"Now then…let me have a taste of you first!" The specter said while showing her vicious claws at him before dashing toward him. Ren roll to the side to avoid the charging specter. He then runs inside the alleyway and tried to find a way out of this hunted town. "Oh, you're not making it easy for me. That is fine, it been a while since I've gone into a hunt."

Ren heard the specter maniacal laughter as she chases after him. "Stop him!" The specter voice came behind him, he then saw two men transformed into wraiths and block his way with their claws. Unfortunately for them, the thief is aware of his surroundings, the number of times he went into palaces paid off since it honed his awareness. Taking a sharp turn to the right, he avoided getting cornered and continue getting chase.

He wishes Scáthach leave his graphing hook so he could just easily leave this town. That woman who is also his master really left him without anything in a place like this, he needs to get his items back. At least having his weapon back he can feel a bit safe on this land.

Focusing on his escape, Ren jumps vertically over the fence that is on his way, seeing the familiar path to the exit, he runs as fast as he could toward it. "Come back!" He heard that specter once again, turning his head to make a quick glance. The thief moves his feet much faster after seeing the hundreds of wraiths going after him.

"Not good!" He shouted without looking back while running for his life.

Opening the giant wooden door, the queen of the land of the shadows returned to her fortress-home, Dún Scáith, after days or maybe years of being gone, she doesn't remember how many days she'd spend outside this realm. Well not that it's going to make difference here anyway, this place has no time nor a shifting day and night. It is going to stay the same, no matter how many moments had passed.

But then, even though this place is huge, her home remains empty. A fortress-like this should have guards to protect valuable possessions inside and helpers to take care of this place. Yet, it continues to live on the same. Well, she has her daughter, Uathach, live here before, but now she is gone. Being an immortal, it's hard to see people go.

Coming back home, she really missed her daughter. Every time she came back from hunting, Uathach will be seen in the front door waiting for her return, greeting her with a smile. Does days, if she can exchange her immortality just to live to that moment, she's going to do it without any hesitation.

This place is also where her apprentices Cú Chulainn and Ferdiad stayed during their training. Two noisy brats that only love to brawl and compete with each other, yet they formed an unbreakable brotherhood with each other, the two of them don't know how happy she is that they'd become her apprentices and great warriors. Scáthach did saw Cú Chulainn, that man hasn't changed a bit, but she is happy to see him doing alright and portraying the kind of hero and a man he is.

Then again, maybe not everything. What he did to her daughter Uathach and her sister Aife is still unacceptable and unforgivable. Hopefully, he changes to not repeat the fate of his son Connla, who also becomes her student. The child of his, it sad to see the tragic fate that befalls to him.

Looking back to everything that happened to this fortress. She's been alone for who knows how long that she realizes how much she misses those moments when those people are still residing here. Letting out a sigh, Scáthach smiled softly to herself. She needs to clean her home, there are dust and cobweb everywhere. But that will come after she got a rest.

Going straight to her room, the queen of this land changes her clothing into a more comfortable dress, a violet-colored nightgown. Once done changing, she lay to the bed and felt the soft surface that relieves her back. She did not close her eyes immediately to sleep, instead, she stared at the ceiling above. "I wonder where he is right now." Scáthach murmured to herself if Ren took the right route he should arrive here tomorrow.

But if not, then he might not arrive here at all. Looking to her left-hand wrist, there was a tattooed symbol glowing in blue light. "Well, at least he's still alive. He should watch out for the wraiths, especially those clever ones that can create illusions just to lure their target in. Also those faceless beasts, they can sense even just a tiny bit of movement." Feeling her eyes starting to become heavy, she let herself silently fall asleep. Hopefully, he arrives after she finishes cleaning her home.

Playing a pebble of rock on his hand while humming to his favorite tune, he can see the top of the hill. After the wraiths lost sight of him, Ren immediately find a place to rest, his legs are feeling sore from running too much, he finally imagined how hard Ryuji's training was back in the track field. Once he woke up, the thief searches for a high looking place to get a view of this land, he found this rocky hill and on his way to the top.

Luckily being a servant, he doesn't get hungry or thirsty. But then eating a portion of food will make his body energize, especially if his climbing a hill as rough as this. Ren can feel the inside of his mouth drooling from thinking of beacons and eggs or a cup of coffee and curry the best combination and breakfast of all! He really wanted something to munch, but he can't just pick up things to eat, hunting is not an option as well since if he tried to hunt animals here, it is him going to end up being hunted.

Regardless, he's just going to bite the bullet and move on. The thief needs to find Scáthach, he doesn't want to stay the night in the woods. But then again, he cannot tell if a day has passed, which is bad since his master gives him one week to find her. After reaching the top, Ren gaze over the land below him. "Now, where are you." He murmured while looking at the distance. Dead looking chunks of rocks, cold running river, leafless trees, and horrifying howl can be heard alongside the cold air.

This place, he remembers that Scáthach said she rule this place. He began to wonder how someone can rule a land that looks lifeless like this place, perhaps she is the ruler of those spirits that chase him? Then, is this the land for the dead? It doesn't look like hell or heaven though. He can feel no peace or agony in this place, there are no warm light or burning heat that touches one's body. Ren cannot find a good explanation of what this land is.

It is quiet, but that silence makes his body shivered. The wind that whispers to his ears felt like someone or something is watching him, he cannot imagine how or why did Scáthach choose this place to rule. Ren wishes he could ask the persona form of Scáthach about this place, unfortunately, he can't. Letting out a sigh, he tried to look of a place that a ruler will live in, a castle is the first thing that came to his mind, there is no way for a ruler will live on a shack.

He didn't see any castle, but he saw a structure that looks like a tower. Ren isn't really sure what it was, then again even if he cannot find Scáthach there, he can use that tower to get a much better view. Hopefully, he can get inside without any problem. "Hope for the worst, Ren." He whispered under his breath before letting a sigh out of his mouth. When he's about to leave the hill, he saw a glimpse of light coming inside his left sleeve.

Looking at what it was, he pulled his sleeve and see what is glowing inside. He saw a symbol tattooed on his wrist and it's glowing with blue lights. "What is this?" Ren said. He's a hundred percent sure that he didn't ask anyone to put a glowing tattoo on his body. When he touches it, the thief felt like there is a thing connected to it, like an invincible thread connected to something, unsure what it was, he can tell that whatever is at the end of this link, it's a bit far to him. "Is it leading me to that tower…?"

"Grrgh…."

He heard a growling sound near him. That sound is so terrifying that it made his body stop moving, it's like his instinct just kicks in and told his body not to move. Using his eyes, he searches where this sound came from. At the top of a rock, he saw a four-legged beast, it has no eyes, its faceless, but its mouth is drooling with sticky saliva, it has sharp talon-looking teeth, razor-edge claws, and a tail that has a tip similar to a spear.

"Grrgh…" He heard from the beast as it jumps to the ground. Ren remained calm as best as he can, seeing the beast has no eyes to use, perhaps it's using a sensor to feel the surrounding. If he stays motionless until the beast goes away, then he can make out of here safe. But when the beast coming closer to him, he can feel the loud beating of his heart.

The thief knows if his guesses about this beast are correct, then it can sense his heart beating loud. Breathing slowly, he tried to calm himself. The scent of blood that coated the beast entered his system, the smell is making him want to vomit. But he held it in, he needs to or else this beast is going to feast him.

But the beast doesn't look like going to leave soon, he can see the beast circling around him, like a shark trapping its prey. Ren needs to think of something, a diversion that will take the beast's attention somewhere else. Feeling the pebble his playing with earlier on his hand, maybe he could throw it away to make a sound.

Holding tightly on the rock, he throws it to the boulder, creating a sound that made the beast chase after where the noise is. Seeing his chance, Ren quickly runs down the hill. However, the beast heard the sounds of his running and shifted its attention to him. The thief manages to create a distance between him and the beast, but he knows he cannot outrun a four-legged beast. This beast eventually going to catch up to him.

Cursing himself for getting in this situation. He either needs to find a place to hide or kill this beast without using a persona. Running through the leafless forest, Ren hopes he'll find something to use inside. He can feel the beast is already behind him and about to pounce, but before the beast jump at him, he make a sharp turn, which results for the predator to hit a tree. However, it only did little damage to it and continued the chase at him.

"Dammit, it so persistent!" He said with frustration before the thief felt a strong tackle behind him, causing him to fall over. "Raaaa!" Ren heard from the beast as its claw almost smashed his face. He crawled to the ground before getting back to his feet, he can feel an ache on his back but grit his teeth and ignored it as he runs away.

Ren really wanted to use his persona against it, but…no, he can find a way in this situation. He just needs to stay calm and think of something, being the field leader of the phantom thieves, he faces dire situations before and manage to deal with it. 'Those trees branches, they look sharp enough to kill this beast.' The thief thought to himself, he just needs to grab one. But then, even though he found a sharp one, its not strong enough to pierce the beast's skin. He needs to stab it inside.

But then Ren needs to time it out. He also needs to find a place to use, one that isn't flat and deep enough to bait the beast. Quickly grabbing the branch that is on his way, seeing its tip is sharp enough, he only needs to find a burrowed ground to use. "Dammit, this place doesn't look like it has one." The thief murmured with annoyance on his voice.

He keeps running and the beast keeps chasing him. They eventually made out of the forest, but Ren can feel his legs are slowly giving up from the amount of running he did. Even so, he cannot give up, the beast is just behind him and waiting for its chance to pounce at him. "The tower?" He whispered after seeing the structure he saw on the hill earlier, its not just a tower, but a large fortress.

Seeing the giant door is open, he desperately run toward it. Maybe he'll find help inside or a much better than a sharp stick to use against this ferocious beast. "Hey is anyone there-!" Ren shouted but get stumble on something that made him fall to the ground.

"Graghhh!" The four-legged faceless beast roared and pounce at the thief's fallen body.

Ren immediately turns around and used the sharp stick and blindly thrust it in at the beast. He felt the beast weight onto him but felt no pain, no claws that hacking on his chest nor sharp teeth ravaging his neck, only dropping blood spatting to his body. To his surprise, he saw the branch he'd pick up on the forest impaled inside out at the beast head.

"Oh, I thought it was my imagination that I've heard voices outside." He heard a familiar voice above him. "You've made it, Ren Amamiya. Would you like to start your training now?" Ren pushes the beast's body to his side and stared at Scáthach in pure disbelief. His left eye is twitching, but as much as he wants to make a reply and complain about not giving him anything to use, he decided to use his remaining energy to sleep.

All those running made him tired, which is why he's going to sleep like a rock.

"Impressive, you've managed to survive all of that in one piece? Congratulations, I wasn't wrong when I saw great potential in you." Scáthach said as she and Ren settle on the dining room table. Hearing the thief story on his search for her, she did expect the danger of leaving him alone on this land. The creatures living here are unforgiving and their search for human life will never end nor it is going to satisfy them.

That is why those creatures are sealed in this strange land, and she is the one that they assign to become its ruler and also the guardian of this place, the land of shadows. Maybe she should give him a knife to use against those creatures, after all, her past students didn't go into a journey empty-handed. Perhaps it's the reason why he's a bit aggressive while telling the story or maybe something else. Regardless, all that matters is that he found her and now passed the test for being her apprentice.

"We can begin your training now. Starting on conditioning your body, I'll also be going to teach you how to fight as a servant and how to use the 'World' arcana." She collectedly stated, he better be ready because this training won't be easy. "Not only that you will learn new tricks like Runes and weapon mastery. Also, since you're going to fight Gods, I'm going to turn you into a god-slayer as well." There is a lot of things he needs to learn, using runes and weapons, and the hardest of all is how to fight against a God.

It might take him years to learn all of that. Yet, she isn't concerned about it, Scáthach has all the time she needed to turn Ren into a god-slaying-phantom thief servant. She trained warriors before but this is her first time training one to become a god-slayer, that thought alone puts a smile on her face.

"Do you know how to use the 'World' arcana?"

Hearing her servant question, Scáthach shakes her head before replying. "I don't. But I know someone who will." She said, seeing the look of disbelief on his face, the queen of the land of shadows explained further. "If your personas came from a domain in the depths of humans' hearts. Then there is a persona version of me over there right? A version of me that aligns with what humans think of the warrior woman named Scáthach."

"That version of me has an idea on what and how to use the 'World' arcana. Which is why I want you to summon her. So that she and I can work together on your training."

Two Scáthach that is going to train him? Ren felt a cold sweat just drop from his forehead, this training isn't going to be similar to how Morgana trained his body or how their metaverse exploration sharpens his skills and abilities. Even though they still haven't started, he knows that there is no massage that is going to help and relieve his body on this training. Seeing his mentor waiting in anticipation for him to summon a persona, he let out a sigh of defeat before tapping to the sea of souls.

He dives on the sea of souls and called for her name, he dives deeper and deeper while calling her name. But Ren cannot feel any response, diving in deeper there is still no answer. Then he started to become worried about where the persona is, he saw the tattooed symbol on his wrist glowing. There is that feeling again, this connection…it's leading him somewhere.

Following where it is going to lead him, Ren called for her name. He repeated shouting her name loudly until he receives a response. The mask appears on his face and lightens up in azure-flame. "Scáthach!"

A woman wearing a black-colored flat-top hat, underneath the hat is a long black-colored veil that covered most of her side except the front. A piece of black clothing that exposes her belly and the same colored bandage that wraps around below her knees. She has a small tattoo on her cheeks, yellow-colored eyes, and pale skin.

"I am thou, thou art I…I'm the war goddess, as well as the queen of the Land of Shadows. I've come from the sea of souls, my name is Scáthach."

Scáthach felt like she's looking in a mirror. They might not look exactly the same but that feeling she is getting at the persona. It is real and similar to her, this is what humanity and thinks of her, the woman warrior that taught many heroes, Scáthach. "You're floating." The servant Scáthach murmured after noticing the persona floating in a seiza-style position.

"You are using those legs?" The persona version of her replied while giving a composed and collected expression. But before the two ended up in a staring contest, Ren called the persona out.

"I got worried that you're not answering my call." He said while giving the persona a concerned look. The persona smiled softly after seeing the trickster but also felt bad for making him worry. "If weren't for this thing, I would not able to find you," Ren said before showing the tattoo on his wrist.

The persona looks closer at the tattoo before her eyes went wide for a second. "That symbol…" She murmured before looking at the servant version of her. Seeing the servant shake her head, the persona understood the meaning behind it. "I see,"

"Do you two know what it is? I don't remember having one."

"Is not important for now. Regardless, why did you call for me? Would you like me to discipline your soul?"

"I ask him to call you so that the two of us could train him together. Make him a warrior, a servant, also a god-slayer like us." Scáthach stated at the persona version of her. She then stands beside her and continued. "The world is in danger, only by becoming a servant and the power of the 'World' arcana inside him could save it from the army of Gods and Goddesses."

Persona Scáthach nodded her head in understanding. "I see, I've heard something about it from the sea of souls. There is this man that created an army of those beings." She said before looking at the servant Scáthach in wonder. "Do you have a plan on how to train him?"

Scáthach nodded her head before showing a soft smile on the persona. "I do, we're going to train him like how we'd train ourselves." She said and saw the persona returned a smile, the two of them seems came up with an agreement quite easily.

"About the 'World' arcana. I cannot guarantee that his going to learn how to use its full power."

"That is fine, even a fragment of its power should be a great help on him," Scáthach replied to the persona. The 'World' arcana, she witnesses its power twice, if they can bring that same power to use. Then it's probably enough to save the world.

"Then let us start with daily routines." Persona Scáthach stated before looking at the one who summons her. "Every day you will do one hundred push-up, sit-ups, squats, and run ten-kilometer per day, understood?"

"Every day?" Ren utters softly. That is more than what Morgana making him do!

"Afterward you will learn how to use different types of weapons without using a persona, then you're going to study how to use a Runes, then you're going to hunt wraiths. We're going to repeat these routines until I see that you're ready to leave this place."

"Everyday…" The thief repeated softly and felt like losing his soul just from hearing it. "Can I at least have something to eat? Something that should give me energy for training?"

Hearing her servant's request. Scáthach nodded her head. "Very well, I'll make you something light to eat." She said before turning around and made her way to the fortress kitchen.

"Thanks!" Ren said before the lancer closes the door. When he relaxes on a chair his sitting on, the thief notices the troubled look of the persona version of Scáthach. "Is something the matter?" He asks the persona who give him a sigh before answering.

"She and I are the same things, but she represents the real Scáthach than me. Yet, we have a lot of things in common that you cannot tell the difference. Which means…"

Ren saw the sympathy that persona Scáthach is giving him.

"She doesn't know how to cook."

"It cannot be that bad right?" He said but the persona didn't reply. "Right?" He asks again and still got any reply.

"You don't have any idea. Our way of making food isn't exactly what you call cooking. Since she doesn't know how to cut or chop ingredients and has no idea of what it's going to taste like, she just dumps it whole and turns it into liquid."

As the door opened, even in the distance Ren can smell the scent of the food that Scáthach is carrying. If terrifying has a smell, then this probably what its scent like. He doesn't know how or why, but his seeing skull clouded steam above the tray she's carrying.

"Enjoy your food." Was the last thing he heard as Scáthach place the food she cooks on the table, everything went black afterward, all he remembers is her smile as he tried to taste the mystery food she'd cook.

Author Notes: Well here is the latest chapter! Nothing much happened, to be honest, guess that what happens when you wrote everything in one day. Anyway, I just wanted to put what has happened to Ren and Scáthach, hopefully, my explanation makes sense. Then I also made a huge change like changing his servant class, I don't know if it's acceptable to just change it after so many chapters have been posted, well the reason is the ruler class doesn't quite belong to him. I've changed it to non-class because of his power and the Moon Cell doesn't want him in Seraph anymore, after sensing he died, it pretty much deleted his data immediately.

But since his a non-class servant now, everything is empty like his class skill, personal skill, parameters, noble phantasm, the point of this training is to fill those empty spaces and turn him into a real independent servant. Maybe before the training arc is over all those spaces have something filled in. Anyway, I'm open to a suggestion on your idea of class skills, parameters, etc etc! As long as he doesn't end up like a mary sue character.

Just a note, for a better description, that girl in the town is Rossweisse from high school dxd, no reasons why I'd choose her, and well about Scáthach cooking. She shares the same Japanese voice actress of Fuuka Yamagishi from the persona 3 movie (I don't know about the game though, played it with English VA) anyway knowing Fuuka history with cooking you get the idea XD.

Also, some of you guessed that man in previews chapters! good job detectives XD, I'm sure you can guess the meaning behind the tattoo on Ren and his master wrist as well!

Anyway, that is it! If you have a question just send a p.m and I'll answer them with my best. If you like the story then put it in your follow or perhaps favorites! Leave a review as well! But before I say see you, I'm going to put a servant progression for Ren below this that will change everything time He and his teachers are involved in the chapter.

Anyways see you!

Scáthach servant's progression

Servant Name: Ren Amamiya

Also known as:

Joker

Trickster

The Fool

The Phantom

He Who Will Save The Souls of Humanity

Character type: Servant, Human

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

Hidden Attribute: Earth

Armaments: Knives, Dagger, Pistol, Graphing hook device.

Qualified servant normal classes: Non-classed servant (For now!)

Irregular classes: Caster, Ruler, Moon Cancer, Assassin, Avenger

Master: Scáthach

War: Moon Holy Grail War

Parameter:

Strength: E

Endurance: E

Agility: E

Mana: E

Luck: E

NP: E

Class Skill: —

Personal Skill: —

Servant's Noble Phantasm:

Np's name: Persona

Rank: E ~ Ex

Type:?

Maximum Target: ?

Description: Persona is a manifestation referred to as a "mask" for an individual to use to face hardship. A Persona is similar to a Shadow. Shadows are malevolent manifestations of one's inner thoughts, while a Persona is a manifestation of the same feelings but tamed and trained.

"I am thou…thou art I…"

In the depths of human hearts, shared with all people, there is a domain where mythological archetypes dwell, and they grant influence over an individual's personality development. Anecdotes of mythological divinities the world over probably exist because of that, so one could say that gods and demons exist not in Heaven and Hell but in the hearts of humanity. Personas even have an influence on physical and mental abilities, making their users superhumans, for example giving them mastery over weapons or resistance to terror and madness.

Joker could shift his parameter depending on the persona he is using, added to that, depending if his body can still handle the pressure, he can use the persona's history to reveal and unleash its noble phantasm.