FATE/CURADH BEAG

"Little Champion"

Chapter 11: Hound of Culann

Pandemonium erupted throughout the small audience of nobles. Culann was practically glued to his seat in terror as he watched the ghosts swirl and undulate in the air all over the arena. It was all he could do to eye a particular angry spirit as it curled around and made its way straight for him, intent on slashing him into meat ribbons with its skeletal claws. Suddenly, a burst of blue flames engulfed the ghost, causing it to scream in agony as its spiritual core was burned into cinders. Culann spotted Connla deftly vaulting along the stands to reach him and the other nobles sitting near him. She wielded her spear in one hand while using the other to fire multiple Nauthiz Runes at any ghosts that dared to approach.

"Please leave this to me! You must escape immediately!" she shouted to Culann and anyone else in earshot.

His throat choked up, but he soon regained his senses when one of the Braves grabbed his arm and insisted, "We must leave, sir."

"Y-Yes, of course…"

The last thing Culann saw of Connla as he was being ushered out of the coliseum was her energizing her spear with a Nauthiz Rune so she could fight the spirits head-on. Many thoughts swirled in his mind, but they were all focused on a certain boy from his past. Seeing Connla gallantly rush to Culann's rescue made him both severely nostalgic and incredibly conflicted.

Setanta…

Meanwhile, Cu Roi and Conall joined the fray to assist Connla in warding off the ghosts. Medb was so startled by the assault that her mind went blank. All she could think about was the possibility of Cuchulainn being nearby, and what he would be doing controlling the Land of Shadows' ghosts to attack Ireland's capital city. Fergus took command of the Braves and ordered them to protect the nobles as they escaped.

"Connla has the west gate covered, so I'll take the east!" Conall shouted to Cu Roi. He ran toward the horde of spirits attacking the spectators and made Curaidin Catutchenn emit its incredible light. Not only could it damage mortal flesh, it was also capable of wounding the undead, and he eagerly utilized that property to cut down spirits one after the other.

As for Cu Roi, he leapt from his seat and landed in the arena while energizing the Runes tattooed on his body. The ghosts realized how much of a threat the King of Munster would be if they tried to gang up on him individually. Their ethereal bodies shone bright blue, then they began to converge and fuse together at a single point until they formed a gigantic ghost with multiple glaring skulls attached to its body.

"Unbelievable!" Connla shouted in disbelief as she watched the transformation. "I've never seen them do anything like that!"

"Pah! Nothing more than a paltry display, as far as I'm concerned!" Cu Roi bellowed as he charged multiple Nauthiz Runes and attached them to his arms and fists. He intended to brawl with this thing like a wrestler, which Connla thought was absolutely crazy. No one else seemed to share in her opinion though, judging by their nonchalant reaction to the king going wild as he thrashed with the huge ghost.

"Ghhhnnnngh!" Cu Roi snarled. His hands were locked with the ghost's in a stalemate, each struggling to shove the other to the ground. He heard numerous cries of hate and vitriol as the fused spirits all unleashed their frustrations upon him in a psychic attack. He was starting to lose his footing, and he slowly slid backwards along the dirt.

"HAH!" Conall cried out as he leapt high from the rafters and swung his sword at the ghost's exposed back. A brilliant flash of light carved into its spine, causing it to shriek in sheer agony. Likewise, Connla jumped in from the opposite seats and generated a large blue fireball in her palms, which she launched at the gaping open wound Conall just made. It detonated inside the huge ghost, destroying its core and breaking apart the fusion, but it wasn't strong enough to actually kill all of the smaller spirits. Cu Roi ripped apart the remainder of the fused spirits and stamped them out with various punches and kicks.

As Connla and Conall landed, the latter noticed the stray ghosts trying to escape, and he cursed, "Shit! There's way too many of them!"

"We can't let them get into the city!" Connla blurted.

Just then, they heard a new male's voice calmly proclaim, "That won't be a problem."

As the spirits attempted to fly over the coliseum, they were suddenly blocked by an invisible barrier that burned them the moment they made contact with it. Connla carefully looked around and noticed a complex pattern of Runes planted in a box formation, designed to trap the undead in a prison. She was amazed by the intricate pattern and automatically assumed that Scathach was responsible, but had to remind herself that she wasn't present. So then, who else could erect such an elaborate prison without anyone noticing?

That was when she noticed an elderly gentleman standing within the center of the arena. He wore dark druid's attire with multiple embellishments and gems attached to the fabric. He kept the hood down though, as he lit a small flame on the tip of his finger to light a cigar that he casually smoked. He glanced around at the battlefield, then muttered, "Goodness, what a mess. This is why I'm not a fan of such barbaric sports – they are completely lacking in class and decorum."

"Ooh, Lord Cathbad!" Cu Roi exclaimed. "Your assistance is much appreciated! Now we have nothing to fear of the populace being attacked!"

"I only came on a whim, particularly when I sensed the presence of Dun Scaith's undead roaming the arena. I swear, what in the world is Scathach doing, letting so many spirits loose on her watch?"

Connla wanted to say something, but Cu Roi interrupted her by exclaiming, "Still, this certainly is an impressive number of vengeful ghosts! How are we supposed to cull so many of them with only three close-range fighters!?"

Cathbad exhaled a puff of smoke in obvious disdain as he muttered, "I suggest we make ourselves scarce then."

"Why do you say that?"

"A certain king is not too thrilled about his precious event being so rudely terminated. These invaders will soon come to know the true terror that is the Spiral Rainbow Sword."

Cu Roi's face immediately blanched, and he uttered, "Oh, dear…"

Without another word, the four defenders fled the arena through the back entrance as fast as they could. Connla glanced back, only barely able to see Fergus leap from his royal seat and land on the ground. He wielded a large cone-like sword that throbbed with incredible power, which she could feel even from so far away. The usually amicable man was visibly angry as he pointed his sword downward, grasping the hilt with both hands so he could jam the pointed end into the earth as hard as he could.

"CALAD… BOOO~OOOLG!"

Even from a great distance outside Galway, anyone could see the night sky suddenly erupt with a bizarre assortment of aurora-like colors rippling over the coliseum. This was quickly followed by the ground shaking with such intense force that the coliseum itself was severely damaged.

The chaotic night eventually gave way to a calm yet uncertain morning. It was impossible for anyone in Galway to not have heard the very earth rumbling and cracking beneath their very feet, and fear began to grow among the populace as they wondered what happened. The Celtic Isles never experienced earthquakes, so this was a completely foreign event for everyone to cope with. It was all the Braves and the royal messengers could do to try and keep the peace among the frazzled civilians.

Meanwhile, everyone who had been present for the battle assembled in the throne room. Thanks to Connla's duel with the Braves plus her assistance in rescuing the nobles, Medb bestowed upon her the right to be a Champion. There wouldn't be an official ceremony for it though, considering how young she was. Medb decided that it would be okay, believing that it would be smart for Connla to be a secret Champion who could observe the populace without anyone noticing. It wasn't exactly what Connla had in mind, but she wasn't going to complain if it meant her investigations could go that much more smoothly.

While that business was being sorted out, Cathbad glared at Fergus and grumbled, "Regardless of the result, did you have to go so far as to unleash Caladbolg's full strength on mere ghosts? Even half-strength would have been enough to obliterate them."

"Hah hah hah hah! Sorry about that!" Fergus bellowed a hearty laugh. "Guess all of the fighting got to my head, and I wanted a piece of the action!"

"This is no laughing matter. Repairing the coliseum is going to take months of hard labor. Not to mention the cost…"

"Aw, don't let it get to you. The place was getting a little dilapidated anyway. Besides, it's a good opportunity for the young men to get some work in, rather than being bored out of their skulls since there hasn't been any war since Dublin's Fall."

"Trying to turn a bad situation into a favorable one, while dodging the consequences? You're just as narcissistic as Medb."

"That just proves how compatible we are for each other."

"Sure, you keep telling yourself that."

Once Medb finished ordaining Connla as a Champion, the queen finally said to her king, "Fergus. It looks like Connla wishes to have a word with you."

"Hm?" he glanced at the young girl. "Is there something I can do for you, young lady?"

"There is," Connla said. "My teacher instructed me to look for a man named Fergus mac Roich. You are that fellow in question, are you not?"

"Interesting. Well look no further. I am indeed Fergus, the man you have been searching for. Who told you to look for me? For that matter, I know very little of yourself. If you are going to be a Champion, it's imperative for me to know your personal history."

"I am from the Isle of Skye. Or more specifically, from the Land of Shadows. My mother was the warrior woman Aife, and the sister of my teacher Scathach. My father's identity is unknown, other than he was a warrior of Ulster."

The others let out muffled cries of astonishment, not expecting her to actually be related to the Witch of Dun Scaith herself. Fergus' broad smile flattened to a frown, and he asked, "Scathach's niece, hm? Why have you traveled from Skye to Connacht? Such a trek would have been extremely dangerous for a lass such as yourself. Surely you didn't mean to just seek entry into the tournament."

"Not necessarily," Connla replied. "Something terrible happened in the Land of Shadows, and Teacher told me to look for you."

"Did she now?"

"Did you know her by any chance? I don't think she would have mentioned your name otherwise."

"Well… It's kind of a long story," he muttered sheepishly.

"Were you an enemy of hers?"

"You don't need to worry about it. Whatever my past is with Scathach, I won't deny that she intends for me to look after you in her stead."

"So that means I'll be in your care from now on, Lord Fergus?"

"Yeah, but you don't need to address me so formally. In fact, I wouldn't mind if you called me Uncle Fergus," the jovial man grinned and rubbed his nose.

"Uncle… Fergus…" Connla murmured, perplexed that a great man like him would act so casual.

"Now that we've got that sorted out, let's change the subject a little," Cu Roi said with a grim expression, greatly contrasting with Fergus' amicable smile. "You said that something terrible happened in the Land of Shadows?"

"Mm," the little girl nodded wistfully. "I don't really understand what was going on, but Teacher insisted that I leave as quickly as possible. From how desperate she sounded, she probably thought my life would be in danger if I had stayed behind."

Conall became serious as he said, "Now that you mention it, you never told me why you came here from Scotland other than to look for Fergus. I thought Scathach never graduated her pupils unless she felt they were ready to leave on their own."

"That's right. I wasn't finished with my training."

"Hey, hey, are you serious? You can kick ass with the best of them, and yet she wanted to train you even more? Just what kind of demon is that woman anyway?"

Connla tilted her head curiously. "I don't think my skills are anything to boast about, especially when compared to Teacher's. Even so… I wonder how she's doing back home…"

Medb frowned and asked, "What happened, honey? Tell us everything you can. We'll listen to anything you have to say."

The child warrior nodded, then said, "While I was in the Land of Shadows, I came across a strange man I had never seen before. I know that getting into the Land of Shadows is not easy, so I couldn't imagine anyone other than Teacher and myself residing there. Yet, there was this guy about Conall's age who showed up out of nowhere, and was heavily injured. I thought he was wounded after going through the ghost-infested swamps surrounding the Castle of Shadows, so I gave him some food and treated his injuries. He told me that he was Teacher's pupil at some point in the past, so that's how he knew his way around."

"An injured man, hm? What did he look like?" Cathbad asked.

"I couldn't tell beneath his hood and mantle, but I think he had long blue hair that was turning black. His eyes glowed red beneath the hood though, and I noticed some jagged face paint on his cheeks. I could be wrong, but his teeth looked super sharp as well."

"Is that right?"

Connla thought about her conversation with the stranger, then said, "He didn't say much else to me, but despite his scary appearance, he didn't seem to be a threat to me. He just kept asking if Teacher was around, as if he was there specifically to meet with her. She was absent at the time, so I looked after him for a bit. I found out he had amnesia too, so he was struggling quite a bit.

"But when she returned, she attacked him without hesitation. I think she knew who he was right at first glance, as well as the potential danger he posed. Then the man's hood and cloak flew off, and I could get a better look at him. He was very tall and well-built, and some kind of cursed tattoos covered his body. The scariest things were all of the thorny black bones affixed to his arms and legs, and he even had a huge spiked tail that stretched for a few meters."

What she said next immediately alarmed everyone:

"What surprised me the most was his weapon – it looked exactly like Teacher's spear, Gae Bolg. It was a little different from hers though… More ominous and bloodthirsty, in a way…"

Medb's eyes narrowed as she clenched her teeth and deeply glowered, "Did you say… Gae Bolg?"

"Eh? Y-Yes, I did. There's no way it could have been anything but Gae Bolg."

"Medb," Fergus uttered in a dire tone.

"This is bad…" the queen scowled darkly. "He's come back to haunt me, hasn't he?"

"Cor blimey. To say this is terrible news is the understatement of the millennium," Conall added. He craned his neck and moaned, "Damn it… My neck's flaring up."

Cu Roi folded his arms, then asked Connla, "Did this fellow ever tell you his name?"

"He did," she replied. "He called himself Cuchulainn."

"Nnngh…" the King of Munster snarled to himself, immediately appearing uncomfortable. "That confirms it. Taoide Olc is making his return."

Now she looked really confused. "Taoide Olc? What does the god of destruction have to do with that Cuchulainn fellow?"

Everyone stared at her, almost slack-jawed. Cathbad suddenly asked, "How in blazes could you not know about Cuchulainn and Taoide Olc!? They're the same entity!"

Connla stood there in a daze, unable to parse what the druid said just now. The others realized that she honestly had no clue about meeting the man who destroyed the rest of human civilization. The silence was unnerving, especially when Connla thought back to what Scathach told her about Taoide Olc's true nature – that it was a manmade god exclusive to this Lostbelt. If the man from her nightmare 15 years ago really became the demonic god's 'sentience', and the others were saying that the scary man she met in the Land of Shadows was the same being as the god, then…

I dreamed about Cuchulainn, didn't I?

That realization chilled her so much that she felt frozen in place.

Medb sighed a little, then said, "It looks like you truly have no idea about what happened at the end of the Cattle Raid. I'm surprised, given that Scathach would have taught you about it."

"Well… she did generalize it a bit. Something like how Ulster lost and was amalgamated into Connacht afterward, which then resulted in Taoide Olc's creation and revenge against Connacht. But she didn't tell me much about the specifics," Connla admitted, fidgeting her fingers together in anxiety. "I don't know about the soldiers, nor the individual battles fought during that time. I certainly don't know how the god came to be. As far as I know, it's just a past event that shaped the world as it is."

"I see. I suppose to Scathach, the details mattered less than the outcome. If you had known you were harboring an enemy of Connacht, I would have put you to death already. But you genuinely assisted my Champions in dispelling the ghosts, and I suppose it is Scathach's fault for leaving you completely ignorant about Cuchulainn's existence. In light of these revelations, I will stay my hand. However, should you ever see that man again, you are to treat him as your queen's worst enemy. Do you understand?"

"If he is indeed Taoide Olc in human form, then I have no choice but to see him as such."

"Wonderful. I knew you would understand," Medb smiled warmly.

"Besides, I'm more worried about those ghosts that attacked us," Connla said with a forlorn expression. "They were definitely from Dun Scaith. There's no way I would mistake their hateful cadence. Teacher would never allow that to happen. She's the queen of the underworld for a reason – she's supposed to be the gatekeeper shutting those spirits out from the living world. To allow even a single one to escape would be inexcusable to her, let alone a horde of them attacking the living in a completely different country."

Fergus murmured, "That certainly is true. You said that Scathach fought Cuchulainn when you escaped the Land of Shadows?"

"Yes. That's the last thing I know about Teacher. It's been well over a week since then."

"Then that settles it. I have no choice but to go to Scotland to do a welfare check. Scathach can complain all she likes, but I have to make sure she's okay. After all, she's responsible for keeping the Scotland half of the Celtic Isles afloat."

"But I can't just let you go by yourself," Medb said. "You're my right-hand man. Who else would I be able to rely on to deal with the peasants' petty disputes?"

"I'm sorry, but this is urgent. If Cuchulainn really has made his return, then I'm the only one who can put him down."

"I know. I don't intend to stop you. It's just that I can't send you alone. Even if your guards die during this mission, you have to come back to me alive."

"Then I just have to choose the best of the best to protect me, don't I?"

"But I'm the one who has to have the best Champions by my side to protect me from that horrid beast."

The others watched as the king and queen bickered amongst themselves. Finally, Conall said, "I'm definitely going with you, Fergus. I want to confront Cuchulainn for all of the shit he's put us through."

"Sounds good to me," Fergus agreed. "Since you're new to the roster, I'd like to put you through the paces of what it means to be a Champion. Your sword should also be a huge help in battle."

Cu Roi closed his eyes and murmured under his breath, "Curaidin Catutchenn…"

A moment later, he declared, "Very well. I'd like to accompany you two."

Fergus looked surprised. "Oh ho. I didn't think the King of Munster would show any interest in a journey to the eastern lands. You usually stay close to your beloved province."

"I know what the stakes are. I refuse to let my strength rot while I sit pretty on my throne. Besides, I'm getting old. I need to be sure that the next generation of Champions will be able to carry the flag before I pass on."

"But what of Munster? You wouldn't leave it undefended so easily."

"Not to worry. I have taught Lugaid everything he needs to know to handle affairs in my stead. Despite his short temperament, he is a competent statesman at heart."

"Well, if you insist."

As soon as the three men agreed on forming their party, Connla suddenly blurted, "I have to go too!"

Predictably, Fergus shouted, "Absolutely not!"

"Why!? Scathach's my teacher! I'm concerned for her just as much as you are, if not more so!"

"You encountered Taoide Olc and escaped with your life! Do you have any idea how lucky you are to still be alive after something like that!?"

"I simply didn't know! But now I understand that's the reason why Teacher attacked him without provocation! If that's the case, then I'll definitely be more careful from now on!"

"I refuse! You need to stay here while we go to Dun Scaith!"

Connla grew annoyed as she bluntly asked, "Do you know where it is?"

Her question caught Fergus off guard, and he uttered, "Well… I know it's in the province of Skye."

"And where exactly in the province of Skye is it?"

"Um…"

"Exactly. I'm the only one who knows where the gate is. I have to go with you as a guide."

Fergus groaned in consternation. He glanced at Medb and asked, "What do you think?"

"Well now," the queen said. "You certainly are familiar with the lay of the land, and I accepted you as one of my Champions. The question is, are you able to go back through the gates into the Land of Shadows? From my understanding, Scathach's the only one who can open or shut the doors at will. If something's happened to her, there'd be nothing we could do."

"I have no intention of actually going back into the underworld," Connla said. "All I want to ensure is the gates' status. Depending on what I see, I can say with certainty as to whether Teacher is safe or not."

"Hmm… Well, if it's just to see the gates, then there shouldn't be any problem with you accompanying Fergus. As far as my personal protection is concerned, I will have Cathbad, the remaining Champions, and my Braves stay here in Galway."

Connla bowed and respectfully said, "Thank you for your understanding, Queen Medb."

Cu Roi said, "If that's how it's going to be, then far be it for me to challenge the queen's wishes. However, I would like to impose one condition."

"What would that be?"

"If we are forced to fight Cuchulainn, do not assist us. Run as if your life depends on it. Do not look back in concern for us. Just survive and hurry straight back to Galway."

She didn't like hearing that. She had already fled the Land of Shadows at Scathach's insistence. To have to potentially do it again when she had trained so hard as a warrior felt incredibly shameful. Yet, she also knew it would be suicide to try and challenge a god in combat. Scathach even warned her as much.

Medb noticed the girl's dismayed expression and said, "I will allow it. At the very least, one of you has to return to me to make your report. If it's going to be anyone, it would be the fastest Champion of my roster."

Connla closed her eyes and contemplated Medb's suggestion. It certainly made sense. It wouldn't be prudent for them to leave her unaware of what was happening in Scotland. If Cuchulainn really was invading Scotland, then Medb would have to make drastic decisions to protect Ireland. But she couldn't make those decisions if she didn't have the information. Connla decided that that would be her primary role in this mission, and she responded, "I understand. No matter what it takes, I will return as expediently as possible."

"Don't worry," Conall said. "I won't let anyone harm her as long as I draw breath. If needed, I will function as her personal guard."

Cu Roi nodded. "Fergus and I can handle our own in battle. Dedicating yourself as the young lady's sword would be the wisest course of action."

Medb declared, "Excellent. You four should be sufficient enough. I will leave the particulars of your journey to Fergus. Just come back to me with Scotland's current status as soon as you can."

"Will do," Fergus smirked, then guided his comrades out of the throne room.

A few minutes after the four Champions left, Medb glanced at Cathbad and said with a chillingly blank expression, "There's something I need to discuss with you."

"Hmm…" the elderly druid murmured. "I have a strong suspicion of what it could be…"

While the men prepared the horses and chariot, Connla asked if she could go to Culann's mansion to bid him farewell. Now that she had secured a position as a Champion, she no longer required his hospitality, and she figured it would be right to let him know about it. She explained everything that happened after he fled the coliseum and was brought back home safely thanks to Medb's Braves, although she omitted certain sensitive details about the meeting.

"I see," Culann murmured. "So this old man's role in your little tale has come to an end."

Connla frowned. "I don't think so. I'd like to stop by and visit whenever I get the chance. Your guard dogs seem to have warmed up to me a bit too."

"Only because you've been the one bringing out their food and brushing their fur. They're great protectors, but it's a pain in the ass to have to groom them. I'd have my usual groomer take care of them, but she's away on business."

"Well either way, I don't want to say this is a permanent farewell. You mentioned that you wanted to chat with me some more about that boy you told me about before… Setanta, was it?"

"I would, but it doesn't look like you have the time."

"Uncle Fergus said that they'll need about three hours to get everything ready. That should be enough, right?"

"Hmph… If you insist," Culann grunted as he plopped his rear upon his favorite chair. "I think I briefly mentioned how Setanta killed one of my guard dogs a long time ago."

"Something about how you accidentally locked him out of the house, and he had to fight his way through. Why would he do that, though? Couldn't he have made some sort of loud noise? Or maybe just cause the dogs to bark wildly? He didn't need to go that far."

"It's because I was entertaining his uncle - the king of Ulster, Conchobhar. I don't know how familiar you are with Irish custom, but it is courteous for a king and his company to be prompt for their hosts, or else they would be snubbing at the hospitality provided for them. While Conchobhar and I were discussing some matters, Setanta wanted to play with some local kids, but promised to return on time. Obviously, he didn't. He must have been so worried about making his uncle look bad that he rushed through the gate and had to fight my dogs.

"Of course, he felt even worse for slaying one of my boys, since it really was his own fault for being late. Setanta might have been a careless kid, but he definitely had a sense of responsibility whenever he did something wrong. I guess he just had trouble keeping his wild temper in check, considering he had divine blood within him."

Connla widened her eyes. "Divine blood?"

"Conchobhar always boasted that his sister Deichtine was the mother for the God of Light's son, like it was some kind of mark of status for himself. Conchobhar really was a bastard at heart, always seeking praise for others' accomplishments, and seizing anything and anyone he wanted for himself. Knowing that Deichtine gave birth to a demi-god truly fueled his ego to new heights. It didn't help that all of Ulster's men were eager to raise Setanta as their own son in the missing god's stead."

"The God of Light… as in Lugh the Long Arm, the member of the Tuatha de Danann known for mastering numerous talents? Scathach told me that he's called the God of Light because he's like the 'new sun' ushering in the Age of Man, and simultaneously closing the book on the Age of Gods after he destroyed the 'old sun' Balor."

"Looks like you've been taught well. That saves me the trouble of explaining it to you," Culann grinned. "Yeah, that was Setanta's father. I don't know the particulars of how Lugh and Deichtine came to conceive Setanta, but the fact remains that the boy was not normal. His stubbornness plus his incredible strength and stamina made for a terrible combination. He literally had no other destiny but to be an unparalleled warrior. That's why it was so easy for him to defeat my dogs despite him being around your age. Then again, seeing how you fought back in the coliseum, I'm sure you could pull it off as well."

"I'm not so sure…" Connla murmured half-heartedly. "I could subdue them, sure. But to actually kill them when they're just doing their job? I don't think I'd have it in me."

"Hm… Guess that means you have more common sense than Setanta did. Still, that's not necessarily a bad thing. At the very least, it means you won't be calling yourself a new Cuchulainn to atone for anything."

She stared at him with a dumbfounded look plastered all over her face. "… Huh? What did you just say?"

Culann grew confused with her astonished expression. "I said that you won't be another Cuchulainn."

"But… I don't understand. We were talking about Setanta, not Cuchulainn. How does he fit into this story?"

"… Seriously? Scathach didn't tell you anything?"

"About what?"

Culann snarled a little as he blurted, "Setanta is Cuchulainn!"

"Bwuh-?"

Connla's mind became paralyzed. It was exactly the same as when the others told her that Cuchulainn was Taoide Olc. She needed to take a moment to parse what the hell Culann just told her. He became concerned, then asked, "Scathach never told you something as basic as that?"

"I, uh…"

She couldn't understand it anymore. Setanta became Cuchulainn, and then Cuchulainn became Taoide Olc? What sort of chain of events would lead an energetic and precocious boy beloved by everyone to become the most dangerous being in existence?

"What the hell was that woman thinking, leaving you in the dark like this? No wonder things weren't adding up for you! You had no clue that Cuchulainn's boyhood name was Setanta!" Culann blurted.

Connla's thoughts raced uncontrollably, as she thought about the hooded man with the huge spiked tail she met in the Land of Shadows. She knew he was Cuchulainn – he had introduced himself as such. She also thought about the stories of Setanta's numerous feats that Culann told her about. But it never occurred to her that they were actually the same person.

Then it dawned on her.

Cuchulainn… means "Hound of Culann"… doesn't it?

Her jaw dropped in pure realization. How did she miss something so obvious!? She neglected to realize that 'Cuchulainn' wasn't actually a name, but rather a title! Here she was, being given residence by the blacksmith whose own name formed part of the god of destruction's infamous epithet! She felt so stupid that she mentally kicked herself over and over again, grabbing her hair while gasping under her breath, "I don't believe it! How did I not notice it before!?"

Culann wasn't sure what to say. At the very least, he knew that it wasn't actually Connla's fault for being ignorant. He didn't know why Scathach would omit such crucial information from her pupil's curriculum for 15 whole years, but he had an instinctive feeling that there was a good reason for it, given how dangerous Cuchulainn was now. Still, Scathach should have known better than to allow Connla to feel so dumb and ignorant once the pieces finally fit together. Did Scathach not have any faith in Connla if she knew who Cuchulainn was before he became a god?

He would never know those answers. All he could do was assure to the stressed girl, "If that's how it is, then so be it. The boy I've been calling Setanta changed his name to Cuchulainn after that incident. He wanted to take my dog's place until I reared a replacement, though I insisted that it wasn't necessary. All I wished for him was to channel that determination towards protecting Ulster and her people, rather than just one old man. It seemed to do the trick, because he had found his calling and would put his absurd strength towards that goal, rather than beating up every man he met and bedding every woman he fancied. Well it wasn't exactly a perfect plan, given the hijinks he got into in his later years, but at least I gave him a sense of direction while he was still young.

"… And I would like to do the same for you."

"For me? What do you mean?" Connla wondered.

"You're probably feeling a bit lost, not knowing what to do with your strength, just like the same way Setanta once felt. You are a strong warrior, but I could tell during your battle with the Braves that your heart wasn't truly into it. You could've easily killed those brutes, but you chose to either disarm or stymie them. Your spear has so many nicks and notches in it not because you challenged men, but rather struggled to survive against demonic ghosts and savage beasts. You just don't have it in you to be a killer…"

"…"

"And you know what? That's perfectly fine."

She looked a bit surprised by this. "It is?"

"Setanta was not normal. He observed how regular humans behaved, and did his best to mimic them so that he could fit in. At the end of the day though, it was just playing pretend. He was a demigod through and through – a proverbial hand-me-down from the Age of Gods - and there was nothing he could do to change that. His incarnation as Taoide Olc might actually be closer to his true nature as a destructive creature. I don't see that in you. You are definitely human. You care about those around you, even for your enemies' survival. Heck, I'm not surprised that you tended to Cuchulainn's wounds in the Land of Shadows."

"But I didn't know who he was at the time."

"Would you have done anything different if you did?"

"Um…"

"Of course you wouldn't. You take great care and discretion for those around you, and it is that very humanity that will see you fulfill a different destiny than Setanta's."

"A different destiny than his?"

Culann frowned. "What I mean is, you're not going to become a second Cuchulainn. You're not going to live the same life and make the same mistakes he did. Whatever life you live, whatever mistakes you make - hell, whatever epithet you decide for yourself - they will all belong to you. Even if your fighting style is the same as his, the feelings behind your strikes are not identical to his. They are yours. They are the thoughts and emotions of someone from the Age of Man, not those of a relic from the Age of Gods. That is the advice I wish to give you before I send you on your way. Do you understand?"

Connla became silent. His words sounded frightfully similar to what Scathach told her before; to preserve her humanity, for it was her greatest strength. If Culann was essentially saying the same thing but in a different way, it meant that she had a better understanding of the expectations everyone had for her:

They didn't want her to become Cuchulainn's replacement.

She wasn't sure why Scathach and Culann would worry about her like this. It wasn't like she purposefully strived to become a second Cuchulainn. How could she conceivably become strong enough to fight against an entire army by herself? She knew it would be a pure delusion for her to try. The only thing she could surmise was that Scathach and Culann wanted to be absolutely sure that she didn't pursue a path that would be impossible for her, thus leading to regret and self-loathing in her later years. They wanted her to grow up as a confident young woman who could be proud of her accomplishments.

Connla assumed this was what Culann wanted for her, so she nodded lightly and said, "I understand. I won't try to imitate Setanta."

"Excellent. That makes me feel more at ease," the blacksmith said, then sighed. "Phew… I think I can finally get a good night's rest now. All of that excitement with the ghost attack really had me on edge for a while. I need to calm myself down if I'm to fulfill my clients' requests tomorrow."

"Please don't push yourself. Once word gets out about the attack, I'm sure everyone would understand if you need some time to rest."

"If only I was 25 years younger, this kind of thing wouldn't frazzle me so much. Well, that's my problem. You've got enough to worry about for yourself, kid."

"I know. It's almost time for me to leave."

"You be careful out there. Fergus is right about one thing – if Cuchulainn tries to attack you, run for it. Come straight back here, if you need to."

"I will."

With that, Connla packed up the last of her belongings and bid good night to Culann before departing. Once the front gates were locked shut and she vanished from his sight, he grumbled to himself before heading back into his mansion. He went into his room and sat upon his bed, exhaling a deep sigh. Eventually, he turned his gaze toward a painting on the wall. It was an old piece depicting the final royal family of Ulster – Conchobhar mac Nessa, Deichtine, her husband Sualtam mac Roich, their other sister Findchoem, her husband Amergin mac Eccit, their son Conall Cernach, and Setanta. The king sat on his throne in the center, while the others surrounded him. The thing that caught Culann's attention the most was Deichtine. Or rather, her physical appearance.

Sure, there were some differences with the hairstyle and the way they carried themselves, but if Connla was about 30 or 35 years older…

She would look nearly identical to Deichtine.