Sorry for the late chapter! I got sick, but I'm better now. Enjoy!

Written in Stone

Chapter 3: Milestone

Six-thirty in the morning rolled around, and there was a knock on the door. Link opened his eyes groggily. Wrapped like a warm burrito in his soft blanket, he didn't feel like waking up. He wasn't sure what time he had finally fallen asleep last night, but it was extremely late. Teba's unsettling warning had kept Link up longer than he should have. Every snapping branch and gust of wind had made Link on edge almost all night.

He tried to open his eyes further but they refused. Only sleep was on his mind. Despite waking early for school every day so far, Link has never been a morning person. His eyes slowly fell shut again. The knock must have just been a drea-

Another rap on the door. Groaning, Link turned over to check the time. 6:30 AM. He must have silenced his alarm when it went off, because he should have been up and showered by now. Link placed his phone back on the nightstand and let his arm fall over the side of the bed. He sighed. Guess he should get up and go see who was at the door.

He laid there briefly before pushing himself up off the mattress. He dragged his legs over the bed's edge and sat there, hunched over. His hands rubbed his face and eyes slowly, fighting the urge to just nap in that position. When someone knocked again, Link finally stood up and wandered down the steps slowly. He used the wall to support himself, still not fully awake yet.

When he pulled the door open, his head flinched back as the bright morning sunlight hit his face. Urg, so bright. He raised a hand to shield his eyes, and saw that it was Sidon who was standing there. Sidon began to smile with relief upon seeing Link, followed by a sheepish look. "Good morning, my friend. I'm sorry to be here so early, but yesterday's events have kept me antsy all morning."

Link's tried to blink the sleep out of his eyes. "... What?" he asked slowly. His voice was raspy. What did Sidon say?

Sidon smiled apologetically. Urg, now there were two bright things blinding Link. "I didn't mean to wake you. I couldn't wait any longer, though. I just had to talk to you about my behavior yesterday."

Registering what Sidon was saying now, Link faltered. "Oh... Don't worry about it. I was asking inappropriate questions."

"Not at all!" exclaimed Sidon. "All of your questions were justified and reasonable. I was the one who behaved poorly. And for that, I am sorry."

Link rubbed his right eye with the sleeve of his PJs as he watched Sidon with his left. Poor guy must have been worried about it all night if he came here early to apologize. Despite his tall stature, Sidon looked sort of small right now. It was not like Sidon to display vulnerability, so Link couldn't help but sympathize with his friend.

"...It's ok, Sidon," Link told him. He made sure to give a smile. "There is no problem."

It appeared as though a huge weight was lifted of Sidon's shoulders. Yesterday Link had been quite upset, but seeing how his friend was now, forgiveness came quickly. Since he was here and Link still had to get ready, he decided to invite him inside. He held the door open wider. "Why don't you come in? I'll finish getting ready and we can go to school."

Sidon obliged. As he sat at Link's small kitchen table, Link prepared for the day. There was no time for a shower now, but he would survive. He threw two pieces of bread into the toaster, then drank a glass of water to clear his throat. As the bread heated, Link ran back upstairs to change. Sidon glanced around the small home, a grin tugging at his lips. When Link returned, the tall boy started speaking again.

"I know there isn't a lot that we talked about regarding last time. I'm sure your head is spinning with questions," he said. "I want to explain things, my friend."

Listening closely, Link gave a nod. The toaster made a small 'ding' as the pieces of brown toast popped out. Link popped one in his mouth and handed the other to Sidon.

Appreciating the gesture, Sidon thanked him. He took a small bite before continuing, "The best place to start is the culture around here. Kakariko Village is... small. Only 216 people. 217," he corrected. "So people really hold onto their traditions and beliefs."

"You asked about the temple and the religion here. The locals believe in three great goddesses, but there are other spirits and creatures in the lore as well." Sidon glanced at Link. "Like that demon you've heard about."

Link said nothing.

Taking as a sign to keep talking, Sidon explained further. "There is a story that there is a demon that lives among the townspeople. Since almost everyone here is a believer, most of them also believe in this demon." Sidon gave a sigh. "I didn't want to say anything before because I didn't want you to think we were all crazy. I wanted you to live here without worrying about this fairytale. But now I'm thinking you should have heard it from me first. That way, when you eventually learned about it, you could have been prepared." He nibbled at the crust of his toast. "I had been foolish."

Suddenly, listening to Sidon's tale, everything made sense. Teba's warning about people being particular was a warning about their superstition. The old man must be one of the believers. It all clicked and Link instantly felt a lot better. Looking back on the past few days, Link never really believed in the demon, but everyone's behaviors had really spooked him. He was relaxed now. Now it was Link's turn to feel foolish. How he had let his imagination get the best of him. Ridiculous.

"Thank you," he said softly.

"… For what, my friend?"

"For telling me. I was confused, but now it makes sense. So, thank you." Of course, there were still some more questions to be had, but Link was just so happy to have some explanation that he would not ask them just yet.

Sidon smiled happily, then peered at his watch. "How time flies. We better get going or else we will be late for class."

They found themselves on their way to Friday class. As usual, the morning was littered with people doing their typical daily chores. And as usual, they all greeted the pair with enthusiasm. Link didn't feel that spookiness that he had felt the night before from the villagers. In the daylight, they all seemed normal and friendly. Their eyes didn't follow them and they didn't seem suspicious. They waved briefly with large smiles, then returned to their sweeping or plant watering. Link was reminded by how simple life could be. Perhaps it was the weight off his mind that allowed him to see this. Last night, he had felt alone. Today, he felt like he was finally becoming a part of the town. He could thank Sidon for this. He really bore no ill will towards Sidon's actions last night. It sounded like his friend was trying to look out for him, and Link could not fault him for that.

He took a deep inhale. The cool, crisp air seemed to clear his mind further.

Sidon was back to his normal self and chatted one-sidedly with Link the entire way to school. When they slid open the wooden door, they were greeted by the sight of Riju and Yunobo. It would seem that they arrived early today. Like she did every day, Riju had her feet up on the desk, but upon seeing her classmates enter she shifted to sit properly. Yunobo's face suddenly took on a nervous expression as Riju opened her mouth. It looked like she had something to say.

But Sidon beat her to the punch. He held up a hand. "No need, Riju. I already told him."

Her eyes shifted between the two of them. Seeing that she was suspicious, Link nodded to confirm Sidon's words but even this failed to convince her. She folded her arms and narrowed her eyes. "… Everything?"

"Everything." When a sustained silence fell between them, Sidon gave a sheepish grin. "I mean it."

"And… you're ok with it?" Riju asked Link, folding her arms and raising an eyebrow. Link gave another nod.

Relief seemed to wash over Riju. Her shoulders notably relaxed as she let out a deep sigh. "Well, you seem to be at peace with the news. I must say that I am surprised."

"Erm..." Link gave a slight shrug. Why would he not be ok with the village's beliefs? "Of course."

Yunobo scratched at the back of hand, as if it was some nervous tick. "I didn't realize that you didn't know, so I was really scared of how you would react. Riju was too."

The young girl snapped around. "I was not! I was just... calmly lecturing Sidon yesterday about keeping secrets from your friends."

'Calmly' was probably not the proper term to use based on Riju's facial expressions yesterday, but Link's heart skipped a beat at being called a friend. Sidon has been calling him a friend for some time now, but to hear it out of Riju's mouth made the sentiment feel real. Link couldn't help but smile a bit at the thought.

"And I've already apologized for my actions," said Sidon. "I made a poor decision. I thought it was too overwhelming for a newcomer to process. Link has been through much already."

"Oh yeah, it must be hard to move to a new place full of strangers," piped up Yunobo. "I couldn't imagine. I've only lived here."

"So has all of us," Riju mumbled, as if she was in thought. "Well, then you are forgiven, Sidon. At least he knows now, and there is no harm."

Before Link could raise an eyebrow, Teba walked into the room holding a stack of papers. Ah yes, it was time for class to start. Everyone quickly took their seats before their teacher had to say anything.

The sun hung low on the horizon as Sidon and Link strolled down the main street peacefully. The constant yet enjoyable ramblings from his friend made up most of the conversation between them but as usual Link did not mind. There was a relaxing feeling in the air; Link contributed it to their talk this morning. Now that Sidon was not keeping a secret from him anymore, it felt as if the bond between them had gotten stronger. Perhaps it was also the exhilarating around of D&D they had all played today. The group had discovered a hidden cavern and began to explore, only to come across a horde of some monsters called Moblins. It looks like it was going to be a tough fight tomorrow.

Crickets sang their evening song. Dragonflies flew about, having left their lake home nearby. The street was still somewhat busy with people and as usual they all waved with joyous smiles as the boys passed by. Link's skin did not prickle at the gestures. He waved back.

As they walked by the general store, Link came to a gentle halt. He stared through the glass windows at the rows of food and goods that were jammed-packed into that little building. The large, busty woman who owned and ran the store was absorbed in a book, only glancing up when a customer approached the counter. The door was wide open to let the cool, calming air inside, and a furin jingled in the breeze.

Seeing the blond boy stop, Sidon had to trek back a few steps. He peered inside as well, knowing exactly why Link paused here. "It's probably still not here."

Link knew this well, but after last night he was more determined to have wifi more than ever. He didn't want something to happen while it was still dark out; what if he needed to look something important up? He didn't want to risk sneaking out to the school house again.

His friend's silence spoke volumes to Sidon. With a large grin, he patted Link's shoulder. "Well, we are here, friend, so might as well check!" Gripping both of Link's shoulders, he marched the both of them inside. The tapping of their shoes on the dirty tile floor did nothing to keep the shopkeeper from her book, but clearly Sidon was used to this behavior. "Go ahead and ask about that router of yours. Meanwhile, I'm going to pick out some sodas for us." His smile practically sparkled. He shot Link a quick thumbs up before turning on his heel and heading to the back where the fridges hummed.

There was no one else in the store. Unlike most of the stores back in the city, or even here in town, there was no music playing overhead. Instead, the woman seemed content just listening to the sound of her small, rotating fan that ran on her counter, and to the wildlife outside. As Link approached her she turned a page briefly, before her eyes fluttered upwards over the top of her book. She stared intensely at Link, as if she was not happy to be interrupted. Link could see Dune written in large, bold letters on the cover. He didn't completely blame her; it was a good book.

"... Link." She snapped the book shut with one hand and laid it on the counter. Her sour expression was gone, replaced with a welcoming half-smile. "My word, I have barely seen you in here. Have you finally run out of food in your little home?"

"No, no, nothing like that." Although he would soon. The food he had been supplied with upon arrival was starting to run low. "I'm sorry to bother you, but I was wondering about my order?"

The woman blinked slowly, then she snapped her fingers. "Oh! I had nearly forgotten about your order." She let out a small chuckle. "Don't you worry, son, the router will be here. But I told you it was going to take a few weeks. It has only been seven days."

"Ah." Link's gaze fell downward. "Right..."

Looking sympathetic, the shopkeeper reached out and patted his wrist. "But I will let you know as soon as it comes in. I will stand by the doorway until you pass by and immediately hand it off to you, ok? Don't you worry your pretty little head. Just have patience! Everything moves slowly in a small village like Kakariko."

All Link felt like doing was giving a nod that he heard her. Even though he was disappointed, he knew he should be. They had said before that it was going to take some time, but he had let his hopes get the best of him. But he knew this was going to be like watching a pot boil; the longer he focused on waiting, the longer the waiting was going to feel. He held in a sigh just as Sidon approached the counter holding two cold glasses of Coke.

"The two drinks, Sidon?" asked the woman, punching in the purchase into the cash register. "That will be two forty five, my dear."

Sidon forked over the cashed, then pressed the soda into Link's hands. "No luck, my friend?"

Link took the soda, twisted off the top, and took a sip. The sweet liquid felt good against his throat. He shook his head as the woman answered for him. "I'm afraid not. It's still going to take a few weeks," said the shopkeeper. She picked up her book again and began to leaf through the pages to find her place. "Now you boys run along! Go be young while you can!"

They thanked her and took their leave. Standing outside the store now, Link felt like he lost a little bit of energy. He knew it was ridiculous to be upset over something that was not a necessity to life, but it was a privilege that he had enjoyed and misses. And although he felt more comfortable today than he did yesterday with his new friends, his thoughts still lingered on the ones he left behind.

A tap on his shoulder snapped him back into reality. "Why don't we sit down and enjoy our drinks over there?" Sidon asked him, pointing to a small metal table with two chairs across the street. "We still have some time before we need to go home, so let's relish it while we can."

Agreeing to the proposition, the pair soon found themselves seated. The metal was cold and uncomfortable, but Link didn't mind. He took another sip of his soda, letting the sweetness comfort him. Food and treats were always good for the soul, especially after disappointing news.

Leaning back in his chair, Link looked up at the sky. It was a burning orange color with clouds that appeared pink, a reminder that night was coming. It was truly beautiful. It was rare to get such a good view of the sky in the city like this, but out here the villagers experience it nearly every day. In a way, Link understood why no one wanted the internet. It distracted them from the beauty they live in. Why watch a video when you could watch the dragonflies fly by?

He must look spoiled to them, with his constant need to use his phone for everything and desire to connect to the wifi. He wouldn't blame them if they thought he was. After all, he was acting a bit spoiled, and here was Sidon, doing everything in his power to cheer him up. Link glanced towards his friend out of the corner of his eye. Sidon looked at peace, also looking up at the sky.

Link let out a small, inaudible sigh. Life was good here. He should not ruin it with obsessing over something as trivial as wifi. He should be embracing this new way of life. How ridiculous he has been for the past few days.

A group of people pacing suddenly caught his attention, and Link lowered his head to watch them go by. It was more people like yesterday, preparing for the upcoming festival. More wooden planks and colorful fabrics and papers were being hauled up the street. Everyone seemed pretty excited and were chatting it up with each other loudly. They must really be looking forward to that festival.

"They better hurry up," said Link, breaking the silence between him and Sidon, "or else they will run out of sunlight to work."

"Ah, true," Sidon responded. He leaned his elbow against the tabletop and pressed his cheek into his palm to rest his head. "They probably won't get any work done tonight, though. My guess is that they are taking the stuff up to the temple for tomorrow."

That would make sense. Link's thoughts wondered back to what Sidon had said earlier, about the people's beliefs in some demon that lives in town. Now that he has really thought about it, no one else has talked about a demon, except for the crazy old man. Do most of the villagers really believe in some monster living among them? It was sort of odd for Link to think about, but he didn't condemn them for their beliefs. It may be odd to him, but that didn't make these people bad or even stupid. Although he couldn't get a read on Riju or Yunobo's personal feelings on the matter, he knew Sidon didn't believe. In a way, that thought was comforting.

It was in this moment when a strange person suddenly caught Link's eye. It was an elderly woman that Link had never seen before. She was so old, so bent over with age, that Link wondered how she was able to walk at all. But there she was, shuffling by them with her hands clasped behind her back and her wispy white hair pulled into a bun.

But it was not her age that made Link stare. It was everything else. While the rest of the townsfolk wore modern clothes, this woman wore something that Link could only describe as something akin to a gi, although an off-white color with reds and blues. Her bamboo sandals slapped against the pavement as she meandered. Link had never seen such clothes before.

And yet, the most noticeable thing about her was the tattoo on her forehead. It was of a large, red eye, with what appeared to be a tear coming down between her eyes. It was striking and unusual, and Link could not keep his eyes off of it. It, in turn, seemed to stare back at him.

Unblinking.

The woman wobbled by, somehow balancing herself by keeping her hands firmly clasped behind her back. Link was unsure if he should offer help or leave her be (some elders did not appreciate help), she turned her head to get a good look at the boys. Upon recognizing Link, she came to a halt. She swayed in place back and forth, a bit unsteady. Link set his soda down, prepared to jump forward in case she fell.

But she didn't. And after a moment of silence, she let out a short, hollow laugh at made Link's skin crawl. "Well well well!" she said slowly, with a raspy voice. "If it isn't Link? I had heard you finally came to town."

Her words sounded odd. The way she said them, it was if he had been expected. "Um..." Link gave her a weak smile. "Finally, miss?"

"Aye. We've been waiting for you. Took your time, didn'tcha?" laughed the woman. She calmed herself and took in a deep breath. "Well, you better get a move on it. Before something bad happens."

Link quickly snapped his head to look at Sidon. What on earth was she talking about? Sidon did not look happy. He too set his drink down and folded his arms, his yellow eyes locked onto the woman with a contempt Link has never seen on Sidon's face before.

However, it cleared quickly and Sidon smiled brightly. "What a pleasure to see you out and about! How are you feeling today?" he asked her. He sounded genuine, so Link was left wondering if he just imagined Sidon's expression.

The woman hobbled to her left so she could see Sidon. "Oh my, how big you have gotten! Has it been that long?"

"No, I'm afraid it hasn't," replied Sidon. His fingers dug slightly into his arms, but he kept the smile on his face. "It's only been a few weeks."

"Ah. My mind must be going," the woman then winked at Link. "Old age is so unforgiving!"

The boys let her chuckle again, clearly amused by her own little jokes. Link was unsure if he should laugh with her, or just smile politely. This woman was really making him uncomfortable. Something was really off about her.

The reason came quickly as she spoke again. "The demon will be coming soon. I can feel it in my bones."

Silence. Link was taken back a bit. Sidon had said there were believers of the demon in town, but to hear about it so suddenly again... It was unnerving. Of course, Link didn't believe in such legends, but the old lady said it with such conviction that for a moment Link wondered if it could be true. This feeling quickly passed, but it made Link's nerves burn with fear for a moment.

The elder suddenly narrowed her eyes. She looked between the two boys before landing on Sidon. "The demon doesn't like being called a fairy tale, little Sidon. Were you not raised properly to believe in our ways? Perhaps I should have a talk with your father."

How did... Sidon's eyes when wide slightly and his smile faltered. The woman's words had struck some cord, although Link wasn't sure which words. "... My father raised me fine, thank you. He is an excellent caretaker and does not need a lecture."

"Hmph. Well, young man... be careful. You're words and recent... actions have angered the demon. And we all know what an angry demon does," said the elder cryptically. She then gave Link a low bow before she began to meander up the street, her hands still clasped behind her back.

Both Link and Sidon were frozen in place. Link was not sure what had just happened. Questions raced in his head. Who was she? What was she talking about? Why did Sidon look so angry? Now Link could see why Sidon did not want to talk about the demon before; this belief in a monster made the villagers look insane. As the woman shuffled farther away, Link turned to his friend.

"... Are you ok?"

It took Sidon a few seconds to respond, and when he did he was smiling. "Of course!"

Link did not believe him, but he didn't pressure him either. There were some things Link was sure Sidon wasn't ready to share with him yet, although Link wanted to know. "Who was that?"

"The woman?" Sidon asked. He picked up his soda and took a sip before he answered. "Just a member of the Sheikah."

"The... Sheikah?"

"Oh, no one has told you?" asked Sidon, tilting his head to one side in surprise. "They are the keepers of Kakariko's traditions and legends. They maintain the temple, make sure our traditions are kept alive throughout generations, and so on."

"They seem... tough."

"... Yes. They are strict about keeping the ways of the village. It is thanks to their hard work and dedication that this village still exists today."

And probably the reason why nearly everyone in town seemed to believe in some mysterious demon. Link cleared his throat, a bit nervous to bring up what he wanted to say next. "So... you've angered the demon?"

"Hm?" Sidon looked confused for a moment. Then he chuckled. "Of course not, my friend! There is no demon to anger. Just fairy tales, after all. But it's common knowledge that I am not a firm believer of such superstitions, and I do not think the Sheikah like that. I think they still try to scare me into believing, like one would a child."

Still? It suddenly occurred to Link that despite all the talking he and Sidon had done earlier that day, Link still did not know much about his friend or his own life here. Clearly, there was still much to learn.

"Sidon..."

"Yes, my friend?"

Link was going to ask about Sidon's history. He had just realized about how little he knew about Sidon. For all his talking, Sidon rarely spoke of himself. Why did the woman make Sidon uncomfortable? What did she say that angered him? What bad thing was going to happen that she was talking about? There were so many questions that Link wanted to ask him. They were on the tip of his tongue.

But he couldn't do it. He couldn't ask such probing questions. After all, he and Sidon have only been friends for a week. He should not be expecting to know all of Sidon's dirty secrets by now. No, he wanted Sidon to open up to him naturally. He wanted Sidon to WANT to tell him. So instead, Link glanced up towards the mountain where the temple stood, hidden behind the turning leaves.

"Let's check out the temple after school tomorrow."

Sidon looked in the temple's direction in surprise. "The temple? But it is closed to the public."

"I know, but... maybe I could peek at it. I want to know more about this town. It is my home too."

His friend looked in deep thought as he considered it. Link watched as Sidon's finger tapped the glass of the Coke slowly; his chest rose and fell with each deep breath. Link waited patiently, not wanting to rush his answer. Finally, Sidon gave a firm nod.

"Alright, let's do it! We shall sneak onto the temple grounds tomorrow." He shot Link an excited grin. "It will be fun. An adventure, just you and me!"

Link was glad to hear that Sidon would take him to the temple. He had worried for a brief moment that Sidon would say no. But his friend looked just as pleased with the idea as Link felt. And Link could learn a little more about Kakariko. Maybe it will make the crazy make a little more sense too.

After their drinks were done and the glass recycled, Sidon walked Link home. The sun was getting very low in the sky, and people were beginning to rush home. Link knew why now; they feared the demon. The demon that apparently stalked the night, looking for prey. If he believed in such things, Link would be rushing home too.

At his front door, before Link could go inside, Sidon patted his shoulder to get his attention. "Um... Well, I was thinking..." Link paused, his hand still on the doorknob, waiting for Sidon to say his piece. He wondered if it would be regarding the woman's words from earlier. Maybe Sidon will open up to him a little bit.

"Perhaps after the temple, you could come over to my place for dinner?" Sidon suddenly offered. He looked a bit nervous asking. "This way you could meet my father and see my home." He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "As friends, you should also know where I live!"

Oh... Link wasn't sure if he should be happy or disappointed. On one hand, Sidon still didn't say a word about himself. On the other hand, to go over to a friend's house was a wonderful invitation. As of yet, no one has invited Link over for a get together, much less for dinner. And Link really wanted to get closer to Sidon, and to the others, of course. But Sidon was his best friend here, and if it took baby steps to become very close, then Link would take those baby steps. So he made sure he smiled in excited.

"I would love to."

"Really?" Sidon beamed. "That's wonderful. I will make sure my father knows. He would be very happy to meet you, my friend!"

"Haha, I look forward to it." Link opened the door to his home and gave Sidon a small wave. "I'll see you tomorrow, then."

"Good night!" Sidon exclaimed, returning the wave vigorously. He did not let up until the door closed completely behind Link. He let his arm fall to his side; his face stern and serious. He stared at the wooden door briefly, before he turned on his heel to walk back into town.

Inside his home, Link felt relief to have some time to himself. All that talk of demon and legends had worn him out. His eyes shifted over to the drawers by the staircase. Speaking of demons... Link walked over to the drawers and opened the top one, where he had stored the pocket knife the crazy old man had given him. The momentum of the opening wood caused the knife to slide down to the front and back against the side. The noise echoed in the room faintly.

Daring to pick it up, Link lifted the blade up and inspected it closely. The handle was worn and faded of its original purple and blue colors. Some of the plastic was cracked from age, but it still felt solid in his hand. Carefully, he flipped it open. With a snap, the metal blade popped out. This part had been well cared for; the edge was shiny and sharp. Link dared not test it with his finger. Instead, he closed the weapon back up and gave it one more look. There were no other determining features, except for a small 'B' etched into the handle. Is this a weapon the people believed could kill a demon? The blade was long enough to perhaps kill a human, but there was no way this could kill a supernatural being. Ridiculous. Link placed the blade back into the drawer and closed it up quickly.

The rest of the night was normal. Although the woman's words earlier were spooky, Link's mind was more focused on hanging out with Sidon tomorrow. He was looking forward to going over to Sidon's home, and it was only polite to prepare a small gift for his hosts. So while a stew brewed on the stove, Link made sure to prepare a dozen simple chocolate chip cookies to bring over to Sidon's. His friends back home would have made fun of him for making such a 'girly' gift, but Link felt that Sidon would appreciate the gesture. It would make for a great dessert after dinner, too.

When the meal was eaten and the cookies wrapped up, Link finished washing the dishes, took a shower, and jumped into bed. He stared up at the ceiling, a small smile on his face.

This village was strange, to be sure. A lot of strange beliefs and strange people. Yesterday, Link couldn't get a wink of sleep. Tonight, he was comfortable and confident. Now that everything made sense, there was no reason to worry about some demon strolling into his home during the night. And he felt that he was making progress with his new friends. Especially Sidon. He pulled out his phone to look at the time and the connection. 11:57 PM. No connection. But he wasn't bothered by this. He didn't feel the need to message his old friends at the moment. He would talk to them again eventually. But for now, Link could sleep peacefully.

And that is what he did. Making sure he pulled in his phone to charge, Link rolled over on his side and closed his eyes.

Sleep came quickly.

Sidon walked alone down main street and was just turning onto the dirt road that led his house. He knew he was coming home late, so his father was probably asleep. He glanced as his watch to confirm the time. Yup, 12:03. It's literally morning now. He didn't mean to stay out this late, but he had gotten so lost in thought that he lost track of time.

Today had been a whirlwind of problems. He had hoped that Link would never learn the truth about the town. He had let himself act strange in front of Link, and that had backfired. Now that Link knew most of the truth, hopefully things between them would get better.

He wanted them to get better. He liked Link. He didn't want Link caught up in any mumbo jumbo about demons and evil. After all, none of it could be true. It was just legends. No… it was just myths. Made up stories so kids wouldn't wander around at night. That was why he didn't tell Link the full truth. He felt horrible about lying to him, but it was better this way.

But tomorrow would be his chance. They would be in the privacy of his home, so they could have a good one-on-one discussion about many things… Hopefully, some of them good.

He was about halfway down the path when he saw a soft, red glow. He stopped in his tracks. That was odd; normally, no one would be out this late at all. He looked to see if who was standing there. He could see a lanky figure in the darkness. They were shrouded in the shadows, so he couldn't see their face. "Who's there?"

The figure didn't say anything. It just stood there, heaving. Sidon could see its shoulders go up and down. Something was wrong, and Sidon didn't like it. He took a step back. "If this is a prank, it isn't a very good one. I'm tired and not in the mood."

No answer.

Sidon couldn't help but feel spooked. Mystery and silence would creep out even the strongest. Even the red light was starting to mess with him. If he didn't know better, he would have thought it was a red, glowing eye. Then, the person slightly stepped forward, and Sidon could see something shine in the soft moonlight. It looked like… claws.

Sidon's blood ran cold. He took another step back, his muscles tense. "Haha, knock it off. OK, you got me. I believe in demons," he said with sarcasm, refusing to relent. "Is this what this is all about? Really? Would anyone in town go so far?

That was when the figure suddenly charged at him.

His adrenaline spiked instantly and instinct kicked in. Sidon dropped everything he had and took a swing at the creature, determined to knock out whoever it was and drag them to the police. As if he was going to let anyone overpower him just to convince him of a demon!

He had expected his fist to made contact with flesh. Instead, he missed entirely. Whoever, or whatever, it was seemed to move with unnatural speed, and his miss will instantly be punished as Sidon felt something sharp get pulled across chest. He let out a cry in anguish, and suddenly true fear set in. It… it wanted to kill him! He hadn't realized he was in a fight for his life, and he couldn't believe that he was being attacked.

There was a growl. A deep, unnerving growl that made Sidon's entire body freeze in terror. It… it didn't sound human. No, there was no way…. He didn't get a chance to process what was happening to him as those gnarly claws suddenly tore through his abdomen.

He gasped as he dropped to the ground. His head smacked against the pavement, and he felt weak and in terrible pain. He was still alive as he bled out in the road, staring up at the monster who decided to kill him. The creature looked down on him, regarding him carefully, before continuing its assault.

Glossary: Furin- a Japanese wind chime.

Don't hate me! *shields body from world* I hated to do it, but I'm afraid someone was going to die in this story. And Sidon was the unfortunate choice. It hurt me just as much as it may have hurt you.

Hopefully, this doesn't turn you off! I hope you look forward to Chapter 4: Bloodstone