Running through the darkness was unsettling. Link kept seeing strange figures that weren't really there. His imagination toyed with him, making him think he was being followed. 'There's no one behind you. Quit panicking over nothing.' He scolded himself.

"Well well. It's the little mute half-blood"

Link jumped and uncapped his sword, automatically going into battle stance. His heart faltered when he saw who it was. The manticore grinned maliciously at Link's horrified expression.

"Yes yes, it is quite a shock to see me again, isn't it? I told you I would get you though, sun spawn." He snarled, remembering how Link had humiliated him. "I'll get straight to it then. Clearly I can't toy with you while you're still capable of moving. So..."

The monster swiped at Link's legs. Link jumped back, but he was too slow. His leg was ripped open by the claws. The half-blood cried out at the pain, tears pricking his eyes. He swore loudly and rushed toward the manticore through the stabbing pain in his leg. He swung his sword down swiftly, only for it to be batted away by the beast.

'I have no choice. I have to use it' Link thought as he took out his bow. Close combat with a sword could only end in disaster with his mangle leg. He quickly shot an arrow, aiming at the monster's left eye. The manticore roared and swung his arm to blow the shot, but missed. Link shot again, this time his other eye, the arrow easily meeting its mark. The monster howled with pain, clutching his eyes. The blonde swallowed, not knowing what to do, staring at the writhing creature in front of him. He gulped and unsheathed his sword. Walking forward, wincing through his pain, he impaled the thing right where he thought his heart was. The creature groaned loudly as its body started to turn to golden dust. It lashed at Link blindly in anger and panic.

The half-blood, not expecting the attack, took the blow straight to the chest. He yelled and fell backward, clutching at his new wounds as he watched the beast disintegrate. "You've done it now! I'LL MAKE YOU PAY, SUN SPAWN. I CAN COME BACK FROM THE DEPTHS OF TARTARUS HOWEVER MANY TIMES I NEED." The beast laughed as its face finally started to disappear along with its body. "But once I send you there, you can't crawl back out. See you soon.' The manticore grinned as it turned to dust, his bloody eyes being the last to turn.

Link shuddered and let out a small whimper as he crawled over to where his sword had fallen. The arrows, for whatever reason, had disappeared. Feeling like the pain was too much to handle, Link stopped moving toward his weapon and downed his bottle of nectar, pouring the rest on his clothes. His chain mail had thankfully lessened the damage on his chest, but his leg was completely mangled. He winced as the nectar stung, but then let out a sigh of relief as the pain subsided.

He continued toward his sword and picked it up, along with a strange scaly... thing. Link turned it over in his hand, examining it curiously.

"That's your spoil of war. He left his tail when you killed him." A girl's voice echoed across the street, causing Link to drop it in shock; he just barely managing to keep his grip on the Skyward Sword. He gave the girl a confused look. Just where did she come from? Was she a demigod too?

The girl moved into the light from the street lanterns. The girl had dark hair and a natural tan, but also had gold eyes, making it hard for Link to tell where she was from, if she was even human. He never saw anyone with gold eyes unless they were contacts, and the girl clearly didn't look like someone who could afford contacts just for the look. She wore dark and old dirty clothes, her jeans ripped up from what looked like several monster fights.

"Who-"

"Come on. There's no time for explanations." The girl cut in, helping Link up off the floor. Link blushed and inwardly groaned, knowing he was going to start acting awkward again now that he was around a girl. Well, more awkward than usual.

"Where are we going?" Link murmured as she put his arm around her to help him walk. "It's okay, I can walk. I already drank nectar." He tried to pull away, but the girl held a firm grip on him.

"Just because you drank nectar doesn't mean you're already healed." The girl muttered. "It speeds up the process, but you'll need more than just one bottle to fully heal. Plus..." The girl looked over her shoulder and scrutinized him. "Every time you kill a monster, depending on how strong it was, more powerful monsters come after you. Manticores are level three on the scale. You can expect more of them eventually- they like a challenge. It won't be long before the one you killed respawn and tells the others. And you don't seem like much of a fighter. How long have you been claimed?"

"Three d-" Link started, but then stopped. He had no idea how long he was in Red Lotus. He stared at the ground as the girl helped him limp over to the train station.

"What's wrong?" The girl raised her eyebrow.

"I don't know how long it was. I was stuck in that restaurant, Red Lotus."

"And you escaped?" The girl gave him an incredulous look. "Most people don't."

There was a long period of silence where the only sound was the shuffling of their feet.

"Is it possible to free all of them?"

"Excuse me?" The girl gave him a funny look.

"Free everyone in Red Lotus." Link whispered. "Poseidon wants me to free everyone and shut it down for good."

The girl made a choking sound and whirled back to face him at arm's length. "You can't be serious. That's not even possible! Sure, you can free everyone, but shutting it down for good? Nemisis' kids aren't any Ares, but they're still a force to be reckoned with. Don't let them being sired by minor gods fool you."

"They're demigods?!" Link accidently yelled out of shock.

"Shh! Are you crazy! Don't yell unless you wanna get caught!"

"But- what! I don't get it! How could they do that to us? What'd we do to them that's so bad?" Link sputtered in disbelief. The idea was insane enough for Link to actually raise his voice for once.

"It's complicated. I'll explain once we get you to safety. We've wasted enough escape time already by talking. We can't lose anymore."

"Wait- just one more question." Link remembered how his reticence had screwed him over last time he hesitated to ask. "Who are you?"

"You first." She threw back.

"Link, son of Apollo."

The girl tensed, but soon relaxed, accepting his answer. "I'm Hylia. Daughter of Hestia."

GUYS. For any who're still reading, I'm sorry, I actually did have this chapter finished a week ago, but I didn't have any time to fix any errors or revise it. The most I can do right now is a quick skim through. So, as always, thanks madlink for the review, and see ya guys next chapter.