Rusl felt a pull in the air, but he did not turn to acknowledge Dorian. He sat on the trunk of his car, beer in hand, and waited for Dorian to approach.

"Being warded means nothing when you're so damn predictable," he said. He stood beside Rusl, his hands in his pockets. He glanced at him at the corner of his eye, but Rusl no longer seemed angry with him.

"I wasn't trying to hide," Rusl said simply.

"You know I wouldn't let him do this if there were another way," he said softly.

"I know."

"You knew it would come to this."

Rusl's voice hardened. "I know."

Dorian hesitated. "He won't be alone. Impa is prepared for this. We all are. She will be able to give him a fighting chance."

Rusl sighed. "He's an idiot," Rusl said. "He'll be lucky if he graduates high school, and you think he can save the world?"

Dorian smiled. "Some kids just aren't book smart."

Rusl grunted. "He's not street smart, either. He's a scrawny, lazy ass sixteen year old without a damn care in the world." He hesitated. "He doesn't have a damn clue what he's involved in."

"You know," Dorian started. "I really thought he'd turn out to be a little more ambitious. He was more like you when he was younger. He's mellowed out quite a bit."

"I guess I can't complain about that."

"I can. We could use a hero with a little more ambition right now."

Rusl turned his gaze to the ground. "Uli wanted him to know the truth. She wanted him to be prepared for this. And I… I wanted to keep it all from him. I wanted him to have a normal childhood." He hesitated, then met Dorian's gaze. "He could have been better prepared. Did I fuck this up? Is he going to die because of me?"

"You did what you thought was best for him."

Rusl's gaze narrowed on him. "Was I wrong?"

"There is no right or wrong," Dorian said. "Merely a difference in opinion."

Rusl got to his feet. "And what is your opinion?"

Dorian hesitated. "Does it matter?"

"You damn Sheikah always think you know what's best," Rusl snapped. "For the last twenty years, all you've done is preach to me about destiny. You never agreed with me about this."

"Look." Dorian forced himself to remain calm with Rusl. "You know my opinion. If he were my son -"

"He's not your son," Rusl hissed. "And we're not Sheikah. We don't live your life."

"You're right," Dorian said. "You don't." His brows furrowed. "And you don't live Link's. In the end, the decision is his, whether you like it or not."

"He's a fucking teenager," Rusl spat. "And I'm his damn father. He doesn't do shit without my consent."

"And you think you can control him? Do you think you can really control this situation?"

"As long as King Roham's on my side," Rusl said. "He won't let them do this."

Dorian pulled his gaze away. "King Roham is not nearly as stubborn as you," Dorian said. "And he trusts the Sheikah."

"What are you saying?"

"Impa and I have talked with him at great length," Dorian explained.

"You manipulated him?" Rusl sneered. "You brainwashed him."

"We are not the enemy," Dorian barked at him. "Stop treating me like I am."

Rusl fell silent. He pulled his gaze away and looked out over the lake.

When Dorian spoke again, his voice was softer. "He isn't any happier about it than you are," he said. "But like you, he knew it was coming. It is the duty of the Sheikah to prepare for this and to prepare the heroes. King Roham has seen the signs, just as you have. He is just as afraid as you are. But as the ruler of this kingdom, it is his job to keep Hyrule safe. It is just as much a part of his destiny as it is Zelda's and Link's. He is a reasonable man, and he knows they will not be without protection. The entire Sheikah tribe will give their lives before they let something happen to them. You know this, Rusl. You know better than anyone."

Rusl said nothing for a moment, keeping his gaze on the horizon. The sun was making its descent behind the distant mountain range and night had begun to creep over the land, allowing the brightest stars to dot the darkening sky. He sighed heavily, then turned his gaze on the ground.

"You promised," he said softly.

"I promised you I will keep him safe," Dorian said. "I will not break that promise."

Rusl hesitated. "I'm not getting a choice, am I?"

"I can't stop you from making this difficult for me," Dorian said. "You always find a way, anyway."

Rusl blew his hair out of his eyes, and a smile tugged at his lips. "Yeah," he said. "I don't like losing to you." He met Dorian's gaze. "Just know I will kill you if anything happens to him."

"I would let you."

Rusl held his gaze on him a moment longer before turning his back to Dorian. He grabbed his keys off the trunk of the car and made his way to the driver's side door, pulling it open.

"I can't count on Link to tell me anything," he said, narrowing his gaze on Dorian. "Don't keep me in the dark."

"I won't."

Rusl nodded, then slipped into the car. As soon as he started the engine, Dorian disappeared.

It was almost midnight when Link made it back home, but Rusl was up and waiting, all too eager to dash his son's hopes of sneaking in undetected. He waited in the dark as Link crept in, then watched as he stiffened, realizing then that he was no alone.

"How do you expect to save the world when you can't even get through high school?" Rusl did not look up from his phone as Link faced him.

"I was hoping it would get me a free pass in life."

"Your mother always said I'd raise an incompetent idiot."

"I'm sure she would have done better."

"Probably." He placed his phone on the table and reached into his pocket, pulling out a horseshoe shaped charm on a string. He slid it across the table towards Link. "She believed that shit, too," he continued. "She'd want you to have that. It's been passed down in her family or something." He shrugged. "It makes noise if you blow into it, but it's annoying. Don't let your sister touch it." He returned to his phone.

Link picked up the item and inspected it. "You must have won her over with your charm."

"Lucky for you, you've inherited my charm," his father said dryly. "Don't get any ideas on that princess, though."

"She hates me, anyway."

"Heroes never get the girl."

"What movies are you watching? Heroes always get the girl."

Rusl stood and regarded Link for a moment. "If you're going to do this, please don't die, or your mother will kill me herself."

Link strung the charm around the sword and smiled. "Okay, Dad."