Hylian warrior Link grasps hold of his destiny as he overcomes the trials of the Great Forest and reaches the Sacred Grove, home of the peaceful Koroks and the guardian spirit of the woods, the Great Deku Tree. For a whole century, the latter has watched over the fabled blade, the Master Sword. Mustering all of his physical and mental strength, Link manages to pull it out of its pedestal, affirming his status as a Hero chosen by the Goddess.

Far south, his Zora and Sheikah allies patiently wait his return in Kakariko Village, bolstering its defenses in expectation of an enemy assault. Meanwhile, Sidon and his troops take over the Lizalfos outpost they have just invaded, unaware of the evil that lurks around.

Bright sparks shot out of the crafted disk, yet its surface remained as cold and rough as ice. Ledo's experiment resulted in another failure, the medallion did not give up any of its secrets. The craftsman sighed heavily, disappointed by his string of unsuccessful attempts. Nonetheless, the Sheikahs had undoubtedly created that relic and Cado did not intend to yield. As such, his optimism rubbed off on the young Zora.

"Hmm," the elder thought out loud, "electric currents and heat do not prompt anything remarkable either… We don't have many options left…"

"Our initial thesis seems more and more truthful," Ledo went on. "If neither natural nor magical energies grant results, it will only react to divine or demonic powers."

"We can't say for sure, Ledo. The odds surely increase, but we must still proceed with caution. Did we miss anything?"

The apprentice pondered over the question, though he could not find anything they could have overlooked. Together, Cado and he had spent the last week examining the medallion, trying all sorts of tests within their abilities. Day and night, they worked hard to unveil its nature, to discover its powers, to understand why the Seer had kept it so close to him. For hours long, they would work on the matter, and the workshop had suffered greatly. Fortunately, the building was sturdy enough to withstand everything they did, and being located on the heights of the village meant that they could give it their all without disturbing the other villagers. And in spite of the exhaustion and the blatant lack of success, they had persevered the whole day again, carrying on with their complex practice.

The two engineers decided to take a break and use their respite to plan their next move. They had just poured themselves some hot drinks when Bazz and Seggin knocked on the door. Ledo let them in and the four men greeted each other warmly, though Ledo's weariness did not pass unnoticed.

"Nothing yet?" Seggin asked.

"Good guess, Seggin," Cado laughed. "Haven't made much progress since last time."

"That's a shame. Still, hold your heads high. Thanks to you, we know this artifact belong to the Sheikahs. The Lizalfos must have robbed it somehow."

"I would rather we learn something more useful, though," Ledo interjected. "We shall keep studying until it is time to depart."

"Do you have a lead?"

"Maybe. Ideas flow steadily, though resources may come pretty scarce. It's going to be hard to follow what we come up with."

Ledo then summed up what Cado and he had hypothesized. The soldiers' frown was predictable, Seggin and Bazz did not have the knowledge required to aid the researchers in their study and apologized for their impotence. To lift the Zora's spirits, the Sheikah moved on to a different topic.

Thus, the four individuals spoke about the footmen's achievements at the controlled outposts, debated over the sudden resurgence of the Calamity and its minions, evaluated the Lizalfos and Yiga armies until they went back to a more controversial subject: Link's return.

"He makes a fine and resourceful adventurer like none other," Cado asserted. "Many times I have trained and witnessed him battle the Calamity's evil forces, I know his abilities very well."

"I must admit I was amazed at his skills and how he tackled the fight against the Hinox alone," Bazz added. "He uses his quick reactions and swiftness quite effectively, following a unique style I've never seen before. Surely his unpredictability is his greatest strength."

"What's more, he didn't even wield his signature weapon. Trust me, we wouldn't last a minute, were we to duel him fair and square."

"Hard to swallow," Bazz grunted, "but true enough."

"Hmph… You seem to forget this selfish, despicable man's sins very fast," Seggin spat. "Able warrior or not, the kingdom's doom remains his fault."

"Seggin…" Cado sighed. "You can't put the blame on him. How can you stay this stubborn when he was only fulfilling his duties?"

"Which he failed miserably," the elder Zora retorted. "The Zora have seen enough of this farce. We have joined the Alliance willingly, fought by your side, and for what? We've lost the war, lost our princess because of your foolishness! Your supposedly unerring guardians were not the boons you promised but the seal of our demise. The Sheikah Technology is no longer worthy of our faith!"

"Then why condemn Link?! He did not take part in their conception, nor had he any say on their core abilities. You're the foolish one to hold a futile grudge against our ace!"

"ENOUGH! I will say no more!"

Seggin shot out hastily and slammed the door furiously, his anger leaving the three others flabbergasted in the silent workshop. Cado exhaled deeply, evacuating the tension of the heated conversation and apologized for losing his composure. Bazz and Ledo knew how Seggin despised everyone not Zora-born, though they could not comprehend his outburst. The Sheikah invited them to sit as he recounted the events that led to his hatred, a century ago.

Before the Calamity took over Hyrule, the Alliance forged by the Hylians, Sheikahs, Zora, Gerudos, Gorons and Ritos flourished in an era of peace and prosperity. To strengthen its bonds, each civilization appointed a champion to represent their people and lead their respective army. However, once the Sheikahs started to expand the scope of their infamous technology to create the guardians and the Divine Beasts, the champions were tasked to pilot these massive weapons.

Princess Mipha devoted herself to her new mission, giving body and soul to her partner Vah'Ruta. Then came the time to defend her home from darkness. What happened next, no one could have predicted. The Calamity corrupted the mechanical giants while their masters rode them, trapping them in a void of evil and death.

Of course, both Zora knew the story. The Zora elders had long criticized their former allies each time they recalled this tragic event. Their wrath towards the Sheikahs who had built the Divine Beasts felt excessive but not unjustified. On the other hand, their hatred for Link was completely unfounded, as Cado had previously stated.

"I believe Link's case remains a peculiar one," Cado related. "You may have been too young to notice, the champions' duty required them to spend most of their time together to maintain solid relations across the realm as well as assist Princess Zelda in her research. Eventually, the champions became fast friends and formality quickly faded to make room for familiarity. Ultimately, Mipha developed further feelings for her Hylian counterpart and was willing to put her life on the line for her beloved and for Hyrule. Seggin and other skeptics denied her love and accused Link of manipulating the princess. Because of that, her passing sparked intense outcries among the Zora who did not believe in her true feelings. In the end, Link became the perfect target for their ire as he was incriminated with brainwashing the princess."

"Why would the Zora object to her emotions so much, though? How come did they convince themselves of a false truth?"

"Pride and nationalism lit the flames of their denial, but the final seal to their hatred lies in their own fondness for Princess Mipha. The Zora loved her as much as she cared for Link, maybe even more. Consequently, seeing her distance herself from her people to follow a foreigner ended up too much to bear. Royal counselor Muzu was one of the very first to contest the princess's decision and to criticize her role as a champion. The Zora do not ignore the truth, they just can't accept it and there's nothing we can do to reason them."

"Still… Their obstinacy is painful to watch… Link clearly is the man we need. I'm sure Their Highnesses would be delighted to welcome him, though if half of us ostracize him unfairly, I fear he would go insane."

"Link will not back down easily, Bazz. He has overcome many dire trials, fought the Calamity valiantly to the bitter end, and never have I seen or heard him complain about his fate. One may call him gloomy or laconic while in reality, his silent demeanor shelters a pragmatic mind that only thinks about his friends' safety. Ha! Seems like destiny repeats itself."

Intrigued, Ledo and Bazz pleaded Cado to explain his last sentence further. What destiny did he refer to? What did he imply with the word "repeat"?

Cado thus spoke about the renowned legends of old that were passed down in history, although his version differed from the one the Zora knew, as the shadow folk conserved forgotten archives relating the exact events of the past. He told them about the Hero of Time, his travels through ages apart, about his quest to save Hyrule's seven sages and about his last struggle against the Great King of Evil Ganondorf. Next, he recounted the story of a heroic figure working with outcasts from a world shrouded in twilight to free Hyrule from a usurper tyrant.

The Sheikah reviewed countless sagas and myths, each of them accounting for an individual achieving incredible feats, each of them sharing a similar fate. All of them had received the Goddess's blessings and rebelled against the reigning evil, be they demon kings, dark sorcerers or evil incarnate. Each iteration depicted a pure-hearted, silent, male youth who defied the odds with uncanny strength and speed, wielding a sacred blade. A description befitting Link totally.

"You should have guessed by now," Cado went on. "We believe they were all reincarnations of a single person, and Link is the new embodiment of that ancient Hero. As soon as he had pledged loyalty to Princess Zelda, as soon as she dubbed him her personal knight, we have anticipated his destiny, and put our faith in him. Obviously, only the Sheikahs have knowledge of this and echoes of this theory remain cooped within this village."

"I believe you," Bazz firmly stated. "As naïve as it may sound, Link deserves our respect and I intend to help him the most I can in his mission."

"I feel the same," Ledo added. "We shall not let him carry his burden alone."

Cado put a hand on each's shoulder, very happy to hear those encouraging words. Maybe one day, their determination and tolerance might mend the fragile relation between Zora and Sheikahs.

Suddenly, a blinding flash shone through the windows as he did. Judging by the rays filtering in the workshop, whatever source had brightened the night must have been humongous. Cries of surprise and anguished started up while the three companions rushed outside to assess the situation. Far away on the north side of the realm, a giant beam of light rent the skies, piercing through the clouds towards the heavens, radiating its surroundings under a glimmering veil. Shortly after, a cracking sound as loud as an earthquake thundered the Zora and Sheikah's ears, followed by the birth of three additional rays throughout the kingdom, one of which finding its base merely a couple hundred feet on the hill above them.

The villagers were gathering by the main plaza on the lowest level, confused by the spectacle unfolding before them. However, no one seemed alarmed by the supernatural apparition. In particular, Cado looked quite pleased to have witnessed such an event.

"Tis a sign from the Goddess!" he declared with a smile and pointed towards the first column. "There lies the Great Forest of Hyrule where Link is supposed to go now. I'll bet my hand he has reclaimed his sword."

He then directed his focus at the nearest beam by the village.

"In these woods lives a Great Fairy, a holy being and messenger of the Goddess sent here to aid the mortals who worship her. She had taken refuge in her concealed shelter after the war and we have yet to find her fountain. But at last, this luminous pillar may well direct us to her without fail. I believe her awakening has something to do with Link's feats."

"Great Fairies are said to possess tremendous powers, don't they?" Ledo wondered. "Do you think she might be able to restore the medallion?"

"Oh, I absolutely think so, yes."

"Then, we must hurry at once! Let's finish this, Cado!"

Ledo motioned towards the workshop but was soon interrupted by a female voice.

"Bazz! Ledo!"

Tula came scrambling up the slope, tripping many times on the uneven ground. Bazz and Ledo went to her aid and made her recover her breath before she could say anything.

"Thank you both," the agitated woman gasped with a blushing smile. "I've got great news! Tona has awakened!"

Ledo shouted and jumped in joy with her, clearly relieved that their friend had come to. Bazz remained stoic and calm even though deep down, he shared their happiness and thanked the heavens for sparing Tona's life. Tula then grabbed his arm with unsuspected strength, pulling him out of his dreams.

"Come on! She'll want to see you!"

Without even waiting for an answer, she dragged the startled soldier, much to his dismay. The craftsman could not help but laugh before this touching scene, he and Tula were aware that Bazz cared for Tona much more than he would have admitted.

"You were right, Cado. Miracles do happen when we least expect them. Now, let's get back to work."


The everlasting downpour hollowed out the crackling ember below the starving Zora's bronze cooking pot. Lightly sheltered under torn drapes and half-broken joists, the fighters gleefully sated their appetites with fruits they had gathered not long ago and the fish the Lizalfos had stored in their supplies. Galvanized by their successful blitz assault on the reptilian outpost, the Zora were feasting over their first victory in weeks. They sang a little bit too loud for Sidon's taste, though he did not rebuked them for it, as they had earned their respite.

The prince did not wish to take part in their celebration, allowing himself to eat only two skewered voltfin trouts, when he usually gobbled twice more to get a full meal. Even though his leadership proved decisive in the last battle, he was not in the mood for a party.

Granted, his team had masterfully taken the camp without trouble, yet Sidon had not heard of Rivan's group at all. The commander had led an assault on a much bigger, far more dangerous post. Though Sidon did not really worry about their safety, Rivan being widely regarded as one of the finest general the Zora had ever trained, but the lack of news bothered him. Hours have passed since their first attack, dusk had settled on the wetlands and no messenger had come to sight. Rivan's situation remained a mystery.

"So that's where you had gone to…"

Gruve's voice rose from a lower platform. The scout climbed the wooden stairs and joined the prince who was keeping an eye over the surrounding area from the watchtower.

"Looking out for Lizalfos, Sire?" Gruve asked.

"We can't afford to let our guard down here," Sidon replied. "The Lizalfos have grown cunning and disciplined. Constant vigil is needed to avoid getting flanked by surprise."

"I get what you mean… Their nocturnal charge on the Domain did almost wipe us all. I wonder how far they have evolved."

"Precisely, They've shown us one of their trump cards, suffice to say they may have others up their sleeves. Even so, I haven't detected any unusual movement for a while, maybe we will be safe tonight."

Sidon resumed his watch while Gruve provided him with a welcome additional line sight. Quickly enough, Torfeau spotted them and went over.

"I've found you at last. I should have known you would come here."

"Hey, Torfeau!" Gruve greeted cheerfully. "Tired of them, already?"

"Victory's gotten to their heads, and now they're drunk with glory nonsense," the soldier sighed and shrugged. "They won't listen to me, nor will they keep it quiet."

"Let them celebrate to their heart's content," Sidon sympathized. "After all those months of uncertainty and inactivity, our deeds should be remembered and set an example to what we need be done."

"I knew you'd say that," Torfeau relinquished but did not complain.

The three of them began discussing over many subjects ranging from the soldiers having a blast below to delving into a nostalgic meditation. Then, their conversation drifted to more serious matters, such as the Domain and its people's future. Their opinions converged on numerous points, and they concluded that they needed to close the case on the Lizalfos as soon as possible. The Divine Beast would have to wait until the Zora felt safe enough to tackle a more daunting task. On the long term, prospects stayed dire though they agreed there was nothing more they could do, they had to stick with Sidon's plan and the will of the Goddess.

And thus, they started planning for the war against the reptilians. Sidon always valued his friends' take on everything he had to think about, they often clashed when it came to setting matters, each point of view bringing forth the pros and cons of every aspect dealing with direct threats. With such diverging and subjective minds to aid him, Sidon could always objectively come up with tactics that would grant the Zora an edge in battle while minimizing the risks.

"Now, how shall we proceed forward? Our surprise attack only worked because they did not foresee it. It won't happen next time, so we need to elaborate a new strategy if we are to raid their other camps."

"Are we even sure we can handle this?" Gruve pondered. "We still haven't heard of Rivan, that's unsettling to say the least…"

"Hold your thoughts, Gruve!" Torfeau retorted. "Rivan would not go down easily, I have no doubts they're fine. His Highness is right, we must press on while we can, the more we wait, the stronger the Lizalfos will get."

"Well, I don't deny that, but blindly barging in wouldn't get us anywhere either, would it? All I'm saying is, we need to tread carefully as they will adapt to what we do and we need to mix up our approach in return."

"If we strike early enough and hard, they won't have the luxury of adapting. I would rather press our advance and bring the fight to them as soon as tomorrow to end it all."

"I will not second your hot-headed decision," Gruve answered firmly. "What if we run into a trap? There's no way to know if they haven't deployed any means to stop our progress."

"Why don't you have a little more faith in your scout's abilities?" Torfeau countered. "We always rely on you to notice those deceiving ploys and you've never let us down. Why should any of this be any different?"

The debate went back and forth for a while. Sidon gauged their arguments in silence, looking for the holes in either proposition. So far, both theories had their share of defaults, which could potentially amount to nothing considering all the assets they could provide prior or during battle. In the end, he could not decide which plan was better, so he tried to think of a strategy that did not lean on either side.

How could the Zora raid another outpost without endangering themselves? How could they keep winning and expanding their territory without trouble? As he predicted, he could actually not find any way that would nullify the risks or guarantee a glorious outcome. He needed more information, an expert's point of view to perfect his strategies.

Sidon had stayed absorbed in his thoughts way too long. Furious shouts pierced his ears and brought him to his senses as the peaceful discussion turned into a heated dispute. Somehow, Gruve and Torfeau had exploded and were now fiercely lashing at each other's throat.

"You're delusional if you think otherwise!" the female soldier screamed. "Pity will never save us from their plague and you know it! You're just too afraid to dirty your hands, Gruve!"

"Listen to yourself!" the scout reacted impulsively. "What you're suggesting is pure madness! I can not allow you to take on a mission as thoughtless and cruel as that! We Zora shall not fall this low to perpetrate such a twisted, savage and shameless act!"

"Ha! Our kin DIES because of those monsters and you still won't give them what they deserve. I thought you braver and more sensible than that. Surely you're aware that doing nothing will only increase our suffering, right?"

"I know full well what misery would befall us from idleness, thank you! What you don't want to understand is that your method is too radical and pointless. The complete extinction of the Lizalfos? Impossible in practice, and pure blasphemy."

"HOLD ON, BOTH OF YOU!" Sidon interrupted in shock. "What's this I hear, Torfeau? You wish to massacre the whole reptilian race?!"

"Don't tell me you've never thought of it," she retorted sarcastically. "Should they live, this war will never end. The Lizalfos are a gangrenous pest that sips life away from the kingdom, someone HAS to stop their rampage! Slaughtering every last one of them would free the Zora from the struggle, from fear, from certain doom."

"It doesn't HAVE to come to a genocide!" Gruve roared angrily. "Reducing their numbers is one thing, granted it's mandatory, but it's foolish and unwise to try to wipe them all. Whether you like it or not, the Lizalfos have become a predominant AND necessary race for the equilibrium of nature!"

"Nonsense!" she grabbed him by the collar, her face distorted by a devilish wrath. "What good are they? What evil deed could outweighed by their supposedly benevolent actions? They serve the Calamity and that is enough to brand them dark minions who deserve only death! Hell, they have NO RIGHT to exist in our realm!"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" the prince separated them physically, putting them at a safe distance from each other.

Their bickering had tired him out, a headache started to pound his skull heavily. He had rarely felt this exhausted and annoyed at the same time. Everything had gotten out of hand too fast and too suddenly, his two subordinates had often clashed, but it never came down to the fists. It was the first time he had witnessed such miserable behavior from any of them. Had he not been there, Gruve and Torfeau would have probably injured each other gravely.

"You both need to calm down and think this through!" he advised in a stern, cold voice, letting his disappointment flow with his words. "We've all had a long day, so you two settle down for now. We'll resume this talk once you're more relaxed."

"Tch!"

Torfeau sat on a nearby chair, legs and arms crossed, eyes wandering over the dark horizon. Similarly, Gruve returned to scanning the area, infuriated and hurt by his friend's harsh speech. Clearly, they would not make peace tonight and the morrow looked bleak as well. Sidon needed his most trusted subjects now, and they had let him down in such an outrageous way, he too was about to snap.

His sanity remained intact however, as he noticed some eerie change in the atmosphere, something unnatural and gruesome. Amidst the raindrops, caught with the rising wind, were scarlet ashes that fell from the skies. The prince looked up warily, afraid of what transpired. A hellish vision of embers plaguing the celestial veil thrust his pupils, glows of crimson shone behind the stormy clouds, corrupting the land and its inhabitants with its demonic powers. Sidon remembered an old myth that terrified children whenever it was mentioned, a tale of an astral body bathing the world in red, summoning the souls of the damned to serve evil once more.

The curse of the Blood Moon.

He realized what would happen next and instantly, he was back to his usual self. Casting his doubts aside, he called to Gruve and Torfeau who had managed to cool down a bit, and ordered a state of urgency. Confused, they followed him down the tower, yet it was already too late.

Right in front of them, negative waves of corrupted energy flowed and reached the carcasses of the lifeless Lizalfos the Zora had killed earlier. The corpses sewn themselves back together disturbingly, their limbs started twitching and motioning abnormally, snarls and growls emerged from their severed throats, and they were back on their feet, more alive than ever. The nightmarish sight lingered on as the three Zora could not believe what they saw, until the enraged Lizalfos spotted them and charged.

With no time to prepare, the three Zora dodged their blows one by one, ducking and sidestepping out of their way. The Lizalfos seemed nimbler, deadlier than last time, invigorated by the dark powers of the astral light. However, their crazed frenzy only boosted their physical aptitudes as they had abandoned all sense of reason. Thus, their attacks were predictable and straightforward, making them quite easy to avoid.

Sidon, Gruve and Torfeau skillfully evaded the reptilians without much effort, watching for an opportunity, a hole in their formation to break free from their grasp. They patiently waited and were rewarded soon enough: two Lizalfos lunged at them simultaneously and collided head first. The Zora bolted towards and past them as they fell on their backs and dashed to their allies who they had left in the middle of the camp while arming themselves.

The soldiers and scouts were holding their ground but heavily outnumbered. Submerged completely, they fought valiantly in a contiguous space to restrain the beasts' angles of attack. A very wise plan all things considered, yet unwinnable and ultimately, the Zora's ranks crumbled. The prince and his captains hurried to the scene, hacking and slashing through the enemies.

"By the Goddess!" Gruve exclaimed. "What is going on, here?! How come are they up and about when we struck them down this morning?"

"This is the power of darkness, Gruve!" Sidon replied as he parried a boomerang with his sword. "Vah'Ruta has made its move and resurrected its minions."

"Bloody hell, what outrageous timing!" the scout leader swore.

They did not have time to chitchat, so they got back to fighting and repelled their aggressors. In the span of a quarter hour, the liberated outpost had been swarmed with endless waves of Lizalfos who had just exited the afterlife. The brave Zora steeled themselves with Sidon, Gruve and Torfeau ordering their troops around and strengthening their brittle formation. They knew it would not last long though, as the bodies on their side kept piling on while the numbers kept growing among their foes.

Sidon had not foreseen such a chain of events to flip the situation this radically. The wetlands were a field of many battles, where countless souls had met their maker. Every single dark minion that suffered this fate recently as well as ages ago was summoned to overwhelm and slay the impetuous Zora. In the end, the prince realized they were never going to hold the camp this night and immediately called the retreat order.

"FALL BACK!" he yelled. "WE CAN'T STAY HERE!"

"Your Highness!" Torfeau protested. "We can't just give it up to the Lizalfos!"

"Don't contest, Torfeau!" Gruve interrupted. "Just obey for now!"

She bit her lip and grunted disapprovingly, but yielded eventually and led her soldiers out of the fray, carving a bloody path with Gruve on supporting duty. The road to the Domain was heavily compromised and the enhanced Lizalfos gave them a hard time securing an escape route. Each strike blocked sent painful shivers in their arms, each thrust to their target required their full strength to rip their hardened skin and reach their stimulated organs.

Why had it come to this? After months, years of struggle, the Zora had finally bounced back together and passed on the offensive. All for naught. Enraged by this reality, her mind blank and twisted by the negative energies filling the area, Torfeau strayed away and ruthlessly murdered every reptilian she could see. Consumed by hatred, the captain slashed and impaled brutally, unsensitive to her own vulnerability. The other Zora watched in horror as Torfeau's rampage sprayed her in gore; every time she claimed another victim, she looked more like a hungered and crazed demon.

"DON'T STOP RUNNING," Sidon then commanded, "KEEP GOING! Torfeau! Get back here at once ! We don't need you over there!"

Thankfully, whatever sanity she had left understood his plea and she reluctantly rejoined the group. Minutes later, they had successfully managed to reach the last islet before the pathway leading to the hills and to their Domain. Running only on adrenaline and drawing their last resources, Sidon, Gruve and Torfeau stayed behind to watch the team's back. Sidon's sword beams kept the Lizalfos at bay until they were all safely crossing the river one last time, and Gruve and Torfeau worked together to push away any reptilian that crept too close to the bridge they were defending.

However, in the midst of the battle, they did not notice the archers lurking around and positioning themselves not too far away, in their blind spots. The marksmen let their arrows loose on the fleeing Zora, hitting two of them, and two more that tried to carry the wounded out of their sight. The loss of Torfeau's soldiers finally shattered the mental walls warding her soul from the Divine Beast's corruption.

She grudgingly rushed towards the firing squad, screaming her lungs out and swept three with one mighty swing, severing their legs and wombs. The archers turned and targeted her, but Torfeau slayed them before they could pull their bowstrings again.

"What's gotten into her?" Gruve questioned. "Her style hasn't changed, yet she fights like a beast!"

"Blast, the Blood Moon's curse is affecting her…" Sidon said displeasingly. "She cannot think rationally anymore! Gruve, we must aid her!"

"Roger!"

Indeed, the lone warrior soon found herself trapped between the Lizalfos forces. She challenged them fearlessly, driven only by her killer instincts. Many reptilians met her steel and died in one hit, but waves after waves of enemies finally took their toll on her body and she started to quiver from exhaustion. One of the Lizalfos managed to cut her arm and turn the tables against her. Next, the beast was raising its arm, blade shining in the scarlet light, aiming for her heart when she could not move anymore.

Gruve pushed her away in the nick of time and took the blow in her place. The scout let out a stinging cry as the weapon buried itself into his shoulder. Neither the pain nor the monster stopped him however, and he spun around to tackle the Lizalfos and execute him in one clean motion.

"Gruve!"

Somehow, Torfeau had regained some form of consciousness and was now completely aware of her surroundings. Maybe the pain had stopped the infection, or maybe the sight of her wounded friend going full length to save her had brought her back to her senses. Anyway, Gruve was glad to see her usual self, so glad in fact that he had let his guard down. He reacted to Torfeau's warning too late, and a second Lizalfos bashed him with a sturdy bludgeon. The strike knocked him unconscious and tossed him into the river.

"NO!"

Torfeau got to her feet and dashed to her friend until she was halted by the prince who had been battling against a horde of swordsmen. Sidon pulled her backwards, right as arrows rained down on her position seconds earlier.

"We have to go now, Torfeau!"

"Your Highness, we can't leave Gruve behind!" she wailed with teary-eyes. "He is wounded, he needs us!"

"Too risky, there's nothing we can do for now!"

He pointed at the archers who were readying up for another, more lethal volley of shock arrows. This convinced Torfeau to obey the prince, albeit against her will. The two of them thus escaped away from the Lizalfos, from Gruve. Guilt ravaged Torfeau's mind as they did, she only wanted to do what was right for the Domain, to ensure the Zora's legacy. She had been severely mistaken.

And Gruve's life was the price to pay.