It was like a paradise depicted in books and stories, like an oasis in a dry and hot desert, like something one never expected until it was right before them.

Like death, Gaepora supposed, but this paradise was far more pleasant than the notion.

He knew what it was as he stood there observing it. He knew he stood as a mere spirit in the afterlife, that his body no longer was and that the mortal world was inaccessible. His daughter would have to live on without him.

Here, there were no shadows behind the trees, the cliffs, no shadows for evil to lurk. Everything was bright as waterfalls fell into a spring of clear, sparkling water. Even the skies had a certain ethereal quality, taking on beautiful pale pinks and oranges, like an eternal sunrise.

When a different and familiar shade of pink caught his eye, he turned his head, seeing Azalea flowers in bloom and vast quantity, a gentle breeze floating the petals off their secure buds.

Gaepora watched as they drifted along, swimming towards then past him, as if leading his gaze to a white temple.

A woman stood in front of it, glimmering blue and hands clasped in front of her human-like body. She stood in wait, not calling out to him or prompting him to approach, but just silently demonstrating her patience. Her long, unrestricted blue hair floated in the calm breeze but her blue eyes were strong and focused. Even her skin copied the monotone nature of her appearance, tinted blue like a corpse, or like someone afflicted with hypothermia. Gaepora knew that neither of these were the case.

However, she proved to be quite taller than Gaepora expected as he came forward, the odd woman towering over him by at least a foot, if not more.

"Welcome Rauru," she said. "I expected to provide you wisdom, but it would seem you have very few questions. You already know where you are. You even know who I am."

Gaepora nodded.

"You are the goddess Nayru," he said. "I am in the Sacred Realm. You stand before the Temple of Light. I have passed onto the afterlife."

"You can ask your question," she said. "The search for wisdom is a noble conquest."

"My wife," he said. "She died a long time ago. Since this is the afterlife…is she here?"

"All who die in your realm pass on to this realm," she said. "The deceased coexist here regardless of their mortal transgressions so, yes, your wife is here. You can see her whenever you'd like, but I have something to ask of you first."

"You are a goddess," Gaepora said. "I am not even a mortal any longer. Although I am willing, what would you have me do that you could do better?"

"You spent a lifetime serving the goddess Hylia," she started. "Your father entrusted you with the task of protecting the secrets of the goddess sword, of the texts about the Triforce and the Surface until the time came for a hero to wield knowledge, strength, and bravery. It was a great task, one that required patience, grace, and resilience. You guided the light in a dark time and just once more, we would like to ask you to do so again."

"Well," Gaepora started. "Well, of course. Anything."

Nayru closed her eyes, her form starting to glow blue.

"I foresee a great war," she said with a voice that echoed. "A civil war in centuries to come, greater than anything seen before. Hyrule will grow until then, but when the truth comes out and Hyrule is pitted against itself, it will be temporarily destroyed, and at great cost."

"I thought you made a practice of not interfering?" Gaepora asked.

"Normally, we would not interfere, but it seems that your son-in-law will not be the only living soul to visit the Sacred Realm without dying first. Hyrule is in danger but since we cannot interfere with the approaching darkness, we must guide the light. More specifically, you must guide the light in a way we goddesses cannot."

"What exactly is it you want me to do?"