The Corrupted Hero

by Great Faith

In all her life, Katie, a perfectionist fairy, never thought she would have to aid a sadistic boy named Link who would rather waste his days chasing women and drinking sake than be a hero. This is a story about a fairy who must accept his flaws and about a young man who must learn on what it takes to be the hero promised.

107. Chapter CVII

PART FORTY-SEVEN - THE SHADOW OF MY KIN

"So…this used to be a church?"

"Right."

Sophia cocked her head at that, and Katie, being a sweet dear, repeated it again for her. It just didn't click for the first few times. How could such a horrible place be built over sacred grounds?

And it was so grand. So very large. To think all of this was hiding in Desmera's basement. Even now, the five of them were climbing up these stairs in this dark, twisted tunnel. At the top, a corridor stretched wide before them, lit red from crimson torches that lined the walls on either side.

Through it all, a slight limp slowed Sophia's steps to a point where she needed Link's help up the stairs. Strangely though, he didn't complain about it.

"How did I break my leg again?"

She saw Simon's eyes turn bitter as he gestured over to the person lagging behind them. "Ask him."

Link gave him a sharp look. "Not now."

"What do you mean?" Sophia asked, scrunching her eyebrows to try and remember. Nothing came.

Katie beamed with the same reaction as Link. "It's nothing."

Simon snorted. At the back, her brother remained reticent, keeping his gaze at the ground. They've been resting for so long in that maze, all trying to gather their strength. She'd been trying to speak to him but he wasn't responsible.

Though she wanted to converse and settle matters, the perilous surroundings demanded her attention. The path stretched further, yawning into a half-shaped tunnel. Buttresses ran along the side of the wall, upwards to the ceiling. The smell here was different. It reminded her of the Haidrund manor after Viktor ordered it clean from top to bottom.

The walls were of stones, the torches normal while the ground was of smooth marble, inlaid with black snaking through it. This rich atmosphere took them all by surprise.

"This is…strange," Sophia murmured. "It's actually nice, in fact." She turned after Katie who noticed something on the wall. More writings. The pale words scrawled over the stone.

"More praises," Katie said. "And this one looks really old, older than the rest. I think we're in the oldest part of the catacomb." She hummed thoughtfully. "If the dragon Dinraal's dusk is really here, then they must've kept him a secret, since people would've went mad over the scales."

Sophia gasped, a hand to her mouth. "Dinraal the dragon? He's actually here? But I thought he died!"

Katie explained it to her, much to Link's chagrin. He was getting annoyed with how much they had to stop over some 'stupid drawings'.

The fairy beamed red. "They are not stupid! These here are nearly a hundred years old!"

Link waved a hand and just went on ahead. That only brightened the colors in Katie.

"What were you saying?" Sophia asked quickly, and that seemed to assuage her a little. Katie translated the words to her delight, and even spared the time to remind Sophia of recent events. The conversation was then cut short.

"What do you mean?" Link snapped. "Get off your ass!"

They turned to see Link standing over Silas who was down on his knees, head hanging low. Sophia gasped. She went over to her twin, down to his level. "Silas, what's wrong?" She turned sharply to Link.

"Whoa, hey, I didn't do anything! He just straight up fell!"

"Silas, what's wrong? Is it your stomach?" She held his shoulders, desperately trying to look at his eyes. "Silas?"

Very quietly, in a faint breath, he whispered, "Leave me…"

"What? Silas, get up."

His head shook slow and his breath went shallow. "Please," he whispered, "please leave me. I can't go on."

"No, Silas, don't say that!" Katie turned blue. "We're a team; we stick together!"

Silas didn't raise his head up but Sophia could just feel the dismal cloud hanging over him. He trembled slightly, looking so small in his dirtied vest, so ragged in his messy hair. "I'll only slow you down," he mumbled. "You'll do much better off without me."

Sophia, helpless, turned to Link.

"You're slowing us down by acting like this!" Link said with vehemence, now taking Silas's arm to force him up.

Something grey flashed, and Link stumbled back in shock. Sophia caught Silas's wrist, the dagger inches from her skin yet she remained undaunted by it. The dagger had been with Link but when he got too close, Silas snatched it from his belt.

Silas gritted his teeth but in the end his shoulders sagged and the dagger clanged on the marble. He stared down at his hands, the look in his eyes shaking her.

"Silas, please tell me what's wrong."

"Leave me," he repeated with vigor. "Just leave me! I can't go on!"

This was getting irritating. "What do you mean by that?"

"I'm tired."

"Then I'll carry you!"

Silas shook his head. "I can't go on," he whispered in heart-clenching despair. "Please, leave me here. I'm so tired. It's better this way."

"No, it's not!" she shouted, grabbing his shoulder and gave it a squeeze. Again, he refused to face her. "What is wrong with you? Why do you always push me away whenever I try to help you?" She turned to Link. "Give him a red potion. It should help."

Silas stiffened. "I don't want it," he said through clenched teeth. Link brought it out anyways and Silas slapped it out of his hands. The bottle clinked when it met the ground, not broken. Link was smart to leave the cork on. "Just leave me alone! I…I…" His face was crestfallen. "I…deserve this…"

"Deserve this?" Sophia said hotly. "You deserve to die? Why would you ever think of that?"

"Simon believe it and…and he's right."

Sophia whirled sharply at her cat who took a step backwards. "Whoa, whoa! When did I say that exactly?"

"You might as well have," Link said, gesturing to Sophia. "You think you're her guardian or something?"

"Someone has to!" Simon snapped. "Everything he did to her—"

"Simon, that is not up to you. It was never up to you," Sophia said harshly, and paused. For a horrible minute she didn't know what was going on. Why was her brother on the ground? Why was everyone so tense?

Katie came to her rescue. "Simon, you've been bullying Silas ever since he heard you speak! Is it a lot to ask that you gave him the benefit of the doubt?"

"I did! And the shithead keeps finding new ways to mess it up!" Simon winced when Sophia growled.

She tried her very best to keep her temper. "I appreciate everything you've ever done for me," she said meaningfully. "You are a dear person to me and I consider you family, but I would never forgive you if you told my brother that he deserved to die."

"But I never said that!"

"You alluded it," Katie hissed.

Silas stared at them both but still refused her hand and when she tried to grab him, he quailed. His arms up as if in defense. "No, I don't want to do this anymore! I just—" A gut-wrenching cough wracked through him. "It hurts. It hurts." His words kept bursting into new fits, and eventually, he had to turn to spit out thick, reddish foams.

"Silas—"

"I deserve this," he wailed, eyes squeezed shut. "All of this. Everything in my life was a lie. Father, Sally—"

"Listen to me—"

"Irela. Me. I'm the biggest lie." He tugged at the front of his shirt. "I'm a bloody bastard! It's not enough that I'll ill and fragile? That's not enough? I need to be a bastard as well?"

"It doesn't matter! What does it change?"

She paused at the question, really thinking about it now. Everything. This changes everything. Sure, she never quite felt like a Lady. It just didn't fit, like an undersized shoe. In other words, it made sense to her.

But for Silas—this was his life. This was his destiny; he'd been preparing for it since they were born. People kept harping on him in their youth. He spoke of his dreams for their family, for their taciturn town.

And now he can't do any of that. Like a beautiful bird who couldn't grace the sky any more. It was the one thing he was so passionate about, the gift that people were willing to overlook his illness.

"Oh, Silas."

"I'm just a waste of space." Silas coughed much harder now that it made her wince. "I tried so hard…I wanted to be like Father so much…"

Sophia took the bottle from the ground. "You have to drink this."

"No wonder Irela didn't love me."

Sophia stopped, bottle at hand. Her heart shattering at the sight of that hopeless misery in his eyes.

"Who would ever care for a sick boy?"

Sophia felt her composure cracking. "I care about you."

"I know you hate me," he said stubbornly, japing a finger at her. "I know you do!"

"Again with this?" she snapped, wishing to slap him.

"Yes, again with this! I know you do!" he insisted angrily.

"No! I—" Then a voice spoke to her, the same one in that maze. A soft, insidious whisper that lingered at the back of the mind, a man's voice.

He'd grown concernedly powerful that ignoring him was nearly impossible. The memories reeled back to her without much effort. These ones though were dredged up from the deepest part of her soul, something so very buried that she didn't even realize they existed.

Standing in this hallway, staring at her broken brother, Sophia realized that nothing she would say would get to him.

Nothing but the truth.

She rubbed her face, wishing she were better at this. Lies are so much easier told, though they took effort as she needed to keep them up. It was a little less painful when she would do anything to protect him, physically and emotionally. Mentally.

But that will not work, not anymore, not when he was riddled with grief and knew her better than she thought.

"You're right," she said finally. "I did hate you."

Silas froze. The whole hallway seemed to still with him. He looked up, one tear rolling absently down his cheek. "I…" Though he was right, he seemed amazed by it.

The memories were coming along now, bubbles from the deepest depths of the ocean. "I did hate you," she said, and saying it out loud was strange, even realizing it. Her eyes narrowed. "But not for the accident. Both of us nearly died in that, Silas, so I can't blame you."

"Then…then what—"

"For being cruel to me," she said, meeting his eyes. "As a child." More bubbles. More memories than she knew how to deal with. She closed her eyes, letting out a long sigh before opening them. "But it didn't last very long. I don't remember much, but…I do remember seeing how adults were so harsh with you. I remember how shattered you looked when Father scolded you over something.

"Then I thought to myself, 'I don't want to see him like that.' And so I just bared it."

Sophia stared over their heads, mind lost in the past. "I didn't understand it before, but I didn't care for it very much. I still loved you, and I still love you even now. No matter how cruel or horrible you can be towards me." She paused when a memory suddenly burst, one that had happened recently. In the maze, the one they've done. The argument with Silas before he ran off on her. "I guess I am spineless, but I never want to change it."

For a long time, Silas didn't say anything. He only stared at her with an expression she didn't recognize.

Sophia took another step. Another truth. Another truth needed to be said. Protecting him was not possible anymore, not when it was only hurting him. "Do you have any idea," she said, "how many times I thought I wouldn't come back home?"

Silas paled

A part of her tried to pull her back, like reins on a Lynel. Don't tell him. Don't scare him like this. Just pretend. Pretend it's…it's fine…

"Silas, I almost died so many times," she said, hating the waver in her voice. "I never thought I could live this long, not with how I am, with how I remember.

"And you know what? Sometimes I figured that maybe it would be for the best, you know? I mean, who would miss someone like me? I'll always be invisible. They won't…they won't even know I'm gone."

The look on his face could be enough to break her. "Sophia—"

"But then I remember you and Father." She met his eyes, didn't mind the tears pearling down her cheeks. She gestured sharply. "I do not want my family to mourn me. I don't want them to suffer, or to worry about anything. So I keep fighting no matter how much it hurts. I remember that I have someone who needs me.

"Don't you see it now? Can you understand? I can't hate you, Silas, because the memories of you alone got me to stand back up. Why do you think I wear these?" Sophia tore the blue ribbon off. "Vengeance, grudges. These things mean nothing to me. Do you know why? You wouldn't understand, or perhaps you finally do since coming here. Life is so fragile, so precious. I can't afford to waste for such petty reparations."

"I'm always hurting you," he whispered.

"You do," she said truthfully. "But I forgive you, brother. I've forgiven you a long time ago. The worst thing a warrior could feel on the battlefield, do you know what it is, Silas? Regret. And I've felt it so many times. Things I wish I hadn't said, things I wished I'd done. This is why I want to be here with you, because if I ever die, at least I know I fought for someone I care for."

"I should be protecting you too," he said weakly, "but I never had. I could never do to you what you've done for me."

"You can start." Her eyes sharpen. "You can, rather than wallowing in self-pity. If you stay here, Silas, if you die here, then you can't make amends. You can't start. There is only the end." She grasped him by the shoulder, giving him a faint smile. "And when I say amends, I don't speak of myself. I speak of you.

"I know you hate yourself, but don't. Forgive yourself, Silas. You have protected me. In a different way."

Silas closed his eyes, causing tears to fall out. "I'm weak…"

"You are not weak," she said emphatically. "Father was neither a fight or a solider, and yet he was the strongest person in our lives. Do you think I could've survived in a place like this on my own? You think I'm capable of understanding those puzzles or politics?"

Another truth. She had to say another one. Horrible memories continued to churn within her more than before. Louis was getting desperate.

"I was…jealous of you." She flushed despite herself. "I envied you to a point where…I avoided you. This was in the early months when you returned from the academy. You were always so intelligent. You got along wonderfully with people. Everyone loved you. I used to think…why can't I be like that? Why is he so much better than me?" Her color deepened. Dammit, but she never thought she could remember all of that. Thanks, Louis.

Silas stared up at her, gaping a little. "You—"

"Your skull can be as thickheaded though." To prove that, she knocked on it.

"Wha—me? Have you seen yourself?"

Sophia smiled, really did. That awful tide had done its work. Louis can try all he wanted but at the end, when the storm passed, there will be the rainbow behind it. "You've done so much for our home, Silas. If only you realize that. I'm so proud of you. People say that you overshadow me, and you know what? I'm fine with that. After all, how else can I protect you? Being in the Shadow of my Kin is much preferable for a Sheikah, right?"

"But…we're bastards," he said in a small voice. "We don't own anything…"

"We don't need to own anything. We never did, Silas."

He stifled a sob. "Sophia, I-I can't—I don't know how to tell you—"

"Forgive yourself." She hugged him, no longer able to keep herself together. He kept apologizing breathlessly for all the things she didn't care for, or remembered. Just being able to hug him again, this cold wall between them finally melting. That was all she needed.

"I never knew," he cried into her shoulder, sitting at the ground. Both of them just as they had in their father's office after his death. The pain came in many different forms. Now it came to her like a sharp sword, tearing through her skin and shearing straight into her heart.

But it did get easier. Wounds heal. Not entirely, but they get better. Her breathing was easier to get back, and it didn't feel as if she'd go mad with the pain. She could tell the same with her brother.

"I'm such an awful brother," he muttered, eyes puffy, nose running. "For making you cry so much. I didn't keep my promise."

"Promise?"

"To make up for five years we lost."

"Five years…oh! My Goddess, I nearly forgot about that! Listen, you better live up to it. Swear you won't break it."

He hesitated. "I swear but—"

"No. I don't want your forgiveness. It's useless to me. It's time you make amends for yourself."

"It's not that easy!" he complained. "Sophia, I can't just let things go after what you said!"

"You can. That's what I want." She let out a long, heavy sigh. She was emotionally drained, thirsty, hungry, and while she didn't particularly feel happy, being able to speak with him freely assuaged her. "I know that I…should've been more honest with you. The truth does sting but it was better than sugary lies." She held his hand, giving it a squeeze. "But please, please don't blame yourself for what happened to us twelve years ago. We were only children."

Silas hesitated again. "I…I don't know how to…"

"But can you try?"

"I…" He frowned, looking up to her. "Don't you ever wish that things were different?"

"No." Her reply came swift and blunt.

"But—"

"No. This is how things are. This is how it was meant to be. I never want to change it." She stopped. "Well…I would love to have Father back."

"Me too."

"But he's gone now." This time when she handed him the bottle, he didn't refuse. She realized that Link, Katie and Simon were still here, only they backed away to give them space. "And we're the only ones left of him. And I'm still blabbering."

"No, no." Silas finished half the potion, shaking his head. "You really do surprise me. You've…always been so kind, it's so hard to believe you're my twin."

She smiled. "Can we put this behind us now and move on with our lives?"

Silas casted his eyes down. "You make it sound so easy."

"That's because it is."

"I've done so much wrong," he said softly. "I don't know where to start. It's even daunting to consider. I wish I'm like you but this…this will take time getting used to. Our lives will change after this."

"But we won't, right?"

He stared at her for a long time before hugging her. "No," he said. "We won't. We never ever will. Please don't hide all of these things from me. It pains me even more to know just how much you're suffering in silence." When he pulled away, his face held a meaningful look. A determined one. "And I'll…I'll try. I'll try to forgive myself. It won't be easy but…I will try."

"We haven't spoken like this in so long," she said, realizing it. It was so precious that it was almost too good to be true.

"We will from now on. I swear to you." Silas glanced at the empty bottle, contemplating. "Have I really made you feel like you don't exist? Like you just shouldn't be around?"

That question was way out of line, she didn't want to answer it but then, that wouldn't be very truthful. "Sometimes. But you can make up for it. Just like this. Just by talking about it."

"I don't know how…" He sighed, hopeless. "But I-I swear I'll do everything, really, to make—"

She flicked a finger on his forehead.

"OW! What was that for?"

She was about to answer, but stopped, and then frowned. "I don't remember."

They shared a soft chuckle.

Then she took his hand, and wrapped the blue ribbon around his wrist. He didn't question it, though she could feel it on his face. "I think Father would be proud of us both," she said, tying the ribbon. "He always said he was. And he was proud of you for being third in the academy."

"Second."

"Yes, second. Wait, I remember! You should've been first!"

Silas chuckled. The joy on his face was the sight of diamonds in a cold, dark mine. They sat there, and for a time, they ignored the world around them, speaking of all of the things they had felt before. Of the things they should've told one another, the secrets they held, their fears.

And Silas was so brave at it. He would never believe it, but Sophia always looked up to him. Lawrence and her knew Silas was destined for greatness. Their father envisioned it, regardless of their birth.

---

Silas hoped he didn't look too nervous. It wasn't like this was his first time visiting Hyrule Castle. He did meet with the king once, when him and Sophia were children before their accident. Such a long time ago. They even had a chance to play with the princess.

Later, Silas met his father down in the foyer at the time of their departure, ready with his things. There, he found Sophia speaking with Lawrence.

"I think I should go too," Sophia said suddenly, taking Silas speechless. Sophia attending to a ball? Voluntarily? You might as well see an owl fly around during the day.

Though she said it with conviction, she did seem unsure with how she shifted her weight. "Maybe I should go," she repeated herself, as if to make sure she was understand.

Lawrence blinked, and then shook his head. "It would be best to leave a Haidrund here."

"I should go as well," Sophia insisted, her eyes flickered over at Silas before turning to their father. "I could pack my things now. I won't be late."

One of the footmen cleared his throat. "We won't be leaving for another hour, milord," the man said. "We can wait if you wish."

Lawrence gave him a look before turning to Sophia with a sigh. "My dear—"

"Why don't you want me to come?" Sophia demanded. Some of the servants stopped in their tracks. Silas himself didn't know what to say. Rarely, would they see Sophia so loudly, and against her father at that. "You always press me to go to parties and now that I actually want to go—"

"You don't want to come," Lawrence cut her off. "That's the issue here."

"I'm coming."

"You are not," he said sternly. "That is final. You will stay here. We won't be gone for more than a week or two."

Silas could easily see his sister stand her guard in obstinacy. But instead, she stared at Lawrence, looking very hurt. "You're embarrassed of me."

Lawrence softened. "Sophia—"

She shrugged his hand coldly. "Go then. I didn't want to go anyways." She stormed off, the servants backed away to give her room. They then scurried back to work under the sharp glare Lawrence shot at them.

Silas would've questioned his father but was given the same look. In an hour and a half, the two gentries were then carried off in a carriage, off to the castle. All the while Silas couldn't shake off the way his sister looked. She rarely displayed emotions like that.

The carriage rocked less now that they left Desmera behind. They were still in Eldin with its blazing climate, rough mountains with a pattern of red and black, and a few occasional sights of greenery.

Aside from the crunch of the wheels, the clopping of the horse and the faint tuneless hum of their driver, it was quiet here. Even the soldiers walking alongside or on horseback didn't say as much.

Silas sat opposite of his father, trying to read his book on the politics of Akklaka.

Lawrence sighed. "Alright. Go ahead."

Silas stiffened and peered up. "What?"

"I know you're not reading. What is it that you want to say?"

"You know what it is about," Silas muttered.

"Humor me."

Silas tried his best to hide his annoyance, but it was bubbling at the surface. "Why didn't you let her come with us, sir? It would've been a good opportunity!"

"An opportunity for what? If you mention the word 'marriage', she'll have you thrown out the window."

"She'll make friends. She might even have fun." And she'll be introduced to the court, like he was. Does his father really mean to keep her away from everyone?

"Do you think your sister would be comfortable in an event like this one?"

"So what? She needs to learn. And the fact that she's doing this out of her own volition is a good step." Silas couldn't find a way to soften his words, not after seeing what his sister had become in that five year gap. "Father, this isn't normal."

"What is?"

"Her. She isn't normal. It's not normal how she conducts herself." Out of habit, Silas quickly threw a look over his shoulder, and realized how dumb that was.

Lawrence snorted, leaning back with his arms crossed. "You would know that what you say is hurtful and improper when you're afraid of the person who speak of could hear you."

"That is…" Silas flushed, stammering. "I'm right!"

"Are you really?" his father said dryly. "What gives you that impression?"

Silas gritted his teeth. "It's not right! She doesn't converse with people, she goes off doing only the Goddess knows what! She's reclusive and I don't need to tell you of her temperament! She doesn't act like a Lady one bit."

Lawrence sighed. "Son, what do you think makes a Lady?"

"Delicateness for one."

"Delicate," Lawrence echoed, amused. "You've been to the academy. Do the women there seem delicate?"

Silas hesitated when he thought of Tetra, his old classmate, and the things she would do to him if she ever heard him describe her in that adjective. "I just mean in general. For Din's sake, she comes back home in spotting bruises and you're fine with that?"

"I will never be fine with that, but what could I do? Strap her in a chair and forbid her from every stepping out?"

"No! I'm just saying that she should've come with us."

"She didn't want to come. She just wanted to be with you."

Silas paused, unsure of how to feel about that. A part of him felt touched by it, but he quickly denied it. His sister made it clear how that she valued her time, but on the other hand Lawrence knew his daughter better than anyone.

Silas scratched his head, shifting his place. "And what's wrong with that?"

Lawrence tapped his finger on his arm, looking over at the rolling hills of dark rock. "She truly didn't want to come along, son. I've tried getting her to enjoy ballrooms, to embrace nobility. I've gathered all pretty flocks of women her age, dragged her to parties like some accessory I wanted to show off."

For a moment, he grew silent, his eyes pensive. "If only you've seen her trying to hide, like a bunny being hunted. It's not healthy to force her through that. Took me awhile to finally see it." Lawrence finally met his eyes. "Just like how I shouldn't have forced you into that program."

Silas blinked. They never spoke of the program, or what it had transpired. "You had to take me there. I was horrible."

"I didn't have to take you anywhere. You were my son, my responsibility." Lawrence shook his head, a dark scowl over his face.

Silas's hands wrung over his laps as he thought of Miss Laylon, the landlady. Her cold, beady eyes stared him down when he, for reasons beyond him, broke all the dishes in her house. His younger self felt like a different person with a completely different mindset. Then there were those bandits, Lady Isabel who helped him out as a doctor. And then Grey.

"Anyways," Lawrence said finally, "I hope you understand my point. And furthermore, be patient with your sister."

"I have been," Silas said exasperated, his tone taking a daring step higher. "I've always been, but I'm not going anywhere."

"You are. She was willing to go through something she despises for your sake."

Silas wanted to argue, but he realized just how far he was pushing it. In his youth, he'd never dare to so much as utter more than two words in rebellion, and now he said more than he ever had in his whole childhood. Suppressing his querulous mood, he picked up his book.

"If you plan to keep a bird to yourself," his father said softly, "you'd have to cut off its wings."

Silas didn't look up from his book. "Why not put it in a cage like everyone else?"

"Because whether you keep it in a cage or not will never change the fact that it could still fly away from you. The moment you open that cage, you will never see that bird again." This time Silas looked up. His father's gaze was calm, calculating. "I know you say this out of concern, but you have to see it from her perspective. You must be empathetic."

Silas hated how his father could make him feel like this. "I do love her," he said. "I don't want to take off her wings, but I also don't want her to stay in a cage. I just…I feel that she isn't happy. Who could be happy by being alone all this time?"

"She doesn't like being alone."

Silas didn't think he could be right. It was only common sense, and yet the thought of his quiet, reclusive sister willing to be in the company of others?

"Oh, don't look so gaped mouth," his father chided. "I know what she says but no one in this world truly wants to be alone. Granted, she enjoys her own company a little too much, but that isn't the case. She believes that this is something she will just have to get used to, something she just needed to accept."

Silas softened. "Really?"

His father nodded. "She told me."

"What? She told you?"

Lawrence shrugged. "You'd be surprised by how patience could get you a long way. It takes time, a lot of time and effort, until she admits to her thoughts. When she does that, she completely forgets that you're even here and ends up saying everything on her mind, including matters that have no place with the topic whatsoever."

Silas found himself leaning forward on the edge of his seat. This sounded nothing like his sister. "What else did she tell you?"

Lawrence gave him a flat stare. "If I told you all her secrets, what do you think she'd do to me?"

"Ah, right."

"She trusts me more than she should," Lawrence said, frowning slightly at that. "So you need to figure her out on your own. Your sister is far more than what she allows people to see. While the water seems clear from the surface, you'll find that it goes much deeper that it looks. Remember that whenever you feel like you're talking to the wall."

Silas flushed. He said nothing else to the discussion and decided to read instead, to save himself from further embarrassment. At least he got some useful insight about his twin. It was difficult to understand her. Sure, they've moved past the point where he could try and talk to her without the fear that she might stab him if he ever annoyed her too much, but there was more he wanted to do for her.

And if his father could figure her out, then so could her own twin.

The trip to the castle was a speedy one thanks to the calm weather, safe roads, and the good grace of Din. Despite his nerves, Silas was excited to see his old peers again, and even more excited to introduce them to his father.

The ballroom made the Haidrund manor look more of a peasant's house. Absolutely singular, rich with bright lights and opulent guests. The chandelier hung low, dazzling with a million diamonds, the lights catching onto the fat jewelry on the Lords and Ladies. More light coruscated from the scones held by statues. The embellished statues stood in uniform like guardians above the tables where young nobles besotted with their fellows.

The dance floor was lowered to the center of the room, ringed with stairs that led up to a tier where refreshments were being served. At the back were more stairs leading up to tables, one of which was elevated to overlook the ballroom. That table was for the highest honor, where Lawrence and Silas along with other recognized courtiers would sit near the king.

Silas met with his old friends, quickly catching up to them before introducing his father. Part of it was curtsies, but the real part was politics. To have connections with Haidrunds who were by the king's ear was an opportunity no one could refuse.

Silas spotted his friend Peter, the noble Sheikah who stood out with his silvery hair, tall posture. They've exchanged a few words, reminisced of their days in the academy and later introduced one another to their families. Unfortunately, Tetra wasn't here. Pirates were really making a bold advancement in these few months.

There were a few of his favorite teachers here too, and they were joyous to see him again. His old peers often teased him for being a teacher's pet, but he had them to thank for his success. Sadly, Professor Byleth wasn't here. He had to resign and move out to somewhere. Something about a 'tournament'.

At one point, Lawrence said that he wanted Silas to see the king.

Silas gaped. He hadn't been officially introduced to Hyrule's greatest and now he had to meet the king. "Now? As in right now?"

"No. Certainly tomorrow. I'm sure he can wait." Lawrence chuckled, patting his shoulder. "Relax. It's not the first time you've seen him."

"I know, but—Father, this is the king. I—oh my days! How do I look? I should look in the mirror. Maybe I need—"

"Okay. You wait here. I'll go speak to him and send someone for you, alright?"

"No, Father—"

And he was gone. Silas seethed through his teeth. The nerve of him! He did that on purpose! Of course he did!

Silas tried to calm his nerve, and asked for a drink before taking a slow look of the ballroom. There was something daunting about being left alone at such a large, overwhelming ball. So many important colors here, so much power. This was the very heart of Hyrule, where life-changing decisions were made. It may seem all for fun and drinks, but there were schemes behind the discussion, hints thrown with every smile and snicker, promises made and broken, allies forged and enemies destroyed. All within words.

His head started to spin.

His father had came in here as if coming back home, smiling so confidently with others that you might think he was the king.

How does he do that? How…how can I do that?

Silas tried drinking the juice, but couldn't taste it. His eyes just couldn't leave the nobles. Just waiting outside the ball are their guardsmen, distinguishable by house colors. Silas felt awkward, lame in his white shirt overlapped by blue vest and simple grey trousers. You have noblemen wearing a suit that could very well feed a village for a year.

And yet this was the Haidrund way. Their manor could easily fit into this castle and without taking up much. Their attires, while certainly not cheap, can't exactly be defined as expensive. Not by noble standards.

Just the Haidrund way. Humble, simple. He felt proud of that, and yet couldn't dismiss this feeling of suddenly shrinking before the other revelers.

Lawrence will introduce him to the world, and it will be up to Silas to forge his own path. The family name will be carried on to him. He would either make allies or enemies, raise his house above or disappoint them beyond measures. Either way, he needed to play his cards right and remember all those he'd been introduced. They could help him tremendously in business, get him connections. Or they could just easily destroy him.

Silas didn't realize how quick he'd finish the cup when only ice touched his lips. Sighing, he gestured to a servant and drank more of the pinkish liquid, looking down at the dance floor. The woman's gowns pressed against the suits of their partners. While he was terrible at dancing, he did love to watch it. The smooth flow, the movement of their steps, the smiles.

Just like Sophia…when she fights…

She should be here.

Surely, she would love it, right?

And, well, men would love her too. The thought nearly made him choke on his drink. Well…his sister did grew up to be beautiful, even when she appeared frowsy from her training. Put her in a gown and add some makeup, fix her hair, and you'll have a princess. People might pay too much attention and he already knew how she felt about that.

Maybe…it's a good thing she isn't here.

Yeah, he'd probably punch someone if they got a little too friendly with her.

"Lord Silas," someone spoke.

Silas turned with a smile, but froze when he saw who it was. "First Student."

The First Student snorted but Silas could see that he was amused. "Come now, it's been long since we graduated," he said smoothly, the smile not reaching his blue eyes. Most of his blond hair was combed back, with a few strings of bangs hanging over his eyes. The proclaimed hero that everyone wouldn't shut up about, belonging to Hyrule's richest family.

Link.

Of course there were others named Link, although the name was precious, given only to boys born on the day where the grass glimpsed out from the snow, marking the first day of spring. Winter could be long or short, no one could really predict it. So you'll find a few handful of boys with the name in some settlements.

And the First Student is the only one with the name in the whole academy.

Silas drank his cup slowly. "Indeed. How have you been?"

Link shrugged, taller than Silas, perhaps even taller than Sophia. Though this was a political gathering, he still had his sword strapped on his belt. His smile did little to soften the stoic look in his eyes. "I've been well."

That's it. Normally, people would respond with the same question, but the First Student didn't make any indication to follow curtsies.

You took my father's letter.

Silas was surprised to find how bitter he felt about it. After that horrific incident with the program, Grey came back from Desmera with a letter from Lawrence. That letter helped Silas in more ways than his father would ever know.

But it disappeared one day; the day after the First Student saw it. For some reason, that was when the enmity started and Silas never understood why. Now the First Student only showed indifference towards him.

"Where is your sister?" Link asked, raising an eyebrow as he casted a look about them. "I thought she'd come with you."

Silas sipped his drink. "No, she didn't."

"A shame. I would've liked to meet her."

Silas snorted internally. Trust me, you wouldn't want that.

Link said nothing else, drinking his cup slowly, his eyes making a slow sweep over the hall. Some smiled his way, but he ignored them as easily. He could do that and no one can be slighted by it. It only made them want to try harder.

"How does it feel?" Link asked, turning those ice eyes of his to him. So intense. That gaze could just kill him. "Finally here, at the center of the country?"

Silas swallowed. His drink tasted bitter. For a moment, Silas figured to say something casual, but Link's gaze was hard. Nothing seemed to escape them.

"A bit scary," Silas admitted.

Link turned away. Whatever he thought of the answer, it didn't show on his face. In some ways, he did act like Sophia but unlike him, Sophia's silence didn't make Silas feel as if he was walking towards a field full of Lynels.

"Good," Link said without looking at him. "A bit of fear nullifies a good sense of stupidity. If only others could learn the same."

That was as high of a praise as the First Student ever gave him.

"You know," Link carried on, "you always remind me of an ostrich."

Silas frowned. "I'm sorry, what?"

"An ostrich," Link said without breaking stride. "Large bird, a pattern of feathers—"

"I am well familiar of my province's main animal," Silas said thinly.

Link favored him another of his faint smiles. "I'm sure you are. You are very familiar with it, and to a point where you even adopted some of its survival methods."

Silas stiffened.

"At the sight of danger or confrontation, you plunge your head at the earth, hoping they wouldn't see you, hoping they'd turn away." Link took a sip of his juice. "Or, in your case, you'd have others at your defense. Tetra would make a formidable foe, wouldn't she?"

"She's my friend," Silas said icily.

"I don't doubt she is, but she isn't here." Now that forced smile melted. "This court will eat you alive and spit you right out, unless you decide to stop digging your head into the ground. They will see you. They will always see you."

Is he…really giving me advice? It should insult him at the very least, but Silas found himself listening to it.

If only he didn't catch that look in Link's eyes. Just behind those austere eyes was a silver of resentment that Silas could never understand. It didn't make sense for the First Student to dislike him this much; it wasn't like Silas would dare to go out his way to challenge someone of prodigy strength and chivalry.

"Link, be honest with me." Silas turned to look at him and for a moment, his confidence plummeted. It would only be years later before he finally learned to be a little self-confident with himself. But now, he was only a boy fresh from school, still learning the inner works of noble society.

Silas took a deep breath. "Do you dislike me?"

Though Link rarely showed anything, this one did hit a mark, if only a little. He stared at his drink for a moment. "I don't dislike you." But I don't very like you. He might as well say. "Do you think I'd waste my time with you if I did?"

Silas didn't know what to say to that. So blunt.

"It is…difficult to dislike someone of your disposition," the First Student said then frowned slightly as if not understanding it himself. Then he shook his head, drank the rest of drink. "Keep in mind what I said and you should be fine."

Someone then came up to Silas, a servant well dressed, saying that his father asked for him to come to the high table. It was a relief to have an escape plan, just to get away from this person.

Link hummed at that. "The king must be bored then. Do try to humor him."

Silas bit his tongue. His sister would've given this guy something to think about, a bruise or two, but Silas just couldn't find it in him. People think you will be the hero?

Silas left without saying goodbye. As he reached up the stairs, he saw the ballroom expanding out in front of him. The women in their gowns, entertaining themselves in the dance floor. The men over by the table nearby, drinking to themselves.

The king kept his slender figure, with a full beard now speckled with salt. Regardless of his age, his posture had a demanding air to it, one that didn't help Silas's confidence.

Lawrence smiled. "It's high time you see my son, your grace."

Silas bowed his head. "I'm honored to see you again, your highness."

Edmond nodded, smiling. "How long has it been? Since I handed you the certificate for the high honor?"

"He should've been first," Lawrence said, horrifying Silas since they had agreed to let the matter rest. "It's insulting, I say. Yes, he can't participate in the activities but that is completely out of his control."

"Father, please," Silas said, smiling nervously at the king. "It doesn't matter to me. Really."

Edmond sighed in the same exasperation as Silas. "Oh, your father never stops talking about you. He did mention to me that you have a vision for your town, correct?"

How much did Father say?

Silas looked at Lawrence but his father offered no support. Oh, so you put me on the spot and then you abandon me?

Lawrence sipped his drink, but Silas saw that glint, that little sly smile.

"Well," Silas said steadily, turning to the king, "I hope to invite merchants to our town. It's very quiet in Desmera, only known for its lapidary and trade with the Gorons."

"Some would prefer a silent settlement, don't you think?"

"I wouldn't change too much of it, of course, but I don't want my town to be some cloistered plot of land—"

"Which it is if we're being honest," Lawrence interrupted, chewing through a small cake.

"It is," Silas said, hoping his annoyance didn't show, "but I don't think that should stop us from opening our doors to the world. People of a quiet town are likely to accept receptive ideas."

"And how do you plan to do this?" Edmond put away his empty cup and got a new one from the server. At the back wall stood the king's personal guards in full armor, still as statues. "Inviting populous merchants to an isolated land would be nearly impossible."

"I respectfully disagree, your grace. It's not impossible, only challenging. You see, it's this exact mindset—this belief that Desmera could never accomplish such a thing—that I hope to perish. I plan to show people that it is possible."

"And how do you plan to do that?"

"I first invite merchants, but not any kinds of merchants. There are many renown companies known all over the world, and it falls to me to cajole them into opening business. They're likely to hesitate as they might consider business in Desmera a waste of time. To counter this, I plan to provide them with wagons, promise them a good spot for market, all under a temporary contract."

As his voice quickened with excitement, he soon broke out of his inhibition without realizing it. "Business is like trees, your grace. Trees compete for sunlight and water, and to get these essentials, they would need the best place. Merchants call it the gold spot. They are where their customers could find them, all in pure convenience."

He was already thinking about it. He met many nobles on this night alone and could feel his plan expanding. Some had shown interest. Desmera was a good starting ground. He knew he had to meet with Lords who owned stables so he could purchase strong horses for a good prize. Then wagons, he needed wagons with the Haidrund name branded on it. He also needed connections to well-known merchants in order for smaller, opportunistic merchants to take notice of his small town.

"What about monsters?" the king asked, interrupting Silas's flow like a bomb thrown into a lake.

"Monsters?" Silas felt his plan crumbling like wet sand in his fingers. "Oh…right…" How could he forget such a crucial factor? Of course there were monsters in Eldin. There were monsters everywhere!

"Most renown merchants wouldn't rich to have their goods transported…" Edmond trailed off.

"Unless they have protection," Silas said sullenly and then his eyes narrowed. "Unless they…they have protection! Of course!" He put a fist on his open plan. "Yes, it could be part of the contract! Why haven't I thought of that? Of course it would need to be temporary—or it could serve as a curtsey! Yes, that's even better! This could encourage many to come to the town once they see how respected and regarded they would be."

Silas could've gone on for hours when Lawrence cleared his throat, which reminded Silas who was he speaking to. "Ugh, I mean—this is all in the planning phase. I still have many things to consider, including the factor you've just mentioned."

The king nodded, smiling broadly. Lawrence had told Silas that his friend did admire passion. "You have a sharp boy, Lawrence."

"He got it from me, of course." Lawrence smiled proudly, patting his son on the shoulder. Somehow, that look in his eyes alone was more worth to Silas than any praises the king could give him. "Only fools would underestimate him."

Silas flushed. "It's too early to say. I still have much to learn, even you told me that."

"And he's far too humble," Lawrence said with a sigh.

"A trait you yourself could learn," the king offered, almost hopefully.

Lawrence grinned. "Come now, you really want me to bore you to death?"

"I'd settle for that than for your ego," the king said flatly, though his eyes were still humored.

It was so odd to see raillery between the two men since they always kept a front, but Silas sensed their friendship was deeper than what they showed. They've been by each other's side for years.

"Whether this plan works or not," the king said, turning to Silas, "it is a good start. I can see that you deserve that certificate in full. Perhaps we should name you the First Student."

Silas's flush deepened and he quickly waved his hands. "Your grace, you really don't need to bother yourself. I'm well without the title."

"Truly?"

"Truly."

"Well, it is assuring to see that House Haidrund's legacy is secured. I'll be pleased to see you at work."

Silas's breath vanished. "You-you mean—"

"I'm sure I know one or two merchants who would be honored to meet you, if you're willing."

"Of course! Thank you so much! I-I won't disappoint you!" This was far more than Silas dared to dream. The expectation was frightening. Now he can't let himself fail no matter what.

Oh my Goddess, so much to do. So much to do! He needed a list, dammit. So many ideas were popping up in his head and he could barely see them in time.

Lawrence placed a steady hand on his shoulder, disturbing the panic. "Why don't you go down and speak to your peers?"

"But—"

"Off with you," Lawrence said, shooing him to the stairs. "I'll be with you in a moment. I need to speak to his highness first."

Silas couldn't trust himself to speak. He bowed clumsily before he turning away. As he walked, he could hear Edmond say, "I see why you speak highly of him."

Lawrence chuckled. "You should see the other one. Now she's as frightening of a woman as you'll ever meet."

Silas walked down the stairs slowly, his arm gripping the railings, his head buzzing. He never thought to receive assent from the king. The certificate ceremony was only for formalities, but King Edmond meant it personally. Despite Silas's impediment, he was still acknowledged.

All of his work, all of those long studies, the doubts that chewed away his confidence, it all led up to this moment. It paid off in the end.

And now Silas had this stupidest urge to cry.

He'd been so stressed into coming here, so worried to be seen weak. He was not here as Silas, but as heir to Haidrund. Anything he did would affect his house.

And many people here did consider him weak. If Lawrence wasn't here with him, proving to people that, yes, his son was not infectious, would people still be willing to speak with Silas? He did see people hesitate slightly when he offered his hand to shake.

He clenched his fists. I can't screw this up. I can't.

He looked up, seeing nobles, sycophants, frolicking with one another. No one noticed him. They won't notice him unless he gave them a reason to. Or until his illness would just get rid of him.

Now he felt just as he had when he first came to the academy.

Just watch. I'll make Desmera the best town in the country. You'll see.

Feeling a little better, Silas held his head up higher and met up with people who didn't act as if he was inconspicuous. He pretended like he didn't see the eyes of the First Student. Those intense eyes teemed with animosity. The Chosen One. If people really expect heroism from someone like that, Silas could only wonder what kind of hero would actually be appointed to them.

But it doesn't matter. A hero chosen by the sword cannot be denied. Every noble in this castle, every being in this land knew this. They are all tasked with aiding the hero in every way they can.

And Silas intended to have his town rise up from its slumbering rock before then.

---

"I'm sorry."

Link turned to Silas who flushed.

"I really can't stop delaying us, can I?"

"No, you really can't," Link grunted, looking forward. "Feeling better now?" After you drank up three goddamn potions.

"Much. Thank you." Silas hesitated. "I didn't take much, did I?"

Link's hand twitched. A dark thought crossed him but when he saw Silas, it wavered. Since coming here, Silas's countenance held a sickly, pale color. Weary and miserable, any second he was likely to pass out on them. Now he stood up, head held a little higher. This was how he is—his old self.

"Not much," Link found himself saying. "But I'd rather not keep drowning them."

"I'm sure we'll find some red Chuchus, or maybe we won't even need them."

Optimistic too. Yup, this is Silas all right.

And now Link felt himself getting better to, even with the drained potions. Silas had a unique trait at that, a positive energy that others could absorb.

Link used to wonder just how a Hylian could live with an illness like Silas's, an illness that renders a person physically brittle. But maybe he underestimated shorty.

Up ahead was a mess of debris, the rubble blocking out the shortcut. Simon didn't seem surprised and took them to a detour. Deep within the bowels of the catacomb, they have seen many of its faces. Dark and gloomy, bright and regal, swaps, labyrinths, dorms, and such.

But now it adopted another theme, one that felt a little homely—as homely as the catacomb could get.

Long vases stood by the side, glinting beneath reddish torches that matched the long tongue of a carpet stretching into the corridor. Adorning the smooth walls were paintings of shadowy figures, of dark mists swallowing the land and everything in it.

It must've taken serious willpower for Katie since she stayed away rather than analyzing every speck of the paintings that somehow survived all these years. Link saw her colors ranging orange and pinkish, stinging his eyes.

There were rooms, stately parlous that looked untouched. Though desolate, they were in good condition. Large couches, long tables, and even a cabinet. Simon had snapped at Link when he tried to see if there were any drinks left behind. Sadly, there were none.

"I've been so afraid of my future," Silas said to him after some time. His voice was low so no one else could hear them. "It's all I could think about. What will happen next? How will people react?"

Link turned to him. "You're still going to tell people?"

"Of course," Silas said, as if it were obvious. "This isn't something I could keep a secret."

Link sighed. Goody two shoes over here. Didn't he learn?

"What?" Silas demanded.

Link rubbed his face. "Alright listen, you don't want to hear this, but your mom's got a point."

At once, a dark shadow crossed Silas's face, even those grey eyes turned to iron. "What?" he hissed. "How could you say this to me?"

"Listen—"

"She murdered my father!" Silas snapped. "I told her to go back to the surface and tell the others to leave without us, but she didn't! If she could let a whole town perish then she—"

"—is a mother," Link cut him off. It was still a very strange concept. Thinking of his own mother had him wondering—do mothers really go that far for their kids? Was that normal or was Sally just an exception?

"I know you went to some program to live with poor folks," Link said, "but I'll be honest with you, Silas, you don't know anything about us."

Silas stiffened. "I've been in the program long enough to know."

"Not long enough to understand." This got Silas to pause and Link nodded. "Now listen, I hate to agree with that psychopathic bitch, but some of the things she did—I can understand. If people had any idea abut you and your sister, you wouldn't be alive today. That goes for your mom too. Get it?"

"But…to lie to everyone…"

Link shrugged. "That lie saved your life. It gave you a good life at that. You really think your mom could afford to get you all those herbs, and hire you an apothecary?"

"Father would've taken care of that. He had agreed to financially support her."

Link shook his head. "That wouldn't be enough. It would've been suspicious. I'm not saying that he wouldn't but trust me on this. If you think being a lowborn bastard is bad, then you don't know what happens to noble bastards. You'd be lucky if they get the chance to have a name before they get buried."

"I know this," Silas said peevishly.

"Then maybe you ought to rethink about telling people." Link shrugged again, putting his hands behind his head. "It's not like anyone has to know."

"My uncle knows," Silas said quietly.

"Yeah, and your uncle is planning to kill everyone. I kind of doubt people will take his word for it." Link really wished Silas wasn't so damn honest. Did he think he was living in some storybook, where everything will just turn out right? "You really want your sister to be protecting you the whole time?"

"I…"

"And your people as well, you want to take care of them, right? They're not going to be happy to listen to a bastard."

"They've listened to me before," Silas argued.

"Because they had to."

"And you think they'll care at this point? Look at what's happening to the world!"

Link sighed, irritated. "It'll be about survival now. Everyone for themselves."

"Link, you can't really believe that."

"Of course I do," Link said sharply. "Look at you, acting like you know everything, you spoiled shit." Link caught himself too late. Dammit, he was getting too riled up in this. He wanted Silas to see things his way so bad, he allowed the influence to take a jap at him.

Silas paused but rather than retaliate, he remained calm. "Remember what I told you," he said softly. "Not everything can be done alone."

Link rolled his eyes insufferably. "Okay, people rely on each other. Great. Then what? You think they're going to listen to you?"

"My father would believe so, if he thought to tell me the truth."

That piqued Link far more than he should, and he felt his temper going truculent. "Good luck then. Hope you like people throwing shit and beating you blue and black."

"No one's touching him," Sophia joined in and walked over to her brother's side. "Besides, we can take care of ourselves, so thanks for the assurance."

Silas nodded. "Right."

Link stared at the twins who smiled to one another winsomely. Just a few hours ago, they couldn't even get close to one another. Now Link could see how their relationship was before. His eyes flickered at Katie who continued to bug Andrew over the origins of the paintings.

What am I doing?

He didn't know how he should feel anymore. If he tried to be mad, he'll end up acting insane. If he tried to be positive, something will try to smother those emotions.

He ran his fingers through his hair. I have to think about this when I get out of here.

How were his chances of saving Agnes on his own? Death Mountain could be seen all over Hyrule so Link was confident he could get there with no trouble. But then he remembered the temples and the challenges he had faced at the two others. These were things he never really bothered himself with, not when he had a little fairy to count on.

"Aren't you excited?"

Link blinked out of his thoughts, looking down at Simon. "What?"

"Your tunic. We're just around the corner, you know. I don't even think he put up any traps."

"He could have given up at this point," Katie said, sounding hopeful.

Link casted a look around at the wide hall. Benches at the sides, the torches glowing with a warm orange. "Those shadow things could come back."

They had escaped that horde twice already. Third time they might not be as lucky. Simon mulled over it before shaking his head. "He could've brought those guys from the very beginning if he wanted to."

The fairy hummed. "The fact that he didn't shows that it must be tiring."

"Not to mention that he still needs to reserve his energy to make his comeback."

Link could feel the sword's weight, almost apprehensively. "So all I have to do is break this line between him and the tunic?"

"Yeah."

"Sounds a little too simple."

Simon chuckled humorlessly. "Too good to be true, I know. But that's it. A line that connects his being with the tunic. Sever that and he'll never be a problem again. If he doesn't get out first."

"How do you know that?" Katie asked. "How do you know all this stuff?"

Simon paused, and for a moment it looked like he wasn't going to say it. "The general," he finally said. "When he trapped Louis into the tunic, the general told him that the hero will come down here to kill him. Pretty ironic, with how Louis wanted to use the hero against the general."

Link couldn't wait to repay Louis back for this lovely greeting in the catacomb. And for the nightmares that guy gave to everyone. Above all else, Link was ecstatic to get his tunic. Imagine, staying in Desmera for a month, defending the town for a month, and then finally, finally getting his reward for it after a month.

Sure he was excited… now to think of what happens after.

As if following his thought patterns, anxiety struck into Katie's stabled yellow glow, like a sword cutting through smoke. Link looked away, and saw the twins speaking to each other quietly, affably. Sophia looked lovely with that smile, and Silas seemed so much better than when Link first met him.

They…don't really need to worry about anything.

An idealistic thought, unlike him at all. It wasn't realistic. Silas had no chance of surviving in this new world, even if he was a full-blooded noble. And then you have Sophia who can't remember what she ate three minutes ago. How could anyone live their lives like that?

But then you see them like that, smiling like that, and then understand it.

Link felt something green worming in his chest.

"Finally," Simon breathed out. They've been walking a straight path, coming across an intersection. The ceilings had grown further and further away, nearly two stories high. The torches weren't enough to push back the darkness that leaked through the corners. "Finally, we made it. We actually made it."

Mighty doubled doors stood before them, gleaning in gold. Looming at them from floor to ceiling. Iron rings were held up in the shape of wolves, bared teeth out, clutching the rings.

As soon as the group came closer, the flames over the torches stand burned in red, as if in warning.

"He likes to be dramatic in these things," Simon said as a matter of fact. "Can you feel it?"

Link gritted his teeth and managed a nod. Indeed, he felt something cold and awful coming from behind those doors, like snakes biting into his skin.

Simon's tail slashed behind him. "Gives you the creeps, don't it?"

Silas shuddered, hugging himself. "I feel so much…despondent. Helpless. It's…it's his final stand, isn't it? Trying to push us back. Katie, how are you faring?"

"I'll be fine," she said, voice strained as her color flickered like a torch in the wind.

"I don't feel anything," Sophia said plainly, which didn't make Link feel any better.

"Focus people, Dinraal's husk is in there." Simon's eyes were narrowed to green slits, turning over to Link. "Only you should go in. You're the only one who could vanish him. Anyone else who touches it might set the guy free."

"Is that what Charles said?" Katie asked.

At once, the small torches flared into magnificent, fiery pillars that reached to the ceiling, raising the temperature so high that Link thought it meant to roast them. He brought it upon himself to freeze them with arrows. They all exchanged looks, nerves tingling.

Silas had yelped, fallen down and now his sister helped him up. "Right," he said after a long pause. "Let's not say that name."

"Charles." Link couldn't help himself.

The torches burned their way through the ice, much fiercer this time. It took three arrows each to calm them, and when it finally petered, everyone glared at him.

He chuckled. "Just want to check it out."

Two thin daggers deftly flipped into Sophia's hands as she took a defensive stand. "Are we being attacked?"

"No, Link here is just being an idiot," her brother said, shooting him a look.

"Anyways," Simon gritted. "This is dark magic we're dealing with here. No one can get rid of it, and I don't want to risk Sophia here so better use the Master Sword and make sure he stays dead this time."

"Alright then." Link crackled his knuckles, ready. "Wait here then. This won't take long."

"Wait."

He paused, turning to see Katie who flushed deeply. It didn't take long for him to guess what she wanted. She wants to come along.

And she had no reason to come along and she knew that. This shouldn't be hard. And if it was, it wasn't something he couldn't handle.

But Katie managed to save herself with a quick excuse. "What if it's dangerous? Maybe Sophia should come with you?"

Simon immediately dismissed it. "There's no point. Better not take the risk."

Silas didn't seem so certain. He glanced at the doors distastefully. "This room doesn't feel so good, Simon. No one should go in there alone."

"I should come," Sophia said.

Link breathed out sharply through his nose. "Those won't take long!"

"Let me come with you."

Arguing would only put her foot down so Link took a careful approach. "Let me see what's up ahead first. If I need your help, I'll give you a holler, alright?"

Sophia considered this for a moment before nodding. "Okay. But do be careful."

Link tried pushing his way through and found it a lot more difficult. Of course, with doors this size and with the fact that no one had been here for a long time, it wasn't like you could just walk right in. It took all their efforts, shoving strenuously, shoes grinding against the ground, to finally push back on the door to make a small gap. It was big enough for Link to get through easily.

"Someone's here," Sophia whispered. Katie and Silas didn't feel a thing, but Simon tensed, tail slashing out when he sniffed the air and nodded.

Sophia stood by her brother's side, Link taking the lead. They haven't encountered any foes since that giant. Simon guessed the king had exhausted enough of his powers by trying to stop them.

Link placed a finger over his lips before looking around. The intersection was only a few paces away, and the split paths all led to darkness. One of them would lead to the escape route Simon spoke of.

Escape.

Link saw movement from one of the corners. Sophia noticed it as well, kunais between her fingers, but Link acted before she did. He had his hookshot out and soon someone was then dragged over to them, yelping and crying all the while.

The person's back ran over the dirt, head hitting the bumps along the way. Eventually, he stopped, falling right at their feet. They circled around for a better look. Link, Katie and even Simon were utterly speechless. Sophia didn't know even though she should. The only one who hadn't met this certain person was Silas.

"Um…hi," Misko said, chuckling nervously. "Pl-please don't hurt me…"

---

"Look at the sky!"

Grey frowned when he saw things were brightening up. He put down the heavy crate to take a good look at the sky. The dark ominous clouds began to part, revealing the crystal blue sky.

"The shadows are disappearing!" someone shrieked and true enough, the vile red-eyed bastards thinned out, even giving a surprised yelp before vanishing completely. Grey, as well as everyone on the street, looked it with a near speechless face.

People gathered to see the commotion, and some cried out from joy to see the sky clear once again. The past few days had the sun blocked with charcoal clouds, giving a sense of despondency over the town. Even those strange black mists that were smoking from the cracks of the ground were gone as well.

One of his men raised his sword. "We're safe!" the fool yelled, and his claim was met with cheers.

Grey, who hadn't had a good night's sleep since Silas went missing, stared at the newly found sky, as if seeing it for the first time. "That's…not right," he murmured, voice lost in the hoopla.

"The shadows are gone!"

"The Goddesses are watching us!"

"A blessing!"

"Wait! This isn't right!" Grey shouted and his voice of reason was lost in the illusion. The soldiers saw him and they had the right sense to go around to calm people.

Grey glared at the sky. Though his mind stayed languid from derived sleep, his attention was still firm. This doesn't make any sense.

Frank had told him all about it, how he saw Sophia after she had escaped Tristan's hold. And then Grey arrested her.

She wanted to tell me about her uncle. Grey cursed at himself. She wanted to tell her brother and got arrested to do it.

And the poor girl couldn't even remember any of it at the time. And then to make matters worse…

We had Tristan. We had him, goddammit!

That was when the manor had been nearly brought up in flames, when Silas went missing. Tristan had stumbled out of the roaring manor, blabbering nonsense. Grey had his best man, Sam, to keep an eye on the unstable noble, but the poor man, something ripped him into two. Grey eyed the same spot where the shadow ostensibly vanished.

It drove him mad to no end, knowing that they had led loose a dangerous lunatic who wished to see this town destroyed.

This has to be a trap. All of this.

Grey stood on the highest ground he could find, which was atop a wagon. His guards worked diligently to bring the delectation down. Finally, he had their attention.

"This isn't over!" he shouted. "We've been terrorized for months! You think it'll end like this? We need to leave this place!"

"The hero must've saved us," someone clamed.

"He must've slain the fiend!"

"We're saved!"

Grey resisted the urge to lash out. He was tired, cranky and downright terrified. He could very well tell them that Tristan was behind the hunter's disappearance, and the one to sacrifice them in order to raise monsters, but that—of course—would sound mad. As far as everyone else was concerned, the only kind of reputation that Tristan had was bad luck in gambling.

"Link is no hero!" Grey said. "He must be long gone by now!" Probably off drinking, the selfish brat. "We need to go now!"

"Go where exactly?" someone shot. "We don't need to leave! The monsters are gone!"

Grey glared at the old man. "This is a trap! He is trying to keep us here, like a bunch of sheep! You think he'd stop like this?"

"How could it be a trap when we have Link?"

Grey grounded his teeth. The headache from this morning returned with great vigor, chewing away his patience and riling his anger. "We have orders from Lord Silas to leave Desmera! Are you prepared to disobey your Lord?"

"And where is Lord Silas?" a woman said hotly. "Where is his Lordship?"

"Lady Sophia is gone too!"

Grey hesitated as his guards did their best to calm the pugnacious crowd. He did hear from Frank on how Sophia and Link planned on speaking to Silas, to warn him of his uncle. Seeing as how the manor nearly burnt to a crisp, it was pretty obvious to Grey who started it. If Grey's intuitions were correct, then Silas should be with Link, Sophia and even Katie.

Their Lord would be travelling with criminals. If people knew about this, there will be no hope for peace. Silas was the sole reason these folks here would care to listen to authorities.

Come to think of it, there was another member of the manor they couldn't find. Sally. The maid was missing, and no one had even seen Vicktor.

"We're still looking for him," Grey said, looking over at all of them. They were as tired and querulous as he is, and he needed to remember that. "He would want us to leave even if we don't find him. None of this makes any sense!"

"Leaving our town doesn't make sense! This is our home!" People moved away to give the bitter man the center. His face was burning red. "Our jobs, our roots, our homes, everything is here and you want us to leave? The danger's done!"

"The danger is not done!" Grey's hard eyes swept over the sea of pale faces. "We have a better chance of moving to another town than staying here! Look at Desmera, look at our home! It don't look anymore different than a graveyard! I dare any one of you right now to go at the town square. I dare you!"

They all had the same nightmare about the same dark man who stood at that particular tourist spot, bringing havoc into this town. Unease rippled through the crowd, but it didn't faze the old man.

"The nightmares are done!" the man declared. "You think we can survive out there? You forget about the monsters? You forget about our hunters?"

The hunters are dead. They got sacrificed. Tristan's been trying to wake someone up.

Grey found Frank in the crowd. The man had all colors drained from his face, mirroring Grey's fear. No, he didn't believe the danger was over, not one bit.

In fact, this was only the beginning.

"We have to leave," Grey said, more to himself. Now he raised his voice, the cord sticking out his neck. "We have to leave now!"

Some stirred at the desperation in his voice. Grey rarely exposed his anxieties. He could only pray people had the right sense to see through this. Link wasn't their hero. Selfish, callous and a hell of a trouble that boy was, at least he made that part pretty clear.

"The nearby village isn't even close!" the same man argued. "You want us going on a three day trip with monsters out there?"

To make matters even more infuriating, one of the soldiers agreed. "Sir, there are no shadows anywhere in the area. Some of our men came from uptown and they reported it clean."

The old man chuckled at that. "We're safe. You just don't want to admit it. You think you can bleed us dry with taxes now?"

Perhaps it was the lack of sleep, or the deepening worry for Silas and for the town. Grey's mind was in a lassitude state, his body so slow to him. But seeing that smugness on the man made Grey see red.

"You think this has to do with bloody taxes, you shit?" he screamed, gesturing at himself. "You think I'd be out here with my neck under the axe for fucking taxes? You think that's what this is about?" He sharply waved to the dark alley ways. "They are hiding there, you fool! They want us to feel safe!"

The old man regained his composure, a moment of hesitation with a little shame. Say all you want, but Grey knew himself and folks here knew him too. They knew he'd chop off his own sword arm before he could let anything happen to this town.

But still the man remained adamant. "The hero must've saved us! Haven't you given that a thought?"

Grey paused. It couldn't be Link, but maybe…maybe the twins played a hand in this. Knowing them, they must be trying to stop their mad uncle from waking up someone who sound be sleeping forever. Did they succeed? Was that why the shadows vanished?

Or perhaps this was all linked to the red tunic in some way? It was a strange thought, yet to Grey it was clicking. Maybe Link is with them right now, actually trying to save the town. Maybe…maybe this was all over. Grey knew he was on strings now, and it was incredible that he was still standing after hours of work. His mind was just so focused on the danger that he just can't seem to think it could go any better for them.

Grey thought to relent. He wanted to so bad. He wanted to go back home and collapse on his bed. Preparing their preemptive escape, worrying for Silas and trying to hunt down his uncle—all of this can take a toll on a man. So maybe…maybe…

Then his eyes caught a flicker of movement from a nearby building. It was so subtle, anyone could've dismissed it, but Grey lived a life of mercenary, an assassin, and a captain. With such an interesting life, you can't expect to reach an old age if little things such as this escape your sight.

And so he saw it. He saw that flicker of shadows hiding, perhaps they were unable to help themselves. They may have gotten too used to being at the center.

He caught those red tints and they weren't round but semi circles.

They were smiling.

I'm an idiot, Grey thought, all blood in him turned to ice. I'm an idiot. The twins could be dead and we're next.

"They're still here!" Grey pointed at the spot and it was—of course—empty. Bastards! "They didn't leave, you idiots! If we don't get out of here soon, we'll be dead before the sun comes up tomorrow!"

Each delay was only bringing them one step closer to the grave.

And yet people weren't seeing this. All they see are the clean street, the clear sky, and a weather too good to waste.

"I'm not leaving my home," the man said firmly. "Let Lord Silas come here and order us. That is if he didn't run off with his murderous sister."

"Mind your tongue, old man," Grey snapped, hoping he sounded as stern as he felt. If Silas really was with his sister then it meant he was safe, for now.

No one was going to listen. A good chunk of the crowd had sided with the old man. Fools. They were all fools. Grey looked up at the sky and felt his resolve falter. Oh how he wished it were real. The sky calm with clouds, the weather pleasant, the sun shining.

He glanced back at the rabble and saw that they felt the same way. They wanted it to be over. They wanted to unpack their belongings. They wanted to go to their house, to feel safe. They wanted it as much as he did, even more.

But this false sense of security can't fool him. The creature that Tristan was trying to bring back, the black man in the dreams, he was something they couldn't comprehend. He had tormented them with nightmares, bullied them with his shadows and now he tried to give this false hope of mercy.

"We're all going to die," he said softly, "if we don't leave."

"It's safe, Captain," the old man said stubbornly, turning around. "You've been fighting a long time. You probably have a warrior's illness."

Grey gasped. "I don't!" Majority of the crowd dispersed, intending on following the man. "This is an order from Lord Silas!"

"I'd like to hear it from him then," the man barked. "Pretty sure he'd agree with me. We're not leaving everything for something we don't know."

Hope sank into the captain's boots when people began to head to their carriages, planning to undo all of their hard work over the past few weeks. Only a handful of villagers stayed loyal, but what did that matter?

Grey hoped to see another sign of a shadow, something to assure himself, but there wasn't anything but his doubts. He couldn't have warrior's illness, could he? Sure, he's been fighting for most of his life, but he wasn't at a point where he started to assume enemies were everywhere…right?

"Don't look like that," someone said. Grey turned to see Frank grim. "You can't let folks see you like that."

More and more continued to weigh Grey down, a crushing weight that would grind his bones to powder. "What can we do then?" he said, hating how his voice came out in a whisper. "The twins, their maid, their butler—all missing. Who knows where the hell that shithead Link is. And now people think the shadows are gone like the season!"

"They ain't gone," Frank said darkly, glancing over at the alleyway where they caught sight of a shadow. It had that same semi-circled eyes before vanishing. "They're hiding…"

Fear prickled all over Grey. "They know we're about to leave," he said, voice hoarse.

"We've been planning to leave for weeks," Frank said, "so why didn't they use this strategy before?"

"I don't know."

"Come on, Grey. They love to scare us people. They like to show up when we least expect them. And now that we're almost packed up to leave, they suddenly vanish?"

"What does this mean?"

"It means they're not done with us yet. It means that they're getting desperate. They're almost finished with whatever they're workin' on." Frank's eyes narrowed. "I'm guessin' that's why the shadows don't need to here now." He scratched his hairy chin thoughtfully. "They're hidin' in order to keep us around just a little longer, but I don't think that's only it. I think someone green and crazy is up to no good."

Grey was astonished. "You think this is Link's doing?"

Frank nodded sharply. "I know you don't believe in him, but I have a strong feelin' about that kid. I can see his name written in all of this. These shadows are hiding because he might be getting

too close to them."

"That means he will be speeding things up," Grey said lowly.

"And that's why he's keeping folks here."

"What do we do?"

"We have to find Lord Silas, if he's around here somewhere. He's the only one they'll listen to, no offense."

"None…" Grey trailed off when he saw the same old man's gaze. The tantalizing man glared at the captain. No, not at Grey but at Frank. Grey finally understood.

The reason why people aren't listening to him wasn't because of some warrior's illness, but because he was caught associating with Frank, the supposed Mad Loony. People here thought Frank had rubbed off on him. Anyone speaking to this man would be considered a loony themselves, like catching the spring flu.

Grey started to have dark thoughts that shouldn't belong to any respectable captain. He breathed it out slowly and then told his guards to keep up the search for Silas. If they don't find him before the sky goes dark, then he'll gather all those who are willing and leave. He had to save what he can.

"The sky looks a little too nice, don't you think?" Frank said softly. "I don't remember it being this blue."

It had been so long that Grey didn't notice. "Yeah, you're right."

In fact, the weather was even better than usual. The cool breeze brushing his dark face. Wasn't everyone's primal complaint about the weather? Desmera was hot, the heat muggy and a constant hell. Now that he really saw it, the clouds looked too white, the wind too gently. This was out from some fairytale book. They were making it real good, like giving a prisoner a hearty meal before dragging him to the execution block.

"We need to leave," the homeless man uttered. "This is going to be a slaughter."

"He could do all of this?" the captain whispered, thinking of the large man from his nightmare. "Control the weather? Yeah, he was the one making it go hot and cold, and he could control those monsters too…"

"Grey, we have to leave."

Grey blinked as if out from a daze. The horror of it still hadn't sunken in yet and he wouldn't let it. If he did, he'll surrender to panic. "Yeah, I hear you."

"Then get people going."

"Didn't you say we should find Silas first?"

Frank shook his head slowly, eyes still at the beautiful sky. "He won't forgive you if you waste time to look for 'em. I'm sure he's with his sister right now, and with Link if they're lucky."

Could they all be trying to stop Tristan?

The idea was a little maddening. Silas with his murderous twin, that bastard Link, and that finicky fairy. That's quite the party.

Maybe they could stop this, Grey thought numbly, looking at the innocent sky. Maybe…they are stopping this. Right this moment.

---

We are now in the finale of The Shadow of my Kin.

Prepare yourselves.