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.

117. Chapter CXVII

1. LOOK AT THE STORY'S AVATAR!

2. Might want to re-read Chapter 78 because of reference

3. GET SOME TISSUES!

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PART FIFTY-SEVEN - THE SHADOW OF MY KIN

Paper works were as entertaining as planting each blade of grass meticulously in a garden.

That's how Lawrence saw it.

A heavy sigh left him. An itch in his throat craved for brandy. Viktor being Viktor made himself perfectly clear that he will not serve his Lord more than three cups a day. The man even had the audacity to hide the key to the cabinet. Now this was the problem of hiring someone with exceptional decorum: they are terribly proficient.

What would the children think if they saw you inebriated? Viktor asked bluntly, never too shy to bring it up.

An irritated growl rippled in Lawrence's throat as he took another paper, and set it down roughly in front of him. The children. It was always about the children. Spend more time with them. Remarry a woman for them. Hire a governess for them.

Everyone finds a maid catering them to be improper. Oh, if only they knew. Really, Lawrence cared for it less and less. Each of these 'duties' were like rocks tied to his back, slowing him down.

The dark turn of his mood indicated that he needed a break. It…unsettled him when he saw just how many of those breaks he needed take these days. His mind became insidious by the hour. This darkness in him, it dimmed the day and lengthened the night.

Reclining in his chair and closing his eyes, an explosive sigh left him. He made a promise to Sally. Somehow, that serpentine woman wheedled him into watching the children for an hour.

He rubbed his face. He didn't hate the children; he just…couldn't bare to look at them. They were a constant reminder of his foolishness. He had chosen revelry over duty, and that had nearly destroyed his whole family.

He got up. Better go now before Sally nagged him. Deep discomfiture settled into his shoulders when he reached the nursing room to find four-year-olds Silas and Sophia playing. Silas made himself a tall, precarious tower, and Sophia was cruel enough to kick it down.

Silas's teary protest froze on his face when he saw his father. Sophia turned and started. Somehow, it hurt to see the uncertainty in their eyes, like a pair of sheep visited by the butcher.

I'm more of a stranger to them.

He turned to leave. To hell with that maid. He can't be left alone with them.

He stopped when Sophia tugged at his leg gingerly, grey eyes sparkling. "Papa, can I have candy?"

Lawrence stiffened, gently prying her tiny hands off him. "No, love. Both of you need to get to sleep now."

"Story time! Papa will read stories!" Silas declared, forgetting his tower. He got up, stumbling over to his sister, messy, dark hair in front of his eyes.

"I can't," Lawrence said sternly. "I'm busy."

Silas's face fell. "Why?"

"I'm busy," Lawrence repeated, voice sharp. How was it that he could connive his way through court and can't remain patient with his own children?

The children began to whine. Both were nearly indistinguishable if it weren't for the suit and dress.

"Sally!" Lawrence called out, hoping she could save him. "Sally!"

No answer. Was she busy?

"I want a story!" Silas whined, stomping his small foot down.

Lawrence resisted the urge to smack him. He can't stand pugnaciousness. In another time, Emilia found his discomfort of children to be enduring. She promised that he would come around it. He might've, if she were still here with him, along with his trueborn.

He took in a deep breath. "Children, that's quite enough."

Sophia had a lot more heat while her brother just cried. "No, no, no!"

"Listen here, young Lady," Lawrence said through slightly gritted teeth. "That is not the way to speak to your father, understand?"

They wailed in response. Lawrence felt his patience reach its end. He called out for a maid once more, for anyone to rescue him.

Then he realized.

That wrench tricked me!

The deal was that he watched them for an hour while Sally finished the rest of her chores. She'll come up later and tuck them into bed, and he could drink away any headaches from the aftermath. Not a soul seemed to exist on the floor with them. The same way the older kids tricked gullible children into finding mystical animals, she led him on a false promise and got a snicker or two out of it.

He should've seen this coming. That deceitful woman. She was often impatient to really play her wits, but this time the snake wrung around the rat, so to speak. Lawrence ran a hand through his hair. These children's cries were needles to his ears.

He sighed to himself, feeling weak. If Emilia was here, would she forgive him for this? She loved children, she always loved them, but she would hate him for his betrayal and for how he treated them.

It wasn't my fault! I didn't ask for them!

Hearing the kids cry only made him worse. No matter what he did, it seemed that he was talented in ruining everything. How many nights had his mother cried for him? How had his father carried this burden without his son? Not to mention that Lawrence strung along Sally, breaking her heart. And now, he ignored his own children for the first years of their lives.

They see you as a king, Sally told him, almost in vain. It could be a lie, but there was rare sincerity in her eyes.

Look at me, he thought, clenching his hands. I'm a drunken fool!

The courtiers sneered at his back. Their rumors spread like poison, rumors of House Haidrund on its last strings, rumors of a once devious Lord now a former shell of himself. The only thing that kept their claws off him was his close relationship to the king, but that wouldn't be enough to save him if the world found out about these kids.

Lawrence went over to the wooden rocking chair. He planned to simply watch the children till someone came over and relieved him.

The twins got over their brawl, thankfully, and resumed their playtime like nothing happened. It seemed too easily, at that. Children, as he saw it, had the heads of a cracked jug. Things don't hold up in there very well, but give it a few years and heads will be overflowing with resentment. They'll surely bare a grudge for this negligence. They could easily dispose of him, take over the house. Really, it was far more common than the commoners thought. Taking vengeance against a cruel parent, securing a fortune, getting rid of an inconvenient step-siblings or step-children. The flagrant side of nobility.

I'm lying to the kingdom. I'm lying to my friend.

But for a good reason, as Sally would've stressed. Still…

He glanced up to see Sophia playing with her doll while her brother built her a small castle out of painted blocks.

Tristan and Sally never held back when they scarified him for his absence. They stressed that Lawrence needed to be a father. Children without a guide were like a man with blindfolds walking into the woods. It was even worse with nobles. These twins were Desmera's future.

Lawrence knew he was a horrible father. No one needed to tell him that. A man needed to know what he was. So what right did he have to be act as one? He could barely survive being a noble!

Sophia knocked down the castle, but Silas didn't cry this time, as it was part of the story they were narrating. Sophia caught Lawrence's eyes, and used her little doll's hand to wave at him. She didn't show her earlier fear, proving Sally's point. Children were more forgiving than adults, forgettable. Lawrence favored her with a faint smile.

If the court knew of this, it would set him a new light. Business would go bad, villagers will revolt, any chance of remarrying will be slim. It would badly hurt his relationship with the king. But the worst of it were the children. They will be killed for being born.

The stories of noble bastards are the melodrama of the court, little side stories, a sore spot in a heated argument. Bastards could be dealt with their noble side of the family, or by the villagers. But never so publicly. Oh no. That wasn't very noble, now was it? A simple hunting trip, a push down the stairs, slipping something into a drink. The proper way to dispose an embarrassment. Act like it never happened.

The twins grew bored of the play and changed their game style, bringing out colorful clay Tristan had bought for them, no doubt from his gambled earnings. Lawrence had been against it, but Sally assured him the children were smart enough not to eat them. With winsome smiles, the kids crafted odd shapes that made sense to them, and started playing.

He tried to imagine a noose around their thin necks, an angry mob waiting for them to dangle. The image, he found, was too horrifying to entertain.

Lawrence rubbed his head. He'd….been so cruel to them, hadn't he? Cursing them in his head, avoiding them when he can. How could he blame them for any of this?

Silas went over to Lawrence, handing him a flat-shaped clay. It looked random, but Lawrence soon saw that it was supposed to be a cookie with bits of clay sprinkled.

"Sally says to not eat it," the boy told him seriously and returned to the game.

Lawrence stared at the clay that he slowly clenched in his hand, deforming it.

Emilia would've loved them. For someone so quiet and timid, she had a strong voice on the matter about the prejudice against bastards.

Lawrence remembered of the nights when they laid in bed. He finally got her to break out from her inhibition and listened to her dream about wanting to build an orphanage for children, any child unwanted or mistreated by a parent.

Her brother had been a bastard. He'd been her whole world, with her a mother to him than a sister. The boy had been taken in as a ward, as any noble bastard should be as the law demands. Her mother didn't like it not one bit. Then, as sure as fate would have it, the boy died in a mysterious hunting accident.

Emilia…she'd been so angelic. Sure, she wasn't clever. Not that she wasn't stupid, just that she couldn't really match the wits of Sally, or any other noblewomen of the court. But she'd been so precious, like a little bunny.

And so, when that little bunny had her eyes smothered in hatred as she spoke of how she'd pray for a painful death for her mother, it really did unnerve Lawrence. The anger of a gentle creature was an anger one shouldn't take lightly.

Poor Emilia. Poor sweet Emilia. He absolutely adored her.

"Papa, what's wrong?" Sophia asked when Lawrence buried his head into his hands.

"Does your tummy hurt?" Silas gasped. "Did you eat the cookie? Sally said not to eat it!"

Lawrence found that his life belonged to some show. Emilia hadn't known the truth about anything between him and Sally. All she knew was that her beloved Lawrence loved her, and Sally was her first friend in Desmera. Perhaps it was a mercy that she died before learning the truth. She would have died from a broken heart otherwise. But he did know that she would love these twins.

What should I do? He gritted his teeth, wishing he could cry, scream, something. That would mean some kind of release. But nothing came out from him, as if this hollowed hole drained away all his emotions. What should I do? I don't know anymore.

"Papa," Silas said, sounding unsure, even frightened. He tugged his father's sleeve. "Papa, are you sick?"

Lawrence dropped his hands, letting out a deep breath.

"Papa, what's wrong?" Sophia asked. "Is it your tummy?"

Lawrence leaned his head back and closed his eyes. The pain of losing Emilia had been unimaginable, unplanned. When he had lost his parents, he stood on his balcony, just staring. Not crying, but staring as he thought of his youth, all of their disputes, his petty recalcitrance. Then she'd been there, wrapped her arms around him and held him until he finally cracked.

Oh, she was so pure. Often he had caught her eyes on him in balls, and was amused when she flustered. The women mock her for being empty-headed and secluded, so sheltered and too kind. Perhaps that was how he wanted to marry her. He just wanted someone he knew was real, someone he knew he could take care of.

And he did adore her. He really did.

You don't love her, Sally had sneered, eyes hard.

He tried to.

I know you love me, Sally taunted with that smile that made her look like a snake.

Damn that woman. Damn her.

"Here, sir," Sophia said, taking his hand to give him another clump of clay. "Don't eat it."

"He has mine!" Silas complained.

"Mine is better! Yours looks like an ugly butt!"

"Does not!"

Could I really do this?

The twins kept up their quarrel. This time Lawrence didn't interject. Could he really be their father? They won't be innocent children forever. They would need guidance, a hand to show them a way, footsteps to follow.

Sally begged him. While he came to loath her, he admired and even respected, how she was willing to sacrifice motherhood just to see her children safe. He got to play his part of a parent. She took to the sidelines as a servant. It almost felt cruel.

She was making a sacrifice only a mother would take. Then what about him? Regardless of her manipulation, it was far too late now. He made this decision with her and cemented it the moment he showed Tristan the false deed.

The maid assured him that the children loved him. They wanted to be with him, and would be satisfied with his attention alone, whether he read them stories or gave them treats. Was it really that simple? He tried to think back about his own childhood, about his own parents and their methods, but there was only this blur. It was such a long time…in another life…

Sophia got angry, giving her brother a hard push. Silas fell to the ground with a cry.

Lawrence started out of his reverie. "Sophia!"

She pointed a finger at her wailing twin. "He hit me!"

"He didn't hit you. Don't lie!" He rubbed the bridge of his nose in exhaustion. What was he to do with them? "Silas, please stop crying."

"Sh-she pushed me," Silas said tearfully.

Lawrence sighed again. Though now that he saw it, they don't seem as strange to him anymore. Then again, what was he expecting? Mindless little kids throwing around their toys and screaming to the top of their voice like drunken lunatics?

Sophia started to cry, possibly thinking her father's silence meant trouble.

"Children," Lawrence said, frowning. Anger quickly bubbled in him but he relaxed it. "Children, if you don't stop crying then I won't be able to show you something."

At once Sophia stopped crying, and her eyes perked up. "Candy?"

"No, no candy," he said patiently. He could…try to raise them. He was all they have now.

He hadn't seen just how small Sophia was till she neared him. She wore a pretty little blue dress, a blue ribbon tied her hair back. Her brother wore a blue vest overlapped with a white shirt, much like Lawrence.

Hesitantly, he placed a hand on her soft head. "I'll show you something really nice," he said.

Silas sniffed, tears still streaking down his face. "What about me?"

"You as well, but only if you stop crying."

A light knock sounded on the door. A young maid finally answered his calls, and while he would've loved to know why everyone was absent on the floor, he instead told the maid he will manage the children himself. The smack look of surprise on her face offended him. Was it that much of a shock that he was trying to be a father?

I went through weeks without being seen near them, he thought. I'd skip breakfast so they couldn't join me, I'd take a longer route so as to not pass by their nursing room.

There were some things that needed to be changed.

He told the servant they wouldn't be gone for long, and to set up soup for their return.

A cool night enveloped Desmera, sometimes over compensating for the heat of the day. Though this night, he found it pleasant and the tension slowly melted in his shoulders. He held his children's hand at either of his side, and the trio strolled outside into the taciturn night. Though they were obedient, he could sense their restless curiosity

When his wife had been expecting, nightmares plagued Lawrence. Failure to his unborn child, of losing them, of disappointing them. It was only the fear of fatherhood, or so his wife said. It was supposedly normal.

But was this normal? Raising two bastards like trueborn, allowing them to take leadership and the family's fortune?

Or you could try the alternative, a voice in his head suggested. Give it up to dear old Tristan. Watch the town cripple beneath him…

Lawrence shivered. Tristan bargained every prized possession he ever had the misfortunes of owning, including a watch gifted by their late mother. Imaginejust what he'd do when he had nothing else left to give up, nothing but the town and its people. It might seem completely impossible but irrational thoughts often make sense in the intense play of gambling.

"Papa, where are we going?" Sophia shuddered. "It scary."

Silas snorted, raising his head up. "It's not scary." He squealed when an owl hooted overhead.

A smile danced on Lawrence's lips. "You'll found out. It's a place I like to go when I want to clear my head."

Silas blinked. "But your head is clean."

Lawrence laughed. "Not like that. If I'm ever mad or disquieted, I'd like to come to a place where no one could see me."

Silas hesitated. "Are you upset now?"

"No, son. I just want to show you something."

They made it to a glade where the sky opened up for them to reveal a sight that took the twin's breath away. He never imagined he'd ever bring anyone to his quiet place, not even Sally. His children didn't produce any unpleasant shriek or garrulous comment. They simply stared, marveled, heads hanging all the way back their necks.

The black canvas before them sprinkled with billions of stars over strokes of purple and pink. Blinking and twinkling, often falling across the sky, the sacrosanct sight set his mind at ease. His troubles subsided. Those darkening thoughts that haunted his day fleeted.

"Lovely," Sophia breathed out. "How many are there?"

"Kajilion," Silas replied. "Must be."

The corner of Lawrence's tip tugged back into a small smile, as he clasped their shoulders. "Every star has a name, you know."

"Really?" Sophia's eyes sparkled, as she turned to him. Some hair fell out from the tail and hung at the sides of her face.

Lawrence, pleased with himself, pointed over at the three stars. "That is the Great Owl, a creature who had assisted the great Hero of Time. Over there is Midna, the Twilight Princess."

They sat beneath a great oak tree, its leaves fluttered whenever a breeze managed to take one. The deep smell of nature filled his heart with valor, clearing the fog from his mind, smoothening the tensed muscles in his neck.

He never knew children could ever find anything that wasn't playable or tangible to be interesting; he figured their attention span was far too short. And now he figured he had a lot to learn. He talked, pointing at the stars and trying to recall some of its names. When he couldn't, he just made it up. They wouldn't know the difference, would they?

Sophia pointed at a particular green star that stood out from the rest. "What's that one's name?"

Lawrence hid a grimace, as that one would come to him one day, asking for a particular red attire. "That is Link the Hero."

Silas looked excited, squinting at the star that hung close to the moon. It twinkled like a bead of emerald.

"That star was created when the first hero was born," Lawrence explained, setting his back against the tree.

"Is the hero here, papa?"

I would wish not.

Princess Zelda was born nearly half a year before the twins. Along with her birthed a fairy made from pure light, bringing forth a grave prophecy. The King of Evil will be released from his bound, and only the hero could stop him. As for the princess, she tries to buy time by sealing the king away every year on her birthday. The hero should rise at the age of eighteen, or so the fairy says.

"There will be soon," Lawrence said, hoping he didn't look despaired. The children were eager at the prospect. "As nobles, we must help him when the time comes."

And that meant finding the tunic, the heirloom, which had disappeared years ago in his youth. Damn it, if he hadn't been so busy with his pleasures, he could've helped his family find it.

"Of course we'll help him!" Silas glanced up eagerly.

No older than four, this one, Lawrence thought. And already he accepted his duty.

He patted the little boy's head. "You will. When the hero's time is at hand, you will be there to help him."

Sophia pouted. "What about me?"

"Of course. How can I forget about you?" He enjoyed hearing her giggle, seeing her smile. "I want you to help your brother when he becomes a Lord. His job is going to be hard and a little scary, but I know you two can do it."

As he said it out loud, he knew it to be the truth. After all, no siblings could ever be closer than twin, right? He could trust that it won't be up like Tristan abandoning him.

Lawrence found it easier to envision the future, his twins standing with each other. Silas, grown into a strong young man, a little over his head. Sophia, a grown and beautiful woman, perhaps even demanding like her mother.

They may not be Emilia's, but they were his. They were his responsibility. He will not disavow them. These kids will not grow without a father.

They were his future now.

The children stood up, as if that would help them in getting a closer look. Lawrence joined them, holding each of their hands. Sophia twirled while Silas raised his hands up. Lawrence smiled, feeling the cool wind on his face. It rustled the branches and picking at the leaves. This night was a good step. He still felt awkward to hug them, and would only go as far as holding their hands and petting them, but a journey starts with a promise and a step.

They need me.

It was difficult. He made many mistakes. Endless nights of sitting on his desk, staring at his empty cup and wondering if he had done of the right thing by keeping his bastard children a secret. That concern soon lost its voice over the years, replaced by an anxiety only a father could understand. Was he raising them the right way? Was he good enough for them? He found out that there was no map to parenthood, no clear guide. You simply had to do what felt right and hoped for the best

How had his parents done it?

Only the Goddess knows how hard the Haidrunds had their years. His son's temper was as ill as his health, and his daughter found difficulty in her alphabets and numbers. There were moments when Lawrence knew he could've done better, could've done more.

Slowly, the guilty secret of their birth no longer bothered him. That fake paper that hung on the hall no longer haunted him.

Against all his expectations, despite his mistakes and neglectance, never had he thought his twins would turn out far better than he dared to dream. Sophia turned out to be a warrior, and while blunt and ruthless—traits from him no doubt—she was so precious to him, so forgiving. Strange how he came to feel so safe and secure with her, knowing his own daughter would protect him. Even with all his errors and flaws, she would still love and care for him, perhaps even to a fault.

But the real surprise was Silas.

Silas was a troublesome child, but came back as a humble, gentle young man. Friendly, kind, gentle. Goodness, where did that come from? Certainly not from Lawrence. He had too many thorns on him. Above all else, his son didn't need to try and make an effort to be good or dutiful. It all came to him naturally.

This happiness those two gave him, this love, it seemed so perfect. It worried him a little. He cherished every moment of it, watching them sprout.

How could he say it? How could he say just how proud he's become of them? How could he explain this love he had for them? His own son bringing name to Desmera. His own daughter, a fearless and strong woman. They make him seem so lazy, so pitiful in comparison when he'd been their age. He hadn't cared half as they do about his duty, not until King Edmund gave him a good slap across the cheek for it.

Once they were known to be a weak family, a weak family with good connections and wealth, a weak family soon to fall. But those rumors changed. Silas and Sophia. Those two changed their family, their house. They didn't need him. They never did.

It was I who needed them.

---

"Sophia, you need to eat something."

Sophia didn't move, keeping her eyes down at her food where the steam died off. She kept her face impassive, but a crack made its way across her composure. She closed her eyes.

"Sophia…"

She didn't know where she was or what she was doing, but the hollowness in her chest grew vast. She could feel tearing through her like a violent storm, crushing her.

Grey laid a hand on her shoulder. His lined face concerned. "You have to eat something."

"He's not awake yet," she spoke softly, turning away from her food. "He's not awake."

Grey didn't prod her to eat though he wasn't too thrilled to take away the plate in front of her. They were in a small kitchen, where the smell of the stew lingered in the air, along with oil and wood. The wood creaked beneath his steps as he walked to the sink.

"How long has it been?" Sophia asked.

"Only a couple of days since you woke up," Grey said, and she suspected he must've answered that question several times.

Memories began rolling in slowly, like a beetle pushing a rock. It was hard to see through the fog in her mind, especially with the heavy weight in her heart, but she could remember the days spent in worrying and praying. Silas still hasn't woken up yet. The apothecaries were grim in the face. While Dinraal's horn brought Silas's life back from the edge of death, they didn't know it would be enough. It all came down to whether Silas wanted to live or not.

She closed her eyes. In her mind, the image of the dome came crisp clear. In there, she found her brother, despondent and defeat, refusing to live on with the pain he bore. Would he want to wake up now?

He's going to leave me. He's leaving me again.

This time forever.

"Sophia," Grey said, his voice going incredibly soft as he went to her side.

She couldn't stop when the tears came. The two days that had passed by where spent in fret and helplessness. She couldn't do anything for anyone. The terror often came to her when she noticed the absence of her ribbons.

"I failed," she wept, letting him hold her. "I failed. My uncle, m-my father—"

"It's not your fault, sweetie," he said gently. "It's not your fault."

"Now my brother." She cried earnestly, and as she did, she discovered it was not the first time she cried. Yesterday, it had been worse as she kept returning back to her brother's room only to find him comatose. "What did I do wrong? Why can't I do anything right?"

The frustration won out, and she thrashed helplessly. Grey held her steady, preventing her from doing hurting herself.

Eventually, Grey pulled away, handing her a tissue. "You really do need to eat. What would your brother say if he saw you starving?"

She shook her head. "I'm not hungry. I'm just tired."

Turning to the window, she saw villagers in the streets, working as they carried cartons of goods and materials, crossing streets to have them delivered to the buildings that serve as an impromptu shelter. Though many of them were hard at work, you could make out families sitting outside in the street, staring forward in dejection and misery.

Sophia stuck to her place in the shadows, as she always had, watching the heavy cloud above people's heads. Desmera won. It survived against Louis's assault. They saw tomorrow, this beautiful sun once more.

Yet, this had an air of a grand funeral.

So many lost their life. The light rain yesterday washed away some the blood from the cobbles, but Sophia could still smell the rustic smell in the air. It was of no coincidence that people veered off from the town square, and from districts that were more like graveyards with bodies littered everywhere.

Desmera was saved, but it still lost something. It lost its color, its joy, its silent but wonderful air. This silence was new, one heavy after the screams and cries just days ago. There were merchants from other villages, but from the way they shifted and sweated, they seemed as comfortable as animals in a cage. Before this horror, Silas had made business thrive in this town, to a point where making trade here was a privilege, a luxury that many people craved for.

"Did we really win?" Sophia asked, drying her tears.

Grey paused, and even she could see the hesitation in his eyes. "Yes, we have."

She laughed bitterly. "Doesn't feel like it. It feels like Louis is still out there, torturing us. That son of a bitch."

"I'd imagine he's taunting us in his grave, my Lady."

"And what's the point then?" she snapped, her anger quickly overwhelming her fatigue. "What's the point of winning if my people are still suffering? Everything we've done—"

"Desmera can still come back."

"If Silas wakes up," she said, choking on her emotions once more. "He could—he would bring it back. He could do that."

Importantly, he'd bring back hope. This despondency plagued this town, its victims barely putting up a fight against it. They're still burying loved ones, roaming into the streets to find if anyone else needed to rest six feet below the ground. Wagons are being filled with them, rolling up to the graveyards.

Grey didn't answer her. He guarded his expression carefully, but the enervation stood loud in his eyes. Retaining order, along with restoring the shattered peace, was of no easy task, even with the intelligent help of that man—Hugo was his name. There was no head here, no leader in charge. All they hoped for was that Grey's status was enough to keep people from raiding and revolting.

"You should get some sleep, my Lady," Grey said at last.

She pulled herself away from the window, not bearing the sight of the villagers any longer. "I'm pretty sure I'm not a Lady. Yeah, I'm a bastard. Why do you keep calling me Lady?"

The captain shrugged, a wane smile on his face. "It feels about right. You act like one."

She frowned, turning to him fully. "A Lady does not stain herself on the battlefield," she quoted, a constant, pugnacious complaint of Viktor. Somehow, thinking of him brought her a sharp, surge of pain. From where it came from she didn't know, but she had an inkling feeling about him.

Grey's smile brushed aside her thoughts. "If only you two had seen yourselves out there. You think being a bastard will change anything?"

"It will." It didn't affect her emotionally, but it will change her life forever. "I'm a bastard, Grey. You don't need to show me reverence."

"I will always show you reverence, my Lady," he said softly. "It's not something I could help."

Her frown deepened but she didn't bother asking for him to elaborate. Her mind was tired, too inflexible to handle complex understanding. Grey bid her a farewell, wheedling her again to eat and rest while he was away. She did neither and instead strolled through the town.

People didn't notice her as she silently took her comfortable place at the sideline, watching everything in assiduous. She was absolutely intoxicated with the wind, the feel of it against her cheek, the muddy heat of the day. Before Louis and his catacombs, she had kept herself inside of Desmera. Ran away from a murder that turned out to be justified, she hadn't seen her home since.

Around her, workers moved back and forth, while others stayed outside preferably. For some reason, they seem to just roast in the sun, rather than going back into their homes, as if they felt safer in the streets.

There was so much worry in their eyes, the trepidation made them roam aimlessly in the streets in groups, speaking in hush voices only a careful eavesdropper could understand. Some people spoke of leaving, though they had no clue where to. Banditry were prevalent the area, so many paths waylaid by boulders from recent earthquakes.

Desmera was safe, or as safe as it could be. They have resources now, from a source she didn't know about. It certainly won't be enough. Hyrule's future seemed bleak and what more could people do than to cling to what they know? But that was the same as choosing between dying by a noose or by burning alive. Same fate in the end.

"What are we going to do?" she whispered too low for anyone to hear her in the mundane sounds of the day. From the pounding of the blacksmith's hammer, to the yelling of merchant, it could ostensibly be a normal day if the villagers put the effort into it. "What can I do?"

It wasn't what she could do; she had no experience in this field. She didn't know how to inspire people, how to convince them to pick up their weight and keep on living. A part of her wanted to find a hole to scurry away. Seeing this grief on her people's faces were enough to make her cry.

If they suffer, then I must as well, she thought. So long as they called her Lady, then she must continue to act as such. She will help in any way she can but…how can she help here? Only her brother could do that. If he decided to do that.

If he wanted to do it at all.

The building where he was recovering sat across the street from the cottage she stayed at the time. Buildings filled with the wounded stayed by the main apothecary shop. Since there were no place for her to stay with him, she had to settle for a place close by.

The anger of her impotence returned, bubbling into her with familiar rage. She quickened her pace, hoping to get away lest her emotions expose her. Why had she bothered to train? Why had her father hired Leon in the first place? Her family was dead. Her town was dead. She was the last of the Haidrund, and she was a bastard!

Finally, she saw the inconvenience of being a bastard. Perhaps if she wasn't illegitimate, she could have married a noble and have him support her town. She certainly couldn't. Give Silas a pen and he'd write ten contracts with it. Give her a pen and she'll likely stab someone with it.

"This isn't fair," she breathed out in an empty. The questions were pointless; she was pragmatic, she didn't believe in asking questions where the answer wasn't clear. The words burst from her mouth in seething anger. "This isn't fair. Why was it not enough? Why can't I do anything right?"

Without even meaning to, she threw her fist at the wall. There was no pain in that. Her body was just so used to being pushed to the limit that it adapted to the harsh treatment. When she removed her hand from the wall, there was a round depression. She threw her fist at it again with a cry. Though she felt emotionally spent, there were still time for tears to come out.

How could she protect anyone like this? She forgot her own name, the very essence of her soul.

Sophia closed her eyes, pressing her forehead against the wall as she felt the absent of her ribbons on her arm. Two days. She worried, grieved, cried, worried, panicked for two full days. Time crawled in those two days that seemed to stretch to months. The sempiternal hours were spent with her pacing around in her room, starved for information about her brother.

She didn't know how long she spent outside but it was long enough to make her tanned skin slick with sweat and enough time for the sun to reach at the peak of the sky. Seeing the cerulean, cloudless sky was like seeing an old friend. It greeted her with Eldin's hot breath. She could only wish the stars would be out. That was her only comfort in this mess.

Thinking of the stars reminded her of her father.

Don't think about it now. Don't do it now.

The emptiness in her turned to stone, hardening her heart. She got up from the dirty ground where she'd simply just dazed into the air, thinking of inconsequential thoughts.

With a startled realization that brought her on her feet, she was suddenly reminded that she was not the only one who awoken from her injuries. A certain green bastard with a sweet fairy had been hard at work yesterday. She could barely remember what they had been doing, but it must've been something nice since she felt herself at ease at the thought.

They could still be around, but she stopped, energy so depleted that she nearly stumbled to the ground. The pounding in her head echoed, constantly resonating.

I need to sleep.

But she was afraid to. What kind of dreams would await her? In the morning, she woke up in tears, so fresh with grief that it startled Grey.

She galumphed out from her hiding place, feeling just as despondent as the people around her. Some of them suffered far worse than she could ever imagine. They had to watch their loved ones killed in front of them. What would she do if that were her? At least Lawrence died without her witnessing it. By the Goddess, that would've ruined her forever.

She blinked a few times to clear her eyes. She will not brawl in public. People needed to see her strong, even though she had no place of authority here. Letting out a deep breath, she forced herself to continue walking, head straight up. Thoughts muddled her mind, some disappearing from her, but others appeared, sprouting like weeds. Not much of it related to her current problems but the distraction did help a little.

She stopped at the intersection, overlooking the small cottage she'd been living in. No one lived in there. Not anymore. So many homes were empty now. She didn't want to think of what happened to them, didn't want to think of how she was sleeping in a dead person's bed, raiding through their food.

Again, the animosity raged inside of her. It was so hard to find a center. Meditation wasn't helping at all. She couldn't find any balance, her doubts and consternation oft invaded her hard-channeled peace. Teacher Leon would be disappointed. He taught her better.

A ruckus stopped her in the streets. Villagers showed some interest from her side of the street, pointing. She turned to see people congregating the building where the wounded rested. Sophia squinted, though she couldn't see anything in the sea of bodies.

Trouble, she thought, already moving. Nothing happened these past couple days that would've cause such an attention. Sophia moved silently, inconspicuous, careful to stay at the lines of the street. A small wave of people moved with her, but with curiosity rather than suspicion.

What could happen now? Why can't they take a break?

She could just imagine a shadow, those horrific creatures, standing at the center of the town, or maybe it was Louis. Maybe—

She stopped. A yard away, she saw guards moving people aside to let someone out, someone wearing a decent robe, someone from a dream, a mirror.

Oh…Merciful Din…

She didn't want to believe it at first. For a moment, she thought she was back in the maze of mirrors, a twisted and vile place that showed what your hearts desired. Yet, the longer she stood and stared, the more she was beginning to be convinced.

Silas blinked at the attention, rubbing his arm. He seemed so small, childish, wearing a white, patient robe with his hair messy. While everyone continued to ignore her, the crowd growing steadily, his eyes met hers almost immediately. He stopped, then smiled from shocked relieve, his eyes brimming with tears.

Sophia covered her mouth, crying. Now people could see her as she walked at first, then broke out into a run. He was walking towards her, still smiling as if he couldn't believe it. She hugged him with a cry, feeling his warmth, smelling the heavy use of medication in his clothes. His hair was freshly washed, still wet.

Sophia held him tightly. "We're alive," she croaked. "We're alive, Silas. Oh, we're alive."

It hadn't felt like that. It didn't feel like she was alive when she woke up; it felt like she walked around with her soul detached from her body.

Silas pulled away. She looked at him, really looked at him, to make sure this was not a cruel joke. Her brother stared back at her, grey eyes, dark hair. Haidrund pride.

"Desmera's alive," he said, wiping his cheek. "It-it really is. We did it. We've won!"

His laugh was the purest thing she had heard in forever. In a town where hope seemed lost, his smile shined like a light through a storm. At once, her fatigue vanished, her worries fled and she had to smile.

"It was all thanks to you and Link," Silas told her, holding her hand and squeezing.

"And you," she said, her voice wavering slightly. To see him alive, to see him smile, it was too good to be true. Just to make sure, she pulled his cheek. "Don't you give us all the credit. You've done plenty yourself."

"OW! Sophia, not in front of everyone!"

She laughed, before that laugh broke and started to sob. It came without any self-control, curdling out from her without any warning. "I'm sorry," she breathed out, shaking her head. Goddess, crying out and in front of a crowd too! "I'm sorry. I-I think—I must've done something wrong."

"You did something right." Silas kissed her forehead. "You did something very right."

"But…we're bastards," she pointed out for some reason, and wished she hadn't. Some of the smiles people wore on their face melted. Trepidation returned, as well as the heavy air of silence. Silas's smile petered as well, and there was shame in his eyes.

"And who cares?" Someone spoke up, a young woman. "Who cares?"

Silas blinked. "But—"

"Who cares if you're a bastard?"

Someone made their way through the crowd. Grey was an easy man to spot with his armor, though Sophia had once begged him to abandon it once as he could be picked out.

Grey looked as if he had a rock lodged in his throat when he saw Silas. "By Din," he uttered. He didn't hug Silas, perhaps afraid he might crush him, and so he squeezed his shoulder. "You really are alive. By Goddess, you've given us a scare, my Lord."

Silas shook his head. "I'm not a Lord, Captain."

"You are a Lord. You're the only one we can count on."

Silas looked disheartened. "I appreciate the sentiment but—"

"I'm not telling this to make you feel better," Grey said solemnly. "I'm telling you this because the kingdom is in peril."

This alarmed both the twins. "What do you mean?" Silas asked seriously.

"That, we do not know." A man emerged from the crowd, a tall man one could easily pick out. A fine tailored suit, hair combed to the side and leathered boots, he was in a much better shape than the rest of them. "I suppose that is the danger in itself—the unknown. Pardon me, my Lord, my name is Hugo."

Silas regarded him with a squint. "I know you," he said after a pause. "From the investigation of my father's killer."

Hugo nodded. "This is very urgent, my Lord—"

"Please don't call me that," Silas interrupted. "Really."

Grey seemed annoyed but Hugo spoke before he could voice it out. "You must know that we haven't heard anything from the Gorons in over a year. No one had seen them anywhere."

"Not even the Ritos," Grey said, and others agreed. "It's like they've vanished."

"Some had reported that they had seen the Zoras sequestered in their land," Hugo carried on, "possibly hoping to overcome this with patience. As for the Gerudos, no one is too sure about our fellow, monotonous race aside from the fact that they've been raiding other villages. It seemed that all other non-Hylain occupants are far from our reach."

Sophia could see the rising tension in Silas's shoulder. She began to feel fiercely protective of him. No more than an hour since he rose from his bed and now he had responsibilities thrown in his face.

The first question Silas asked was, "What can we do about this?"

"What can you do," Grey pointed out. "You're the head in this."

Silas stopped as if realizing something. He shook his head firmer this time. "I am not. I can't. You must understand—"

"I understand," Grey cut him, "that you had a chance to leave us behind and you didn't."

"Of course I couldn't!" Silas seemed indignant by that, putting a hand on his chest. "How could I?"

"Then why? Why bother saving us if you aren't our Lord?"

Silas hesitated, turning at his sister for support. Sophia didn't know what to say and shrugged.

"I just—" Her brother rubbed his head, as if afflicted by a monstrous headache. "Grey, please, you know I couldn't leave my home."

Grey narrowed his eyes. "I'll be damned if we got some random noble to take charge here. You led us that night. You said you would be our Lord—"

"For that night," Silas pointed out.

Grey ignored that. "You two led us in battle, you two are the reason why Louis didn't take over. We need you now." Grey looked at them sternly. "Both of you."

Sophia was now aware of just how large the crowd had gotten, forming a circle around them, kept back only by a handful of guards. This didn't feel good to her. Her old instincts kicked in, a voice in her mind demanded that she remove herself from the attention, keep at a place where no one could see her, where she could attack where she was least suspected.

Still, Silas remained here, standing before them after waking up. She planned to stay with him, regardless how she felt.

Silas shook his head, exasperated. "But the law states—"

"Forgive me, but the law isn't going to save us as we don't have anyone who could enforce them. The king is dead," Hugo said plainly. "The only ones who could enforce the laws are those in power. Now is a fragile, delicate era where we must learn how to cope with ourselves as autonomous people. We are not giving you the role of leadership, my Lord, as an accolade for your bravery. Though know that you have your people's eternal gratitude."

Grey grasped Silas's shoulder. "I've known you for a very long time, son," he said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "You're one the kindest, devoted, hard-working noble I've ever had the honors of serving. You've never given up on us, not even when you've nearly lost everything close to you. I'm proud to be your captain." Grey spoke to him softly. "If anyone can help us through this, it's you."

This, Sophia nodded.

Silas stayed silent, overwhelmed. He glanced at the rest of them. "I…"

"You saved my life," Grey continued. "And I'm sure some people in this crowd has yet to thank you. I didn't think we could see tomorrow that night, but we did. It's not just because of Link. You gave us hope. That was how we defeated Louis."

The captain had been such a dear friend to the family, for as long as Sophia could remember. He wasn't just talking to them as a captain, a servant for a noble's bidding. They can't even call him an old friend. This man was family to them. He looked at them as one would look at their children.

"You two fought for us," Grey said firmly, japing two fingers at Silas's chest. "You two protected us. You brought people up on their feet, and lead them in that retaliation. Link wouldn't have done that. No one else would have done that. Only you did. And now you're telling me that you are not my Lord?"

"I—Grey—"

"You've made a vow," Grey reminded, almost angry. "You said you won't leave us. You swore it on the Goddesses themselves."

A new horror loomed in the future, perhaps even more devastating than anything Louis had been. The entire kingdom. A whole country. What was happening to them? Without the king and his guards, nobles were left to their own devices. Those dutiful will take their responsibilities with grace, but others…

"I trust you," Grey declared. "Whether bastards or trueborn, I trust you more than the law itself. If you're the one who's leading us, then I know Desmera will be safe."

"Including the neighboring villages," Hugo added in. "Many of the chiefs are looking for a superior guidance, though they tend to bicker a lot and don't realize it. Forgive my boldness, but I would think that I speak for everyone here that we are passed the time for politicking and legitimacy. I believe the best choice we can possibly ask for is someone we know is honest, conscientious, and dutiful rather than picking an arbitrary noble simply because of his birth."

No one spoke up in rebuttal. For the first time, or at least as far as her memory serves, she began to see light behind people's eyes. The weight of their hope could've crushed her, if she stood in her brother's place.

Silas turned over to her once more and Sophia nodded slowly. "We can't leave them," she said softly. "How could we? They are ours."

Silas took in a deep breath, his eyes rising up to them all. Her breath stilled. With his aplomb attitude, he seemed the very image of their father. "Alright them," he declared. "I will lead you as I have done before. I have made a vow after all, and I intent to keep it, legitimate or not."

And he says he isn't strong, she thought, wanting to snort at the absurdity.

Greys smiled.

"We must start by repairing our town," Silas said at once, tapping his fist on an open palm. Already, he had a plan. Steady, and reserved. "I may not restore Desmera to its former glory, but I will make it into a safe land. If the kingdom is silent to us, then it means we must start gathering anyone who stumbles into Eldin. Since the trade is cut from us, we must start to pool in our resources. I need to know how many villages we have left in Eldin so I can convoke a meeting with its leaders."

He rubbed his chin, his eyes had brightened up as ideas seemed to roll into his mind. "Yes, we'll need to reinforce our walls to better defenses, which would unfortunately put back the reconstruction of some of the buildings behind as we need stone and wood but I'm sure we can manage. I'd like to also start our crops, and would need to see the casualties—"

"It seems like you have a lot of work," Hugo mused.

Silas shook from his muttering, flushing a little. "Yes, and I'll begin at once. We need to better our defenses in the town."

"We've already started," Grey said. "First, by fixing the inner walls."

"Start by the outer. There will be a trove of banditry soon enough." Silas was looking more and more flushed with anticipation. "We'll also need to make some outposts too."

"That could take time," Grey warned. "And could be potentially dangerous with the earthquakes."

Silas turned to him sharply. "Earthquakes?"

"I'll give you a full report on it. We'll discuss it in another time when you've fully recovered."

Silas nodded, though he did look troubled. Despite his unsettlement, people were eager to work, to do something. Now was a time they had to pull their own weight, to be independent. There was still some matter that needed to be worked on. Silas spoke to both Grey and Hugo while the guards separated the crowd to get them to work.

Sophia smiled warmly at the familiar spark in her twin's eyes. While the streets cleared from corpses, there were still a lot to do, food that needed to be collected, weapons to be made, defenses to be improved, people to be trained.

Silas froze when he suddenly remembered something. "Link. What happened to Link?"

Grey thought for a moment. "Now that you mention it, I haven't seen him this morning."

"I haven't either," Hugo said with a frown.

"He couldn't have left Desmera!" Silas exclaimed, horrified. "Blast it, Link…"

Sophia gasped sharply, drawing in their attention. "The graveyard!" she blurted out, eyes wide. Then she frowned when she couldn't remember anything past that. The words floated through her head like an empty bottle down a river. She could see Link but the image rippled. He hadn't look too happy.

"Come to think of it, he was asking for a shovel," Grey said with forked eyebrow. "But that was yesterday. What's he up to?"

"You mean, who's he burying?" Silas said darkly, then sighed. "I would…later need you to report to me the number of fallen."

Grey nodded. "If it makes you feel any better, we found those missing hunters at least. Dozens of them actually and…" he paused. The crowd had dispersed once they've had their orders. Grey suddenly looked as if he'd aged ten years, his eyes were tired. "We've ah found your mother."

Sophia's first reaction was confusion. Mother? Their mother died when they were born. Then she remembered their maid and the confession. Shock. Of course, all this time Sally had been their mother. Then came relief. She had survived that carnage somehow, despite Louis's claim to have everyone they cared for killed right in front of them.

Then Sophia remembered Sally being led away by guards, face turned down, Sophia herself fighting off and demanding for an explanation. Anger rose from that memory, simmering.

Silas froze. "And?" he asked steadily.

"We're hiding her in covert. Some people tried to attack her." Grey shrugged. "We don't know what to do with her. I figured to keep her away from the public in the meantime."

Silas thought for a moment then slowly shook his head. "There's nothing I could do," he said. "I need to be realistic in the power I have over this town. People would think of it as nepotism if I were the one to sentence her. We should let the chiefs of other villages to make their pass."

Grey stayed silent for a moment, a sorrowful look in his eyes. "She really did it?" he asked softly. "She really killed Lawrence?"

The twins said nothing.

"Ah…I can't…I can't imagine how it is for you two," he said after a moment of silence, one hand on each of their shoulder. "Whatever happens, you'll have me here with you, yeah?"

Sophia nodded but Silas…Silas just stared at the ground. Grey just patted his arm, getting Silas to look up. Her brother nodded but kept his thoughts to himself.

"You didn't figure out she did it?" Grey asked Hugo.

The detective sighed, and showed his hands helplessly. "I have to say, for someone who had committed a crime in such a capricious manner, she certainly kept her head well about it. Most in her situation often made hasty and careless mistakes, making the case a simple and evident one to crack. But for her, she hid her tracks well, picked out an obvious suspect.

"It wasn't just her misleading me. She indirectly tricked Tristan into thinking he committed the crime. When a person shows an unwavering resolute that the blood is on their hands, it becomes inevitable for an investigator for myself to suspect them."

"Is that your fancy way of saying you fucked up?" Sophia spat, unable to help herself.

"I take full responsibility for my poor judgment."

"It wasn't just judgment. You accused our uncle without giving him a chance!"

"In all fairness, my Lady, I have a keen way of reading people. From the moment I walked through your doors, I saw guilt written on his face," Hugo said calmly.

"He's a good man," Sophia argued. "I don't care what you say. He's good. You just don't know him!"

Silas placed a placated hand on her shoulder. "Sophia, please, he's not saying anything like that. People knew of the quarrel between Father and Uncle, so Hugo is more than likely to frame him as the prime suspect."

"We fight sometimes. Would people think I killed you?"

"No! But—"

"Father and Uncle had their fights, sure, but they still care for each other." Sophia glared at Hugo. "Despite my uncle's activities, my father still looked out for him, always. Family was—is very important to us. They fight a lot, yes. But that doesn't mean he killed his own brother. What is wrong with you? You wrongfully accused him, you unfairly judged him!" She went up to him, japed a finger on his chest. "That makes you, sir, a shitty detective."

Hugo paused, unflinching. Grey rubbed his face with a sigh.

"Sophia," Silas hissed, rubbing his face. "Hugo, I'm so sorry about her—"

"No," Hugo said. "No, she's right. I've been imprisoned for months, and I was suppose it was well earned. You have my deepest apologies for not bringing your father justice."

Sophia stopped to question her anger. It made no sense to snap at him. Both her father and uncle were gone. It made no difference to be mad at this man, but still she wanted to slap him.

"Why don't we eat first?" Grey suggested.

"Good idea," Silas said, eager to change the subject. "But I'd like it if Link joined us. Grey, do you think you can watch over till then?"

"I always do. I don't think he ate either."

Sophia could hear her own stomach whining. She soon forgot the whole purpose of this, but didn't ask as they both veered off to the right. "The air is so nice," she said after a while. She took a deep breath, the glare of the sun making her clothes stick to her skin.

Silas smiled faintly. It must've been a while since she saw color on his face again. Last time, he'd look almost as grey as his eyes. "Yeah…it's been so long."

The cobbles lessened when they approached the graveyard, and now acted more like stepping stones. Long grass bended from the wind that brushed passed the looming, mossy gravestones. Many were freshly buried, the dirt still brown. At the near end several new holes drudged up ahead of time.

They found someone over there, dressed in dirt green with a hat on with a fairy by his side. Silas stared for a moment before smiling widely. He scared Link when he ambushed him in a hug.

Link blinked, shocked. "Shorty?!"

"Silas!" Katie cried, flashing joy. She fluttered over by Silas's face, whirling around his head. "You're okay!"

"Gah, get off me!" Link snapped, pushing Silas off. Though he tried to seem annoyed, he was more surprised.

Silas chuckled a little, wiping something from his eyes. "I-I thought you left…"

Link frowned. "Keep it down, will you? We're in a graveyard."

In front of them was a squat gravestone. In long scrawling, amateurish handwriting was the name Frank.

Silas stopped, ashamed. "Oh, I didn't—"

Link waved a dismissive hand. "I'm almost done anyways. Given me a minute." He clapped the dirt off his hands, stains of it stuck on his tunic, a smudge over his cheek. The perspiration on his forehead gleaned. Near them, the shovel he used was stuck on the ground.

Link brought out an offering from his bag, placing it at the head of the grave. A dark bottle with a cork on.

Sophia blinked. "That sake?"

"Sake with whiskey. Old man had good tastes." Link stretched out, dirt-faced, and exhausted. He noticed Sophia. "You look like hell."

"Not as bad as you," she said flatly. "You look like you've just buried yourself and got out."

Link laughed then turned his eyes at Silas. "I gotta say, did not except you to be alive."

Silas frowned. "Is that disappointment I'm hearing right now?"

Link shrugged, his smile not leaving him. He gave her brother a rough slap on the back. "Hey, if you broke your rib and got your hand smashed like a pancake, you'd be annoyed if some guy took a pretty powerful elixir from you. Actually, you took all my good elixirs."

Silas coughed, wincing. "I'm sorry. I caused you a lot of trouble, have I?"

"Yes. Yes, you did. And—" He stopped to give out a sharp, painful hiss when Sophia pinched him.

"You should say 'it's no problem. I'm happy to help'", Sophia said, pinching him again. "Or you could assure him that he was no trouble at all instead of making him feel like a burden."

"Yeah, Link," Katie said.

"Oh, come on! He drank up elixirs that took me hours to make, and I don't even want to think about how much money I wasted to get ingredients. He kept gulping them down like candy!" Link slapped Sophia's hand when she got too close. "Alright, alright, already!"

"Just ignore him," Katie said to Silas, glowing fulgently. "What's more important is that you're okay!" She bloomed. "We did it in the end. We beat Louis!"

Link scoffed, arms folded in front of him. "Yeah, after what? Can't you see where we are? Damned place just got a whole lot bigger, and it's only going to get crowded."

Katie's color dimmed.

"How many lives have we lost?" Silas asked, overlooking the wide space with countless of rows of gravestones. Somehow, this place was both empty and full at the same time.

"We're alive," Sophia said firmly when her brother wilted at the sight. "We can't change the past."

Silas didn't say anything. The four of them stared at the grave, and Sophia, with the help of Katie, thought of the homeless man who had helped them find a way to the crypt.

"You know, no one bothered to bury him," Link said quietly. "I found him just yesterday, just lying there."

They stood in the potent silence among the dead, paying respect for the man people despised. So many lives have been taken that horrible night, it tore at her heart. How many people had been waiting for her to rescue them?

Sophia closed her eyes. The noise echoed in her head, screams, shouts. Colors of black and red flashed behind her eyes. Those colors painted the streets, bodies littered everywhere, while the rest scrambled away desperately. Then she thought of her uncle's face morphing into a hideous, vile creature.

Poor Uncle Tristan.

I'm so sorry. I…I should've…

Sophia shook her head. No. Blaming her weakness won't change a thing, not unless she used it to further her strength. She needed to be so strong that nothing in this world would dare to challenge her. Something like this…will never happen again.

A twig snapped behind them. Link and Sophia spun at the intruder with weapons raised. The intruder jolted with his free hand raised up, his occupied hand leaning against a support stick. "You two should stop doing that shit, you know."

"Oh, sorry," Sophia said, putting her things away. This was a public place after all. "Do we know you?"

Silas gasped. Link's eyes widened and he cursed. Katie turned a bright, alert pink.

The guy glanced at Sophia, waiting for something. When she didn't recognize him, he seemed to wilt. "You…you don't remember me?"

Sophia searched her mind frantically. When someone looked this hurt, it only meant that they meant a lot to her. Link opened his mouth but Silas nudged him.

Sophia walked up to the man. No matter how hard she thought, she was sure she never met someone like him. No one she knew had scruffy hair like that tied to a short ponytail. He had a lanky figure, nearly scrawny with a small, messy beard on the round part of his chin. Though his eyes were green, greener than the grass around them. He limped forward with his stick, his leg sticking out in a thick cast, dirtied from the drag.

"I'm sorry," she said penitently. "I'm sorry. I don't…"

"No, no…it's okay," he said, but his face still seemed wounded. He let out a long sigh. "I didn't expect you could, anyways."

"You're a lot uglier than I thought," Link said. "Damn. Maybe we should've left you as a cat."

"And how are you alive?" the man retorted sharply.

Link snorted. "Says the guy that went flying out of town. How did you not break your neck?"

"How did you know where we are?" Katie asked, reddening at Link to keep quiet.

The man shrugged. "A couple of guards were talking out loud and I gave them the slip."

Link snorted. "Give them the slip how? How did you get anywhere with that on you? Or did you try jumping out the window?"

The man flushed slightly.

"You did!" Link laughed. "Shit, I wished I saw that!"

The man did have some leaves fluttering out from his back, sharp holes dug into his sleeve as if he'd broken his fall by some bushes.

Something about this was so very familiar. She was just tempted to pull her hair. The name tingled on her tongue, but it was still lost to her.

"Alright, that's enough arguing," Silas said sternly, hands on his hips as he stood between the guy and Link who were having a heated exchange. "Can't you two get along? Besides, show some respect! We're at a funeral."

"I hate cats," Link sneered.

"Bitch, do I look like a cat?" Simon hissed. "You need glasses like you need—" He yelped when Sophia threw her arms at him in a loud, startled cry. Memories came within a second, a snap of a finger. Their talks, their fights, the feel of his fur, his harsh laughter, his compassion.

"Oh Din," she breathed out, crying. She knew this person. She knew him so well. Pulling back, she looked at his deep, green eyes and smiled. "I could never ever forget you," she said emotionally, holding his cheek. "I'm so sorry, Simon—no, Andrew."

Andrew smiled. He looked much younger now that the angry lines smoothened. "Ah, you always get me going, you know?" he said thickly, rubbing his eyes.

"You look so different!" Katie exclaimed, circling around him one time and stopped in front of his face. "Wait, where have you been all this time?"

"In the infirmary. Damned apothecary wouldn't let me go!"

"And he shouldn't," Silas said dryly, pointing at the cast. "You do know that doesn't hold out well in a dry climate, right?"

Sophia gasped when she saw it for the first time. "You're hurt! What happened?"

"You could say that he got tired of being a cat and tried to be a bird," Link said with a wide grin.

"Shut the fuck up," Andrew growled. "Look at yourself before you talk. You look like you've lost a bar fight."

"I'd start one for sure, but I sure as hell wouldn't lose."

Sophia glanced over at Andrew, really looking at him. "You look so…"

"Shitty?" Link offered.

"Link," Silas warned, and Andrew glared at him.

"You got a smart mouth, don't you?" Andrew asked.

Link shrugged. "You look way too old though."

"I'm only thirty two!"

"Old."

Sophia ruffled Andrew's hair, mostly to keep him from being aggravated by Link. "Aw, I'm going to miss your fur," she said.

Andrew grunted. "I won't. You know how long it takes to keep it clean?"

"Well, we're glad you're back to normal," Silas said cheerfully. "How does it feel to be back?"

Andrew touched his hair, then rubbed his chest. "Still feels weird. I keep forgetting that I can't smell half as good as before. Jumped out of the damn window too."

Sophia smiled till her cheeks hurt. It felt disrespectful to feel such joy in this poignant place, but her happiness was out measured. They walked out together from the graveyard, feet clicking on the cobbles.

"That reminds me," Silas said. "What about to the tunic?"

Link stiffened.

"Ah, Silas," Katie said uneasily. "Let's not talk about that now."

"Why? Don't tell me something happened to it?" Silas was about to ask but Link's darkened expression discouraged him.

Simon—Andrew, remember his name—gave out a sharp laugh. "Wait, what happened? Are you saying he did all that for nothing?"

Link shot him a look, but Andrew wasn't intimidated. "Holy shit, you really lost it? Ha!"

"Hey, we didn't lose it!" Katie snapped, fluttering up and down. "Besides, it's nothing! Just a little tear!"

Link grabbed the front of Andrew's shirt. "You want your other leg broken, you little shit?"

It took time for the twins to break up the dispute. Link scowled, mood fouler than ever, and Andrew looked ticked off too.

Link muttered something under his breath, glancing up at the glaring sky with a hand shading his eyes. He stopped suddenly, causing them all to turn to him.

"What?" Silas asked, seeming worried.

Link sighed, hands on his hips. He seemed a bit hesitant before he got annoyed and just let it out. "It's time I left, Shorty."

Sophia gasped. "Wait, what? You're leaving?"

Link eyed her. "Why surprised? You thought I'm staying in this shithole?"

"Unless you want me to pin your tongue on your forehead, you'll refrain from insulting my home. Now then, what's this about leaving?"

"We have to go to Death Mountain, Sophia," Katie said softly, turning to yellow. "We've been trying to get the tunic just for that."

"Surely, you can stay a little while," Silas said, almost hastily. "Please, won't you eat with us? I'm pretty sure you haven't eaten anything since this morning, correct?"

"Yeah," Katie said quickly. "Come on, we can't just leave right now!"

"Besides, I'm sure you don't plan to go on your way looking like that?" Silas gestured to the dirt-stained tunic.

Link groaned, dragging a hand over his face. "Alright, alright! But only a couple of hours and that's it, got it?"

Sophia loved the barely repressed joy on her brother's face. "Great. We should head back before Grey worries."

Link grumbled something, Katie glowed orange and yellow, and Sophia smiled. The gang was reunited once more after their perilous journey from the dark depths of the catacomb.

Nothing more could be said about how truly blessed she felt.

o-o-o-o

It wasn't just Sophia who skipped out on meals. Everyone on the table, aside from Grey, attacked their meals with great voracity. Small talks were tossed somewhere in between bites, mostly Katie who made remarks on how productive people were now that Silas acceded the role of Lordship.

Her brother changed from a white robe to a normal, darker one. His hair fixed, his face healthy. He looked like his old self again.

Sandwiches, fruits, stew and eggs, the captain had it all prepared in the small house Sophia had been staying. The living room, though it was small and cramped, was much brighter than she remembered it. Everyone sat around the table, the twins between Andrew and Link. Katie dipped herself in a small bowl of fresh water.

Link was too busy to bother with their discussions. He chowed through a full plate of sandwiches, dipping the leftover bread in the stew. Silas didn't eat as much, only a couple spoons of soup. Whenever he glanced towards Link, his face went sad. Sophia didn't understand it till Katie mentioned Death Mountain.

She understood how he felt. Though she didn't know Link as long as he did, she knew the hardships they've shared together. Their moment in the catacomb, moments of struggle to regain their sanity. She'll miss this stupid green bastard.

Grey didn't eat with him, busy talking to his soldiers. For once, she saw him without the tired lines on his face. This moment of respite, seeing Silas all better now—though it didn't show on the captain's face, she saw it in the way he stood taller than before, hands unclenched.

She smiled.

"Don't you look happy?" Andrew noted, sharing her joy as well. His face would take time getting used to. As a cat, he was often hard to read, but now she stared at the structure of his jaw, his thin eyebrows, his stringy bangs.

"Well, yeah, I just—" She blinked when everyone turned over to her. "What are talking about again?"

"Ah, that was good," Link said, reclining back in his chair, rubbing his stomach. "Just get me some sake and it'll be perfect."

"Here," Silas said, handing him a small bottle. "You earned it."

"Aw nice! Anyone want some?"

Andrew perked up. "I want."

Link knocked the cork back with his thumb and drank heartily, as if Andrew didn't say anything. Before they could start another fight, Sophia slammed her dagger in front of her, glaring at them. This was a perfect moment for her, and she wasn't going to let querulous bickering ruin it.

Once they've left nothing but crumbs on the table, Grey took Silas to the side to discuss about the town, while Sophia and Katie bothered Andrew with questions they deemed important.

"How was it like to be a cat?"

"Do you still want to cough out hairballs?"

"Can you talk to other animals?"

"Can you still talk to other animals?"

"Hey, hey! One question at a damn time!" Andrew snapped. "Can you guys let me forget about that for five damn minutes?"

"This is important though!" Katie insisted. "There are so many things scholars couldn't understand about animals and now is our chance!"

The incisive argument veered the Grey and Silas from their discussion. Silas hummed, rubbing his chin. "Yeah, come to think of it, how was life as a cat?" he asked. "Could you really communicate with other animals?"

Andrew rubbed his head with a soft groan. "Look, it's not—"

"Wait a minute, shouldn't you be in an infirmary?" Grey asked with narrowed eyes, noticing the cast. "How did you get passed my guards?"

Andrew snorted. "I've been doing that even before I turned into that shit."

"Uh huh. Like when you stole our tunic?"

Andrew winced. "Hey, come on, I didn't mean for that."

"The important this is that he's back to normal!" Katie said genially, then went in front of Andrew so abruptly that he had to lean far back in his chair. "So, now that you're a Hylian, you can tell your story to the scholars! Oh they'll be so excited! They'll document you, maybe do some experiments but you'll get compensated don't worry!"

Andrew huffed. "I ain't no damn rodent! Now quit your jabbing and leave me—"

Someone burst in through the doors, startling them. There, stood a man with a green sash across his torso. Andrew yelped when he saw the man who fumed at him.

"There you are! Who said you were allowed to leave?" the apothecary demanded.

Sophia would've gotten up but her brother placed a hand on her shoulder. Andrew tried to fight off the two guards who came along with the apothecary, but his impediment didn't make him much of a challenge.

"Let me go, you shitheads! Let me go!" Andrew shouted, hauled off by a buff soldier while the other one lifted the cast off the ground. "I'm fine! I'm feeling fine as rain!"

The apothecary gave his apologies to the group before taking the prisoner away. Link watched it with a grin on his face. "Place got a whole lot better."

"Where are they taking him?" Sophia demanded, still wanting to bolt out and help her friend.

"He'll be fine," Grey assured. "He just needs a lot of rest first."

Sophia still wasn't sure but Silas convinced her to sit down. Seconds later, she already forgot, though she did wonder who the empty seat belonged to. Link rubbed his hands together before getting up.

"Okay, this was fun and all but I really need to get going."

Silas started, quickly standing up as well. "So soon?"

Link gave him a flat stare. "What, are you planning to keep me around for good?"

"No, it's just—" Silas scratched his head. "Isn't it a little soon though? What of your wounds?"

"All turned to scars," Link said, turning for the door. "Look, I need to get going while the sun is still up, alright?"

Silas looked disheartened but he did nod. "Okay then…but first let me give you something. It's in the manor. If you really plan to leave now, then we should go."

Link wasn't entirely pleased. "Feels like you're stalling me."

"No, really. You've earned more than the tunic."

"Can't you get someone to fetch it?"

"I'd rather not. It's far personal."

Link thought for a moment, vexed. "Fine. But we leave now."

"Need me to come with you?" Grey asked.

"No, you should stay here and look for things until I get back."

The four of them then went on their way to the base of the mountain that led up to the manor. They needed to take a longer detour because of grateful but officious villagers.

The weald was just as she had left it. It occurred to her now that she hadn't really seen this place ever since she killed Irela. The leaves turned to their natural green, fluttering in the gentle breeze. The shrubs rustled with critters and with the canopy over their heads only a few rays of light passed through.

It's been so long.

She wanted to walk with leisure, to drive her mind into the old parts of her life in search for memories, but everyone adopted this urgent pace in their steps, and so she had to stay focused. At one point, Silas stopped, and when Link questioned him, her twin looked up at them with sorrow in his eyes.

"There is…one more grave we have to visit," he said softly, looking towards Link. It took Link a moment to make sense of it.

"Oh…that."

"Who?" Katie asked.

"You still remember the way?" Link asked Silas.

Silas contemplated the weald with a troubled expression. He then took off in a direction that went off the rutted road and into the bushes. They went in deeper into the weald, where the air went moist with humidity. Trees became thicker with larger heads that ate up the sky, plunging them in dim light. The grass spread before them, long and tickling their knees, undisturbed by carriages or feet. The soil here was darker, richer than around their manor, flowers blooming everywhere.

She knew very well that this area was forbidden, as Lawrence had his warnings drilled into her head. She heeded his warnings, more out of habit though than from fear.

Why haven't I tried to get through here? She wondered idly. Maybe she just respected her father too much to disobey him even when knowing she would be all right. Maybe she had been here but something made her not want to revisit.

Silas took the lead, disquieted. No matter how much she tried to pry an answer from him, all he told her was that she will soon learn. Eventually, they arrived at a cluster of shrubs, their velvet blossoms vibrant against green leaves. Silas, with the help of Link, parted through the bushes.

It took a while for Sophia to understand. A simple stone stood erect in front of a small patch of flowers. At its side was a plate for offerings.

"So this is…" Katie turned into a variety of discomforted colors.

"I don't understand," Sophia said. "How is this here? This isn't recent."

Silas shook his head, walking up to the grave's periphery. "This has been here when we were born. Someone else has been there with us—should've been here."

Sophia, still flummoxed, tried to rack her brains for an answer. Silas didn't seem like he wanted to explain. His eyes never left the small grave. He looked regretful, hurt with grief. Katie took it upon herself to remind Sophia, and it took sometime for it to really sink it.

Slowly, Sophia raised a hand to her mouth. "Are you serious?" she whispered, turning to face the grave as if seeing it for the first time. "This person…"

"…is our brother," Silas said with a nod, his eyes distant. "The true Lord of Desmera, the son of Emilia."

Silence.

We had an older brother, Sophia marveled in a horrified fascination. The information kept reeling over her head, like a fisher's rod, not quite there yet. It was a difficult thing to process.

"It's so…small," Sophia noted, a hand to her chest where her heart ached. "So small…"

"He never had the chance to live," Silas said. "He never did…it should've been him going to the program, to the academy, not me."

They had a brother. An older brother. How was he like? No, how would he have been? Would he look even more like father, as he was the trueborn?

"We…we need to make a prayer," Silas said determined. He turned to Sophia, and she nodded. The two of them stepped closer to the grave and went down on their knees, clapped their palms together and bowed their heads.

Link and Katie excused themselves and left behind the bushes. It was suddenly so very quiet in the weald. She had often found comfort in its taciturnity, but now it felt so ominous, so empty. There was this chill she couldn't understand.

"My dearest brother," Silas started, bowing his head further down. "The brother we never knew. I wish things had been different."

Sophia closed her eyes, trying to imagine having another family member. How wonderful it would have been. To have an older brother.

"I wish I knew how would look like," Sophia said, rather bluntly. "I wish I got the chance to get to know you."

"We are saddened for your passing. We apologize for leaving you alone for so long. Know that despite our circumstances, we love you, dear brother." Silas stopped, then his voice cracked. "The brother…we never got to see…" His composure finally broke. "I'm so sorry for this. I'm so sorry Father chose us."

Sophia opened her eyes. "Silas—"

"I'm sorry I took your place."

She touched his shoulder. "Silas…"

"It should've been him!" Silas complained. "It should've been him all this time! I'm a supposed to be happy for his passing?"

She nearly slapped him. "No! Of course not!"

"But shouldn't I be? If he hadn't died, then we would have been nothing but strangers to Father. We would've been on the streets, beaten and killed. We only got to know privilege and wealth through his death." Silas brought his hands down to the grass. "This isn't fair. It's not fair!"

"Nothing is fair," she said dryly. "None of it, so why bother complaining?"

"Father would have never loved us," Silas pointed out. "He would have never bothered with us if he didn't need us to secure his wealth!"

"That's not true and you know that."

"But still—"

She stopped him with a sharp gesture. "Father loved us. You know that. Don't you dare say otherwise."

Silas turned his gaze to the grave. "But…if he hadn't died, then—"

"Silas," Sophia interjected. "There really is no point in lamenting over this and—" She flicked a finger on his forehead when he started to protest. "No. I believe everything happens for a reason. My accident, your illness—everything. I always thought of fate like a…this bead on a necklace, yeah. It's like that. See, one thing happens and it leads to another, and so on and so forth. Its all connected."

"You think his death is a good thing then?" Silas asked flatly.

Sophia resisted the urge to smack him. "Maybe he's happier in heaven. Maybe in life, he would have been hurt even more than we have. Maybe a disaster would've occurred. Who knows? What I know is that we can't change the past, Silas. We must grateful for it."

"I just can't stop thinking about it. How easy everything could've changed if Sally didn't convince Father…"

Sophia paused. "Convince Father? Wait, what are we talking about again?"

He explained it to her before returning his eyes back to the grave. Her heart ached when she saw just how small the stone. There was no name on that slate. Their brother never had the chance to have one.

Silas took a moment to gather himself before pressing his hands together and bowing his head in a prayer. "We promise to make you proud. We promise to make our father and our family proud. We will take this blessing, which should have been yours, and take care of Desmera.

"With what the Goddesses have given me, from the strength of my father and my sister, I will carry your burden, my dear brother, so that you will rest in peace. I swear to carry it with power, wisdom and courage till death takes my final breath."

"And mine," Sophia added.

"May your soul rest in peace, next to Father and your mother."

"May it lay with our ancestors too," Sophia said, struggling to think through her emotions. "I…We will meet you one day, big brother, but that day will take time. We won't—I won't forget you. I'll try not to." She stopped, wishing she had more to say.

Silas was quiet for a moment. "May Lady Hylia bless you. Amen."

Sophia hadn't expected herself to be this devastated. She kept herself together for Silas's sake. This was only the beginning though of their new lives.

Link said nothing. Katie offered her condolences and apologies. With nothing else to do, they headed to the manor. Sophia's twisted stomach ached even further. She didn't know what she would be expecting. Unpleasant flashes started to show themselves behind her eyes. Would the servants carry those accusing eyes? Will they whisper at her back? Will they turn her away? And would Irela be there, a hand hiding her smirk?

"You okay?"

Sophia noticed her brother staring at her. "Hmm? I'm fine." He didn't seem convinced though. "Is something wrong?"

"You don't seem fine, Sophia," he said softly.

Katie fluttered over her head, a mixture of pink and yellow. "Yeah, you look a little pale," she noted.

Sophia kept her face impassive and simply shrugged at their concern. "I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"

Silas still wasn't persuaded and he looked away, almost in shame. "You've always asked about my well being," he said quietly. "I don't think I've ever paid half as much attention to you as you have done to me. I know you're hesitating to go back home."

Sophia felt uncomfortable. Since when was Silas so good at reading her? "I'm fine, Silas."

"No one is back home so you don't need to worry."

She blinked. "Really? What about Sally and Viktor?" When they didn't answer right away, she began to worry. "What? Did something happen?" She gasped. "Wait, you said something about a raid, right? Is everyone okay?"

Link didn't meet her eyes, keeping up straight ahead. Katie followed behind him, saddened.

"We're almost there," Silas said quietly.

Sophia soon forgot her worries when no one brought it up. Nonetheless, she was still a jumble of nerves. There were some things she desperately wanted to ask, about Simon, about ribbons, about Sally and Grey.

At a distance, the Haidrund manor could be seen below the peak of the mountain, surrounded by wide arc of spaces, natural pillars of rocks growing around. She hadn't seen it in so long.

"Home," she breathed out, a smile spread on her face. Then her joy turned to ashes.

At one side of the manor, black smudged from a section of a roof that had collapsed. Heaps of ashes and debris gathered at the landing. All windows were boarded up, the ground rutted with thousand of footsteps.

Her home used to look so simple and humble, a home that kept its size for generations, only changing interiorly. Now it looked as if someone had been preparing to outlast a siege. Her attention went back to the roof where it looked like someone took a bit out of it. The roof had caved in and that room—

"Sophia, where are you going?"

She ran into the old manor, heart racing. The nails that kept the boards into place jutted out and went flying when she kicked the door down. The stairs matted with dirt, waffled from several boots. Viktor would have never allowed something like this to happen. He wouldn't let a single dust make itself comfortable in these halls.

She skipped two steps at a time as she ran up the stairs, rushing through the hallway. The long carpet was beaten down, almost brown, many of the paintings were either missing, or broken, glass sprinkled on the side.

There were obvious signs of a fire. She could smell its bitter scent. The wood started to blacken the further she went till the walls seemed painted in the color. She arrived at the door and opened it. "Father!" she breathed heavily and stopped.

The furniture had been cleared out, and it took her a moment to realize it was out in the hallway, possibly moved out to keep the fire from spreading. There was nothing in here but soot. The fire left its mark behind in black patches that veined the walls, carpeted the ground. The roof was opened to her, spilling the afternoon light.

Sophia could only stand there, staring in a daze at the room. Then the memories finally caught up to her, like a person struggling to reach her to tell her a crucial news. Her father was dead. He hadn't been present at the fire. He wasn't hurt. He was dead. She could hear the thud of footsteps behind her. Old instincts demanded her to pull out her dagger but she was stuck in her place, in another time.

This was her father's solitude. As far as anyone was concerned, there had only been one door. But for her, she found several ways aside from the front door. It surprised her how people were so oblivious. It took a few years for Lawrence to pick her out from the background, and he didn't even have to turn to know she was there.

Others found it unnerving, and even rude, but Lawrence didn't mind it anymore, since that was what she does—an observer. Someone who watched but never liked to participate.

"What is wrong with you?" Link demanded. "Hey, are you listening?"

"Sophia," Silas sounded very concerned, and when he placed his hand on her shoulder, Sophia jolted.

"Huh? What? What's happening?" She saw the wreckage as if for the first time. "My heavens, what happened here? Silas, what did you do?"

"Wha—I did not do this!" Silas said in offended shock. "You think I was mad enough to do this?"

"Well…Father had said he always thought of burning his papers, so perhaps—"

"Sophia, I really didn't do this. Please stop looking at me like that." He looked at her seriously now. "Are you okay?"

"I…" She turned to see the poignant room. "I don't know anymore."

"It's okay," he said gently. "You don't have to be okay all the time."

Link raised his hand. "Look, I don't want to keep interrupting things, but why are we here again?"

They followed Silas at the back of the room. Her brother was underrated by the empty, black room, strolling up to the wall and brought down a burnt portrait. Thick soot coated the wall behind, and he used the back of his sleeve to wipe it off. Underneath the light, the steel plate glinted.

Link whistled. "A safe still standing?"

Silas stood back, black smudged on his arm. "Inflammable, impossible to access without a key."

"And where is the key?"

"In…in Viktor's room."

Of course Viktor would have it. For a butler, he certainly liked to take certain tasks that were far above his status.

She was so annoyed with him…but why did her chest hurt so suddenly at the thought of him? Why did she feel like she wanted to cry?

"He's…dead, isn't he?" she asked quietly, drawing their attention. "He's gone."

Katie turned a sympathetic color. "They buried him on the second day." She hesitated. "You were there too."

"I was?" Sophia wanted to pound her head. Sure, some things were okay to forget, but her own butler's funeral? He might've been an ass but…

Link sighed. He looked uncharacteristically awkward. "Want me to get the key?"

"No, I'll get it," Silas said with a deep breath.

"I'll come with you," Sophia said and the twins left the two behind.

Viktor's room was intentionally close to the study. The fire had never reached this far in the hall. Seeing the messy patterns of footsteps, she could assume that people worked hard against it.

Was this really their home? Did she and Silas used to run through these halls? Bereft of all its servants, the loyal and the traitorous, along with the wealth and the paintings, the manor might as well belong to the ghosts. The air was so dry here, and there was this chill that made her skin crawl. The smell of ashes made her want to throw up.

When Silas tried the door, they found it to be locked. He grabbed his sister's hand when she shifted. "Don't kick it all the way down," he said. "I…I don't want to make more of a mess than there are already is."

She did her best, aiming for only on the side of the door rather than the middle. The door didn't knock down completely, only swinging to the side, smashing at the wall on the other end. Its lock bulged out, breaking free from the doorframe.

The room surprised them greatly.

While the rest of the manor looked like it had gone to shit, Viktor's room still held its dignity. A small piece of the old manor survived through it, elegant, but not too extravagant. Neat, tidy, clean. Not only that but it was the overall character of its owner.

If you ignore the dust, this room looked every bit neat, as one would expect from an obsequious butler. Although he was no longer with them, Sophia still walked in carefully, feeling adamant about it. This was trespassing. If they had ever attempted to do this, Viktor would've skinned them.

Is he…really gone?

He'd been querulous to see her train, he hid away her shurkins, he made sure to alert her father if he ever caught her doing things improper. No one had irritated her as much as he had. No one had dared to irritate her half as much as he had.

The bed was made with the blanket folded at the bottom, smooth with not a single wrinkle. An alcove opposite the bed shelved several thick books. From the window in front of them was a desk with a chair facing the view of the weald. She doubted Viktor ever allowed himself to woolgather.

The neatness of the room, from its tidiness, from the way each item was placed meticulously with great care, something about it all just shattered her heart. The room was heavy with his scent.

"Oh, Viktor," Silas moaned, breaking. "Sophia, he was right here."

"I know," she said, swallowing.

"He was right here."

"I know."

"So was Sally, and Father, and-and—" Silas stopped himself, taking in deep breaths. He practically spat out, "Let's just find that blasted key."

She almost forgotten their goal. Even then, it was difficult to bring herself to plow her way into his things. It wasn't just disrespectful, but she could see his face crisply in her mind, the horror on his face, the scorn in his voice. Silas must've thought the same, as he was delicate when handing the butler's possessions.

Silas told her to look through the books, as they could be a front for hiding. "Hiding what? What are we doing?"

"We're looking for a key, Sophia." He grunted as he looked under the bed, then dirtied his sleeve even more when reaching under it.

"Why though? Why do we need a key?" She paused. "Wait, are we in Viktor's room? He'll skin us! He—" She closed her mouth, flushing when the memory came. Her brother withdrew his hand from the bed, and his gaze dropped. "I'm so sorry—"

"It's okay," he said with a faint smile. "I don't mind when you ask questions. Don't ever hold back from asking, okay?"

"It annoys people." She rubbed her arm, feeling panicked when her hand ran over skin bereft of ribbons. She forced herself to calm down.

"It won't annoy me," Silas assured her, then explained the objection of their search.

Sophia did as he said, flipping through the pages of each book. Philosophy, some about art, cooking, sewing…goodness. She figured she would only find things about being tidy and a butler. It felt…odd to consider that Viktor actually had interests that weren't related to the family.

The books made him seem more a person than just a simple subservient, docile except in some matters where he would insert himself in.

I wish we were closer, she thought, returning the book back gently. I'm…I'm so sorry, Viktor.

Depression slipped through the cracks of her mind, distracting her enough that she flipped through several books half-heartedly. Something slipped out, causing her to snap out from stupor.

"Ah ha!" Silas bumped his head in his excitement. Carefully, he removed his head from under the bed and held up his discovery. "Tied right under it! Clever Viktor…what's that?"

Sophia's eyes widened when she saw the name on the envelope. "It's from Father."

Silas set the bronze key aside, taking the envelope a once.

"Should we read it?" Sophia asked, looking at him. "Is it okay?"

"It may not be appropriate of us," Silas said, sounding reluctant. He turned the envelope to one side to find something scrawled neatly. It was addressed to the twins.

"Why didn't Viktor give this to me?" Silas spat, shaking his head. "My goodness, Viktor…How could you not…" He couldn't bring himself to say anymore. There was already a clean tear. Viktor didn't seem to have any respect for the private content inside.

The letter was neat, familiar, carrying the scent of their father. They both exchanged looks, before reading together, heads next to each other.

My dear children,

If you found this letter then something must have happened to me. I could not take this terrible matter to my grave lest my soul never finds rest.

It is time for me to confess. I never wanted to be a father. I thought I could never become a father, much less for twins. When my wife passed away, a great despondency fell to me.

It was until I had you two, my son who became a great man, a far better man than I ever was. Then my gentle daughter, who had taught me many things in life. I never wanted to have children. If I am entirely honest, I could even say I had despised them, but when I look at you two now, I feel as if my entire world is complete.

I am painfully aware of my mistakes. I know I have not been the ideal father. I know I have not been gentle either. I know of the days where you two have blamed me. I wish I could have done more for you, as I know that I do not deserve you two.

Silas, I know I've been imperiously harsh on you the most. You've always concerned me, as I think of myself at your age. I never wanted you to be anything like me, but now I realize that I have no need to fear because my son is a good, kind-hearted, gentle young man who will bring prosperity and fortune to Desmera.

Sophia, you have faced so many hardships and struggles in your life, more than I could ever fathom. It breaks my heart to think of what you've been through that I am unaware of. It wasn't just your physical strength but your mental fortitude that I have never seen in anyone in my life. I've always wondered what I did that made you grow up to be so precious and kind that you would want to spend the rest of your life to care for an old goat like me.

As for the main subject of this letter, it is a difficult thing to write, but I must tell you this. It pains me, and I know you may never forgive me, but my children, you are not the twins of Emilia. Your true, blood mother is Sally. Yes, you are bastards. The same maid who has raised you both is your real mother. The reason for our lies was to protect you from the world that would have refused you.

I have planned to tell you this when you get older. I cannot apologize enough if you are discovering the truth through this letter and not through my lips. If you are reading this, then it means I am gone, unable to answer the questions that I know you will have.

I understand that you will be furious with me. I understand if you are disappointed and ashamed of me. And I will understand if you choose never to forgive me. Whatever you wish to do with this secret, whether you choose to hide it from the world or to share it, know that I will support and respect your decision. Even if this world rejects you, even if people try to hurt you, I am comforted in knowing that you two are well capable of taking care of yourselves.

No matter what happens, no matter the state of the town under your leadership and protection, know that I will forever be proud of you. You may be bastards, but you are my bastards. You were the light of my darkest nights, the joy I've rediscovered in this world. I thank the Goddesses every time when I look at you two. I have nothing but unwavering faith that Desmera will be safe.

I love you forever. Take care of each other.

Your father,

Lawrence.

Sophia looked up from the letter, her eyes shimmering. Silas's tears were already streaking from his face. He was shaking, the letter fell from his hands. She wanted to tell him it was okay, but she couldn't get herself to speak.

She caught Silas just as he fell to his knees, and there she hugged him. Around them were the broken pieces of their lives. She couldn't catch her breath. It completely escaped her. At least she had been able to control herself before, but she was completely swallowed, not able to even think of stopping.

It had been lonely. Life had been so lonely for the both of them when they lost him. But how lonely had their father been? He broke the law, forged a fake deed just to fool everyone. He lost his parents, his wife, his newborn child. And yet, he managed to love them unconditionally. She saw it in his eyes, in the kisses he gave, in the hugs, in the small walks, their talks, the laughs, the arguments.

For so long, she tried to be the ideal daughter, tried to be a Lady to make her family proud. But never once had Lawrence ever made her feel less. He never had her feel like a failure. He never made her feel like there was something wrong with her.

You are my bastards.

Despite the missing gears in her head, despite the raspy coughs of Silas, Lawrence still considered them worth loving.

I know I have not been the ideal father.

Oh, papa. She squeezed her eyes shut, crying so deeply. She thought she was beginning to move on from grief, but grief, as she had discovered, had no map of its own. There is no plan. On some days, it comes gentle as a mother's kiss, and in others it came like a brick to the head.

"It's not fair!" Silas shouted, in her shoulder, thrashing. "It's not fair! It's not fair!"

There were so many things they should've said to him. She had to tell him he was the best father they could ever ask for, she had to thank him for loving her, for being so, so patient and gentle.

"Oh, Father, Father!" Silas wailed, his head buried into her head. "I'm so sorry!"

She felt so helpless in her sorrow and anger. Her heart was pierced, as too many memories started to merge at once, things she hadn't thought about in so long.

The earliest memory she could recall was walking down a dark place with Lawrence by her side. It had been scary at first but she remembered feeling safe afterwards. She remembered seeing the stars punctured in the dark sky. There had been so many, and they dazzled her.

I will always be proud of you two.

That couldn't be the truth. The town had nearly been destroyed. They've lost so much of their subjects. Desmera was barely the same anymore. They lost their uncle, and she almost lost her brother.

Take care of each other.

The only thing she could do was cling to her brother, her only anchor to this world. They were the last of the Haidrunds now. They may be bastards, but they were still Haidrund with Lawrence's blood in their veins.

He may not be with them anymore, but he still lived in them. He had dreams for the town, leaving its future to them. They will see to his dreams, both her and Silas. Lawrence had done everything for them already. He paved them a way, guiding them to their goals, handing them tools so they could do the rest on their own. He did all of that knowing what they are, caring more for who they will be.

I love you.

Forever.

---

Silas stepped out of the room, key clenched in his hand. Outside, Link had his arms crossed, leaning against the wall with a leg propped behind him. He straightened up when the twins walked out into the hallway.

Katie flickered nervously. "Did you find it?"

Silas, nose stuffy, chest heaving, held up the key. "Yes. Link, if you'll come with me?"

"Katie, why don't I show you my room?" Sophia offered. "I don't think I've ever showed it to anyone."

Katie hesitated, turning to Link.

Link made a 'shoo' gesture. "Go. I can take care of myself for five minutes."

She went with Sophia, a bit reluctant. Silas drew a deep breath then led Link back to the empty space of his study. It was hard not to cough in this stuffy, smoky room. Their feet left long prints on the ground.

It tore his heart to see what had become of his father's study, but Silas didn't really miss it himself. He had forced himself to sit in that chair, hiding away his nightshades along with his pent up grief. He used by any means necessary to hoodwink people into thinking he was well and resilient.

So, no, he couldn't miss working in this space. He would only miss the memories it had before.

"Silas?"

Silas realized he was just standing. "Ah, sorry."

Link looked a bit impatient, and—if Silas was seeing this right—a little concerned. "Look, I can get it for you."

"No, no, I'm fine." Silas went back to the safe. His father had shown him the contents inside only once, telling him that this should be used in serious emergencies.

Once opened, Link whistled lowly. "Damn."

Diamonds, rubies, emeralds, gold and silver, necklace embedded with fat gems, rings too. A small fortune like this was enough to buy a land, build a house over it and hire servants with a whole stash of food that could last for months. This was Lawrence's final expenditure.

The last wealth of the Haidrunds.

"Here." Silas proffered Link a silver and gold rupee. "This should suffice you, I think."

Link's reaction was satisfying to see.

Silas sighed, turning to the glittering wealth. All of this would need to go towards repairing the town. The last thing this house had left. House Haidrund, one of the most prominent families in the kingdom, ended today. A smart businessman would have saved these for an especially rainy day, and would make some very careful business choices in order to make profit and regain capital.

But there's no such thing. The Gorons haven't said a word in over a year. If they were really in trouble, then Silas will expect no mining to be done on their part, which means no minerals and geodes will be flowing into Desmera any time soon. There will be no more trade, and maybe people won't even care for money anymore. This had him thinking. They…wouldn't care—

Silas blinked when Link waved his hand over his face. "Yo, anyone in there?"

Silas frowned. "That's not necessary."

"I've been calling your name three times now."

"Sorry, it's just…" Silas looked towards the treasury, the last thing his father left hm. He planned to use it wisely. "I have a lot of things on my mind. Too many things are happening and I just can't seem to catch up to it."

Silas rubbed his head, trying to recall how distorted he was upon waking up. For the first time in a very long time, he had a normal, real dream. He can't really recall the details, but knew it had to do about his father.

"For one, I can't believe I'm alive," Silas said incredulously. "The apothecary said Dinraal's horns have greatly stabilized my constitution."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning that…the damage I have done when I've neglected my medicine is gone." It was an ineffable pleasure not to feel that pressure on his chest. There used to be this resistant, like something pushing down his ribs, preventing them from expanding for his lungs to fill up completely. And his back used to hurt too, and his throat always had this itch.

This is what it felt like to be healthily ill once again.

"The weather is so nice," Silas said softly. "I don't think I've ever been thankful for it."

Though it was tainted by the sharp stench of burned wood, he could smell other scents like the oil from the painting, the fragrance of the wild from the broken roof. The catacomb took so much away from him, some of which he may never take back, but this? This was something he will never ever take for granted.

"It's over." Link then bounced the rupees, grinning. "This is way more than the fish king gave me."

Silas frowned at once. He knew that smile. "Hey now, you're not going to spend it all on sake, are you?"

"Nah, what do you take me for?" Link's eyes still held that glint.

"Right. I will speak to Katie later about this." Silas paused. "Assuming that she's coming with you." He ended it as a question, looking at Link who had gone quiet. "Link?"

Link sighed, rubbing the back of his neck with annoyance. "If she wants to. Hell, I don't know what goes on in her tiny head. If she wants to go then I won't stop her."

"What about her beliefs?"

Link shrugged again, but Silas sensed discomfiture in it. "I'm not planning to do what people tell me to do. If she wants to believe then fine, but she better not drive me nuts with it."

Silas felt guilty when he remembered something. "Link, I'm terribly sorry for the tunic."

Link's face soured. "Don't remind me."

"I can't help but feel responsible for what happened. You worked so hard for it."

"Shorty, you're rubbing salt here."

"Ah, I'm sorry."

Link brought out the attire from his inventory. The color was still strong, very clean, if you just ignore the long tear. It only worsened Silas's guilt, but he knew Link wouldn't want to hear it.

"Lastly, I wanted to…" Silas paused, closing his eyes. "Thank you, Link," he whispered.

"You don't have to—"

"Thank you so, so much," Silas uttered, opening his wet eyes. "I-I was so sure, Link, I was so sure we were going to die. I stopped believing you would come. It never occurred to me that you would come back, much less defeat Louis for us."

Link was much different when he didn't appear so confident and cocky. He scratched his head. "Can you just forget about it?"

"I don't think I ever could," Silas said softly, looking out the window. "I…I've always waited for my death. I knew I wouldn't live long enough to see my own children to grow, so I just—I tried to make the most out of my life, you know? I never thought I would die with my people, in my home. I thought—I wanted it to end. And then you came. Our hero."

Link's face darkened. "Silas—"

"Link." Silas stared at him. "Goodness, how can you keep denying it? Why do you keep trying to hide the fact that you're actually a decent person?"

Link was quiet for a moment. "You're just like her," he said quietly, then chuckled coldly, turning his face away. "I keep telling you—you don't want me to be your hero."

"I can't help myself, Link. I don't think you are a hero. I know you are one. I don't simply believe that just because of that mark on your hand or from your sword. I just…believe."

Link stiffened. "You shouldn't."

"I do."

"Silas." Link gritted his teeth, his hands were clenched. Then, he deflated as if the hot air left him. His voice took on a different tone. "I did…something really bad."

"I don't doubt that you have," Silas said softly.

"And you still think I should be a hero?" Link turned to him, eyes dark. "What if I told you I did a lot of messed up shit in my life? What if I told you I ruined people's lives? What if I said that I'm a murderer?"

"I don't think anything you could say would ever change my mind," Silas said calmly. "Even if you ended up being a villain yourself, you'd still be a hero in my eyes." Silas shook his head, almost exasperated. "Link, you saved my town, my life, my sister's life. Desmera…Desmera was hopeless until you stumbled upon it. I knew things would start to change the moment you agreed to stay."

Link eyed him. "And you don't blame me for not being able to save those villagers?"

Silas chuckled. It was hollow and dry. "I blame myself, for my ignorance, for allowing things to get out of control." He paused. "Viktor knew."

"Knew what?"

"Knew about me and Sophia. He knew of our birth subsequent to Father's passing. He kept it a secret this whole time."

Link was impressed. "Didn't expect that from him."

"And now he's gone." Silas felt emotions toiling through him. "You were wrong about him. He never intended to exacerbate my illness just to take control. He did it all to protect me."

Link sighed. "Look—"

"He was a good man," Silas argued. "He really was. He just had a hard time showing it!"

Link ran his hand through his hair. "I get what you're saying, and I know I'm sounding like an ass by saying this but I don't care that he's buried, alright? You need to see it from my side. I'm not going to miss someone like him."

Silas felt his blood simmering, but stopped to question it. Well…. Link had every right to hate Viktor after being mistreated, used, and belittled. It was out of sympathy that Link wasn't just taking joy in the butler's death while the twins still mourned over him.

"He protected me in the end," Silas said, more to himself. "Not just for Father, not just for honor or for duty, but for me, knowing what I was."

Link's face went impassive. His bright eyes were suddenly cold, as they had been from the very beginning. "You know how lucky you are, right?" His voice was steady but it was like thin ice. "You know that, right?"

"I do. I just wish I had known sooner." This life he had, a life of love and safety, a life of acceptation, it was a true blessing. He didn't know he had it till he nearly lost it. He closed his eyes. "I am so very lucky to have had them. Father, Viktor, Grey, even…even Sally. They all worked hard to protect us, to raise us. It would be selfish of me to grief all the time. I know I have to look forward."

"Listen to me, Silas," Link said, seriously. "A lot of people will come after you for this."

"I know. I'm not afraid. Not anymore. I've seen what fear could do to people." Silas shrugged with a smile. "Besides, they'll need to get passed my sister first."

Link chuckled. "I wonder how she'd cut them if they lay a finger on you."

"If she broke man's arm for just simply insulting me, then I'm sure people will think twice before aggressing us." Silas smiled fondly. "My father was very confident in us, and even in our town. He knew our power comes from them after all, and that is why we treat them with respect. I suppose that's why the villagers were willing to accept me. It's all still overwhelming."

Link grunted. "They wouldn't leave me alone. So damn annoying."

"Why can't you see what you've done?" Silas demanded, meeting his eyes. Once, Silas couldn't stand the coldness of those eyes but he found how much he'd grown when he japed Link in the chest. "How can you not see it? Or…wait, is that why you want to leave so bad?"

Link glared at him. "We're done here," he said, turning.

"You don't want to see it," Silas realized. "You don't want to see what you've done. You're still afraid."

Link whirled at him, growling. "I'm not afraid."

Now it was Silas's turn to give him a look, a very flat one.

"I'm not! Want me to break your arm?"

"Now, see, this is the problem," Silas said. "You've always been so callous to others. Is this the kind of person you want to be? Or is it who you have to be?"

"Who cares?" Link's voice was raised, his eyes flared. "Because I don't! Not everyone could be smart and lucky! Not everyone can have what you have!"

"I know," Silas said calmly. "I don't blame you for being mad with me. It must've been very frustrating to see how I took my life for granted while you…"

Silas trailed off when he didn't know how to continue with this. This was a forbidden territory he was stepping on. He found it very difficult to look at Link.

Link was quiet now, his eyes distant.

Silas grimaced when he still heard that hard, snap sound of the whip on the little boy's flesh. He felt a sudden lump in his throat, a deep sadness weighing his heart. There was so much of Link that he didn't know.

Link wasn't born this way. He'd been broken before, and had repaired himself, though some pieces were missing. What nightmares had he suffered that no one knew about? Why did he fear of becoming a hero? Of being a better person?

Why did he think he was a monster?

"Who was that man?" Silas asked lowly. "Why…why was he…"

Link stared at the wall. There didn't seem to be any light in his eyes, no emotion, not even pain. Just…nothing.

Then he turned to the side, and rolled up his shirt a little from the back. From the rays of light that shined down from the broken roof, the silver lines looked like little snakes crisscrossing over his back.

"Not all father's were angels," Link said finally, his voice was so very quiet that Silas strained to hear it. He put down his shirt. His face was hardened, but it was much different than all the times he was simply angry. There was something much deeper, much more than just resentment.

"You know something…" Link started, hesitating. "You're the first person in the world to know about this, you and Agnes."

"I didn't mean to look," Silas said quickly, terrified of this chilling calm about Link. "Really—"

Link made a dismissive gesture. "I can't be a hero," he said. "I can't be a damn hero. Why can't people understand that? You think someone like me has what it takes?"

"Yes," Silas said without thinking. "Yes, I do."

Link turned to him fully, anger lining on his face. "You shouldn't expect anything from me. I could've let your town die, you understand?"

"I don't expect anything from you, Link." Silas smiled gently, then he grasped Link's shoulder. "I just believe in you. Even if you don't believe in yourself."

Link faltered.

"My father always told me that we should never be ashamed of our shortcoming. I always thought I was a disgrace. I was sick, ill-tempered, I couldn't fight, couldn't run, couldn't even defend myself. Sophia couldn't remember, she lacked patience and complexity.

"You know this yourself, of course. Sophia and I, we thought we were Corrupted. We thought we were mistakes by the Goddesses, a bad curse to the family. All the other nobles seemed to think so. I suppose you already know that I've envied you for a while. You just...you seem so perfect."

Link blinked. "Wait, what?" Surprise laughter exploded out from him. Silas flushed, regretting his words immediately. "Wait, what did you say?" Link's laugh doubled.

Silas's flush deepened. "Shut up. That was before!" Link didn't stop laughing though. Silas was worried that he might choke.

Link held up a hand to his ear, leaning forward. "I'm sorry, I think I need to hear that again. Perfect, you say? I'm perfect?"

"You're horrible."

"Nah, before that. I think you said I was incredibly amazing."

"Stop twisting my words!" Silas tried to look stern but failed. He ended up chuckling at his own silliness, his face still hot. "I know better, trust me."

Link shook his head, growing serious. "You think I have things easy on my end?"

"No, of course not." It was good to have this laugh. Whenever there was tension, a good laugh always seemed to take it away. "I know you don't think highly of yourself, and I can be the same in that regard. There is one more important lesson that my father taught us." He eyed Link. Link's smile vanished. "Our pieces may be broken. We may have a lot of faults and we may be Corrupt, but that doesn't mean we are not Complete. We are Complete, Link. This…this is the lesson I've learned from all of this."

Link closed his eyes, then he turned away.

"Link," Silas said softly with a kind smile. "Link, you are…a good person."

Link stiffened.

"I'm proud to have you as a friend. You will always be a friend to me. Granted, you could be a better friend, but you are not a monster, Link."

"We should go see the others," Link said without emotion, walking out the door without turning back.

Silas figured that it would take time for Link to see the truth. Someone like him wasn't incorrigible; he could change. No, he had changed, though it was small. There was simply no doubt in Silas's mind about Link's fate. Only he could save them from all this.

Silas was glad it was Link. He was so thankful that Link came here, he was so glad to have tolerated Link's obloquy long enough to know that there was something good in him.

Katie is all he has now, Silas thought as he finally moved to the door. Goddesses guide them both.

Silas locked the safe, struggled to cover it with soot before returning the charred painting back on. He'll have to speak of this with Grey later. He walked to the door, then paused as he turned back to see the empty study with its black walls, soot-carpeted ground. This manor was an empty husk. He knew he could never live here ever again. There were too many ghosts, too many painful memories. Sophia would agree with him on that.

Lawrence and Sally worked hard to keep them safe, forging a deed, fooling Tristan just so Silas could have this. It made him feel guilty, but he already made up his mind. He should've done that from the very start instead of emotionally tormenting himself, slowly driving himself to the edge. How had he convinced himself to live here?

As he walked towards the door, he thought of the conversations he had with his father here, he thought of the pride on Lawrence when Silas returned home. It was unlike anything Silas ever thought. Palpable emotions tumbled through his chest, but there was joy in his pain. Silas smiled. He was proud of his family; he was blessed for it.

They weren't Corrupted, as Louis had insisted. They weren't tainted with greed. His father hadn't abandoned them even when they could've ruined his reputation and wealth. He didn't take them in simply to secure his house. He just wanted to protect them from people.

I am a Haidrund, Silas thought determinedly. He was a Haidrund to his bone. His blood may not be pure, but he was a noble to his heart.

He felt assured. Since he learned the truth, his thoughts have been at constant war with each other. He wondered if he could still lead his town or leave them for some other noble. He obsessively thought of it time and time again over whether he was good enough, if someone like him could still make a difference.

It was comforting to put those doubts to rest. They will come back, he knew. They always do, but he held a firm resolute to counter them. He won't let them ruin him, not when he had a job to do.

Looking at this room now, he saw just how much it meant to him before. There'd once been a nice carpet, a couch of Lynel fur at the side of the wall. A large bookcase opposite of it. There was a cabinet for bottles though Viktor had it emptied out long ago. And there had been a desk, his father behind it, scribbling away, eyes firm in concentration. Even when he was tired, he still held himself in a strong air of command.

Silas could see him now. A man who had made many mistakes. A man who still carried on regardless of those mistakes. A man who was a trueborn noble, and raised his bastards to be his future. Despite being broken with grief and loss, abandoned by his brother, mocked by his brethren, Lawrence kept on fighting on his own. He'd been afraid for his children, but his confidence in them overcame his doubts. He trusted them.

"I love you, sir," Silas said, tears squeezing out from his eyes. He smiled. "I love you."

Lawrence looked at him, and smiled broadly. There was warmth in his eyes. He stood up straight in a dignified manner, and though he could easily be intimidating if he wished, there was kindness in his smile. Love.

"Silas, are you coming?" his sister called out.

Silas turned to her then back to the room to find it empty of furniture, empty of his father. He closed the door behind him, wiping his tears before rejoining his sister. Her eyes were rimmed red, her nose a cherry, but she looked better, a lot better.

"He's watching us," Silas said quietly as they walked.

"Who?"

"Father. I know he is." Up ahead, Link walked in silence with Katie at his side. There was tension between them, an awkwardness that they still haven't dispelled. He hoped, he truly hoped, they would come to amends. "I never should have tried to change you, Sophia."

"What's this about?" she asked.

"I wanted you to be a proper Lady," Silas admitted, flushing at the foolishness. "I've always talked about how unnatural your behavior is."

"It is."

"No, it isn't. This is who you are." He looked at her sincerely. "I don't want you to ever change for anyone. I don't care if you're not proper, or if you refuse gowns. I shouldn't have made you think that there was something wrong with you."

She still appeared confused. "I don't…I don't know…"

"It's fine. It will take a while but just know that I like you exactly as you are now." He smiled assuring. "But you should know that you shouldn't hide yourself in the shadows all the time. I know it gets lonely."

"It's not that bad." She shrugged. "I don't mind being in your shadow."

Silas frowned, confused at the concept of it. "You know that most of the disputes among noble family come from siblings overshadowed by the eldest?"

"I am the eldest. Don't think I forget that."

"By five minutes," he said flatly. "You are my senior by five minutes."

"Doesn't matter. And in my opinion being in the Shadow of My Kin is a good thing. It's not dark, and I'll be able to watch your back."

He beamed at that. "And I'll watch yours."

She shared his smile. "Besides, I don't think I could be alone." She looked at Link and Katie. "I don't need to worry about being a Lady. Actually…we aren't nobles, are we?"

"Maybe that's a good thing. We can be anything we want."

"I already know what I am. What about you?"

"I fancy myself as a businessman first and foremost."

She smiled, pulling his cheek hard enough to drag his face. "Yes, a very chatty one. How do you keep people entertained when all you do is run your mouth?"

"Sophia!" he whined, pulling away from her and rubbing the sting on his cheek. She laughed, and he felt his lips pull back. It was the best sound in the world, hearing his twin laugh. It sounded so rare. He needed to change that.

And he will change it.

---

If Link was serious about going to Death Mountain, then he ought to talk to Grey. Silas told him the captain often coursed with the mountainous beasts, so he'll likely give some useful tips along with a safe way to get there.

The twins walked side by side, Sophia spoke wistfully of how she will miss the manor. Those two looked more alike than anytime Link had ever seen them. He could feel himself getting pugnacious for some reason. Might be the effects of Louis's powers or something.

He sighed out heavily. As strange as it was, he didn't find joy in his heavy pockets. There was this thing that was constantly bugging him, this tug on his chest he couldn't describe.

They finally left the manor. He wouldn't miss it. It died a long time ago, and it was high time its Lord saw that.

His eyes flickered over to where Katie fluttered. They hadn't spoken much since he woke up. All she did was make sure he didn't accidently punch someone for thanking him.

He gritted his teeth at that. Hell and heaven, how does this keep happening?

I should've left a long time ago. Why did I have to bring myself into this?

It was all for nothing too. Katie assured him they could stitch it up, but he didn't know if that would be effective. He wasn't keen on trying it out when they get to the mountain. One wrong move and he'd be burnt to a crisp.

And then there was Misko, the little bitch who stole Ruto's medal. He freed the king, basically brought doom to Desmera, and stole the cap from the red tunic. Link would've loved to snap his neck to thank him for the trouble.

Once they were in the weald, he filled his lungs with fresh air. Nothing like the beauty of nature to cool your mind. He didn't realize how he took it for granted. In the first days prior to his recovery, he felt like a child again, ogling at the wilderness, his wanderlust thriving for it. Were the flowers always this pretty? Was the sky always that blue? Is it normal not to feel the persistent voices slowly draining your sanity?

Words and days, the catacomb messed him up.

It would take a while to get it out of his system. He still felt out of sync with this world. Walking did help, silence too. The weather was so pleasant even though the sun was glaring down at them like an angry eye. He still remembered how the weather often liked to shift from hot and cold like a woman deciding between clothes. What fun that was.

He paused. The twins stopped when they saw he wasn't following. "Link, everything okay?" Silas asked.

"Yeah," Link replied, trying not to look bothered. "Say, you two go on ahead. There's something I want to check out."

The twins exchanged looks. "Is something wrong?" Silas asked.

"No, just go. I'll catch up."

Sophia gave him a strange look, about to ask for an elaboration, but her brother led her away. Link didn't turn at Katie, who decided to stay for some reason. He couldn't, for the love of him, understand the point of her dedication.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

He didn't answer her. He took a circuitous way at the side of the manor, heading east. The mountain slopped down sharply with brushes sprouting and leaves fluttering in his eyes. Link took caution at the incline, taking slow, stuttered steps before running fast all the way down. At the bottom, he found the figure who he saw from the window while the twins were searching through their butler's room.

Link whistled. "Now how is a mad bastard like you still alive?" Normally, he'd be annoyed but he was impressed.

The man leaning on the tree chuckled bitterly. "Old habits," Banard replied, smiling at Katie's stunned color. "Miss me?"

"Missed you?!" Katie snapped. "We killed you!"

"Actually, you just left me behind to bleed to death, which is far worse than just killing me," the man said as a matter of fact.

"How did you survive?" she demanded. "The place was going under! You were hit with the Master Sword!"

Link was puzzled to see that Banard's wound, the gash from one shoulder across the torso, was still in bad shape. The man held a hand to the shoulder, pressing a cloth against it. A normal man would have bled to death, or die from an infection.

And a normal man wouldn't go so far to kill them all, not by the orders of a noble that is. Certainly not for money. Considering how he survived the catacombs all on his own, considering how he took that final stand with Link when the whole place was going under…

And to still be alive, wounded, barely breathing but alive?

"You…" Link's eyes darkened. "You aren't a Hylian, are you?"

Banard smiled. The sun gleaned and at just the right angle, Link saw those eyes glitter red. "Well, that's the plan," the man said, straightening up. "Boy you really messed up my plans here. I didn't even think you'd show up of all people."

Katie didn't notice the inhuman trait of Banard, only annoyed that he was still breathing. "You nearly destroyed Desmera!"

"You aren't working for Tristan at all," Link said, eyes narrowed.

Banard snorted, wincing as he shifted his weight so that he was fully facing them. Mud clung to his shirt, dried and flaking. "You think I'd waste my talent for that old drunk? Hell, I would've killed him if he didn't give me a little money on the side."

"You wanted Louis resurrected," Katie said, flickering pink. "Why?"

"I didn't think someone like him existed but opportunities, you know? For one thing, you, boy, weren't supposed to kill him."

"Then who?" Link demanded.

Banard cocked his head to the side, acting as if he was thinking over whether Link deserved to know or not. "Let's just say that some infamous general should've been the one to clean up this mess."

Link felt his blood cold. "You serious?"

"Hey, some here don't want him around." Banard shrugged. "Whether Louis or you could beat him or not that's no concern of mine or my master. But, ah, look at me blabbering. Say, you want me to get you recommended in the Silver Company? I know men who'd pay diamonds to hire ya."

The man smiled at him, his silver earring glinting in the sunlight. Though Link knew for sure the mercenary held no loyalty for that little symbol, he didn't understand what Banard was hinting at.

"No thanks. I'm good."

"Smart." Banard pushed himself off from the tree, limping. His sword was his support stick. He looked up, sweat gleaning on his forehead. "There's some big shit happening with the higher ups. Something real big."

Link's frown deepened. "I thought you guys don't fight with each other."

"Oh, we do. We're just good at hiding it, like a bunch of noblewomen, all smiling and kissing cheek. Then you'll find a couple of corpses here and there. But its not that this time." Banard's eyes lost the mirth in them. Those eyes that glinted red. "Someone wants to take over. The whole company might change. Try to keep your distance from them. My guys don't play around."

Banard walked passed Link, stopping but didn't turn. "That sword's no game," he said softly. "It's been days and this wound doesn't want to close up properly."

"It should be infected!" Katie exclaimed. "You should be dead."

Link stared at Banard, who had his leg all nice and healed even when Link had stabbed right through the bone.

"You best watch yourself, kid," the man said coldly. "The world's going to take a big tumble that you never seen before. It'll end up like our home." Banard walked away, waving a hand. "Take care you two. Love to see you again."

"We should tell Grey," Katie said when the man was several paces away. "We have to get him arrested for what he did!"

Link looked at Banard's fading back. He shook his head instantly. "No."

"Link, are you serious?"

"He's way too strong for them."

"He's weak though!"

"Not weak enough to kill a lot of men, sprit. You think Silas could afford to have something like that now?" Link turned around. "Besides, if I ever see him again, I'll make sure he won't walk away the second time."

They started to head back to town. The weald was like a green and brown canvas. On some spots you have the treacherous slopes that have thick shrubs concealing it, then you have some spots with lush green, boulders growing mosses, great oak tree. Sometimes you forget that you're even on a mountain, which is dangerous because if you allow the surroundings to lull your mind, you'll find yourself tumbling down a slope or a cliff and snapping your neck into two.

Link wanted to go out into the world. He wanted to get out Desmera, this small, insufferable town, and continue his adventure.

"I can't believe he's still alive," Katie marveled with some grudging respect. "He should've been too weak to move! I mean really, a wound like that should've killed anyone! How strong is he?"

Link shrugged absently. He wasn't in a mood for conversations. He just couldn't seem to get the discussion he had with Silas out from his head. When Link saw him for the first time, he took Silas to be a weak, spineless, naïve, idealistic fool. A lot has changed since then, and now looking at Silas Link could see that this town was in good hands. Even if the world goes to shit, Desmera will find a way to stand.

Complete. We are Complete, he says.

He should laugh at that, he should've mocked it, but the way Silas looked at him with the same adulation like in the beginning…Link only has himself to mock. He did it again.

Link balled his hands. I'm not a hero. I'm can't…I can't.

Stupid, sick bastard. Link wished he never met him otherwise he wouldn't be feeling like this now. He should be overjoyed to leave Desmera, leave the Haidrunds and all their pitiful villagers.

"L-Link, slow down!"

Why did you have to do it? Why did you bother, you idiot?!

He had forgotten himself. In that moment, he forgot himself, and tried to be someone else. That was dangerous, very dangerous.

You thought you were a hero? You think you're a good person?

You're a terrible person. Never forget it. Never.

That was his safe spot. This was the only thing he knew for sure. The old scars started to burn, itching. This was the last time. This would be the last time he did something this foolish. It wasn't his problem if people get themselves killed. What happened to Desmera should be a wake up call for all those who never picked up a weapon before.

This is their problem. Not yours. Not yours dammit.

"Link!"

Link didn't see the slope until it was too late. It wasn't as steep nor was it a long fall, but with his pace combined with the rough footing, he lost his balance. First, he fell to side then slid down that way. A stone waylaid him, sharply bumping and making him tumble once then twice. Finally, he got his feet under him and got up to quickly stumble down the last steps.

He winced at the bruise on his side, his temper coming up hot and red.

He never showed anyone the reminders on his back. Never in his life. Whenever him and his gang went swimming, he always had his shirt on. When he lay with a woman, it was often nice and dark and, well, he would be gone by the morning so there was no risk in finding out.

He expected pity, he was prepared to defend himself, but there was pain in Silas's eyes, as if he felt every lash of the whip himself. That…that didn't sit well with Link.

Silas was…is a good guy. Just like Ruto. He could be dense in the head, rash in his judgment, and often weak-minded when it came to his own strength…but Link can't hate him. You can't hate someone like Silas.

Maybe that's why Link showed it to him, knowing that Silas would understand how Link's story had started. If someone really had to know Link's secret, he would rather be it that fidgety, goody noble.

"Link…are you okay?"

Link closed his eyes. Since he started this journey to find Agnes, there were a lot of firsts. First time he told someone he couldn't read, first time he trusted someone to have his back in battle, first time he ever showed vulnerability, first time helping others, first time realizing that selfless people existed in the world.

The horizons in his mind seem to expand before him, showing how small and pitiful his life had been before. He'd been living on an island and suddenly introduced to a whole continent. And he hadn't been prepared for it.

"Link?" He could feel her warmth on his face, like a woman's touch.

It had been the very first time he ever let someone show him how to survive.

"I hate this," he said. "I hate it."

"Link?"

He planned to leave town when he woke up, leave before Katie could check on him, before Silas woke up, before anyone could realize he was gone. He just wanted to get away from this place, away from the expectation, away from good people that made him want more from himself.

You're just running away, Ruto said in his head.

He couldn't leave though, not without finding Frank. You could imagine how he felt when he found the old man beginning to rot, blood dry on his face as he lay face flat on the streets where people avoided him, too afraid to get near him even after his death.

Link just…felt numb when he saw the old man.

Your fault, old man, Link thought when he took the man by the back of his shirt to drag him away from the public eye. You wanted to help these people. You just had to die with them. Look what happened.

Link had found Frank on the second day of his recovery, but he couldn't bury him since it had been late at night and the weather chilled the soil to be as hard as stone. Once he finished the job, he went to get a memento and got back in time to see the twins. Another disaster. He wanted to leave without saying goodbye. Goodbyes were always the hardest.

Link opened his eyes, his face impassive as he got up and dusted himself. "Are you staying here?" he asked hoarsely. It's been dancing over their heads like a buzzing fly. He just wanted to get rid of it.

He figured she would reply in a heartbeat but she hesitated. "I…"

For some reason, that angered him. "Stay then," he spat. "Stay. I don't care." He turned around sharply, feeling bruised by the rough tumble.

Katie went at his face. "Hey, dummy, you're not getting rid of me that easy! I didn't tolerate you for this long just so you could tell me to go away!"

"Why should I let you come with me?" he snapped.

She snorted. "I don't need your permission. Where the sword goes, I go! Besides, I want to see Death Mountain! I didn't help you get your tunic so you could ditch me!"

He was still angry. The doubts and irritation that tumbled in him found an outlet. He just wanted to yell at her, but stopped himself, clenching his teeth down. Now that he got a taste of dark magic, he didn't know if his anger was natural or not. Rather than find out, he turned away, not entirely trusting himself to express his frustration.

From the corner of his eyes, he saw a soft glow of yellow. "And I made a promise…to never leave you."

He chuckled coldly. "Doesn't matter about promises. Promises are made to be broken."

"Hey, I plan to keep my promises," she said stiffly, fluttering up and down. "And not even a thank you for saving your life back there? Even you have to admit, I deserve a little appreciation!"

"Thanks."

"Your welcome. Now—" She paused. "Pardon?"

He turned away, ignoring how his face heated up. "Let's get going," he said almost hastily.

"Whoa, hey, hold on there! You can't just mutter that and change the subject!" she complained. "Say it louder!"

"You really want to come with me?"

"Don't change the subject!"

"I'm serious." He stopped, eyeing her. "I'm not going to be what you want me to be. From now on, it's going to be about Agnes."

She paused. "It's been that way since the beginning. What's changed?"

Me, he realized without a thought.

I've changed.

The changes were subtle no doubt, but he knew it to be true. He did change. He would never have let anyone get close to him. He would never give this trust to anyone.

His hand began to itch. He tried to ignore it, but the feeling was insistent, and the mantic weight on his back grew considerably.

"I'm not a hero," he said steadily. "You can believe what you want, I can't bother myself to stop you, but don't want to hear none of that stupid stuff from you."

"Alright," she said. "But there's a condition with me coming."

He gave a surprised laugh. "A condition? Sprit, I'm not asking you to come. It's the other way around."

"I want you to trust me," she said firmly, going down his eye level. "I want to come with you, and I want to help you, but you have to try and put some faith in me first."

"Are you blind?" he hissed, and began to walk. "I already did, or you really haven't noticed? Now you going to keep slowing me down, or what?"

She wasn't slowing him down at all. Her color beamed.

Link was about to protest how much of an eyesore he found her color to be when he stopped. Something didn't feel right. For once, Katie shut up without him having to tell her.

The sun seemed…far enough for him, enough to dim the world around them. A breeze past by, bringing in that faint scent of blood and ashes. With it, Link felt a very familiar sensation.

A chill. A silver traveling up his spine, straightening the hairs on the back of his neck.

Oh, you have GOT to be kidding me.

"Seems Banard," Link said, gritting his teeth, "isn't the only one who survived the bucket." Katie neared him, glowing white at the center while the rest shrouded in determined yellow.

The narrowed trees surrounded him with long shadows behind. And those shadows shifted. Soupy mists streamed from the ground.

"Come out then!" Link snapped, pulling out his sword. "Come on, you sons of bitches! You wanna finish this once and for all?"

Like dried paint, the shadows from the trees peeled off, melting from the ground and slowly, deliberately, rising up into familiar forms. However, this time, these forms were much smaller, softer than before.

"Please…please forgive us." This voice spoke all around him, in a voice that didn't sound neither male or female. Pitched and multitudinous, as it came from several figures.

Link stopped cold in his tracks, the Master Sword bringing light to the area that had gone very dark now. "You…you can talk?"

"Please forgive us," they whispered, seeming all to speak as one. Their red eyes punctured through the day, though they were pointed upwards in remorse, dim and penitent.

Katie fluttered a little away from Link. "Forgive you?" she uttered. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"

One shadow formed in front of them, though it was away from the Master Sword's reach. The shadow seemed much shorter than Silas, head bowed, hands wrung. "We…we never meant it," it whispered. The voice didn't come from it though, but continued to resonate through the area. "We…we couldn't stop."

"That so?" Link growled, trying to get over his shock. He'd been slaughtering these things ever since they showed up. Now they spoke all of a sudden?

Katie fluttered up and down, hot with red. "You are monsters! That's what you are!" Her color brightened so hot that Link winced. "How dare you ask for forgiveness! How dare you! Go down right now and say that to every villager that has to bury their family!"

The shadow shrunk a little, mists streamed off its form. It looked as if it will dissipate out of shame.

"If you really didn't want to hurt Desmera," Katie growled, "then you should've tried to stop Louis!"

The shadow snapped its head up, eyes glowing. "We have!" it cried out. "We-we sent out warnings but…but no one listened."

Link frowned, about to give this little bastard—whatever the hell it is—a piece of his mind, until he paused. It continued to echo into his head, in the exact voice that sounded around him.

Hero, will you save us?

"The dreams," he said lowly.

Hero, will you doom us?

"Those nightmares," he said, turning to the shadow, "the one everyone's been having. That was from you?"

The shadow as well as the others forming around them all nodded. "Yes," it said softly. "Mustering our gathered strength, we have tried to…to warn people of Desmera about Louis. As he grows stronger, so have we and desperation seized us."

"That's why the dreams kept getting stronger and clearer," Katie said, her color diluted. "You…were trying to scare us away. That would've spoiled Louis's entire plan!"

"Once you have left this place, he would not have touched you. None of us would, as we derive from his power, and his powers couldn't reach far from this land so long as he is imprisoned," the shadow explained, then its form seemed to shrivel, as if a powerful gust of wind struck it. "But it was too late. Louis rose and he…he used us. He used us to hurt you. We are sorry."

Despite the sorrow in their voice, Link had a hard time letting go of his anger. "Why couldn't you just leave?" he demanded, sharply gesturing to the town. The shadow flinched back. "If you didn't want to hurt anyone, then why didn't you just leave this place?"

"Because they couldn't," Katie said, sounding pained. "Louis's power was like magnet to you, wasn't it? You had to obey him even if you didn't want to."

One shadow reformed and another, seeming to surround him. The one in front of him bowed its strange, oblong head. "Dear fairy, you are most wise. We are sacrifices to darkness, Corrupted beyond redemption. As lost sheep, we do not see light, only darkness. And so, we have no other choice but to rise with Louis and obey his every command."

"He is—well, was a dark being." Katie fluttered up near the shadow, despite Link hissing at her not to. "So are you, in a way."

The shadow turned over to Link, and the rest of them did as well. He then thought of his nightmares, of those things immuring him, chanting out that cursed chant. "Hero," it whispered.

"I'm not a hero," Link growled, waving his sword at it. The shadow flounced, and changed. It grew narrower, eyes sharper, claws sprouting from the ends of its hands. A mouth even grew wide to expose teeth.

Katie cried out, jerking back towards Link.

Link scoffed, getting ready for a battle. "So much for sorry," he snapped.

Then the shadow blinked, as if coming to its senses. The rest of them did as well and backed away, reverting back to humanoid shapes. "I-I apologize," it said earnestly. "The Sword's power brings out the darkness in us. That is why we attack you without thought."

Link snorted but he didn't lower his sword.

"Please, Green One," the shadows spoke sincerely. "We only have gratitude for your victory. You saved this land."

"Yeah, after you shits nearly destroyed it." Link clenched his teeth. "You…you shitheads, you killed Frank."

The shadows said nothing, only bowing their heads in shameful silence.

Link took in a deep breath to calm the tempest building up in him. "Why are you even here? What do you want from me?"

"We…we ask for a request…"

"A request?" Link mused, chuckling sourly. "So you get to kill off the town, get to ambush me, and now you want a favor?"

The shadow's form wavered. Wisps of smoke hissed off from its form, and it seemed to struggle to hold itself together. "Yes, you are….you are more than right. Our crimes do not excuse us. We have…we have committed so much atrocities that we deserve to keep suffering."

"Glad you own up to it," Link said coldly, then turned. "Now I have other plans to do." He stopped, glaring at the fairy who appeared in front of him.

"Link, please, we have to at least hear them out."

"What? Do you know what they did?"

"Of course but they're suffering, Link!"

"Good. Let them keep suffering," he spat, and kept on walking. He forced to stop once more when that shadow reformed from the ground, slower though so it wouldn't startle him enough to attack. "You want me to cut you? Is that it?"

The shadow flinched. "Pl-please, hero—um, Link, please. You must free us."

"Why should I?"

"So that we may never be used by another monster like Louis," the shadow said, hesitating before lifting up its hand. Mists steamed off it to show it as a lump at first, then the mists cleared to show an inky hand. "We may deserve this but there will be innocents hurt in our rampage. Please, do not let another crisis repeat itself again. Please do not let us be used by another. Please."

Link let out a sharp breath. "Okay then, line up. I'll finish you off one by one." At that, the rest of the shadows vanished, leaving only the lone shadow behind and even that one looked as if struggled not to follow its brethren. "Or not."

The shadow whimpered. "Not…not like this please. I wish not to harm you." This time, when it spoke, its voice appeared to come directly from it. Though it had no mouth to speak from, the voice sounded a little male. "There is only way to free us, to free every shadow in this world, the only way to ensure that we will never be used by an ambitious dark being."

Slowly, the shadow approached him. Link didn't put away his sword but he did lower it.

It seemed much taller, straightening itself up. More shadows returned back, and their forms were a little crisper.

"Find and destroy the one you call General Charles." Their voices became softer now, a breathless breeze in the air.

Katie paused. "You mean Chabrous?"

At once, the shadows form shifted. Link brought up his sword, taking his stance as the same silhouettes transmogrified into the same beings that had brought Desmera to its knees.

"Do not say his name!" they all shouted, voices panning into the distance. "He can hear it, as surely as it is whispered into his ear! Do not say his true name!"

"Okay, okay!" Link snapped. "Calm your asses down or I'll be cutting you all into two!"

They did relax and when they did, they seemed apologetic. The lone shadow was wise enough to keep its distance. "Ah… we are sorry. Will you destroy that…that creature, Link?"

Link paused, thinking of Mathilda and how the Zora's Domain nearly fell before him. Louis succeeded in some ways, and he'd been an utter nightmare. These shadows were asking him to defeat the source of those two's powers, the very puppet master himself, the true essence of Corruption.

"I…" Link worked the sounds in his mouth, hating how small this request made him feel, hating how a voice in his head shouted strongly against it. "I'll think about it."

The shadow accepted his answer with a nod. "Thank you. Thank you for stopping us and slaying Louis. Thank you…Shadow Slayer."

Then they simply turned to smoke, fluttering away in the wind and scattering in the wilderness of the weald.

---

Katie shivered.

She couldn't stop shivering until they finally left the weald, with those…shadows behind. Goddesses, she couldn't stop glowing blue. How horrific to think those things are actually sentimental. They grieved for Desmera's people. How had they felt when they've been killing them, seemingly without any control?

Katie tried to forget about it, especially the request they've asked. Slay Charles.

Even Link hesitated on it.

He's grieving over Frank, she thought, blue deepening.

There hadn't been any shock on Link's face when he found his friend dead, just an emotionless expression. It was almost cold of him.

A cold fist seemed to wrap around her when she saw the corpse itself. It wasn't her first time seeing a dead body, and his looked better than the others. But to know the person yourself and see what had happened to them…

Thankfully, she didn't seem him die in front of her. She'd been having a hard time flying with the thought of him dragging her down.

Link couldn't hide away from the town forever, not when they needed to prepare. As soon as people saw him, they immediately congregated over to him, and didn't back off when Link jilted them. This boy didn't understand. He saved their lives. They will forever be grateful.

"It's the Shadow Slayer!"

"The hero!"

"Thank you for saving us!"

"Gah, get lost! I'm busy!" Link snapped.

This excited her. Hero of Hatino, the Honor of the Zoras and now Shadow Slayer! His fame was growing! Soon, everyone in the kingdom will know his name.

The guards were there to keep back the fervent crowd back. Silas was smiling, and so was his sister. They looked much better now that they were away from the gloom of their manor. It was so saddening to see what had become of the Haidrund's home. Katie couldn't help but think of her own home, her small red tower, and Hyrule Castle.

The captain waited for them under the shade of a green canopy outside of the barracks. Soldiers moved about, carrying crates from the other villages. An impromptu stable was made to keep the horses in place. The captain wasn't the only one there, but Andrew as well, and the two were in a heated discussion.

"You do realize that if this doesn't heal right, it'll end up crooked?" Grey looked incredibly frustrated. "Why can't you listen to the apothecary?"

"Why can't you sod off and leave me be?" Andrew snarled. "I can take care of myself!"

A confused line drew between Sophia's eyebrows, and Katie reminded her quick before she strolled up to them.

It took time before Silas pacified them. He gave Andrew a reproachful look. "Why aren't you resting?"

"Because I don't want to," Andrew said querulously. "You see the kind of people they're hailing in? I can't get any sleep with them crying and shouting in their sleep!"

"I don't have time for this," Link cut them off. "Look, I'll make this short. I'm leaving now and I want to know how I can get to the Gorons."

Grey turned to him, surprised. "Just like that? What about supplies?"

"I got everything I need," Link said.

"Yeah, we could really use a map though," Katie said. "If you could tell us any safe routes we should take—"

"I want to get there quick!" Link complained.

"And I want to get there safe," she said testily.

"I have both," the captain said, drawing their attention back.

He glanced at Andrew who pointedly ignored him and spoke to the twins instead. The captain hid his annoyance well and led Link and Katie at the desk from where he spoke to the other soldiers. He had someone fetch them a quill and ink, as well as a map.

As he marked the map, he made some remarks about the Gorons. They were a proud tribe, serious in their traditions and beliefs. While they respect revelers and adventurers, they can get real nasty if you start disrespecting their custom.

Grey said this last part directly towards Link.

"What are you looking at me for?"

"You know why," Grey said flatly.

"You think I like getting myself into trouble?"

"Yes. Yes, you do."

Link could've defended himself in mock innocence, but he chuckled, shrugging. "Sometimes, okay?"

Grey only sighed, almost helplessly, then went on to make notes on the map, drawing lines and X's. "Now there's a village nearly a week away. It's more of a rocky valley. Could be helpful."

"Can handle things on my own, thanks," Link said.

Grey sprinkled a generous amount of pounce on the parchment paper so the ink could dry. He turned the paper upward to pat away the excess before rolling up and handing it to Link.

"It won't be a bad idea to drop in those villages," Grey advised. "It's going to be a rough road."

"I don't need anyone's help."

Grey's mouth went to a thin line, but Katie shook her head quickly. Link was prone to be a jerk first thing in the morning. Since he wouldn't bother paying attention to the map, Katie took it upon herself to ask the necessary questions.

A man walked towards them just as they finished wrapping up. The guards at the perimeter allowed him to pass. Hugo waved a hand, wearing a coat that suited the weather. "So, you plan to depart now?"

"Looks like it," Link grunted, shoving the parchment into his bag.

"Come to think of it, Hugo," Katie said, "how did you get the other villages to come help you? How did you even reach them?"

The tall man suddenly looked very tired, as if the thought of it was enervating. "It was on the very skin of my teeth, Miss Katie," he said. "Those shadows had started to follow me on the first few nights, doing little but unnerving me."

"They didn't touch you at all?" Link said with a frown.

"Keep in mind that this was much before, when they were more prone to stay as silent ghosts. In any case, I've been hunted by monsters, spent days in caves and nearly lost my life on several occasion. And even when I arrived to the village, I've almost been refused to meet with their leaders."

Link whistled. "Shit."

"My reputation had been, as you might say, ultimately tarnished from my imprisonment," Hugo said, although he didn't seem too bothered by it. "It was only out of the mercy of the Goddesses that I managed to meet a reasonable chief who listened to my concerns. They themselves were confused at not hearing anything from Desmera, some even sent out scouts who, as you might imagine, never came back."

"We don't even know how to thank you," Grey said reverently. "Really."

"I felt the most responsible for my false accusation," Hugo said. "I am glad to be of service once again."

Link shifted his inventory pouch. "Well, it's been great, but I gotta go."

"I hear you're on your way to Death Mountain, correct?" Hugo asked, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "You know it's an awful long way without a horse."

"The village I told you about, I think I has a farm," Grey added in.

Hugo shook his head. "No, you can take my horse," he offered. "It's yours, for what you've done for us."

Though the munificence was flattering, Katie didn't feel too good about it. They had a horse, a beautiful horse with reddish skin and white mane, a gift from a dear friend.

"That is of course," the detective said, his eyes glinted. "You want your old steel back?"

Katie brightened. "You know where Epona is?"

"I've asked around. You two came here after your red mane ran off, correct?"

"Yeah," Link said slowly, his eyes narrowing. "Why were you asking around?"

"The habit of an investigator, I apologize. I am oft to research those I find interesting." Hugo waved his hand, as if quickly hoping to shoo away the topic. "Anyways, I have heard that unruly men found a strong, recalcitrant red mane quite some time ago. It is on the far east of that village the captain spoke about."

A dark shadow crossed the captain's face. "I've been hearing illegal acts happening there."

"Nothing we can't handle," Katie chirped. "Are you sure about this information, Hugo?"

"I can't say for sure, Miss Katie. It's only a theory, but the time you lost your mane and the time that she was found does make my theory plausible. If you do wish for a steel now, however, I will be more than happy to give you mine."

And that meant abandoning Epona. True, they would save time by taking Hugo's offer and Epona might not even be with those questionable men anymore, but still. Katie was attached to the horse. Ruto had given the mane to them after all.

"Link," Katie said, almost pleading.

"I should say that this path might stray you a little from your journey," Hugo added. "I can mark it on your map if you do wish to go."

Katie glowed softly when Link ruminated over it. They couldn't abandon Epona. Poor horse. She must have been frightened. It was so long since they saw her.

"Please, Link," Katie said. "We can't leave her out there. Think about it if it was Agnes."

Link gave her a look to show how he didn't appreciate that. He looked at Hugo, then saw Katie brightening with some red.

Link dragged a hand over his face in a groan.

"Ruto gave her to us!" Katie snapped. "You can't just leave our horse out there! What would Ruto think?"

"She might think to give me money next time."

"Link."

"Oh my days, alright!" Link scowled, ruffling through his things and shoved a rolled map to Hugo's chest. "Mark it down before I change my mind."

Hugo obliged. Once they were done, they reunited with the others. Sophia spoke to Andrew, looking radiant in her wide smile and laugh. Silas was smiling as well. Katie was about to bother Andrew with questions, lots of questions. She really needed to know how was it like. How were his senses? Was it really true that cat hated dogs by nature? Could he understand other animals?

It was until they heard someone very familiar.

"Fresh tea! Get your fresh tea here!"

She gasped. "Is that…?"

Link gob smacked, ignored the twins to go check out the source of the sound. In the southern district, there used to be columns of stalls and shops. Only a few merchants set up their tents, trying their luck in Desmera. One of the merchants was someone the two were well acquainted with.

Link laughed. "Beedle, my man!"

Beedle's mood instantly soured. "Oh, it's you."

"Hey, what's with the cold shoulder?"

"Oh, I don't know. The last time we met you tried to threaten me to give you water bombs."

"Yeah, yeah, water under the bridge. I'm not holding anything to you."

Beedle arched an eyebrow. "You forgive me?"

"Well, yeah," Link said as if it were obvious. "I remember the prices you put on them. Three-fifty for five? I'd have knocked your teeth out the back of your head."

Beedle only glared at him, but his eyes brightened when he saw Katie. Much to Link's chagrin, he asked how Katie had been.

Katie glowed with some orange. "I'm fine. It's been so long since we've seen you!"

Beedle nodded, about to converse until he saw Silas. He gaped, bowing a bit awkwardly with his large pack strapped to his back. "Your Lordship! It's an honor! Oh, I have many things to show you!"

Silas smiled kindly. "That's not necessary—"

"I have all sorts of potions from red to green, silk, bottles, necklaces, you name it! Can I interest you in some herbal tea? For five rupees only!"

Silas's eyes widened but not at anything Beedle had listed down. "Is that a three horned beetle neck?"

The merchant's eyes glinted, and he glanced at the bottle, which held the specimen. "Why, yes it is! Though not on sell, I'm afraid. He does give me good luck though."

"I'll say." Silas was fascinated, looking more like the Lord Link and Katie had met on the first day of Desmera. He held the bottle when given the permission. "It's so rare! I've never thought to see one so early in the season!" Silas paused, putting the bottle down when he remembered himself. "I mean—that is to say it's erm interesting and—"

Grey chuckled softly, patting him on the back. "No one's judging you, son."

"Except for me." Andrew looked disgusted, paling a bit when the beetle scratched its long legs against its prison. Katie glinted green.

"And me," Link agreed, turning his nose. "How could you carry that thing around? And then you wonder why you don't have a girl!" Link sighed as if dismayed by this, but then smirked, and shoved Sophia forward. "Well, lucky for you, I have someone here who is perfect! Remember what I said about getting a shy and awkward girl? You can't go wrong with her!"

Link didn't seem to notice or care for the looks he got from Silas, Andrew, and Grey. Sophia just looked confused as she faced the merchant who flushed deeply. "Do I know you?"

"Yeah, she can be a little scary," Link continued on, pushing her just enough till she was only a pace away from Beedle. She stood a little taller than him. "She's a bastard so you're not going off limits with her. And she's really your type."

Sophia frowned. "What?"

"Link, stop it!" Katie snapped, flushing to a deep pink. Why does he keep doing this nonsense? And in front of everyone!

Andrew gritted his teeth, grilling Link to keep his mouth shut. Silas assured his sister that Link was only acting like a fool. Beedle still looked so red in the face, turning his eyes away from Sophia when they lingered a little too long.

Link and Andrew both started to argue, voices raised and fists shaking. Before it could escalate, Katie used her special hammer, one that she forgot about for so long. The two cried out.

Silas blinked at this and laughed. "I forgot you could do that."

Sophia looked amazed. "Wow, you could use a hammer?"

Link rubbed his head, cringing. "I'm just trying to help the guy. Look at him. He's collecting bugs for a living."

"I do not!" Beedle said, finally over his embarrassment. "Besides I made a big trade!" He grinned as he presented a shiny piece of gold that hung suspended by leather. "For up to five thousand rupees, this will be yours! Made up of good material you could use and—"

"My medal!" Link shrieked, Katie glowing sharply from shock. "That son of a bitch tried to sell it?!"

Beedle took the medal out from Link's snatching hands. "He already sold it. I traded him a lot for this." He squealed when Link crackled his knuckles. The merchant turned to the twins. "There, you see? He's threatening me!"

"Okay, calm down," Sophia said calmly, crossing her arms. "What's the problem now? If it's his, then you ought to return it to him."

The color returned to Beedle's face. "Well, um, you see I traded it with someone and—"

"That's stealing. You have to return it."

"My sister is right," Silas said. "The man who sold it to you is a bandit. While I understand you run a business, would you really want to be known as a merchant who deals with crooks?"

Beedle deflated. "No…"

"I'll make sure to make up for your losses," Silas assured him.

"Did he really take that much?" Link asked, grinning eagerly when, at long last, they finally got his medal back. Katie glowed yellow and orange, never thinking it would mean that much to him. Or maybe Link just hated to have things taken from him.

The merchant grimaced as he listed a few things Misko had traded off him. "Travel kit, elixirs, some clothes. I think he wanted to go to Death Mountain."

And that was something Katie didn't understand. What was that dummy up to? Link didn't seem to bothered to hear that since it meant that they will run into him at one point, and when that happens…

Link surprised everyone when he proffered Beedle a small piece of crystal she never knew he had. Whether he felt bad, or he did this from the goodness of his heart, it startled everyone.

"Here, this is pretty rare."

"Where did you get this?" Katie demanded. "Link…"

Link raised his hands. "Hey, I didn't steal it! It's a piece of the Pirate's Gem, from Mathilda."

"What?" Katie fluttered up and down. "Link, you remember what happened the last time you took that with you?"

"Hey, she's not going to teleport out of it. It's broken." Link leaned up to her so that no one could listen. "I don't think it's worth anything between you and me."

Beedle inspected the jewelry with a keen eye only a merchant would have. Whatever he saw was enough to have him laughing. "Really? This thing is worth hundreds!"

Link gaped. "Wait, what?"

"I could get a bigger bag with this, I could buy some new pants, I could—hey, what are you doing?!"

"I want to split it!" Link complained, trying to grab the gem, but Beedle's hands proved to be dexterous.

"You gave it to me," Beedle hissed. By now, the other merchants were giving them odd looks.

Link growled. "At least let me buy some things."

"That, you could do," the merchant said gladly, tucking the gem safely in his countless pockets.

Katie was the one who did the buying. They took more food with them, along with papers and quills, ink box, bandages, potions. When they were finished, they joined Grey who waited for them at the end of the streets. This part of the town still wasn't cleaned up yet. Wagons were overturned, pungent smell of the dead lingered like a bad stain, and the blood splattered on the wall had turned dark.

The captain gave Link a stern look. "Listen, the road will be dangerous in this time of day. You sure you want to go now?"

"Thanks for telling me that, gramps. Anything new you want to tell me?"

"I'm serious, you little—" Grey's eye twitched and he turned to Katie. "Can you tell him?"

"Link, Louis said that the world is turning to its darkest hour," she said gravely, going down to his eye level. Not to mention what Banard told them. An uneasy color flickered in her orb. "We have to be seriously careful."

But of course Link was far too confident in his skills to take their warnings seriously. "I said okay. Can we get out of here? Those people are pissing me off."

It was only the workers who stopped to look. They were curious about their hero, and there was a deep respect behind their eyes. It was good that they kept their distance, since Link was ready to knock a tooth out of them. Once again, the captain insisted that Andrew return to the infirmary and Andrew was rather pugnacious about it.

In the end, he had it his way and joined them on the walk to the gate of Desmera. The twins quickly caught up to them. As they walked further from the tall buildings, the lush mountain where the manor was held, Katie could feel her color turning blue. She was going to miss Desmera, even though it had been frightening.

The walk there was a quiet one. A part of her wondered what would her life be if she lived with the twins instead. How pleasant would it be to talk with Silas about their interest in puzzles and business, and to spend more time with Sophia?

You have a duty, she thought grimly, and turned to look at Link. And so does he, whether he knows it or not.

With his pack full of elixirs and food, his purse nearly bursting from the money Silas gave him—one she will keep a close eye on—Link looked more relaxed than he's ever been since he woke up.

At the outer gate of Desmera, the wide field extended before them, looking as if someone had cut open a path straight into a mountain. Rocks cluttered to the side, cliffs rose up from the distance, slopes turned steely grey beneath the sun. Anything living was nothing more than dry and pale green plants. From here, they could see Death Mountain crisper with molten lava glowing from the peak.

A disheartened look struck Silas when this was as far as they could walk with Link and Katie. "I…we're going to miss you both," he said softly, holding Katie in his warm hands. They weren't smooth as before, hardened from his hard journey. Katie felt blue, and teary.

Link folded his arms in front of him, looking as if he found this goodbye to be a waste of time. When he saw how truly upset Silas was, Link sighed and dropped his hands. "Fine," he said, and accepted a hug from Silas, patting him on the back. "Take your damn medicines this time, you hear?"

Silas nodded, though he didn't say anything.

Link turned to Sophia with a grin. "Can I have a hug?"

She frowned, her eyes dangerous. "Excuse me?"

"I'm leaving."

"Wait, what? Why are you leaving?"

Link sighed, and waited for someone to explain. When Silas finished, Link said, "So can I—"

She hugged him before he could even finish. "Take care of yourself okay?" she said.

He blinked, before his lips pulled back to a grin. He shook hands with Grey, then turned to Andrew, hand outstretched.

"No." Andrew crossed his arms firmly.

"Why not?"

"You'll break my wrist, you prick. I know."

Link emoted innocence. "No, I won't! What do you take me for?"

"He won't," Sophia said calmly. "Because if he does, I'll break his wrist."

Andrew grinned at Link's hesitation, and quickly shook his hand before withdrawing. "So long, jackass. Have fun."

Link glared at him, and before he could say something, Katie interjected to speak to Silas.

"Don't forget about the Hylian graphic for the Zora's palace," Katie said. "The mirror we saw when we first met Sophia shouldn't be far from town, but make sure to—"

"—use Nayru's formulae to make a blessing. I know," Silas said. "And to let them know that you two sent us."

Katie turned blue. "Yeah…"

Silas smiled, doing his very best to hide how he really felt. He had always been so good at hiding his emotions that she felt like a fool for reverting him all those times. He turned to Link. "Remember what I said before and just remember…" Silas swallowed, his eyes shimmered. "Come visit us. You will always have a home in Desmera."

Grey nodded at this.

Link's expression was carefully guarded the whole time. He stared at Silas, and his eyes turned cold. He turned away, waving a hand. "Ta-ta, bastards. It's been hell."

"Bye, everyone! Take care of yourselves!" Katie glowed deeply blue. There were so many things in Desmera she wanted to learn. It felt like being torn away from the Zoras' domain.

Silas wiped something from his eyes, and his sister put an arm around him. Those two had taught Katie so much on what it meant to have a family, what it meant to keep on fighting regardless of your impediment. She loved them so very much.

"I'm going to miss them," she said, doing her best not to cry.

They looked so strong together, the strongest Hylians she had ever met. It didn't matter if they were sick and forgetful, they were strong in their own ways. Together as a team, they were practically invincible.

"They're lucky," she spoke softly. "They have each other."

Link looked as if he would glance over his shoulder, but stopped himself and kept walking. "Yeah," he said bitterly.

Irritation sharply flashed over her color. This could be the last time they see the Haidrund twins. Despite everything they've been through, Link tries to rush through their goodbye and act like a complete jerk.

Then Katie remembered that Link probably didn't have a family of his own. Agnes had been the only one he ever really cared about.

When he'd been on the ground, struck by Louis's arrow, he cried out for his dog. Katie crippled blue at the memory of it. Agnes meant that much to him, doesn't she? They had to find her no matter what.

Katie tried to shake the battle out from her head, but it still kept echoing. She thought of the absolute shock she felt when Link allowed her to summon the Triforce against Louis. She didn't think he would ever ask her of that, not after she tortured him. It took her time to realize that he didn't ask her to do it just for the sake of the battle. There was a message behind his permission.

I trust you…and I forgive you.

"I'm glad I have you," she said, glowing a warm yellow.

Link stopped abruptly. For a moment, he didn't say anything. He turned his face away, but she caught a small smile on his face. "Come on, sprit," he said softly.

It was time to get back on their quest to get those gems. With one down, they still had two to go. Hopefully, the arduous journey will unlock Link's hidden potential of becoming a hero. She may have faltered somewhere down the line, but she will not let herself be doubtful ever again. This was a time when people needed hope and faith.

The wind blew lazily in the empty space, dust and rocks everywhere, the sky a clear blue, the sun an angry eye. This part of the world naturally radiated heat, not a speck of snow and rarely a drop of rain.

The sun was especially hot this day, as if to make up for all the times it's been absent. Katie did need sunlight to survive, but taking in too much of it was like a Hylain overhydrating.

But it was fine. Though the sun was very strong, it didn't bother her as she found that Link's shadow was very cooling and comfortable.

A Shadow of My Kin

~End~

---

For the longest time I have struggled with this story, as I have mentioned before. It was due to a lot of reasons, one of them was characters. As you could guess, these two adorable twins were so damn difficult. The problem was that I didn't see them as characters as first but only pieces to keep the story going and it took a while until I figured out who Silas and Sophia were really.

When I really sat down and wrote the story, I managed to get their characters real enough. But there was one character that was so very frustrating to work with, one character that I just couldn't seem to figure out and it took me a very, very, very long time to finally understand her well:

Sophia.

Sophia was entirely different, completely different than what I had originally planned. Oh god it hurts to think about now. I have made her quirky, cheery and just plain clumsy at the very beginning because I just didn't know who she was but knew what she should do and how to move the story forward. It took me so long to finally get her character right, to make me think now this is Sophia for me. She's not open to other people, she doesn't talk because she's afraid, she's not so outgoing. This makes sense. Sophia being cheerful and quirky? No. Just no. No forever please.

It wasn't just her character but writing her POVs was so difficult too. As you can see, her memories keeps failing her and so I had to make it work without it becoming convenient, you know? It had to be natural. I find it really ironic. To everyone, she is confusing to understand, and this even goes to the person who is writing her story.

And then there was my sweet Silas and while he was not as painful to write as his sister, he was still difficult. I have changed the ending entirely. At first, if you will believe it, I figured to let him get a cure for his disease, to let him be normal. That was what I originally intended, but I changed my mind entirely because the illness was apart of him. It was just as his father said: it's not an obstacle he needed to overcome, its something he would need to live with for the rest of his life.

To let him get rid of his illness would be like to take something from him. The only reason Silas had been so motivated to become a businessman, to become someone more while using his brain was because his illness kept him going, kept him fighting against everyone's expectations.

So yes, I left the disease with him. It's a part of him, just like his kindness, generosity and consideration. I just can't imagine him without it.

What a story. What a journey. I am so, so proud of finishing this arc. I know that it was extremely longer than I had intended, especially that finale. I needed to split the chapters because they were too long (what was I thinking?).

Now my heart feels heavy :( I will miss writing Silas and Sophia. They are going to be very important later on but not for a while. I made a short arc on them which is very important so stay tune for that. After that, we won't hear from them for a while. As for Link and Katie, they will have another arc (a short one, I promise) before getting to the Gorons. Everything is in set so I ask for your patience.

All and all, thank you for staying on this arc with me. Its been so nice to read all of your reviews. I've been feeling especially insecure of my writing these past few days, so reading on how much you loved this story does make me feel better. I even have some Spanish readers over there (Halo!). Someone even said that my story inspired them to write their own fanfiction T.T so thank you all so much for the kind words!

I'm happy to say that I feel like I've really improved from A Blade of Honor. I'll try and not to make the arcs as long as this, if I could help it. Don't worry. There will be more characters, more crazy adventures and mischiefs for Link and Katie.

So Ta-Ta for now. I'll see you all soon :)