Nothing could prepare Link to the swiftness in which news travelled in Ordon.

"We are a small village," Illia pointed out. Link had raised his shoulders, almost whined, "But still."

Illia slapped his arm, mock on her face, and pressured him to answer her question. "When were you going to tell me you were going back?"

"Not yesterday, obviously."

"And not today, either, I gather," she cocked her head.

Link gave up and shrugged, "Two days before I left or something."

Illia put her chin on her knees and bit her lip, "Okay, so why?" Link was having trouble explaining himself, he was trying to look anywhere but at Illia, "Because I understand why you had to go see Princess Zelda last time, but you've already received your rewards, you don't have a good reason to go back."

Link locked eyes with the ground. Because I'm scared of you and how you see me? Link knew Illia would do everything in her power to make him feel better. Because I need to feel useful? He could work as hard in Ordon, there was no reason Link needed to be in Castle Town. Because I want to improve my future and Castle Town is the capital of opportunities and... Illia deserved the truth, really. "I want to be near her," Link kept his eyes fixed in the ground, whatever expression Illia was making he wouldn't be able to stomach it.

"Link," and the sound of Illia's voice was so filled with longing and sadness and a tinge of pity that made Link stand up and dust off his pants.

"Yeah, so, I'm gonna go chop some wood for, uh," Illia was glaring, "for the whole village."

Link had barely given three steps when Illia's voice reached his ears, "Link." Link stopped dead on his tracks. "Yes...?"

Illia raised an eyebrow, "Please tell me you weren't thinking of leaving after telling me that you want to be by Zelda Eugenia Harkinian Hyrule's side, the Princess of the kingdom." Link raised his shoulders, that had been exactly what he had thought of doing, "No?"

"Great, because it would be a mistake, right? For you to just up and leave after throwing that at me."

Link felt trapped and sat back, his movements were slow, trying to earn whatever time he could to think.

"Also," Illia was smiling in a way that made Link swallow, "why don't you tell me about what Malo's been feeding us about you?"

Link laughed without force, "What has he been telling you guys?"

Illia grabbed her chin and looked Link in the eye, "Why don't you tell me?"

She was onto him. Scary. Link decided that he gained nothing by keeping her out of things, and he spilled everything.

Mayor Bo was red in the face and had a massive jug on his hand, "Happy birthday to Link!" The whole village cheered back and Bo gave them a toothy smile before clapping his hand in Link's back. Link had a bright shade of pink adorning his cheeks and after Bo's cheer, Link raised his own jug, "Happy birthday to me!" Another wave of cheering and gulping down beer.

The atmosphere was lively and before Link could even think about it he was being woken up by Illia's shouts from under his home.

"Link!" Illia called again. Link grabbed his head for a second, surprisingly, no hangover. "Link!" Illia opened the door and walked inside, she looked up to Link's bedroom, "You alive?"

Link stood with vigor, surprised again at his own resistance, "I'm great, thanks." Link started to grab clothes when Illia's face appeared from the ladder, "I know you told me to wake you up even if you threw me out, but you know you can rest for today, right? You drank a lot-"

Link nodded and looked at her with surprise, "It seems that I have a high tolerance for alcohol because I feel like new."

"Really now?"

Link walked to her, "Scoot, let me down," Illia was unimpressed, "You want me to do some acrobatics so you'll believe me?"

Illia blew a raspberry, "As if, it's only that neither Rusl nor my father can get out of bed, so I figured, you know."

"Not to be tactless, but they are old people."

Illia laughed but covered her mouth immediatly, she raised one finger, "Not funny, Link."

Link kept his good humor and mumbled that it had been funny, he grabbed a bag to put his clothes on and stopped one second, "I am really surprised by this turn of events," he made as if he was doing a check on his body, "I feel like I've discovered a new power within me or something."

"The power to not have hangovers?"

Link hummed, pleased with himself, "I'm gonna wash myself, you can help yourself with whatever edible thing you can find." Illia rolled her eyes. "And thank you for coming to wake me!"

"I should be able to make fun of you for your obvious blatant eagerness to go back, you know." Link shrugged. "It's not fair of you to make me promise that I couldn't do that is all I'm saying." Link shrugged. "Are you sure you're gonna be all right?"

Link turned, "I'll be back tomorrow, promise."

"Great, because Uli will be waiting with a pumpkin pie for you."

Link waved back and turned to the forest. Coro was sitting near a fire when he saw Link, "It's been a while, buddy! What brings you here?"

"Oil."

"Well you can't go wrong with my oil, that's for sure. Taking it back to your village?"

Link pointed to the Faron Woods. Coro almost whined, "Oh boy, well, here's hoping you get back all right."

Armed with his lantern and with fresh and abundant oil, Link had nothing to fear. He had come so many times through this forest that he knew by heart the way. Link stopped midway to have a little snack and tried to look to the sky through the trees. It was really hard to see anything through. Link could feel this strange pain from being alone, in a moment he had Zelda's gift pressed to his lips, "Do your magic and come back, Midna, come on." The wind rustled the leaves and helped some hiding sunlight pass through. "We haven't thanked you just yet." Link stretched and let his hands go as far as he could, "Look at me, talking to a piece of mirror."

When the run down temple came into view Link could feel the stares of the gigantic statues bearing on him. Nothing had changed, but then again, how were things supposed to change in 3 months? This place, this statues... "Well, I am returning that which was provided and," no more spirits talking to him, no more trials by guardians, "I don't really know why I'm returning this, but we have no more need for its power." Link aligned the sword to the pedestal, and stopped. The sword felt unusually heavy, the air felt unusually cold, Link felt unusually sad.

He had done it. Really, he had defeated evil. He had brought peace to this land, to this kingdom, to the people. He had... he had just plunged into the fray and done things he had never thought he would do, he could do. And now, as if something else had beckoned him to do this, he was fighting against the knowledge that this was how it was supposed to go. Link knew so. The sword, he...

"You ought to rest."

The Master Sword gave a final shine and Link fell to his knees. When Link saw water darkening the ground under him, he realized he was crying. Link looked up to the sky and opened his mouth in pain.

Link felt a weight off his shoulders, Link felt he could breath again. But as he tried to calm himself he understood his pain, Link felt completely empty now.