They arrived in a small town outside the forest after a three-day trek. As per their agreed procedures, they broke into small groups and went around asking the locals for information regarding the era Hylia sent them into. Wild stayed with Hyrule, the latter riding Epona because of his injury. The Traveler's broken leg bone has mostly healed thanks to the Fairy Tonic and a couple of red potions he drank in intervals for the past three days. Wild, in his part, had fully recovered from his mild fever two days ago and was able to whip out meals that saved their delicate stomachs from another day of bland food. Their de facto leader was left with them to handle speaking with townspeople while the other groups scoured the different areas of the town for information.

Wild gently tugged Epona's reins and led the mare where Time was talking to a man in his late thirties in front of the houses at the eastern side of the town. The Old Man specifically chose this least crowded part of the town in consideration for him and Hyrule. Both of them are used to having little to no contact with another Hylian for long periods and find crowded places overwhelming. Wild can adjust if necessary, but he has his limits. Hyrule too, but the Traveler lasts less compared to the former.

"...legends." The man was saying. "Many of them are just folktales told by our elders to entertain the children. There had been no crises in the last five hundred years or more."

"I see..." Time nodded. "Thank you and sorry for the trouble."

"Not at all. Just don't scare the townsfolk with such questions willy-nilly."

Time bid his goodbye and met with the waiting younger heroes. Hyrule straightened from his perch on Epona's saddle. "Well?" He asked.

The Old Man shook his head. "Negative. It seemed we ended up in a peaceful period in Hyrule's history." He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "This is the twenty-seventh time we've visited an era where we got reduced to nothing but bedtime stories."

"Not even a mention of the Triforce?"

"The townspeople knew next to nothing about any hero or Ganondorf. Much less about the Triforce."

Wild summoned an apple from his Sheikah Slate and offered it to Epona. The mare was more than happy to snack on her fifth fruit of the day. "What's a Triforce?" His question was met with silence, and when he turned to the heroes, they were staring at him with looks of disbelief. "What?"

"You…" Hyrule asked in an incredulous tone. "Don't know what the Triforce is?"

"Uhh...no." If Wild is being honest, he finds their reactions unnerving. "That's why I'm asking."

The Hero of Time unstrapped his left gauntlet and peeled his fingerless gloves. He showed the Champion the back of his hand where a triangle was tattooed on his skin. It is divided into three smaller ones where the one at the bottom right shimmered in a golden sheen. Wild has seen the same pattern on the hands of the other heroes multiple times yet always forgets to question them about it. The design reminded him of something, but he could not pinpoint where and when he had seen it.

"This is the Triforce. The last relic that the three Golden Goddesses bestowed to their creation." Time said as he tapped his finger on the mark. "It has three parts. The top one is the Triforce of Power, the lower left is the Triforce of Wisdom, and beside it is the Triforce of Courage." He pointed to the Triforce of Courage. "All of us have the Triforce of Courage, but what it is called and how it was acquired depends on each hero. Some obtained it during their quests, while others already have it at birth. It is a vital part of our adventures, and the Triforce is usually the reason for it."

"That's…" I do not have it, Wild wanted to say, but the words were stuck in his throat. I do not have it because I am not a hero like you. "I see…."

"You have it too, right Wild?" Hyrule inquired. "All of us have it. Well, all except Four. "Then, he muttered under his breath. "Though, some of us have more."

That last statement was meant to the Traveler himself only, but Wild heard nonetheless. The Champion wanted to ask but hesitated. He has no right to be privy to Hyrule's secrets or anyone in the group. Some secrets are better left alone with their owners and brought to the grave.

"No...I don't have it." Wild cast the two a wan smile. "I don't have the Triforce of Courage, and I don't think it existed in my time."

The scarred youth could feel their shock with how their eyes pierced through him. He was only thankful that it was at that moment that Sky and Legend decided to appear and join them; otherwise, he might cave in the sudden pressure that hung on his shoulders. They reported the same thing they learned from the man earlier, which only reinforced the idea that they landed in a tranquil period in history. The others reunited with them a little later with the same news at hand.

It was then decided that they would meet up in the inn where they would stay the night. For the rest of the day, they would check the shops and replace any damaged items from their sudden Shift yesterday. Wild took it as an opportunity to get some overdue breathing space away from the others. Before Time could say they were free to go by themselves, the Champion was long gone.

In Wild's opinion, the place reminded him of a bigger Hateno Village without the gigantic windmills. Not that his Hyrule has many places to compare with. The second Great Calamity had nearly wiped out all Hylian civilizations in his era. The settlements of other races have their charms, but they are not exactly the best comparison to use. He decided to explore the eastern side the last and try the plaza where the shops are located. The bell above the door of a weapons shop chimed as he entered, and he was greeted with a pleasant-looking man behind the counter.

"Welcome! Anything I could help you with?"

Wild left his hood up but smiled nonetheless. "I'm looking for arrows."

"We have them here." The man gestured at the baskets filled with bundles of arrows at one side of the room. "Is there a particular type you're looking for? We have normal ones, Fire Arrows…."

The Champion let the man droned about his wares as he inspected them. He plucked an arrow he had not seen before. The tip was made of animal bone, and the fletching was triple-pointed, which made the arrow incredibly lighter than he was used to. There are also heftier ones made of heavy alloys of iron, rain-specialized arrows, and even more powerful versions of those he has in his Hyrule. He picked up each type, scrutinized their form and build, asked the shop owner their specifications, and tested how they felt together with one of his bows. After much consideration, he decided to take a crate of everything, much to the vendor's bewilderment.

Wild had just summoned a big bag of rupees from his Sheikah Slate while the owner bundled everything when the doorbell chimed and a disheveled Sky entered. The Skyloftian's eyes lighted up when he saw the other hero. "Oh, thank Hylia, I found you!"

"Sky?" The Champion frowned as his eyes surveyed the heaving man. Sky looked as if he had just run the perimeter of the town fifteen times and was on the verge of collapsing anytime soon. "Are you alright? Did something happen?"

"We've been looking everywhere for you!" Sky exclaimed. "You just suddenly disappeared! Twilight's furious that you went on your own without telling anybody."

"Ah…" Wild rubbed the nape of his neck as he smiled sheepishly. "Oops."

"What are you -"

"Here you go, sir!" The vendor placed a few wrapped bundles on the counter for the hero to check. He gestured at the others behind the counter. "A crate of each. That would be seven thousand eighty-four rupees. I also threw three bundles each for free. Do you want it delivered today? I won't charge you for that."

Wild thought about it for a moment before he nodded. He can just stow it right away in his Sheikah Slate, but this is not his Hyrule. He does not know how these people would react to seeing the Ancient Sheikah gadget in action. That is why he waited for the man to turn around before procuring his payment.

"Please bring it to the inn." The Champion pushed the rupee bag in the man's direction. The crystalline currency clinked inside with the movement. "Tell the receptionist that it is for a man named Wild."

The shop owner's eyes bulged when he opened the bag. "N-No, thank you, kind sir!" He bowed down gratefully. "I could feed my family for years thanks to your patronage. I will make sure that your purchases arrive in the best condition!"

Wild waved it off with a soft smile. "It's nothing.'"

The Champion turned around and greeted a pale-faced Sky gaping at the rupee bag he just shoved to the man. The Champion rolled his eyes and spun the hero around. He pushed him firmly and spurred him to move. "Come on, Sky. Let's go." Then, to the shop owner. "I'll be waiting."

When the two stepped out to the plaza, and the store door shut closed behind them, Sky finally addressed him. "You...you just…."

"Yeah?"

Sky swallowed. "H-How much money do you still have?"

Wild unhooked his Sheikah Slate and showed him. He tapped a fingernail on the symbol of a green rupee, followed by many numbers on the screen. If Sky was already pale earlier, he might already be a ghost at this point. A jumble of emotions flashed on the Chosen Hero's face - the most prominent are utter disbelief, shock, and Just how? The Champion could not understand why the hero was acting like this. Surely, they have enough spending money if they have been traveling for months.

It is the third time they stumbled upon civilization outside the heroes' Hyrules, and in two of them, Wild paired with Twilight to buy the stuff he needed. This is the first time he went out of his own. Now that he thinks about it, he has not witnessed the others' spending habits yet. If the Skyloftian was astonished to the point of speechlessness to see that amount of money, perhaps….

"Sky, have you bought everything you need?"

That question seemed to jar the Sky back to his senses. The Hero of the Skies shifted on his boots uneasily. "Err...I don't plan to buy anything in this town."

Wild narrowed his eyes at him. If Twilight's a terrible liar, Sky is worse. He could tell that the guy actually planned to purchase some but is short in rupees. He surveyed the area and spotted an apothecary a few blocks down. He grabbed the hero's wrist and dragged him in the direction of the apothecary.

"Wild! Wait!"

"Your potions got smashed after the Shift, right?" Wild explained. "I can't brew any because I don't have enough ingredients, so we'll just buy you some. My treat."

"Wait. What? No!" Sky dug the heels of his boots on the ground and tried to wriggle free from the Champion's grasp. Wild is surprisingly strong despite his leaner build, nearly comparable to the Rancher's. "You don't have to! Twilight will not like that."

"Sky," Wild stopped walking and glanced at his shoulder to look at the Chosen Hero. "Where do you think Twilight's allowance for today's shopping came from?"

"Don't tell me…." Sky's eyes widened in realization. "He borrowed from you?"

"Oh, yeah. That he did. He refused the money Missus Malon wanted to give him, but the leftover rupees he has on hand aren't enough to cover his expenses. He had to pull me aside during breakfast to lend him some. He promised to pay back, but I don't really plan on telling him to."

"How do you even have that much money?"

Wild shrugged airily as if it was not the first time someone asked him that question. "I sell a lot of things. My Hyrule has a lot of raw resources waiting to be discovered." He gestured to the apothecary. "Now, come on. Let's buy everything you need. Don't worry about paying me back. I got more than enough to spend for the next five years."

Before Sky knew it, his bag had gotten bulkier than it was three hours ago. Other than the potions, Wild urged him to pick an extra pillow and blanket, three new sets of clothes, and another knife he could use for woodcarving. All of it was paid for by the other hero. Sky itched to inquire how much he spent on him, but the Champion would just huff at his question and repeatedly tell him not to think much about it.

Wild, in his part, led him to the market to buy more ingredients for their meals and his potions and elixirs. At one point in their shopping spree, they crossed paths with Hyrule and Legend, who were perusing some magical artifacts from a shady shop. The duo promised to pass the message that Wild is found, and no, he is doing fine and will be for hours in a crowd, so Twilight does not need to worry because Sky is with him. The Skyloftian could only hope that the two would not get into trouble with whatever that shop was offering. Once they finally bought all items on Wild's mental checklist, they decided to take the rest of the time off at the edge of the eastern side of town.

"The next time we landed on my era," Sky stated as they sat on a low-lying brick wall overlooking a farming field. "I'm paying you back."

Wild snorted and tugged his gloves off. He placed them on his lap and picked up his food. "And I told you that you don't have to." He took a bite of his crêpe he bought from a wayside stall. "It isn't even that much."

"The pillow we bought was around four hundred rupees!"

"A reasonable price for a pillow filled with good-quality down stuffing."

"How about the blanket? That was almost twenty times the pillow's price!"

"The fabric's merino wool." Wild explained. "It's really expensive even in my Hyrule."

"Exactly!" Sky exclaimed in frustration. He is this close to crying, thinking about how much Wild spent on him. "You just blew more than eight thousand rupees on me!"

"Eh." Wild chomped the last of his crêpe and wiped his hands on his trousers. "You know what? I'll just chuck it to the Captain if you don't want it. I bet a fussy guy like him would not let anyone else touch it for a month."

Sky made a sound at the back of his throat. He pressed his hands together, sandwiching his crêpe in-between. Hylia...Zelda, a little help, please? Beside him, Wild ignored the inner turmoil the Skyloftian was having about his spending habits and fished his Sheikah Slate from its hook. He swiped on the screen and hummed approvingly at the beautiful sight of his filled inventory. He switched to his wardrobe and skimmed through it, searching for what he will wear for tomorrow. His finger froze mid-air when his eyes landed on a specific article of clothing.

"What's that?"

Wild flinched and eyed Sky, who was staring intently at where the Champion's finger hovered.

"Looks like Wind's shirt, but the color reminded me of Warriors' scarf, though the color's too light." Sky squinted on the screen. "The design looks like the Master Swo…." He trailed off as realization sank in his mind. Red tinged the tips of his ears as he attempted to salvage his words. "I-I mean, the design is unique! I haven't seen you wear it even once."

Wild was barely listening to the stuttering Skyloftian as his grip tightened around the Sheikah Slate. "The Champion's Tunic…" There was a bitter taste in his mouth as the words rolled off his tongue. A foreign emotion throbbed in his chest. Was it affection? Resentment? Sadness? He could not tell. "Princess Zelda personally sewed it for the Hylian Champion to wear. Impa gave it to...to me after a part of my memories returned…."

"Oh…." Sky tore his eyes away from the Sheikah Slate and fiddled with his hands on his lap. "Wild, can I...can I ask you a question?"

Wild's ears drooped. He did not like the tone of the Skyloftian's voice. "Uhhh...sure?"

"It's nothing bad!" The Skyloftian clarified quickly. "I just…" He sighed and ran a hand across his hair. "I just want to know what happened between you and the Master Sword. Why do you avoid her? Do you hate her like Time does?"

Wild's fingers loosened around the handle of his Sheikah Slate. His eyes were an inch shy from settling on the hero. Her. Sky talks about the Master Sword as if it is a person. He had heard him and Sun speak about the spirit that dwelled within. In the real Link's memories, he had heard Zelda talk the same and even witnessed the divine sword speak to her on one occasion - when the owner of this body died.

Wild wondered if the sword spirit attempted to save its master's life, only to lose him inevitably. Did it feel sorrow? Did it miss him? He wanted to know why it bothered to let him pull it despite being not him. Was it because he wore its master's face? Was it because it has gotten desperate to save Hyrule? Or was it because it wanted to honor its fallen master's duty even if it was to be wielded by someone who is not him?

"I…"

Wild's eyes drifted toward the Master Sword strapped on Sky's back. He had not paid attention to it even before he dragged Sky around town to go shopping. Since his breakdown the first time they presented the sword to him, he had avoided Sky whenever the divine sword was out in the open. Just the sight of it from a distance is enough to make his heart race out of fear.

Now sitting next to Sky, he could feel the heat emitted by the sword. It is not scorching as he always expects it to be, but something similar to a fireplace. He swore he could hear a faint hum from the weapon itself. His instincts wanted him to run away, but his mind urged him to stay. He could feel his heart drummed against his chest, but he forced himself to take deep breaths. How he could still retain his sanity on this point was a mystery to him. Perhaps, his second proper encounter with the Master Sword had eased a bit of his fear. Maybe because Sun promised him that it would no longer hurt him.

Do you even believe that?

A part of him mocked him for clinging on that promise, telling him that it was Sun's - that it was Hylia's will - that he was ripped away from his era and brought to this ludicrous quest with the eight legendary heroes. It is correct, but at the same time, wrong. He wanted to believe, but he was scared of being betrayed, scared of being left alone.

Does he hate the Master Sword?

Wild does not, but at the same time, he resents it. It is clear that it does not want anything from him other than to accomplish a secondhand duty, and he did just that. Wild does not hate it because he knows it is just doing its job as Hylia crafted it to be, but he resents it for venting its anger on him - an infant soul that was just forced into the role of a hero and pushed to fight an adult war. It is already a complicated feeling that only grew more complex after he was granted a hero title. He shared the same sentiment with it, and he did not want to do anything with it anymore, but fate kept pulling them together for some sick reason.

"I…" Wild took a deep breath. "I don't hate it, but I don't want it either. If...if anything, I don't want to see it anymore. There's..." He wrung his hands. The phantom heat danced on the leathery burns on his palms. That action drew Sky's gaze on his scarred hands. "Just too much pain."

"Why?" Sky mumbled softly. "What is…?" His eyes widened as he reached out. He captured Wild's hands and stared at his palms with trembling hands. The Sheikah Slate dropped on the Champion's lap with a soft Thud! "Your palms…these scars...this is the shape of a...of a sword hilt…."

Wild yanked his hands away as if he was burned. Shame bloomed quickly in his chest, and he clasped his hands tightly against his chest to hide them from the Chosen Hero's sight. There was an unspoken question in Sky's eyes.

Was it the Master Sword?

"Wild…?"

The Champion swallowed and shut his eyes closed. He shook his head vehemently in response to the question left unsaid. He cannot look directly at Sky's eyes. He did not want to see the other's disappointment of finding out that he was not one of his successors and reincarnations. He did not want to bear witness to the fury of him deceiving them since the moment Hyrule and Twilight stumbled upon him in the ruins of the Temple of Time and the hurt of breaking the trust they had given to him.

One of his worst fears has now materialized in front of him.

Sky made a move to reach him, but Wild stood up and stepped back. His fingerless gloves and Sheikah Slate fell to the muddy soil beneath their boots. "I'm sorry…." He rasped, his eyes stung with the first tears. "I didn't mean to... I'm sorry …."

Before his mind could register it, he turned his heels and ran. He sprinted on the busy streets of an unknown town in an era that was not his and pushed blindly past suffocating crowds of people he did not know.

I am sorry….

Tears streaked his cheeks and blinded his eyes. He could not hear Sky's desperate calls for his name and could not track down the heavy footsteps chasing him. One by one, more joined the Skyloftian as familiar voices shouted and tried to reach him. Wild barely felt a hand graze his elbow, but the attempt was foiled midway by the crowd of townspeople.

I am sorry I am sorry I am sorry….

The paved ground opened to a grassy floor as the forest they went through welcomed him back like a jealous child demanding a hug. The voices and footsteps following him had faded into a lone ringing on his ears. Wild did not know how far he had gotten and if someone will be able to find him at this point. His right boot caught an exposed tree root, and he stumbled face-first to a small puddle of water on the forest floor. Drenched in water, the Champion shakily lifted himself on his knees. His wrists slipped against the wet soil, and his eyes fell on his distorted reflection staring at him on the water surface.

I AM SORRY I AM SORRY I AM SORRY I AM SORRY I AM SORRY I AM SORRY-

A wail ripped out from his throat as he grabbed his ears. He shut his eyes as his mud-caked fingernails clawed at the sides of his face. Something warm - not his tears - trickled down his jaw, but he could not bring himself to care. He did not want to see this face. This is not him. It is not his. Please goddesses take his soul away from this body this is not him he does not know who he is-

"My, my. Aren't you such a lovely piece of art?"

A sob lodged itself in Wild's throat, and his bloodshot eyes snapped open. His blood, hands, and entire being froze at the familiar voice - a voice that is his, but not coming from him. How...? Slowly and painfully, his eyes drifted straight down. Beneath him, the blood-spattered water had remained still and unflawed by ripples as if frozen in time. A shadowy version of his face similar to his Dark Series looked up to him. The corners of his bloodred eyes crinkled in wicked delight as a fanged grin twisted on his lips. His doppelganger is so close, so real, that Wild could reach out and touch him.

"I've been waiting for this moment." His reflection purred. "Let's have a little chat, Hero of the Wild."