It has been several days since Paya talked to her new acquaintance, Link, all by herself. He had gone off on another adventure, perhaps to save one of the Sacred Beasts? She couldn't be sure, he was a free spirit after all, he seemed to go where the wind took him, and she can't help but to like that about him. The soft glow of the moon pierced through the window, creating an atmosphere that can only be described as homely and comfortable. She lays in her room on the floor, propping up her torso with her arm as she quietly shares her thoughts within the pages of her diary. She is reading some scrolls about past civilisations up to 10,000 years ago, all the way to the great calamity 100 years ago. She reads about the shrines and what exactly they have in relation to the Sheikah people.

For her breaks she flips the pages and sits upright and scribbles down her thoughts and findings in her own words intently.
"After sleeping for ages, Master Link has finally awoken. It seems his memory is completely gone... But that hardly mattered to Grandmother. I believe this is the first time I've ever seen her quite so happy. Master Link himself looks so gallant... He is the very picture of the hero I always imagined. His blond sideburns flow like a golden waterfall over his dignified, pointy ears. And the way his hair is so perfectly parted to the side, wow! I don't know why, but my heart won't stop beating a mile a minute... "

"Whatchya Doiin…?'" A voice behind her gently beckons her attention. A familiar voice, one of a young man that she is relatively familiar with. Although their acquaintance is short, he has left lasting prints on her heart and mind with his soothing voice and strong attitude.
Paya slams the page back to her notes about the Sheikah people and research of the shrines sprinkled about the lands.
"M- Master Link!" her voice was quiet although she was trying to keep calm, although her face was flushed red. She turned around and saw the blond Hylian boy crouched behind her comfortably with his wrists lazily wresting on his knees.

"P-please don't frighten me like that!" She grabs a handful of her hair and pulls over her shoulder, gripping it for a since of security. The boy's face seems alarmed by her reaction, he is blushing slightly as the young woman plays with her hair.
"Do you need something from me at this hour?"
Despite his unexpected presence in her personal chambers, she still attempts to be as hospitable as possible. Link rubs his nose and apologises for startling her.

"It's alright..." She sighs to steady her heart, although it proves difficult as the hero of her dreams is standing in front of her.
"Aren't you tired?" he asks her with concern for her health. Link is used to staying up through the long hours of twilight, fighting creatures spawned of Ganon's power. As well as climbing sheer cliff faces, is what has become his normal. Paya rubs her eye softly and returns it to her side in a more relaxed stance.
"I'm okay, I am used to staying up late. You see, I see to the upkeep of the Heirloom in grandmother's stead" Link tilted his head again with his hands on his hips. making her feel as if he was confused and needed her to elaborate further. His confidence beckoning to make her be as transparent with him as possible... at least, that's how Paya felt when he looked at her with such confidence.

"T-that glowing orb downstairs... We Sheikah have watched it for generations. We do not yet know its origin at this point in time, but we believe it could be somehow tied to your fate, M-Master Link" she explained frantically. Link looked at the ground for a few moments before speaking, Paya anxiously awaiting his words.
"I think I've seen its design before... In the Sheikah Shrines perhaps?" Link tried to remember what he had seen before, pulling on his hair gently as he concluded his thought process. Paya perked up and urged link for answers.

"Y-you've entered the shrines before. How do they look? What is inside of them? Are there dangerous creatures inside of them? Or trials you have had to face? Do you know how they work?" Paya's urging of Links answer forced him to topple backwards to her bed. Next thing the two of them knew, Link was laying on his back, trying to keep himself as upright as his arms would let him with Paya toppled over, holding herself up above him. To catch herself, she threw her arms out in front of her. Her hands landed right beside the young heroes' hands. She could feel his body heat as he laid there in surprise, waiting for her to move.

"A-are you alright?" Link asked.
"Y-yes I am" she answered. Stopping to consider the fact that for the first time ever, Link stuttered. For the first time he was nervous while addressing her. Not that she could blame him, the situation they were in would have surprised anyone. She considered how close their lips were, his breath was slow and warm, hers was slightly faster, trying not to hyperventilate from pure nerves.

Movement could be heard outside her window. Link shifted so he was sitting more upright and instinctively went to draw his blade off of his back, stopping as his hand rested on the hilt.
"Master Link! It's o-okay, it may have been a... bird or something!" Paya tried to calm him before he drew a weapon within the confines of her bedroom.
Links eyes were stern, enough to make her nervous, but not in the way Paya expected. They demanded respect and authority, qualities she had not been too familiar with up to this point. Her grandmother had shown discipline before, but this was so... different. His eyes not only gave an aura of unwavering strength, but also comfort as she knew he was with her.

Link quietly lowered his hand, and Paya scrambled off of him from still laying above him. Although she thought to herself that she wouldn't have minded getting closer. She shooed those thoughts out of her head and returned to her position before, resting her hands on her chest. "M-Master Link, it is late, perhaps you should get some rest." she said softly. Link nodded, turned his heel, and began to walk from her room.
"U-Um!" Paya called out. "I'm afraid you can't sleep in here tonight. Grandmother wouldn't allow it. But if there is anything I can do to help, please let me know" she was blushing as her hands once again found their way to her hair.

Link nodded and left the room, perhaps to spend another night outside, unless he plans to stay at the inn. Links anxiety flared as he passed the threshold and paced into the brisk night air. A chill was apparent. Something wasn't right here.
Meanwhile, Paya retired to her bed, her heart fluttered as she realised that he came back to see her, even after a few days of being out on his journey. She gathered that must mean he likes her at least a little... right?

Golden light pouring in through her small window, warming up the room in a very cosy and intimate way. She awoke, rubbing her eyes tiredly as she shifted off of her bed to begin her day. She stood on the small stool and drew the shutters to let more light back into her room. Her view was definitely the best in the village, seeing almost the entirety of the small town as her house was so high up. Although, as she stood, staring out the window, a strange sight greeted her. The boy from last night was holding the legs of a Cucco, graciously sailing through the air from atop the hill overlooking town. But stranger yet, he was half naked! Only his draws remained of his outfit, and the straps holding the sword and bow on his back. His figure was slim, but he definitely had an athletic build from all of the adventures he has been on up to this point. The morning sunlight beamed, glistening off his perfectly parted hair and his masculine figure.

"HUHHH!?" She shrieked and looked away in embarrassment, sliding down the wall and burring her blushing red face into her palms "W-w-w-what did I just see? D-d-did that just happen?" she looked at her journal. "I n-never even thought of him that way before... and now I see him in such an unbecoming state!" she figured that her Master Link must be very brave and confident to do something such as that.

She approaches her journal and begins to write again to calm her nerves, she figured that putting her thoughts on paper would ease her beating heart. She decided to write about last night and their conversation they had.
"I must admit that I'm still not great at interacting with young men. But I think I am finally able to speak to Master Link while looking him in the eyes! Those wonderful eyes... Naturally I still get a little embarrassed... but I can't help it! I always follow his gorgeous gaze with my own. I blame his beautiful blue eyes. Ugh. This is all so strange..."

Her thoughts trailed off and she stopped writing before she revealed anything else she shouldn't write. She closes her dairy again and goes down her lofty wooden stairs into the main room. Impa is seen sleeping, or perhaps meditating? sometimes it is hard to tell. Paya had errands to run, just a quick trip to the town store to get food for the coming days, but it was enough to make her excited for the day. She was still blushing to herself, nervous about what would happen if she saw her hero again after what she witnessed this morning. She gripped the basket she uses to carry the supplies from the town store. She cautiously steps through the door as if not to draw attention to herself. Her eyes darted around the town, afraid that link was nearby in that... shameful state. Her heart pounded as she raced to the town store. She arrived without problems and went about her business as normal.

She took off back to the house, this time she wasn't so fortunate. Link was standing before her in his champions tunic at the stairs of the lodge. Her eyes looked down 'at least he has covered up, she thought to herself'. she approached shyly and greeted him, he waved her down.
"W-why were you... uhm?" she asked trailing off. Link once again tilted his head. "I s-saw you this morning... with uhm-" she couldn't get out what she wanted to say.
Link caught on and told her about the odd jobs he's been doing for the townsfolk today. "The man with the Cucoo coop asked me to collect his Cucoos that had escaped." he explained.

"B-but why were you so... indecent?" she asked, blushing brightly. Link laughed "The Couple at the Clothing store said they would fix my clothes, and I figured that the Cucoos would only get them dirty, so I just did both at the same time." he explained very matter of factually. Paya couldn't control his actions, but she was flustered over the fact that he would expose himself like that. With no regard for anyone else that might see him.
Paya excuses herself as she was busy "I'm truly sorry but I must be going, I'm to prepare the food for Grandmother today and I don't wish to keep you for much longer" she says. "Then net me help." Link offers her.
"Master Link, you know how to cook?" Paya asks

There is a long pause
"... Absolutely" Link says thinking of the times that he has cooked all kinds of lizards and bugs to eat, over communal pots. Not the typical household meals, but they are food non the less.
She carried the basket and shyly accepted his gracious offer as she walked into the house... Hmm something seems different. Something she didn't notice before...

"AH! T-t-the Heirloom! It's MISSING!" Paya Exclaims.
Impa sits there calmly, there are several guards standing to the side of the room, Impa quietly explained that she noticed when Paya left. Impa the called the guards to investigate. "we believe that the Heirloom was stolen in the deepest hours of the night, as the guards have been at their usual posts all morning and hadn't seen anything.
"Maybe Link can help?" Impa asks. "He frequents this village and is a strong capable warrior of the Hylian's. One of the guards seems apprehensive "well how do we know it wasn't HIM that stole the Heirloom" the guard points at link "A Hylian could not understand what this artefact means to the Sheikah. And he was here last night too!"
"No!" Paya speaks up "Master Link would never do such a thing" She desperately tries to explain.

"She is correct" the elder spoke "I've known Link for quite a while and he means well, I doubt that he would ever do something of the sort. Tonight, I want everyone to keep an eye on suspicious activity around the village. Is that clear? You are dismissed" The guards stand and leave.

Payas legs are trembling. "Master Link, please, stay with Paya until she calms down. I believe she would feel safer with a capable swordsman like yourself around." Impa asked. Link nodded and they enter the kitchen to prepare food for later.
"Thank you for staying with me" Paya showed her sincere gratitude. "I know it must be annoying to be stuck with me all day" She looked into his eyes sadly. Link shook his head.
"Not at all" he said. They spent time talking about a variety of things and preparing food for the guards and her grandmother, as Link helped and took notes on how it was done for his journeys ahead.

Later that night, the moon hanged low, the village was dark and cold. Slight due on the grass had built up from the slight showers earlier, but it was nothing Link couldn't handle. Link was crouched down once again outside of the Sheikah Chiefs house. He was sitting by the fireplace, trying his best to keep warmth as the chilly night breeze blew through the valley. His eyes felt heavy, the warmth of the fire engulfed his body, inviting him to simply drift off. But Link couldn't risk falling asleep, he shook his head and refocused on staking out the village...

Some time passes... Dorian, a guard from the keep lowered his weapon and began to walk off towards the rest of the village. Link stayed put for the time, thinking nothing of the situation. Perhaps he was just doing a patrol...? But why would he leave his post so open? especially on the night after the heirloom was stolen. Link set his sights on the guard and began to quietly follow him. Dorian's movements were brisk and frantic, he moved through the city, up the hill overlooking town and through the small Forrest nearby. Link struggled to keep pace with the guard, he was definitely moving with purpose. And Link wanted to find out why.

The man crossed a small bridge and stopped in his tracks at a small shrine platform on the outskirts of town. "I know you're there! Show yourself!". Link considered revealing himself as he thought he had been caught. Suddenly a member of the Yiga Clan reviled himself, standing proud in a crimson battle suit. He bared an inverse Sheikah symbol mask to shelter his identity. He was a tall man, standing at about a head above Link. He held a large sword that flickered with the light of the moon... actually his sword had light resonating through it. Link knew just from looking at the man, he is a very capable sword master. He stood staring at Dorian from the shrine platform.

"You don't need to yell, I'm right here"
"So you ARE the ones who stole the heirloom!"
The Yiga clan member chuckled "Hmhmhm, such anger... It seems this thing truly is special to the fools of this village"

Dorian snarled "WHY WOULD YOU STEAL IT!?" sputtering slightly as his vords leave his mouth.
"Do not play dumb, Dorian" the Yiga swordsman interrupted "You forfeited your life, and the life of your family the moment you fled the organisation... remember what happened to your -"
"SILENCE!" Dorian drew his blade "Before, you threatened the life of the chief of this village, you threatened the young Paya, and NOW you threatened the life of my family!?" he took a step forward.

"Hmm?" the Yiga Warrior turned to the bridge, "We have an uninvited guest..." Link stood there silently, but retracted slightly as the Swordsman turned to him. With a slash of the Yiga Swords Masters blade, a slice of air came and smashed the bridge, luckily Link was limber enough. He evaded the gust just in time and jumped backwards, leaving the bridge to crumble underfoot. Link was now trapped around the far side of the creek. Dorian was trapped with the dangerous man staring him down and approaching slowly. Murderous intent apparent.

Link wasted no time, beginning to sprint around the small creek to assist Dorian. The Sheikah guard and the Yiga Warrior clashed swords. Clanging metal and sparks flew into the air, obviously trained in similar styles they seemed evenly matched technique wise. But Dorian was old, and the swordsman towered over him. The fight lasted for mere seconds, a beautiful dance of blades was painting the air with glowing light from sparks and a bitter metallic scent. By the time Link rounded the small body of water Dorian was on his back, scrambling to safety as his sword remained disarmed and out of reach.

"Unfortunately, your usefulness has come to an end..." the warrior stood above the Guard; sword raised.
*Woosh-woosh-woosh*
A chopping sound spun through the air. The swordsman deflected it when he saw a disk of metal flying towards him. A metal boomerang clanged against his blade and fell to the ground.
Ceasing the opportunity, Link jumped into battle landing several quick but powerful strikes on the sword and body of the swordsman. "UGH!" He winced as he took his opening stance again.
"Ah, a hero, it would seem." the Clan member said as he stared at his Sheikah Slate. "Come now, Let's see what hope you have of saving this pitiful kingdom from the clutches of Lord Ganon"

Link took the first strike, his agility almost unmatched, using his sturdy sword that had been accompanying him through the past few days. Three strikes landed on the sword of his enemy. The crimson warrior struck back, slicing through the air, Link flipped backwards, and took the opportunity of the Yiga recovering to land some more attacks. The Yiga Member slashed down to Links head, but he rolled sideways out of the way, leaving a bomb behind where Links body used to be. The noble Hylian jumped back and detonated the bomb which disoriented the clan member. Quickly the swordsman leaped forward and took some quick slashes at Link. Only for him to leap out of the way and use his Sheikah Slate again.
An array of golden chains locked his sword in place, unmovable through the air although he tried. Link sprung back and shot three arrows at the sword in quick succession, sacrificing power for speed. The stasis collected the energy, storing it within itself for its inevitable release. Several moments later, the sword broke free with a satisfying clang, and ripped through the air, wedging itself within the stump of a nearby tree.

"Enough of this!" the Yiga warrior lunged forward grabbing at the Hylian's wrist. Caught off guard, Link pushed away, but it was for naught. The Clan member charged his shoulder into Link's chest, making him stagger and relinquish his grip on his traveller's sword.
Sensing an attack approaching, Link rolled and evaded these slashes until he fell into the body of water. Thinking quickly, Link used his Slate to freeze the water below him, erecting a tower of ice, carrying Himself up to safety and wedging the sword of the Yiga warrior within the block of frozen water. His respote was short lived, the warrior was strong and quickly ripped the blade out of the ice, striking it. Making the block, and Links worn sword shatter. Link pushed off the ice tower mere moments before its structural integrity shattered underfoot. He kicked his feet above his head, and with the grace of an experienced swordsman, he flipped and corrected is body weight in mid-air. He passed over the Yiga member and landing on the ground by him.

They both took a moment to catch their breath. Link noticed that they were both standing equally as far away from the sword as each other. But he knew that if he attempted to retrieve the Swordsman's blade from the tree, he might be too slow. "Such a fantastic fight" the man in crimson said. "Perhaps I underestimated just how strong Hylian's could be. The warrior took a step forward slowly. "Perhaps you have something to fight for? Hmm?" he asked in a strange tone of voice. "Perhaps a particular… girl?" Link stopped and stared at the man in disbelief. "Let's say you try to fight me… and lose. I can't guarantee there will be anyone to save this girl from the likes of myself, now that you will be gone." he threatened. "But if you just get out of my way... I may just forget this all ever happened, resume my business, and leave this pitiful town to grovel in the dirt as it has the past century"

"NO! Don't listen to him Hylian!" Dorian yelled, clutching a nearby rock as a way to support him.
"Time to make a decision for yourself, Boy..." the man approached his sword slowly. Time was running out and he had to act fast.

*Crack!*

A pot smashed on the swordsman's head. "AUGH!" he shrieked, turning around to see a petite girl standing before him. "Leave my village alone! Please!" she begged. Link took the opportunity to make a mad dash for the sword, gripping the handle, and ripping it out of the tree, landing a solid strike across the clan members chest. the crimson man jumped back and stared in disbelief as he was bested by a Hylian. He fell to the floor and dissolved into smoke as his form fell apart. Paya ran through the water, not caring about how it might affect her clothes, the mud was thick, so it took her some time to tread through it, and she emerged with her waist down dripping wet and muddy. She ran and wrapped her arms around her hero's chest. "I'm so glad your safe, Master Link!" she cried. "I was so worried about you!" she began to sob.

Link looked at Dorian. "I'm sorry, Young Master." Dorian bowed. "I will explain everything in due time. but please see to it that Paya is safe." Dorian seemed genuine, and it wasn't links place to bestow any judgement anyway. Link took Paya and began to walk her back to the house. On the way Paya gripped Links hand. His hands were warm and tough from the combat he has waged, but she liked it, it felt really nice. They took some time getting back, quietly walking side by side to make the moment last for as long as possible. She dreaded the moment they arrived back to the village; for she would have to let go. But she smiled to herself that she had now done the thing she had always wanted to do, at least for a little while.