"There's something wrong with your character if "opportunity" controls your loyalty."

~Sean Simmons~

Ancient Roots

Chapter 11: Loyalties

"How is he?" I glance up at Pipit as he makes his way over to us just as I finish tying off the bandage on Link's side. Although the healing waters have managed to stop the bleeding, I decided to bandage the wound anyway to prevent infection. Karane and Pipit offered to help, though I politely refused. They needed time to clean off and I needed time to focus my mind on something other than everything that's happened today.

"Better," I answer as Pipit sits beside me. "He won't be awake for a while yet, but he's fine for right now." Glancing over at Karane, I ask him, "How's the map looking?"

Karane, having cleaned up faster than Pipit, had quickly put her mind to creating a map of the temple using the back of our map of Eldin. Since she has the most knowledge of the Earth Temple, we figured she could help us figure out the best way to escape in the morning. The thought of escape fills me with dread, so busying my hands has helped to keep my mind off it for now.

"She's drawn most of it out, so at least we have more of an idea on how we can get out of here," he says. "The temple itself is rather small, but there are so many places where monsters could appear from and ambush us on the way. And it's not like we have the element of surprise on our side. It's not a question of how we're getting out, but of whether we can outlast them." He sighs and runs a hand through his hair.

My shoulders slump forward. He's right; it really will be a battle of endurance rather than wit. I know that we'll be able to escape, but it's a question of our strength versus theirs. Ghirahim's monsters have claimed this temple for their own so it's not like we'll have the upper hand. On top of that, Link probably won't be fully recovered by the time we make our attempt so we'll need to take it slow and we have no idea what'll happen on the way.

I'm not looking forward to it, but we don't have a choice but to try.

"We should take shifts so we can all get some sleep." Pipit offers a forced smile.

"Are you saying I look tired?"

I nudge him and reply with a breathless laugh, "You know what I mean." I call for Fi, who appears in a burst of light from the Goddess Sword. "Could you alert us when each of our shifts are over so we can get the same amount of sleep?"

"Of course, Dominae," she confirms with a nod.

Upon her dismissal, my eyes flicker between him and Karane. Shifting Link's weight in my lap, I say to the knight, "I don't know what's happened between you too, but I think you two should talk it out whilst Link and I get some rest."

He blinks at me, almost dumbfounded that I noticed the tension between him and Karane, "T-There's nothing going on, Zelda. I don't know what you're on about."

As much as I don't want to, I shake my head and let it go. If he isn't ready to talk about it then it's not like I can force his hand. We're all under a lot of stress right now, but this is Pipit's first day on the Surface and he's had a lot to deal with. Of course, Link, Karane and I have only been on the Surface for two days, but we had a little more time to cope with the stakes of what the Goddess has in store for us.

This certainly isn't what he—or any of us—was expecting—.

I reach up and squeeze his shoulder comfortingly and he snorts, "You're so calm about all this." I barely suppress a small laugh. Calm isn't the word I was expecting to hear, but I'll take it.

"Well, someone has to be," I say, frowning when I look back down at the person in my lap. "There's so much going on that we don't know about, and I can't lose my cool when the stakes are constantly raising. We need someone to count on to stay calm, and I'm that person."

He frowns too, "That doesn't have to just fall on you, though." I shrug.

"I know," I admit. "But it'll do for now." I force a smile and look back over at him, "I'll take the first watch. I'm not too tired." Seeing that I need some time to myself, the knight nods and wraps one arm around my shoulders before taking his leave. I hear him telling Karane about the shift arrangements and them shuffling about behind me before they fall still and I let a sigh escape me.

I run my hand down my face and fight back the urge to cry—out of fear, stress or frustration, I don't know. I gaze down at Link, wishing that he were awake so I could at least take solace in his presence. But he isn't awake because he's faced the wrath of the Demon Lord and lost himself to the memories of another life, so I need to stop selfishly wanting his presence whenever I feel down and start focus on dealing with my emotions on my own.

I jump when Fi suddenly appears, "Dominae, I have sensed a shift in your emotional wellbeing. Should I rouse one of your companions so you may discuss it with them?" I shake my head.

"It's alright. It's just the stress of the situation, that's all."

She tilts her head, "Would you like to discuss it with me?" I blink and cast my gaze up to her, surprised at her question. From what I can gather, she doesn't seem to be able to understand human emotions, only analyses and gives reports on them, so her attempt at trying to console me takes me aback. She's trying her best to help me, so the least I can do is let her.

"I…" I fumble around for the right words. "Everything's happened so fast, and not just what's happened today. I've had so much to deal with since the day of the Wing Ceremony, and there's still so much going on in the shadows that we still don't know about. I… I don't want to think about it because I'll lose my mind, but if I don't think about it then I'll be completely ignorant to the dangers around us."

"From the way you have handled threats such as the Demon Lord, I believe that you have performed admirably thus far, Dominae."

"Thank you, Fi," I say with a smile, though the thought of what happened outside the Earth Temple makes my smile quickly twist into a frown. "I've made mistakes that I'm already paying the price for, but I'm learning from those mistakes." I pause. "Pipit said I'm calm about all this, but I think I have to be calm. If I'm not, then I'll let all my emotions get the better of me and then what'll happen to us? To Link? I have to keep my emotions in check because I'll fail if I don't."

Fi nods, "The fear of failure is common in the human psyche."

"But how do I stop it?" I demand, then quickly lower my tone. I run my hands through my hair, "When I spoke to the first Bearer, he said something that really rang true: we didn't ask for this. We didn't ask to be thrown into the den of enemies that we didn't know about days ago. We didn't ask to be bruised, beaten and stabbed. We didn't ask to feel the crushing weight of thinking about every decision you make in case you make the wrong one."

"Are you suggesting that you regret accepting your destiny, or you are struggling to become a part of it?"

I sigh, "I don't know, Fi. I just…" I swallow thickly, "The Goddess chose me for this and I'm already in over my head… what if I can't live up to her expectations?"

"I'm unable to conjecture whether this will offer comfort, but may I offer my own analysis?" I nod and let her continue, "The Goddess chose you for a reason. While I cannot speak for the Goddess, I have seen you grow in these past few days alone and do not doubt her decision. Although you don't consider your strength as worthy, I can say with certainty that the Goddess has not chosen wrong."

Despite her rather emotionless tone, her words are so touching that they bring tears to my eyes. "Thank you, Fi," I say as sincerely as I can. "Thank you so much. There's so much I don't know, but… what I do know is that I'll keep fighting despite the unknown." But when she doesn't respond, I tilt my head, "Fi? Is everything alright?"

She looks at me suddenly with a strange intensity that scares me a little, although her tone is calm, "I sense the presence of the Sheikah approaching the Earth Spring. Immediate action is required to prevent her from entering this area." Her words, although deeply concerning, only fuel my resolve and I don't even hesitate. I briefly glance at my sleeping companions, unsure whether or not I should wake them but quickly decide against it—they need their rest and I can try and talk her down.

"Don't lose hope, Zelda—believe in your strengths," that's what the first Bearer had said to me, and I intend on following his advice down to the letter.

Once Fi is dismissed and I lay Link down, I slip my shoes back on and start towards the entrance of the spring, scooping up my sword and harp as I go. I steady my breathing as best I can, focusing my mind's eye on the pain and suffering Impa's brought upon our lives at her betrayal. I can't and won't fight her—I believe in my strengths but I know that I wouldn't be able to defeat her—so I pray that I can stop her with words alone.

And besides, I have some choice words for the Sheikah that she needs to hear.

I skid into a halt in front of the door and reach out for it, glad when the door disappears as soon as my fingers brush its cool surface. I take a deep breath before forcing my stuff limbs into movement and quickly adapting to the stifling heat. Just as I step out into the temple's depths, a figure enters my field of vision. I tighten my grip on the Goddess Sword.

"Impa," I greet caustically, "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

The Sheikah stops a few paces away from me and although she seems weaponless, I can't assume that she'd come here without something to defend herself with. Fear grips my heart at the sight of her so close to our place of safety but I shove the feeling down; I need to focus. I keep my sword and harp at my sides until she gives me a reason to raise them. Her expression softens at the sight of me and she holds out her hands defensively.

"I'm not here to fight," she says calmly, deceptively so. For a moment, I almost believe her. Dropping her hands back to her sides, she adds, "There's much that I wish to discuss with you, Your Grace." I bite back a scoff.

"You abandoned your right to do anything of the sort when you handed us over to the Demon Lord," I say, then add bitterly, "Or did you think we'd forget all about your betrayal?"

She sighs, "I wanted you to know that I never wished for matters to go this far." Now I do scoff.

"And yet you don't apologise for it happening in the first place. Besides, what did you expect?" I demand of her before she can say anything. "Did you really think that Ghirahim wouldn't jump at the opportunity of having everything he wanted handed to him on a platter? That he wouldn't try and dispose of the few people who've dared to stand in the way?"

The Sheikah hesitates, then, "I'll admit that I underestimated the Demon Lord's abilities—"

"Which was your first mistake," I mutter, even though it's not like I haven't done the exact same thing before.

"—and it was you who paid the price for it. Healing you and protecting your companions from the Demon Lord's wrath is merely the beginning of my atonement."

A part of me quickly notices how genuine she sounds, backing up what Pipit said before about Impa seeming concerned for their safety when she protected them earlier. From the shine in her eyes to the softness of her tone, the Sheikah's act is extremely well done. But what she fails to realise is that she's made this personal for me—and all of us—now, and whether or not she wanted things to go this far, I can't let the impact of her actions go so simply.

Not after how I found Link.

"Not just me," I murmur, though the chamber's so deathly silent that she hears me straight away. She frowns at me, confused. "It wasn't just me that paid the price for your underestimation of Ghirahim's abilities. Surely you can't ignore what he did to Link."

As my words bounce between the cavernous walls, Impa's face visibly pales at my words and she asks in a dangerously low tone, "What did he do?" I narrow my eyes at her, unsure whether she's being truthful or not.

"You know exactly what he did," I snap. "Don't lie to me."

But the Sheikah remains steadfast, "What did he do?"

But as I search her face for any sign of truth in her confusion, and I suddenly realise that she really doesn't know what happened after we were all separated. Questions immediately fly around my mind about how much Ghirahim really trusts Impa if he didn't tell her about that, but I suppose that doesn't matter in the long run. The fact she doesn't know gives me the opportunity to tell her and give her a piece of my mind.

"Ghirahim decided to take matters into his own hands, that's what," I tell her, unable to keep the bite out of my voice as I ball my hands into fists, "He took Link to the Earth Spring, chained him up and forced him into submission. I found him in a pool of his own blood and barely hanging on." I would tell her about the first Bearer, but I don't want her to focus on that, not with how her eyes have widened and she hangs on to my every word. "He suffered purely so that he had no choice but to pray to that damned statue, and you have no one to blame for it but yourself."

Impa doesn't speak for a long time. I'm almost certain that she isn't going to attack us, but I stay on guard just in case. Her eyes are a storm of emotion that I've never seen from her before, a mix of anger, horror and sadness raging in her crimson irises. It's almost alarming to see her react in this way. Maybe, despite her betrayal, she really did care for Link—not enough to protect him, but enough to wish that he weren't hurt in the process.

I just wish that I could feel sympathy for her.

"I need to see him," she says finally, meeting my gaze with a sudden ferocity in her eyes. "I must ensure that he's alright." A bark of laughter escapes me.

"If you think you can fake concern for him and talk your way into the spring, then think again." Impa moves to argue but I get there first, "You destroyed every right to worry for his safety the moment you gave him to the enemy. He has friends around him that'll protect him until the very end, but you'll never be counted as one of them after what you've done."

"I had no idea what had come to pass in the spring," she reiterates, "I truly had no idea…"

"What you did and didn't know about what happened in the spring doesn't change the fact that it still happened!" I cut in before she can finish, feeling my emotions rising with every word. "You know what Ghirahim's capable of and you let him take matters into his own hands anyway. You…" I force myself to briefly look away and recompose myself when I feel my eyes start welling up with tears. "You were supposed to protect him, Impa. That was your sworn duty and I trusted you with his life. And now he's in there—" I angrily gesture to the door behind me. "—recovering from injuries that he never would've gotten if you didn't let this happen!"

"You must understand," she says softly. "In order to protect the newest Bearer, I had to fully understand the Demon Lord's intentions—I needed to understand what he had planned. The only way I could do so was by feigning allegiance to him, but I…" Impa hesitates. "I'd planned to gain enough of his trust to learn of his plans before returning to your service… however I underestimated him and allowed everything to fall out of hand. But I swear to you, Your Grace, that it always has been and always will be my sworn duty to protect the newest Bearer."

"And yet, you still refuse to call us by our names," I say simply with a shake of my head. Tiring of our conversation, I incline my head. "You've come here and said what you intended to, now leave us be. You've caused enough damage here."

I half expect her to protest, but she doesn't. With a solemn nod, Impa retreats on foot and I wait until she's out of sight before returning to the spring and slumping against the door with a heavy sigh. I'm not sure how long I stand there for and calm my breathing, our exchange echoing around my mind as I desperately try to make sense of it.

That certainly wasn't how I'd expected that conversation to go. Either way, I know for sure that I can't trust her, no matter how many doubts she's sown into my head.

The cool air of the spring helps to relax me a little and I take some time to breathe in the clean air before picking myself back up. Sheathing the Goddess Sword, I press onward and walk back up the steps into the main part of the spring. My thoughts are clouded and bogged down by Impa's conflicting behaviour, and the thought of us attempting to escape the temple in the coming hours doesn't help my mood.

But then I reach the top of the stairs and my heart stops.

Link stands on the other end of the spring with his back to me and arms at his side as he gazes up at the small Statue of the Goddess. At first, I'm almost certain that I'm dreaming. After all, he's gone through so much that Fi didn't expect him to wake for another few hours at least. And yet he's awake, seemingly having redressed in my absence, and standing in the watercolour stains of blood at his feet.

A tiny gasp escapes me when he turns to me and time seems to stop. Our eyes meet—blue on blue, not gold—and he takes a subconscious step forward. His face, still a little pale from blood loss, breaks out into a broad smile and I know I'm not dreaming. He can't finish whispering my name before I leap over the stepping stones and fly into him, the force of it sending him staggering back a pace. I burrow my face into his chest and drink in his presence and I can feel him doing the same into my dishevelled hair.

"You're alive," he murmurs, more to himself than anyone else. "I knew Fi wouldn't lie to me, but I still doubted…"

I pull away and hold him at arm's length with a smile, "I'm not going anywhere, sleepyhead." He draws me into another hug without word and cradles my head with his hand. After a few moments, he squeezes me once and steps away so we can both sit down on the platform with our backs to the statue. My gaze falls to the chains before us and I go to speak, but Link gets there first.

"What happened to you?" he asks me. I exhale loudly and let my hands fall into my lap. I nestle into his shoulder and reflect for a few moments before responding, glad for his patience as he waits for me to speak.

"I remember waking up in the temple and Impa healing me." He tenses and I can feel his eyes on me, but I don't return it. "The next thing I remember is Pipit and Karane finding me, but Ghirahim stopped us before we could get far. He said that one of us could come and find you, but only if the other two stayed behind and fought for their own freedom. So, Pipit decided that I should come after you and you were…" He takes one of my hands into both of his when I trail off.

"I'm sorry you had to see that," he says softly. "I wish you didn't have to."

"Me too, but I…" I swallow thickly, unsure of how I want to word this. Finally meeting his gaze, I ask, "Do you remember talking to me?"

He blinks, "I spoke to you?" Just as I'd thought, I think to myself.

"What do you remember?" I stall. His eyes search the chamber as he ponders the question before replying.

"He wanted me to pray to the statue," he starts slowly. "I knew my defiance would be pointless, but I tried anyway. I… I think he preferred it that way." He pulls one hand away and unconsciously reaches for his wounded side, his eyes far away from here as he looks at the chains. "The chains made me see so much of the first Bearer's life—his pain, his suffering—and the next thing I remember is waking up here a few minutes ago." He pauses, then, "What did I say to you?"

"I-It wasn't you as much as it was…" I look away, nervous all of a sudden. "I spoke to the first Bearer through you." His eyes widen.

"You did?"

"I know it's hard to believe," I reply straight away. "But Fi said that you lost yourself to those memories and the first Bearer took your place. He… he didn't ask for it—if anything, he was more confused as to why he was here—so we healed you up and spoke until I could bring you back with my harp." He takes a few moments to let everything sink in, shifting his weight uncomfortably as his eyes flicker between the chains and the rocky ceiling of the spring.

"What was he like?" he asks me.

I smile, "He was kind and determined to help me get you back. He reminded me of you." Even though Impa's remark about the similarities between Link and the first Bearer had originally annoyed him, Link smiles back at my comment.

"I'm glad he was there for you when I wasn't," he says, then, "What happened after that?"

I nod to Karane and Pipit, who sleep soundly nearby, "Impa fought off whatever monster Ghirahim had sent after them and now we're here. The sun set a while ago so we're staying here and resting up so we can make an escape attempt in the morning."

Link frowns, "Why would Impa save them? Wouldn't that give us an advantage?" I shrug.

"She tried to explain herself to me outside the spring just. I'm fine; she's gone now," I briskly add when he panics. "She maintains that she didn't wish for things to go this far, and that she only swore allegiance to Ghirahim so she would find out his plans for you. I don't fully believe her, not after what she's done, but she seemed genuinely worried for you—Ghirahim hadn't told her about what he did here. Maybe her old loyalties to the Goddess was shining through, but I don't know what that means for us."

"Don't let her pull you in, Zelda," he tells me firmly. "We can't trust her anymore." I nod but don't say anything, still reeling a little from how strange she was acting. I know we can't trust her, yet there's a tiny voice at the back of my mind begging me to give her a chance. But I can't, not after all the pain and suffering she's caused.

"You should get some sleep," I say after some time. "We'll have a long day ahead of us and you're still healing."

He chuckles, "I'm alright, Zelda. I've slept enough for one day."

I can't help but laugh too, "You could never sleep for too long, Link. You're my sleepyhead for a reason."

Fi appears in a spark of light before we can say anything else. She nods to Link in greeting before turning her attention to me, "Dominae, I project that another message from the old gods is waiting to be translated, just as one was in Skyview Spring. I suggest that you strike the crest with a Skyward Strike."

Glancing over to Link, I nod at her and climb onto my feet with him close behind. The spirit of the blade waits patiently as I draw the Goddess Sword and raise it skyward, unleashing its power onto the crest beneath the statue. Just like the other crests, this one bursts into life and spins in place. Fi glides over a few moments later, hovering ever so slightly over the water that it creates ripples on the surface.

"As predicted, I have a message written in the language of the gods of old," she tells us. "Allow me to translate for you." Just like in Skyview Spring, Fi hops onto one foot and spins in place before dancing across the spring's waters, though she moves silently as not to wake Karane and Pipit. "From the edge of time I guide you, the one chosen to carry out the Goddess's mission. The Spirited One who descended from the clouds has reached the Earth Spring and now must make his way to a fated place."

A fated place? I can't help but feel trepidation grow in my gut at the sound of what's to come.

Fi returns to her original place in front of the statue and spins in place as she continues, "The parched desert of Lanayru… that is where the chosen will pass through the Gate of Time into a distant world." Just like before, a weathered tablet appears in the hands of the Statue of the Goddess and drifts down towards us as Fi slows to a halt, a yellow gemstone in place of the red and green ones prior. She immediately takes it into her possession for it.

But I don't react to the message, at least not at first. I stare at her and she stares back at me. Something at the back of my mind is telling me to ask her what's been on my mind for a while yet never thought too much on, so I sigh and take the plunge, "Fi… why do you dance during the messages from the gods of old?"

"I was designed to translate and deliver these messages to you," she explains simply. "However, I am able to express these messages in whatever way I wish, and this expression appears in the form of dance."

It doesn't seem like a full answer, but I let it go for now. As I inspect the tablet, I ask of her, "What's a desert?"

"A desert, Dominae, is a region of the Surface that is so arid because of little rainfall. It supports only sparse and widely spaced vegetation, or no vegetation at all in most areas," the spirit clarifies. "Few forms of life can exist due to fluctuating temperatures in this region, from blisteringly hot temperatures and high humidity in the day to extremely cold conditions at night. As I predict it will take numerous days to cross the Lanayru Desert, I hypothesise that your chances of survival will increase if you return to Skyloft and rest before continuing on your journey."

I do my best to imagine what a desert looks like, but it sounds so harsh and dangerous that I quickly give up. Once I thought that Faron Woods would be the most dangerous place I'd visited with its vicious plant life and undead skeletons, and then I thought Eldin trumped that with its high temperatures and the mess we've found ourselves in, but Lanayru certainly sounds like it'll be the worst place so far.

How much more dangerous can it get?

"Impa said that it'd be too dangerous for me to go home right now," Link remarks to Fi. My heart sinks as I realise what he's going to say next. "I know we can't trust her, but I still agree with her. Shouldn't I stay here so I don't bring the danger with me?"

"I won't let you," I snap. "I know it'll be dangerous, but I'm not leaving you here to fend for yourself." Link, seemingly understanding my words as a belief that he can't defend himself rather than a plea for him to stay at my side, quickly goes to argue. Yet Fi, thank the Goddess, manages to get there first.

"I concur," she agrees. "While there are risks with your brief return to Skyloft, the risks that arise if you remain on the Surface are far higher. Although I had previously objected to a larger party, in light of recent events, I project that remaining with the current party will improve wellbeing amongst all members and increase your defence against the Demon Lord." Before he can reply, Fi looks at me, "I also predict that praying to the statue as you had done in Skyview Spring will further aid your understanding of your quest."

I nod and sheathe the Goddess Sword, accepting Link's help as I kneel before the statue. I hear him step behind me and I can't help but smile at his protectiveness as I close my eyes and clasp my hands together and pray.

Great Goddess, guiding light and protector of our people, grant us your blessing and mercy as we act in your name, I pray. And please… please protect us from the dangers ahead.

Then I hear a voice.

'I shall do all I can, my child. The rest, however, is up to you,' they say. 'Until then, I wish for you to understand the lives of the one most loyal to me and man who was once her friend…'

~O~

Two figures sat against a large oak tree. One, a young girl with flowing dark hair and purple irises, was reading a book to the other, a young boy with pale skin and white hair. As he was illiterate, she had spent her days teaching him how to read. He'd been making good progress in the few months that they had known one another and they'd formed a quick bond since she found him lost and alone in the nearby fields.

Although she was far too young to bear children, the girl assumed it was the mother's instinct that pushed her to care for the boy and teach him how to read. Most others, paranoid over the rumours of demons appearing in the night, would have shunned or even killed him, but she could never. She had the desire to help and so she did.

"They say war is coming," he said after they'd finished one specific chapter. He rested his head against the bark and sighed as he looked upon the lazy afternoon skies above them. Light was a strange sight to behold, though he never dared to mention it. "They say they're coming to each town and recruiting any capable man they can find."

The girl smiled sadly and nudged the boy for his sombre tone, "Do not plague your heart and mind with such things." Though she herself couldn't deny that the rumours had been on her mind too. She closed the book and tightly gripped its edges, "You are too young to fight; they will not ask it of you."

"They will ask any boy who can hold a sword to fight," he countered. "War will come for all of us in the end."

She shook her head yet said nothing. After all, he was right: war really was coming for them all. Although the village was small, she had seen the paranoia spread like a disease. The girl lived on the outskirts of town, so she often walked through the forest to buy her weekly food for her family, and on the way she'd often seen those who had been dubbed as the enemy swaying in the breeze from the boughs of the trees.

She could hardly ignore the darkness of war encroaching on her homeland.

Suddenly, a voice called the girl's name. Rising to her feet, she turned her attention to the boy sitting before her, "Come, we have things to do." He nodded and offered her a sad smile, remaining close as the two descended the knoll and wandered back to the girl's home.

That awful stalemate of paranoia and confusion continued for years until war finally reared its ugly head. For months on end did demons appear in the night and kill any who were loyal to the Goddess over the Demon King, paving the way for their demonic leader who would bring about the famous seven day battle that raged across the land.

The girl had grown up and, by a stroke of fate, had found her place in one of the largest fortresses in the land. The boy, however, had slipped away and become his true self—a demon who was the harbinger of the Demon King. And when he finally did return, the land of light endured its worst seven days in millennia.

That was when fate brought them back together.

When he heard word of the great Goddess soaring down to the mortal realm to help her people and of the man she chose as her champion, the demon quickly sought them out. Once he reached the colossal fortress they resided in, he slipped in effortlessly and tracked them down through their presence alone. He found the man first, only to find a familiar face with him.

The same girl who had taken him in and taught him to read.

"Well, it'll take some time to heal, but you won't be out of commission. Viscen will be happy," she said to the blonde haired man as she tended to a wound on his arm. The two sat on a bench in a secluded courtyard, a bag of potions and medical equipment at their feet. The demon could hear the voices of other humans around him, but they were so far away that he didn't care for them. His eyes were solely on the conversation at hand.

"I suppose you'll be happy to not have me following you around anymore," the man replied with a chuckle, wincing when she dabbed some alcohol onto the wound. She swatted his shoulder without looking up.

"Stop squirming. You've been through worse."

He tucked his finger under her chin and forced her to meet his gaze, "That I have. But you've always been there to pick me up when I've fallen down, haven't you?" She gave him a watery smile.

"Just be glad I know how to restart a heart," is all she said before returning to her work. Or at least she tried to. The man pulled him wounded arm away and drew her into a tight embrace, planting a small kiss on the crown of her head that made her melt into his arms—it was a small act of devotion, but he wasn't one for grand displays of affection.

"One day, I'll make it up to you."

She snorted and pulled away, replyning in a teasing tone, "Oh, so you'd wish death upon me merely so you could save me? How noble of you, Sir Link." Although the demon couldn't see the look the man gave her, he watched on as peals of laughter filled the courtyard.

The demon took his chance to reveal himself.

Landing a few paces away from the two humans, he drew himself to his full height and watched as the two leapt to their feet in alarm. Their eyes—blue and purple—immediately found the demon's—pools of nothingness—and the girl gasped as she recognised the man before her. The knight at her side instantly stood in front of her and draw the legendary blade of the Goddess, its light illuminating the courtyard in moments.

"You!"

The demon bowed mockingly, "How wonderful to see you again, Fiona. Or should I call you Fi? Isn't that what Father called you?" The woman narrowed her eyes.

"What do you want, Ghirahim? Your face is well known amongst the knights here—they wouldn't hesitate to destroy you."

He placed his hands over his head in mock horror, "Oh, Fi, how could you treat me so harshly? You were always so kind to me…"

"And then I learnt the truth about you," she spat. "You are no friend of mine."

A smile graced the demon's features as he turned to the knight standing in front of Fiona, "So you're the Goddess's knight, hm? You seem far less grand in person than the rumours make you out to be."

He ignored the remark, "She asked you a question. Surely you have the common decency to answer it."

The demon rolled his eyes, but complied nonetheless, "I came here to seek out the pitiful Goddess and her chosen knight; the man whose light I am to snuff out in the name of the Demon King."

Fiona, though fear gripped at her heart, bit out angrily, "You will never win, demon. You will never destroy him or this land you despise so much!" But Ghirahim grinned manically and her blood ran cold.

"I have seen many of my brethren hanging from battlements to serve as deterrents for the rest of us," he mused as he paced before them, no weapon to be seen yet the two humans remained on edge, nonetheless. "But what you fail to understand is they serve as reminders of what we demons strive for: to die in the name of the Demon King."

"Then you'll have your wish fulfilled soon enough," the knight said strongly. "We are loyal to the Goddess, and you to the Demon King. You shall find out soon enough how well your loyalties have served you in the end."

The demon laughed and stopped to face them, "We shall see indeed, boy. Our time has run short here, but we shall all meet again. And when we do, I shall teach you what it means to feel the wrath of a demon!"

And then he was gone as if he'd never been there, but his laughter continued to echo around the courtyard long after he disappeared.

The dark pall left by the demon's presence hung over the two humans for some time. Long after they'd comforted one another and were called away to their respective duties, their minds were occupied by the demon's words. And as the sun set and the din of battle reached the walls of the fortress, Fiona raced down the busy corridors of the fortress in search of the knight she cared for so dearly.

She cast her mind back to those days she spent under the boughs of her favourite tree alongside the demon, questioning everything he said and did—did he ever let it slip that he'd one day betray her? As she reached the battlements and looked down upon the bodies of demons hanging from them, she recalled those dubbed as monsters and swiftly killed in the forest in her village.

She finally found her beloved knight standing between the crenels and surveying the darkness on the horizons. His stood with his back to her, but she knew that he was aware of her presence. As Fiona stood beside him, she looked up at him with a frown. His expression was that of stone, yet his eyes burned with resolve.

His emotionless façade broke when he finally looked down at her and he reached out for her hand. No words were exchanged, for what could be said? War was coming, just as the demon had once said, and they had no choice but to face it head on. On their seventh day of battle, Fiona prayed that tonight would be the end of the war once and for all and that they'd both live to see the sunrise.

But the demon finally got his wish. After the two humans departed for battle, it would be the last time they saw one another in that life. Although the demons were forced back into the earth, Fiona lived to see sunlight grace this land but her knight did not—his light was snuffed out just as the demon had hoped.

And then she waited for her knight to be reborn again, slumbering within the Goddess Sword until her Dominae arrived.