He turned to her. "Are you okay? You seem quiet," he said.
Zelda spoke in that all-too-familiar voice and said softly,"I don't want you to leave."
"I don't either, but in time, our worlds won't be separate anymore. We can still be friends."
"It's not that." Zelda hesitated, but reached for his hand. He held hers, so small and delicate, in his. "I like you."
He realized at that moment that he liked Zelda too. It wasn't love. But he knew in time that it could grow to be that. That he could be happy with her. "I like you too, Zelda…like that. But what about Link? I've heard that you guys were kind of dating before Link was injured. He seems like a wonderful guy. I wouldn't want to take that from you."
"I'm not sure where I stand with Link now. It's been a hundred years, and we've both changed. I struggle to imagine that he could even begin to like me after how horrible I was to him, all those years ago. My powers are gone and I can't access the Goddess's light anymore. It's a time for new beginnings. Stay. You. Hyrule will need to be rebuilt. I've seen the way the tribes all adore you. You could help me rebuild relations between the species. And I'm sure that you know about all sorts of wonderful technology. Stay here. Please."
Kaladin looked at Syl, but she only shrugged. Kaladin looked into Zelda's pleading eyes as he thought about all the wonderful people he'd met on Hyrule. He was loath to leave any of them. But the more he stood there thinking, the more he realized that he missed home. He missed his parents. He missed the Kholins, and all the men in what remained of Bridge Four. And what about the support group he'd started back home? Who would stand up for them? Who would stand up for the weak back on his planet? There would be other Windrunners, yes, but could he really trust a bunch of newbies to get everything right? And storms, he was scared of what legends had sprouted about him in his absence. He had purpose on Roshar. And he couldn't abandon that.
Finally he said,"I'm sorry. I can't stay. I love it here, but I'm needed back home." He already knew what her answer would be, but he asked anyway,"Would you come with me? Start over somewhere else?"
Zelda shook her head. "I'm needed here. There's too much to do, and I am the only remaining Hylian royalty." She clearly didn't believe it, but offered,"Maybe someday, right? When there's more time and less to be done."
Kaladin didn't respond, but squeezed Zelda's hand tighter. They stood like that for some timet, hands afraid of letting go, but the moment had already passed. Finally, Kaladin could tell that Link was watching them, and Zelda let go. The two walked back in silence.
"Are you ready?" Link asked.
There was too much to say, and not enough time to do it. He probably had less than thirty minutes now until the portal closed. And that was if the fabrial was accurate. So Kaladin nodded.
"I'm going to miss all of you. Thank you for all the kindness you've shown me. Goodbyes never end well for me. So let's call this a temporary farewell. Thank you."
He passed the sheikah slate to Link, who teleported them back to the shrine of resurrection. Link played with some buttons on the sheikah slate and returned it to the console Kaladin had originally gotten it from.
"Thanks for looking after Hyrule for me. You seem like a good guy, Kaladin."
"I'm sorry I didn't get to talk with you more, Link. You've got something special here. Look after Zelda. She's going to need someone these next few days. You seem like a good guy too."
The two shook hands again, and Kaladin stood on the teleporter outside the shrine. He saw Link give him a thumbs up and then there was a flash of light. When he could see again, he stood in Urithiru's Oathgate once more. His friends and family were waiting for him. He had quite the story to tell. He wasn't on Hyrule anymore.