For a few days, not much happened around the castle. Link was sure to follow Zelda everywhere she went but her room. And when she did decide to lock herself up with some books for research, Link went out to the training grounds and worked on his sword techniques.
However, it wasn't long before Zelda came to him and said she was leaving to check on a guardian excavation sight near a short ways south of Hyrule castle. Link put on a set of clean clothes and headed out with her. It wasn't much of a walk, and Zelda only talked briefly about the Guardians as they traveled, but overall was silent.
The actual mission wasn't too exciting either. The Sheikah presented all the data they collected on the guardians, which was mostly more information on what they were made out of and a theory as to how they could activate them. This would be so they could study how they worked while actually active. Zelda was deeply intrigued with all the information they gave her, and Link did what he could to mentally keep up. He never did have much schooling beyond the basics, his whole life had been preparing him for being a knight, not a scholar like Zelda was.
After spending the day at the camp Zelda informed Link that they were going to head back out, but not back to Hyrule Castle. Instead, they would have to make a full three day trip on foot to the north. Apparently the north had temperatures would get incredibly hot and the horses wouldn't do well there. So the two made their way by foot.
As the began the journey, Zelda carried her Sheikah slate while she walked, looking at the display of a map of the area. Link had only seen a little of the slate and found it incredibly curious, but never encroached on Zelda's space.
He walked some space behind her as she spoke to herself and stared at the slate.
"From here we make our way to Goron City," she announced. "Then we'll need some adjustments on that Divine Beast so Daruk can manage it as easily as possible. He's figured out how to get it to move…. However it's apparent that we still have much more to learn. But to think, that Divine Beast was actually built by people…" she said amazed. "That means we should be able to understand how it works and how to use it to our advantage…. These Divine Beasts… so much we don't know. But if we want to turn back Calamity Ganon, they're our best hope," she finished with confidence. Then she slowed her step, her shoulders falling. Slowly she lowered the Sheikah slate and came to a stand still. "Tell me the truth," she said almost defeated. "How proficient are you at wielding that sword on your back?"
Link swallowed hard.
"Legend says that an ancient voice resonates inside it. Can you hear it yet… hero?" she challenged, looking back at him.
He inhaled deeply, trying to think of an answer. But his shoulders fell and his gaze turned to the earth.
With no answer, Zelda inflated her chest and pushed forward, turning silent for the rest of the walk.
Link mostly kept his eyes trained on Zelda's feet, forgetting the basics to keep looking to the sides of the road to check for ambushes. He had never heard a voice from the sword. The sword did feel as if it were connected to him in a way; it felt even more like an extension of his arm than even the gifted sword from his own father did. But never had he heard it speak to him officially. The closest he felt was the strange pull towards it back in the Korok forest. Admitting this was something he couldn't bring himself to do. He didn't dare admit his failings, and especially to the Princess—the Princess who worked incredibly hard every day to access her birthright power as well as keep up with the Sheikah and all their research. Sure she had yet to unlock her sealing powers, but she persisted through everything to try and bring that power forth. Meanwhile he couldn't even hear the voice of a sword that never left his side, the sword that lived through generations and generations along side hero after hero. Why had it spoken to them and not him? Was he not meant to be this generations hero? Was he not yet worthy of the sword?
After drowning in his own shortcoming for some time, he did remember to start watching out for thieves just as the sun started to set. Thankfully there were no incidents other than a deer bolting onto the road and briefly startling Zelda.