Chapter 14

Demons Within, Part 1

When I opened my eyes for the first time, I was surrounded by darkness. It was cold, and comforting, and invigorating. My limbs could barely move at first, but as I bathed in the shadows, they strengthened me, and before long I was able to move.

When I stood, my world was darkness. It stretched forever in every direction, enveloping existence like the greatest of blankets. Curious about this world I now found myself in, I began to walk, the sharp sounds of boots echoing across an invisible floor, though how I knew these things, I had no clue.

As I walked, voices began to drift down towards me, voice familiar yet foreign.

…Only been three days. How has this happened in three days?

…You can't fight a disease. There are some things not even you can protect her from.

…I don't know. East, I guess. Away from here.

The voices sounded pained, melancholic, and with every syllable I felt my strength grow. Occasionally, I would feel a burst of power flow within me, a filling sensation that allowed me to quicken and steady my pace.

Soon, the voices faded, but the bursts of power still came and went. And as they did, I felt my form begin to solidify. I looked down and saw hands, ending in five fingers. I saw boots, made of durable leather and well-worn from travel. I saw a tunic worn over chain mail, a leather belt fastening it in place.

I walked forward.

Eventually, I came across a new location.

Everywhere in this world looked the same; for as inviting as the darkness was, it was uniform, regular, and predictable. Something about this, though, seemed… different. The darkness was almost deeper here, dark, darker, yet darker still.

I walked into the darkness.

When I had reached the center, and darkness surrounded me, I felt a voice reverbrate around the area. A single white eye opened in the cloudless sky, staring down as if to observe a pest.

"And who might you be? I wasn't expecting any visitors."

"I do not know. I have only lived for a short time yet."

"A short time, eh? Interesting, interesting. Oh, one moment." A powerful burst of darkness flowed through me, and I realized this was the source. "There we go. Got him with a nasty one."

"Him?"

"My host, our host. The one who's darkness we've been feeding off of."

"I don't understand."

"You wouldn't. Not yet. Stay here for a while, my friend. Clearly we have the same goal, even if you're not aware of that quite yet. It shall be beneficial to us both to work together, no?"

I agreed.

"Man, I've never been to a big city like this before." Shez said, looking around at her surroundings. Link was leading her through the main square, though it was fairly crowded from all the midday traffic. "I'm used to small villages and noble's estates. This is all really new to me."

"It was a fair shock to me, too. Castle Town was the largest city I had ever been to, really the only place that could be called that in Hyrule. Enbarr easily dwarfs it in size."

"Hyrule?" Shez asked, focusing on Link. He gave her a nod.

"Yeah, my home country. It's been a long time since anywhere's been this populated, though."

"That… sounds ominous. Are you alright?"

"...I think I will be." Link said, almost too quietly for her to hear. Shez frowned slightly; she knew that expression all too well.

"Well hey, it sounds like you're fitting in here well enough, if everyone waving to you is anything to go by."

He gave her a small smile. "I think so too. I like the people of Enbarr, for the most part anyways. Every now and then you'll meet someone who's… not a very big fan of mine."

"Is it the ears?"

"It's usually the ears."

They continued walking through town, getting closer and closer to the main palace. "Wow, that place is huge! Do you live in there?"

"Sort of. It's… more of an extended visit. I have my own house in Hyrule, but Edelgard gave me a room here, too."

"That sounds nice. Nice, comfy bed, always warm, plenty of food…"

Link frowned. "Is the life of a mercenary that bad?"

"It is if you're not one of the really famous ones, like the Blade Breaker and his crew."

"Oh, that's right, speaking of…" Link waved to a woman that was just exiting the gate. She barely gave Shez a second glance before she waved back and walked past. That blue hair is really familiar… wait, is- "-that the Ashen Demon?" Shez asked aloud.

"Yeah. She and her father are staying here, they were hired to help run security after the Demonic Beast attacks."

"Demonic Beasts? This close to a city?"

"...It's a long story." They walked inside, most of the guards giving Link friendly greetings and flat-out ignoring her, or looked at her, saw Link, and shrugged their shoulders. Guess he's trusted around here if nothing else.

"Hey, so, is security usually this lax around here?" Shez wondered aloud, looking up high at the vaulted ceilings above her.

"No, it's not, but I'm trusted. They assume that, if you start trouble, then I'll deal with you." Link looked over his shoulder at her, his bright blue eyes flashing. "They're right."

"Eesh, alright, calm down." Shez said, holding up her hands in mock surrender. "I'm not about to stab my potential employer."

"I know." He smiled before looking away. "I was just joking with you."

…Something tells me that wasn't really a joke.

Link turned one last corner and walked out into what looked like a training field. In the center, there were two people sparring; a tall, broad-shouldered man with pale blonde hair and a shorter, petite woman with snow white hair and purple eyes. The man seemed to be teaching her; he was talking in a low voice while fighting her, his lance dancing around her axe while she batted it aside in search of an opening.

Link stepped to the side and Shez followed, wondering if the woman training out there was Edelgard. She certainly looked important enough to fit the bill, after all.

"How is she?" Link asked, voice barely a whisper. Shez looked over to see him talking with someone who just screamed evil. Dark hair, check. Pale skin, check. Evil vampire clothes, check. She hung back, not just out of respect for what was obviously a private conversation. Dude just gave her all the wrong kinds of vibes.

"Just arisen, and looking for you. I suggest you go to her swiftly, Link. It seems her nightmares are worsening." Tall, Dark, and Evil muttered, the smirk he wore when she entered fading slightly. Link's eyes widened, and he quickly glanced back at Shez before returning to his conversation.

"I'm on my way. Before I go, though, this is Shez. She's a mercenary looking for work. I don't think she's a bandit, far too clean for it, but I'll let you and Edelgard decide if you want to hire her." So that is Edelgard! But, seriously Link, don't leave me alone with Dracula over here. But, without another word, Link turned and sprinted out of the area. Whoever they had been talking about, she clearly meant a lot to him.

Unfortunately, his departure meant that now she had Evil Dude's focus centered entirely on her. She waved nervously. "Uh, hi?"

One of his impossibly thin eyebrows rose as he kept looking at her. "You're a mercenary?"

"I mean… yeah?" Kinda rude. Who even is this guy?

"And you were wandering outside of Enbarr, on your own?"

"Well, I wasn't on my own at first. But, some bandits got the drop on our crew, and, well… I was the only one that made it out."

"No night guard?"

"They were the first that got killed."

"I see. Take a seat." She shrugged and complied, sitting next to him on the benches. "If you are to be hired, it will be after a rigorous test, likely performed by the man that brought you here."

"What, Link?" She leaned back, eyes trailing upwards as she thought. "Y'know, now that I think about it, who is he anyways? All he said was that he worked with Edelgard, and lived in some far-off country."

"Link is a traveler, but he has performed many deeds and impossible feats in the name of protecting the Empire's citizens, at great cost to himself. He is also very close with a dear friend of Her Majesty, and is considered a hero in his homeland. To the point that it is likely his name will be written in the annals of history."

"Whoa, he's that famous?"

"One does not defeat a being simply known as The Calamity and continues to live an obscure life."

Shez shuddered. "I don't even wanna know what kind of thing gets a name like that."

"I feel much the same, though he seemed to find its description… difficult. The closest he managed was 'malice personified'."

"And he fought something like that? And lived?"

"I would hope so. Otherwise, I have many questions for the man wandering our halls." Hubert chuckled darkly. "In any case, since he seems to think you may have some value here, I shall give you a chance to prove your worth."

Kinda insulting, but alright. "Sounds good to me. Do you want me to clear out some bandits, or…"

"No, no, nothing like that. Once Link returns, spar with him."

"...That's it?"

"If you can land a single, clean blow, I will consider your fighting skills to be exceptional."

"Oh come on, I can land more than one-"

"It took twelve Demonic Beasts to overpower him; catching him off-guard and surrounding him. He killed eight of them before becoming overwhelmed. No one has been able to strike him since."

Shez's eyes widened. "...Okay, I might be able to get a hit in."

"No one has been able to succeed. Truthfully, I think he was simply rusty from peacetime."

"Makes sense." Shez sat back and sighed, watching Edelgard and Jeritza as they went another round. I didn't even know he was there until he spoke. She thought, glumly. Guess I'm not getting hired after all.

As Link came into view of his room, the guard at the door stepped aside while giving him a nod. He appreciated it; he'd want to speak to Dorothea privately, after all.

He slowed to a walk just before he reached the door, quickly pushing it open and stepping inside, closing the door quietly behind him. Just like Hubert had said, she was awake, staring out of the window. It was strange, though; she didn't even look at him once he had entered, as if she hadn't heard the door swing wide.

"Thea? How are you feeling?" Link asked, walking over towards her. Only then did she look over, but something was definitely off. For just a moment, an expression of rage seemed to flash across her face, but it was gone almost as fast as Link could see it. He furrowed his eyebrows slightly, tilting his head. "Is everything alright?"

"Just fine." She replied, her tone curt.

"Have you… managed to get any sleep?"

"Some, yes. The nightmares keep interrupting me, though."

"I see…" Link walked over and sat down next to her, slowly taking her hand in his. Suddenly, though, she ripped her hand away from his, as if his touch had burned her. Link sat back, a hurt expression crossing his face. "Thea?"

"Don't touch me." She responded, spitting the words like they were venom. Link felt fear grip his heart. What's going on…? Abruptly, she stood, walking towards the door. "Tell me, where is… Edelgard at?"

"She's at the training grounds, but…" Before she could continue, she left the room, slamming the door behind her. …Something's not right. That's… that's not Dorothea. Link jumped to his feet, following after her.

Shez yawned, stretching her arms upwards before letting them slowly fall down at her sides. Edelgard and Jeritza had just finished their training, and were chatting by the weapon racks while they finished up.

"Tired already, hm?"

"Yeah, it's been a long- gah!" She whipped her head to the side, Link standing with his arms crossed. "When'd you get here?"

"A little bit ago. Hubert, you got a second?" Hubert looked over, an eyebrow raised.

"What is it?"

"Come with me for a second. It's about Dorothea." He was tense, that was plain to see; his shoulders were taut, his eyes were scanning the training room, his hand kept twitching like he wanted to draw his sword… she wasn't the best at reading people, but even she could see it plain as day.

Hubert apparently could too, because he got up without a word and followed Link to one of the corners of the training room. They both stood with their backs to the wall, speaking in hushed tones. I wonder what they're talking about. I heard Hubert mention that Dorothea was asleep earlier… weird.

"Are you sure about this, Link?"

"Not completely, but pretty damn close." Link whispered back, watching for Dorothea. "If it wasn't the way she didn't react when I walked in, then it was the way she pulled away from me like I had hit her. Did she tell you what kind of nightmares she was having earlier?"

"Watching you die."

"That's what I figured."

"But if she is not Dorothea, then… who is she? And if you were following her, how are you here before her?"

"I took a shortcut."

"I see."

Link's eyes narrowed, his gaze focusing on the doorway. Hubert looked over to see Dorothea enter, her expression tense. Immediately, the stench of dark magic filled the air; a metallic like tinge that seemed to corrupt the soul. It rolled off of her in waves, confirming at least a few of Hubert's suspicions. These were no ordinary nightmares. But if not… then what?

Further examination lead to only more evidence that something was very, very wrong. While Dorothea was nearly always graceful as she walked, hands clasped in front of her and her strides even, now she was walking more like Link; arms at her sides, footsteps firm and powerful, tense as if ready to move into action at a moment's notice. Her resting expression was nowhere as calm as she usually was, shifting between Link's own practiced stony neutrality and one of disdain or hatred.

And, most glaring of all, she did not spare Link a second glance as she entered the room, nor did she acknowledge the presence of anyone else. Her eyes were laser focused on Edelgard, who was returning from the training racks.

Hubert's eyes narrowed. It's too… uncanny, to be them. But if it isn't them, then who is it? Who's in her place?

"Should we let her approach?" Link asked, voice low.

"If she tries anything, are you able to intervene from here?"

Link drew a bow, nocking it with a unique arrow. The arrowhead was yellow and seemed crystalline, with short arcs of electricity jumping between the two prongs. "Yes."

"Then let's wait and see what happens."

As Edelgard looked up, she saw Dorothea approaching her. "Oh, there you are. Are you sure you should be up and about? From what Hubert said earlier, you were… asleep…" Edelgard tilted her head slightly as Dorothea all but marched towards her. "Dorothea? Are you alright? If you need to lay down, then-" She stuttered to a stop as she walked directly up to her and kissed her, their lips pressed together out of nowhere.

Edelgard's cheeks immediately flushed red from surprise, momentarily too shocked to respond. What is she… her train of thought was halted, though, when Dorothea almost immediately collapsed.

Faster than any human should have been capable of moving, Link was by her side, easily catching her and easing her to the ground, holding her somewhat upright so she wasn't completely laying in the sandy floor. "Link, I promise I don't know why-"

"I know. She's… not herself. Thea wouldn't have done that normally." He responded, voice tense. After a brief moment, her shock having now been replaced with confusion and concern, Dorothea's eyes fluttered open. Immediately, her gaze locked on Link's, and she gave a small smile.

"Link, you're back. …Are you alright? Why do you seem so angry…? Did something happen…?" Her gaze flittered around the training room, her eyebrows furrowing as she took in her surroundings. "Why are we in the…"

"Thea." Link spoke, his voice tense. "What was the last thing you remember?"

"The last thing… before I fell asleep?"

"Yes."

"I had just woken up from another nightmare, and… and when I asked the guard outside if you were around, he told me you had left on a patrol. He sent for Hubert, who asked me about my nightmares. A little bit later, I fell asleep again."

"So you don't remember talking to me earlier, or coming down here, or kissing Edelgard?"

"Wh-what?" Dorothea's cheeks immediately flushed red. "No, I would never-"

"That's what I figured." Link let out a sigh of relief, hugging her close to his chest.

"Wait, wait, wait, I kissed Edelgard? Link, what's going on?"

"I don't know."

While Link and Dorothea were speaking, Hubert pulled Edelgard aside. "I have some new information on what may have happened to our resident songstress."

"Anything you could explain, please do."

"Very well. When she walked in, I could sense dark magic rolling off of her in waves. I believe her body was being manipulated to act in a specific way, though under who's orders I am not sure. However… that same feeling of dark magic is now coming from you, though it is significantly weaker."

"From me? So… Whoever was forcing her to act like that, whatever method they were using, that kiss transferred it to me?"

"If my theory is correct, yes. I shall have Link, Petra, and Jeritza search the castle for any matching sources of dark magic. With any luck, we will find the culprit and eliminate them."

"...Very well. I shall keep you informed of my condition moving forward."

"Thank you." Hubert looked over towards Link and Dorothea, both now standing and embracing each other. "I am glad he isn't holding her actions against her."

"Of course he isn't. He knows it wasn't her."

"He was the first to know, actually. He brought his theory up with me before she even arrived."

"I see. I suppose if anyone could figure it out, it'd be him. While I'm thinking about it, though…" Her gaze drifted towards the purple-haired woman sitting on the bleachers, watching everything going down with a mixed expression. On one hand, she seemed supremely confused; on the other, she looked like she was watching the best play of her life. "...Who is she?"

"A mercenary that Link found in the woods. It seems she wishes to be employed by you."

"...Unusual. What do you make of her?"

"She seems… unremarkable. Interesting choice of style, but other than her casual demeanor she doesn't seem to be much of a threat. I told her that Link would perform an assessment of her combat capabilities to determine if she would be hired or not."

"Fair enough. I'll trust your judgement with her. For now, though…" Her gaze drifted back towards Link and Dorothea. "...Let's let them have time to themselves."

"Very well."

"So, your name is Shez, right?" Shez sized up the woman speaking to her. She seemed really tired, in all honesty. Like she hadn't properly slept in a long while. "I hear you might be joining us inside the castle."

"Maybe?" Shez replied, shrugging. "I've apparently gotta beat Link, so I doubt I'll be here long." Dorothea covered her mouth with a hand as she giggled, nodding her head slightly.

"That would be difficult. Link's the strongest man I know, after all."

"I wouldn't doubt it. The man radiates strength like nobody's business. But, anyways, are you alright? What was with all of that earlier?"

"Honestly, we're not sure." Dorothea replied, taking a seat next to Shez. "Yesterday, I was suddenly afflicted with terrible nightmares, but they seemed to have vanished. It felt like a stone in my stomach was removed that I hadn't even noticed was there."

"A stone…?" Shez tapped a finger to her chin as she thought about it. "Weird, but okay. I'm glad to hear you're feeling better, at least."

"Thank you, Shez."

"Hey, so… you and Edelgard, is that a thing, or…?"

Dorothea's cheeks immediately went beat red as she shook her head. "No, we're just friends. Link's the only one in my heart."

"Wait, so you and Link are together? Oh man, that must be awkward." She mumbled, gesturing in Edelgard's direction. She, Hubert, and Link were standing across from them on the other side of the training grounds, discussing something in hushed tones. "I mean, you were basically sleep walking, but still."

"I know." Dorothea said with a frown. "Thankfully, Link doesn't seem upset by what happened… He seems to believe that I had no control over my actions, which I'm thankful for."

"Yeah, wasn't he the one that figured that part out? How'd he do that, anyways?"

"I was… forced to say terrible things to him. Things I would never say. He knew something was wrong, then." Dorothea sighed. "In truth, I thought it was another one of my nightmares, but I think I was forced to watch as I was puppeted…"

Damn, that's… "Either way, it's over now, right? So there's nothing to worry about!"

"Hopefully. But I can't help but feel that something isn't quite right." She muttered, eyes cloudy with thought. "Like this… this still isn't over."

"You think so?"

"I hope I'm wrong."

"Yeah, I can't blame you." They sat together in silence for a moment, before Shez spoke up again. "So… you really think that I don't stand a chance against Link?"

"To be honest, I don't know if anyone does. Maybe Thunder Catherine, but if he decides to use his bow, then it'd be a troublesome battle for her. He fires faster than any archer I've ever seen."

"Wait, so he's a master with a sword and a bow?"

Dorothea smiled. "And a spear, shield, on horseback, and even weapons far too large for anyone to properly wield."

Shez groaned and hung her head. "Of course he is."

Dorothea laughed at that.

"So it was definitely possession." Link muttered, his arms folded across his chest. "That much we know for sure. But, if someone or something was possessing her, where did it go? It wouldn't have just disappeared like that."

"That's the question of the day, isn't it?" Edelgard replied. "Hubert, what do you think?"

"I think you might be the next afflicted, my lady." Hubert replied, causing the two others to perk up with alarm. "In theory, the curse passes through physical contact, or is at least able to. If Link was afflicted first, then passed it to Dorothea, who then passed it to you…"

"That would make sense." Edelgard muttered. "I suppose that, tonight, we shall find out one way or the other."

"You already have nightmares though, don't you?" Link said. "Will you know if they're unusual ones for you?"

"I think so, yes. My nightmares have been recurring ones for some time now."

"Makes sense." Link sighed, his hand on his chin as he thought. "Well, in any case I guess we can't do much until we figure out how to break the curse."

"...Frustrating…" Hubert mumbled, his eyebrows furrowed. "I shall continue my investigations. Link, could you investigate ancient legends in Hyrule?"

"What about the spirit within your sword?" Edelgard added. Link shrugged his shoulders.

"I can ask." Fi, do you know anything?

"I have one record that meets several criteria for recent events, however none fit cleanly. I am not aware of any being capable of possession, however one of your past incarnations has done battle with a being capable of inflicting nightmares."

"Wait, he has?" Link asked, surprised. "What can you tell me about this being?"

"It was simply called the Nightmare, and it afflicted a being known as the Wind Fish, which had the capability of, quite literally, turning dreams into reality. The Nightmare was defeated by your incarnation, and the Wind Fish was woken from its sleep by a magic song performed by the Hero. In theory, if Princess Edelgard is indeed afflicted by the same being, then the same song should counter its effects. However, this will not be necessary."

"Won't be necessary…?" Edelgard muttered, reading over his shoulder.

"Princess Edelgard possesses enough strength to minimize the effects of Nightmare possession, similar to yourself, Master. At most, the nightmare will be able to produce its namesake during her sleep, but it will not be able to possess her the same way it possessed Lady Dorothea."

"How do you know that for certain?" Hubert asked, eyes narrowed.

"The presence of a unique power within her soul protects her. It overrides the strength of the Nightmare, directly interfering with its abilities. Link, Jeritza, and Byleth all possess the same ability, though there are deviations in the specifics."

"Unique power… do you mean a Crest?" Edelgard asked, confused. She looked up at Link. "You have a Crest?"

Link shrugged. "If I do, I don't know about it."

"It is not accurate to say Link has a Crest. Based on my current information, the Soul of the Hero acts like one, but is not one. However, the others I noted do have this power you call Crests."

"'You' call Crests? Then what do you call them?" Hubert asked, curious.

"Nothing. I have no data of their existence prior to this day."

"Fascinating. So, no one in Hyrule has a Crest?" Edelgard asked. It's almost like… my dream has already come true, there.

"That is correct. For now, continue to monitor your symptoms. If plans need to be expedited to remove the curse, call upon me and I shall aid you."

"Thanks, Fi." Link smiled as he put away the Slate. "Alright, seems like we have a plan, then. Figure out if a song will get rid of the Nightmare, call it a day."

"You make it sound so simple." Edelgard smiled nervously, one of her arms coming up to grip the other. "Do… do you think I'll truly be okay?"

"Yeah, I do." Link gave her a small smile. "I won't let anything bad happen to you."

"You say that, but it's not like you'll be able to stay by my side while I sleep."

"Good point…" Link cupped his chin in thought, before snapping his fingers. "Idea!" With a fluid motion, he drew the Master Sword, holding the handle out to Edelgard. "Here."

Edelgard stared at the handle of the proffered sword, her eyes wide. "Wha-"

"I'll hold onto the Slate, and you can hold onto Fi, so if something happens she can let me know."

"I recommend this course of action." Fi's message read from the Slate. "Do not worry, I will not harm you so long as you do not intend to wield me. Simply carrying me is a different matter; Princess Zelda carried me for roughly 14.5 kilometers with no ill effects."

"If you say so…" Edelgard gingerly took the handle of the Master Sword, lifting it from Link's grasp.

She wasn't sure what she was expecting, really; to feel weak as the life was drained from her, maybe, or to feel holy power blast through her. Instead, it felt as if a presence had settled itself within her mind, the metal of the blade surprisingly warm against her hand, as if it were alive. She tested the weight of it, surprised by how heavy the slim blade was, and marveled at the craftsmanship of it. Whoever had made the sword must have been a master at their craft.

"Everything alright?" Link asked, tapping on his Slate. In the next moment, he was holding what looked like the same kind of foldable sword that Byleth had been carrying, which he tucked into his belt. He unslung the Master Sword's sheath from his back and handed it to her, and she slid it home. The blade sang as it was put away, clicking into place.

"Yes. It feels…"

"Alive?" Link supplied, smiling.

"Yes. Is that due to Fi's presence?"

"It is, yes."

"Fascinating…" Hubert reached out and laid a hand on the handle. "No matter how much you share with us, Link, I find that you always have more mysteries in your pocket."

"If you say so." Link tapped on the Slate once more before putting it away. "In the meantime… you wanted me to battle Shez, right?"

"Ah, yes. The mercenary you brought here earlier." Hubert looked over, Edelgard still studying the details of the Master Sword. "If you would, it would help us to make our decision."

"Sure, I don't mind." Link jogged over towards them, greeting Dorothea with a quick hug and talking to Shez. Hubert, meanwhile, looked back down at the legendary blade held in his lady's hands. To so easily hand over such a precious weapon… if I didn't know him any better, then I would call him careless. He looked back up as the two fighters approached the training weapons. I suppose, though, that this is not him being careless; instead, this is his way of showing how much he trusts us.

"We had best take excellent care of his weapon, my lady."

"I agree. For now, though, let's watch the bout. I'm always happy to watch him battle."

"Two swords?" Link asked, testing the weight of the wooden sword and shield he had picked up.

"Yeah. Not sure when I learned it, but for a while now I've had a talent for dual wielding." Shez tossed one of her own training swords in the air, the practice weapon spinning twice before the handle landed firmly in her hand. She tossed it a couple more times, spinning them around as she got a feel for them. Link unconsciously began to mirror her, twirling his own sword while he thought.

"I've never really tried to dual wield before. I think I could, but I've always just felt more comfortable with one blade, shield optional."

"What about a bow, or spear?"

"I do like the bow… but spears just don't feel right. I can use them, sure, but when I do it's specifically to keep a distance, or because I need a quick, piercing attack, not because I like it."

"That's fair. I've always liked swords myself, even though axes were more common in my party."

"Makes sense. They're more maneuverable."

"And cooler."

Link gave her a grin. "Got that right."

Together they walked out towards the middle of the floor, lowering themselves into their stances. Link kept his shield raised and his sword held close to his side, while both of Shez's swords were angled away from her, seemingly leaving her guard wide open.

Link's eyes narrowed as he analyzed his opponent, both of them shuffling from side to side, looking for openings. She seems open, but if I go for a body strike right away, there's no doubt in my mind she'll catch the attack and counter. I could simply charge in with the shield poised to defend, but it blocks my view of her weapons, so I wouldn't be able to react properly to an attack. Another second passed, and Link ran forwards, shield to the side.

He swung downwards, but just like he predicted she caught his sword with her left. Suddenly, a dull thud reverberated from his right side, her other sword bouncing off the wood. Before she could pull back, Link swung outwards with his shield, bashing her sword to the side. He followed its momentum with a roll as he disengaged his own sword from their bind.

With practiced ease he ended on his feet, shield and sword both raised as Shez leapt backwards, getting some distance. He kept his shield off to the side, close enough that it could be moved in a heartbeat but far enough away he could keep an eye on both of her weapons. With surprising agility, she dashed forward, flipping her left sword into a reverse grip as she swung hard with both blades. Link guarded against both, pushing them aside, but was unprepared as she reared back and slammed her forehead into his. Momentarily stunned, he took a step back as he blinked the haze from his eyes. The slight wooshing of wind was all the warning he got in the following second. Following his gut, he dropped to a knee, both of her swords swinging above his head. Gritting his teeth, he rose to his feet, swinging his shield in a devastating uppercut, slamming it directly into her jaw. Her head snapped backwards as he crouched low again, sweeping her legs out from underneath her before she could recover. He jumped straight in the air, sword pointed downwards as he let out a battle cry.

Shez insticively slammed her eyes shut as she saw the hero falling towards her, blade pointed towards her neck. When she heard a soft thump next to her head, she opened her eyes to see Link crouched over her, both hands on the handle of his blade, which was sunk a good six inches into the sandy flooring. His forehead was bright red, and while he was breathing heavier than normal he wasn't sweating much.

"Damn, guess you got me." Shez breathed out with a sigh, letting go of her swords. "That was a mean shot with your shield, never seen someone pull a stunt like that before."

Link grinned as he stood back up, backing off a step and holding out a hand. "You weren't too bad yourself. Wasn't expecting that headbutt at all, really threw me for a loop there."

She took his hand and he helped her to her feet, the both of them shaking hands with a grin. "Hey, at least I landed a hit. More than I expected to do, honestly."

"True, true. Haven't taken a good hit like that in a while." As they let go of each other's hands, Link turned towards Hubert and gave him a thumbs up. "She's pretty good, got my vote."

"That was a dirty trick you used back there." Dorothea said with a grumble, walking up to them with a pout.

"Well yeah, I mean-"

"I'm not mad." Link said, wiping some sweat from his brow. "There's no rules on the battlefield, after all, and if you try to follow them you're going to get yourself killed. There's a far cry between fighting without honor and using everything you have to win. Kicking sand in their eyes, bashing their head in with yours, slamming a shield in their jaw… when your life is on the line, you have to do everything you can to win."

"But your life wasn't on the line!"

"I can't test how good she is if she didn't fight like it was." Dorothea let out a hmph, stepping forward and hugging him.

"I'm just glad you're not hurt."

"Oh, I definitely am." Link rubbed his forehead with a wince. Yep, definitely gonna bruise. "That's good, though, means she's a good mercenary."

"I'd be dead if I wasn't." They started walking back towards Edelgard and Hubert, Link still reassuring a worried Dorothea that he was fine and asking if she really felt better after the whole ordeal. It was a strange event, to be sure, but they were glad it was over with quickly.

As they were walking back, however, Link noticed that a guard was handing something to Edelgard, a letter by the look of things. She was reading it over when they reached her. While Hubert and Shez stepped aside to discuss hiring her, Edelgard waved Link over.

"What is it, Princess?" Link asked as he sat down, Dorothea giving them some space after hearing Edelgard's serious tone. "More bandits?"

"Not exactly." She read the letter over once more before handing it to him. He read over it, though the fanciful handwriting made it a bit more difficult for him.

To Your Majesty, Emperor Ionius,

It seems my daughter has fallen ill, and the healers employed by my household are insufficient in their efforts to cure her. I would like to petition healers from the capital to aid in her recovery as soon as possible. I am unsure with what she has fallen ill with, however it seems to be worsening by the day. As she is my only daughter, I am sure you can understand my concern for her health.

Your regards,

Count Varley.

"So, he needs healers? Why call me?"

"I'd like you to escort them as a bodyguard, and to look into some worrying rumors I've heard of the Count's daughter."

"His daughter?"

"Yes. I have heard that she behaves very… strangely, as if afraid of everything outside of her room. Why that would be, I have no idea, but if you could discern the validity of these rumors I'd appreciate it."

"Sure, I don't mind. When do you want me to set out?"

"Preferably today. I'll have the healers rounded up and ready to go within the hour."

"Alright." He stood up, but before he could take a step Edelgard reached out and grabbed his sleeve.

"Before you go… if you see anything… suspicious, you have my permission to act as you see fit, with the protection of mine and my father's name. I trust that this is a privilege you won't abuse."

Link was silent for a second before nodding firmly. "I understand." She let go of his sleeves and left, Dorothea clinging onto his arm while he went over his supplies.

Hubert, who had finished his discussion with Shez a moment ago and was listening in on Link and Edelgard's conversation, thought for a moment before approaching Edelgard. "My lady, I have an idea. Why not send Shez along with Link, as a sort of initiation into the kind of work she'll be asked to perform under our service?"

"A good idea, Hubert. Who knows what kinds of characters could be mixed into the healers we send, after all, or could be after the Count's daughter."

Went unspoken was an underlying knowledge both shared; they knew exactly who would be sent with them, and they both knew that even Link would require an ally to protect the innocents in the area.

"Of course. Shez, follow me, I will discuss with Link what kind of provisions you shall require for the journey."

"Uh, yeah, sure, but are you sure Link won't be enough?"

"For any regular band of bandits, yes, however those are not the only groups of malicious people out there."

"Uh… yeah, I guess, if you say so. I don't mind either way."

"Very well." They both left alongside Edelgard, who made her way towards the medical wing, where she could collect the healers required to treat Varley's daughter.

I don't know if they'll make an attempt at using her the same way they did with me all those years ago… but I won't take that chance. I won't allow anyone to suffer the way I did.

Next chapter May 31st.

AN: So, unfortunately this chapter's mad short. I'm gonna be honest, I'm not happy with this one at all, it feels far too rushed. But, this is the best I have, and with life kicking the absolute dog shit outta me these past few weeks it's the best I'm gonna have until I come back around for revisions. Don't worry, Twin Blades isn't going anywhere, I just needed a month to try and get my life settled… not that it helped. Anyways, let me know what you thought of the chapter in a review, and please look forward to part 2. I'll likely post it ahead of schedule, but we'll have to see.