Chapter 14
Demons Within, Part 2
Outside Enbarr castle, Shez leaned against a nearby wall, watching Link and Dorothea say their goodbyes. They were pretty sweet, and while she was never really all that familiar with romance, having grown up either isolated or among mercenaries, she could tell that they cared deeply about each other. What she couldn't get was why, if they hated being apart so much, Link kept leaving and going on patrols like the one he was on when they met, or doing tasks outside of Enbarr that put his life in danger.
I guess he's just a good guy under it all, but doesn't he have a selfish bone in his body? If I cared about someone as much as he does, I wouldn't leave their side for the world. And yet, it seems like they barely ever get time together. …I kinda feel bad for them, in a way.
"Eavesdropping?" Shez jumped at the quiet voice that sounded next to her. She turned to see a woman with teal-blue hair eyeing her quizzically, a basket of groceries under her arm. Despite the… fairly odd style of dress she went for, Shez could tell she was a fighter, and a strong one at that; it was all in the way she stood with a steady, strong stance, the way her eyes focused in on hers… and the sword at her hip, which seemed well-worn from battle. Mostly the sword.
"Uh… yeah, little bit." Shez looked back towards Link and Dorothea. The lady did the same, her head tilting slightly as she tried to hear their quiet conversation. "We're about to leave on a mission, and they're saying goodbye."
"A mission? I wasn't told we were leaving for anything…"
"What?" Shez turned to look at her. "Why would anyone tell you?"
"Because I was hired to go on missions like this." She responded, her head tilting a little further.
"...Wait, are you a mercenary too?"
"Yes."
"...Huh. You don't look like a mercenary. Too pretty for it." The woman seemed even more confused by her remark, but before she could comment on it, Shez held out a hand. "Name's Shez."
The woman responded in kind, shaking Shez's hand with a firm grip. "Byleth."
"So, Byleth… why's a mercenary going grocery shopping?"
"Link asked me to collect some things. He was going to prepare a special dinner for Dorothea when she woke up again." Byleth stood next to Shez, deciding to watch the couple with her. "I guess that'll have to wait."
"Looks like it."
"When did she recover? When I had left earlier, she was in the middle of a nightmare."
"Not too long ago, actually. She woke up, was apparently acting like a totally different person, then she kissed Edelgard and poof," Shez mimed a small explosion with her hands, "all better."
"That's…" Byleth's eyes narrowed slightly. "Very strange."
"You're telling me. She apparently has no memory of it or anything, and Link seems content to just be thankful she's feeling better, but I dunno. Could be a trap of some kind."
"Is there a kind of spell that can do that?"
"Uh… maybe? I don't really know much about magic, let alone dark magic."
"...Then Hubert is our sole authority on magic."
Shez sighed. "...That blows."
"Indeed."
The travel from Enbarr was comfortable, but slow. They had ended up taking a carriage, since there were seven of them total (the four healers, Link, Shez, and Byleth, who tagged along after giving Link his groceries), which, while slower, was more convenient. At the front, Byleth rode with Link, who was actually driving the carriage, while Shez rode the top, acting as a scout.
Link's eyes quickly scanned the treeline, and, not seeing anything suspicious, relaxed just a hair. "Hey, Byleth. Have you been to the Varley area before?"
Byleth was silent for a moment before she responded. "I think we traveled through there before. Might have been hired by the Count. Can't remember."
"Guess you don't remember what the area was like, then?"
"No. If I had to guess, it was like the rest of the Empire."
"You're not wrong." Shez spoke up from the top, leaning over to join the conversation. "Only thing is, since Count Varley's the Minister of Religious Affairs here in Enbarr, the people themselves tend to be a little more uptight than usual."
"Minister of Religious Affairs?" Link repeated, curious.
"Yeah. Manages the West branch of the church, or something, I dunno." Shez shrugged. "I just fight people, only education I got is what I've overheard nobles talking about."
"Fair enough." Link shrugged, turning to Byleth. "Do you know-"
"I don't pay attention to what nobles talk about, unless Father tells me to." Byleth cut him off, only barely glancing at him. "So I don't know."
Link sighed. "Well, in that case, have you overheard anything about him, Shez?" He turned to look inside the carriage, "Or any of you, for that matter."
The healers remained as silent as they had since Link had been in their presence, but Shez spoke up. "I remember hearing something about his daughter, Bernadetta, I think? Last I heard she didn't get out much, and he was trying to arrange her marriage or something."
"Didn't get out much?" Arranged marriage…? "Is that all?"
"Yep."
"Hm… alright." They continued to ride in silence, thoughts running through Link's head. He wasn't sure why he was so on-edge; by all accounts, the task was a simple one: escort the healers to the count's daughter, get her healed, then leave again. But… It's the way she spoke to me before we left, he realized. The fact that she emphasized I was able to act in her name against any injustice I encountered… she wouldn't do that unless she expected something to go wrong. Link set his shoulders, his eyes narrowing as he determined his path. I will protect everyone. No matter the cost.
The Varley's region looked like every other part of the Empire to Byleth. Oak trees, some more open fields for farming, small villages that they passed through, the occasional distasteful look thrown their way when the people caught sight of the Imperial sigil on their carriage. Nothing unexpected.
Honestly, she wasn't really sure why she came along on this trip, nor was she sure why Shez came as well; Link was strong, really strong, maybe even stronger than Father. But, when she asked Link about it, he said someone might be planning something evil, and that he figured it'd be better to have more eyes around that he could trust.
She wasn't sure what the warmth in her chest was when he said that, but she found she didn't mind it much.
Their trip was uneventful; Link gave Shez some of his swords to fight with ("You can't keep using those rusty iron swords, they're gonna break really quickly. Here, I have some broadswords used by the knights of Hyrule, they should last longer"), and the three of them practiced and sparred the two nights they spent traveling here, so they both could get used to the weapons Link had given them.
The Ancient Blade that she wielded (alongside the steel sword her father had bought her as a gift) was fast and light, letting her attack much faster than she was really used to. Soon, though, she became accustomed to the speed of the blade, though she wasn't really able to learn Link's more acrobatic style of combat.
Shez was able to pick up on quite a bit of it, leaving Byleth and Link as a set of extremes on a spectrum, with Shez in the middle; she was less mobile in battle than Link, but she dodged and evaded more than Byleth, who preferred to block and counterattack from inside the opponent's guard.
By now, though, they were starting to learn how all three of them fought… and it was kind of boring. Link always refused to bring out and use his Slate in battle, since no one else had one, and he always used blunt (and slow) arrows that were easy to avoid or dodge.
He was still better with a bow than anyone else she knew, though.
On their second day, their path was blocked by highwaymen demanding a toll for safe passage. Long before they had ever run into them, however, Link had handed Byleth the reins and joined Shez on the roof of the carriage. When the bandits had stepped out, well.
Link stepped off the edge of the carriage, his bow drawn, and they all died within a few seconds of each other.
It reminded Byleth of when they had fought the Demonic Beasts the other day; he had been able to fire so quickly she couldn't track them all back then, too. Hell, he even dropped directly back into the seat, putting his bow away in one fluid motion like he had done it a thousand times.
She really wanted to learn how to do that, but whenever she'd ask he'd just shrug and say "It's something i've always been able to do, not really sure how I do it."
Shaking her head to get her train of thought back on track, Byleth looked up at the large Varley estate. To her, it looked like every other noble estate that she was familiar with; large, imposing, somewhat gaudy… typical nonsense. She wasn't sure how anyone lived in a house like that.
Link seemed to be more impressed, if his wide-eyed staring was anything to go by. "Is this new to you?" She asked, curious.
"Yeah. I mean, it's not as big as either of the castles, but it's bigger than what most nobles had in Hyrule."
"It's too big if you ask me." Shez commented from the roof, echoing Byleth's earlier thoughts.
"...Yeah, it would be, but it'd be really fun to explore." Link replied, consciously keeping the excitement out of his voice. Byleth could see the gleam in his eyes, though, even if she couldn't place the emotion.
As they got closer, they saw two guards manning the wrought-iron gate. They briefly crossed their spears to bar entry, but when Link announced they had been sent by Princess Edelgard and presented the letter of introduction she had given him, they apologized and allowed them through. Link waved off the apologies and praised their good work as they entered.
Link frowned as he took in the estate. The main courtyard housed a large garden, filled with beautiful flowers surrounded by a large hedge. It was all very pretty, yes, but something felt… off, about it all. Too many blind spots, too many places to hide. Maybe it was unintentional, but either way he raised his guard just a hair. While he had put away his sword before they entered the gate, he kept one of the better-quality Guardian Swords on his belt, the handle tucked away in a pouch that would allow him to quickly reach and activate the concealed weapon in case of an emergency.
Finally, with the sky just beginning to change color to signal the third sunset, they arrived at the main entrance. A man stood outside, his long, white hair tied back in a ponytail much like Link's, though he wore a fine suit. Link pulled their carriage to a stop across from the main entrance, quickly stepping down from the carriage and stretching his legs. Byleth had followed him down, and Shez was working her way down from the roof when the man approached, bearing a warm smile. "You must be the ones escorting Miss Bernadetta's healers, then?"
"Yes, we are." The man held out a hand, and Link carefully wiped his on a clean part of his pants before taking his in a firm handshake. "Not to be rude, but who are you?"
"Ah, yes. My name is Alejandro, and I am the head butler of Count Varley's estate. And may I inquire as to the names of you and your companions?"
Link nodded as Shez finally stood next to him, eyeing Alejandro up and down. "Sure. My name's Link, and these are my friends, Byleth Eisner and Shez." He introduced the two women, Byleth nodding to the butler as Shez gave him a brief wave before moving off to help the healers out of the carriage.
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Master Link. Please, come inside. We were just about to have dinner, and the Master has asked I invite you all as thanks for coming to his daughter's aid."
"Dinner, huh? Sounds nice." Link said, smiling.
"I bet yours is better." Byleth muttered under her breath as Alejandro began leading them inside. "And it's magic."
"The best food is free." Link replied with a tone as if he was passing on sage advice. Byleth agreed with a nod, conceding the point.
"It's gotta be better than road rations, anyhow." Shez added as she joined them, the still silent healers following the trio. "So, no complaints from me."
Once inside, the three of them sat down at the large, opulent table, followed by the six healers that had come with them. The table was furnished somewhat modestly, covered by a white tablecloth and decorated with golden candlesticks. Link had to admit, he was fairly impressed by the sheer amount of wealth it took to have a place like this; but he had to agree, it was a bit big for his tastes.
Eventually, a man entered the room, Alejandro opening the door for him and introducing him as Count Grégoire Varley. The count soon sat at the head of the table, an empty chair to his left and right, as Alejandro bowed and informed them that the food would be brought out shortly. He seemed to tilt his nose ever-so-slightly as he observed the nine guests at his table. "I know who the healers are, but who are you three?" He asked, his tone haughty and very rich-sounding. Link stood from the table, bowing with a hand across his waist. I may have hated every second of it, but thank you for teaching me proper manners, Zelda.
"I am Link of Hyrule, son of Aster, Captain of the Royal Knights of Hyrule. These are my companions, Shez and Byleth Eisner, mercenaries and friends of mine. Thank you for so graciously inviting us to dine at your table, Count Varley."
"Hmph. At least one of you is nobility. But, alas, not of Fodlan."
"Actually, he's also Edelgard's left hand." Shez spoke up. "As a reward for saving the lives of the Empire's citizens on multiple occasions, he acts as her personal guard and taskmaster."
Link didn't let his confusion show, even as Varley's eyebrows rose a fraction of an inch. I don't think any of that was true, but he wouldn't know that. "Is that so?" Varley replied, intrigued.
"Yes, sir, it is." Link replied. "Though I hail from a land outside of Fodlan's borders, I have found a new home here, and so I wish to protect Fodlan's people from all that I am able."
"You, protect the people? Without even a Crest?" Varley scoffed, unimpressed.
Link ignored the slight and shrugged his shoulders. "The lack of a Crest hasn't stopped me before."
"Count Varley," Byleth spoke up, her voice monotone as always, "Link's skill is unmatched in battle. He was able to match Edelgard blow-for-blow in battle with ease."
The Count was seemingly ignoring her words at first, until she mentioned Edelgard. At this, he simply scoffed, dropping the subject while Link sat back down. The three of them glanced between each other, silently agreeing that they weren't exactly Varley's biggest fans, but not voicing the thought aloud so as to not anger him. It wouldn't do to get kicked out before Bernadetta had even been seen to, after all.
After a tense dinner, the nine of them made their way to Bernadetta's room, escorting the healers there and back. While Byleth and Shez were simply guards, Link intended to offer any elixirs he thought would aid in her recovery, as well as a hearty meal.
Her room looked like any other, which wasn't what Link had expected; he figured her room would have a fancier door than the others at least, but it was completely unassuming. Once Alejandro finished showing them the way, he bowed as he excused himself to tend to Bernadetta's mother, who had also fallen ill, but with a different sickness.
Link frowned as the healers filed in and he watched Alejandro leave; If both his wife and daughter are sick, why'd he only contact us about his daughter?
The longer Link was here, the more things stood out, like the lack of servants tending to the garden despite its immaculate state. He sighed and shook his head as he followed the other healers in, deciding to… investigate later that night. Byleth and Shez, meanwhile, stood outside as guards.
After the door had closed behind Link, Shez looked over at Byleth before turning her gaze out of the window. "...Is it just me, or is this place weird?" She asked, voice lowered to a hush.
"...All three of us agree."
"Link noticed too?"
"He's maintaining his observation of his surroundings, despite us being supposedly safe within the walls of the Count's home. He's suspicious."
"Of what, though?"
"...I don't know. An attack, I suppose."
"You don't think someone would attack a noble's estate in the middle of the day though, right?"
"...We did. It caught many people off guard."
Shez sighed. "Yeah, fair point, but still."
"...It's better to be paranoid and alive than lazy and dead."
"Well, you're not wrong." Shez sighed, looking around again. "Just gives me the heebie-jeebies."
"...That's because it's too quiet. You're used to a background of sound, either from the forest or the city. But here, there's practically no sound at all." Byleth finally glanced over at Shez, meeting her eye. "As if everyone here was dead, and this was their tomb."
"Y-you don't think Varley's a zombie, do you?!" Shez asked, alarmed.
"No." Byleth looked away, the corner of her mouth twitching. "I know he is."
"Aha!" Shez pointed at her. "We need to get Link to purify the place and get the hell outta-"
"I was joking."
"...I didn't know you could joke!"
"Anyone can joke." Byleth looked away. "No one gets my jokes, though."
"Well when you say the joke like everything else, no one's gonna know you're joking."
Byleth tilted her head, looking back at Shez. She almost seemed confused. "I don't get what you mean. My father tells his jokes in the same way he speaks, and people laugh."
"...Maybe it's a body language thing. Is he usually smiling when he tells a joke?"
Byleth curled her fist, resting her chin on it as she thought. "...I think so."
"Well, that's why. His smile tells everyone that he's not being serious, but you just have the same expression all the time."
"...I don't think I've ever smiled before. How do you smile?"
Shez blinked, looking into Byleth's eyes. "...Is that another joke?"
"Not this time, no."
"...That's kinda sad, B."
"B?"
"Yeah, it's a nickname. Byleth is a kinda long name, don't you think?"
"...Okay. S."
"It doesn't work with mine."
"Hmph."
As he walked inside, he wasn't too terribly surprised by what he saw. Bernadetta's room was fairly sparse, mostly consisting of a bookshelf filled with boring-looking books, a sewing kit in the corner, and some stuffed animals. The girl herself was asleep, her long, purple hair falling in messy curls behind her head. Link approached her quietly, carefully listening to her breathing once the healers were in position. Her breathing was shallow and shaky, and almost sounded wet. Sweat beaded on her forehead, despite the thin dress she wore and sheet she slept under. Her skin was pale, and when Link touched the back of his hand to her forehead, he noticed she was burning with fever. …I wish I was a doctor, so I could tell what disease she has, but I think I can alleviate some of her symptoms.
Link approached one of the healers, speaking in a hushed tone. "Do we need to wake her up for this, or can she stay asleep? I'd rather not wake her if need be."
"She can sleep." The healer replied, their raspy voice coming from underneath her hood. "All we need do is cast our spell and leave."
"Alright, go ahead."
The six healers raised their hands in unison, and white circles appeared in front of them, spinning in place. Link had yet to see any magic being cast, so he watched with rapt attention as Bernadetta's body began to glow from the spell. After a moment, the healers lowered their hands, and the glow ceased. He could immediately tell that the spell had had some effect; her skin was already returning to a healthier color, and her breathing seemed to even out and become deeper.
Link nodded to himself as she seemed to make a full recovery. The healers folded their hands back into their robes and left the room, Byleth making sure to follow them while Shez hung back to speak to Link. "Everything go alright?" She asked, glancing inside the room.
"Yeah, I think so. She's breathing easier, at least." Link followed her gaze. Something was nagging at the back of his mind, a gut feeling that something was wrong. "Before we leave, though…" He stepped back inside, quickly finding a pen and sheet of paper left on her desk.
Hello, Bernadetta,
My name is Link. I, a couple friends of mine, and some healers were asked to come help you by your father. We've already done so, but if you need anything else, just let me know. I'll be staying here at the estate for a few days. Rest easy.
He drew the symbol of the Sheikah on the bottom, as close to a signature as he felt was necessary, then left the letter on her bedside table, nodding to himself before leaving.
"Any reason you did all that?" Shez asked, curious, as Link closed the door behind him again.
"...No, not really. Just… call it a gut feeling." If I'm wrong, then she can just ignore the letter. And if I'm not, she knows she can come to me. …Hopefully.
Link and Shez walked side-by-side down the hall, following the path they had taken to get there. "A gut feeling, hm? So, it's not just me that's creeped out here."
"...I wouldn't say I'm creeped out, but I'm definitely on edge." Link glanced around. "I feel like someone's going to jump out of the shadows at any moment, blade aimed for my neck."
Shez looked at Link and blinked. "Were you attacked like that often? Seems like a pretty rare situation."
"Yes." Link replied in a tone that brokered no further questions.
"Guess it had to do with the whole royal guard thing, right?"
"...Yes."
"Yeesh, glad I'm a merc, then." Shez crossed her arms and shook her head. "I've gotta watch over my shoulder enough as-is, thank you very much."
"Never know, might have to deal with them anyways, since you're hanging around me."
"What?! Oh, c'mon, man!"
Link chuckled. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding. They're based in Hyrule, and I already took out their leader and a huge chunk of their forces. I doubt they'll be making any moves anytime soon."
"...Well, alright." She sighed. "Anyways, since we're gonna be here for a while, wanna go raid the kitchen?"
"...Might as well." They smirked to each other before turning a corner, heading towards the pantry.
When Bernadetta woke up, she felt… fine. A little gross from all the sweat that had dried on her skin and soaked into her clothes while she was asleep, but otherwise? Fine. She sat up slowly, stretching her arms to the sky, before looking out the window to see the bright, full moon, shining down into her room.
She yawned slightly, wondering why she was feeling better, before she looked down and noticed a folded piece of paper on her bedside table. She read over it a few times, shivering at the thought of a bunch of strangers being in her room without her knowing. Well… I guess they did heal me, so… I should probably thank them. …Maybe tomorrow, though. For now, I could really use a bath.
After cleaning herself up, she decided to wander through the garden, enjoying the cool night air and the springy feeling of the grass beneath her feet. She wandered through the hedge maze, before finding a bench and settling down on it. It sucks that I can only really enjoy the outdoors at night, when everyone else is inside and asleep. At least this way, I can enjoy them all by myself, with no one to interrupt-
"Bernadetta?"
"AH!" She jumped to her feet, whipping around to see who had spoken. It was a young man she didn't recognize, wearing a long, blue tunic, with gentle eyes that seemed creased with concern. She idly noticed the pointed ears, though she was more focused on the fact that a stranger had found her in the garden, alone at night, with no one around to save her oh god she's gonna die and no one's gonna know-
"Are you… okay?" The man asked, slowly taking a seat in the grass. He folded his hands together, resting them in his lap. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I just didn't expect to see you out and about."
"Who are you?! Are you going to kidnap me? Murder me?! Oh, I knew I shouldn't have gone outside!"
"Wh-what? No, nothing of the sort. Didn't you read my letter?"
"Your… your letter?" She then spotted the strange rectangle on his side, and her eyes widened as she realized where she had seen that symbol before. "Oh! So, you're… Link, right?"
The man, Link, smiled gently as he nodded. "Yep, that's me. Are you feeling better at all?"
"O-oh, yeah, great actually." She slowly sat down on the bench, while Link remained where he was. "Just… kinda gross."
"Yeah, I felt the same last time I was sick." He admitted with a chuckle. "Couldn't get into a bath fast enough."
"Right?" She smiled slightly. "But, if you just came to heal me, then… why're you still here? Not that I want you to leave or anything, I just- sorry, forget I said anything."
Link just laughed to himself, waving away any offense. "You're fine, I'm not upset. We're sticking around to make sure the infection's cleared out for good. Once you're deemed healthy by the healers, we'll leave, and you can enjoy your garden in peace again."
"Oh, …okay." Bernadetta sighed, looking up at the stars. "So, you're staying for a while?"
"Just a few days, I think."
"Okay."
They sat together in a somewhat uncomfortable silence, before Link sat up straight for a second, as if he had just remembered something. "Hey, Bernie, when was the last time you ate?"
"...B-Bernie?" No one's called me that since…
"It must have been a while, right? Here, do you like meat skewers? Or would you prefer some fruit cake?" Link had grabbed the device off of his waist and was tapping on it, sliding his finger back and forth across the top of the screen. "I have veggie options too, if you're not a fan of meat."
"Uh… do you have any fish? We don't get to eat fish often, but it's one of my favorites…"
"Fish? Sure, I've got plenty. Do you want bass, porgy, trout, salmon, crab-"
"I-I don't know what any of them are called, really."
"Ah, I gotcha. Then, we'll go with… staminoka trout. Should help your recovery." Link tapped on the screen, and with a brief flash of blue light, he was holding a steaming skewer of fish. She wasn't sure where it had actually come from, but it smelled delicious. He handed her the skewer, and she took a cautious bite. Her eyes widened as she stared down at the skewer with fascination.
"This- this is delicious! How did you even-"
"I'm always prepared." Link interrupted with a wink, claiming his own skewer from the Slate before putting it away. "I'm glad you like my cooking."
"Like it? This is… this is better than when Pierre makes it!" She hated the sting of betrayal for her words against their private chef… but this was good.
"Really? Thank you, it's always nice to hear how much someone enjoys what I make." Link said, his cheeks dusted with pink as he looked away with a smile.
They ate together, though Bernadetta asked him for a second the very moment she finished her first. Link obliged, and eventually got up from the grass to sit next to her on the bench. When they were down and the skewers were put away, they both watched the stars in a comfortable silence, though Bernadetta did eventually break it.
"...Hey, Link?"
"Hm?"
"Why'd you… why'd you call me Bernie, earlier?" Link gave her a curious look, with one eyebrow raised higher than the other. "It's just that… no one's called me that since my… since my uncle."
"Well…" Link shrugged. "I don't know. Bernadetta just sounded… kinda stuffy."
Her eyes widened, a memory rising to the surface of her mind. An older man that looked very much like her father was smiling down at her, while she sat perched on his lap, reading a book. I know Bernadetta is your name, but doesn't Bernie sound so much less stuffy?
"Besides, I like giving people nicknames. I called my… my old friend, Zelda, Zeldie, but it took her a while to warm up to it. Then, there's Revali, who I called a self-entitled pr- Hey, Bernie, what's wrong?" He had looked over to see her staring at the grass, tears rolling down her cheeks. He reached a hand out, holding onto her shoulder. "Was it something I said, or-"
"N-no, I just… I remembered a time with my uncle, before… before everything happened, and you just… you remind me of him, and I…" She sniffed before turning towards him and lunging into his chest, bawling her eyes out. Link quickly hugged her, not entirely sure why she was crying, but loathe to interrupt her.
"Hey, hey, it's alright." He whispered softly, rubbing circles into her back. It wasn't until then that he could tell just how thin she was. Even through her dress, he could feel her spine and shoulder blades, and even despite his… unfortunate height, she was practically dwarfed by his arms. Despite the healthier color to her skin, she was still quite pale, and he was sure it wasn't because of the moonlight.
While she cried into his chest, he looked up at the moon, his expression hardening. Something was very, very off about the Varley estate, and he wasn't sure he could leave until he had at least figured out what.
"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."
Edelgard's words rattled around in his head, until they eventually settled, along with his resolve.
It looked like they might be spending more than a few days at the Varley estate.
The next day, Bernadetta joined everyone for breakfast, having seemingly made a full recovery. When she walked in, she shyly waved to Link who smiled back, but a glare from her father forced her gaze back towards the table. No one talked much over the meal, with the Count simply asking if the job was done successfully (earning an internal glare from Link) and, if it was, why hadn't they left yet. Link had given him the excuse of wanting to make sure that there were no lingering symptoms, and that diseases could sometimes pretend to be cured before coming back twice as strong.
Although this seemed to worry Bernie, so he assured them both that it was unlikely, but they preferred to be overly cautious, which seemed to calm her down as much as it annoyed her father.
After breakfast was concluded, Link had intended to speak to Bernie about her mother, but before he could get a word in her father demanded she go with him for her daily education. He was, at first, disappointed, though when he saw how pale Bernie got, he felt his disappointment fade into worry and anger. For a brief moment, her messy purple hair was replaced with a blonde braid. I won't fail again.
Link waited for the two of them to exit the dining room before standing, quickly taking out the Sheikah Slate and tapping a few times on it. Byleth and Shez, having seen his expression, moved closer so they could speak without being overheard.
"Alright, so we agree whatever this 'education' is, it's not actual learning, right?" Shez whispered, keeping an eye on the door in case he returned.
"Can't be." Byleth agreed, eyes quietly scanning over the minimal staff and the healers, all of which seemed content to let them speak without interruption, though she did notice one small detail. "Link."
"What is it?"
"One of the healers is gone." Link glanced up and ran a quick head count; indeed, there were only five of them seated at the table.
"...Alright, here's the plan. Byleth, keep an eye on the other five. Shez, see what information you can gather from the staff, then keep an eye on the perimeter."
"Makes sense, I guess. What about you?" Shez asked, turning to Link. He put the Slate away before looking towards the door.
"I'm gonna follow them, see what I can learn. If I need to intervene, I will." He looked back, meeting their eyes. "Can I trust you to back me up, come what may?"
"Of course. Think we've all been suspicious of the place since we got here." Shez replied with a smile, while Byleth simply nodded, patting the Ancient Sword in her belt.
"Alright. Stay safe, you two. If you need me, yell."
"You got it, boss."
"I won't."
And with that, the three split; Byleth leaving the room so she could watch while they thought they were alone, Shez heading to the kitchen to speak to the staff there, and Link heading through a door to enter a connecting hallway. When he was alone, he pulled up the Slate and tapped the selection he had already set, instantly changing into his stealth gear and equipping an Eightfold Blade. Stealthing down the hallway, he made his way towards the direction the Varley's had gone, hoping against hope that his intuition was wrong.
"Now that you're back to full health, it's about time we restart your lessons." Varley's voice echoed through the halls, easily overheard by Link, who silently observed from behind a pillar. Bernie was walking next to her father, hunched slightly as if trying to hide. "You've been lazy for far too long, and that just won't do."
"B-but father… they said that I might not be ready yet-" Link flinched as a sharp smack echoed down the hallway, and felt his eyes focus as Gregoire lowered his hand.
"Do not talk back, and do not speak unless spoken to." Her father intoned, as if repeating a lesson to a dull child which, as far as the Count was concerned, he clearly was. "You heard that filthy peasant back there; you're completely healed, they just want to stay here and eat our food, that's all." They turned a corner, and Link ghosted after them, his footsteps silent against the plush carpet.
Off to the side, a servant spotted him, her eyes widening as she saw him sneak behind a pillar. However, when she recognized the pointed ears and realized who it was, she decided to stay quiet and see what he was doing. She followed his gaze, seeing his eyes locked on the Count and his daughter, and saw his hand twitch with every word the Count spoke.
She averted her gaze and continued on, deciding that, if anyone asked, she had never seen him.
"So, you're not a fan of his, gotcha." Shez concluded, leaning to one side.
"I'd say no one is, Miss Shez." The chef replied, wiping down a countertop from breakfast. "We've all been staffed here ever since his father, the previous Count, passed on, and we were all pleased when his eldest son took over. Then he died in that accident, and, well," the chef shrugged his shoulders, tossing the towel into a nearby basket. "Things have been going downhill ever since."
"I see." Shez nodded to herself. "Do you think it maybe wasn't an accident?"
"Hell, it wouldn't surprise me." The chef replied with a scoff. "The Count's as cowardly as they come, and I'm not shy about sayin' it. Makes sense he'd get his brother offed far from home so he could take the seat himself."
"But is he that devious, to come up with a plan like that?" Shez wondered aloud.
"Now that you mention it… there was that one strange bloke in the black robe that showed up not too long before the accident." The chef admitted, a hand on his chin. "Never did get a look at his face, he was always wearing this white mask whenever I saw him, but he and the Count spoke in his study often. Might be something there worth lookin' into."
"Hm, yeah, you got a point. Thanks for the talk, Pierre."
"Anytime, lass. His studies' just above us, on the third floor." Shez turned to leave, but before she could take a step, Pierre coughed into his fist. "Oh, and… please try to keep the young miss away from her father. I don't know what he does to her, but… I know enough to know he's the reason she never leaves her room anymore."
"Don't worry." Shez grinned over her shoulder. "Our best man's looking out for her personally. She'll be fine."
Chet sighed, smiling. "That does put my mind at ease. Good luck with your search, lass. I'll talk to the rest of the staff, see if they know anything."
"Sounds like a plan." Shez waved a two-fingered salute before leaving the kitchen, walking down the near-empty halls towards the stairs. She wasn't sure if she'd actually find anything, but like Pierre said, it couldn't hurt to look, right?
Byleth peaked around the corner as the healers' walked down the hallway. She wasn't sure where they were going, but they hadn't seemed to notice her yet, thankfully enough. However, she was starting to get concerned about their destination. They were getting further and further away from the main foyer, out closer to the wings of the estate. The lamps here were off, presumably because no one was ever in this section, but despite that she noticed a clear lack of dust among certain parts of the hallway, as if someone had come through before.
Her eyes narrowed as they turned a corner, and she moved up behind a few of the support pillars to keep an eye on them. Wherever they were going, they were, hopefully, getting there soon. She was never a fan of the quiet approach, anyways.
Link watched as Gregoire opened a door and gestured for Bernadetta to enter. She hesitated for a moment, before reluctantly walking in. Link ghosted down the hall as quickly as he could while still remaining silent, before easily jumping on the brick wall and climbing until he was situated above the door. From here, he could hear what was being said inside, but if anyone checked, they wouldn't see him without looking up.
As he slowed his breathing and heart rate, he was able to pick up on the hushed conversation, picking up words that would have been too quiet for anyone else to hear. "...apparently need to reteach you how to be silent. I'm not sure where you got the idea you were allowed to speak, but we'll be sure to fix that mistake today. Sit down." Link heard a slight rustling, then the rough drag of rope, before the soft clinking of chains. "There. Now, the healer shall be in soon to make sure you're ready. Hopefully, when he's done, you'll actually hold some value."
Link stayed perfectly still as the Count exited the room, closing the door and locking it behind him. The Count, unaware of his presence, tucked a key away in his jacket before walking down the hall, muttering something about dowries. Link glanced down the hallway, not seeing anyone. Perfect. I can wait for the healer to get here and find out what the hell he's- Link's train of thought was interrupted by a soft sound coming from inside the room.
Quiet sniffling, the sound of someone crying and trying desperately to hide it, to squash the emotion so that no one would hear. Link recognized it well; images of Zelda, alone in her room after an argument with her father or a failed trip to the springs rose in his mind, and Link quickly steeled his resolve. It doesn't matter. What does matter is helping her.
Silently, he dropped to the ground, facing the door. He didn't have the key, but that didn't matter. Not against a wooden door.
Link changed out of his Sheikah gear and readied himself, drawing the perfect weapon for the job.
Bernadetta looked down at her bound wrists, tears flowing down her cheeks as she tried desperately to stop them. C'mon, stop, you know what happens if he sees tears. She tugged fruitlessly against her bindings, the rope digging into the delicate skin of her wrists.
I… I should have told Link, she thought suddenly, remembering his letter. He… he'd help me, right? He's like Uncle, and Uncle would have helped me if he had known… but he doesn't know… he probably thinks nothing's wrong…
The tears flowed harder, then, despite her efforts. Link… please… please, help me…
There was a large thump, and the door shuttered, splinters landing at her chained feet.
Her eyes snapped up to it, seeing a massive crack in the wood of the door. It was jagged and rough, and she felt like she was dreaming when she saw it. Another slamming sound was heard, and the crack got wider. She could actually see light on the other side.
One more, and the two halves of the door sailed inwards, banging loudly against the stone walls. She briefly squinted her eyes, unused to the light, as someone walked in the frame. She couldn't see his face due to the light behind him, and the massive claymore he was holding obscured his silhouette, but the pointed ears gave him away.
"...I should have known." A quiet voice whisper, and her breath hitched in her throat. No… did he somehow…? In the next moment, Link was kneeling in front of her, a small sword held in his hands. He began cutting through the rope, slicing through it easily with the sharpened blade.
Bernie felt her heart beat faster and faster in her chest.
Link set the sword aside before drawing two strange arrows from a quiver on his waist; one red, the other white. He held one to each shackle, then the other; briefly, she felt an intense heat then cold against her ankle, before the worn metal cracked in two from the extreme temperature change. He put the arrows away and pulled the shackles the rest of the way open with his bare hands, before tossing them aside. Finally, he looked up into her eyes, his own filled with concern. "Are you alright?"
Just like last night, she fell into his arms, sobbing into his chest. She didn't know how, but he had heard her prayers, or perhaps the Goddess had, and had sent him to answer her. She didn't know, and she didn't care. All she cared about was the warmth of his arms, the beating of his heart, and the safety she felt from him.
Safe. I'm finally safe. She sobbed harder.
"Easy, easy." Link said in a low, comforting tone, the same he'd use with Aryll when she had a nightmare. "I've got you." She felt him shuffle back and forth, slowly looking around the room. Ever-so-slightly, his grip on her tightened. "...C'mon, let's go. Someone else will be here soon, and I don't want you anywhere near them." Link slowly got to his feet, holding onto her shoulders to steady her. "Can you walk?"
Bernie nodded, wiping her eyes as she held onto his tunic. "Y-yeah."
"Alright. Stay close to me, I don't know how long we have until-"
"And what's this?" A raspy voice sounded, freezing Bernie in her tracks. She peaked around Link as he turned to face the newcomer, however all she could see was a white robe.
Moments ago, before breakfast…
"I'm surprised they haven't figured you out yet." Gregoire muttered to the man in the white robe, leaning against the wall. "That whole 'silent observer' act isn't exactly subtle."
"It matters not, for the beasts that roam these lands lack any common sense." The hooded man rasped out, his face hidden by shadow. "They suspect nothing."
"You say that, and yet they sent a royal knight and two mercenaries to escort you."
"And? They cannot act against us without inviting the crown's wrath. If they were to cut down their own staff, why, it would bring such shame against the royal family." Gregoire couldn't see the man's face, but he could hear the wicked grin. "We are able to act with impunity, protected by the crown."
"Yes yes, that's all well and good," The man frowned as Gregoire rolled his hand dismissively, "but can you actually… 'fix' her?"
"Yes. We have had two successful experiments in recent years. The process has been successful before; we should have no issues completing the task."
"Good, good. I'm afraid this is my last resort if I'm to have any hope of marrying her off. Damn whelp has disappointed me at every turn; I wouldn't be surprised if I end up having to give her up to a lesser noble."
The man in the hood frowned, not really caring about the politics of the situation. It didn't matter what Varley used his daughter for, when all was said and done. In the end, she would just be another tool for the Agarthans to use, after all.
[Now Playing: Blue Skies and a Battle]
Shez looked through the different drawers of Varley's desk. She was flipping through paper after paper, skimming each one for anything incriminating. After having done similar tasks for other nobles over the years, she was well acquainted with what she was looking for; back alley deals, suspicious sums of money, things of that nature. Suddenly, though, something caught her eye as she was replacing a stack of letters; the bottom of the drawer sunk down slightly. Hm… that could just be sloppy craftsmanship, but why would a noble settle for a weak drawer?
Feeling like she hit the jackpot, she sat the letters on the desk and pried up the bottom. She was rewarded for her efforts as she pulled up the false bottom, revealing a metal lockbox. She grinned and took it out, activating her Guardian's Sword to melt through the lock instead of picking it. Inside was exactly what she had been looking for; letters detailing a plot to experiment on Varley's daughter in exchange for a sum of money, a plan to poison her with a toxin that would replicate the symptoms of influenza, use that sickness to cover up the traveling mages… the whole plot became laid out before her, as well as directions to the exact room the experiments would be conducted in.
He probably kept these as insurance. Shez grinned as she closed the box back up, making sure everything except the letter with directions was inside, then snuck back out of the door and began running down the hall. We got him by the balls now.
As she ran down the hall, she noticed various servants milling about. When they saw her running, they began pointing towards different corners, nodding to her as she passed. She quickly realized that they were pointing her towards her exact destination, so she folded up the letter in her hands and focused on running as fast as she could.
She had a feeling the other two would be there already, and that they'd need her help.
Link quickly drew the Guardian Sword, the large machete-like weapon blinking to life as he flipped its switch. Bernie knelt behind him, clinging to his tunic and staring in shock, while the healer finally lowered his hood.
Link's suspicions were confirmed when he saw the pale skin and black eyes of the healer, their human disguise melting away in the light. Behind him, in the hallway, he saw the other five healers line up, their hoods not quite hiding the bone-white complexion of their skin. The other five slowly raised masks to their faces, while the one in front of him smiled wickedly, his eyes on the young girl cowering in the room. "So, you're with Solon and Thales. Who are you?"
"That is of no importance to you, beast." The Agarthan growled, his gaze unmoving. "Now, hand over the girl. We have need of her, and you do not."
Link just stared him down, fist clenching on the handle of his sword.
"You resist? You are aware that you act against His Majesty, Emperor Ionius?"
Link sighed, standing tall. "I have been given permission to act in Her Highness Edelgard's name, to enact justice as I see fit. I act with her approval and support."
"You think her sway outmatches her father? Even if she defends your actions, one word from his majesty-"
"Means nothing to me." Link interrupted, a snarl in his voice. "I don't care about approval or protection from the crown. I've never needed it to act before, and I don't need it now. All I need is the knowledge that you are trying to hurt someone I've sworn to protect." Link raised his sword, pointing it at the snarling Agarthan. "I am leaving. I am taking her with me. I am going to collect evidence of her father's actions, and then, once she is secured, I am going to take you into custody."
"Custody?" The man scoffed, raising a palm as black magic began pooling in his palm, solidifying into a dark sphere that Link recognized as a Miasma spell, thanks to Hubert's training. "You'll be dead before you can fulfill any such promises. Girl, enjoy watching your hero die."
Link calmly stared the mage down as he flung the Miasma spell towards him. Bernie yelped, clinging onto Link's tunic, fully expecting him to die. However, after a moment of Link being not dead, she looked back up.
They were surrounded by a red, crystalline shield, formed from segmented shapes of hard light. It radiated a light heat, and began slowly fading away once the attack had been dissipated.
Link continued staring the man down. "Don't make me fight you."
"Like you would stand a chance!"
Suddenly, there was a commotion from the hallway. Link and the man before him both looked outside to see Byleth charge into the mages, Ancient Shortsword flashing as she cut down one of them. With a shout, Shez came running in from the other direction, her own Shortsword cutting the other mage in two. The last three blinked into a pillar of light, moving presumably to another place in the hall, as the ringleader growled and performed the same spell.
Link and Bernie both left the room behind while Byleth and Shez joined him. Down the hall, the four mages had lined up, staring down the two mercs and hero.
"Shez. Did you find anything?"
"Oh, did I ever." She grinned, shaking a metal box. "Everything that we need to put him away for good is in here."
"It would be that convenient, wouldn't it?" Byleth muttered. "He just kept it all in one place?"
"Yep, found it under a false bottom in his desk. He may be a cowardly shithead, but at least he ain't smart." Shez quickly glanced behind Link, seeing the cowering Bernie look up at her. "Hey, sweetie, can you hold onto this for me?" She held out the metal box, and Bernie took it with shaking hands. Once that was covered, Shez drew her other sword, twirling them in her hands while Byleth and Link squared up.
"Alright, you two. Weapons free. Try to knock them out so we can question them, but if necessary, do what you have to. Your lives are more important than information."
"You got it, boss." Shez grinned, eager to finally get back into a fight. Byleth simply nodded, resting her shining blade on her shoulder as she stared down the mages.
"Bernie, I need you to hide somewhere. I'd rather you not see what's about to happen." Link looked back at her and gave her a confident smile. "Don't worry. We'll protect you."
"I… okay." Bernie quickly got up, running behind them to hide behind a pillar. With Bernie out of the way, Link glared at the mages.
"Alright. I've got the leader. That leaves three others for you two. Got it covered?"
"Yep."
"...They're about to attack." Byleth quickly muttered. "I think they took the time we used to regroup to prepare a spell."
"...Makes sense." Link muttered. "Any idea what they're trying to cast?"
"If I had to guess, Resonant Lightning." Shez muttered. "I've seen Mage Corps use them before in battles."
"I agree."
"Resonant Lightning?" Link glanced at Shez. "What's that?"
"It's called a group spell. They're able to cause devastating damage over a wide area, but it takes a team of mages to gather enough power, and they can usually only use it a few times a day before they're too low on power."
"Area lightning…" Link's eyes lit up as a memory resurfaced, of a young girl on a throne too large for her, and her ancestor that danced through battle in the sands of the desert. "Guys, get close to me. I've got an idea."
"Get close?" Byleth looked confused. "Shouldn't we split up, so we don't get hit as hard?"
"Hallway isn't wide enough for that to matter, really." Shez replied, looking at the somewhat narrow corridor. "I hope you have a plan, boss."
"Oh, don't worry, I do." Link grinned, looking at a golden icon in the Slate.
[Now Playing: Attacking Vah Naboris, Nearby]
Down the hallway, the man smirked as the beasts just stood there, allowing him and his mages to prepare the Resonant Lightning spell. They didn't even bother trying to spread out to decrease the damage they'd suffer; in fact, they shuffled closer to the foreigner, who had produced a truly strange helmet from seemingly nowhere. It was gaudy and golden, with strange adornments and jewels to represent six eyes. He had never seen anything like it, but if the beast wanted to electrocute himself, he could feel free.
With a shout, the mages unleashed the Lightning spell, and the bolt came crashing down directly on the three. Thunder boomed through the hallway, the nearby windows shattering from the force as the bolt fell…
And the three of them stood tall, completely unaffected.
He growled, fists tightening. "Again! Cast it again!"
Down the hall, Link smirked.
"Okay… we're not dead. We're not dead!" Shez cheered, pumping her fists.
Byleth glanced at Link's weird helmet with a raised eyebrow. "What is that?"
"The Thunder Helm, a Gerudo national treasure." Link smirked, his face barely visible from behind the helmet. "They let me borrow it."
"The Thunder Helm."
"Yep. It allows the wearer to draw electricity towards them, and absorb it without being affected by it."
"But how'd you know it'd work?"
"Because one of the Divine Beasts of Hyrule uses lightning to attack, and if the Thunder Helm can survive that, it can survive a few mages."
"...I don't know what a Divine Beast is, but I'll take your word for it."
Link grinned again, the rush of completely nullifying their opponent's strongest attack filling him with glee. Another bolt came crashing down, and despite the concussive bang of thunder, the lightning was easily absorbed into the helmet, the magic within dissipating it completely. Deep in his soul, he could feel a charge building, the powers of his friends anticipating his plan. One more. Do it one more time. I dare you.
In short order, their foes obliged, and the last Resonant Lightning Bolt came crashing down. Link felt his arms twitch as power built up, until he slowly raised his left hand, his fingers pressed together.
"Hey, guys. Did you know that, when the other Champions passed on, they gave me their abilities?"
"Their abilities?" Shez asked, glancing over at him.
"Like what?"
"Like this." With a sharp cry, Link snapped his fingers. They heard the voice of a woman, regal and commanding, shout alongside him.
With the bang of thunder, lightning cascaded around the field, tearing into the enemy mages. They stood stock-still for a moment, all of the lightning they had just struck Link with redirected fully and directly into them in an instant. Their paralyzed bodied stood jittering in place as power surged through them, before they fell limply to the floor, their robes burned and smoking.
Byleth and Shez's eyes widened. Byleth looked at Link, who was smiling triumphantly at a plan perfectly executed. "I didn't know you could use magic."
"I can't." Link shook his head. "That was Urbosa's Fury, one of those abilities I mentioned."
"Either way, that was badass!" Shez cheered. Unfortunately, the leader had managed to protect himself with a ward of some kind before the lightning could hit, but it was now three against one. This, however, only seemed to enrage the mage across from them, who's face had tightened into a scowl.
These beasts dare bare their fangs against us?! I bet that whelp of a princess put them up to this… I shall ensure she suffers upon my return. My report to- He screamed out, electricity flooding his body and forcing his muscles to seize up. He looked down to see an arrow sprouting from his chest, forks of lightning spreading out across his robes as the arrow unloaded its magic into him. He had just barely enough time to scream in rage before the pommel of Byleth's sword slammed into his forehead, knocking him out cold.
Link lowered his bow and sighed. "It's always so much harder to capture them alive."
"You know," Shez started, watching as Byleth grabbed the mage by his ankles and began unceremoniously dragging him back down the hall, "I would have expected you to be… I don't know, more against killing."
"I am. However, some people can't be redeemed, or are too much of a danger to allow them freedom. I learned that lesson the hard way when I jailed some members of the Yiga clan and they took Zelda hostage the next day." His grip on his bow tightened. "If it hadn't been for Impa, there was a very good chance they would have killed her, or worse."
"So you take them out to make sure they're not a threat?"
"Right."
"Fair enough. Can't fault you for that." Shez shrugged, putting her sword away. "I guess you have to be practical in that line of work. Either way, we done here?"
"Not yet." Link stored his bow away in the Slate, leaving Byleth to tie up the unconscious mage and Shez to watch him curiously as he walked back towards a pillar. He knelt in front of a shaking Bernadetta, who's arms were up and protecting her head. "Hey, Bernie. It's okay. You're safe now."
"Link…?" She looked up to see Link's smiling face. His eyebrows scrunched as her face paled. "B-behind you!"
Link had just a moment to look over his shoulder before he felt something cold slice into his back, and looked down to see a shining blade, coated in crimson, piercing through his chest.
"You just had to go and ruin everything, didn't you?" Count Varley sneered, quickly withdrawing his blade from Link's back. The Hero gasped and fell to the side, weakly clutching at the wound. "I was set to earn unfathomable riches from those abominations, and you just had to come in and kill them? Do you know how long it'll take to broker a new deal with them?!"
For as much as the Count ranted, however, no one could really hear him. Bernadetta was staring at Link in shock, her eyes wide as her lungs refused to work. Link was ignoring the Count, instead trying to reach out to Bernie, to assure her he was okay, though he was unable to speak thanks to his pierced lung. Byleth and Shez were still processing just what had happened, though Shez was the first to react, roaring a battle cry as she leapt forward and slammed her fist into Varley's temple. His canesword clattered to the ground as he collapsed with a surprised grunt, but the damage had already been done.
As all three of the girls crowded around Link, trying in vain to get him to rest, to stop trying to talk, to keep his eyes open and speak to them, they each knew what was happening, what was inevitable.
They all watched the light fade from Link's eyes as his chest went still, his last words gone unspoken, drowned out by his own blood.
Next Chapter June 30th.
AN: So yeah, that happened. And, keep in mind, Mipha's Grace isn't an instant revival, just an advanced healing factor. So how's our hero gonna get out of this one?
:)
So, life's been kicking me right in my balls these past few weeks. To summarize;
1- I've been broke and relying on borrowed money to pay rent
2- I've barely been eating to save money
3- I crashed my car the other day so I have to rely on others to get to work
4- Work cut down my hours so I'm not making as much as I should be or need to be
5- my internet's been out these past few days so the only time I get to write is at work, which is retail, so I don't have long
Thankfully, Tears of the Kingdom is already doing me
wonders for my writer's block (and seems to have gotten me some new followers, which, hi guys, thanks for checking out the story!). I may include some aspects of the game, items and ruins and lore and such, but to what degree remains to be seen. If, and that's a strong if I do anything with Tear's events, it'll be during the five-year timeskip, but I doubt I'll be doing much if anything with it until then. Who knows? I sure don't lmao
In any case, while updates may be slow or delayed (like this one) they
will still be coming. Life may be shanking my liver with a rusty nail rn but I refuse to give up on this story.
Keep it real, y'all.
