Sheik leaned against the wall of the temple, staring blankly at the pedestal that was once again holding the master sword, the blade of evil's bane. In a way the room was peaceful. Undisturbed. The once eerie presence in the place had become a comforting one. Sheik guessed it was because of the seal being put back into place. Though… he couldn't shake this feeling he'd been having recently.

Something was definitely… off.

He strummed his harp idly, his mind wandering back to the courtyard.

It might have been that he had an ever-growing fondness for the Queen, but he couldn't help but feel guilty for being here. He knew she had her reasons for trying to restrict involvement with the outside world.

Still, as he strummed, he couldn't help feeling cheated.

As he subconsciously began playing the light's prelude, he could feel more than one aura around him, and he was suddenly becoming very aware of the presence outside of his own.

He could feel it growing stronger… and he knew they were listening.
Moving closer to the pedestal, he knelt down on one knee, and began to pray.

'Goddesses of Hyrule, Gods in Ambion. It is I, Sheik, humbly calling for your aid,' he began, all the while strumming the beautiful prelude he'd first learned as a child. 'I ask you now in my time of need. Please. Show me my way.'

For a moment he listened to the echo of the melody in the room, and his ear likened the reverb of it to a whisper.

'Guide me with your courage, your wisdom, your power, and in doing so show me mine. Counsel me with your magic. Nurture me, and forgive my sins.'

He continued to the end of the song and, once it was done, tucked his harp safely away.

'By your will.'

He couldn't remember the last time he'd taken the time to fully say a prayer, and he had to admit…
He was a little rusty.

Still, he felt satisfied enough.

But now what?
He wasn't sure where he was supposed to begin, or what he had expected to accomplish by coming here.

Slumping against the wall again, he contemplated his next move.

He supposed he could search for a gap or a weak spot in the barrier.
But that would take far too long. The barrier was the span of Hyrule. Even if there was a sore spot, he'd be beyond lucky to ever find it.

He could search for the Hero. His light arrows could pierce through it quick enough.
Except for the fact that he had no idea where he was.

In fact, thinking about it, he was probably outside of Hyrule right now.
At this, Sheik felt a pang of jealousy. If the Hero was outside of Hyrule, which seemed more and more likely since he hadn't been seen for three years, then why hadn't he said anything before he'd left?

And if he was out beyond the border, had he been fighting all this time, since the war had started?
Had he been fighting at all?

He sighed. He needed some kind of clue.

He decided that, until that clue came, he would start by retrieving supplies for the trip.
He wondered if the bazaar was open this late at night.

But as he was about to leave, contemplating the kinds of prices that he'd be forced to endure in the market, he heard a noise from deep within the temple.

He spun around and froze.
His breathing became so slow and quiet that it nearly stopped, a reaction he was used to from his training.

…

The faint sound happened again, echoing off of the walls. It was so light that it was barely audible.

He moved slowly back through the temple, straining to hear.

At first it was silent, the only sound Sheik heard being his own pulse in his ears.
But soon, the voice returned, louder this time.

'Sheik.'
It spoke with such soft intensity, such intention.
He automatically knew it wasn't human.

He looked around to be sure that no one had entered the temple, and when he was sure that he was alone, he re-entered the hall of evil's bane once more.

The silence became deafening, and the roll of a whisper building up knew it was going to speak again. This time, when it did, Sheik could recognize it as a woman.

'Sheik. Come.'

It seemed to be coming from the center of the hall.

His instincts told him to stay away, but after years of being sheltered from the danger he'd been trained for, his curiosity was a stronger part of him. He moved toward the pedestal.

The light was shifting, but Sheik somehow knew the voice wouldn't hurt him. In fact, he was pretty sure he knew exactly who it was.

A pool of light gathered in front of the pedestal, and in it, a feminine figure appeared.
Her voice was distinct now.

'Sheik, of the Sheikah.'

He stood there, dumbstruck.
Before him, barely ten feet away, stood a figure engulfed in a blazing red light.

It was she. Maker of the red earth whom the mighty Goron fondly called Mother. The Goddess of Power.

Din.

Sheik had heard of the Goddesses appearing to their worshippers before but had never experienced it firsthand. In fact, he'd dismissed the stories as fakes.
He knelt before her, not saying a word.

She looked at him knowingly. Warmly.

'Too long has it been since you have asked for our guidance.'

She moved closer, and Sheik could feel the heat radiating off of her apparition.

'Too long has it been since we've heard a Sheikah's prayers.'

Sheik bowed his head in respect. "My lady."

She stopped in front of him.
'Rise,' she commanded.

He stood, blinking in the intensity of the light.

'You know why I am here.'
Sheik nodded.

'You know of the power that is being sought.'
Again, he nodded.

'You know of the perils that your world faces.'
Sheik felt a surge of confidence as he nodded a third time. He knew why she was saying this. It was the only explanation for why she'd shown herself.

She must've known that he was ready.

Slowly she turned around. 'But…' she started, and his breath hitched. But what?

She glided over to the pedestal, gesturing to the sword.
'You have yet to learn…' she placed a hand on the hilt, 'of the dangers that lie beyond this realm.'

At this, the Sheikah's interest was peaked, and he looked in her direction.
Beyond this realm?

So that meant…
The Sacred Realm.

Was it also in jeopardy?

How could that be possible? They'd sealed the Realm after Ganon had been defeated. There was no way.

…

There was simply no way.

Sheik didn't understand.
Had Ganon started this… even from inside the Sacred Realm?

Suddenly he had so many questions.

He was startled when he felt a warm sensation. The Goddess had returned, resting a reassuring hand on his arm. Her eyes bore into his soul, and he immediately felt comforted.

'You were right to come here.'

And with that…
She was gone, plunging him and his surroundings into darkness.

As if on cue, Sheik heard the familiar sound of stone scraping against the marble floor.

Someone was coming.

He leapt back into the shadows, wondering when it had gotten so dark, but ultimately thanking the Gods for the blackening night.
He heard the low thunking of boots coming up the steps. A figure, just taller than he, emerged through the archway. It was too dark inside the Temple to make out a face, but as he passed the small amount of moonlight peaking through the window, the bright shimmer of a blade told Sheik that he was carrying a nicely crafted sword.

But apparently, he had his sights set on a more impressive blade.

Sheik watched in silence as he approached the pedestal, preparing his attack. The adrenaline surging through his body he'd been so used to years ago felt new, and he could feel his mind and body reverting back to their basic training.

The man stopped, examining the ancient sword that stood in front of him.
The hesitation was enough for Sheik to make his move.

He advanced quickly. Just as the stranger's hand was reaching out for the hilt-

Clink.

The knife made contact with the man's gauntlet, knocking his arm out of the way. It returned to Sheik's outstretched hand and he held it to the back of his opponent's neck.

"Don't move," he snarled, his voice low and menacing.
But who had ever listened to that command?

The stranger unsheathed his sword and swung around at Sheik in a matter of seconds, the force surprising the Sheikah.
He leapt back in an attempt to unhook his hidden daggers, but the man was fast. He knocked Sheik's hands away.

'Good reflexes.' Sheik thought.

He guessed he was sticking to the knives, then.
But as he went to throw them, he was blocked by the man's sword, their blades locked together.

'He blocked me? Again?' Sheik thought in disbelief, again leaping backward to put himself out of danger.

Watching the man circle him, he thought this must be what his victims used to feel like.
He must really be rusty.

He also must've taken a moment too long to dwell on this, as his attacker came at him again, this time catching him off guard. Sheik lost his balance.
Within seconds he was down, his assailant atop him.

Luckily having one of his knives out already, he sliced the man's chest, making his grip slacken in an attempt to avoid being cut.
Sheik wasted no time getting to his feet.

Standing at either ends of the room, the men stared at each other through the dark, waiting for the other to pounce.
Sheik shifted his weight, thinking of what to do next. 'I need to test him,' he thought, '… but how?'
Feeling the knife in his hand, he was struck with an idea.

He tossed it carelessly so that it was headed for the man's leg. The man hit it forcefully with his blade, sending it back at Sheik, merely a reflex. Sheik caught it and pondered the reaction.

'Hm…'

He took a step to the right.
The man took one to the left.

He jumped forward.
The man leapt back.

He went to toss another dagger.
The man caught it and threw it directly at the Sheikah's forehead.

'He's had a lot of training.' Sheik concluded after dodging the small weapon.
But his partner didn't seem to be interested in these petty games.

He charged forward, sword ready to strike.

Sheik was ready for him. He slid to the right just as the man swung, and with a swift, strong hand, knocked the blade loose from his grip, sending it onto the floor with a loud clang.

He grinned victoriously to himself.
'But he's impulsive.'

Sheik made his way over to the sword, deftly dodging the man's attempts to grab at him.

He went to reach for it-
Luckily, he retracted his hand in time, as an arrow landed right where it would've been.
He was surprised enough to almost dismiss the fact that the head of the thing had an odd glow surrounding it...
Oddly… familiar, that is.

He looked back at his foe, who was currently notching another arrow, the glow illuminating small features in the man's face.
Sheik didn't need to see his features, though, to know who it was.
Or at least to have a good idea.

He decided that, to test his theory, it was time for some ranged fighting.

Jumping to the right to avoid the second arrow, Sheik calculated his possibilities.

If he was correct…
Than the advantage was now his.

He just needed to waste those arrows.

Being sure to keep his distance, the two fell into a sort of dance, one that Sheik was fully manipulating. He'd pretend to settle into a stance and then, when another arrow was shot, he'd shift his weight or continue his maneuvering. Until finally…

A slight pause and the sound of a chain being unfurled confirmed his suspicions. With a jolt of excitement, he kicked the hook at the end of it away, causing the chain to go slack and avoiding a deadly blow.

His assailant was getting angry.
But Sheik wasn't ready to end the fun just yet.

He jumped backwards, crouching down into the dark corners of the room. He watched as his opponent struggled to see through the darkness, a task that Sheik had mastered years ago. He ran, swiftly and silently around the room until he was behind his bewildered enemy.

Unhooking another dagger, he stealthily crept forward. He reached out, purposefully jabbing the man with his dagger's handle, who swung around, aiming for his head.

Sheik took this opportunity to toy with him. He dodged and retreated to his backside again, this time slicing the leather strap that held his quiver on his back.
His remaining arrows scattered onto the floor, and he seemed significantly frazzled.

Not too quick to retaliate, Sheik knew his foe didn't know what to do.
It was time to end the charade.

Stepping closer to the light, Sheik was the first to speak.

"I thought it might be you," he said with a satisfied grin.

The other man stayed silent. Sheik took this as an invitation.

"It's been far too long… Link."