The door of the tourist hut clicked open, diverting Koume's interest in reading through an old tome. Her reflexes prompted her to immediately close it and conceal it beneath the counter. After all, a witch's spellbook was a very intimate document and it was quite rude to reveal it in public. A sense of relief washed over her as it was only Sable returning from the swamps. However there was now something different about her apprentice, a new sense of maturity in her eyes that had not been there last night. Koume then smiled broadly "It happened, didn't it?"

Her excitement got the better of her as she barged out from behind the counter. Running up to Sable, she nearly cheered out loud "You reaped your first soul? You've been accepted by the Forest Fox, yes?"

Sable appeared drained, her shoulders slouched as her head gently nodded.

Koume clapped her hands "Fantastic! Do you know what this means child?"

She shook her head, her mind still unsure of how to phrase a response.

"It means we have nothing more to teach you!" Koume cackled "You can start exploring Termina now and putting your training into your daily life!"

Sable leant against the wall, she finally said "I have to go to Snowhead now… but it's winter in the mountains now, isn't that dangerous?"

Koume pondered her apprentice's valid concern and smiled "If you go alone, but I have an idea." She headed over to the door and said "Mind the counter until I get back, then rest up because you're leaving for the mountains in the morning."

The door slammed shut, Sable grumbled to herself "Why do I never get a say in these things?"

Koume's head poked through a nearby window "Because you're a child and you don't know what you want."

Sable practically leapt away from the window and crashed onto the floor. By the time she looked back Koume was gone. Shaking her head she clambered to her feet and walked behind the counter. It proved to be perfect timing as a gaggle of eager tourists entered demanding information about the Deku Palace.

The following morning Sable and Iris found themselves being evicted from their accommodation in the swamp. They stood before Koume and Kotake at the beginning of the southern road. The plant life receded back into the murky darkness to avoid the artificial path. Sable felt more confident now with a sheathed blade by her side and her pack felt lighter than it did when she first arrived. Then again she was older now so she had grown a little taller and become more athletic. Iris had not grown in any visible way as she stood beside Sable, barely reaching the height of her chest. A heavy satchel was strapped around her body that would have been a shoulder bag on an adult Terminan. She also appeared to wield a broom as her weapon of choice. Concern showed in Iris' eyes as she sheepishly looked around.

Koume and Kotake were talking lively amongst themselves. Both were rather distraught with losing their apprentices as they had grown fond of having them in the swamp. Koume sighed, wiping a tear away as she reminded "If the apprentice can leave, then the master has done their job."

Kotake sniffed back a tear "After all, you do your real learning by experience."

"And you're both so talented."

"But you can't learn anything else from us."

Iris looked to her broom "Why am I taking this? I don't know how to fly."

"You'll learn soon enough, but first you need to be confident."

"That's right child," Koume nodded knowingly "You'll know when you're ready to try flying."

Iris shuffled her feet anxiously, looking up at Sable and saying quietly "I promise I won't get in your way. I'll be as unobtrusive as possible."

She readjusted her jester hat, ensuring it was firm around her head "I will admit I feel better about travelling with someone by my side."

Kotake gestured, sending her long sleeves aflutter "Well, off you go girls, time to spread your wings and explore the land gifted to us by the Giants."

Koume stamped her foot "And you better damn well visit every so often!"

Sable and Iris bowed graciously to their teachers, after all they chose to impart their knowledge to them. They kept waving to one another as the apprentices departed the swamp and began to follow the path ahead. The two witches faded into the swamplands as the foreboding yet familiar plants engulfed the road leading back to the fields.

Termina field had not changed much since Sable last ventured through. She expected that Clock Town had, her gaze focusing on the settlement in the horizon as they ventured north. Curiosity got the better of her as she pondered how Shikashi was, if Anju and Kafei finally got together as a couple, whether or not Captain Viscen had finally forgiven her, had the Bombers finally found a purpose in town and the possibility of Mutoh's dog being trained. Aside from the town, the fields were mostly vast open expanses of land devoid of any real character. In Termina one could visually see changes in the earth depending on which direction they travelled. It was almost peculiar that the central fields would remain so bland in comparison.

Given this was her first journey outside the southern swamps, Iris was ecstatic. Her mind took in every little detail around her like a hyperactive child. She pointed to the town in the distance and the curious tower that rose above it. "What's that big city over there?"

Sable answered "That's Clock Town"

"That's where you lived?"

"Not exactly. I lived with the Astronomer over there." she gestured over to a blue building fenced off from the dangers of the field. A large telescope was perched on the roof of the strange house. The bright blue paint work was dotted with various constellations. Sable could still remember painting them with Shikashi when she was a child.

Iris' eyes widened as she noticed the terrain ahead, it was barren and dried up, completely devoid of any life form. She trembled from the sight of it and refused to step further. Stone pillars riddled with unusual faces stared back at her in accusation.

"Iris?" asked Sable, turning on her heels as she noticed the Deku not keeping pace with her "Is something wrong?"

"That land over there… it's haunted."

"Yeah, this is the eastern part of Termina Field, the remains of the Ikana Kingdom are hidden in these valleys somewhere. We can go through here to arrive at the northern region and the mountains"

"Can't we go the other way!? Like through Clock Town or maybe near the western coast?" Iris pleaded "Do we have to go through there? It's kinda spooky"

"What's so spooky about it? I can see the end of it from here. We're not going in there, we're just passing by." Sable's stance was broken as she was suddenly sent sprawling across the field. She leapt to her feet with sword drawn "What the hell was that!?"

Iris looked around the area, there was no sign of a monster or opponent to even face. "This makes no sense. But you can feel it… right? That dark aura in the air"

Sable took a defensive stance "Where? Tell me"

"Behind you!" snapped Iris.

Sable swang her blade wildly in the air, she felt it pass through flesh. The sound of a scream confirmed her senses despite the fact that no visible enemy had been revealed.

"To your right!"

She twirled with her blade like a dancer, the rings dangling from her vest jingled melodically. Whatever had attacked her screamed in agony as it backed away once more. "Iris! Where is it now!?" snapped Sable

"It's in one place… just in front of you"

Sable stared to the patch of bare earth before her. As her concentration peaked, her eyes began to glow and a silhouette appeared in her sight. It may have been human at some point but it was difficult to decipher what exactly was beneath those robes. A tattered hood covered its face leaving only glowing orbs of light as eyes. In each cloaked hand was a long sabre.

"Children who can see us without the mask or the lens of truth," the creature rose, blue blood oozed from between the bandages around its limbs "I expect no less from Twinrova's apprentices."

Iris tilted her head "Twinrova…" She then snarled "You are not even worthy of speaking my master's true name!"

The creature then hissed at Sable "And a Gomess!? Here! You filthy abomination! You should be in that accursed Twilight Realm your kind worship!"

Sable buried her sword in its shoulder, the creature winced pathetically before her gaze "I am not am abomination, you are, monster."

"I am a Garo, a warrior of a Terminan cult who invaded Ikana to find out the secrets of the Stone Towers. It's because of you Interlopers that we're bound to these accursed forms." The orbs of light shone brighter "I will not give you the pleasure of ending me."

Sable let go of her blade as the Garo ignited in spectral flames. The wind carried away its ashes and left nothing except her sword on the ground. She paused for a moment "Iris, are there any more of those Garo around?"

Iris shook her head "No, I can't sense anything." Sable knelt down to retrieve her blade, the Deku shyly approached her, glancing over her shoulder apprehensively "Why did it hate us so much?"

"I don't know," Sable looked over to the Stone Towers in the distance "But one day I'll find out… who is Twinrova anyway?" She turned to Iris, the Deku nervously looked the other way "Don't play dumb, you know who that is."

Iris nodded back "Yes, but you know her too. You lived with one of her soul fragments for two years."

"You mean… Koume and Kotake are actually-"

"One and the same."

"Fascinating, utterly fascinating." Sable mused out loud "There are stories about witches dividing themselves into multiple soul puppets, mainly to protect themselves… enough of my rambling, you need to be careful out here with what you reveal to others. They might not be overly understanding."

Iris merely nodded as a reply before continuing walking, the sooner she was away from this accursed land the better. They set off as quickly as their feet could carry them. Distance grew between them and the valley as they continued their journey north. Past the forest of stone mushrooms upon the muddy earth and up the mountain trail, the ground began to reveal a coating of powdered ice.

The snow kept falling as Sable and Iris trekked the mountain path. Navigation was near impossible with the winds kicking up swirls of ice and sleet around them. Dark clouds overhead obscured the sun and made it look like night had already fallen. The plants had vanished beneath a blanket of snow. Animals were in the grip of hibernation as the mountains transcended into a state of near death. The merciless climate made it near impossible to survive this time of year. All you could do was find somewhere safe and wait for spring.

Sable hugged her body tightly, cursing at her stupidity of not bringing a jacket with her. She had already tucked her trousers into her boots and even beneath her clothes she had put on undershirts and legging to keep the warmth in. Given her newfound confidence, she felt like she could take on the world and her foolish decision was now biting back at her. She playfully commented "At least there aren't any man eating plants here, aye Iris?" but no reply came from her friend "Iris?"

Sable turned around, her foot prints still in the snow but Iris was nowhere to be seen. She immediately ran back the direction she came to find Iris curled up in the snow quivering.

"Iris? Are you alright?" said Sable as she knelt down to her friend's level "We have to keep moving."

Iris did not reply as she was too weak from the icy chill. Dekus shared the same weakness as plants and never fared well in excessive cold or heat.

"Come on Iris, I'm not leaving you behind" Sable hoisted Iris onto her back. After some difficulty she had the Deku in a piggy back position which allowed Sable to continue walking onwards without deserting Iris. Her progressed was hindered as her feet sank deeper into the snow. There was simply too much to carry through the inhospitable weather.

She kept focused on finding somewhere nearby to rest, away from the blizzard. A break from the howling wind would at least give them a chance to get their bearings. Ahead of her, a grand spectacle was unfolding as two creatures battled in the snow like it was a pleasant day. Their movements unhindered by the snow and sleet.

One of the creatures was covered in blue carapace with four insect legs. A single blood red eye stared ahead as it leapt high above its opponent. This creature was known as a Tektek in Termina slang. They were renowned for their jumping abilities and the clicking sounds they made with their legs as they moved. Opposing the Tektek was a large lizard creature, easily capable of devouring a child whole, its body was protected by thick scales and sharp claws. The Dodongo breathed fire upon the Tektek making the monster scream in agony. Having slain the Tektek, the Dodongo noticed Sable watching it and charged towards her.

Sable braced for the worst as she crouched down into the snow, hoping the lizard had poor sight and would simply charge past. Her attention peaked as the Dodongo howled out in pain. Its heavy body was dragged backwards through the snow as something had grabbed its tail. In the midst of the snow a tall burly figure tore the lizard apart with its bare hands.

'Such strength…' thought Sable as she struggled to keep conscious.

The figure walked over to them with large strides. Its movements unhindered by the snow despite being a hulking creature made of rock. Upon closer inspection, Sable realised it was a Goron. His wiry hair was spiked back into an elaborate mane. He had a set of large iron beads around his neck and gauntlets covering his hands. A tribal tattoo marked each of his arms and there was a large white scar over his gut. He said calmly "I am Darmani the third, who are you, goro?"

Sable looked up weakly at him, unable to phrase a response. Her body had reached the limit of her energy as the sleet kept cutting past her. She passed out at his feet.