Link wanted to leave hastily, but he knew he could not. He moved out of the castle of course, because, despite how large it was, even just being in the same building as Zelda was stuffy. The nights were beginning to get colder, so he roamed from place to place in the town, staying with Talo and Malo on some nights, paying their parents by babysitting the boys, or some nights he would sleep in Telma's bar. He'd tried to give her rupees for allowing him to stay but she wouldn't hear it. She eyed him curiously each time, but for once didn't ask questions. Link even spent one night in Agatha's castle (she had happily welcomed the boy who had found her all the golden bugs in the land) but ended up leaving quickly because of said bugs. Link didn't mind bugs usually, but when you're trying to sleep and they keep crawling over you, getting in your hair, clothes, and other places, they can be bothersome. On decent nights he would sleep just outside the town, looking up at the night sky and remembering nights with Midna. Other nights he would spent in the smelly, moldy tower with the Gordons who had come to sell goods in the town.
He was so ready to leave. Link wanted nothing more than to be back on a quest with Midna, on the next adventure, to help her in whatever way he could. She clearly needed his help, but Link knew he had to at least try to help Zelda find a replacement to train her men. Link requested that she look at Rusl, the man who had taught him much, and was as brave as they come. He wished he could have gotten in touch with the Hero's Spirit that had taught him the Hidden Skills, for his knowledge would have not only been valuable but his appearance as well. Link felt that if the soldiers got used to looking at the rather daunting and frightening Spirit they would have an easier time facing monsters that remained from the Twilight War. Unfortunately, it seemed that once he had finished passing on the skills to Link, he did not feel inclined to stay around.
Link and Zelda were as tense as ever, but had to work together to find a proper replacement. Link sent a letter to Rusl, asking him if he would consider the position. However Rusl, albeit sadly, denied the position, insisting that he could never leave Uli alone again, especially not with the new baby, and Link knew he could never ask him to leave his home in Ordon. He and Uli loved it so much, and neither would want to come to the bustling town, and Uli wouldn't want to raise her child in a big town either. So it was back to the drawing board. Link asked Renado if he would like to (much to Telma's delight) but he answered that he was a healer, not a fighter, and had absolutely no knowledge of swordsplay. He did however promise to ask around the village and see if there was someone who had a secret knowledge of it. There was a similar problem with the Gorons. They were more than willing to help train the men in fighting, but they knew only of brute force combat, no weapons of any kind. Link and Zelda were beginning to lose hope. Would they have to close the program before it had even started?
On one evening, the two were discussing it over dinner in the castle, their bowls of lamb stew cast aside getting cold while letters and paperwork were scattered across the table. "I can't have my commanding officer do it, he's in as much of a need for training as the rest of them. Is there anyone else you can think of Link?" Zelda asked with a sigh. Link shook his head. Zelda let out another sigh. "Well I just don't know what we're going to do then."
Link reached toward her as if to comfort her, but thought better of it and awkwardly pulled his bowl of stew over to him instead. As he studied the soup, not really hungry, he thought about the soup Yeto had made for his wife back when Link had visited them in Snowpeak. And, as he thought of the chilly mountainside, a realization dawned on him, and he suddenly felt very stupid for not having thought of it before.
" Yes, I see you got Link' s letter, I cannot thank you enough for returning to Castle Town, and on such short notice as well. You are a truly kind person." Zelda smiled warmly.
"Yes, well, kindness is not one of my stronger suits, but you're goodness is much appreciated Your Majesty." Ashei responded, smiling a bit awkwardly. She glanced over at Shad, who was looking around the castle in astonishment.
"These columns- Ashei they're ancient relics! Oh Your Majesty you have a fine eye for architecture! These must have been built centuries ago, and in such good condition-"
"Actually, they are mere replicas. The originals were, sadly, destroyed in the war." Zelda responded, her eyes light with amusement.
"Oh." Shad grinned sheepishly. "That ah, that would make sense I suppose. Shame really, sorry to hear about that…" He smiled again, embarrassed.
"It is no matter now, the castle is still standing, my people are thriving, and all that is left to retain a stronger kingdom is to build up my army. Ashei, I would thank you kindly if you would teach my soldiers a thing or two. Link says you are well equipped with a sword and bow."
Ashei eyed him suspiciously, and Link winced. He had never actually seen Ashei with a sword, and had never worked with her in swordsplay. The only time they had ever been in combat together was in the very courtyard of the castle, and he had hardly paid any attention to her when she had been fighting. He did however, trust her with a bow and arrow. He remembered how she had saved his life with her skills, and knew she was very capable to teach the men how to use one.
Still, she nodded. "Aye, my father was a knight, and he taught me much in the art of the sword. And I would gladly be able to teach the men of Hyrule what it means to be a true warrior." Ashei smiled faintly at the thought, and Link knew she would very much enjoy putting the men through torturous and tedious tasks, all while being bested by a woman.
Zelda turned to Shad. "And Shad, I understand that these things may not be of much interest for you, but perhaps you would enjoy yourself in our library. We have many books and records on all matter of subjects."
Shad's eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly. He looked at Ashei. "You wouldn't mind would you? If I stayed in the library while you were at training?"
"Nah, you'd only get in the way if you came along." Ashei said affectionately. Shad's smiled brightened, and he turned to Zelda. "Thank you so much Your Majesty, for your good kindness!"
"It is I who should be thanking you two. Ashei, you are doing me an exceptional favor by replacing Link, and Shad, I feel like there are some things you could help me research." Her eyes flicked briefly to Link, before turning back to Shad. "And of course, I know it can no way make up for the gratitude I feel, but I will pay you both for your services, and you are welcome to stay here in the castle."
It was agreed on, and after a night of rest, Link took Ashei out to the training area and showed her the tent and talked with her about what he had been working on with the soldiers. Later in the morning the soldiers all came trooping out, where Link told them that after this point Ashei would be taking over their training. There were a few grumbles of protest, but of course Purlo's obnoxiously fake whisper was heard over them all.
"You see what I mean about this guy? He's so lousy he has to send a girl to finish his work!"
In a flash of silver Ashei was in front of him, her sword pointed at his throat, her eyes narrowed slits. "This girl can cut you to ribbons, and will not tolerate one cross word against your previous commander. Link has been summoned to do work much more important than teaching a few useless men how to look at least adequate with the weapons they hold." She hissed.
"W-what could be more important than the well-being of Her Majesty's kingdom? Surely there is nothing more important than making us fit for battle!" Purlo insisted, though his voice squeaked.
Ashei's face twisted into a deeper face of rage and she pressed her sword into his neck. Not enough to cut him, but enough to make him sweat. " I can see you're one of the fellows that doesn't know when he's bit off more than he can chew. Link is on an official business that does not concern a lowly arrogant toad such as yourself. If you dare utter any word about him anymore, it had better be with the upmost respect or I will see to your punishment personally, do you understand?" It would have been better if she had shouted the words at him, but she did not. Her voice was as cold as the mountains that she grew up in, and made her seem all the more menacing. With a gulp, Purlo managed to nod without cutting his throat open.
"Good." She growled, removing her sword from his Adam's apple. "Now then, you are going to begin with a hundred dashes for speaking out of turn. As for the rest of you, Link has told me where you all are at with your training, and it's time for you to work even harder. You will have weekly assessments, and anyone who does not satisfy me will be running dashes as well as extra training sessions. Now, you're going to start with simple horizontal slices. Get to work!" She barked. The men hurried to do as they were told. She glanced at Purlo, who quickly began to run. Link watched him go. Ashei smiled, not taking her eyes off of his retreating figure. "No one, absolutely no one, gets to insult my friends Link. Except me. And I never mean it." She glanced at him, her eyes filled with laughter.
Link left the castle a short time after, certain that the men were in good hands. His farewells were not as hard as he had imagined. Telma was easy about it, her knowing smile saying plenty. Talo and Malo were disappointed, as were their parents that he was leaving, but were assured that he would return soon enough. Even Colin took it remarkably well. Link decided to say a goodbye to Zelda, who, was much more kind than the last time they had spoken about the subject. "I know that you believe you are doing the right thing Link, and I could never ask for anything else from you. Peace be with you." She smiled, at long last come to an understanding.
First went to the Guardian of Light Faron, who, unfortunately, could make neither head nor tails of Link's puzzling encounter. He was, however, able to tell Link one thing: he had not imagined it. He could see into Link's mind, and knew that much at least. It was not a figment. Midna had really been there. Faron suggested he go and speak with the Sages, they knew much more about the Realm of Twilight and the Mirror that connected the two worlds. Perhaps they might be of greater service.
Sadly, one of the worst parts about Midna being gone was longer transport. Epona was an ever faithful horse, and she had plenty of stamina for any task, but she just couldn't compare to the speed of Midna's portals. Of course, Link didn't get an odd sensation of being broken apart from riding Epona.
He also ended up spending more money than he wanted to by going from place to place. He first had to pay Falibi for a ride down to Lake Hylia (although he gained a lot of it back by playing his game and going through the floating hoops), and then had to pay Fyer to be catapulted into the desert. He made his way through the temple ruins until he finally found himself in the Mirror of Twilight Chamber. He called out to the sages. He had a minute of panic- what if they didn't appear? What if they didn't know what Midna was speaking about, or why she had only been able to stay for a short amount of time? But then, there was a burst of light, and the sages assembled themselves on the pillars.
One of them began to speak in a slow, rumbling, ancient voice. "Hero that has saved the land of light, what is it that troubles you, that you seek the sages council?" He asked.
Link quickly and quietly explained his dilemma, about Midna, about how she'd appeared and disappeared so quickly, and the orb she had spoken so urgently of.
The sages looked at one another, slowly nodding and agreeing silently with one another, as if communicating by some secret code. The one who had spoken earlier decided to clue Link in.
"Listen to me, young one. We believe the Twilight Princess was able to contact you by using the same power that was used by the evildoer Zant. Zant had been able to transport himself between the two worlds without the use of the mirror, or believe me we would have stopped him long ago from bringing those foul creatures into our world of light. He was able to do this by using a bit of Ganondorf's power, who was able to do so through the power of the Triforce. Now that Ganondorf is dead, someone else had to inherit that divine power. I know not if it is even possible, but it may be that Midna herself has inherited the Triforce of Power. You see, it does not need to be through blood descent that the power is gained, although the Triforce of Wisdom tends to stay in the royal family. I may have doubted it before that someone from the cursed land may have inherited the power of the Triforce, but if the evil Ganondorf could have, then I find it entirely possible that someone from the Twili realm could as well.
"You know already that the people that inhabit that realm are descended from criminals that were banished there. The three that were first sent there, known as the Dark Interlopers, they continued their practice in the dark magic, and taught it to those that followed them. Of course, over time, it began to be seen as normal, good even, and was inherited through the ages. The Twili had no idea what evil was being practiced, but, slowly, it began to blossom into something quite beautiful. After many generations, the legend of the three sorcerers was nothing more than a fairytale to the Twili, and the dark magic that had once been a scourge on this land of light, was now something that could be done for good, the Twili flourished in the once barren, inhabitable land. But this was only due to one thing- the orbs that were created by the Dark Interlopers. When they were first sent there, they could survive in the darkness, but it was a terrible survival. To constantly stumble from one place to the next, unable to do much magic because their powers were dependent on light, it was a horrible life for them. So they attempted to create a sun of their own, but were unsuccessful. In their poor attempt, they tried to create more, but could only manage it one more time. They now had two suns of sorts, although they were quite off from the sun they had known, but these suns would give the light they desired, and make the realm dependent on that light."
"We are led to believe that these are what your friend speaks of. It would appear that they have been stolen. So long as the orbs remain in the realm, then the Twili could survive. In what condition, we cannot say. However, if those orbs were to leave the realm of Twili, the entire land would fall into chaos. The world has become dependent on what little light they have retained. Not only do the Twili use it for their magic now, but it is their very life source. They may not like it, but no creature can live without some sort of light. If that orb has left the realm of Twili, then it is only a matter of time before the Twili people perish."