It's ya boi, back at it again.

Chapter III

As it happened, Fir-Dyad was really, really big. It put Castle Town to shame, that was for sure. Realistically, it couldn't have been that much bigger than Clock Town, but the sheer unfamiliarity of it all made it feel larger than life. Also, it apparently wasn't spelled Fir-Dyad. Who on earth decided it would be remotely okay to put a silent 'h' after the F? It was just confusing. Same with Far Gus– er, I mean, Faerghus. Stupid names all around. At least 'Link' was easy to pronounce.

Felix had broken off from the main army with a small contingent. Apparently, they were all from his territory of Fraldarius. The remainder of the force had stayed on its course to the capital. We had just arrived as evening fell. The whole city was alight with glowing candles, the bustle of everyday life unabated by the frigid temperatures and waning sunlight. I wrapped Prince Dimitri's clothes tighter around myself as a chilly wind ran through me, but I could barely feel the cold over the excitement of this new place.

The main force made its way to some other part of the town, presumably towards some form of barracks, but Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd and Dedue Molinaro did not follow them. I hesitated for a moment, before remembering that I was still wearing Prince Dimitri's spare clothes and I needed to give those back. I couldn't just *take* them. I supposed I would have to buy some more weather-conscious garb that was actually my size somewhere. I hoped they would accept Rupees here. Slight issue with that, though– we were currently passing through some sort of main square, and I realized I couldn't actually read the glyphs on the storefronts– provided that these were actually storefronts. From what vague and unconvincing views I had, I felt fairly confident in wagering that the cadence and structure of Fódlan's writings–

Do not use the evangelized name, Katáktisi snapped. This continent is called Fodra. That bastardization will not leave your lips.

Touchy subject? I replied.

I felt fairly confident in wagering that the cadence and structure of Fodra's writings would be the same as Hylian, just with different shapes. It would be annoying, but I could do it if I really wanted to.

Better, the Fierce Deity lauded.

The clock struck five o'clock, and I almost had a complete mental breakdown.

It was the damn bells that got me– the warning bells of Termina, moved into strange non-clock towers and ordered to call out the time to a busy city. It wasn't the same tune or even the same tone, but it was similar enough to thrust me back to the base of Clock Tower, watching with bated breath as the sky turned the color of blood and the moon truly encompassed the entire sky.

I could faintly hear a low shushing sound, gentle as a wind whispered inside my head. The note anchored me, soothed me in a way that I hadn't felt since before my journey through Hyrule. Had Katáktisi done that?

I know not of what you speak, it interjected. Keep your tongue inside your mouth where it belongs. That was surprisingly defensive for a sentient mask of godlike power.

I took a deep breath of the evening air and moved to follow the others, but in the wake of the bells there was another sound. It was the unmistakable stirring in the air of something misshapen being thrown at high velocity. On instinct, I sprinted forward, unslung my shield, and intercepted the object inches before it reached its target– Dedue, for some reason. I had to jump to reach it in time, mostly because it had been launched high. The projectile clattered to the floor with a loud thunk. Closer inspection revealed that it was nothing more than a rock.

"You did not have to do that, Link," the tall man said flatly.

Dimitri was fuming. "Where did that stone come from?" he demanded. I casually pointed westward. Without another word, the prince marched in that general direction and started screaming something about dusk or something. Was dusk not the traditional stone throwing time in Faerghus? There wasn't a 'traditional' time to throw rocks at passersby in Hyrule, but maybe it was a culture thing. I would have to ask about it later, although given Prince Dimitri's reaction, maybe it was best to ask Dedue. Clearly it was a touchy subject.

The prince returned, still clearly furious. "I'm sorry, it's just–"

"It is not an issue, Your Highness," Dedue assured.

"It seems like a pretty big problem to me," I blurted.

His struggles are his own, Katáktisi advised. Leave it that way.

I'm not going to let people throw rocks at him for no reason, I asserted.

And why is that?

Because helping is the right thing to do

Katáktisi was silent. Hmm. What is… the right thing?

I hesitated, remembering the moon child who asked me much the same thing. Things that make people's lives better.

A nebulous concept at best. Better, meaning…

I'm dumbing it down for you. The right thing depends on the situation, just like everything else. Look, now isn't the time for philosophical debate. Maybe I'll go further into detail later.

As you wish.

I refocused my attention on the real world. "It is something I have grown used to," Dedue was saying. "It would be in your best interest to spend as little time around me as possible."

"And I should do that because?"

Dedue looked at me. I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow.

"I am from Duscur," he said eventually, as though that was some grand revalation. "To be near me invites misunderstanding."

Ah. That was it. He was trying to protect me. How… noble. I didn't quite know what Duscur meant, but I gathered from context that it was a place with some horrible stigma surrounding it. "See, it's hard to misunderstand someone when you don't understand them to begin with. And believe me– no one understands kids. So nobody is going to think any more of me if I avoid you. Besides, who cares what other people think anyway? You and Prince Dimitri took me in on the night before last…" The great castle loomed above us as we walked up the first of three flights of stairs. "... So it feels only right that I should try to repay you."

If Dedue was surprised, or grateful, or dismissive, he did an excellent job of hiding it. Several nearby guards saluted Dimitri as we entered the castle proper. It wasn't too different from Hyrule Castle, but it somehow felt even more grand and imposing as night fell properly. It only now properly hit me that Dimitri was the prince of Faerghus. His casual demeanor had made me almost forget. I'm glad I hadn't spoken to him in an equal tone– that would have been extremely awkward. The only sounds were that of our footsteps against the cold air. The great portcullis doors swung shut as we stepped inside.

"Well, I suppose this is it," I surmised.

"How do you mean?" Prince Dimitri asked.

"The main point of us traveling together was to get to Fhirdiad," I explained, "and we are now at Fhirdiad. The only reason I haven't departed already is because I'm still wearing your clothes– thanks again for that, by the way."

"Please, don't mention it," Dimitri assured. "And I have been doing some thinking– we can't have you running off into another storm again. I will not have your death on my conscience. Faerghus winters can get even colder than this. So, how about this– I can ask my uncle to give you a small position among the castle staff. You would be granted room and board in exchange for performing castle upkeep. Wha–"

"I'll take it," I said, completely serious. This was my chance to learn about Fodra, understand it better. A part of me consumed by wanderlust admonished me for my choice, but my selection was final. If Katáktisi was from this world, I would need to know everything about it.

"Well, I can't guarantee my uncle will accept. This is all rather sudden, and he and I are not on the best of terms."

I glanced over my shoulder. There was no one else within whispering distance. "I'm your supposed 'bastard half-cousin', right?"

Dimitri suddenly blinked as he processed what I was insinuating. "As much as a part of me wants to watch that scene play out, I would rather not destroy my regent's reputation. Things have been difficult since the tragedy."

There was a great, familiar weight to his words. A weight I knew far too well. But the pressure I felt weighing down on the prince's shoulders dwarfed anything I had suffered under. It was the pain of Navi, dozens of Navis, hundreds, thousands, all clamoring for attention in a cruel, discordant harmony. I could scarcely imagine how Dimitri was holding himself stable under all that pain. I didn't even know a thing about this 'tragedy', but anyone who had felt that profound loss deserved my… sympathy? Loyalty? Pity? Some mix of all three? I wasn't quite sure, but clearly the boy appeared to be dealing with some issues. I elected not to push any further. As kind as they had been, I barely knew them, and I had no right to barge into their personal lives at present. Eventually, I would ask, but now was not the time.

I had not slept in a bed in years.

It was probably more like months, honestly. My perception of long-term time definitely had some screws loose. It felt like forever ago. I had forgotten how warm the embrace of real covers were. Sure, I had laid down in the Knife Chamber on a Cycle or two, but I had never actually slept there. During my stays in Termina, I had gotten into the habit of running seventy-two hours without sleep. It wasn't healthy, but if I fell asleep the moon would fall out of the sky and kill me anyway before I got everything done. I'd been trying to bring my waking hours down to a normal amount, but that was still a work in progress. I typically started to get tired after thirty-six hours or so.

Needless to say, I wasn't tired yet. It was around ten o'clock– ten past ten, to be exact– but I had slept yesterday. That being said, I didn't know what else to do with myself now that I was here. I had been given a small room in an isolated corner of the castle to call my own– it really wasn't much more than a bed and a bedside table. It was more than enough for me, though.

Duke Rufus had been rather easy to convince. From the way Prince Dimitri had described him, I thought it was going to be impossible. But no, a quick introduction and a Green Rupee and he suddenly stopped caring about where I had come from. Weird that Rupees were so coveted in this world. They had been really easy to get in both Hyrule and Termina. I supposed that was just another difference between home and Fodra.

When you say 'home', Katáktisi interrupted, do you mean Hyrule or Termina?

I blinked. That's… a good question. The closest thing I've had to a real home is Kokiri Forest.

But you can never return there.

I haven't ever mentioned Kokiri Forest to you. Why do you know so much about it?

Our thoughts are linked. All that you are is privy to me. Do not fear, I have no intent of digging through your mind. I know little, but I understand that the forest will not welcome you back.

If our thoughts are linked, like you said, then why can't I see your past?

You could, Katáktisi said, if I allowed you. But I do not.

Why not show me how you do it? We can share thoughts, I suggested.

But then it will not be earned, and I will have deprived you of a victory. A chance to grow.

Is that all you care about? I asked. Claiming victory?

What else is there? You know this well. You fought for victory against Ganondorf. Victory against M… Majora.

I was fighting for a safe Hyrule. A safe Termina. Not just for winning's sake.

The ends matter not, Katáktisi rejected. You fought them, bested them, and in so doing proved that your strength was greater than theirs. The strength of your ideals overpowered their ideals. And thus, you found victory.

I made a face. I had never really thought about it like that. I wasn't sure if I agreed with it. I wasn't stronger than Ganondorf. And I wouldn't have beaten Majora without you.

If you were truly weaker than them, you would be dead and they would be victorious. All the physical might in the world means nothing if one's force of will is not just as strong, if not stronger. This child's body of yours may be impotent, but your spirit's strength is unquestionable.

That was definitely the closest thing to a compliment I was going to get from the magic mask. Thank you, Katáktisi. I mean that.

The mask had gone silent. But talking to it had given me another idea. Speaking of Kokiri Forest had given me another idea. I hadn't spoken to Saria since before I left Hyrule. Since before I was sent backwards in time. Oh, how I regretted that decision. Could I even talk to Saria from Fodra? I had never had time to try in Termina. I decided it wouldn't hurt to give it a try. I withdrew my ocarina from my pouch and put it to my lips. I coaxed Saria's Song from its holes, quietly so as to not unintentionally wake anyone up. All was silent for a moment. I supposed it didn't work after all.

""Link?""

I stood corrected. The message was garbled and difficult to hear, but it was enough. I knew it. ""Hello, Saria,"" I replied. ""It's been a long time."" She didn't know the half of it.

Saria laughed. ""It's good to hear from you! How are you doing?""

""I've been alright, I guess."" I hadn't. ""I've just been wandering. Seeing what's out there. That was true enough.""

""Still looking for Navi?""

""If she's out there, she's out there."" I was over Navi. I was. So why did it still sting? ""I'm not actively searching for her, but if I find her, I'll be happy."" I just had to keep telling myself that.

""That's good!"" the ex-Sage lauded. ""When will you be coming back?""

I almost stopped playing. ""I… I don't know.""

""You– you are coming back, right?""

""I think if I come back, I'll die.""

""Oh…"" Had she not known that? ""I… we can still be friends, right?""

I grinned, despite knowing that she couldn't see my face. ""Forever.""

""Then that's enough for me. We should talk more! I'm always around!""

""Of course, Saria. I'd… I'd like that.""

We shared a friendly silence.

""Well, I should get some sleep."" That was probably true, but I knew I wasn't getting a wink tonight. ""Talk to you later?""

""Sounds good! See you soon!""

I stopped playing the song, a wave of nostalgia for a time I had never known washing over me. I may have been stuck in another world, but I had a roof over my head and friends both new and old. That was more than enough for me.

I idly hummed as I strolled through the city streets. Fhirdiad was so much more lively than Castle Town or Clock Town ever had been. The whole city was a great throng of people, and the streets were filled with a cacophonous noise– people mingling, merchants selling wares, kids hollering in the streets as they played. A wave of envy washed over my entire being. Back in Kokiri Forest, I was always more or less pushed to the sidelines by the true Kokiri. It was only Saria and maybe the Know-it-all Brothers who bothered to treat me any differently. Saria did it because she was and still is the friendliest person on the face of the planet, and the Know-it-all Brothers were probably just too enlightened to be racist. Species-ist? Well, that wasn't fair– nobody knew I was Hylian at the time, so they were probably just Linkist.

Things hadn't gotten better for me in Hyrule, either. Spending all that time as an adult had really messed me up. I was still half-convinced that my arms were a lot longer than they had any right to be, and I would try to reach things that were way too far away and get frustrated by the fact that my body wasn't the way it damn well should have been. Being shoved back into a child's body just made me feel like a cheap glove, stretched to its limits by a fat hand. It wouldn't fit properly on a smaller hand ever again.

By the time I hit Termina, the games of the Bombers just felt shallow. It was ironic– when I was little, I always wanted to play those games, but now that I could, they were just cheap and empty. They didn't match me anymore.

"Hear ye, hear ye!" a town crier on the street corner shouted over the din. "Bishop Alexander was found dead! Called the 'Most Gruesome Murder of the Century'! Culprit still at large!"

Well, now that just had me in a bad mood. I sped up slightly, trying to get out of earshot as quickly as possible. I had work to do, after all.

"Hear ye, hear ye! Lord Lonato continues spouting anti-Church rhetoric! Central Church yet to respond! … Hear ye, hear ye! Largest Almyran invasion in 100 years halted by Holst Sigiswald Goneril! … Hear ye, hear ye! House Gautier bandits spotted in Fraldarius territory! Increased pillaging to the west!"

It was the near-silent creak of a singular floorboard that alerted me. If not for my Hylian ears, pointed to better hear the voices of the Golden Three, I would have been deaf to the sound entirely. I drew my Gilded Sword from its place in my pouch– it still felt odd to not have it on my back, but I had some comfort in knowing it was always on my person. I held the grip tightly but not too tightly, as I inched out of my room. The noise had come from upstairs, so I quickly located the nearest stairwell and ascended a couple of floors. I was sure to remain perfectly quiet, each footfall making less sound than that endless room in the Water Temple.

I stalked through the corridors, keenly aware of every minute movement and every infinitesimal noise, until I spotted the origin of the noise. There was a person, dressed as one of the castle staff. I couldn't see their face because of the gloom.

"Hello?" I whispered.

The person froze, then turned to face me. "Keep it down, brat," his gruff voice snarled after a couple of seconds' pause. "It's the middle of the night. You'll wake everyone up."

"I could say the same to you. I don't recognize you. What's your name?" Admittedly, I should have realized he was inching away sooner. I took a confident step forward.

"Where are you going?" He didn't respond. I pressed further. "I said, where are you–"

Something sharp suddenly made itself very known at the base of my still-developing Adam's Apple. "I'm not hired to kill you, scullery boy. But say another word, and my blade might slip."

The cover of the darkness may have obscured his visage, but it also blocked *his* vision of me rummaging around in my pouch. My fingers curled around the object of my desire. I channeled the little magic that I had. "I'd like to see you try, dastard."

The dagger pushed a little deeper–

Nayru's Love activated just in time. After my trip in Termina, when I returned to Hyrule to return Epona and the Ocarina, I had made a pit stop at the Great Fairy Fountains to pick up more powerful spells. I was sure grateful for that right now. Without it, I'd be one throat poorer.

The force of the spell deadened his attack before it could properly begin, doing little more than a light cut. In addition, the barrier's loud thrumming and bright light served as an excellent beacon. It illuminated the hallway just enough to see a hulking figure a number of paces right behind the assassin. The killer was none the wiser. "What the fu–"

His sentence was cut off alongside the rest of his head. The rest of his body flopped to the ground, spurting blood from its new opening. Dedue's axe dripped with the same liquid. There was silence for a moment.

"Well. I guess I have my work cut out for me in the morning."

It was just a few splashes of blood. Nothing some good old-fashioned mopping couldn't solve.

Our weapons crossed for just an instant before breaking apart again. I backed out of Dimitri's effective range before lurching forward again. I had to keep up the pressure, keep the momentum going, if I wanted to prevail. If he got enough time to counterattack, I knew I would be lost.

My blade met his lance, and I immediately twisted my grip in order to try to disarm the young prince. However, because of his additional range he was able to disengage pretty easily. My expression twisted. Oh, to be tall again…

I hated my body. It was so viscerally wrong in all the worst ways. I couldn't count how often I would overextend myself in one way or another, thinking that my limbs were longer, my muscles stronger, that others should treat me like a fellow human being. It was really the last one that got me the most. People treated children like they were incapable of doing anything noteworthy, like they existed to ingest nutrients and eventually become something worth acknowledging. I was interacted with, sure, but every word anyone ever said to me was nothing more than a honeyed knife, delivered with surgical precision to my heart of hearts. Prince Dimitri and Dedue fell on the edge of treating me like someone that could be of use to talk to, but they were only teenagers so they didn't really count.

Being young, I decided, was the most empty and tedious hell.

No time to reminisce. Keep on the offensive. Strike, slice, disarm and cut through–

Out of nowhere, the crown prince unleashed a brutal swipe that nearly took my head off. It was all I could do to duck out of the way of the attack. Nearly before I could react, the speartip was coming back around again, but this time I managed to block it with my shield. Before Dimitri could pull it back for a jab, I swung at his chest with the blade in my left hand. He was able to block with his off hand, but since that off hand was his own left, his stance became slightly awkward. That was enough give in his guard to throw my very small weight forward, headbutting his somewhat exposed upper torso. Prince Dimitri stumbled slightly, and I used that as an invitation to hit him with as much as I had. I chained attacks as quickly as I could, with as much force as I could muster, but all I could succeed in doing was force the future king back, his defense still more or less unyielding. This was unsustainable, and I had to do something about it if I wanted to claim victory.

Unfortunately, that something turned out to just be 'lose'.

Within an instant, Dimitri reared up to strike. I rose my shield, and to my great pleasure, I was able to bring it back down to block the deceptive hit from my left. Still, while I may have avoided a hit, the sheer might of the attack was more than enough to knock me clean off my feet. Stupid Crest of Blaiddyd and its stupid super strength…

"Alright, alright," I admitted to the lancepoint currently aimed directly at my neck.

You're just going to give up? Katáktisi demanded.

Well, yeah, I admitted. My throat is currently just a couple of centimeters away from the tip of his lance. He outskilled me, and that's that.

Mmm… the Fierce Deity hummed. You are… content? Why?

Because I did better against him than I ever had, I explained quickly. My offensive ability has really improved and I finally blocked that accursed feint.

Ah. You were not fighting to win. You fight for self-improvement, it mused. I see.

Exactly.

"You fought well," Dimitri complimented. "You have improved much since you first came to Fhirdiad."

"Helps to have something close to a teacher. I thought I had you on the ropes for a moment there."

"Your speed and strength are certainly formidable, and your technique is coming along. I imagine if I were still your age, the battle would be much more lopsided in your favor."

"You're just saying that," I deflected. I wasn't used to all this praise. I wasn't sure if I liked it.

"Rest assured, I do not give out such praise with levity. Say– would you be interested in getting a meal before retiring?"

"Sounds like a plan, Dima."

I hate this place, Katáktisi seethed.

I swung my legs rhythmically as I sat, trying to keep myself occupied. They didn't reach the ground. Of course. You've repeated that point several times, and have made no effort to elaborate further.

I do not intend to. Not for a long time.

I pouted internally. Well, suck it up, because we're not leaving for a while yet. Especially if Prince Dimitri takes much longer…

What on earth possessed you to apply for this farce anyways?

Since you're so averse to giving answers, I figured maybe the Church of Seiros–

The Fierce Deity bristled.

–would be more willing to teach me about the world.

Better to lack truths than to be fed lies.

A lie is something, isn't it?

The mask was silent. I blew a strand of hair away from my face before tugging at my collar again. Apparently, my usual garb wasn't 'fancy' enough for this endeavor, and I had to wear more formal attire. I felt like I was being choked.

The church we were at was largely empty– not as empty as the Temple of Time had been, of course, but still fairly devoid of life. There were a few faithful churchgoers near the front of the cathedral, but Dedue and I were the only ones in this particular area. Prince Dimitri was also here, but he was currently occupied– by which I meant he was holed up in an isolated room with some official from the church's primary seat of power located at the center of the continent. Apparently, they ran a program every year where commoners and nobles alike could meet and learn. They called it the 'Officer's Academy'. It was notoriously difficult to get into, but since both Dimitri and Dedue were applying for next year, I figured I might as well throw my metaphorical hat into the ring as well. It wouldn't hurt not to, and if I got in, I would have the opportunity to interact with those outside of Faerghus. Prince Dimitri had offered to bankroll the tuition fee, but I declined. Apparently everyone was agog over even the smallest of Rupees, going on and on about 'cut' and 'clarity' and a bunch of other nonsense that I didn't have the time to bother trying to understand. I dreaded the day they realized it could be found in grass, on trees, and under rocks where I came from. But that was neither here nor there.

"Tell me about Duke Rufus," I said.

Dedue did not speak for a moment. "He is a shallow man and a poor ruler. He does not get along with Prince Dimiri– oftentimes he barely acknowledges his existence. You already know this."

"Nobody's that one-dimensional," I tried to argue. Katáktisi buzzed. "That was how he appeared, but… I don't know. Maybe there was more to him. I'm really just trying to make a bit of conversation while Dimitri's still in there."

We were currently in this church to take interviews for the Officer's Academy. There had been a first step of a written application, which we had already completed. I guess they liked ours, because we were all directed to come here for the second phase. I wasn't expecting to even get this far, as I had only been here for a year and I was, well, still a child. While there wasn't technically a minimum age requirement to apply, I was under the impression that the academy was more targeted towards people of Dimitri and Dedue's age– eighteen to twenty or so, if I had to estimate. By contrast, I was going to be twelve by the start of the school year. But I might as well shoot my shot, right?

Dedue was contemplative. "He is the prince regent, the elder brother of His Highness's father. I believe he was passed over in the line of succession due to not having a Crest."

There was that word again. Crest. I had heard it thrown around so damn often– in the courts, it was all anyone talked about. But nobody had ever given me a definition. I had never formally asked anyone, as I had been busy poring over as much information about this world as I could. I didn't want to be completely ignorant. "What… are Crests?"

Silence. "You are entirely aware of His Highness's strength. That is a result of his Crest." Hah. Was I aware of Dimitri's strength? I spent every other morning nearly having my arm shattered whenever I blocked an attack from him. That man hit harder than Ganon and then some. "It is… a mark of his royal lineage."

"So it's super strength passed through bloodlines?"

"It is more complicated than that, but that is the basic concept."

Dedue was about to say more, but we were interrupted by Prince Dimitri entering the area. He must have completed his interview. "He's ready for one of you."

"I can wait," the Duscurian assured.

"If Dedue doesn't want it, I can go first." Katáktisi did the closest thing to a sigh it was capable of, although whether it was from dread or relief I couldn't tell. Regardless, I hopped off of the pew and traced the prince's steps to a small back room. It appeared to be some sort of confessional. It was set up with two rickety chairs and a small table, with an elderly priestly man seated on the other side of the room.

He appraised me for a couple of seconds. He clears his throat. "Erm, excuse me, boy– this room is reserved for applications for the Officer's Academy. Would it be possible to–"

Kill him, Katáktisi snarled. I pointedly ignored it. "No, that's correct. I'm here for the interview," I confirmed. "I understand that my age may be surprising, but my written application was accepted."

"Perhaps we should require a minimum age for entry," the man muttered softly. Mildly miffed, I took a seat across from the interviewer. He looked me over again with a slight twinkle in his eye. He seemed nice enough, certainly not warranting Katáktisi's demands for blood. It had to learn that someone being a member of an organization it hated was not good grounds for murder. "What is your name?"

"Link Harkinian," I responded. I had come up with that last name myself with a few suggestions from Katáktisi, and to be quite frank I was rather proud of it. It suited me. "It's nice to meet you. What's yours?"

"You may call me Gareth. Would you like to get started?"

"As you wish," I replied, making sure that my ears were still hidden behind a stray lock of hair. I wasn't wearing my hat. Lumiere from Castle Blaiddyd– a nice old lady who had helped me get settled into life in Faerghus and, more importantly to the task at hand, get ready for the interview– said it wouldn't be appropriate. Instead, I had to deal with this incredibly uncomfortable formalwear. It might have been another hand-me-down from Prince Dimitri, but at least it sort of fit. Didn't make it any less comfortable

"I have your written application here," Gareth revealed, shifting some papers around. "I admit, some of it does not make sense to me. "For example, you put only question marks in your date of birth, and the name and details of your home region are entirely missing."

The ride to the church was slow and methodical. At least the weather was a little nice. Warm enough, but not too hot. The real problem was the accursed humidity. Winter may have been freezing, but at least the air was crisp.

"What do I say if he asks where I'm from?" I asked.

"You could say you're from Fhirdiad," Dimitri suggested. "Since you have lived here, it isn't an untruth."

"It doesn't feel right. I don't really…feel like I belong here."

"You should tell the truth," Dedue added.

"But–"

"Simply say that you grew up in a forest and only ventured into the outside world just before this year."

I didn't say anything for a moment. "You're a genius."

"I can imagine that that would be quite problematic," I assured. "There is a reasonable explanation for their absence. I grew up in a small community deep in the forests north of Arianrhod. We were maybe fifty people strong, and we never had any communication with the outside world. I met Prince Dimitri in Pegasus Moon last year, when I was separated from my family by the hugest blizzard that had ever swept through. I would have died of hypothermia if not for stumbling across his camp."

The priest nodded. "This past winter has been quite brutal. My condolences."

Are you serious? Katáktisi demanded.

Shove it, I snapped back. To my surprise, it actually obeyed.

"Why do you think you would be a strong choice for the Officer's Academy?" Gareth was saying.

"If I understand it correctly, the purpose of the Academy is to allow different classes and cultures to mix in a positive way," I said. "I think my unique perspective being an outsider to Fodra entirely, unbiased by local or general politics, would have a positive effect on the academy."

"Are you at all familiar with the teachings of the Church of Seiros?"

I grimace despite myself. "Well–"

Apparently, that was all the answer he needed, because his expression immediately soured. "I see."

As I said.

Katáktisi. For the last time. Shut up.

"It's the Blue Sea Moon now, so I have only been in Fhirdiad for six months at most," I quickly elaborated. "I have been focusing all of my efforts into learning about the continent and its culture– in truth, I could neither read nor write until far into the Lone Moon. I have not gotten to study much of religion, so my knowledge is nascent at best. However, I am more than willing to devote more time into that area if it were necessary."

Gareth's face did not change. I tugged at my collar, trying to ignore the awkward silence.

"How would you describe your ability to issue and follow orders?"

"Fairly strong," I said, thankful that we were onto a different subject.

"What would you say is your greatest strength?"

"My drive to help others, no matter who they may be," I answered in a heartbeat.

"And your greatest weakness?"

"Most likely my ignorance of this world."

"This world," Gareth repeated slowly, brow furrowed. I tried not to flinch. Shoot. I needed to choose my words more carefully

You are terrible at this, Katáktisi remarked snidely.

That is both hurtful and accurate, I relented. "Where I grew up is completely different from here. It feels like another world."

Thankfully, the holy man seemed to accept this explanation. "You mentioned your meeting with Prince Dimitri in your application. Could you talk a bit more about that?"

"What if they ask me what I was doing when I met you? It is… very suspicious, and I can't imagine saying 'I came from the Perpendicularity' would be a good idea."

Dimitri peered over my shoulder at the ornate parchment. "How long have you… been working on this?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. I haven't stopped."

"You– you do realize that means it's been nine hours, right? Dedue and I retired for bed last night, and you were still seated here. Have you slept?"

"I slept yesterday, and it's better to overthink something than to underthink it." I thought that was fairly obvious.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot fathom how you continue to operate like this, and remain so… lively. I know at your age, I couldn't stand still for nine minutes, much less nine hours."

"Judging what else you've told me about yourself when you were my age, you'd have snapped the quill between your fingers a thousand times over by now," I replied.

The prince laughed goodnaturedly. "That does sound like something I would have done. Well, I have a few free hours– I'll help you brainstorm…"

"I was out hunting with my mom," I began. "It was my first time– I knew how to, of course, but I had never done it myself– so I was sticking to her like mortar. Problem was I was making too much noise, and scaring off the game. So she showed me a good spot to gather herbs and berries so that I could do that instead. Then the snowstorm came out of nowhere. I tried to make my way back home, but I just couldn't find it. I wandered for hours, and I must have walked for dozens and dozens of kilometers. I felt like I was about to pass out, but I saw… a road through the forest. I followed it and found an encampment. I tried to stick close to one of the enchanted fires to warm myself up, but I was… spotted. At this point, I was scared out of my mind– I didn't know if these heavily armored men were going to attack me– so I blindly ran into a somewhat nearby tent. The next thing I remembered was waking up on the ground in Prince Dimitri's personal quarters. I'm told that I tried to fight off both the prince and his vassal and, of course, failed miserably. But the prince offered to bring me to Fhirdiad, and we've been friends ever since. I work with the castle staff in exchange for room and board."

Gareth thought for a moment. He muttered something I couldn't quite make out, even with my Hylian ears. "I'm sorry for your loss," he said eventually. I said nothing. We sat in silence for some time. Eventually, the priest picked up his papers and hit the edge against the table a few times, putting them back in order. "Well, I believe this is as good a stopping point as any. Please expect a letter in the Verdant Rain moon affirming your status. I wish you the best of luck, Mr Harkinian."

I blinked in surprise. It was over already? Sheesh, I overestimated this. "Thank you, sir," I replied politely, before standing and exiting the door. "Shall I send the next applicant in?"

The old man smiled. It did not reach his eyes. "Yes, please do."

I closed the door behind me. Now all there was to do was wait.

I think that's enough of that. Hooray. As I'm writing this, Three Hopes is being released, and it looks really good! I don't think I'm going to incorporate too much of it into Closed Circuit, as I'm not as familiar with it as I am with Three Houses, but I'll try to do what I can.

Review please!

Gypsum (AO3): Huh, I didn't know that! I workshopped with a personal skill 'Walking Arsenal' which just gave Link extra inventory slots, but eventually I threw that out because it didn't really have the sense of momentum that I wanted him to have. The stats aren't really going to come up all that much– it was more just for me to workshop where Link falls skillswise relative to the rest of the cast.

Backpack Bandit (FF): I tried to tread the fine line between 'competent' and 'experienced''. I would argue that Link in CC is very experienced… but not against any of the opponents he's going to be fighting. I thought I expressed that fairly well with the sparring session of last chapter. Thank you very much for the feedback!

Terracotta Tortilla (FF): In general, I prefer to go off of the in-universe story as opposed to game mechanics when it comes to power levels. While Link is the Hero of Time and he's pretty good for his age, Faerghus is a country where kids are taught how to fight before they learn to write. Ten years old sounds early to start fighting by our standards, but for them that's really late. I think that arguing that Link is 'incredibly weak' because he can't take down Dimitri, the physically strongest character in Three Houses both by stats and by lore, who has trained in the lance for his entire life, without items isn't really a fair comparison. If you were to compare Link at this stage in his life to, say, Caspar, then that would be a different story because the playing ground is a lot more level. Link also has the disadvantage of being eleven at this point in the story. And as we all know, when two opponents have equal strength, the one with the height advantage wins… and Waldemar von Hevring could beat your father in a fight. (That's a reference to the Linhardt-Caspar support that fit too well for me to not include.)

Now, if Link were to use his items, then that would be different and Link would have a much stronger chance of winning. That's how he takes down Ganondorf- can you really say that Link could have beaten Ganon without the Light Arrows that remove his invincibility? A spar, unlike a life-or-death situation such as the fight against Ganon, is a controlled environment. It's a time to train and improve as a fighter. Using his items as a crutch for his weaker technical skill would only hurt him in the long run, as opposed to putting in the work to improve that technique. In hindsight, I could have perhaps elaborated on this more in the actual story, and I take responsibility for that.

Sorry for the Ted Talk, I just wanted to explain my perspective. Thank you very much for the review, and I'm glad you're enjoying the story!

Liquid01 (AO3): Don't worry– this fic gets updated on the first of every month. Thanks for your interest!