A brilliant surge of light streaked through the air, hurtling toward him with menacing force. Reacting with swift agility, he evaded the attack just in the nick of time, rolling away in a fluid motion. The unleashed energy, crackling with electric fervor, struck the creature in its path. A piercing howl of agony echoed through the air as the attack tore through the monster, cleaving it in two. A final groan escaped its maw before it collapsed to the ground, lifeless and broken. Blood sprayed in a gruesome arc, splattering the surroundings, while a portion of the creature's body disintegrated, leaving behind a chaotic scene.

Within the ensuing aftermath, a puddle expanded around him, saturating his attire and staining his skin. Yet, the young warrior remained indifferent to the mess, his focus fixated on the figure before him. His widened eyes locked onto the stranger, the culmination of his carelessness and rash actions. The light that had initially seemed divine was merely a consequence of his actions—a harsh lesson in humility.

Why did I let my guard down? Why did she remind me of her?

Relief swept over the scene as a female voice, tinged with gratitude, reverberated through the air. "Thank the heavens we arrived in time!"

"Are you unharmed?" questioned another voice, possessing a deeper timbre than the previous one.

Blinking away his confusion, he shifted his attention to the group that had assembled at a distance, their faces a mix of concern and curiosity. These were the foreigners he had encountered earlier, their unfamiliar appearance and dialect marking them as outsiders. As his gaze settled on the red-clad man with silver hair and unique appendages adorning his head, a realization dawned—he had been the one to vanquish the creature. Questions multiplied within Link's mind, a puzzle unfolding before him.

"Are you gonna keep gawking or what? Are you all right?" The impatience in the man's voice was evident.

His attention shifted to the woman who had moved closer, a hand extended in a gesture of aid. Despite her kindness, Link declined her offer, standing on his own and disregarding the concern etched upon her features. His reticence was met with a trace of hurt, an unintended consequence of his actions.

Certainly, they were foreigners, unfamiliar with both his world and his ways. He pondered their presence and their strange conversation, a dialect distinct from his own. Observing his blood-soaked tunic, a touch of annoyance flared within him, knowing he would soon traverse into town with such a grim appearance.

"The demon we just faced was peculiar," the monk interjected, his brow furrowed as he examined the remnants of the creature. "As we approached this location, I sensed no trace of demonic aura. Did any of you detect anything?"

Inuyasha, his sword sheathed, grumbled in response. "Not a thing. I heard the ruckus and headed this way, but this demon is unlike any I've encountered before. Kagome, did you sense any shards of the Shikon Jewel?"

"No, I didn't."

"Damn it! What a waste of time!" Inuyasha's impatience was palpable, his irritation mounting.

"What kind of demon was it, anyway?" Shippo's innocent query broke the tension.

Sango chimed in, her voice tinged with a hint of disappointment. "I anticipated a more formidable opponent, but this one proved rather feeble. Perhaps the easiest challenge we've encountered this week."

Unexplained annoyance welled within Link at her words, a sensation he struggled to comprehend. His mind had momentarily wandered, allowing this foreign group to intervene. He remained silent, scrutinizing the newcomers. It had been years since he had interacted with others, his solitude ingrained deep within him. In their presence, he grappled with unfamiliar emotions and the uncertainty of how to navigate social exchanges. Inuyasha's lingering glare did little to alleviate the unease.

Why does he keep staring at me? Does he have an problem with me?

As the young woman extended a compassionate hand toward him once more, Link instinctively pulled away, his action met with a mixture of surprise and apprehension. His abrupt withdrawal left a hint of fear in her eyes, a reaction he had not intended to elicit. His own internal turmoil was no excuse for upsetting those who had intervened to assist him.

"I am unharmed. Your concern is unwarranted," he stated tersely, his voice devoid of warmth.

Inuyasha's exasperated voice cut through the air. "What's wrong with you? I just saved your life, brat! A little gratitude wouldn't hurt!"

Kagome's reprimanding voice followed. "Inuyasha, calm down! There's no need to be so aggressive."

"He started it!"

"Enough, Inuyasha," Kagome's tone brooked no argument. "Besides, we need to focus. Something feels different about this forest. Our surroundings have changed."

Miroku concurred, his thoughtful expression evident. "Indeed, there is an unfamiliar essence here. Rather than quarrel, let us orient ourselves."

Turning his attention to Link, the monk posed a question. "Do you happen to know of a nearby village?"

A nod of affirmation followed. "Clock Town is not far."

Kagome let out a sigh, her hand instinctively moving to her chest. "Oh, that's a relief! I was a little worried there for a second. Would you mind showing us the way? We're not familiar with this area."

His gaze shifted upwards to the gathering storm clouds, a brewing tempest in the sky. With no reason to linger in these woods, he nodded again and motioned for them to follow him. It was a curious situation. He hadn't interacted with others for years, having chosen to traverse these woods, surviving off the land's resources, all in the hope of finding a way back to Hyrule. An impossible hope.

Shippo, perched on Kagome's shoulder, piped up, "You look different. What's with the clothes?"

Link remained silent, his attire drawing Kagome's attention. "It seems like a medieval tunic, almost… European, maybe?"

"Euro... what?" Inuyasha's voice cut in, filled with confusion. "Peeing? What the hell are you talking about?"

"Not peeing! Euro-pean! It's a clothing style from another country, like England or Great Britain. It's far across the ocean from Japan," Kagome corrected him. "Actually, they are practical clothes that allow for easier movement compared to Feudal Japan's garments."

Inuyasha grumbled, arms hidden within his fire rat robe. "Whatever. So, kid, you got a name?"

"It's Link…"

"Not much of a talker, huh?" Miroku remarked, wiping off a bead of sweat. "Considering the sword you're carrying, I assume you're a swordsman?"

Link nodded. "Yeah. And judging by your attire... you must be a monk?"

A smile spread across the young man's face at the accurate assessment. "You're right! I'm a monk in service of Buddha. I've been on this path since a young age. You can call me Miroku. This lovely lady next to me is Sango, and her loyal companion is Kirara," He pointed to the two tailed feline.

Buddha? Link refrained from asking and continued guiding them through the woods. The journey to Clock Town on foot would take hours, and the impending rain was almost welcome, as it would wash away the stench of his bloodied clothes. He needed to avoid attracting wolves with that scent.

"I'm Kagome, and this is Shippo. And the grumpy one over there is Inuyasha," she said, leaning in to whisper to Link. "Don't let his temper fool you, though. He's actually a friendly person; he just struggles to express his feelings sometimes."

"I heard that!"

Shippo chimed in, "And let's not forget, a complete idiot too—" His words were cut off by a swift punch to his head, causing him to cry out and shield himself. "Ow! You big bully! Kagome, he hit me!"

"Shut up, you little runt—"

"Inuyasha, sit boy!"

The beads around Inuyasha's neck shimmered, and in an instant, he crashed into the ground, causing a tremor beneath him. Link turned back to witness the spectacle. What kind of magic was this? His attention shifted to the girl, her hands on her hips, berating her friend. Was she a witch? Could mere words command such power?

He observed Inuyasha climbing out of the resulting crater, his gaze shifting between the group and the young woman. Her unfamiliar attire, quite different from the clothes in his world, intrigued him. Link had encountered witches before, like Koume and Kotake who dwelled near Souther Swamp, but this was something else. Perhaps she was a sorceress?

Miroku sighed, "Inuyasha, that was uncalled for."

"I agree. Shippo did nothing wrong," Replied Sango.

Inuyasha glared at his companions. "He did nothing wrong? He's calling me an idiot in front of all of you! Just because he's a child doesn't mean he can use foul language!"

"You're hardly one to talk!" Kagome retorted. "You're practically an adult and yet you're constantly picking on him! Show some compassion, Inuyasha. And another thing, cut down on the vulgar language around him and others. It's no wonder people get the wrong impression of you!"

Inuyasha stammered, regaining his footing. "You got a problem with me? I'm just defending myself! And you're not helping by sitting me every chance you get! Frankly, you're the childish one!"

"Seriously? Don't try to turn this around on me!" Kagome turned away, huffing, and noticed Link's puzzled expression. "I'm sorry about that. This is a common occurrence…"

So, this person not only resorted to violence and vulgarity but also exhibited a habit of bullying her friends. His impression of Inuyasha took a hit, revealing a temper rivaling even the angriest Deku. Yet, Link remained silent, his expression, at most, often unreadable. After witnessing that, what could he possibly say?

"Since we're talking about my poor attitude, I need to ask you something, Link. You're not human, are you? If not, then what are you?"

"Inuyasha!"

He turned toward her raised voice. "What? I'm just asking a question. It's pretty obvious that he's not like us!"

"What do you mean, 'what is he'? He's obviously human!"

"Actually, he's a Hylian!"

The familiar voice drew Link's gaze ahead. To most, a pink, translucent-winged orb floated towards them, but to Link, it was a friend he had made during his time in this land – Serena.

"Hey there! I heard all the commotion from a mile away. What's going on?" the forest fairy inquired, fluttering beside Link's ear.

Shippo gasped, eyes wide. "What is that? It's so pretty and bright!"

Inuyasha's skepticism showed on his face. "Looks like a bug."

"A luminous ball?" Sango wondered aloud. "And it's speaking…"

The situation struck Link as odd. Despite their outward appearance and behavior, it seemed these newcomers were unfamiliar with fairies. He pondered their origins – Japan and other unfamiliar names had been mentioned earlier.

"What am I? I'm a fairy!"

From her place among her friends, the young woman stared at the radiant orb, fascination lighting up her eyes. "Wow, this is my first time seeing a fairy! Though, they're quite different from what my mythological book describe. Where did I put that book?"

"A mytho what? Is it dangerous?" Inuyasha questioned, hand drifting to the hilt of his sword.

Kagome delved into her oversized backpack without an immediate response, rummaging through her belongings. Soon, books, odd objects, and bags of chips flew overhead. A hefty book smacked Inuyasha upside the head, but he managed to catch most of the items. "Found it!" Kagome reappeared, holding a small book with golden writing on the cover.

Shippo jumped onto Kagome's shoulder, eyeing the book as she flipped through the pages. "What are you looking for?"

"This book contains a lot of information about fairies and various mythological creatures. It could prove to be quite useful," Kagome explained. She paused, her gaze fixed on a page adorned with images and descriptions. "Here it is. Take a look at this picture. This is a fairy, or at least a representation that I'm familiar with."

Link tilted his head, observing as the group clustered around Kagome, including his fairy companion. Wordlessly, he joined the young woman and focused on the page, which was filled with vibrant paintings and text. The depictions were more intricate than those in his world, though the book itself was smaller than he was accustomed to. But amid the images, one caught his attention – it bore a faint resemblance to the Great Fairy.

Kagome gestured toward the picture. "According to this book, fairies have the ability to shape-shift into various forms, whether creatures or even humans. They possess magical abilities and have existed since the dawn of humanity. Despite their innocent appearances, they can be mischievous, often playing pranks on others."

The image depicted a young maiden with flawless, ivory skin perched upon a tree branch. Her gown was composed of vines and flowers, cascading like a river. Thick waves of emerald hair flowed over her shoulders, and her gaze was fixed on the crescent moon above. A sense of longing emanated from her coal-black eyes, her golden wings hanging limply behind her.

"Whoever painted this has remarkable talent, but it's a stretch to believe that we Forest Fairies resemble this portrayal. Though it does bear some similarity to our Great Fairy."

"What's a Great Fairy?" Shippo inquired.

Before Kagome could launch into her reading, Serena interjected, "The Great Fairy is the mother of all fairies! Everyone should know that. But, looking at you... you seem out of place here."

Kagome let out a sheepish smile. "You're right... We're a bit lost, and Link kindly offered to guide us to the nearest town. Would you mind enlightening us about what a Forest Fairy is?"

A moment of silence passed as Serena and Link exchanged a glance. "I suppose... I am a Forest Fairy. We Forest Fairies reside in wooded areas, meadows, and plains. We are born from the holy springs scattered across the lands of Termina. Each spring gives rise to different fairies, though without our esteemed Great Fairy mother, our lifespans are shortened."

"Termina?" Sango questioned. "Is that where we are?"

"I've never heard of such a land…" Miroku admitted. "This is rather concerning."

Shippo chimed in, curiosity evident in his tone. "Serena, Kagome told me stories about fairies that used magic. Is it true?"

The fairy nodded, a slight bob in the air. "Indeed. Well, perhaps in another thousand years, if we manage to survive that long. During our early stages, we seek suitable partners to aid in our growth and intuitive development – not in a romantic sense, mind you. Link is my partner."

Kagome pondered for a moment. "That explanation does make sense. It's just odd that we've never come across a fairy until now… Termina... it's so unfamiliar to me."

"Well, judging by your current predicament, you're undoubtedly lost. If you continue onward, you'll eventually reach Clock Town."

Baffled by Serena's unexpected appearance, Link turned to his companion. "Did something happen?"

"Somewhat, though I'm not entirely informed," Serena replied before addressing the group. "The Great Fairy has summoned you. It seems quite urgent."

This news didn't bode well. The Great Fairy seldom summoned him, having done so only a couple of times during his previous adventures. Link scratched his head, a thoughtful expression on his face. He turned to the others. "This is where our paths diverge. If you continue straight ahead, you'll eventually leave the forest and reach the town."


Rewritten with Chat GPT