After the incident at the farm, it would be another month before Bato knew what became of the situation, he found himself in. The Guard Captain, Jofary, assured him that since the bandits were the obvious aggressor, he had a 'to stand your ground' defence going for him. If anything, he would be awarded with the bounties that each bandit had on them. Dead or alive.

Bobsa, the bandit leader, was led to the castle dungeon for an interrogation. He didn't hear much on that. Nor did he want to. The less he heard about the bandit that forced him to kill in this world, the better.

As a result of the battle, his crop fields were mostly destroyed and had to be remade from scratch. The guards cleaned up the debris from the broken fences, and unearthed rock and ruined greenery. The fences would have to be rebuilt as well. At least the hut was left relatively untouched. By some small fortune, the time he went back to Castle Town to sell his wears, Baza summoned him to the administration building.

This time, Bato found himself in a bigger office. Full furnishings befitting a noble. Wide open space, adorned with ornate furnishings, rich tapestries, trophies, a couple of desks flanked a wide oak one. Red carpet on the floor with wooden benches with high backs and sides. A table was right between them.

"While the Guard is making a full inquiry over this 'forced protection' scam, the payout for all the bounties has already been calculated." Baza sounded pretty good about himself. "Truthfully, we had this problem for years, and it's thanks to your situation that they were forced to take notice."

"Glad I could help," Bato said unamusingly, on a padded chair, opposite Baza's desk.

The guild master's response was a deep laugh. "Oh, don't be like that! Besides, you're getting paid handsomely for taking out that bandit group. Hence, why you're here."

"A job paid in blood. I guess this is how a mercenary feels." Bato smiled, grimly. "I'd say so."

Baza grinned as he took out a heavy chest. After struggling to haul it onto the desk, he gave a deep heave and tossed it over. Opening the chest towards Bato, the chest was full of golden rupees. "12,000," noted Baza. It's a lot because the bounties kept on increasing, but no one else would take it."

Bato stared at the rupees. Were the bandits that much of a problem for the guild and Castle Town? How would he spend this amount? Where could he store it? He pondered on these questions for a moment before being hit with inspiration. "You think I can exchange these rupees for services?"

"What services?" Baza asked, wearily.

"Well, I thought'd be great if I was able to use the rupees to build myself a new house. You know, abigger house, some new buildings, a brand-new fence?"

"Sounds good." Baza clapped his hands together, immediately. "I'll send someone over to let Mutoh know."

"Mutoh? Wasn't that the name of the head carpenter in Termina?" Baza made sure that the clerk put the chest of rupees back in the treasury, while giving the order.

"Looks like you're gonna go over your budget, kid." In the woodworking wing of the administrative building, Mutoh and his men were busy with a couple of side projects. Plans and planks of wood scatter the floor. Every piece of equipment known for woodworking in the Middle Ages was there. No doubt, they were running a neatly, tight operation.

"Where's the bulk of the costs going towards," asked Bato.

"Well, it'll be the cost of lumber and the shipping to the worksite. Add that to the materials, you're going to be paying double." Bato couldn't fault the carpenters. This was their craft, after all. Honest work for honest pay.

"What if I'm able to provide the lumber myself? I live right next to a forest!"

"The wood must be of excellent quality." There was a beat, and he made a frown. "Wait, you don't mean-"

"Lost woods."

"Lost woods!" Mutoh sputtered out, in response. He wagged his finger. "There's a reason why we don't get lumber from the Lost Woods. That curse will be on us like flies on shit! Not to mention all the wild things out there!"

"Curse?"

Mutoh sighed. "You heard about your predecessors, right? Three families and in a year they're all gone? That place is cursed! The only reason why that plot went unused for so long was because of said curse. Don't tell me you set up shop in a place like that, and you didn't know it!"

"I…Well," Bato looked around sheepishly. Of course, he had heard the rumours at the very beginning. However, this 'curse' was due to the death of the Deku Tree and the Forest Temple, emanating darkness. It was safe to assume that the temple was reset due to Link's return to this time, so it hasn't been conquered. He decided to shift the conversation again, "I've been taking wood from the forest for the last three months or so. Nothing's happened to me so far. But then again, I've been taking fallen trees. It's my project anyway, so if I can save on costs this way, I will."

Mutoh stared at him and shook his head. "You got balls, I'll give you that. If you're willing to make a deposit on the work, my men and I will head out there by the end of the week."

Bato smiled brightly.

Bato went immediately to work on gathering the fallen wood from the forest floor. Mutoh had every right to be concerned. With the amount of wolfos and wild animals roaming around the area, it's no wonder people considered the place cursed. But Bato knew about the dangers of the Lost Woods and the secrets it contains therein.

It took four days and multiple trips to drag the fallen lumber out from the forest to his farm. It was a good thing that they were only looking for the lumber because he had no way of knowing how to make planks. Leave that to the professionals. At the end of the fourth night, he had amassed three and a half log piles. Furthermore, he had obtained a lot of wolfos and animal pelts to sell at his stall. Just because the guild wouldn't buy them, it doesn't mean other people would not be interested. For the first time, in many weeks, he went to bed happy. Not worrying about being attacked or dealing with political manipulations. All he wanted to do was sleep. And to dream.

To have a dream that would end with him having a bigger house.

Mid-Afternoon the next day. Bato could see Mutoh and his men walking up to the farm. There were carts of equipment and materials to make some things Bato outlined for them. Bato greeted them at the front.

"Good afternoon, Mutoh."

Mutoh took stock of his surroundings. "Yeah, it just about wasted, like the last time."

"Last time?" This piqued Bato's interest.

"About six months ago, we were called here by the family living on this farm to install fencing around the property and assess the structure of the hut you're living in right now. When I gave them my quote, the man got into a flurry ofrage. 'Why do I have to pay that much? Don't you see me and my family are doing our very best? We're farmers! How do you expect us to pay that?'"

"It's your trade. You're not only paying for the labour and the materials. You're also paying for the experience."

Bato shot a grin. "Ha! Kid, I like you! That's what we told him. In the end, he didn't want his fences to be fixed and chased us out. Running a scam, that man had a lot of nerve! I would have-"

"Boss, where do you want the equipment and tents set up?"

"Oh. Right." Mutoh walked ahead towards the log piles. "Let's see how you did."

"By Din's Hammer, you did get the lumber." Mutoh and the other carpenters were dumbfounded by what they were seeing. The lumber, ranging from 8-14ft, is of the same thickness. There were three piles of them. "I'm telling you right now, by the time we complete this project, they'll still be enough wood for you!"

"So, I did good? Right?"

One of the carpenters asked, "How did you manage to bring them all there."

"With an axe?"

More bemused faces. "With an axe?"

"Yeah, I slammed my axe down, and I dragged it out of the forest. Then, I put it on the pile."

"You think you can show us, now?" Asked another carpenter.

"What are you idiots doing!" Yelled Mutoh. "The man provided the lumber! He's paying us for this project! So, make with the work!" The carpenters scattered. "Bunch of idiots. Listen Bato, they might not be bright, but they work hard and well. I'll make sure that they'll set you up right."

"I am expecting from the best, after all."

Bato and Mutoh went through the time frame of the project. With the building of a new house, repairing the fences and adding some new structures (he would let Mutoh later about these special buildings) they were looking at three months. He was also going to get some more help from other carpenter friends. Mutoh offered some of them something apart from rupees, and others owed him a favour. He had a fierce reputation, indeed.

In the initial stages, Bato found himself moving the log piles in different areas of the farm. Normally, the men would have created planks and moved them to the working area. But Bato offered to move the lumber, so it'd be closer; thereby making less work for the carpenters to travel. Mutoh was displeased by this. "You paid us to do work. It's not enough you got the lumber, but now you're transporting it for us, too?"

"I do this, and work will go twice as fast," Bato replied. Mutoh only grunted in frustration.

Over the coming weeks, more and more people started to pour onto the farm. Carpenters, craftsmen, artisans, and anyone who knew wood was there. But as soon as they saw the Lost Woods in the distance, they became apprehensive. One day, in the afternoon, a couple of people were talking to Mutoh. After a while, he appeared to get more agitated. Leaving him alone to handle this would have been ill-advised. Knowing his temper. "Mutoh!" Bato waved him down. "I have some questions about the type of style you'll be using for the fence. Can I see you for a second?"

Mutoh looked annoyed for a half minute before shooing the others away. He strode up to Bato. "What?"

"Looks like you were gonna blow a gasket there. I'd say you're frustrated with something. Or, am I wrong?"

He grumped loudly. "You're not wrong. Some people and even some of my carpenters. They have an issue with working here, is all."

"The curse?"

"The very same. A job's a job. They owe me one, so come hell or high water they will work!"

"Trying to force them with your stubbornness, I highly doubt that. Listen, I don't think they were told what the conditions were when they agreed to work here, is that so?"

"I said it was a job. Craftsmen are constantly looking for jobs. So long they're getting paid either by rupee or debt, they'll do it."

"Is what you're thinking. What about them?" Bato knew that Mutoh was being pushy for people to work for him. "Some others aren't obligated to work here. If they don't like it, they can leave."

"I won't let them do that."

"Like you said, Mutoh. It's a job! People can quit at any time."

Mutoh pointed at him, "I don't associate with people that quit! I don't care even if Death Mountain erupts, hot magma and rocks shoot towards us! A craftsman's word is only as good as his work."

Bato gave a second to respond. "And why is it important to you to help me? To this extent?"

He could see the gears in Mutoh turning. "There are some good people here in Hyrule. Most of these guys are here, trying to work for a living. Then, countless bandits extorted them for rupees and forced them to work even harder to cover costs." He pointed at Bato. "You put an end to that. You practically risked your life to help everyone."

"The bandits were on my property. It was the Hyrulian Guard that took the bandits down. My reasons are not as altruistic as you think."

Mutoh came up to him, towering in height. "You can tell everyone that," he whispered, "but there are some people who saw the truth. You'd think they would keep quiet after you asked nicely not to mention your name? You're a kid, aren't you."

Bato couldn't say anything. He grunted in frustration. "Fine. You figured it out. So, are you going to start to tell people about me? I don't need a messiah complex developing. I just want to do my thing, at my time."

"I'll keep your secret." Mutoh gave a mischievous wink, with a grin. "Besides, things like that will eventually leak out." Bato would have to accept it. Secrets tend to reveal themselves in time. "Getting back on track. Do you have any ideas to set their minds at ease?"

"I do. It's called, telling the truth."

Bato decided to make some soup. Not only for himself, but for everyone. He told Mutoh to gather everyone working at the farm near the hut that evening. He was able to get a giant pot and make some fresh chicken breasts, onions, chopped herbs and spices. He also grabbed his stockpile of bread and warmed it up in the oven. He also made wooden bowls and cutlery. Everything was ready by the end of the day. He directed the people to grab the bowls off a table, take some soup, and some bread and have a seat on the ground. The forest was starting to come to life; various sounds echoing on the forest floor. That made people nervous.

He decided to use this as a good segue. "I hope that everyone is enjoying the food." Bato began to project his voice in front of everyone. "Now, the reason I called you for dinner. I understand that there are some concerns about the Lost Woods." People started to talk over one another.

"The place is cursed! What would happen if monsters attacked!"

"Do I have to be here? I can leave, right?"

"Mutoh didn't tell us that we're working near the Lost Woods. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come!"

"I owe Mutoh a favour. But it doesn't include risking my life!"

"I understand. I see plenty of concerned faces. Fearful even." Bato waited for the crowd to settle down. "But what if I told you the truth about these woods."

One man asked, suspiciously. "Do you even know about the woods? I mean, you just came here four months ago!"

"I've been around." Bato started to get up and walk towards the crowd. "I hear things. I see things. I can tell you what I know. And, if you still don't believe me, feel free to leave." Murmurs of agreement rose. "All right. The Lost Woods, as you know, are teaming with wildlife and animals. But, Hyrulians have only been able to explore a tiny part of it before losing their way. In addition to this, a secret village exists in these woods that are closed off to outsiders. This is the Kokiri Forest. A place where the Kokiri, the Children of the Forest, once lived under the protection of the guardian forest spirit; the Great Deku Tree."

Murmurs again. A young lady commented, "Great Deku Tree? I've never heard about a tree like that."

"That's because it's for their safety. It is one of the Lost Woods's carefully guarded secrets; the Deku Tree made it so. Any threat that would approach them, would get lost in the endless trees, the mind succumbing to madness as it tries to navigate through the forest. Until it is no more."

"Why hasn't anyone heard about them?" asked a carpenter.

"They also like to keep to themselves. You won't find them in any books or scrolls. The closest thing that scholars referred to the Kokiri as is 'forest spirits.' In many respects, they are."

"Such as?"

"For centuries, the Kokiri lived alongside nature. Living off the land. Tending to the forest. Just, existing."

"And what happened to them?"

"Like all things, everything comes to an end. So did the Deku Tree's life. After living for centuries, he withered away and died. He left the Kokiri alone in these woods."

"What's not stopping the Kokiri from attacking us?"

"When I said that they were Children of the Forest, I meant that in the literal sense. They are children. They have the gift of eternal youth, bestowed upon their creation. So, they've lived for hundreds of years in that same forest. They haven't shown any interest in civilization all this time, so why start now? It is their home. Besides, there is a curse among the Kokiri that they take seriously."

"They have a curse. What would that be?"

"If you leave the forest. You die." Murmurs of descent started to rise, with this statement.

Bato continued. "The Kokiri, without their protector, were now open to the dangers of the woods. An ancient magic existed long before the Deku Tree, and its magic influences both the fauna and animals here. The forest became treacherous, even for them. With the forest no longer safe, they fled to the deepest parts of these woods. Hidden, from anything or anyone that wished to harm them."

He stood and looked at them. Each of them had an awed look in their eyes. Half believing, have not. "You have nothing to fear from these woods. So long as you treat it with the respect and reverence it is due."

A young man asked Bato, gulping his soup. "And if we don't."

Bato gave a creepy smile. "Well. Why don't you tell me after you've entered the woods by yourself and not before you turn into a living skeleton. That's the worst-case scenario for adults. If you amuse them, you'll probably become a Deku scrub or a leaf person. However, they do take kindly to children. Allow them to live in some other shape or form."

A loud carpenter yelled out in front of everyone. "You're joking. Mutoh, this is a joke, right!?"

Mutoh stared him down. Immediately, the carpenter sat down like a scolded child. "You all know I'm a good judge of character. I've lived long enough to see every liar that this land has to offer. In all my years of living, that man right there didn't lie a single time."

Of course, omitting part of the truth was also lying. But Bato didn't need the people to know that the forest got cursed because one desert boy wanted unimaginable power and killed the damn tree!

This opened the floodgates to speculation and worry. Discussions were going on, in earnest, about abandoning the project. He gave them the truth. Now they must decide what to do with it. He opened his hands towards the crowd. "You now know the story. As before, stay away from the woods. Lest you lose your life to the darkness there, or suffer a fate worse than death. Again, you have my leave, if you do not wish to continue this project. I will bear no ill will. To the rest of you who feel obligated or wish to stay, I'll see you in the morning. Put the bowls, plates, and spoons on the table beside the pot." He left Mutoh to tend to the aftermath. After a while, he went to sleep, and the murmurs of the people began to die down.

It was the middle of the night. Bato woke up and sighed. He had to go. Steeping outside, he did his business behind the shed. "I miss having a toilet. And running water." He saw the piles of bowls, plates and spoons, beside an emptied pot. He decided to step towards the boundary, his farmland and the Lost Woods. Standing right at the cusp of it, the wolfo heads, now skulls at this point, deterred any animal from entering the farm. He silently pondered to himself. "Ganondorf cursed the Deku Tree and that's why he died. But he rather die than put the entire realm in danger? And you let him go, unscathed? Just what were you thinking? You could have ended that man."

Just when he was about to return to his somewhat cozy hut, he saw something in the darkness. It was a green glow, standing up against a tree. A small green-haired girl with piercing blue eyes and pointed ears. She wore simple clothing, a green shirt; arms covered by sleeves in a darker shade of green. Green shorts and green boots.

It was a child. It wasn't just any child.

Bato froze and squinted his eyes. It was her. But why was he able to see her more than fifteen steps away? Could it be his eyes? Another Goddess blessing? He didn't rule it out. But he did decide if they interacted, he would have to deal with her. Open himself up to more sacred realm shenanigans. He was staring at her. She was staring back. "Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope." Before he knew it, he gave a slight bow with his head. He quickly turned to leave. "Please don't talk to me. Please, just leave me alone."

"Wait." Bato stopped and turned, and the Kokiri was on the same boundary as he had moments before. "I wish to speak with you."

"Crap." Trying to keep a neutral face, he approached her. But as he got closer and closer, he was able to get a better look at the Kokiri's face. Innocent and pure. There wasn't any hint of malign intent or purpose. Why was he nervous about a child? Perhaps, it was because of her status as a Sage? Or there was truly more than what she was letting on? The games never went in-depth with the side characters. Everything about them was inferred from the game and community. So, what can he expect? She was just a child.

When face to face, he knelt to her.

She smiled gently. It put his heart at ease. "How do you know the Children of the Forest?"

He shrugged. "I've been around. Heard things."

"From the way you told that story, you didn't hear it from somewhere. It's more like, you saw it. Can I ask how?"

"You have no idea. You might."

The Kokiri was silent for a moment. Frowning, she sighed. "All right. I'll leave it alone, for now."

"Why are you here?" Bato asked the Kokiri.

"I could ask the same question."

"I'm here so I can farm. To sell crops. To make rupees. To hunt. To live."

"To live." The Kokiri walked around a little. Back and forth. She stopped again and asked, "What does it mean to live?"

"I…uh." Well, this was a loaded question. "To be able to do whatever you want, whenever you wish. To be content with what you have. In short, to live a rich and fulfilled life."

"… … I wish I lived like that."

"Don't you already?"

The Kokiri looked at him, sharply. "You're kidding, right? Or did you forget? The forest is no longer safe for us. Each day is another day of survival. Our time living in peace is over."

"For now." Bato knew about the Deku sprout that was going to grow in seven years. Until then, the Deku Tree was nothing but an empty husk. A reminder of faded glories and days of peace. Where the forest was light, full of joy. Now, it was dark, full of despair. Danger. Fear. "For while there is an end to life, there's also a beginning. A cycle of death and rebirth. It's just a matter of when."

The Kokiri pondered silently. "Time. Always about time." She looked at him, with a hint of sadness. "Will there be a time when the Kokiri will return to the forest? To peace?"

"Well, they don't have to wait until a new Deku Tree is sprouted. They can get started now."

"How?"

"It's in the mindset. Accept the way things are now. Make changes; adapt to the setting. Above all else, have hope. Just because the forest is dangerous now, it doesn't mean it will continue to be. It can be a forest of life again. It can be a forest of peace again."

"Forest of-" Suddenly, the Kokiri began to fade, and her green glow grew dimmer. "No. I wanted to talk more. I wanted to hear more! About life! About Hyrule!"

Bato smiled again. "I'll have a bench built for you. So, the next time, we can sit and talk, and you don't have to stand there. And, if I may ask, maybe you can visit sometime in the evening when I'm home and not in the middle of the night? I'll keep an eye out for you. Promise."

She blushed and chuckled. "I would like that, very much."

"I would like that too." Bato got up. "There is one thing, though."

"What is it?"

He gave a playful wink and whispered. It sounded like he was trying to avoid getting in trouble. "I'm not allowed to talk to strangers. My name is Bato. Bato the farmer."

"Saria, the Kokiri." She returned the gesture. "Until next time, Bato." Fading away, the glow disappeared at night sky.

In his mind, he was freaking out. "So, now I must talk to a forest sage? I wanted less attention, not more." But outwardly, he had a stupid grin on his face.