Chapter 4: Unheard Prayers

Having bid his farewells to King Rhoam, Noah continued his journey downhill leaving behind the hill where King Rhoam had temporarily set up camp. Noah had considered trying a shortcut to get to the Temple, to potentially avoid the Bokoblin that King Rhoam mentioned as he didn't wish to engage in combat with anything, but Noah quickly dismissed this idea. There was a massive river obstructing his path and Noah didn't want to put his swimming skills to the test.

In addition, the Woodcutter's axe was becoming surprisingly heavy to Noah to avoid carrying it everywhere Noah had secured it behind his utility belt it was pretty tight against his shirt at the very least prevented it from falling.

As Noah walked through the grass, he raised his hand to shield his eyes from the sun and contemplated how long he had been in this world.

Noah was decently sure that when he was resurrected within the Shrine of Resurrection it was morning, yet with the sun directly overhead, he sensed it should have been midday or nearing it. The rapid progression of time confused him.

"Maybe time flows differently here compared to what I know on Earth," Noah considered. "But I can't be certain. I might subtly bring it up with King Rhoam when I return later." He concluded.

Noah's journey to the base of the hill was relatively uneventful but informative. His concern had drastically decreased compared to when he had arrived. This newfound sense of relief allowed him to leisurely explore and appreciate the environment. He took his time examining the trees, bushes, and anything that piqued his interest, even plucking an apple from a nearby tree. It also allowed him to contemplate his situation.

"I've been approaching this the wrong way," Noah became enlightened. "Instead of focusing on my last few hours before being summoned here, it might be more fitting to consider my recent experiences within the game itself."

As Noah journeyed through the woods, he reflected on his gaming experiences. "The last time I played Breath of the Wild was when I had just completed 'Master Mode,' but nothing stood out as unusual in that playthrough."

Noah couldn't help but give a chuckle at his gaming style, "My gameplay was rather idiotic. At times, I'd stealthily navigate entire areas, while other times, I'd stupidly charge in and end up getting killed as quickly as I entered. I was quite an inefficient player, now that I think about it…'

After some more contemplation Noah couldn't suppress a disappointed sigh as he realised how useless his gaming experiences were to him. He wasn't clueless about his situation; as an avid reader, he was well-acquainted with reincarnation and isekai tropes. The issue was that he wasn't a hardcore Breath of the Wild player. He hadn't achieved 100% completion, had no knowledge of glitches, and only possessed information provided by the game itself. He had deliberately skipped most side quests, focusing primarily on the main story with only a few exceptions. He was a completely average and casual gamer.

'Although had I known this would happen maybe I'd taken it more seriously' he lamented.

By the time he had finished lamenting to himself, Noah found another clearing and arrived at a large open space. "Must have been some kind of plaza guessing by the water fountain," Noah concluded as he brushed his hand across the aged water fountain which various insects and moss had decided to call home.

Ahead of the Plaza, Noah spotted the Temple of Time atop a series of steps, its tall imposing figure getting his attention. However, he also spotted numerous ruined buildings in the opposite direction sparking his interest.

While Noah had initially wanted to investigate the ruined buildings, he figured his interrogation with the Goddess takes priority especially if he couldn't gauge time properly. He preferred to arrive back to King Rhoam before the sun had begun setting so Noah ignored the buildings and started climbing the steps towards the Temple of Time.

As Noah ascended the steps, he eventually encountered an abrupt halt. His attention veered toward a building not far from the next set of stairs, drawing his interest.

This structure resembled the other ruins; however, Noah had managed to make out some kind of movement inside and approached closer to get a better look peeking in through a partly destroyed window.

An ugly repulsive creature was crouched in the corner incessantly scratching at the ground.

"A Bokoblin?" Noah pondered aloud.

Curious, Noah adjusted his position, shifting angles to gain a better view. He manoeuvred closer to a hole in the ruined wall, attempting to peer inside for a clearer look at the creature.

As Noah inched closer for a more detailed view Noah could identify more of its details. Its red skin contrasted with two elongated, elephant-like ears, striking blue eyes, and a miniature horn jutting from its head. Remarkably similar to the game's depiction. The only exception was that this one wasn't wearing clothes, this aspect elicited a sneer of disgust from Noah.

However, what truly captured Noah's attention was the creature's size. Astonished, he thought, "It's enormous! It's not even standing upright, yet it's as tall as me…" The creature's sheer size startled Noah and easily displaced any thoughts of being a hero.

Looking at it closely it appeared to be distracted seemingly eating something.

'I don't see a weapon but there is no reason to attack it' Noah deduced, stepping away from the house.

Though he avoided the Bokoblin, Noah remained wary. Noah knew they were rarely alone, and the sheer size was enough to make him nervous, so he paid more attention to his surroundings as he ascended the staircase.

Noah reached the summit of the steps, falling into a contemplative silence as he surveyed his surroundings.

The Temple of Time, towering before him, dwarfed easily surpassing most of the Churches he had previously seen personally on Earth, but having come from Australia he couldn't say that was much of an achievement as contrasted to the ones typically seen in European countries, Australia doesn't have very tall ones.

What was more frightening about the Temple of Time was that even from a casual glance, the once beautiful structure looked as if someone had stopped time during the heat of battle.

The Temple of Time was in a rather pitiful state with its dilapidated condition, its walls broken and scattered walls with cracks snaking across the stone, some mere fissures while others appeared as gaping wounds. Sections of the walls crumbled entirely, leaving jagged edges and fragmented remnants,

However nature was vicious as amidst the ruins, tendrils of greenery appeared through crevices in the crumbling walls, as if seeking to reclaim the once-grand structure. Vines cascaded down the fractured stone, their verdant presence weaving a tapestry of life amidst the desolation.

This forced Noah to navigate cautiously through the debris-strewn ground, avoiding the scattered rubble and broken stone, some hidden by the greenery.

The culprits behind this upsetting scene were the destroyed and unsalvageable Guardians, their once-menacing forms long since deactivated and scattered around. Despite their inert status, one of the Guardians had even attempted to climb up the temple's side only to be deactivated before it reached the top.

They were easily 12 feet tall, this huge size naturally sent shivers down Noah's spine, his unease growing at the thought of them reactivating and obliterating him like he was a pest. He attempted to calm his nerves.

Merely being near them was nerve-wracking he couldn't imagine facing them, or like many inhabitants of Hyrule, running from them

Even in their negligent conditions, Noah knew that if one was to be activated no amount of running would protect you if they saw you.

Noah's focus was abruptly interrupted by sounds emerging from within the Temple. Seeking cover behind a broken Guardian, he evaded detection and managed to glimpse two red-coloured Bokoblin's emerging from the temple's depths.

Quickly drawing from his knowledge of Breath of the Wild, Noah recalled that Bokoblin's dangers were classified by their difficulty level, with red ones considered the weakest and most prevalent.

Noah didn't know how that translated here but he had no reason to think it'll be any different.

'They are in the way…' Noah muttered to himself in frustration, he observed the two Bokoblins guarding the Temple. Luckily, one of them ventured past the Guardian where Noah was hiding, oblivious to his presence, and descended the steps, leaving the other alone, gazing aimlessly into the sky.

He considered his options, he had considered attempting to sneak in through a window although that might draw unwanted attention if the lone Bokoblin spotted him

Although he had wanted to avoid it Noah had to kill this Bokoblin, quietly if possible.

Using the broken Guardians as cover Link managed to get to the side of the Temple peeking out from the corner to observe the lone Bokoblin stationed at the entrance.

Noah tried to grab his Axe but found difficulty doing so because of the tightness, Noah was forced to remove his utility belt entirely, dropping it to the ground to grasp the weapon.

Wielding the axe Noah noticed that the weight of it truly made it an inconvenient weapon for fast attacks but it was better than a tree branch.

Silently pressing against the Temple wall, Noah closed the gap between himself and the Bokoblin, brandishing his axe

Noah managed to get behind the Bokoblin unnoticed and positioned himself stealthily behind the unsuspecting Bokoblin. With a firm grip on the axe handle held over his shoulder, he steadied his breath.

Summoning all his strength, Noah lunged forward, channelling his force into an overhead swing, aiming squarely for the Bokoblin's head. He closed his eyes tightly as he brought the axe hurtling down.

Noah's swift approach gave the Bokoblin little time to react. As Noah charged forward, the surprised creature managed only a startled grunt before the force of the axe struck, causing it to scream in agony. The impact threw the Bokoblin off balance, sending it crashing to the ground.

Caught off guard by the sheer force of his strike, Noah was momentarily shaken. After all, he had never attacked anything before however, even he immediately noticed the error he made.

"I missed!" Noah shouted in frustration,

Noah's swift attack caught the Bokoblin off guard, causing it to react instinctively. Even though the Bokoblin didn't have enough time to defend itself, simply moving its head to spot Noah changed the path of where Noah had intended to strike. He could have accounted for this, had he not closed his eye the attack. As a result, the strike diverted from its initial target, landing on the creature's left shoulder instead.

The impact caused the Bokoblin to stagger, but despite the injury, it didn't immediately collapse rather it merely stumbled but quickly regained its balance in a fluid motion, an impressive feat considering its size. Grasping its wounded left shoulder, which was drenched in the green blood that was oozing from its wound the Bokoblin winced in pain.

Inspecting the Bokoblin's injured shoulder, Noah noted that the blow had nearly severed it entirely but whenever it was because of Noah's mistake or the bluntness of the weapon the axe didn't slice through completely causing the shoulder to stretch out like a piece of loose cheese grotesquely stretched but not fully separated.

Surprisingly the Bokoblin was still conscious and it didn't even bother to pick up its weapon opting to shout in a fit of rage and instead blindly charge directly at Noah.

Noah, inexperienced with weapons, especially one as weighty as an axe, struggled with the aftermath of his forceful attack. He found himself hindered by the weight of his own attack and faced with a sudden charge lacked the time to pull back and prepare another attack and could only hastily position the axe in front of him, hoping to use it as a makeshift defence against the charging creature.

Noah's attempted defense proved futile as the Bokoblin having no care for it simply swiped its hand from its uninjured shoulder at the axe causing it to go flying through the air as the creature forced Noah to the ground, pinning him with a strength he couldn't match.

Pinned beneath the Bokoblin's weight, Noah grunted in pain, feeling the pressure of the creature's hold increase. Struggling for breath, he emitted a muffled sound of discomfort as the Bokoblin tightened its grip, its incoherent oinks adding to the sense of impending danger.

Desperate to loosen the Bokoblin's grasp, Noah strained against its grip, as he felt his own breaths become shallower. Despite his failing struggle, he shot an angry gaze at the repulsive creature now standing over him, its grotesque appearance magnified in the close encounter.

Its head was saturated with dry dirt and mud as snot dripped from its nose, while its mouth, adorned with missing and decaying teeth, presented a revolting sight. The few remaining teeth were either rotting or deeply tinged in a sickly yellow hue. But perhaps the most unbearable aspect of the encounter was the creature's breath, he was subjected to a repulsive stench that made his eyes water and triggered an involuntary urge to vomit.

Noah felt his consciousness begin to blur as the grip of the Bokoblin increased, reaching out in desperation for anything that could serve as a weapon managing to clutch onto a relatively decent-sized rock and flinging it at the Bokoblin's eye which landed square on its target.

The impact caused it to reel back, clutching its injured eye in agony. Released from the creature's grip, Noah gasped for air. Spotting the Bokoblin's club lying nearby Noah quickly rebounded sprinting towards the weapon while holding his throat.

Seeing Noah's actions the Bokoblin recovered and lunged forward in a desperate attempt to intercept him, but by the time it arrived Noah was already wielding the club, aiming the club as if he was playing on the softball team.

In a decisive motion, Noah swung the club with precision, connecting with the Bokoblin's face. The force of the blow sent the creature reeling, crashing to the ground several feet away,

Not repeating his previous mistake Noah quickly ran towards the downed Bokoblin and performed another forceful blow to the Bokoblin's head causing green blood to splatter onto himself but he paid it no mind.

With the Bokoblin defenceless, Noah continued to strike, relentlessly bashing its head in using its own weapon not stopping until the Bokoblin's last cries were silent and its body stopped its resistance.

Sitting beside the newly deceased Bokoblin Noah finally had taken a moment to compose himself. The sight of the green blood oozing from the creature, as well as the stains on his own clothes, skin and of course his painful neck, continued to want to make himself vomit.

He just got his first kill and surprisingly despite his situation it didn't faze him as much as he would have thought his head was relatively empty of most thoughts.

He had to admit, he didn't feel guilty at killing the creature. "Is it because I know it's from a game...? Or perhaps because it lacked intelligence?" he mused aloud to himself. Shaking his head slightly, he acknowledged how pointless it was to dwell on the matter.

Noah felt pretty freaked out realizing just how close he came to biting the dust. Plus, he was totally overpowered. It was weird how calm he was feeling, but he couldn't wrap his head around it.

He was just staring at the dead Bokoblin, kind of zoned out when suddenly, his mind was taken over.

"Link..."

Unlike in the Shrine of Resurrection Noah instantly recognised the voice and stood up

'Zelda...' Noah thought

"Head to the point marked on the map in your Sheikah Slate," Zelda asked faintly.

Following her instructions dutifully already knowing he wouldn't get a reply if he said anything Noah pulled out his Sheikah Slate and conveniently it opened onto the map section and as Zelda mentioned there was an area clearly marked.

"That must be the Sheikah Tower..." Noah remarked to himself.

To visit the shrines in the Plateau and also to reveal the various map segments of the Kingdom the various Sheikah Towers had to be activated.

When he played BOTW in Master Mode, Noah obeyed a self-imposed guideline of always unlocking the tower first before anything else when entering a new region as it made things greatly convenient.

Looking at the Sheikah Slate Noah realised he never actually investigated its functions as at the time he received it he didn't have his memories back in the Shrine of Resurrection and after that, he was having a mental breakdown, he was a busy person lately.

Using this opportune Noah flicked around the Sheikah Slate by clicking on the two glowing blue buttons on each side of the Slate and this caused Noah to raise an eyebrow

"There's no inventory section?" Noah questioned.

Flicking through the Slate Noah realised that the inventory section had been entirely removed including weapons, shields, bows and everything else.

What replaced it however was an area called 'notes' but Link found he was unable to boot it up properly and that goes for anything else except for the Maps but he could see the Camera and Compendium remained.

Link placed his Sheikah Slate away, he assumed he would need to bring it to Purah to restore the other features but he wasn't planning on being here that long.

Another thing that made him somewhat depressed was that Zelda clearly said: "Link" instead of "Noah" informing him that even Zelda wasn't aware of his situation.

'It was also scripted again' Noah was beginning to wonder if King Rhoam was an anomaly.

Noah moved away from the Bokoblin, dropping the club and picked up his axe again.

While the weight may place him at a disadvantage it was his indecisiveness that made him miss the initial attack, not the weapon and it was still sharper than the club of the Bokoblin.

Noah became silent as he held onto the axe, picked up his utility belt he dropped earlier and moved into the Temple of Time, he was almost at wit's end, and he wanted answers.

Compared to the chaotic scene outside the inside of the Temple was relatively calm as the area was clear of most obstacles except a few loosely scattered chairs and tables as nature had done its best to reclaim the Temple. As for the glass pane instead of the intact, elegant fixtures they once were, they were shattered and scattered about. The broken panes exposed the interior to the elements, contributing to the desolate atmosphere

The left wall had been mostly demolished, offering an inviting view and a gentle breeze that could've made the place enjoyable if Noah's curiosity hadn't led him elsewhere.

At the end of the Temple was a large stone monument to the Goddess of Hylia.

As Noah approached the statue, he recalled that he had read somewhere that the game developers got the inspiration for the Goddess statues from Japanese Buddhists who believed they protected children, pregnant women and travellers.

Noah wasn't a child nor was he pregnant (to his knowledge), but he was an other-worldly traveller, so he hoped he fitted one of the three categories.

Noah found himself standing at the base of the statue, feeling suddenly nervous.

'How am I supposed to do this…?' Noah questioned. This wasn't Breath of the Wild where a simple button prompt would guide him. Here, he was technically seeking help from an actual Goddess, would his actions seem impolite?

"Ah!" Noah smacked his hand onto his open palm, struck by a sudden idea.

He left the Goddess statue briefly, returning a few minutes later with an assortment of flowers hastily gathered from the vicinity. Placing them at the base of the statue alongside the apple he had picked up earlier, he murmured, "Every prayer has to have an offering, right?"

Noah took a few steps back and knelt on the ground, offering his prayers.

"These offerings pay respect to the Goddess Hylia…" He murmured reverently. "...And seek her counsel…"

Noah iterated closing his eyes and sitting on the ground respectfully.

…one minute of silence…

One minute of silence quickly turned to four minutes and still no response from the Goddess.

Approaching the fifth minute of silence Noah was confused.

'Did I do something wrong?' Looking up at the statue Noah was perplexed.

Then, a sudden realization struck him: 'Wait… this was never guaranteed, right…?'

A wave of anxiety swept over Noah as he considered the possibility that he might have taken the game's premise too seriously.

"No… no…. no…" Panic began to grip Noah as he battled with the possibility that his expectations had been misplaced.

"Every other aspect has been accurate so far, so why not this?!" Noah demanded, his frustration building.

Unable to contain his turmoil, Noah collapsed to the ground, adopting a begging posture with his forehead against the earth.

"This individual has come from afar… I do not belong in this world… I am not your chosen hero nor am I Link," Noah pleaded, his voice tinged with desperation. "...But I need your help…"

He looked up at the statue tears in his eyes, hoping for some sign or response.

"…Please…"

Noah remained in that spot for what seemed to be an eternity awaiting an answer that would never come.

Rhoam maintained the campfire's stability with the tip of a nearby stick as he continued to stare absently into the flames.

"The night's drawing in. He ought to be back soon... unless something happened at the Temple?" Rhoam pondered, a tinge of worry lacing his thoughts as the darkness enveloped the surroundings.

Link had always been a capable fighter or at least how he remembered so, he wasn't chosen as the champion hero nor did he allow him to assist his daughter for no reason.

However, thinking back to how he swung that axe certainly didn't alleviate his concerns.

Before his thoughts could further unravel, a sound caught Rhoam's attention from the distance, drawing his focus away from the flickering fire.

Turning his gaze, Rhoam pivoted to see Link steadily approaching him.

"Ah, Link, you've returned! Here, take a bowl. I was just thinking about your adventure. Why not share your tale over dinner?" Rhoam extended the offer warmly to Link.

However, as Link stepped out of the shadow of the tree, Rhoam's welcoming gesture froze mid-air. The sight that greeted him caught him by surprise.

Link's clothing was stained with green blood, and his already worn clothes now appeared even worse his shirt was in tatters, and his pants were splattered with dirt. Amidst the dirt on his face, Rhoam noticed a darker hue around Link's neck, as if his blood had surfaced.

A strange stillness fell over the surroundings, as if nature itself held its breath, while Rhoam silently assessed the situation, pondering his next move. Before he could speak, Link took the lead, breaking the tense silence.

"Can I tell you a secret...?" Link's voice, is quiet and measured. There was no expression on Link's face as he halted shortly before Rhoam and stood motionlessly awaiting his answer.

But Rhoam had no intention of answering it as something far more important grabbed his attention.

"Those eyes... I've seen them before," Rhoam murmured softly, his gaze fixed on Link. A sense of sorrow filled his voice as he observed Link's countenance

Link frowned, a flicker of confusion lingering in his eyes. Was it the cryptic statement or the king's sudden shift in mood that left him puzzled? Perhaps both. But Rhoam, lost in his memories, offered no explanation. He turned to the crackling fire, his weathered hand seeking the comfort of his trusty cane as he stoked the embers.

You know, I have a daughter," he announced, a wistful note creeping into his voice. "About your age, she would be."

Link, the ever-attentive listener, remained silent, a silent canvas upon which Rhoam poured his tale.

"Spirited, that's what she was," the king continued, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Caring, generous, a sunbeam of warmth even to strangers. That was her nature, inherited, I suppose, from her mother. Though perhaps a touch too much of her tenacity came along with it," he chuckled, a humor laced with sorrow."

But the smile faded quickly, replaced by a deep sigh that spoke of burdens heavier than his crown. "She shouldered a weight, you see. Our family faced a storm, a brewing darkness we all felt on the horizon."

His voice softened, tinged with regret. "Foolishly, I believed I knew how to navigate it. In my position of authority, I saw her path clearly, convinced I knew what best served her."

He paused, the silence heavy with unspoken words. "But time, spent here in reflection, replaying those moments like an endless loop, has opened my eyes."

Rhoam met Link's gaze, his eyes a well of sorrow. "I was wrong."

His confession hung in the air, a bitter truth swallowed with difficulty. "Sternness replaced affection, lectures drowned out love. A chasm grew between us, wide and cold."

His voice trembled, each word a shard of remorse. "'You are the Goddess's chosen,' I'd say, 'born to fulfill your destiny. Why can't you?' And when she stumbled, when expectations fell short, I blamed her for not taking it seriously..."

Silence followed, a heavy shroud enveloping both figures. Rhoam shifted his gaze, seeking solace in the distant silhouette of the castle against the fading light.

"But she tried, harder than most in fact." he whispered, his voice thick with unshed tears. "Every waking moment, she strove to hone her skills, fought tirelessly, even at the cost of her own well-being. All to shield those she loved." "

Rhoam averted his eyes once more, concealing his emotions.

He averted his gaze, unable to bear the weight of his confession. "But I failed to see it."

"I saw her efforts as futile, ridiculed her studies, her fascination with relics of a forgotten era."

His voice choked with regret. "With the passage of time, the smile that once illuminated her face, reminiscent of her mother's, vanished. She grew distant and withdrawn."

Roam paused, then turned back to Link, his eyes filled with a desperate plea for understanding. "She didn't need a ruler, you see. She needed a father."

The words echoed in the stillness, heavy with the weight of lost time and shattered bonds.

And then, an even heavier silence. The fire crackled, a lonely voice in the fading light. "It's a regret," Rhoam whispered, his voice barely a breath, "that will forever haunt me."

"...now, it's too late."

Noah stood motionless, his mind racing with questions.

"Was that something he said in the games?" The thought flickered through Noah's mind.

Noah had spent a long isolating time in that Temple trying to come up with solution after solution and answer question after question once he realised that the Goddess Hylia wasn't going to respond to him. By the time he emerged, dusk was already descending upon the land.

Returning to King Rhoam, Noah had intended to disclose his true identity, that he was neither Link nor did he belong to this world thinking that King Rhoam's unique situation being a spirit would be able to help somehow.

He didn't care that his deception would be revealed he was that desperate.

Yet, upon returning he was the one who was listening to a secret and a very unexpected one at that.

'Was that something he said in the games?' The question passed again

No, it most certainly was not. It appeared that King Rhoam was so engrossed with himself

he even let slip information that amnesia Link wouldn't have even known about.

From his memory, Noah recalled that King Rhoam was merely a starting character who shared some basic tutorial-like tips and disappeared from the story.

Sure he had some story weight being the ex-king of the Hyrule Kingdom but overall his personality and impact were significantly low to the story even when he was expanded upon in Hyrule Warriors he was no more than a background character.

But staring at this elderly man reminiscing remorsefully about his mistakes and failures as not only a king but a Father Noah was speechless. This wasn't an NPC or some insignificant character but a person…

A person who had lived a long life… a man who lost his family, kingdom and everything else he held dear and spent longer in exile blaming himself for the ruin of his kingdom.

From King Rhoam's perspective, Link was more than just a person; he embodied potential and held the king's unwavering hope to rectify his past missteps. Unbeknownst to King Rhoam, however, Link was already absent, leaving the king to hope for a saviour who was no longer present...

Noah had a lot on his mind. If he told King Rhoam the truth about where he really came from, what would happen? He used to think his situation was the biggest problem, but seeing the pain in this man's eyes made him question that.

That was a question Noah desperately tried to avoid. The Goddess Hylia seemed to have abandoned him, leaving him stranded in this world without any means of escape. If he had to admit that this world and everyone around him was real and not just part of a game, Noah feared it might push him over the edge.

No, there was a more important question… something that Noah had pushed to the back of his mind and refused to acknowledge.

If Noah managed to return to his former life on Earth, what would become of Link? According to the game, Link's soul was meant to be in his body once the hero returned from the Shrine of Resurrection. However, if Noah were to depart, it's possible that Link's soul would then return to his body as intended, but it's also conceivable that Noah might simply leave behind a lifeless body, given his outsider status in this world.

That's assuming of course this world even remained after he left. If Link had already died in that Shrine of Resurrection whether it was because of Noah or not, wasn't he the only person capable of fulfilling this old man's desires?

"…where is she?" Noah's voice carried a tone of resignation, almost knowing the inevitable response.

"Beyond my reach, my actions have seen to that. This plateau serves as my punishment for my sins, and I cannot escape it," King Rhoam confessed, his words heavy with remorse.

Noah averted his gaze from King Rhoam, a realization settling within him. He wasn't a hero or a chosen one; Noah wasn't a hero or some kind of chosen one he was merely a university student who hadn't even stepped foot inside a university.

He was completely average. He wasn't some protagonist with super OP skills, knew nothing about survival, couldn't even make tacos let alone build something useful from the modern age and most importantly, he had no support from the Goddess Hylia.

'Attempting to achieve anything by myself was simply useless,' Noah concluded, enveloped in the familiar shroud of despair.

But there is one thing I do know." Noah's attention was drawn sharply by King Rhoam's words as if a beacon of hope had suddenly appeared.

"She, my daughter, hasn't given up." King Rhoam's tone shifted, a hint of resolve evident in his expression. He pointed across the plateau, directing Noah's gaze toward a distant castle.

"Every day she struggles to make up for her own past atoning for a mistake that no one could be blamed for and despite there being no end within sight she doesn't relinquish her chains but instead uses them to chain her captor with her trapping the both of them."

King Rhoam clenched his right hand into a fist as he stared down Noah

"How can this old fool dare to give up when his own daughter hasn't?"

Noah couldn't believe his eyes. King Rhoam stood there, his demeanour transformed into that of a true king, radiating an aura of royalty. For a moment, the tattered clothes seemed to have been replaced by a magnificent gown, and the shaggy hood was now a glowing crown atop his head. Noah had to blink to make sure he wasn't imagining things.

"Is it not the same for you?" King Rhoam addressed Noah directly, his words carrying weight.

Feeling the weight of that direct gaze, Noah clenched his fist in response.

"Deep within you, buried beneath the forgotten memories, there must be some desire, some goal you yearn to achieve... Perhaps there's even someone you're longing to see again. How can you, with those desires untended, accept defeat and resign yourself to this fate?"

King Rhoam was… wrong.

Noah looked away from King Rhoam's impassioned gaze, feeling nothing but sadness and guilt within. While acknowledging the king's speech was inspiring, he couldn't help but feel its effect was misplaced. Perhaps if Link were here, it would have sparked a fire within him. Yet, for Noah, King Rhoam's words only deepened his sadness and despair. This man was extending hope and passing on a torch, unaware that for Noah, that torch had long been extinguished.

Noah felt as if that was cruel to King Rhoam.

"If I could return, I would change many things" King Rhoam continued, interrupting Noah's chain of thoughts.

"I know you're burdened with countless questions, but if this old man may be so bold, focusing on what can't be answered right now will only drain your strength. Concentrate on what you can do at this moment, and the pieces will fall into place in due time."

Noah, lost in his own turmoil, hadn't noticed the king's approach. Now, their eyes met, and a spark of recognition leaped in Rhoam's gaze.

"Maybe you're grappling with things beyond my comprehension... My daughter faced similar struggles, perhaps like you."

"The last time I saw her, it was all a blur, but one thing I remember vividly even now were her eyes," King Rhoam stated, fixing his gaze on Noah.

"They held the same look as yours—of helplessness and sorrow."

"But my boy, those eyes don't suit you," King Rhoam said firmly.

The area became silent once more as it appeared King Rhoam was waiting for Noah's reaction

Noah arrived here committed to confess to King Rhoam and gauge his reaction yet somehow King Rhoam managed to pull a UNO reverse and flipped the situation in his favour

Faced with this incredibly ironic situation Noah wanted to laugh at how morbid this situation was.

"I came to tell you a secret," Noah spoke softly.

"Yes, you did… do you still intend to speak it?" King Rhoam held the presence of this King, Noah felt as though all his thoughts and secrets were laid bare before him. It seemed as if King Rhoam knew everything, yet he continued to inquire.

Since arriving in this land, King Rhoam had been unfailingly helpful, preventing him from committing suicide, guiding and teaching him about this world, and treating him to a sumptuous meal.

As much as he appreciated King Rhoam's kindness, Noah couldn't bring himself to reveal the truth just yet. Having recently experienced the pain of losing everything and then gaining hope only to see it shattered again, he couldn't bear to burden someone else with that same agony. The time for confession would come, but not now. Noah couldn't risk sharing that devastating experience with another.

Noah's response held firm determination. "Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow...?" King Rhoam queried, a hint of doubt in his tone.

"No, not now. Tomorrow, I promise to tell you everything," Noah affirmed, his decision clear despite the weight of the words.

"Very well... I've made a bed for you. Please rest," King Rhoam offered, staring at Noah with an unknown gaze.

Noah merely nodded his head, as he walked past King Rhoam who stood motionless as he laid down on the makeshift bed that King Rhoam had made for him, Noah had too much to think about it and he was tired, he merely wanted to go asleep, he wondered how depressed he would be if he never woke up, he was scared to know the answer.

Before sleep claimed him, Noah softly spoke into the dimness, mimicking King Rhoam, "If this young person may be so bold, your daughter... I'm confident she's fighting for your sake as well."

King Rhoam's response was silence; he fixed his gaze upon Noah without a hint of movement. It was arguably good that Noah had fell asleep, afterall he couldn't see the intensity of King Rhoam's stare; it seemed suspiciously fierce.