The two of us - and I mean with me leading and a still awestruck Link trailing after me only because of our still-joined hands - made our way to the village square. A small podium was set up, of plain wood yet carved intricately with shapes of no name that twisted and arced around each other seamlessly.

It seemed that we'd gotten there just in time, because a tall, broad-shouldered man stepped right up to the podium adorned in blue robes - a deep, darker blue than that of the Champions' fabrics (and I realized with a start that Link didn't look at all out of place here, as everyone was wearing one shade of blue or another whereas I stood out like a sore thumb in my earthy green tones and pale lavender), and a jovial look upon his face.

I held Link's hand securely in my own and hugged his arm with my free one, ensuring that in the jostling crowd that more and more people seemed to pack into and brush past us that we did not get separated. We moved along with the crowd until we found a neat little pocket of space that we claimed for ourselves - standing squarely in a puddle that no one else wanted to stand in and sully their robes, perhaps, not that it was a problem for you or Link.

Actually, this crowd was of a mixed bunch - Hylians were here, of course, for this was a primarily Hylian settlement - but there were a few of the reclusive Rito perched atop houses and fence lines, which came as a shock to me. This area was likely too cold for both the Goron people and the Zora, so there were none in attendance tonight, nor were there any Gerudo women - but they rarely ventured beyond their desert so that didn't come as a shock to me, not at all.

Among the folks making up the crowd, a great many of them were wearing one shade of blue or another, often mixed fabrics with white added in for good measure, too. Others - more notably, elders - were wearing black outfits of mourning. Many of the children chose to adorn their robes and tunics with feathers and pretty stones and shells and scales.

To one side of the crowd, which I could see if I leaned just around the portly man beside me, there was a boisterous group of children play-fighting with their mock weapons: branch swords, shields of tree bark, scimitars of carefully bent and tied blades of grass, and bows of stick and twine. And... hammers. But real ones.

Those were concerning.

I nudged Link, and he immediately clued into what I was looking at as the man at the podium cleared his throat, preparing for his speech. A hint - and I mean a hint - of a smile played at Link's lips and I bit my own lip to hide the extent of my own smile from him.

"Their technique could use a bit of polish, but their reflexes are solid," I said jokingly, the words only meant for his ears to catch and... yes! I got a chuckle out of him, and the simple sound had my heart fluttering and my cheeks warming. That was progress.

I didn't have much more time to congratulate myself though, because the presentation began.

"Welcome everyone," the man who I presumed to be the village leader began, "welcome! Warmest of welcomes to one and all to our annual Festival of the Champions! What an honor to have you all here with us this year - what an incredible turnout!"

Link and I stayed quiet as the rest of the crowd around us erupted into cheers and, if anyone wasn't cheering, they just smiled and waited patiently as we did, eyes trained to the podium.

"As the good people of Rabant know, I am Thom, and I hope to get to speak with all of you as we enjoy the festivities this week. This, as we know, is quite a special year, very special indeed! This is our centennial festival! Our humble village started this festival only a few short weeks after the Calamity took over, during the middle of the reconstruction effort, because directly after the news spread that the Champions had fallen, Hyrule fell into a state of unease."

He paused, maybe for dramatic effect, and maybe because our attention was very deliberately redirected to two large stretches of tanned fabrics. With the clever use of candles and boxes, large cutout shapes were displayed across the fabrics, acting out a show, and I smiled, never having seen something like it before. There were figures of people with pointed ears, Hylians of course, projected bouncily alongside Gorons and Rito and Zora and Gerudo, all with unique shapes and adornments lending themselves well to the show.

"When people are uneasy, they find someone to blame," Thom continued. "And regrettably, the only people they could think to blame were the very people who had tried to save them."

The various races of Hyrule were all removed, and replaced with one of each, but with two Hylians - one with longer hair and the other with a very clear and obvious sword.

"After their deaths, resentment for them grew," Thom said. "The leader of this village at the time found this to be unfair, unjust, and ungrounded, and so set out to change it. She believed that the truth was what needed to be spread, not hate. Hyrule should not have united over something so vile. And we - all who have gathered here - all feel the same, do we not?"

He was met with more cheers, calls of affirmation.

"Nowadays, more people are sympathetic to our fallen champions, not blame them. However, hate for them still exists in the form of the Yiga Clan and in ignorance."

Now, those same figures slid to one side to make way for a large, pig-headed monster: Ganon.

"We all know the story," Thom said, his voice commanding. "Ganon took our hope away from us by killing Mipha, Urbosa, Revali, and Daruk." One by one, as called, the figures fell away and out of view - leaving only Zelda and Link. "Princess Zelda's knight fell only once he had used his last breath to protect Zelda. And then it was over."

The entire displays were covered, for several long moments - bringing everyone's attention right back to Thom, his lips pressed into a thin line and a grave seriousness on his face.

"Knowing this," he said, "doesn't it seem unfair to blame them? They did all that they could. It is most unfortunate that Ganon and evil reigns to this day, but we mustn't lose hope. They did not, not even in their last moments. They gave their all so that we might live. And here now... we live."

The crowd was silent as he spoke. People reacted differently as they listened; men stood tall with their arms crossed, some of the women dabbed their eyes and some held their children close as if protecting them from the evils that were brought up, and kids of varying ages either listened, were having trouble paying attention, or looked confused. Those who had the capacity to pay attention seemed entirely enthralled and captivated.

And Link...

He was listening intently. His eyes brimmed with tears. This is good for him, I tried to assure myself. Seeing that people still believe in him... he needs this now, more than ever. It's hard, but he must hear this.

"A century later, and here we are," Thom said, his voice triumphant as the same jubilant crowd of Hyrule's inhabitants returned. "We are prospering. We are rising above what happened a century ago. We have lost our champions, but we have not and will not lose hope. Ganon will be destroyed one day. Mark my words!"

More cheers, more triumphant bellows, more weeping mothers.

"We need to know that someday, the champions, those who fought for us and made the ultimate sacrifice, will be avenged. They did not fall in vain! Ganon will fall! Hyrule will be freed!"

The crowd erupted into noise then, chanting the words back at him: Ganon will fall, Hyrule will be freed; Ganon will fall, Hyrule will be freed; Ganon will fall...

"Hyrule will be freed," I spoke softly, my head leaned in towards Link's.

Only when the crowd eventually and at long last quieted down did Thom speak again.

"We are very lucky this year to have a special guest with us. She is a scientist and scholar, and though she may not look her age, knew the champions personally. Please welcome Purah, of the Hateno Village Lab!"

My eyes involuntarily widened at the mention of Hateno's lab, while Link's eyes widened as well - though for a different reason. His grip on my hand tightened and he looked up at the podium with great interest. We watched wordlessly as a small Sheikah woman walked up and, with the help of her assistant, was placed onto the podium to speak once Thom stepped out of the way. Purah put her hands on her hips and grinned.

"I don't have much to say," she started, "but I did want to say that I admire the fact that you still hold hope! It is a great thing to have! So hold onto it!" She paused as she got some whistled from the crowd, letting them die down first. "Before you ask, it's true - I don't look my age, and I did know the champions personally. Urbosa, steadfast and intelligent; Revali, confident and clever; Mipha, kindhearted and determined; and Daruk, joyful and powerful. Yes, I knew them all."

She paused, maybe to let the moment sink in or maybe because she was growing emotional.

"The princess was gracious and hardworking. She never stopped trying to save Hyrule and her people, and she is fighting for us even now. As for the swordsman... between you and me, this year's festival is special indeed though perhaps more so than we originally anticipated."

A rush of excited murmurs passed through the crowd and Link squeezed my hand. I squeezed back, smiling up at him sidelong.

"I was able to contact one of our dear champions not too long ago," she said cryptically. "I do believe he wouldn't mind if I say so, but the Hylian champion has woken up and walks Hyrule once more."

I could've sworn she was looking right at Link. And maybe she was, if the way she grinned was any indication. The crowd gasped collectively, shocked and stunned but not rendered speechless. Someone outright demanded that she elaborate and everyone held their breath, waiting for her to say more, which she did: "I am not lying about this. I may be old, but I still have my wits about me. The Hylian champion... I helped him on his way, and he has set out to finish what he and the others started."

The crowd cheered louder than they had before. The cheering didn't die down right away- someone began that chant once more, and the sound was deafening. Purah hopped off of the podium and Thom took her place.

"Thank you, Purah. Now, we have a busy schedule for the rest of the festival. Tomorrow we will be having a feast and our usual chowder potluck..."

By then, I figured that Link had heard all that he needed to, so I led him through the crowd to leave. People let us through, not giving either of us a second glance as they paid attention to the schedule. I began to lead Link back towards the inn and even just a short way down the road, it was so much quieter. Nobody was in their home or wandering the streets - everyone was in the square.

"Link, how are you-"

Before I could finish your sentence, Link began to sob and he buried his face into my shoulder. He pulled his hand from mine only to wrap both of his arms around my back, pulling me close to his chest. I closed your eyes for how wide my smile was as I leaned my head against his. I rubbed his back with one hand and ran the fingers of my other hand through his hair.

"Are those happy tears, Link?"

He didn't reply. Not with words. We only held each other for a while - not saying a word, because none needed to be said. Unlike before, there was no emptiness to this silence. It was full of what words could not say. Needless to say, it was a welcome change from the past few days.

—

"I thought it would be better," he had explained, regarding his silence. "I thought if I was silent, I could be a better hero - be the hero everyone thought I was. But that's not the hero you think I am. And there are people who... they believe in me, and... (Y/n), I'm so sorry for being so quiet, I saw how hurt you were but I just... It's not better, being this way. You forgive me, don't you? Please say you do!"

Of course I forgave him. God, of course I did.

And I forgave him both verbally and with another tight hug because, though he'd finally stopped crying, he was still close - holding me at arms' length, his hold on my upper arms firm, though gentle. He was making sure I wouldn't leave, that I couldn't leave - not that I ever would. Not in a million years. Not in a century, I might say.

He pulled away, just enough to look down at me and he beamed - he beamed, he was so happy - and there were grateful tears in his eyes as he met my gaze. Emotionally charged-up and unwilling to leave each other's side right now, the two of us seemed to come to a wordless but mutual agreement because he nodded (as though I'd had a question in my eyes) and then we were off running through the village, then away from the village, towards that calm little pocket of water, the offshoot lucky enough to become a small pond instead of going tumbling off the Grave Cliffs.

We played in the water, and swam together, not daring even to take our boots or our outerwear off, only our gear, and we became so quickly bogged down but it didn't matter. It didn't matter. It wasn't until well through the night and into the morning hours that we crawled into our respective beds and it was only after prying our layers off behind our respective privacy curtains and drying off and getting into pajamas.

I'd only just tucked the blanket around myself when Link padded silently across the room and crawled into the bed with me. He just wound his arms around me over the blanket (he was so warm he probably didn't need the extra layer anyway), all but forcing his head to tuck beneath my chin and all he thought to mumble was, "sorry, I missed you."

Yeah, I couldn't blame him. He'd been awfully distant these past few days. The least I could do was humor him... at least for now.

Besides, it wasn't like I didn't miss him, either. Because I had. I'd missed him so, so damn much.

But he was back now. This I knew for certain.

—

The next morning, it was a slow start for the two of us. For his part, Link seemed unwilling to let me go, so I let him rest a little more, then a little more, then a little more still until at long last my need to relieve my bladder became too much to bear and I had to get up.

With everything taken care of and our bags packed, we checked out of the inn and went to leave the village when we saw Celedor setting up tables for the feast that was to come today. I walked up to him, leading Nayru along, with Link and Epona following closely behind.

"Good morning, Celedor," I said happily to him.

"Good mornin'," he replied, turning to smile at me, then at Link in turn. He saw us with our horses and our bags, and tilted his head confusedly. "Are you two leaving already? Not so soon, surely?"

"Actually, we just stopped in for the first night of the festival," I answered, looking at him with a sheepish smile. "We've got business elsewhere, so we couldn't really stay here for too long."

"That's too bad," Celedor said. "Sure you can't stay for the feast?"

"We'd love to, but we can't."

"Well, alright then. If you're ever in town again, be sure to visit!"

"We will, don't worry. See you around, Celedor."

"Goodbye, (Y/n). And see you, Link," he faltered on his name. Celedor's eyes widened. I took this as your cue to leave, so I turned, as did Link, and walked quickly away. "Wait a minute... Link... Link! (Y/n), are you traveling with the hero? Is Link... Link, are you...? Wait!"

I did not wait. I lifted myself up into the saddle, already calling out for Link who was looking back at Celedor mischievously.

"Link, come on! Let's go!"

"Wait," Celedor requested, jogging after us. "Link, are you the hero?!"

"I am he," Link said with a boyish grin before swinging himself up and onto Epona dramatically, right into the saddle. "Come on, (Y/n)! Hyah!"

Goddesses help me. He was ridiculous.

Still, I could do nothing more than laugh as we followed the road that would eventually lead us southwest, and to the Gerudo Desert.

—

Further south we had traveled, and across the Digdogg Suspension Bridge we'd traversed, and through the Gerudo Canyon Pass we'd gone until we reached this, the last stable before the dirt gave way completely to sand. For two nights we rested here, the Gerudo Canyon Stable.

"Do we have enough elixirs?"

Link nodded from beside me. I couldn't help but check them over as well from over the piece of paper I was holding, just to be sure. It was an inventory sheet, of course. I'd done quite a bit of calculating to figure out how much we needed for everything under the assumption that we would be in the desert for a week, traveling and waiting (for me) included. The Beast itself could take several days, as could the trek through the dunes to get anywhere remotely close to a settlement.

"Alright, how about canteens of water?"

Link nodded again and recited just how many there were, and once more, I checked, just to make sure that he wasn't lying.

"Dried meat?"

Link nodded once he checked (as did I) and this time, he noticed, and he gasped.

"(Y/n)," he said, pressing his palm to his heart as if it hurt, "I thought you trusted me!"

"I'm just making sure," I said, checking the list I had written up. We had spread out each and every item we owned over a blanket, and had sorted them so that we could see exactly how much of everything we had with ease.

Link had graciously tasked to count for me while you checked off the list. But Link was more easygoing and lazy than I was and he didn't seem to be taking this so seriously - so if we had just one less of something than I wanted, would he really go through the trouble of telling me, only so that I'd make him go get whatever it was? It wasn't likely.

The two of us were, at least, sitting in the shade provided by a stable. This was the last bit of shade we were sure to get until we reached the Kara Kara Bazaar (which hopefully would be our first stop unless we got horribly turned around) and was also the last piece of civilization before you were subjected to nothing but sand and heat. The horses were already cooling down in the stable in the shade - they would not be joining us.

But the walk here through rocky canyons with the shade being very scarce under the sun was but a preview of what was to come, and I just wanted to be prepared.

"Well," I said as I stood up, rolling up the list, "that's everything, then. We're ready to go into the desert."

Link groaned, flopping down on his back. "But it's so hot out."

"That's why we have these elixirs and we stocked up on water and fruits."

"But still... this is gonna suck."

"Death Mountain will only be warmer. And with much higher a chance to actually light on fire."

He didn't reply using words, he simply groaned.

"The quicker we get going, the faster we can get to the Bazaar and rest.And the sooner we do that, the sooner we can figure out how you can tame the Divine Beast and, the sooner we do that, the sooner we can, you know, be out of the desert. But the longer you prolong our departure, the longer we'll be in the hot sun."

I packed everything up as Link continued to pout. Once everything was in a large pack (which I'd make Link carry for all the complaining he's been doing), I dropped it in Link's lap and walked into the stable. I stepped behind a small curtain and changed out of your usual cloak and tunic and into a looser one with a lighter hood. Stepping back into your boots, I grabbed the heavier clothes and brought them to a storage box we were renting from the stable, stuffing them inside. I returned to him and stood over Link, setting my hands on my hips. He hadn't moved, and was still staring blankly at the sky.

I nudged his knee with my foot. He looked at me, and frowned. "That's not fair."

"What's not fair?"

"You had a lighter change of clothes. I don't."

"That's too bad. I told you at the last village we stopped in to get a lighter set, but you didn't listen to me."

He continued to frown, but I guessed that he suddenly got an idea, because he quickly stood up and pulled his tunic off, leaving him in nothing but his pants and boots. I rolled my eyes, far too used to this sort of behavior from him.

"Link," I said evenly, "put your tunic back on."

"Why? I'm cooler this way."

"You'll get sunburnt for sure, for one," I told him. "Do you want skin cancer? Besides, people are looking, and you look like a fool. Hero has to look his best, you know. And this... really isn't it."

He grinned devilishly. "But I think I do look my best."

I picked up his tunic and tossed it to him. "Put it back on, Link."

"Fine. But if I don't find something else to wear at the bazaar, then I'm spending the rest of the trip shirtless."

"Fine," I echoed. "Have fun being fried."

—

I hate this. I hate this. I hate this.

As anyone with a brain might've been able to guess, it was hard, with the harsh sun of day and the bitter wind of night, but we progressed steadily. I think. I hope.

The elixirs, I found, were extremely helpful, as least for the first few minutes after we drank them. That was when the effects were strongest, but as they began to wear down and dwindle into barely any effect at all, I still felt cool, but much less so than when it just kicked in.

Trudging through the sand, neither of us spoke. Talking would pass the time quicker, but it would also dry out our throats quicker. And I, for one, didn't want to waste our precious water.

The sun beat down on you with unyielding, completely merciless strength and after just a few hours, it took a lot of energy just to lift my feet out of the sand to keep walking, or, well... trudging. Managing. I risked a quick glance up at the sky - after all of this time, the sun looked like it hadn't moved even a single bit and I had to wonder if we'd been here five minutes, five hours, or five days so far.

Link took out his slate and looked at the map. "How much further?" I asked him quietly.

"We should be able to see the Bazaar soon," was his answer. "We're still heading in the right direction.

And thank Hylia for that.

Hopeful, we found the resolve to keep going, so we did just that. The sooner this Beast was taken care of, the sooner I could take a nice, freezing bath. So, I kept pushing myself to just keep walking.

—

By the time you were in sight of the Bazaar, we were drenched in sweat and each step took far much more work than what should have been necessary. We had gone through a lot of water, more than I had planned, and I was quickly becoming quite irritable.

So when I saw it in the distance, I was beyond excited and even that seemed to be too... tame an explanation. Link and I doubled up on your efforts and managed to speed up somehow, and the shade that we found upon entering the Bazaar was heavenly. I had never been so grateful for shade in my whole life, and probably never would be ever again.

The Kara Kara Bazaar was truly a sight to behold, I realized once I managed to muster up the energy to look around. It was situated around a small pond of clear blue water (which Link had run for with the intent to jump in, but I managed to grab him by the back of his tunic and drag him away just in time) and dozens of merchants were set up, selling goods out of their tents and the entire bazaar was several aisles long, and featured items like handcrafted pottery and art pieces (some more abstract than others), blankets and woven baskets and trinkets and oddities and even intricate weaponry, some just for show.

Several Gerudo were among these merchants and guards walking around. I looked up, up up at the Gerudo women curiously, having never seen them before.

"They're so pretty," I said quietly to Link as a pair passed by, speaking in their sultry-sounding language.

"Huh? Oh, uh, sure."

"I've never seen anyone of the Gerudo race before," I told him. "What was Urbosa like?"

He shrugged. The two of us were walking through the bazaar, side by side, passing people as they talked with their friends or bartered deals. I looked down at the goods as we passed them, or otherwise looked around at the scenery. "I don't remember what she was like, really," he answered. "She hasn't appeared in many of my memories, yet."

"The stories say that she was close with Zelda, and supported her thoroughly."

"Well, that's certainly nice, if that's true."

"From what you do remember of them," I said, hoping I wasn't crossing some sort of line for him, "did you not speak with them, either? I get why you'd be shy around the princess and quiet especially the king, but did you never speak to the others? Weren't they your friends?"

"As I said, the pressure got to me," he said. "I didn't want to talk to them and risk complaining. It would be rude of me, wouldn't it? And besides, I'd appear weak."

"I don't think that you of all people could appear weak."

"Is it because of my rippling muscles?"

I laughed, but said, "No, that's not it. It's how you present yourself. And you were picked out by Zelda and the royal family; why would they think of you as anything other than strong?"

"Well, Revali was a jerk in his own right." He looked down at me as I walked. "And what did you mean, saying that it made sense that I'd be shy around Zelda?"

"Oh, well," I said rather sheepishly, smiling at him sidelong, "a lot of the stories that get passed around say that you and Zelda were... a thing, or at least that the two of you liked each other."

"Me and the princess?"

"Mm-hm. That's what the stories say, anyway."

"That's strange," Link said, slowing as he thought it over. "In all the memories I have... I haven't seen anything happen between us. A-And anyway, that was 100 years ago."

"Why are you getting all flustered?" I asked, looking at him mischievously.

"No reason," he replied quickly, taking off at a speedy walk. "We should just restock up on elixirs and get going to Gerudo Town."

I chuckled and nodded, hurrying to catch up with him.

—

We restocked on elixirs, which were now packed away in the pack I now shouldered. Link wanted to hold onto it, but I had decided that he had carried it for long enough and earned himself a break. I sent him to go refill the water canteens in the pond in the center of the bazaar while I searched for lighter clothes for him.

However, there was a small problem.

Most of the clothing available at the bazaar was aimed for women. Considering the native population here were all women, it made sense. The clothing options were flowy and revealing, meant to dissuade the sun yet still protect one's skin as much as possible. And I really wasn't sure if this was something that Princess Zelda would approve of the Hero of Hyrule wearing. I mean, hell, he had control over his own body and he was more than willing to run around without a shirt, but Princess Zelda was probably... not going to like that, right?

Ah, well.

If I was a betting person, then I would bet that the Divine Beast would be scorching hot inside. It has been baking in the sun for years upon years now, likely with no form of cooling system. Link would be burned alive in what he was wearing now. Even in the shade, I'd been able to tell that he was warm. The Sheikah outfit he had was no better.

I was checking out a shirt which was thin and didn't seem to have anything special about it - it was just a light shirt, nothing more and nothing less. No extra holes, gimmicks, or properties to be seen. It was just a shirt. I was checking it against myself, trying to guess at whether it might fit Link when I heard something that I couldn't help but listen in on.

"Excuse me," an unfamiliar voice said.

"Hm? Me?"

"Yeah, you."

"...Yes?" That was Link's voice - I peered over curiously. Link was holding the canteens (full now, I presumed) and had paused mid-step on his way over to me. In fact, he was only a couple of yards or so away. I looked back to the shirt, pretending not to listen even as I wondered what the other man wanted.

"I saw you walk in with her," he said.

Her, I thought spitefully. If he has business with me, then shouldn't he ask me?

"So I did," Link said. "What of it?"

Since when did Link learn to speak so... eloquently?

"I just wanted to know something. Are you with her?"

Oh.

"What do you mean?" Link asked. "Of course I'm with her. We walked here together."

Link doesn't understand, clearly. A hundred years ago, they must've said something different. Despite you thinking this, my cheeks burned and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to suppress my smile.

"Yes, but... are you two... you know..."

I glanced over again. Link looked like he was thinking for a second before his eyes widened. He figured out the lingo, I guessed. His countenance turned to one of anger and he stood up straighter. "I already gave you my answer, now back off."

"Listen, I didn't mean anything by it. Sorry, man."

I was surprised, but hid it and looked back down at the shirt in my hands. When the boy left, Link came up to me - a frown still tugging at his lips, one I pretended not to know the reason for. He did his best to smile at me anyway, and I returned it as soon as I looked up at him in greeting.

"Link," I said, deciding not to mention it, "do you think this would fit you?" I held the shirt up to his chest, and frowned upon seeing that it was too short. "I doubt you want a crop top. Am I right?"

"I didn't train my body for years just to not have it be seen, (Y/n)," he joked.

Rolling your eyes, I put the shirt down. "Well, that's good, because it might be our only option. I'm not seeing anything else here for you, Link." I smirked. "Unless you want some traditional Gerudo clothing, of course. Personally, I think this blue color would be pretty on you. It would bring out your eyes, I think."

"I'm sure it would," he said, "But um... no. Well, maybe later? If you really wanted me to..."

I chuckled. I couldn't tell if he was flirting or not, truthfully. "I'll pass for now, thank you."

"Are you sure? I dunno, I think you know you're missing out," he teased.

"Don't flatter yourself," I said with a smile. "Let's just get to Gerudo Town."

Link smiled at me and, when I walked away, hung back for a moment before jogging to catch up, taking my hand in his own. We linked our fingers together without hesitation and made our way out of the bazaar and back into the sun.

—

"Yes, ma'am," the guard said, "you may enter, but he may not."

"What do you mean?" Link asked. "I have business here!"

"Ha! What business, exactly?" The two Gerudo women held intimidating polearms and didn't look at all afraid to use them, so I sent Link a look to get him to shut up. "Do you know the Gerudo chief?"

Link frowned. "Well, no, not yet! But I have to-"

"Do you intend to make a mockery of our rules? You have those long ears, Hylian. Use them."

Ouch.

Link went to say something more, his mouth open and his breath all that was needed to grant his words life, but I set my hands on his shoulders and pushed him away from the gates of the town and didn't stop until we were well out of their earshot.

"Link, calm down," I pressed. "Please."

"But... you heard what she said, didn't you!? She insulted me, and since you're Hylian too, then she insulted you, too! Aren't you going to say something?"

"No," I said right away, "because I don't want to ruin my chances of getting into the city. Listen, head back to the bazaar. I'll head in and see what I can find out about the Divine Beast. I'm almost certain I won't be able to get a meeting with the leader, but... the locals will have to know something, won't they?"

"I don't want to just sit around," he pouted. He sighed and looked into my eyes, looking absolutely heartbroken about this. "Are you sure about this? I feel bad making you do it."

"I'm offering to do it, Link," I said, then smiled mischievously. "You trust me, don't you?"

"Of course I do," he said, "I... I just..."

"I'll be fine," I assured him. "Just don't get lost on the way back or spend all of our money, alright? I'll meet you back at the bazaar tonight."

Just then, the two of us heard a noise. We both turned our heads to the source of the sound. Off in the distance we could see a huge creature only just visible through the dense swirls of sand. As if knowing we were looking at it, in a dramatic fashion the creature passed through the sand like a curtain and all at once, everything seemed to settle. Once the sand settled, we could see a creature, which was in fact a giant machine - the Divine Beast, clearly - in the form of a huge camel. It was walking in a circuitous path, disrupting the sand as it went.

"Well," I said, "at least it's not in the sky." I looked at Link to see him staring intently at it - as though trying to . "Link," he turned his eyes back to you. "Don't rush off to fight that thing yet. Please, Link. We have to gather information first."

"I wouldn't dare, not without your permission," he said, somewhat cheekily.

"Good," I said softly. "Stay safe, stay hydrated, and don't make more enemies than you need. Got it?"

"I still don't like this, (Y/n). But fine, I got it." He pulled me in for a quick hug. "Be careful, firefly."

When I pulled away, I laughed lightly, looking into his still somewhat sorrowful eyes, "You're acting as if I'm going to be gone for weeks."

"Yes, well, it'll seem like that. I'm horribly lost without you and your wisdom," he said, and I could barely tell he was joking.

"Mm-hm," I hummed, smiling. "Right. Obviously. I'll see you later, hero," I said, turning away from him and heading back towards the gate.

"See you," I heard Link call after me and, as he turned on his heel and reluctantly began walking back in the direction of the bazaar, I headed back to the gate. I looked up, meeting the steely gaze of one of the guards. "Excuse me," I said, "but does anyone ever... visit that giant beast?"

"No," the guard on the left, the one I was looking at, said firmly. "It is far too dangerous."

"Even to just look at from a distance?"

"The distance you're looking at it from now is about the safest one. You're here at a lucky time. Usually, it is obscured by huge sandstorms."

"Exactly," affirmed the second guard, "that being said, the only ones who wish to 'visit' the beast are those with a death wish. You'll be lost within seconds of being within the storm. And in those storms, you wouldn't realize you were being stepped on by that beast until you were already dead."

"I see."

"People have tried to research it before," the first guard said. "See if it was being controlled by something... but they never return. The only ones who do return are the ones who gave up before they even got close."

"Thank you," I said, appreciating the information all the same. They nodded to me and, with wordless permission, I headed inside the town. It was time for me to do some recon, no? And I'd do a damn good job - I would make sure of it.