Link didn't know what to expect when Seeán dragged him to the bonfire, but it wasn't what he ended up seeing. A group of about five young adult Gerudo were gathered around a fire near the water's edge, the oldest looking twenty or so while the youngest looked to be fifteen or sixteen. Najam was among them as well, conversing casually. That was, until he noticed Seeán.

   "Seeán, you're back," he said with a smile, only for it to fade when he saw Link standing beside her. "What're you doing out here?" he asked, eyes narrowing. In a second, everybody was staring at Link. He clenched his teeth and buried his hands in his pockets.

   Seeán answered. "I found him stargazing. Convinced him to come join us since he apparently has some good ghost stories to tell."

   "They ain't ghost stories," Link quickly interjected, frowning. His words seemed to spark excitement in the younger Gerudo.

   "Wait, you're that Hylian Aaira's taking care of, the Holder of Courage!"

   "Yeah, we saw your wanted posters. Isn't your name Li—"

   "Don't call me that," Link snapped. "If you're gonna call me anythin', Illusion'll work just fine." This was getting stranger by the second. He expected more responses like Najam's, not interest and what even appeared to be awe. Regret for deciding to go along with this began to mount, and he was about to leave when Seeán shushed the others.

   "He obviously doesn't wanna have his real identity known, which is perfectly fine," she said. She sat down on the dirt by the fire, leaving an open space next to her. "So how about we get back to what we were doing before. You said you had some stories, Illusion?"

   Reluctantly, Link took a seat by Seeán, though he still kept some distance from her. He still couldn't believe he'd gotten himself wrapped up in this, and it didn't help that Najam would stop staring at him. It wasn't like he could back down now.

   "Okay, I was going to go next," the second-youngest Gerudo said. "Illusion can go after me." Link exhaled heavily and sat back; he was going to be here longer than he thought. "So there was a Zora girl who lived in Zora's Domain with her family," she began. "Her mom always told her to never go out to the beach at night, because there was something that would take people who did go. Of course, she didn't listen..."

   Link zoned out for the most part, only partly paying attention. He recalled being told this story when he was young, so he wouldn't go outside at night by himself. The story ended with a phantom Jellicent dragging the Zora girl into the ocean, where she was obviously never seen again. Even if it was an old wive's tale, the other Gerudo seemed shaken. Either that, or they were good actors.

   "You're next, Illusion!" the young Gerudo said, smiling at Link.

   He decided to go easy on them, and he told the story about how he and Luce spent the night being stalked through southern Necluda by a Gengar. Link was only thirteen then and still wasn't experienced with fighting Pokémon, much less ones that could vanish, and Luce's moves were useless against it. It ended with them escaping out into an open field just as the sun rose, and the Gengar vanished back into the forest.

   When Link finished the story, he could admit that he was happy to see how shaken-up the younger Gerudo were. "A-and that was true?" one asked in a shaking voice.

   Link nodded, standing. "With that, I'm gonna leave."

   "Aw, and I wanted to try and beat yours," the youngest said, sulking.

   "Let him go. You can't make him stay," Najam said, though he didn't take his eyes off Link as he spoke. A shudder coursed down Link's spine, but didn't show it and turned to leave.

   "Wait, stay for at least one more!" Seeán exclaimed. "I have one that'll get even a tough guy like ya."

   Link arched a brow, asking dubiously, "Oh yeah?"

   "Yeah. Even better, this one's also true. It's about my mom back when she lived in Gerudo City." Link decided to humor her, so he stuck around. Seeán moved closer to the fire, allowing it to illuminate her face. Her already-sharp features were made sharper by the cast shadows, and the grin she gave looked devilish. "So my mom had a friend who lived with just her mom," she began in a slow, quiet tone, "and they lived in this little home on the edge of town. Nobody bothered them much, so they spent most of their days alone.

   "One day, my mom realized she hadn't heard from her friend in a few days, so she went to visit her. The house had all its shutters closed, and when she knocked on the door of the house, nobody answered. She could hear what sounded like her friend, talking to somebody. No matter how much she knocked, nobody came to the door."

   Everyone had started leaning in closer to Seeán, trying to hear her better. Even Najam was intrigued, which Link hardly noticed since he was becoming interested himself. At first he thought this would be some story Seeán would give her own twist to and say it was true, but it didn't sound like any he had heard.

   "Of course, my mom got worried, so she went home to tell my vaba. When my mom and my vaba came to open the house with a couple city guards, they found the house pitch-black. Then they heard my mom's friend saying, 'it's so dark, where's the lights?' But when the shutters were opened, neither my mom's friend or her mom could be found. It was like they both vanished. My mom and vaba decided to spend the night at the house to wait for her friend and mom to hopefully come back.

   "When night came, and the house darkened, my mom heard her friend again. She repeated, 'it's so dark, where's the lights?' Still, she couldn't be found, even when every room was lit up. They left the house the next day, and nobody entered ever again. Until my mom joined the trading group, she said people could still hear her friend at night, asking what happened to the lights." Link thought she would scream or try to startle him and the others when she finished, but that was it, she said nothing else. Her words were left to drift and fade in the night air.

   The second-youngest Gerudo was the first to break the silence. "Th-that was so good, Seeán!" she breathed while the youngest clung to her arm, trembling.

   "I-I don't ever remember you telling us that one," Najam said. His skin looked a little paler than before.

   Link couldn't help but nod in agreement. "Yeah, that was actually pretty good," he said, and Seeán grinned.

   "Now go to sleep thinkin' about that," she said. "Thanks for hanging out with us, Illusion. We usually do this once a week, so maybe ya could join us again before ya leave?" She looked hopeful, and Link shrugged.

   "Nah, I'm good," he said. Najam's eyes were on him once again, and Link was more than ready to leave.

   Seeán looked disappointed. "Then I'd better see ya before ya leave in general," she said, and the other Gerudo nodded. Link didn't say anything else, hurrying back to the healer's tent. Fortunately, he was still alone, and he was able to settle in and relax.

   As he dozed, Link could still sense the auras of the young Gerudo outside. That hadn't been as bad as he thought it would be. Disregarding most things, it was something Link himself would try to prompt with Zelda and the others, if for the fact that he could prove he had the most guts.

   Besides that, it was incredibly strange. Besides Najam, there hadn't been a single shred of hostility towards him, nor were there any hints of ulterior motives. It was like they were just kids telling ghost stories. Nothing more, nothing less. Link just didn't understand, and that feeling of confusion lingered as he fell asleep.

   The next morning came, and things seemed to be back to "normal." Aaira and Link were having breakfast after finishing one of their now-routine healing sessions, Aaira chatting away while Link half-listened. Aaira then paused, staying quiet long enough for Link to notice. He made eye-contact with her, and she smirked.

   "Now I have your attention," she said. Link almost rolled his eyes. He should have known she would try something like that. "I was saying that while I was getting our food, I couldn't help but overhear the young ones talking. Apparently they had a visitor at their bonfire last night," she said knowingly. "And I thought you didn't want to go out at all."

   "Can't stand bein' inside for so long," Link said quickly. "Thought I could go out for a bit, but I guess not."

   Aaira laughed. "You certainly made their night, that's for sure." Had he really? The only impression he'd left on them was a bad one, like he always did.

   Through the shifting auras outside, Link picked up on one in particular. It was moving towards the tent, approaching with purpose. Link looked to the tent flap, just in time to see it open and Seeán partially step inside. In the morning light, her face looked more gentle and soft, not as harsh as the moon and fire's glow made it out to be the previous night. "Hey Aaira, hey, Illusion," she said, smiling.

   "Good morning," Aaira warmly returned her greeting. "Is there something you need?"

   "Sorta," Seeán said. "I hope I'm not interruptin' anything, because I was wondering if you'd wanna talk for a bit." She looked at Link as she said this. Startled, he immediately shook his head, baffled that she was even here in the first place. Did she not get that Link didn't want to speak to her again? Seeán shrugged. "Alright. Have a good day." With that, she ducked out of the tent and walked away. As soon as she'd come, she was gone.

   After Seeán left, Aaira chuckled to herself while Stelle and Vera exchanged little smiles. "I would say I didn't expect that, but I'm not surprised," the healer said.

   "Why's that?" Link couldn't help but ask.

   "Seeán has always wanted to leave the group, but she doesn't want to leave her mother behind. So instead of leaving, she talks to any visitors she can," Aaira said. "Besides it being the closest she can get to interacting with the kingdom outside our group, when we're not trading in a town, things can get pretty stagnant around here."

   She'd better find someone else to be interested in, then, Link thought. He had no idea why Seeán would want to talk with him again, and he tried to brush it off. Thankfully, for the rest of the day, he was left alone with nobody but Aaira and his own thoughts. Just how he wanted it.

   Soon enough, night fell again. Link decided to wait a little longer before leaving the tent. When he did, he went the opposite way, keeping his senses raised so he wouldn't be caught off-guard. Again, he stood at the edge of the oasis, looking out at the desert. It really could be peaceful out here when it wanted to.

   Link glanced up at the sky, noticing the waning moon. He was sure there was a more official term for it, but it wasn't like he knew. Hopefully it would still be around when he left, because he'd rather not use Courage to light his path unless he had to.

   He didn't startle this time when he sensed an aura. It only took a second for him to identify it, and he sighed. "You again," he muttered, turning to face Seeán.

   The Gerudo girl stood behind him, her auburn hair stirring in the slight breeze as she stared at him. She nodded, grinning. "Yep, it's me again! I figured that since sunlight apparently burns ya like a Zubat, I should try to look for ya when it's dark out. Am I right?" That was certainly a reason. But Link was more confused than anything. Always confused, nothing else. "You're out here looking at the stars again?" she then said. "They always looked good around here, probably 'cause there's so few trees."

   Link shrugged, not saying anything. He hoped his lack of a response would get her to back off, but she seemed oblivious.

   "Do I have to tease ya again so ya say something? Because I'm more than happy to do it," she said.

   "I don't understand..." he said under his breath, beginning to grow irritated. Unfortunately, it appeared that Seeán had heard him.

   "What don't ya understand?" she asked. She moved closer to him, and Link shifted away a step. "Don't leave me hanging!"

   He sighed, shaking his head as his irritation mounted. "Nothin'." Did he have to tell her to leave? Or was she just that stubborn?

   "Now that's a strange thing to not understand." He was quiet again, yet she continued talking. "If you don't understand 'nothing,' then that means you know everything," she said smartly. "Why not share some of that infinite wisdom with me, then?"

   Link's anger suddenly flared, and Courage flooded him. "What the hell do ya want?" he yelled. "Just whaddya want with me?"

   Seeán's eyes widened, and she moved back. Surprise and confusion radiated off her. "If ya don't want me around, then ya could just say it. Again, I know I can be a handful," she said. "Sorry that I'm curious..."

   Link wanted to scream, he wanted to scream more than anything. But he knew if he did, it would bring more people out to him. Instead, he shoved his shirt collar into his mouth, biting down on it as hard as he could while he let out a muffled scream. It hurt his throat and lungs, but he didn't stop until all the air had been wrung from him. When he was finally done, he tore the cloth from his mouth, breathing raggedly.

   "Are you okay?" Seeán asked quietly. "Really, I'm sorry."

   Sucking in a breath through clenched teeth, Link spoke. "Ya want somethin' from me, don't ya? All of ya always do. But..." He took another breath, Courage's power ebbing away.

   "All I want is another chance to talk with ya. Nothin' ever changes in this group, and you suddenly showin' up outta nowhere..." She trailed off, nervously playing with the hem of her tunic. "None of us wanna hurt ya, Illusion. Yeah, some people are suspicious, like Najam, but who wouldn't be if the Holder of Courage suddenly showed up outta nowhere, nearly dead with a bounty on his head? If Aaira hasn't proved that we aren't plannin' anything, then I don't know what would."

   Link huffed, still smoldering. Like her words would convince him that easily. "How could I trust your damn word?"

   "Maybe if ya came outta that tent for a day, you'd see what we're about," she said. "How about that? Tomorrow morning after your healing session, I can show around camp a bit."

   Link dared to tease the idea for a moment. What if he did? Perhaps by some insane miracle, Seeán was right. Then there was the far more likely alternative. They were all waiting for their chance to do something. Despite how there hadn't been any hint of that, despite how welcoming Aaira and the children at the bonfire were. "I-I just can't," he said, shaking his head.

   "Then how can ya trust us if ya don't give us a chance?" Seeán asked, and Link gritted his teeth. He'd given the Gerudo chances. "Think about it tonight. I'll come by tomorrow and ask again, alright?" She gave him a cautious smile. "Have a good rest of your night, Illusion." She walked backwards, still looking at him, before turning around and heading back into camp.

   Link watched her go, even after she had turned her back to him. If his throat didn't already hurt, he would have screamed again. Instead, he summoned a burst of Courage, letting it trail down his arm before slamming it into the nearest boulder. Bits of brown rock smashed and flew as he created a dent, his knuckles responding with a dulled pang. Blood spotted his knuckles when he pulled his hand back, and he scowled.

   There hadn't been any malevolence, not even a shred of conflicting emotions in Seeán. Nothing but sincerity. Even after his first outburst, she still offered to help him. It sickeningly reminded him of Zelda. Even her brand of optimism reminded him of the Holder of Wisdom. What would she have said to him if she saw this exchange? His heart sank. He knew, and he wanted to trust her word.

   Fine. One hour, he decided begrudgingly. I just wanna know what ya see, Zel.

   After washing off his hand and sneaking back to the tent, Link tried to get some sleep. Aside from a few fitful hours, he couldn't do more than doze. He found himself actually growing nervous at the thought of his decision. What was going to happen? He hated being afraid, it made him feel nothing like himself. That wasn't how he wanted to be around Aaira and Seeán. For the remainder of the night, Link meditated, keeping himself calm until the sun began to rise.

   Link hid his injured hand from Aaira when she came in that morning, not wanting to have to explain how it happened. Fortunately, by the time the healing session was over, the residual healing energy lingering around him had reduced his new injury to minor scabs. It was nothing she would notice.

   "Did you take another walk last night?" Aaira asked with a raised brow. Link glanced at her, seeing her expectant gaze before exhaling through his nose and nodding. Satisfied, Aaira sat back. "I'm glad you're going out. Just be sure to not strain yourself. We wouldn't want you to be set back at all."

   It was only a matter of time until Seeán would show up, and Link took a moment to prepare himself when he sensed her aura approaching. And there she was, looking into the tent.

   "Morning!" she chirped. "I was just coming by to see what Illusion's response is to a question I asked last night." Aaira obviously looked interested, and Seeán explained. If Link had lied about going out, this was when he would've had to fess up. Now he had two people staring at him, waiting for a response, four if Stelle and Vera counted.

   "An hour, that's all you're gonna get," Link said curtly, standing up. The smile the Seeán gave him seemed to stretch from ear to ear.

   "Whatever you two are doing, I hope you enjoy yourselves," Aaira said. "Remember, don't do anything strenuous."

   Link was startled by the amount of activity he faced when he stepped outside. The camp looked quite different during the day, with Gerudo and Pokémon bustling about. The colors in the tents popped brightly in the sunlight, reds and yellows that contrasted against the cloudless sky and would draw in any potential trader. Sunlight burned down hotly, almost instantly making a light sheen of sweat break out on Link's forehead.

   "I'll just start introducing ya to everyone," Seeán said. She was ushering for Link to follow her, and he rushed to catch up. Already he was drawing eyes, most either looking surprised or offering smiles and waves. He didn't dare let his guard down, however.

   Link couldn't help but have his senses raised as they walked through the camp, and he was flooded with sensations of happiness, focus, and confidence with some slight playfulness. This was coming from the Cufant and Copperajah standing around the oasis. Some of the pachyderms drank from the blue waters while others washed themselves, occasionally catching the two Togekiss that perched atop their backs in the spray. A pair of identical women Gerudo tended to the group, and they noticed Link and Seeán's approach.

   "This is Hana and Iman," Seeán said. "I help take care of the Pokémon with them." The women greeted the pair, and immediately Hana's eyes lit up with recognition.

   "Oh, you're the one my sister was going on about. She really liked your ghost story," she said.

   Link wasn't sure how to respond. "Uh, glad she did, I guess," he muttered.

   "You were pretty lucky that Serene found you when she did," Iman said, gesturing to one of the Togekiss. "She's the one who brought you to us." The Togekiss glanced down at Link, smiling when their gazes met. Her aura washed over Link, one of pure tranquility. He'd never felt such a peaceful presence, and he smiled back at her.

   Link expected Hana and Iman to ask questions, and he bit his tongue as he answered what he wanted to, knowing he couldn't avoid everything. But the auras of the Pokémon kept him calm, and he genuinely enjoyed his time with the Pokémon tenders.

   The site of a smoldering fire pit across camp was Link and Seeán's next destination. A broad-shouldered Gerudo woman with graying hair was cleaning a mountain of dishes with help from a pair of water-enshrouded Castform. The cloud-like Pokémon were spraying water about, throwing sparkling mist into the hot air.

   "And this is Rafae. You've been enjoying her meals this whole time," Seeán said, prompting the woman to notice them.

   "Hey, Seeán. Why aren't you workin' with—" She frowned when she saw Link. "You're the Hylian Aaira's had holed up in her tent," she said.

   Seeán nodded. "Yep! I'm sure you recognize him," she said.

   Rafae gave Link a serious look, making him tense. "Do I ever. You're the infamous Illusion," she started. Here it was, and Link was ready to retaliate. She then cracked a smile. "That doesn't matter as long as you don't steal from us. After all, everyone has to survive one way or another. Hopefully my cooking has convinced you to leave us be!" she said with a laugh. Link was nothing but surprised.

   Person by person, Link was introduced to everyone in the camp. Some of these Gerudo included Noora and Lateela, who managed textile inventory while the elderly Ali, her three daughters, and a few Galvantula helped create the clothing the group sold. There was the quiet and bespectacled Uzma and her assistant Meowth, and they managed the pooled money earned by the group. Link was even introduced to Seeán's mother, who verified the story her daughter told at the bonfire.

   By the end of it all, Link was close to being a wreck by how overwhelmed he felt. The amount of names and information he'd received made his head spin, but he was able to grasp one thing: the warmth he'd been faced with. He'd only picked up on suspicion a few times, though it had faded once Link had been introduced and finally started answering their questions. And he was even more shocked to realize that he'd spent the entire day out in the camp.

   "See, that wasn't so bad," Seeán said. To Link's shock, he could admit it hadn't been. He still felt incredibly out of place, but he could feel himself begin to relax the more the day progressed. "Would ya wanna do this again tomorrow? We wouldn't go everywhere, probably just hang around with Hana and Iman since I neglected my duties today."

   Link only remembered exactly who they were because of the Togekiss. He actually wouldn't mind being around them since they were treating the Pokémon so well. "M-maybe," he said, and Seeán grabbed his hands excitedly. He wrenched them away, but it didn't dampen Seeán's happiness.

   "Yes, yes, I told ya! I told ya it'd work out!" she exclaimed. She then slapped her cheeks hard, letting out a breath. "Okay, sorry. Let's get dinner, and I'll leave ya alone for the rest of the day, yeah?" Link had to agree; food sounded amazing then.

   Seeán and Link were among some of the first to Rafae's tent, Seeán talking up a storm all the while. Leaving the area was the one Gerudo Link hadn't seen all day: Najam. The young man passed by Link, giving him a hard stare as he did. There was the one consistent suspicious presence that lingered. Link wondered what his problem was, growing concerned as he did. But whatever it was, he knew Najam wouldn't say it to his face.