Two weeks. That was how long Mipha suggested that the Holders remain in Zora's Domain. That time would hopefully be enough to throw any of Daemos' forces off of their trail, further dissuaded by Mipha's own words at her next meeting with Daemos and Wodefalle.

   Link reviled the idea of staying here that long. They couldn't even wander the Domain itself; they were restricted to the palace. It was no better than being imprisoned. No, to him, it was imprisonment. The shackles were merely invisible and slightly less restricting. The amount of open space he could wander meant nothing to him if he knew he couldn't leave it, nor if the smallest pleasures like a breeze or sunlight filtered into it.

   For that reason, he spent nearly all of his time in the training grounds, whether it was alone or with Luce. When he wasn't training himself, he was watching the guards go about their business or just staring out of the netted hole in the cavern's wall, eagerly awaiting the day he could feel the wind against his skin again. That would be more glorious than guaranteeing Hyrule's safety.

   It was the sixth time that Link had made his way to the training grounds. He had to keep track of the days, after all. He'd go even crazier if he didn't. As the number bounced about his head, he was glad that he at least knew how to count to a decently high number. Days of amassing rupees had helped him with that. While he couldn't write numbers out past ten, he figured ten was enough.

   Link quickly became a recognized face in the training grounds. He normally hated getting so much attention, but he couldn't pass up the sparring matches that the guards would offer. He'd never had many opportunities to fight those wielding spears. Needless to say, many bruises were received from blunt yet sharp jabs.

   Luce remained with Link most of this time, only leaving because she preferred to wander than incessantly train for hours on end. Link was fine with that; it was her decision to make whether she wanted to be with him. And he knew for a fact that it wasn't because she was upset with him, which relieved him to no end.

   The Master Sword collided with the shoulder of the training dummy, hitting it with a solid thunk. Link then quickly brought up his foot, harshly smashing his heel into the dummy's abdomen. The force from his blow vibrated in the dummy's firm core and sent small shudders back up his leg, making adrenaline-tinged goosebumps rise on his skin. If the pole the dummy was on hadn't been so firmly rooted into the cave floor, it would have surely slammed into the cave wall with force.

   Link briefly backed down after that, wiping sweat from his brow as breathed heavily. But he couldn't help but smirk. Even if his grasp on Courage wasn't the best, his normal combat skills had only improved. He could admit that he liked having access to what the Domain could provide, and that included the soothing bath that his room offered when he decided to return. His smirk faded a bit. He hoped that this wasn't making him grow soft.

   Back here again, I see.

   He decided to humor Resa by giving her a glance. The Overseer was a safe distance away from Link, watching curiously. "'Course I'd be. Where else would I?" he said.

   Resa shrugged her sashes. With Luce, perhaps. I saw her with Fira in the foyer, and I was puzzled as to why you weren't with her.

   More puzzling was that Luce and Fira were talking. Link didn't think Fira was capable of holding a conversation with anyone besides Zelda. "Was she talkin' with him, or the other way around?"

   She seemed to be the one making conversation.

   Now that was more plausible.

   I'm glad you all are making good usage of your time. Resa sighed sharply. Being stuck here for so long is frustrating, to say the least.

   Link wasn't the only one who had busied himself, as Zelda had done very much the same. He somewhat didn't expect her to take his word and go sit in with the healers, so he was surprised when she had. While Link spent as much time as he could in the training grounds, Zelda was in the healer's ward. Link had barely spoken with her since their talk a week ago, and he actually found himself minding it.

   Are you okay, Courage?

   "Huh?" Link glanced back at Resa. "Uh, yeah. Why're you askin'?"

   You appeared lost in thought for a moment, and I couldn't tell if it was for a good or bad reason, Resa said. Wisdom made a joke about how my social skills weren't nearly as sharp as my blade... She then proceeded to apologize profusely afterwards, but oddly I didn't take any offense to that. It was a rather clever play on words.

   Link bit his lip in mild frustration. He couldn't believe he'd never thought of that one! Nice one, Zelda, he thought. "So is there a reason why you're here besides the Luce thing?"

   I suppose I could ask how your training is going. You need to be able to utilize every skill you—

   "It's goin' fine," Link cut her off with a sigh.

   Then... did you hear the musician that visited yesternight? Resa asked. She played the Serenade of Water on her flute, quite beautifully as well.

   Link nodded. "Yeah, I did hear it," he said. "It was pretty nice. Haven't heard that one in years."

   It is more popular here in Lanayru, Resa mused.

   Link nodded again. "So... I guess ya also like music, huh? I-I do, too."

   Of course, Resa said. You can't dance without good music to accompany it. It's like having a Noble Pursuit without ice, nearly impossible to comprehend.

   Link's nose wrinkled at the thought of the Gerudic alcoholic beverage. So Resa had been a drinker as well? At least she couldn't do it now. "I can agree with ya on that first point." He went quiet after that, not sure what to say. He supposed he could ask Resa what kind of music she liked. But before he could say anything, she replied.

   I suppose I'll leave you to your training. Thank you for trying to talk with me, Courage. I know it's equally difficult for the both of us to maintain a standard conversation. I appreciate it.

   "Uh, yeah," Link said. "Maybe you'd be better at talkin' if ya tried to do it more. Less mission and more... whatever else ya like. I'm sure there's more than dancin' and music."

   There is, it's just difficult to speak of it. But I suppose I have more than enough time to try and talk. I-I'll try to.

   "Yep," Link said, turning back to the dummy.

   Have a good evening, Courage. Resa began to leave, evidenced by her moving aura.

   Link hesitated. "... You too," he replied. Resa's aura warmed, and it stayed that way, even after she left. Link didn't go back to his training right away, as his mind His own actions confused him more than hers. He didn't despise speaking with her, hardly, really. Minus the points that irked him, it was enjoyable.

—~*~—

Warmth enveloped Link, comforting him in a way that was reminiscent of one of Luce's embraces. He was almost inclined to believe this was the case, but there was something about it that was a tad off.

   Link opened his eyes, growing confused when he saw the shadowy and empty space of the training grounds. He was sitting in a corner of the cave, leaned up against the wall. Pale moonlight shimmered on the water leaking in through the cave, so it was night. That confused him more. He only sat down for a quick doze before, and it was afternoon then.

   When he shifted, so did the warmth. He was quick to notice that a Mareep-wool blanket had been draped over his shoulders. Had Luce brought him this? Even then, he thought she would have woken him up and made him return to their room.

   He couldn't help but yawn then. Although his curiosity was stronger, his exhaustion was a bit stronger. There was no use in wondering who brought him the blanket, just that he had it at all. He didn't care about going back to the room. The ground was just as comfortable as that bed was, and he quickly drifted off again.

   The presence of an aura stirred Link again, and he greeted its owner with a smile when he opened his eyes. "Mornin', Luce." He'd told her about being able to see the outside in the training grounds, so she started taking her morning meditations here.

   "Car," she huffed, rolling her eyes before reaching out a paw for Link to grab.

   They were able to get in their morning training before they were supposed to attend breakfast, which Link appreciated. There was nothing like a good workout to stir his appetite, and by now the cooks here figured out that Link and Luce didn't eat any kind of meat, so they could depend on more than just side dishes to satiate themselves now.

   "So I woke up with this last night," Link said, pointing to the wadded-up blanket he carried under his arm. "Did ya bring it to me?" he asked.

   Luce looked puzzled before shaking her head. That just brought the confusion right back. Luce didn't hesitate to tap the back of her right paw, drawing the outline of a triangle in the air after she did. Link instantly knew who she was referring to.

   "What, ya think Zelda did?" Luce shrugged with a nod. It made sense. Out of everyone else, she was the only other obvious candidate. He would have to ask her to make sure, then. After breakfast, however. He wasn't about to ask her while they were eating.

   Link didn't think it would be so hard to catch Zelda alone, as she left with a guard escort as soon as the meal concluded. But he didn't want to wait for hours just to ask her a simple, dumb question like this.

   "Zelda, can I talk to ya for a moment?" Link asked.

   The woman pursed her lips as she looked at him unsurely. "Could we talk later? The healers actually want to start teaching me some things, and I don't want to be rude by being late," she said. "I'll meet you in the training grounds when I'm done, since you're usually there."

   Link's eyes narrowed in irritation, but he didn't bother pressing her. "Yeah," he huffed. Zelda's features softened in mild appreciation before she left. So much for that. But while Zelda left, Fira stayed behind for a moment.

   You want to speak with my lady Zelda? he dubiously asked. For what reason?

   Link might as well ask Fira since he was almost as glued to Zelda as Link was to Luce. "I fell asleep in the trainin' grounds last night and woke up with a blanket 'round me. Luce didn't do it, so I figured Zelda did."

   Fira nodded. That was her. She found you there and figured you were cold. I don't understand why she didn't just wake you, but I cannot comprehend everything my lady does... His lips parted, revealing his sharp canines. Are you going to call off your meeting now that you've had your question answered?

   Link shrugged. "Nah. Don't know how I could, since she's already gone."

   Fira's eyebrows rose. That is a surprise, though I'm more surprised by her sudden interest in medicine. She usually leaves matters like that to me. A little smile snuck onto his face. I'm happy she is. It truly is a fascinating field.

   "I'm... sure it is," Link said. First Resa, and now Fira? Who else was he going to talk to? "Why aren't ya threatenin' to rip my eyes out or somethin'?"

   Well, you're not mocking my lady Zelda, nor are you doing anything to antagonize me, Fira said. It's a welcome change, because I truly don't like dissent. Link's lips pursed, and Fira frowned. And I'm sure I've stepped across the line there. I'll leave now before my mood is soured.

   While that was partially the reason, there was another. "I just don't know what 'dissent' means," Link muttered.

   'Disagreement,' Fira clarified. I should have realized by now that I need to simplify my vocabulary around you.

   Link bristled. "It's not my fault I never learned any of those words."

   And I wasn't trying to insult you, Fira said as he held up his paws defensively, though his gaze flashed with encroaching hostility. I'll be going now. He began to walk away, only to pause momentarily. Oh, and I want to say that Luce is a wonderful Pokémon, he spoke quickly. You're fortunate to have her as a partner.

   Confusion struck Link yet again as his anger fizzled. "Huh?" But by then, Fira was already gone. And with that, it was Link's cue to leave as well. Beating the straw out of some dummies would help clear his mind.

   To most, spending hour after hour training would be torture, but Link quite enjoyed it, minus the horrible aches arcing up and down every muscle in his body. He swore he pulled muscles he didn't even know existed until now. But it wasn't like there was much else he could do. It was better than letting his strength wither away.

   It seemed to take forever until Zelda finally arrived. Link knew he needed to take another break then, so the timing was perfect. She took her sweet time making her way to where Link was, and he didn't want to meet her halfway as he was frankly too exhausted to get up then. He didn't understand the slightly amused smile she wore. It was like something was already on her mind.

   "Took ya long enough," Link said.

   "Well, I was learning how to bandage basic wounds," Zelda said. "I think that's pretty important." She actually looked a bit guilty. "I know I haven't been around much this past week, but I wanted to thank you for suggesting that I look into healing. It's truly quite interesting."

   Link arched a brow. "Is it, now?"

   Zelda nodded. "Did you know that the plant coltsfoot is used to help with fevers? And right now the Zoran healers are exploring if yarrow can help slow bleeding. I never knew that non-food plants could be that useful." She stopped her ramble. "Sorry, you probably don't care too much about this, huh?"

   Link shrugged. "It was pretty interestin'." Besides the edible ones, he never bothered to learn much about plants. And it was good that she seemed enthusiastic about it.

   Relief was visible on her face. "Thank you," she said. He thought she would continue on about more medical matters, but she changed the subject. "So what did you want to talk about?" Link repeated what he told Fira, and she confirmed it. "I did, since I've noticed that it gets a bit chilly in here at night."

   "Fira thought you would've woken me up or somethin', not went outta your way to get me a blanket," Link said.

   "And I did that on purpose. I know you're not spending all this time in here just because you want to train." Her gaze flitted to the orange and yellow hues that were beginning to filter in through the cave opening. "You can't stand to be confined." She smiled faintly. "Again, I can relate. If it weren't for my father taking me out, my mother would have likely kept me cooped up in the house."

   Perhaps at one time, Link could have imagined himself in a similar situation. "Yeah, I can't stand bein' inside. Feelin' a breeze through a window ain't the same as bein' out in it yourself. And that's only scratchin' the surface."

   "I can agree with that," Zelda said. "There's nothing like walking through a field of flowers that have just gone into bloom."

   Link nodded in agreement. "Spring's my favorite 'cause of that."

   "It's mine too," Zelda said, smiling lightly. "But back to the reason why we're even talking, why didn't you ask me about the blanket at breakfast? I was sitting right across from you."

   "'Cause I didn't want to," Link said.

   An amused smirk slipped onto Zelda's face. "Did your pride get in the way again? Because you thanked Saria for your new clothes back in the glade."

   Link's shoulders tensed. "No!" Zelda's smirk grew. "Okay, yeah. And also I felt weird askin' in front of the others."

   "Alright. But they'll probably figure out that something happened between us sooner or later by how we aren't glaring at each other all the time anymore," Zelda said. "It's not so bad to not be a Cacturne for once, you know?" At Link's blank look, she giggled. "I thought you admired my wit." He now regretted telling her that.

   "Oh, you have no clue how bad it is," Link said.

   "Sure, sure," Zelda said, grinning, that little gap between her teeth showing itself again. Perhaps he regretted it a little less. She then glanced at the Master Sword, which Link had propped up against the cave wall next to him. "Still training, hm?"

   Link nodded. "Yep. Mainly with the sword since I save my hand-to-hand for Luce along with my Holder stuff. I don't exactly get the point of that thing. It's a great blade an' all, but I don't get what's so special 'bout it."

   "Well, I'm sure you know that it's supposed be able to drive away evil," Zelda said. "It's destroyed many demons from the past, both created by Power or the world itself."

   A dark thought entered Link's mind. "So is Resa expectin' me to kill Daemos with it?"

   Zelda went silent, her mouth falling open slightly. "I... don't know. I expect that would be the case, but she hasn't mentioned it thus far."

   "Thought ya would've been against it. Ya were so upset about the Tentacool and Tentacruel dying," Link said.

   "I'm both against it and not," she said. "All the stories I've read have mentioned the Holder of Power meeting some unfortunate end, whether it be at Courage and Wisdom's hands, or something they created themselves that went awry." Her expression fell, though there was grim resignation in her eyes. "While part of me hopes Daemos will see the error in his ways, that might not be possible. If it comes down to that, I don't want to be the one who ends his life." She looked at Link. "I'm guessing you don't share the same same outlook as me."

   Link took a moment to imagine it, and he scowled. He'd thought about hurting Gerudo, many times really, taking out his rage on each and every one he passed. But he never thought of killing one. Murders were too messy, left too much to track. His gaze traveled to the Master Sword. Now he might have a chance, and it would be to the Gerudo he hated the most. And it wouldn't even go against what Zelda's myths dictated. It couldn't have been a better setup.

   "No, I don't share it." He forced himself to keep his mouth shut after that, for both his and Zelda's sake. He had no reason to be mad at her here, and he repeated that thought in his head as he spoke again. "Makes me wonder why Resa hasn't brought it up at all."

   The tension faded from Zelda's aura. At least she didn't seem upset with his response. "She surely will once we get closer to accomplishing our goal," she said. And that would be when Link would consider this again. "But in the meantime, we need to worry about honing our powers."

"I think I know how I can use mine without passin' out," Link said. "I'm gonna keep channelin' the energy through my limbs. That wave thing ya do drains me too much."

   "It wouldn't be as much an issue if you tried to draw solely from Courage," Zelda said. "Are you even trying to do that?"

   Link couldn't help but narrow his eyes in anticipation of a jab. "No, I'm just tryin' to use it in the first place."

   "Well, would you like me to help you with that?" she offered. "I hardly know how myself, but then we'll both learn through practice."

   "... Alright," Link agreed, and Zelda took a seat next to him.

   "Okay, so what I've been trying to do is focus." She held up her palm, like she was holding something. "When you feel Farore's essence, just focus on that." Her gaze grew steely as she stared at her upturned palm. Within moments, her aura became awash with gold and white energy. Like before, the energy was slowly drawn into her hand, where it became a small, pulsing orb. "S-see? Focus," she huffed, clenching her hand to dispel it.

   "That doesn't sound good for when ya need to fight," Link said with a frown.

   Zelda sighed, sitting back. "Then do you have any better suggestions? Because I'd really like to hear them."

   He actually did have a better idea. "I've noticed that usin' Holder magic effects auras, like the energy takes over your aura," he said. "See, how Luce creates her Aura Spheres is that she takes control of her own aura and forms it into the sphere. That's what you're doin', except it's like you're fightin' with the energy."

   "It's hard to think of Aura-related things when you hardly have an idea of how it all works," Zelda said.

   "I thought you were open to learnin' new things?" Link smirked but added nothing else, knowing he had her.

   Zelda sighed before nodding. "I do. So what is Aura?"

   "It's kinda hard to explain completely, but I'll give ya the gist of it. So every livin' thing with a mind has an aura that changes in intensity when its mood swings. Imagine that you're always in... I dunno, a bubble or somethin', and the air in this bubble is always swirlin'," he swirled his index finger in loops, "that's your aura. When ya use Wisdom, it's like the air starts swirlin' faster. Maybe try imaginin' that you're grabbin' the air."

   "Grabbing the air?" Zelda repeated, confused.

   Link's teeth gritted. "Or maybe it's water? You're layin' in a river with currents goin' 'round ya, and to use Wisdom ya cup the water in your hands." He groaned, growing frustrated. As he did, he could feel Farore's essence begin to well up in him. "It's hard to explain it to someone who doesn't know Aura!"

   "I-it is," Zelda admitted. "But I'll try to envis—imagine what you're saying." Did she just correct herself before Link had to ask? "So... like this?" She easily summoned Nayru's essence before yet again twisting it into a bubble.

   Link shook his head. "No, not at all. Like this." He let Farore's essence overtake his aura, and he was easily able to see it: dizzying trails of gold. He'd never tried doing anything like this with his aura before, so he couldn't help but be a bit worried about how this would turn out. But he wasn't about to be further left in the dust.

   He took a quick, sharp breath before reaching up his hand, where it intercepted one of the golden trails. Almost instantly, a tiny green orb of light collected in his palm. He didn't bother hiding his surprise when he saw it. Not only that, but he didn't feel exhausted after doing it, not even a little.

   "How did you do that?" Zelda gasped. The orb burst a moment later, almost shoving both him and Zelda off-balance. But that didn't deter her excitement. "You did it so easily! How?"

   "I-I guess it's 'cause I'm already familiar with Aura," Link said.

   "Then I'll try it!" Zelda held out her hand again, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

—~*~—

"Why isn't it working?" Zelda sighed as yet again the orb formed slowly. This had been the seventh time she'd attempted it, and nothing had changed. In fact, it had started forming even slower than before, surely from an exhaustion of Wisdom.

   "You keep tryin' to focus too much. That disrupts your aura," Link said.

   "Then perhaps you could just teach me how to use Aura outright," Zelda said. "If I could see or even just sense them, I could do this!"

   Even if she knew of Aura, she definitely didn't know thing one about it. "That ain't happenin' anytime soon," Link scoffed. "It takes years for a person to learn Aura. I've been learnin' from Luce since I was eleven, and I'm still not that good."

   "But how am I supposed to use my Holder powers correctly if I can't even do this?" Zelda asked.

   Was that really a question? "You just gotta practice, like you've been doin'."

   "Can you still try to teach me, though?" she asked. "A week isn't nearly enough time from what you've said, but perhaps you could give me a few tips? Something that could point me in the right direction?" Link could see a flicker of desperation in her eyes, and it frankly made his skin crawl.

  "Not if ya obsess over it," he said warily, inching away from her a little. "I might halfta go back to how I was before, 'cause this Holder stuff definitely ain't somethin' I admire 'bout ya," he said.

   Zelda released a heavy sigh, her shoulders slouching. "Y-you're right. I just can't help it, since being a Holder is the only reason why I'm even doing anything right now. I just don't want to be useless."

   Link stiffened. Useless... "Ya can't be useless. Did ya just forget the thing ya were babblin' 'bout to me 'fore ya brought this up? The healin' stuff would help us. So even if ya can't be the best Holder of Wisdom, ya can be the best healer. It's hard to be useless doin' that."

   "Fira would beg to differ about that," Zelda said with a small laugh. Her aura brightened, though dreariness still clung to it. "But okay. I'll keep trying to imagine what you said."

   "It's all ya can really do in your situation," Link said. He thought this new development would have given him some satisfaction in having this over Zelda, and while it did, a sense of pity was mixed with it. Whether he refused to admit it or not, he truly didn't like seeing her like this. It reminded him of... himself.