A low level of freezing water flowed down the elegantly carved rivers of luminous stone, passing through and around the domain in which the Zora's lived. It was a beautiful place, standing on carved, intricate pillars that kept it high above the deep waters it sat over. While the domain always had a certain glow, today its sparkle wasn't just from the bright stone. Icicles covered the domain's roofs, and patches of ice and snow were scattered across the flooring. Instead of clear blue skies, there were only gray clouds and winter air. As the gray clouds slowly passed over, the prince of the Domain glanced up at the dull morning skies.

"Another winter morning," he said to himself before smiling. "No matter. We'll just have to try our best again today. That's what we Zora have to do during the winter seasons."

"You say that, but even you must see how dire our situation is," a grumpy voice called from behind.

"Come now, Muzu," Sidon said cheerfully, turning on the balcony he stood on to see the old wrinkled stingray-like Zora hobbling toward him. "Being pessimistic won't get us anywhere other than more hungry. Besides, you act as though winter isn't harsh every year for us Zora."

"Which is why you should be treating this matter with utmost importance," Muzu claimed.

"And I am," Sidon said. "I understand your concern, but I'd say my hands are tied here. Unless—"

"You know you are forbidden to go," Muzu said instantly. Sidon frowned.

"But, Muzu," he protested, "the solution to our problems is right in front of us! If you'd just allow me to take on the beast near Ralis Pond, then maybe our people would be better off for the remainder of the winter."

"And if something happened to you, whether injured or worse, then what?" Muzu questioned.

"If I were injured, then my father would simply run the domain, just as he always has," Sidon said. "As for the other possibility, I'm saddened you think that lowly of my skills. I'm not a child anymore, Muzu."

"Neither was your sister, and yet she is no longer with us," Muzu said.

"Muzu, we've been over this," Sidon said. "We can't keep living in the past. At some point, I will take over as king of this domain. I can't be kept at bay forever."

"Do not think I'm letting our loss hinder my thinking as before," Muzu stated calmly. "Your sister is simply the most accurate example. It's as you said, Prince Sidon: at some point, the domain will be yours to rule. Even now, our people look up to you, especially the younger generation of Zora. You are our pride, and if you were to even be slightly injured, the domain's morale would be greatly diminished, something we don't need when our food supply is low."

"Then what would you suggest?" Sidon asked. "You say I should treat this matter with utmost importance but refuse to give me room to find a solution. You may criticize my optimism, but at this moment, it's truly all I have to offer."

"There is more to leadership than just barging your way through problems," Muzu sighed. "I swear, that knight's brashness is rubbing off on you."

"I'd like to believe it's always been there," Sidon claimed. "That knight simply matches it perfectly, if not even more so. It's honorable."

"Regardless," Muzu said, ignoring his student's words. "We need you here, Prince Sidon. You'll have to find a solution for us Zora without heading off to fight a Hinox, and a black one at that. While the Calamity may have been sealed, the monsters continue to persist. It's far too dangerous for you to go alone."

"I understand your concern, but I can handle a Hinox on my own," Sidon pleaded. "Winter has already lowered the number of fish in the waters, and that beast is eating far more of his share. It was bad enough when it was blue, but with it now being black, it's making fishing even harder than before."

"I'm happy you believe in your own strength that much, but you must see the bigger picture, Prince Sidon," Muzu said. "Even if you could, the risk is far too great. It's reckless."

"Then why not ask our neighbors for help?" Sidon asked. "Hateno Village isn't far from here. I believe Link may have a house there. If we ask for his assistance—"

"We cannot keep relying on outside help," Muzu said, shaking his flattened head. "We need to be able to solve our issues on our own."

"That kind of thinking is what almost got us flooded all those months ago," Sidon said. "If we hadn't asked for a Hylian's help— for Link's help— the domain and all of Hyrule would be completely underwater by Vah Ruta's trunk."

"Still, that requires someone to leave the domain," Muzu said. "You need to be here to watch over your people, others still need to watch the entrances, and those who remain need to be out looking for food. You may have left during the Divine Beast's rampage, but you only went so far. You can't go running off to Hateno Village just to see your best friend."

"Muzu, you're only saying all of this because you wish not to see me get hurt, but I'm fine—"

"If Lady Mipha were still here, requesting to leave or to fight a Hinox, would you let her go?" Muzu suddenly asked. "Just like that?"

"Using my sister isn't fair, Muzu," Sidon said sternly, but the stingray raised his brow.

"Then let us use another example," he said. "What about your childhood friend, the one that's away, hm? Would you let her go?"

"That's..." Sidon hesitated, but no other words came.

After a moment, he lowered his head and looked down at his scaled feet before placing his hands on his hips. With a deep breath, he looked back over the balcony railing he stood on. His eyes found themselves in the domain's public square, where a bright ice sculpture of a zora holding a trident stood tall.

"That's not a fair comparison," he finally answered. "She's not a fighter like I or my sister."

"Yet, I find it hard you wouldn't stop her for the same reason I'm stopping you," Muzu said. After staring at his student, he sighed and began to walk forward. "Look, Prince Sidon. One day, you will have the responsibility of the entire domain on your shoulders—"

"I already have that responsibility," Sidon said, turning to look at his oncoming teacher. "That's why I'm so determined."

"But when you are king, you will not have your father behind you. It'll just be you," Muzu said. "Think about the domain as if you were its last line of defense— our last hope— because you never know when the time may come when you truly will be."

"I would defend this domain until my last breath," Sidon said as Muzu stopped next to him beside the railing. "But not just the Domain. While my people may come first, we've made it this far because of our connections. I stand by what I said previously: asking for help is our strongest defense and weapon."

"Hmpf. You younglings," Muzu mumbled as he looked out at the balcony's view. Suddenly, his thin eyes slightly widened before he quietly mumbled, "of course," under his breath.

"What is it, Muzu?" Sidon asked, ready to look out at the same view his teacher was looking at. Before he could though, Muzu gave a simple hum and waved a hand in dismissal before placing his hands behind his back.

"Look, Prince Sidon, if your reckless friend just happens to show up, then I'll let you run off to face that Hinox," he said as he turned and began to walk away. "Until then, do try and find a solution to the food shortage. I recommend talking with Laflat; she's been keeping track of our supply for the winter."

"Right, of course," Sidon answered before suddenly grinning, "You know, you may call him reckless, but you like Link, and the princess he walks beside. I remember when you gave those two the push they needed before they left for whatever trials and tribulations they were headed toward before winter began."

"Hmpf," Muzu grumbled without turning around.

The old stingray hobbled away, heading up the staircase before disappearing into the domain's throne room above. After watching his teacher disappear, the prince of the Zora chuckled to himself before looking down at his hand.

I haven't seen Link since he left the domain to finish his trials, he thought to himself. That was when we gave our final goodbyes to my sister. I hope he's fairing better now than he was then.

After a moment of pause, he formed a confident fist. With a smile, he headed to a different staircase, choosing to head down to one of the lower levels to find the chief secretary of the aquatic people.

*    *    *    *    *

It's been a while, Link thought to himself as he walked under the Great Zora Bridge's archways.

While he particularly wasn't one to care much for the look of things (functionality was his preference) the beauty of Zora's Domain always surprised him, no matter how many times he came to visit. However, this time was even more amazing to him as he watched the icicles hanging down from the archway's undersides sparkle.

Have I ever been here during the winter? It's incredible...

He continued to watch the domain's winter glory as he continued down the bridgeway toward the domain's entrance, only pulling his focus away when he noticed one Zora guard at his usual post. Only one. While he raised his eyebrow in curiosity, the guard gave him a cheerful smile.

"Link! That is you, isn't it?" the guard asked as Link came to a stop in front of him. "It's good to see you! I didn't think we'd get visitors during the winter season."

"Rivan, hey," Link said, glancing over at the other side of the entrance. "Why are you the only one standing guard? Where's Dunma? She usually stands guard with you, doesn't she?"

"Nothing gets past you, old friend," Rivan said with a chuckle. "My daughter is actually out on another assignment for the time being, so I'm posted alone today. It's a bit lonely though."

"Hm," Link said, looking back over at the empty spot the guard's daughter usually stood in. "Good for her, though you seem a bit more relaxed than I'd imagine you being with her taking on an assignment without you. I thought you'd be a bit more nervous, knowing how you worry for her."

"It's a simple assignment, as long as she stays away from Ralis Pond, that is... Well, now that I'm thinking about it... I hope she doesn't go in over her head and go there," the Zora guard started to mumble.

"Ralis Pond?" Link asked, to which Rivan snapped back to reality.

"Hm? Oh! I'm sorry. Again, it's nothing. It's just duties we Zora are given every winter," he replied. "It's a bit more straining this time around, but not every year can be easy, right? Speaking of which, what brings you to Zora's Domain in this cold? And if you don't mind me asking, where's the princess? It's surprising to see you aren't with her."

"She's... on her own adventure right now," Link replied coolly. "I actually came looking for Sidon. I wanted to talk to him if he's free."

"Prince Sidon you say?' Rivan repeated, bringing a hand to the back of his head. "I'm sure he'd love to see you. He talks about you all the time— you're his best friend, you know— but I'm not sure if he's free with how busy we are at the moment."

"Really?" Link asked disappointedly, but Rivan grinned.

"Regardless, he may simply just ask you for help," he said. "Why don't you head on in? I'm sure you'll find him near the throne room. I'm sure the prince will fill you in the moment he sees you."

"I'd be surprised if he didn't," Link chuckled. "Thanks, Rivan. I'll head right there."

With a small wave, he began to head inside, but the guard called out to him once more.

"Hey, before you go," he said as Link turned back to face him. "Are you alright? You look a little pale."

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine," Link brushed off. "I had a duel a little bit ago and got a little... a lot injured. I'm just feeling it."

"Oh," Rivan said. "It's almost surprising to hear something gave you such a hard time. Before heading off to the throne room, maybe you should head to Cleff's shop and see if something will ease the pain."

"That... doesn't sound like a bad idea," Link said, taking an admittedly painful breath. "I'll stop by there. Thanks."

Giving him a nod in farewell, Rivan allowed the Hylian guest to enter the domain. Link stepped up the small staircase, listening to the soft flowing of water that echoed through the air, whether it was from the multiple waterfalls or down the canals that decorated the place.

"Link! Link!" a few voices called out.

Upon the calling of his name, Link looked around to see a few Zora heading his way. While usually the aquatic beings towered over him with lanky bodies, these three happened to be a lot smaller, with short stubby legs and large bobbling heads that almost didn't look like they fit the rest of their beings. Link smiled.

"Keye, Laruta, Tumbo," he said, getting onto a knee as the little Zora children stopped before him. "It's good to see you three. How are you guys? You haven't gone Lynel hunting, have you?"

"We're good, and no, we haven't! We learned our lesson after last time!" the red-scaled Zora child answered. Before the other two Zora children could answer, she continued. "Link, Link, is—?"

"Hey, Laruta! We want to talk to Link too!" one of the blue-scaled children spoke up.

"But I wanna ask my question!" Laruta complained, causing the other two to frown.

"You always go first! Let us go first for once!"

"Jeez, I don't remember you guys being this excited to see me the first few times I came to Zora's Domain," Link teased in order to break the argument apart."That must mean all three of you need something from me."

"No!" the other blue-scaled Zora said, but after a pause, he guiltily lowered his head. "Yeah..."

"Alright, what is it you need, Keye?" he asked kindly.

"Well, I was wondering if you could help with my spear practice," the child named Keye asked. "I feel like I've been getting better, but it's not enough to help my family in case they ever need it."

"Ah... Well, um... I'm not sure I can help this time around," Link said, rolling his shoulder. Feeling a sharp pain course through his body, he frowned and shook his head. "At least... not right now, but, maybe later. Tumbo, did you have a question for me?"

"Why does Tumbo get to go next? I had the question first!" Laruta complained again, yet Link pointed a finger at her.

"Because it's true that you always go first," Link said with a grin, something that made the Zora girl pout. With a laugh, he added, "you can wait for a few more seconds, so let the brothers go first for once. Now, what is it you need Tumbo?"

"I was just wondering if you had any frogs," Tumbo asked, "or maybe fish? Anything that would help our mom's store out, really..."

"Is something wrong with Mei's store?" Link asked. "Does it have to do with the harsh winter I was told about?"

"Yeah. It's really hard to find food right now," the child answered. "It's always hard in the winter, but this time it's even worse, and the adults won't tell us three why."

"Hm..." Link hummed thoughtfully. "Well, I'm headed to the store now, so maybe I'll be able to help somehow when I'm there, alright?"

The two blue Zora nodded. Finally, Link turned to the third child.

"Alright, Laruta, what—?"

"Is Princess Zelda here?" she asked quickly. "I really want to see her! We all do. You guys didn't stay for very long last time you guys were here!"

"Last time we were here...?" Link mumbled, thinking back to the last time he was in the domain. It only took a second for the memory to occur, something that made his face go blank. This though, went completely unnoticed by the little Zora girl.

"Yeah! When Lady Mipha appeared!" she exclaimed excitedly.

"Uh, Laruta," Tumbo suddenly chimed in. "Maybe we shouldn't—"

"It was really nice to see Lady Mipha! Us kids are always told how great she was, but to actually see her? She was so pretty! She's definitely Prince Sidon's sister," Laruta continued. "But Princess Zelda is just as brave and pretty as her, like when she saved us from that Lynel! We wanted to play with Princess Zelda last time, but you guys didn't pay us any attention last time—"

"Laruta, seriously—" Keye spoke up, but again, the Zora girl kept going.

"Do you know how amazing it would have been to see Prince Sidon and his sister see each other again, while also being able to see Princess Zelda? That would have been the best few days of my life—"

"Laruta!" both the little Zora boys said together. Agitated, the red-scaled Zora looked at them.

"What?" she asked. "It's my turn to ask a question, so why are you two interrupting me?"

"Don't you remember what happened right before Lady Mipha disappeared?" Tumbo asked.

"Yes, Link came in at the last second to say goodbye and—" she began, and it was then her scales lost color. Guiltily, she looked back at Link, noticing right then how blank his face had become. "I-I'm sorry, Link. I-I forgot that... Um..."

Link sat silent for a moment before taking a deep breath. With a gentle touch, he placed his hand on top of Laruta's large, fish-shaped head.

"Sorry to say, but Zelda isn't here," he said with a gentle smile. "It's just like you said: she's very brave, which is why she's on her own quest right now."

"Oh. Okay," Laruta said in a disappointed tone.

"Don't worry. You'll see her again. She'll need to talk to Sidon eventually, if not soon," Link said.

"Really? What about?" Laruta asked excitedly.

"It's not my place to say," Link said. "So, that means you'll just have to keep an eye out for her, right?"

"I can do that! I'll be the first one to see her!" Laruta said excitedly. "But, Link, you missed something?"

"Did I?" he asked curiously.

"You said I only said she was brave, but I said she was pretty too!" the little Zora corrected. "Or do you not think the princess is pretty?"

Link blew air through his nose, trying to hold back a chuckle.

"I sure do," he said. "She's the most beautiful person in the world."

"Wait, I didn't say that!" Laruta corrected, something that made the Zora brothers behind her roll their eyes. "That title goes to Prince Sidon!"

"Right," Link brushed aside. "Speaking of which, I need to go find him. Keye, I'll help train you later on, I promise, and Tumbo, I'll head to the shop now, alright?"

"Okay! Thank you, Link!" the brothers said in unison.

"Good, now get out of here and go play," Link said with a nod as he pushed himself up to his feet. "And when Zelda ever visits, you three better not trick her into doing anything, just like you did with the Lynel. Understand?"

"U–understood."

With that, the three ran off as Link watched. The moment they disappeared, Link walked further into the domain's square, and it wasn't until he reached the statue that decorated its center that he stopped. It was a large statue, carved from the same luminous stone that was used for the domain itself. The statue itself was that of a Zora holding a familiar trident, one that had lived a century ago, and one Link knew well: the princess of the Zora, Mipha.

Link couldn't help but admit to himself that Laruta's words were still on his mind. While it was months ago, he remembered the day vividly. He had finished the trial before the final duel with the ancient monk, and while it was deemed that he should not confront the spirits of those destined to vanish, he found a way to see the spirit of Mipha one last time. It was there, right in front of the statue they said their goodbyes. He could remember the feeling of her hands gripping his tunic, the sight of her pressing herself into his chest, and the sound of her sobs. While that alone was more painful than the wounds he currently had, what made it far worse were the words she had spoken to him before she vanished. Closing his eyes, he recalled the final goodbye he had with her.

"Please, don't blame yourself," the Zora princess said as she pressed against his wounded body, injured due to his reckless escape from the monk's realm. He had stabbed himself, breaking the illusion in order to see her and answer feelings he knew he couldn't ignore nor return. Now Link stood as she held him, giving him her final wishes. "Please, take care of yourself..."

Bubbles began to erupt from his body as light illuminated the two childhood friends. The blood that stained his tunic and body was washing away, easing all the pain in his muscles, all of them except the one in his chest.

"Please, live happily," she continued. As the bubbles grew in number, her spirit began to slowly fade, something that made Link grit his teeth. "Please, live healthy. Take care of your loved one, and promise me... Promise me that you will never feel guilty and that you will always stay yourself."

"I..." Link hesitated as the swarm of bubbles grew thicker around them. "I'll... do my best."

"I'm glad," Mipha smiled. "Goodbye, Link."

With that, Mipha had completely faded and the bubbles disappeared, leaving the domain for good.

Releasing the breath he was holding, Link opened his eyes and looked up into the luminous stone ones the statue owned.

"Yeah, I didn't keep that promise at all," he admitted guiltily. "Sorry, Mipha. I let you and a whole lot of others down. I couldn't even stay uninjured. I'm sorry. This time, I'll do better. No more trying, I swear. For you, and Zelda."

He stood in silence, continuing to stare up at the statue for what felt like hours. As guilty as he felt for running himself into the ground— the opposite of what his childhood friend had asked him to do— it felt nice to see her being again, even if it was carved in stone. She was still important to him, even if there wasn't any romance for her in his heart. She would always be important to him, no matter what.

"I thought I'd find you here," a grumpy voice said through the peace. Breaking his gaze away from the statue, Link looked over to see the flat-headed council-fish hobbling toward him.

"Muzu," he replied. "Good morning. You knew I was coming?"

"I just happened to see you from the throneroom's staircase balcony," the stingray answered. "Welcome back to our domain. Paying your respects to Lady Mipha, are you?"

"More like apologizing to her," Link answered, looking back up at the statue's eyes. "I didn't keep a promise to her, something I plan to fix moving forward."

"I see," Muzu answered with a hum. "Well, if it had anything to do with staying unharmed, I can see you failed that quite clearly."

"You can tell?" Link asked, looking back at the old Zora.

"Of course, I can. Don't forget I taught Lady Mipha the way of the trident, and even you if you learned anything from her," Muzu grumbled. "I can see it in your posture alone. If you've come to our home seeking medical aid, all we'd have to offer is a few bandages. Lady Mipha was the only one of us gifted in the art of healing."

"Actually, I came to speak with Sidon," Link corrected. "I want to ask him a few... personal questions. Is he free?"

"Unfortunately, he's not," Muzu replied simply. "But, seeing how things have played out before, he'll ask for your assistance once again, so I'm sure you'll have time to talk with him then."

"Is something going on?" Link asked. "The kids said winter was harsh this year. In fact, I was actually about to head to Mei's store and see if I could get more information. I heard a little bit from Rivan about Ralis Pond—"

"You're always so keen to barge into our people's affairs, aren't you?" Muzu cut in, something that made Link guiltily frown. To his surprise though, the stingray gestured over to the shop. "You better be grateful. I informed the Prince that if you happened to show up, I'd allow him to move forward with that plan of his. If you were headed to Mei's store, then you may actually find him there."

"Good thing I was headed there then," Link said with a smile. "I'll do whatever I can to help out. Winter was hard in Hateno too, so I'm sure I could be of some use, even with these injuries."

"It's more than just winter giving us a hard time, but since you're injured, make sure you don't push yourself too hard," Muzu replied, a care Link didn't expect from him. "Now go and find that stubborn prince. If this is how things are going to go, then the sooner the better for us Zora."

"You're one to talk, calling someone stubborn," Link chuckled. "Thanks, Muzu. I'll head there now."

With a nod, the stingray allowed Link to walk away, but before he could take even three steps, he turned back.

"Muzu, can I ask for a favor?"

"Was sending you in the right direction not a favor enough?" the council-fsh asked, but sighed almost immediately after. "What is it?"

"It's Keye," Link said. "He really wants to learn how to use a weapon. I know he's a bit young, but maybe you could show him a thing or two? I'm a little busy and a little too hurt to show him properly."

"Your favor is for me to play with children?" Muzu gruffed. "Keye is far too young to be using a weapon—"

"I mean, just showing him the proper form to practice with isn't too much to ask for, is it?" Link asked. "He's just using a stick, I doubt he could hurt himself with that. At least not horribly."

The stingray grumbled to himself for a moment before answering with a harsh, "maybe."

"Thanks, Muzu," Link said before starting to head toward the general store. "I owe you one."

"I said maybe!" the old Zora shouted back, but the Hylian had already vanished. "Cursed Hylians..."

Leaving the stingray to mumble in frustration, Link made his way through the Domain, waving and greeting the tall fish people he hadn't seen in months as he passed by before arriving at the general store.

"Welcome to Marot's Mart— Oh, Link!" the teal-scaled Zora clerk called as he stepped inside. "It's good to see you! I didn't think I'd see you, or any other Hylian for a few more weeks!"

"It's good to see you too, Mei," Link greeted as he stopped in front of her. "How's Fronk? I already saw Tumbo and Keye."

"He's doing fine but kept busy searching for food thanks to the winter," Mei answered. "Truth be told, I hope you didn't come in search of something to eat. We're completely out of fish at the moment."

"Strange, I thought you'd be the one fishing," Link said as he looked over at the shelves.

"I wanted to! But Fronk said that last time I went fishing during a crisis, I ended up getting washed away," she sighed. "That overprotective husband of mine."

"Is what's going on considered a crisis?" Link asked, but Mei shook her head.

"It's not necessarily a crisis. That's just my husband being him," she said. "But, honestly things have been rather hard lately. They're always hard during the winter, but it's been harder than usual."

"Everyone's been saying that," Link said thoughtfully. "Mei, has Sidon been here recently? I was told he may be here—"

"Link? My friend, is that you over there?" a buoyant voice called out from behind.

Link turned only to see a red blur before two giant red-scaled hands grabbed one of his own. Suddenly, he could feel his arm rapidly being moved up and down in a handshake.

"It's so good to see you! It's as if the goddess herself has answered my prayers!" the prince of the Zora said excitedly.

"It's good— to see you— too, Sidon," Link said through gritted teeth, trying not to show the massive amount of pain that was coursing through his body from the enthusiastic handshake.

"Prince Sidon? Why did you run so far ahead— Oh, is that Link?" a female voice came from behind the Moblin-sized Zora. Releasing Link's hand, Sidon turned to the secretary hurrying toward them. "Good morning to you!"

"Good morning, Laflat," Link said, still trying to hide the pain in his arms.

"I apologize for leaving you behind so suddenly, Laflat. I happened to see Link from afar as we were heading this way" Sidon said to the secretary before turning back to his Hylian friend. "Link, while I'm beyond ecstatic that you're here, I must ask: what brings you to the domain? And where is Princess Zelda?"

"Zelda is off on her own adventure," Link answered. "And I've actually come to talk to you. I wanted some... advice on things, but then I started hearing that you guys were going through a tough time."

"You'd be correct. In fact, that's why we're here," Sidon replied, turning his attention to the store clerk. "Mei, has Fronk returned with any catches?"

"I haven't heard from him, so I'm assuming he hasn't, at least as of yet," Mei answered. Frowning, Sidon crossed his arms.

"I see," he said thoughtfully. "That beast is eating up far too many fish. We can't keep going like this."

"Beast?" Link asked. "Is there a beast at Ralis Pond?"

"I'm surprised you know it's at Ralis Pond. I'd expect nothing less from my best friend," Sidon said, grinning down at Link. "Yes, there is a beast at the pond. It's a Hinox, a black one."

"A Hinox?" Link repeated. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. "The Hinox at Ralis Pond! Torfeau the guard asked me to exterminate him a while ago."

"And you did, at least, that was until the last blood moon occurred a few months back," Sidon corrected. The light behind Link's eyes vanished as realization set in.

"The blood moon the Calamity summoned right before Zelda sealed it, right," Link said. "The Hinox returned and I never came back to finish it off. It's the Lynel situation all over again."

"Don't you go taking the blame now," Sidon said. "You've had a lot going on the moment the Princess returned to your care, but, I'd be lying if I said that giant wasn't giving us any trouble. You see, during the winter seasons, the number of fish in the rivers dwindles. Usually, this in itself wouldn't be such an issue, but this time around that giant is eating up all the fish."

"It's making it hard not only to stock the shop, but to feed our families as well," Mei chimed in.

"And as much as we'd like to take the beast down ourselves, most of our people are out collecting food to keep us afloat, even some of the guards," Laflat added. "It's proving to be a serious problem. That Hinox had been there for years prior to the last blood moon, but we'd never had a problem like this before."

"Before, it was blue," Sidon said. "I assume with it being black, it needs a lot more energy. Link—"

The prince of the Zora looked down at the short Hylian standing next to him.

"I know you've come to ask for my assistance, but for now, I must ask for yours. Will you come with me to take the beast down near Ralis Pond?"

"But Prince Sidon, Muzu forbade you from engaging that giant!" Laflat spoke up worriedly. "It's a black Hinox, my Prince. Even for you, it's a very dangerous task!"

"Muzu forbade me from going alone," Sidon replied, "but, he allowed me to go if Link happened to appear, and here he is right before us. That is, if you wouldn't mind assisting me in this endeavor. You've come to our aid so many times in the past already, so if you're in a hurry, I wouldn't wish to be in your way any more than before."

"I..." Link hesitated. He could feel his arm still reeling from just Sidon's handshake. If that was enough to shoot pain through his body, it would be a miracle if he could handle taking on a Hinox, even with Sidon at his side. As he contemplated his answer, Sidon was quick to notice his hesitancy.

"Is something the matter, Link?" he asked. "If there's more to that advice you mentioned before, please tell me."

"I'll... tell you on the way to Ralis Pond," Link said with a sudden confident smile. His, though, was nothing compared to the shining, toothy grin Sidon gave him in return.

"Wonderful!" Sidon exclaimed, raising his arms in grandeur before turning to Laflat. "If you don't mind finishing up by yourself, Link and I will head out immediately. Is that alright?"

"Of course, Prince Sidon," Laflat said with a bow of the head. "Please, do be careful. Both of you."

"We'll be just fine! With the two of us together, nothing can stand in our way!" the prince said happily before turning back to Link. "Shall we be off then?"

"Off we go," Link said, trying to match Sidon's cheerfulness. And let's hope I can pull this off...

"Do you think the Hinox is actually at Ralis Pond at the moment?" Link asked as both he and the Zora prince briskly walked through the domain.

"That's where he stays, and where you've defeated him before, yes?" Sidon answered. "But you must have a reason for your asking. Have you thought of something?"

"If he's taking all the fish, then chances are he might be at the river," Link said thoughtfully.

"He could be, but it never takes him long to gather the fish he needs," Sidon explained. "He simply steps into the water and swings his hand down. You'd be quite surprised how effective his method is, regardless of its simplicity. Would being at the river be a concern to you?"

"I wouldn't call it a concern, but I'd prefer if we found him asleep so we could get the jump on him honestly," Link said.

"It would make things a bit easier, but I'm a little surprised by that statement," Sidon said as the two reached the southwestern bridge. "For the two of us having faced the great Divine Beast, Vah Ruta, it's a shock to find you thinking so hard about a Hinox, even if it is a black one."

"Usually, I wouldn't be concerned at all," Link admitted. "But, it's gonna be a little different this time."

"And what makes you say that?" Sidon asked curiously. "Is there something you haven't told me? Does it have to do with that advice you mentioned earlier?"

"Kinda? Yes and no," Link answered.

Trying to find the difficult words, he slowly came to a stop in the middle of the bridge. Choosing to give his sore body a moment to rest, he placed his arms on the bridge's luminous stone railings and looked out into the tall mountains of Zorana that circled the domain, watching as the waterfalls flowed down their sides. Concerned, Sidon came to his side.

"It seems to be a rather painful discussion for you to have," Sidon said, keeping his eyes on his friend.

"It's more than just the discussion that's painful, but I will say it's a hard one to have," Link chuckled. "Sidon... I'm a little injured. Actually, I'm more than just a little injured."

"Injured?" Sidon repeated. The large Zora took a better look at his body, scanning him up and down. "Link, I can see it from here now that I've gotten a better look at you. You're in no condition to fight. We'd better head back now and see if we can't treat you—"

"Sidon, you know I can't get treated," Link said. "At least, better than I already have been. I just need to heal naturally, at least until I get to Death Mountain. I plan to visit the hot springs before going to the Lost Woods."

"The Lost Woods? People get lost in those woods constantly," Sidon said. "Why would you head there?"

"That's where the Master Sword went," Link said, pointing to his back. "Look, it's a really long story, and I wanted your advice about it. I can tell you on the way to the pond—"

"Link, my friend, we can't go take on a beast with you in this condition, especially not a black Hinox," Sidon said. "Whatever advice you need from me, I can give it at your bedside. Now, come."

"Sidon, you know we need to take care of this," Link argued as his friend started to head back to the domain. "Look, I know I can't fight like usual, but I have a plan."

"A plan you say?" Sidon asked, turning back to Link. "One that will keep you out of harm's way?"

"Truthfully? Not entirely," Link said. "But enough, if I can count on you, that is. I just need you to trust me."

Still concerned, Sidon stared at him before glancing back at the domain. To Link's surprise though, the Moblin-sized Zora turned back to him with a sharp-tooth grin.

"Well, I promise you that I'm dependable, especially when it comes to helping out my own people," he said. "If you say you have a plan, then I trust that everything will work out as intended. However, you must promise me you'll rest here in the domain for a while to recover your strength. We may not have a hot spring, but we'll do what we can to ease your pain. I believe those are acceptable terms, wouldn't you say?"

"Rest at the domain for a bit, huh?" Link repeated as he looked back out at the waterfalls. After a moment, a tiny smile appeared on his face. "Yeah, that doesn't sound like a bad idea. I'm sure Zelda would appreciate that too."

"Then we have a deal," Sidon exclaimed. "Now tell me, where does this tale of yours begin? You did say you'd tell me on the way."

"That I did," Link said, pushing himself off the railing. "Well... I guess it starts a few months back after the monk's trials first began—"

Link talked as they journeyed across the rest of the bridge and along the mountainsides. As they hiked over rocks and stepped through the moist grasslands, he told of the struggles the trials had put him through, the strain of the Yiga during it, the battle with the monk, and of course, his time in Hateno when the Yiga returned to torment him. Sidon quietly listened, only stopping Link from every now and then to ask for clarification, or to comment on something he found humorous, such as the beginnings of the snowball fight. The conversation went on right up until they reached their destination.

"Well, I can tell you've had it quite rough these past few months," Sidon said as the two stepped closer to the pond's waters.

"Yeah, you could say that," Link said, looking around the area. "I don't see a Hinox anywhere."

"It must be down fishing by the river as we speak," Sidon said. "That means we have time to prepare. Tell me, what is that plan you spoke of earlier? Does the Hinox's absence make this more challenging?"

"Nope, only time-consuming. But, it may actually work in our favor, " Link said, still observing the area. Raising a hand, he pointed a finger and waved it around, outlining the landscape. "See all these boulders? We can hide behind some of them. We can wait until it gets back and falls asleep. Then, we'll catch it by surprise. I'm also hoping it'll have something I can use on its neck. They usually have some gear I can nab. Are you alright with that?"

"I sure am," Sidon said, joining Link in his observation. "Why not there? I'm sure we wouldn't be spotted if it were to return behind those rocks."

Agreeing to Sidon's choice of cover, the two moved behind the rocks and sat in the grass. With a painful grunt, Link adjusted himself in the grass before finding a comfortable spot, something that hadn't gone unnoticed by his aquatic friend.

"Are you sure you'll be alright?" he asked, unable to contain his concern for Link's safety. "I know I said that I trusted what you plan to do, but I can't help but worry for you."

"I'll be fine, I promise," Link said. "This isn't the first time I've had to work injured like this. Trust me, it's just another day in the wild. Same pain, different reasons for acquiring it."

"I see," Sidon said. "I know I said I was concerned, but I can't help but admit I'm excited to spend this time with you nonetheless. This mission we're on... It actually reminds me of a story my sister told me about when I was still a little fry. It was about the time you and her victoriously went and faced a Lynel together, protecting the domain from its savagery. It's a story I hold close to my heart."

"Ah... That one..." Link said guiltily. He knew the story well, but he also knew there were two different versions of it. There was the one Mipha told to others, where they fought together as one to take the beast down. But, then there was the truth, the one he had seen during the trials, and had even been written in Mipha's diary. "Yeah, we sure did take it down—"

"You don't need to humor me. I know the truth," Sidon chuckled. "She followed you, stubbornly ignoring the warnings you gave her, and the moment you two made it up the mountain, the beast attacked you both from behind. You saved her that day. That's the truth, isn't it?"

"You read her diary?" Link asked, to which Sidon laughed.

"She'd probably be furious if she ever knew," he said, something Link internally agreed with. "But, I couldn't help it. To think someone as great as my sister, skilled with a trident in ways no one else was, could still be caught off guard thanks to her feelings of love."

"Well, it can happen to anyone really," Link admitted. "I just told you about my mistakes. Sometimes our hearts just take over..."

"And yet, the heart is the strongest weapon we have," Sidon said. "It's the love I have for my sister and my people that I've become the Zora that I am, and that love only continues to push me further. Just as it's done for you?"

"For me?" Link asked. "I feel like I've only gotten weaker because of it. Not saying I'd ever give it up! I just feel like I've only made mistakes until now... Like I've been using my love incorrectly."

"Nonsense," Sidon immediately disagreed. "You bested the Calamity thanks to your love for the princess, along with finishing your trials and so much more. Everyone makes mistakes, regardless of what leads them to do so, but love is what guides us and makes us stronger. Even if it does blind us from time to time."

Link didn't say anything, but he knew he didn't have to. The words being spoken to him were sinking in, something he appreciated. Calmly, he looked up into the gray winter clouds, watching as they passed by, allowing those words to sit with him.

"Speaking of all that," Sidon said. "You told me your entire story for a reason, yes? You wanted my advice. What was it you wished to ask?"

"You've already answered some of it," Link chuckled. "But I guess... how do you deal with the pain? We lost Mipha and so many others... It stays with me, haunts me in my dreams. I know it's supposed to get better over time, but how do you handle it at its worst?"

"How did I handle it?" Sidon repeated. "Hmmm... How do I put this into words—?"

Before he could answer, both felt a slight vibration beneath them, vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. Soon, they returned, before disappearing again. Rhythmically this continued, with the shaking becoming more violent each and every time. Furrowing his brow, Link slowly got to his feet as Sidon's features grew stern. Before long, a slight boom could be heard with the shakes, which grew louder with each passing moment.

"It's here," the prince said. Link nodded.

The two peered from behind the rocks as carefully as they could to see the beast walking down the same way they had come from themselves. It was a gargantuan beast, with the same boar-like features its brethren had, except this beast only had one eye that matched the rest of its size. Its arms and hands were large enough to rip a tree out of the ground, and its body was the same shape as the boulders both Link and Sidon hid behind. And in those meaty hands, both of its unnoticed guests could see handfuls of fish clenched inside of them.

"All that fish," Sidon murmured as the beast walked to the edge of the pond. "It's no wonder we Zora are unable to find food."

With a grumble, the beast walked ankle-deep into the water before dropping the fish in the pond with an echoing splash. With a snort from its snout, the beast wiped its nose before walking out of the water.

"It is saving the food for later?" Sidon asked as they watched the Hinox search the grass for something. "If it already ate some of its catches, then that makes our struggle even worse. I'm glad we chose to come when we did, Link. We must act now; what is that plan you mentioned earlier?"

"If it already fished and ate, then it's tired," Link said, watching carefully as the beast raised its hands in the air while yawning. "Which means, in a few seconds, it's going to come crashing—"

With a violent thud, the Hinox lay its large body on the ground back first. Before long, a snot bubble had blown up from one of its nostrils as its breathing became heavy.

"Well, that was something," Sidon said, watching as the beast fell deeper into its slumber. "What now, Link?"

"See that bow on that string it has wrapped around its neck?" Link asked.

Taking another look, Sidon squinted his bright golden eyes before catching a glimpse of the necklace wrapped around the Hinox's neck. Sure enough, resting amongst the many goods, there was a bow and a few arrows.

"I'm gonna steal those."

"Steal them? From the Hinox?" Sidon asked. "Are you sure that's the best course of action?"

"It's the only one I can think of right now," Link admitted. "I didn't bring a bow with me, nor can I fight it head-on right now. If I can shoot it in the eye, you can deal enough damage. I see that trident on your back. It's the ceremonial one, right? I'm sure that'll do the damage we need to take it down. Do you think you have the strength to do that?"

Link glanced over at Sidon, who paused for a moment before nodding.

"I said I'd trust you," he said. "If this is the best course of action, so be it. Especially since I don't have another plan at the moment. Believe me when I say I can take that beast down without a problem!"

With a smile, Link nodded before turning his attention back to the Hinox.

"Wait for me here," he said quietly. "I'm gonna snag that bow."

"Alright, I wish you the best of luck, friend. Do return safely," Sidon said.

After another nod, Link crouched down and slowly headed toward the now-sleeping Hinox. Staying as quietly as possible, he closed in on the large beast, looking for the usual hand that always stayed at its side. Quickly finding that hand, he carefully climbed inside it and waited. Eventually, the creature reached its hand up and scratched its stomach, landing Link squarely on its chest. As gently as he could, he toed his way toward the beast's neck, and with a quick jab, yanked the bow from the string tied around it. With the bow and arrows in hand, Link quietly climbed down and crept his way back to the rocks Sidon stayed hidden behind.

"Amazing! To think of mounting a Hinox in such a fashion," Sidon said as his best friend returned. "You truly are spectacular, Link."

"Don't praise me yet," Link said, looking back at the one-eyed beast. "We still have to beat this thing. Are you ready?"

"With you, always," Sidon said in a confident whisper.

Reaching behind his back, the Zora Prince grabbed the ceremonial trident from his back. With a twirl, he readied it and grinned down at Link. Grinning in return, Link turned back to the pudgy beast before looking down at the bow. It was a simple bow— a traveler's build— one that wouldn't do a ton of damage. Damage wasn't what he needed though. What he needed was only a distraction to give Sidon the chance to deal what he currently could not. Knocking an arrow, he drew back the drawstring and aimed toward the beast.

Releasing the string, the arrow flew through the air, sticking itself right into the Hinox's stomach. Link flinched. Even the power of a bow as simple as the one he currently held shook his body to the core.

"Are you alright, Link?" Sidon asked quickly, however, Link shook his head.

"Focus!" he said. "It's getting up!"

Tearing his gaze away from Link, he looked back at the pudgy beast, and sure enough, its eye had opened. It pushed itself up, shaking the ground as it did. Noticing both the Hylian and Zora now uncovered from their hiding spot, it gave a thundering howl before stomping its way toward them. Knocking another arrow, Link painfully drew the drawstring back on his bow once more, this time aiming for the eye of the beast thundering toward them. After a few seconds of aiming with the vibrations shaking his arm, he released the bowstring again, allowing this arrow to pierce the Hinox's slit for an iris. The beast wailed and reared in pain, closing its eye and covering it with its meaty hands before falling back onto the ground with a thud.

"Sidon!" Link called out as he fell onto a knee in pain.

"Right!" the prince called back.

With incredible speed, Sidon burst forward toward the yowling giant. Twirling the trident around, the moment he got close enough, he jumped as high as his lanky figure would take him, just in time for the Hinox to have removed its hands. The attacks happened in a blur. The trident's forks had pierced the pig-like face at least five times before the prince eventually passed by, causing the Hinox to scream in pain again.

Landing on his feet, Sidon confidently looked back at the beast, but to his surprise, it was already picking itself back up. It angrily looked down upon the Zora before raising its fist high above his head. With an incoherent shout, the Hinox slammed its fist into the ground with enough force to throw dirt in the air and form ripples in the pond water nearby. Worried, Link squinted through the dirt screen that now covered the clearing. After a second of looking, his eyes caught the familiar figure of the Zora Prince, and sighed in relief. He had dodged in time. Despite this, Link furrowed his brow again, focusing on the Hinox, which was now raising its arms again, determined not to miss.

Ignoring the searing pain in his shoulders, he knocked another arrow and shot as quickly as he could. The arrow tip landed in the Hinox's arm, causing it to yelp in pain. Waving away the dust, the beast looked around to see where its long-ranged attacker was before spotting Link near the rocks. With bloodshot eyes, the large boar reached down and with incredible strength, ripped a tree from its rooted place in the ground. Lifting the tree above its head, with incredible force, it launched the tree directly at the little Hylian.

"Link!" Sidon shouted, helplessly watching as the tree bolted through the air.

Watching as the tree grew closer, gritting his teeth, Link sucked in a painful breath. Moments before the bark could touch him, time came to a slow, and with a painful push of his legs, he just barely managed to push himself out of the way. Letting time flow again, the tree flew right past his body and slammed into the rocks behind him before falling off the side of the mountain they were on.

Coughing in pain, Link quickly looked back at the Hinox that was now charging his way. He watched as Sidon now ran beside it, slashing at its thick legs, but this alone wasn't enough to stop the beast as its focus was on the archer that had injured its eye.

One more time, Link thought to himself. Ignore the pain in your body, and do it one more time. Come on!

Gritting his teeth again, he forced more air into his lungs as he focused. The Hinox's steps grew slower, along with Sidon's flurry of attacks. He strained his arms to move, knocking another arrow onto the bowstring before drawing the string back. His chest screamed at him, burning in agony, yet he continued to keep the bow drawn. He aimed upwards toward the eye one more time.

It's up to you, Sidon, he thought before releasing the string.

Allowing time to move forward, he watched as the arrow zipped through the air and strike the beast in the eye once more. The beast stumbled back once more before falling to the ground, sending the dust that had settled up into the air once more.

"Thank you, Link!" Sidon shouted from the brown mist. "I shall finish this now! Beast, you will cause my people trouble no more!"

Now back on his knees, Link squinted through the dust to see Sidon's figure jump back into the air. If he could barely see Sidon's attacks then, he couldn't see them now. But, the moment he heard the beast wail, the dust flew back, along with... drops of water? Confused, Link wiped his face off, which was now covered in drops of water and mud. Looking back at the site, Sidon stood next to the beast, looking down at its now lifeless body.

"What was that?" Link asked loudly from afar, shaking the liquid of his fingers. "That was new."

"Something I had been practicing in secret," Sidon answered. "You asked me moments before this battle how I handle the losses we took, whether it was my sister... or others."

With a confident grin, Sidon looked back.

"It's always hard, but whenever I feel myself about to crumble, I remember what my sister wanted from me, and then I think about those who look up to me," he said. "I refuse to lose anyone again, and if I'm worried I may not be strong enough, then I train so that one day, I know I will be. That, my friend, is my responsibility as prince of the Zora, and eventually, king."

Placing the trident on his back, he hurried back to Link before holding a hand out to him.

"I'm sure, as the Hero of Hyrule and knight to Princess Zelda, you understand that sentiment, don't you?"

"Yeah," Link said, taking Sidon's hand. "I do."

With a toothy grin, Sidon gently pulled Link to his feet before they both looked back at the dead Hinox.

"Well, I guess you guys are stocked on fish for quite a while, huh?" Link asked. Sidon laughed.

"We sure are, all thanks to you, friend," he answered. "You're always here when we need you. I promise you, if there is anything you ever need, please don't hesitate to ask— Not that you didn't have our support already."

"Thanks," Link said, "and thank you for listening. Seriously."

"Anytime," Sidon said. "Now then, it's time for you to hold up your end of the bargain. You'll rest here and have us Zora inspect your wounds. We may not have my sister's healing, but taking a look wouldn't do any harm. Plus, with the haul of fish we got from our spoils, we can feed you plenty. A full stomach should help with the healing process."

"Yeah... You got it," Link said tiredly. "Wait, I don't have the Sheikah Slate with me, so I can't carry them all back. How will we get them back to the domain?"

"I'll send those who were fishing up here to collect them," Sidon answered, "and to do something with the body."

The Prince pointed back at the large Hinox's body.

"I'm sure that'll disappear on its own after a while," Link said as the two began walking back. "Except for its useful parts, like its toenails and stuff. Aw, shoot... I can't take its parts..."

At the sound of this, Sidon laughed.

*    *    *    *    *

With a snort, Link's consciousness started to return. Beneath his back was a soft surface, contorting to his every position. Groggily, he opened his eyes, instantly recognizing the fancy, luminous stone ceiling above him. Pushing himself up from the waterbed, he looked around to see a lanky red-scaled Zora woman mopping the floor.

"Kodah..." Link yawned.

"Oh, you're awake," the innkeeper said cheerfully. "It's good to see you well, Linny. Sidon was a bit worried; you said you had injuries, but yours are incredibly severe. It's honestly amazing that you were able to walk all day long, and more so able to take on a Hinox."

"Yeah, I get told that a lot," Link yawned again. "What happened? Did I pass out?"

"Only from exhaustion. You returned, we re-treated your wounds, and then you knocked out the moment you sat on the bed," the Zora giggled. Even Muzu came to check on your bandages earlier. He wanted to make sure us "fry" did them right."

"I'm glad he cares," Link said tiredly.

"He was still a grump about it though," Kodah said. "He complained you did far too much for being that injured, and even said he wouldn't have allowed either of you to go if he had known how severe they were. I also doubt Princess Zelda wouldn't be too happy if she found out you were pushing yourself so hard."

"Probably not," Link said, rubbing his eye before suddenly realizing what part of the domain he was in. "Oh shoot, I'm sorry, Kodah. Where's my rupee bag, I can pay for the bed—"

"Covered by the Prince himself," Kodah waved away. "Besides, you did help us with the Hinox situation. I swear, if I knew you wouldn't decline, I'd offer you a bed for free at all times."

"You're right. I would," Link said, swinging his legs over the bedside. "What time is it?"

"It's actually fairly late in the evening. The sun set a bit ago," Kodah answered.

"Ah, gotcha," Link replied, glancing out of the open-air building and into the darkness of the night. With a sore groan, he pushed himself to his feet.

"Linny, are you sure you should be moving just yet?" Kodah asked as Link stretched his shoulders out.

"Yeah, I'm sure," he said. "I'm just going for a walk. I'm headed to Death Mountain soon, and I'll need as little pain as possible. Moving keeps the soreness away, right?"

"Well, I guess you aren't wrong about that... Sort of," Kodah answered reluctantly. "Well, if you see Kayden out there, do tell him hello. He was excited to see you before you went down."

"I will. Thanks, Kodah," Link said kindly.

With a small wave, he left the inn, choosing to stroll around the domain without much thought about where he'd end up. He aimlessly walked, watching as fireflies dotted the air with their small greenish lights, contrasting well against the luminous stone's blues. Before long, and not much to his surprise, he found himself in the square, wandering toward the statue that still sat in its center. He wasn't there alone, though, for the large Zora he had battled alongside earlier had long beaten him there.

"Good evening, Link," Sidon said with a smile. "Come to see my sister?"

"Yeah, I guess so," Link said, stopping next to his friend.

"I feel as though you catch me here every evening, at least when you're in the domain," Sidon said as they looked up into the statue's eyes.

"I hope I'm not intruding," Link said, but Sidon lightly shook his shark-shaped head.

"Nonsense. I'd like nothing more than to visit my sister together with you," he said, after a moment, the two looked up, noticing the grey clouds starting to somewhat clear above them, revealing a hint of white light behind them. "A full moon. They say that a full moon represents love, you know. My sister truly loved you, Link. Not that I'm saying that with ill intent toward you and Princess Zelda, not at all. It's just... when I was younger, I never understood why my sister would go off with you so often. I understand completely now."

"Your sister was special, Sidon," Link said, still looking up at the hidden moon behind the clouds. "I'm sorry I couldn't give her the answer she wanted."

"Never feel bad about that," Sidon said. "My sister was a bit stubborn at times, especially when it came to her love for you, but she'd be happy for you nonetheless. I hope you know that."

"I do," Link said. "I... Kinda know what it's like to lose a sister now."

"You had one, didn't you?" Sidon asked. "I vaguely remember my sister mentioning her a few times before. It started with an A..."

"Aryll," Link said. "She lived a century ago, and I'll never see her or my father again... and it hurts. I'm sorry I couldn't save Mipha, Sidon."

"And I'm sorry for being frustrated that you couldn't in my earlier days," Sidon said, looking back at the now glowing statue. "But, it's not your fault at all, and even if you believe it is, it's time to move on from the past, my friend."

"Easier said than done," Link said, turning back to face the statue along with him. "But, you're right. I just have to follow that advice you gave me today."

"There's actually a few more words I'd like to give you," Sidon said. "While I do push myself, I always remember what my sister wanted for me. I'll work hard, but I'll still be myself. I'll keep smiling... for her."

"That's what she wanted from me too... to be myself," Link said quietly. "I won't let her, or anyone else down again."

"Hm. I'm glad," Sidon replied with a smile.

Silence erupted between the prince and the knight, but no more words needed to be said. The two simply sat quietly next to one another, staring at the moonlit statue that lovingly looked down upon them.

**Chapter 57 Illustration by Lemmeurs**