The Truth

Before I let them capture me I put all the equipment in the Sheikah Slate, they were a little surprised to see everything disappear. They took it away and put heavy cuffs around my hands, they even chained a metal ball to my leg.

Did they know about my strength? Even if Alexander was well known throughout the world, information about me defeating him shouldn't have spread that fast.

There were many questions on my mind as they walked us towards a prisoner transport carriage.

Why was the weapons clerk surprised to see an Edge of Duality? It couldn't be illegal as Shronia would've said something when I grabbed it from the chest. Also, why did soldiers come? If the weapon was illegal and for some reason Shronia didn't know about it, why did they send so many elementalists?

As I was thinking they apologized to me.

"Link, we're sorry for being weak" (Shronia)

"It was all her fault, she kept getting me my way" (Kassy)

"Don't blame me, you kept missing your darts!" (Shronia)

"That's because you always got in front of me when I was about to throw a dart!" (Kassy)

"Enough!" (Link)

Why don't they like each other?

"We're all to blame" (Link)

I am also weak. My strength came from my speed, the ideology is if the enemy can't hit me I don't need to focus on maxing out my health or increasing armor points. However, that was the flaw of mine. I might be able to do a lot of damage very quickly but I was very fragile. I am a glass cannon. If I had just a bit more health and higher defense I could've taken a hit and teleported us out.

I'm also acting more violent, I need to stop acting with my fists and more with my mouth.

When we get to Kakariko I'll invest orbs into health, I need to balance my stats.

We reached the castle shortly. They brought us down into the basement, where they placed us in an iron cell. They didn't remove the cuffs or chain ball. We could still move around, though it was difficult.

Shornia and Kassy moved to different corners of the cell.

Just get along, it can't be that hard.

I sat in silence trying to think of a way to escape. I looked at the thick cuffs, pulling against them I knew there was no way I could break out of these.

The window had old and rusty bars, however the space in between was too narrow to fit through. There was a small slot on the door, probably for passing food through. There was only one exit and no furniture to hide behind, so sneak attacks would be impossible. This cell is perfect, whoever designed it knew how to keep a prisoner in.

After an hour of thinking and looking around I gave up. Lying down I looked up towards the dark ceiling.

Shronia and Kassy haven't left their corners. I need to know why they despise each other.

I went to Shronia first.

I made sure to whisper as I didn't want her to anger Kassy even more.

"Shronia, why do you hate Kassy?" (Link)

"I wouldn't say I hate her, I just don't like her" (Shronia)

Come on, grow up.

"It's just that whenever I talk to a cute guy Kassy would show up and then the attention would go to her. Like it just makes me irritated, why does she get all the attention" (Shronia)

So she's jealous, that's the reason! I can't believe what I just heard.

"Have you any idea why she hates you?" (Link)

"I don't know, maybe that's just how she is" (Shronia)

In my mind, I gave a mental sigh.

Next up was Kassy.

"Kassy, why do you hate Shronia?" (LInk)

"Do you really have to ask that?!" (Kassy)

She made it sound like the question I asked had a simple answer.

"She's an elementalist, the only one from our village. Everywhere she goes people would praise her, oh look Shronia just defeated a bokoblin, or oh look Shronia climbed that tree. She just makes everyone else look less" (Kassy)

I face planted.

My brain just went numb.

They hate each other because they're jealous of each other! I had to sit down and recollect my thoughts.

Maybe this is why I didn't have a girlfriend in my past life.

"Link, are you okay?" (Kassy)

"Shronia come here" (Link)

Once they were in front of me I spilled the news.

"So after talking to both of you I made a conclusion, you're both envious of each other over something that you couldn't control at birth. Am I right?" (Link)

"What?! You're jealous of me" (Kassy and Shronia)

They didn't realize it over the years? Can they not read people?!

I lost all words to describe them.

"I guess I envied you because everything you did people would praise you and you always got special treatment and attention" (Kassy)

"I'm sorry, I was overshadowed by your beauty. I just started calling you fat so I could make myself feel better, I'm sorry. Can we make up?" (Shronia)

They hugged it off like good old friends.

That entire day they talked non stop. I'm glad they became real friends, but could they take a break.

The next morning guards came in.

"Your trial is starting soon" (Guard)

"Trial?" (Link)

They didn't give us an explanation.

They spared no resources on our transport, there had to be over 50 guards. Was this necessary? They brought us before large wooden doors, on the other side was a throne room. The design was different from Outskirt, instead of large open windows they had giant chandeliers to light the interior. Also, they used different tiles to make a path to the throne. Guards lined up along the path.

I saw the lord, Christiano, a Gerudo, and the weapons clerk. There was also another gentleman, he looked like a noble.

"Lord Hernando Lufario, the prisoners have arrived" (Random Guard)

Every city seems to have one of these lords, Hernando was fit with greying hair. He had an old and stern face, a fitting look for a lord.

"I am Lord Hernando Lufario of Dueling Peaks City, you are?" (Lord Hernando Lufario)

"Link" (Link)

"I am Shronia, Lord Hernando Lufario" (Shronia)

"My name is Kassy, Lord Hernando Lufario" (Kassy)

Was I supposed to add honorifics? I hope I didn't offend him.

"So the thieves have spoken!" (Nobleman)

The typical immoral looking noble spoke, he was round, short, and most importantly fat.

"Calm down Baron William Castro, we are not a primitive society. We will allow the accused to defend themselves" (Lord Hernando Lufario)

"Defend?! They are guilty, they stole my family heirloom and tried to sell it to that peasant" (Baron William Castro)

William pointed at the clerk.

"Isn't that right peasant, you saw him trying to sell my family's Edge of Duality" (Baron William Castro)

"My name is Musifo, not peasant. And yes, he did try to sell me the Edge of Duality" (Musifo)

"Guilty, I say guilty!" (Baron William Castro)

"Calm down Baron Castro. Is this true, did you try to sell the edge of duality?" (Lord Hernando Lufario)

"Yes" (Link)

"You're very honest, have you given up since you've been caught?" (Lord Hernando Lufario)

"No" (Link)

"No? Do you still intend to defend yourselves? If so I would like to hear your defense" (Lord Hernando Lufario)

"Lord Hernando Lufario, could your lordship tell us the reason why we are here today" (Shronia)

"Stop stalling, you're just trying to delay your punishment!" (Baron William Castro)

"Baron William Castro! If I hear you speaking out of order again I will repossess some of your lands" (Lord Hernando Lufario)

The fat guy shut up after that.

"If you want to know the story I shall tell you. Just a little over 2 weeks ago the Baron's prized heirloom was stolen. The thief or thieves, killed multiple guards protecting the Baron's mansion. 2 of the guards were high ranking elementalists, they were both SS ranked. No one saw the thief or thieves, it was as if they disappeared from thin air. Link, you were able to defeat multiple elementalists with ease, you fit the description nicely" (Lord Hernando Lufario)

Again with the 2 weeks ago. I must be causing these phenomenons.

So they're accusing me of theft because I happened to be selling an edge of duality when one was recently stolen from a noble. Just my luck.

Watching Judge Judy finally paid off. Time for me to get out of character.

"Your lordship, we have many reasons as to why we cannot be the thieves. First, why would we stay in this city? If we were successful in stealing the sword, why didn't we leave to a different city and sell it there" (Link)

"That is a valid point, but let's say your buyer was in this city. Then you would have a reason to stay" (Lord Hernando Lufario)

He just dug a hole for himself.

"Your lordship, if my buyer was in this city, why would I try to sell it to Musifo? Unless you are accusing him of being the buyer. In that case, why would he inform the soldiers?" (Link)

The lord thought about this for a long time, the room was filled with silence. Time for the final verdict.

"And finally your lordship, may I ask if the edge of duality had any changes to it?" (LInk)

My weapon was preserved in a shrine, weathering and the elements shouldn't have affected it.

"Why yes, though it was a weapon it was mostly for show. There are many jewels and paintings plastered around it" (Lord Hernando Lufario)

"Can you please show it?" (Link)

Pulling the sword out of a sheath we could see that the sword looked brand new, it was smooth, clean, and sharp. Ready for battle, not for displaying to friends.

"I see that there are no jewels, but what if the thief or thieves pulled them out" (Lord Hernando Lufario)

"Your lordship, if jewels were pulled out, the blade would suffer burn marks or scratches. Also, the dimples that the jewels were embedded in would still be present. If the thief or thieves did try to cover that up and sand the blade till it was seamless. The blade would be deformed and become quite thin" (Link)

Thank you, Judge Judy, you are my hero.

"Okay" (Lord Hernando Lufario)

He is at a loss of words, we just won.

"Lord Hernando Lufario, don't be fooled. They are obviously trying to deceive you" (Baron William Castro)

"Baron William, did I allow you to speak?" (Lord Hernando Lufario)

"Forgive me, my lord? I shan't speak again" (Baron William Castro)

"Where was I, oh yes. The young man has many excellent points. I just have one question. The Edge of Duality is a rare find, how were you able to acquire one?" (Lord Hernando Lufario)

Should I tell him I found it in a chest?

"Your lordship, would you believe me if I found it in a chest" (Link)

"It would be hard to believe" (Lord Hernando Lufario)

"How can I show that I am trustworthy?" (Link)

"Hmm, if you were to serve in my knight order for a year you could build your trust with me" (Lord Hernando Lufario)

A year! That's too long.

"Forgive me, I have refused knighthood at Outskirt, and I shall refuse it here" (Link)

The fat man looked at the lord as if wanting to speak.

"Baron William, what is it that you wish to share?" (Lord Hernando Lufario)

"This man is obviously lying. Who in their right mind would refuse knighthood?!" (Baron William Castro)

"Yes, it does seem a bit suspicious" (Lord Hernando Lufario)

"I also have the crest of the Lord Hinamaru Gontrio" (Link)

"Do you now, do you currently have this on you?" (Lord Hernando Lufario)

"If you would allow me to have my stone slate back I can retrieve the item" (Link)

The Gerudo brought it over to me.

"Try anything funny and you're dead" (Gerudo)

She held the Sheikah Slate before me.

I picked the Sheikah Slate up, oh how I missed it.

I brought out the metal card Lord Hinamaru Gontrio gave me.

"Your lordship, here is the crest" (Link)

Taking the metal card the lord examined it.

"Why, this is the genuine thing. Forgive us for your accusation of the theft" (Lord Hernando Lufario)

The lord kneeled down, asking for forgiveness.

"Lord Hernando Lufario, do not lower your head to these peasants. Have dignity as the lord of this city!" (Baron William Castro)

The lord ignored William, I would too.

"Your explanation and this card seem trustworthy. Link forgive me for the incident, I shall pay you for the sword if you would like" (Lord Hernando Lufario)

"Your lordship, that be wonderful" (Link)

The lord paid us 100,000 rupees.

"Your lordship, isn't this a little too much?" (Link)

"Not at all, the sword that Baron William Castro had was estimated to be priced at around 1,000,000 rupees, this will be his replacement so I believe the price is just right. Of course, the jewels will be bought from a separate buyer" (Lord Hernando Lufario)

Christiano came over to us.

"Forgive me, I did not mean to harm any of you. I was just doing my job" (Christiano Marcos)

"It's okay, we understand" (Shronia)

"Yeah, no hard feelings. I'm feeling very forgiving lately" (Kassy)

I nod.

Before leaving Musifo came up to me.

"I'm so terribly sorry for the inconvenience I've caused you, if I had known you were of importance to Lord Hinamaru Gontrio I wouldn't have accused you of crime. Please, do not harm my family in any way sir Link" (Musifo)

He must think I'm some sort of noble who abuses my power.

"All can be forgiven with time" (Link)

We left the castle with those words.

Leaving the castle grounds we came out 100,00 rupees richer.

"Link, you were amazing. Did you do this at Outskirt?" (Shronia)

"I didn't think people could defy the nobles and win, you truly are the Legendary Hero Link" (Kassy)

"Thank you" (Link)

I was a little exhausted, but I really didn't want to rest in this city anymore.

The sun was still high, if we rush we could make it to Kakariko by tomorrow.

"Hey, you little piece of shit!!!" (Xalne)

It's her, what does she want?

"How dare you endanger Shronia like that?!" (Xalne)

She lunged in for a slap.

She was far slower than any elementalist so I dodged the slap with ease, she almost fell face-first onto the pavement.

"Why you! Oh dear Shronia are you okay baby girl. Did this man try to frame you?!" (Xalne)

"No, its fine Xalne. How did you know we were in a trial?" (Shronia)

Xalne hugged Shronia tightly.

"The whole city was in an uproar, the rumor of a man who could defeat elementalists with ease followed by 2 masked women. I knew immediately that the cause of it was this disgusting creature!" (Xalne)

Hold back, hold back. I am the Legendary Hero, words like this are nothing. Don't kill her no matter how tempting it may seem. Control your bloodlust, I promised myself to use my mouth and not my fists.

"We were accused of a crime, thankfully we proved our innocence" (Link)

"Why are you speaking to me?" (Xalne)

I... I just can't anymore with this person.

Xalne turned her attention to Kassy.

"Oh, and who are you beautiful?" (Xalne)

"Hi, my name is Kassy. I'm Shronia's childhood friend" (Kassy)

"Why hello there, how old are you?" (Xalne)

"I'm 21?" (Kassy)

"Well if you ever need someone to talk to you can come to me" (Xalne)

"Okay..." (Kassy)

Xalne swings that way huh.

After getting our horses Xalne saw us off.

"Have a safe trip. And careful around Link when you're bathing, who knows what could happen to you" (Xalne)

They waved goodbye.

"Kassy, are you heading back to the village?" (Shronia)

"No, I was passing through from Hateno. I'm going to Gerudo Town, I heard they're selling this amazing moisturizer" (Kassy)

"Could you buy me a bottle?" (Shronia)

"Of course, anything for a childhood friend" (Kassy)

They became much nicer after discussing their feelings.

We still have to conquer the Ha Dahamar shrine.