Overlord: Courage within

Chapter 1

It has only been a day since Link joined the warrior captain Gazef Stronoff and his men, the men at first were hostile, giving the Hylian stares and making prejudiced comments about him due to them believing he was an elf, but once Link showed his abilities by hunting their food, fishing and making fire last night they were all starting to see him as a companion. It was a strange feeling, killing an animal, on his last life the former player had worked in a butcher shop as a janitor so the smell and sight of blood didn't aggravate him, but when he killed that deer with an arrow in the eyes he was anxious, nervous, excited, afraid, all emotions at once because of the adrenaline, he was still getting used to his new body and way of think, yet in the end, he managed to not feel guilty about killing that animal, he did it for the meat and to not starve, not because of any ill intent.

Now Link was following the warrior captain right beside his lieutenant, it was starting to get dark, and they still hadn't found anything.

When they all thought the captain would call it a day, Link, with his Hylian perks, sees and smells smoke and gestures to the captain who, a few seconds later, also sees it.

"MEN. WITH ME". Gazef yells to his soldiers.

"AYE". All but Link screams in response.

They all gallop in the direction of the smoke hoping to find survivors and answers.

Once they arrived they saw the destruction left behind, besides the smoke, only ashes were left of what once was a peaceful village, once a place full of life filled with hope, and happiness now was a desolate visage. Link can't stop himself from showing sorrow at the sight, remembering what Ganondorf did to Hyrule from what now were his memories.

Not wanting to just sit and watch Link sees the closest villager to him who is in need of help and goes to them. Link helps the villager get on his feet and puts their arm around his neck so they can walk.

The other soldiers follow Link's example and start helping every villager they encounter.

"Are you an elf?" The villager Link is helping asks.

Link shakes his head.

"If you are, you are a long way from home". They tell him. "The Elven Country is in the Southwest".

Link just shakes his head once more and takes the man close to the horses. Before he could go help someone else the hylian saw that all the soldiers were already doing it, and there was no one else left. It goes without saying that a massacre happened in this village, the same as the first one Link visited.

Link sees Gazef looking at his surroundings and contemplating the vision in front of him, Link couldn't stop himself from admiring the man, it was clear that he genuinely cared for each one of these villagers, the former player now shares this sentiment too, Link in the games was a shiny example of Lawful Good always fighting for what is good and right no matter how much it could cost him. Letting curiosity take over the hylian approaches the captain wanting to listen to him and maybe be part of the talk he will have with the lieutenant who is also approaching him.

"Lieutenant". Gazef's voice was strong and direct. "Take a few men with you and get the survivors back to E-Rantel".

"Captain". The lieutenant says, there was pain in his voice.

"What is it?". Gazef asks, his voice strong enough to sound gentle.

"The king's orders were to investigate the group that is attacking the villages of the kingdom and eliminate them". The lieutenant states.

Link was starting to admire the king of RE-Estize, like Zelda he cared for his people and want them to prosper and be happy, not like the hundreds of leaders who cared nothing for their people and just wanted the benefits of a ruler, Link hated politics and even in his former life he wasn't an adept on the matter, but he knows that being the leader of a nation and its people it's a chore, not a privilege, he just wished some of the leaders realize this.