[EDITING] The Legend of Zelda: Goddess of Secrecy

Boss 12 - Soul Sage Link

...into the chamber beyond. Link's head swam as he drifted through the room, the doors shaking the room as they neared to a close. Ahead were yet more statues to the Goddesses, outlining a circular chamber of marble and stone.

"—won't be joining us today," Zeal taunted, sitting in the arms of one of Reechka's statues. "Finally gave up, I see."

"Link? Endeavor, what does she mean?" Princess demanded, and Link was distantly aware from his drifting position her face was flushed. "Endeavor, has the Hero been traveling with us this entire time?!"

"What does it matter?" Endeavor asked, her sword out, but the disappointment in her voice cut Link deeply.

"Indeed, seeing as he isn't here. I suppose you've all come to die then," Zeal went on, rising from her seat and drawing her small whip-like blade.

Endeavor twisted her grip on her own thin blade, eyes never leaving Zeal as the pale woman floated down from the statue. Link dove as Zeal's feet hit the ground, before colliding into a pool of white.

It was like he was caught in the head waters again. He felt spun, mind rolling like it was caught in a hurricane. The world was a blinding light, and it roared with the whispers of the mirror. Still, he didn't let go, diving deeper into the storm to find the eye.

When the world materialized again, Link heard the door slam shut. He could see the ground, assuming that the magic had been equally jarring for Zeal's mind as it had his. But there was no rumor of her in his mind, only the fading whispers of the possession that clung to her and the deep rumor of her powers. And just like it had with Hack, as Link maintained that connection, the former was continuing to vanish.

Staggered, Link pushed himself to his feet. Switching with Hack had been disorienting, she was shorter but their weight had been relatively close. Zeal on the other hand was taller and wirier. Link had never noticed how skeletal Zeal must have been to feel this way, but the weakness was concerning.

In front of him, he saw his companions paused. Save for Hack, who was noticeably missing. Link smiled internally as he felt a hand distantly. She'd figured it out, good, he thought.

"This had better not be what I think it is," Endeavor hissed. Her sword was still out, and pointed dangerously at Link.

"There's another way," Link said, still feeling woozy as he drew himself up to standing. His voice didn't sound like his own, and hearing Zeal say that made it feel even stranger on his tongue.

"Not for her, not anymore," Endeavor insisted, taking a dangerous step closer.

"Endeavor, her magic turned on her," Link replied, hand reaching instinctively towards his back. When he found nothing there, he instead turned to the sheath at his hip and the thin hilt there.

"She could have fought it."

"How? I couldn't."

Endeavor snarled, "So you would excuse her? Everything she did? All of the people she killed? Their lives—" She raised her blade to point at Link. "Are on those hands. They will never be clean."

"I'm not excusing it. But that doesn't mean we need to kill her," Link stated firmly, his strength growing as he tightened his grip on Zeal's sword. When Endeavor didn't lower her blade, he drew it slowly, the weight unfamiliar and incredibly light compared to the Master Sword.

"Link, you will not die if I kill her. You will not stop me from doing what must be done," Endeavor said, her eyes set.

Settling into a fencing stance he'd been taught years ago and never practiced, Link prepared himself for the fight he knew he couldn't avoid. "We'll see about that."