[EDITING] The Legend of Zelda: Goddess of Secrecy

Overworld Chapter 64 - The Beginning of the End

...and Link launched himself into sitting as he woke up. His heart pounded in his chest. He pressed a hand overtop of it, until it began to slow down. The last emotions of the dream still clung to him as he woke.

They were still in Echo's house. For once, Link woke before Endeavor. The house was silent, only the sound of his breathing making any noise.

Link looked up the stairs at the bedroom. It was still closed, but he knew no one was there. He wasn't sure how, but then again, Echo had always had a knack for disappearing.

Easing his way out of the blankets, Link began to reequip himself. He'd left his sword and shield leaning against the table the night before, and now came the process of redonning them all. Added difficulty was that he didn't want to wake Endeavor yet as he sorted through the thoughts and feelings left from his dreams.

When Endeavor did stir, sunlight had started to peak out into the canyon. The sun itself wasn't yet visible, but it would be soon.

"Good morning," Endeavor greeted as she reached for her rapier and began doing the same as Link was.

"Morning," Link replied, the last strange feelings from the dream finally fading away.

"This is unlike you. Are you alright?" Endeavor asked. Link nodded, tightening his sword belt over his shoulder. "Any word from our host?"

"We talked," Link said, not sure how to explain the dream conversation to Endeavor. Not entirely wanting to, something about it a thing he wanted to remain private. It wasn't help by a sense of gravity hanging over his shoulders. Realizing he was being a little too curt, he added, "She, uh, she wished us luck."

"I see." Endeavor studied him for a moment longer, but her desire to leave caught up with them. "Well, if that is everything."

Link nodded again, the dream staying remarkably well in his mind. Echo had been right. She had said a lot of things and he didn't understand most of them. But what he did think he understood was that things were about to come to a head. And whatever was waiting for them with Journey was evident of that.

He and Endeavor did their best to clean up. Whether Echo returned here or not, Link didn't want to be a bad guest. The palates were easy to fold and tuck away, and that had really been all they'd used.

Pulling the door closed, Link felt a shift in his chest. He felt a hand holding him back, and the reality of the situation sinking in. For a moment, he was looking at the door to his house back in Eveningale, leaving it for the last time.

They'd restored all of the Temples. There was nowhere else to go, no more relics to recover, no more secrets to find. Only one fight remained, and he finally felt ready to fight it.

Link left the door and joined Endeavor on the street. If she had a comment, she kept it to herself. Yore had returned to her shoulder as they walked.

"We are meeting the Sages near the entrance to the city," she said, motioning up towards the level above them. "From there, we will see."

Still struggling to vocalize his thoughts, Link just nodded. He let himself take in Cleff, watching as it began to stir. The partying from the night before had shaken off much of the dust and dirt from months under the Dungeon Master's watch. There was still recovery to be done, but Cleff was healing. It would see better days soon.

He'd make sure of it.

They ascended back to the upper level of the city and made their way to the tunnels connecting Cleff to Underborough. Not far from the entrance, the Sages waited. Some were more bleary-eyed than others, but all seven were waiting patiently as they promised.