Wild Link walked the familiar halls of Hyrule Castle, the stone beneath his boots feeling steady, grounding him. It was strange—he had been here before, a long time ago, but the weight of the place seemed different now. There was a subtle comfort in the routine of it all. The towering stone walls, the way the torches flickered in the silence of the corridors—it reminded him of the old days. Back when he was still a soldier, a knight, bound to the kingdom of Hyrule and its royalty.
The halls felt almost the same as they did 100 years ago, yet something was different. He had changed, and the castle had changed too. He had been the knight of Hyrule back then, but now? Now he was... something else. But not in the way he had feared. The weight of his title was still there—he had earned it, not just by sword, but by spirit. The king viewed him as a knight still, a protector of Hyrule, no matter the timeline, no matter the wounds he carried.
Even as he passed the portraits of the past kings and queens, the memory of his old life and family still lingered, mixing with his new reality. The golden halls had once been the home of his family, and the memory of his father's voice, his sister's laughter, echoed faintly in his mind. But now, it wasn't those memories that filled his heart; it was the bond with those he had met along the way—his new family, the ones who stood beside him, as warriors, as friends.
He wandered the corridors, letting his thoughts drift, looking at the banners hanging along the walls. He wasn't really sure where he was going. Just... walking. The quiet was almost soothing, the weight of past battles not as heavy here.
The king had entrusted him with the title of knight again, and Wild Link wore it with pride. He was not the same knight he had been 100 years ago, but there was honor in what he did now. The land was different, the people were different, but it was still his land, his people, and he was still here to protect it. He could still hear his father's voice in his mind, proud, strong. That was the knight Wild Link had been. The knight he was still, though different, and it was a quiet comfort that he would never give up.
He arrived at the castle's courtyard and paused, breathing in the fresh air. The sky was a dull gray, the snow falling lightly around him. The courtyard was empty, except for a few servants and knights who were going about their duties. One of them waved at him, a brief acknowledgment, but it was enough. They saw him as one of them, even though he wasn't from this world.
Wild Link wandered over to the edge of the courtyard and leaned against the stone railing, looking out over the vast landscape. Hyrule stretched out before him—vast plains, tall mountains, rolling hills. It was his kingdom, the place he swore to protect, no matter the challenges.
His thoughts drifted again. It was still a little surreal. He was here, in this castle, surrounded by people who cared for him. There were moments when it felt like it was all just a dream. But it wasn't. He was alive, he was here, and he would fight to keep it safe.
After a long moment, Wild Link straightened up and walked toward the stables, making his way through the castle's lower halls, where the air smelled of hay and horses. He had ridden out from the castle countless times before, even before his fall in the past. He would ride again. He would always be the protector of this land, even if the title felt strange now.
The stables were quiet, the horses shifting in their stalls. He passed by them, stroking the coats of a few as he walked. He had ridden many horses in his time, each one loyal, each one a partner in his adventures. His eyes lingered on the stalls for a moment, before he stopped by one, placing a hand on the wooden frame. This was the place where he had come to train, to learn what it meant to be the knight of Hyrule. A knight of protection, of defense, of bravery.
