The soft knock on the door was followed by silence.
Zane sat up slowly, blinking the haze from his eyes. His body still ached slightly from the mental war he'd endured inside the Void. His hair clung to his forehead with sweat, and Link's voice was thankfully silent—for now.
The door creaked open just slightly.
A golden eye peeked through.
"Zane...?" Sera's voice was hesitant. Gentle.
Behind her, the shuffle of boots and armor clattered softly, and Zane's gaze sharpened when he caught the glint of spears and silver-gilded armor behind her. Guards. Five of them. Maybe six.
Her voice trembled slightly. "My father... wants to speak with you."
Zane tilted his head. "...Your father?"
They'd sat at the same table. Broken bread. Shared a laugh or two. But Sera's father—the Duke—had always remained a distant figure. A cold, towering presence with sharp eyes and a voice that could command an army with a whisper. He had never once looked Zane in the eye for more than a breath.
He'd never asked for him.
"No," Sera replied, not meeting his gaze. "He just said to bring you. And that... it was important."
She didn't add what they were both thinking.
He saw what you did. He saw what you became.
Zane exhaled and rose slowly, his footsteps light but steady. As he stepped forward, the guards tensed slightly. One of them gripped his spear tighter.
Zane's shadow twisted at his feet—just slightly—as if reacting to the tension.
Sera flinched, just a bit.
Link's voice whispered in his mind like a curl of smoke.
> "See? They fear you now. Even her. How delightful."
> "Shut up," Zane hissed inwardly.
Still, he adjusted his coat and nodded to Sera. "Alright. Let's go meet the Duke."
She nodded and turned.
But not before stealing a quick glance at his eyes.
Just to check... if they were still his.