On the eve of an eclipse over Hyrule, the Triforce shimmered faintly, as if holding its breath. Deep within the castle’s ancient Hall of Oaths, a lone knight in green knelt before a fallen blade, the last glimmer of courage flickering in a kingdom on the brink. The floor beneath him was made of stone so old that even the sages had forgotten the names of those who laid it. Each tile was etched with worn Hylian runes, prayers to gods who watched in silence as wars rose and fell. The knight’s boots were scuffed from a dozen forgotten battles, his tunic torn where shadowy claws had once found him. Yet his hand trembled—not from fear of any monster, but from the weight of the choice before him. Ahead, bathed in a soft gold light, stood the princess. Her gown, embroidered with the sigils of the royal family, swayed with the faintest movement of her breath. The crest of the Goddesses rested near her heart, catching the scattered motes of light that drifted through the hall like stardust. Behind her, tall pillars disappeared into darkness, their tops carved into the shapes of guardians—owls, dragons, and silent knights, all turned toward the pair as though they were witnessing the final lines of an ancient prophecy. “Link,” she said softly, though the name felt more like a memory than a title. “You don’t have to bow.” He stayed where he was, one knee pressed into the cold stone. The sword lay just within his reach, blade reflecting the golden glow that surrounded her. It was not the Master Sword, not the sacred blade sleeping elsewhere, but it was a weapon that had followed him through countless skirmishes, a loyal companion with nicks and scratches for every close call. Tonight, it rested between them like a question: Will you rise, or will you fall? “I swore to protect you,” Link replied, his voice roughened by dust, smoke, and too many unspoken worries. “Not only as your knight, but as your friend. Whatever comes when the moon covers the sun, it will meet me first.”