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“I understand that we have you to thank for about half the people in here.” A Hylian man in a dark canvas suit pauses to speak.
Link hesitates, then looks up once he reminds himself that he can. He sees a soldiers, kitted out with well-used equipment and a well-used face. Soldier is perhaps a generous description, considering that the people who run this ship aren’t exactly funded by any government, but he handles himself with an air of discipline anyway.
“A lot of them were ready to take the opportunity,” Link says. “All I did was press a button.”
“Took a lot of courage, when you knew what it would do to you,” the soldier remarks. He crouches down, pulling off one of his bags to unzip it. The bag has a yellow X in rubber on the front, marking it as first aid. The X represents a fairy’s wings.
“May I?” The soldier holds out his hands, and Link’s lips twist, but he backs up on the bench and allows the soldier to pick up his are foot.
While he looks it over, Link keeps his eyes on the ship. They're in a large room that holds too many people, spread out on the ground, gathered in loose groups and eating rice from paper bowls. A few of them wear silks and jewelry, others like Link wear plain red, but the majority are in sturdy work clothes, stained with dust and patches. Only a handful have something other than their clothing with them.
The soldier whistles as he pokes gently at Link’s ankle. “Hell of a burn. And you did all that running with this?”
Link shrugs. “I've had worse.”
“Sure,” the soldier laughs, though it isn't a disbelieving laugh. He reaches into his bag. “You Hylian? I have a cooling gel here, if you want it.”
“If it's safflina, it should be okay,” Link says. “I’m from Kasuto, actually.’
The soldier proceeds to apply a bluish gel to the burned parts of Link’s skin. The burn isn’t deep, it just stings. “No kidding. Our first officer's from there, too.”
Link perks up. “Really?”
“Sure. Kasuto isn't really on our way, though, so maybe look at our map to find a place to get off at. There are a couple inter-system stations on our route.”
“Hm.” Link watches the soldier wrap his ankle in a practiced pattern, efficient and secure. Several others in the room wear bandages and care from this man, too.
When the soldier stands, bag zipped, Link reaches out to grab his sleeve. “Wait.”
“Hm?”
Lin’s face warms, and he lets go. “Could you… use an extra pair of hands on board? I’d like to learn what you do. And I want to help.”
The soldier looks at him again, this time appraisingly. “You handled that sword well. Didn't shy away from the violence. You have training?”
“More like experience, honestly.”
“Huh. You know what, let's go talk to the captain about you staying on.”