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It was quiet, so quiet. He would’ve enjoyed this quiet moment if it wasn’t for what had occurred just a few minutes ago, his son yelling at him to protect him, to be with him the yells and hollers turned into screams of fear calling him a liar, saying that he hates him. He didn’t blame them, how would anyone react to their father who promised to protect them with his life and left them to get a lobotomy? Knowing what damages could and would be done. But it wasn’t his fault, it was the king’s and the endless cycle of the hero’s spirit. The king had ordered Link to get a lobotomy, told him about it and went on with his day, but what was he supposed to do? He can’t disobey the king, he'll be fired and his family would go bankrupt, he couldn’t allow that. Link was strong and old enough to deal with his pain and the king was right, it was just to make him more mature so he could defeat Calamity Ganon. But none of these facts could remove Link’s words, calling him a lair, selfish, and saying that they hated him. None of the facts could remove the image of Link, his son, clawing at his skin trying to stay with him, begging for protection like he had promised. It was quiet now. No more screams, no more yelling, he could relax. This was just to protect Link, to make sure they took their responsibility of protecting the princess and defending Calamity Ganon seriously. After an hour or two he went to check in on his son, when he got there, Link was awake. They had bandages on their head and dried blood was still on them from the surgery. They seemed unfazed when he came in.
“Hey, buddy. How are you doing?”
Still no expression or anything to signal to him that they were okay. Maybe they’re just tired.
“I’m fine, are you another doctor or nurse?”
They talked, that was one sign that they were okay, even if it was really raspy and tired, the doctors must’ve given Link a large amount of drugs to help with pain with how sluggish Link’s movements were. The man was so enjoyed that his son was talking and completely ignored the meaning of the question given.
“I’m so glad you’re okay, and you’re not mad anymore. I was worried you’d wake up and ignore me out of pettiness but…”
The man rambled on and on about how he fret over them but not once acknowledged the amount of confusion and pain the child was feeling. Even if Link couldn’t figure out what they were feeling at the moment.
“I’m sorry but who are you?”
Link didn’t have any expression or specific tone when saying this, it made the man freeze.
“You don’t remember me?”
“No.”
That simple word made the knight’s whole world fall apart for a good moment. Maybe that was a good thing though, that Link didn’t remember, if Link didn’t remember the betrayal there was no hard feelings and they could start over.
“My apologies, I hadn’t realized the surgery could’ve damaged your memories, but I am your father.”
“My father?”
“Yes.”
Link and his father stayed like that, talking to each other for a while. All was going well right now except for the fact Link still didn’t have any expression whatsoever to the point that they sound robotic and unsettling. But that’s probably just because they’re tired, they had a long day after all.
“Well I’m going to go now. You should get some rest.”
Weeks past, Link hasn’t changed since the day they got the surgery, of course no one but a few selected people knew about the lobotomy, people did notice the change though. Some people thought this change was amazing and everyone will be well protected now that Link’s taken their job more seriously. Others say it’s child labor (which it is and they’re not even getting paid it all goes to his father). Link was more distant than before, they rarely talk anymore, and they can’t remember much. He hadn’t heard Link’s voice in weeks.
This went on for a few years, the knight hadn’t heard Link’s voice for years and hadn’t seen them in weeks. This all continued until the faithful day the calamity came. He had gotten to a shelter away from the guardians that were now under the control of the calamity. It wasn’t until a month later that he got the news that his son, Link, died in battle.