Eyal, was nearly lost in the rage that swept through him. His gaze solely focused on the man below him and not even taking into account anything else. Over and over again, the dying wails of his mother as she was gutted screamed in his head. The sight as she fell, her eyes lifeless and cold…absent of the familiar warmth that he had known his whole life.<br/><br/>Without even being full aware, his hands had begun to move and it was the heat that radiated from his hand that drew his attention. A fireball rippled and flickered in his hand like a ball of liquid light.  The flames reflected within the depths of his eyes and seemed to be the final spark in the kindling of rage that had continued to grow with each passing moment that Daphnes was alive in his presence.<br/><br/>“DIE!” he shouted and threw the fireball, already halfway into a shadow to disappear as another fireball was conjured and at the ready.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF8000"><span style="font-weight: bold">The shout, clearly heard through the forest caught everyone’s attention, and no sooner did Daphnes turn to find its source did he see the fireball hurtling towards him. Had he been anywhere else he would have dodged and searched for the assailant, but this stump had remained as a legacy to the hero and he would not have it harmed. He readied the shield as fast as he could and braced himself behind it just as it struck. The shield splintered and burned everywhere but the metal handhold that Daphnes currently held, but the man stood firm, and with danger out of the way he ran to a more open clearing search for the assailant. <br/><br/>"Everyone get to cover!" He shouted in haste, the kokiri doing as told without question. "He did not look to see if the visitors had done so, nor did he care. The protection of his charges was what mattered right now. "Show yourself demon! Darkness will not be your ally in this meadow of light!"</span></span><br/><br/>Eyal laughed and threw his next fireball, before he jumped from the shadows and into the clearing his daggers drawn. “Demon?! You are the only demon here!” he shouted and charged his foe. Low and fast, he sought to get around the man and his shield, a dagger thrown at his foot before he tumbled around him and conjured another fireball to try and throw at his back.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF8000"><span style="font-weight: bold">Having time to dodge this time, Daphnes did just that and rolled as the next fireball came his way. What was in his view now however, caused the blood in his veins to turn ice. "Eyal, you're alive?" He said shocked. The dagger nearly missing his foot brought him out of his stupor just in time to roll to the side as the next fireball missed into the distend dead wood. He hoped it was too damp for a fire to start in the thicket. "What has he done to you?!" Daphnes shouted in growing anger. "I thought you dead years ago, but is this what he did to you? Raise you to come against us where he could not?! Don't you remember what we were fighting for?!" He shouted louder and louder as he continued, but never moved to strike or harm. Eyal was a friend, no matter what may have become of his mind at the hands of the dark lord.</span></span><br/><br/>Dagger recovered he threw both of them together then began hurling fireballs one after another at Daphnes, not even fully hearing what was said to him. “What he did?! You killed my parents!” he shouted and charged. At the last moment he jumped and flipped over Daphnes then through a jab for his kidneys and a kick at the side of his knee.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #BF8000">Blocking the daggers with what was left of his shield and running out of the way of the fireballs, Daphnes did everything he could to keep himself out of the line between Eyal and the kokiri. As soon as Eyal cried out and charged, Daphnes prepared himself as best he could. Following the sheika through the air, he held his shield arm out to block the coming jab, but with no weapon drawn, just his bare arm was there waiting for the kick. The force knocked him down, and he tried rolling with it, but his age was getting the better of him, and he stumbled. "I tried to save you Eyal! And I would have ran after you until my legs gave out had your father not stopped me! He lived and convinced me you dead! We both morned you AND your mother!"</span></span><br/><br/>“LIAR!” he screamed and brought forth a ring of fire to encircle the both of them. Tears ran down his face as he glared down at the man at his feet, pair of fireballs in his hands waiting to be thrown. “I watched him die…just like I had to watch my mother die…and it was all your FAULT!”<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #BF8000">"I don't lie Eyal. Since the years you knew me as friend and since the day I thought you dead, I have kept my promises." Daphnes threw his shield to the ground in a cluttered heap, its use to him now gone. "Your father lived another 20 years. He taught me what he could and we mourned you every day. His grave, as well as yours and your mothers are in the sacred grove of legend." Daphnes's arm hung loose at his side. The kick had dislocated it and he knew he wouldn't stand further in the fight. "What has the dark lord done to you? You come into this home I have sworn to protect in your families place with fire and threats. Attacking straight from the shadows. You fight like them Eyal."</span></span><br/><br/>None of this was true, it could not be true. Why would his father say he was dead? A look down at the man he had dreamt of killing everyday he was held captive and then toward the sacred grove. “If you are lying to me I will burn you and these woods to the ground!” he hissed between his teeth. He dropped his hands, dispelling the fire in his hands as well as the ring of fire. From there he ran back to the woods, into the Shadows which he traveled until he stood within the scared grove and before a set of gravestones that bore a heavy truth.<br/><br/>There was his name…on a stone between that of his mother and father. “But…why…” he whispered as he fell to his knees before his tombstone, “Why would he lie?”<br/><br/>Nothing made sense to him anymore, nothing at all. Everything he had thought and felt; everything that had kept him alive through all those years of pain was all…a life…<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #BF8000">Seeing the flame die, Daphnes looked towards the kokiri, seeing they were all fine, and then to the great tree who witnessed the whole events take place without a single word. Daphnes needed none. He nodded, and made way towards the sacred grove himself. <br/><br/>It took him some time more than the sheika to get there, but eventually he broke through the grave site he remembered well. "I came often to pay respects to friends lost. I kept my word Eyal. I've spent my life protecting what's left of these wood."</span></span><br/><br/>“Daphnes…I’m…sorry…” he whispered as he touched the stone before him.  “I did not know…” his voice broke with the unspoken emotion as his vision blurred with the unshed tears. This was almost too much to handle, to take in thinking that his own father had left him to rot in prison for all those years. If this was the truth, then what was he to do now?<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #BF8000">Daphnes walked slowly and put the hand of his good arm on his friends shoulder. "So am I. Had I known you were still among us I'd have come for you myself. Perhaps he knew. Knew you'd make it out. We can't determine that, but we can press forward nonetheless old friend."</span></span><br/><br/>“I was going to kill you…” he said softly. “I was going to kill you and burn this place to the ground. I was just so…angry…” he managed to choke back a sob. “Please…I must restore my honor…how can I make up for the pain I have caused you?”<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #BF8000">A large smile spread across the old man's lips. "I haven't heard someone speak of honor in over 20 years. The darkness corrupted your mind. You are not to blame. If you must apologize do so with the kokiri. You may have spooked them quite a bit. Me? I've had worse." With a grunt Daphnes set his arm back in place, though a grimace replaced his smile.</span></span><br/><br/><span style="font-size: 200%; line-height: 116%;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #FFFF00"><span style="font-family: Hylian Symbols;">f<br/>j</span></span></div></span><br/><br/>Lost in his own thoughts, though slow they may have been, Zuberi follow the smaller man at his own pace. It was the outcry that went up from his traveling companion that drew him from his thoughts. “Fire…must…be…bad…for the….wood…” the giant from the mountains said to himself before he walked over to the clearing. More of the small people ran about as two combatants squared off.<br/><br/>“Hmmmm…” he said softly. “The….one…..in….green. I…I…know…him…” he said, the great hammer that he carried was allowed to slip from his shoulder to crash to the ground. “He…should be dead…” he said in disbelief. When the fires were controlled and the fight seemed to end, the giant hefted his hammer once more and approached the pair.<br/><br/>“Hero…you….should…be…dead…” eyes somewhat cold as he looked down at them. “You…failed us and then you….left…” tone now almost like an accusation. “My people are dying because of you!” the anger was clear as day now as glared down at the man who looked just like the hero he remembered, the man who failed them all and caused all of this pain and suffering.