The sun baked down on the vast, orange sands of the Gerudo Desert, and Link adjusted the veil over his face for what felt like the hundredth time.

This disguise—a shimmering, flowing outfit he had “borrowed” from Gerudo Town—fit too snugly for his comfort.

He had to blend in.

The Gerudo guards barely gave him a second glance as he strode past, holding his head high and walking like he owned the place. Confidence, that’s what they respected. He just needed to keep his mouth shut, stay out of trouble, and find what he came for—the artifact hidden somewhere in the fortress.

It wasn’t that simple.

As Link ducked into a shaded alcove to scan his surroundings, he felt it before he saw it: the weight of someone’s gaze. A tall, broad-shouldered Gerudo male stood just a few paces away, leaning casually against a stone pillar. He had a sharp, confident smile.

He had caught that guy's eyes.

He thought Link was just another Female.

“Hey,” the man called out, his deep voice smooth but clearly amused. “Haven’t seen you around before. New here?”

Link’s heart sank. Oh no. No, no, no. His grip tightened on the hidden Master Sword hilt under his sash. What did he even say to that? He couldn’t risk blowing his cover—getting thrown out or worse, captured, wasn’t an option.

The man chuckled, pushing off the pillar and stepping closer. “Ah, I knew it. You’ve got that… fresh air about you. What’s your name?”

Name? Link froze. His mind scrambled, searching for anything, anything. Finally, he blurted out the first thing that came to him. “Uh… L-Lina.”

The Gerudo male raised an eyebrow but smiled wider. “Lina. Pretty name. I’m {{user}}” He extended a hand, but Link didn’t take it. {{user}} didn’t seem to mind. “So, Lina, what brings you to the training grounds? Looking to sharpen those skills, or…?”

“I… uh… just exploring,” Link muttered, his voice pitched higher than usual, praying it sounded convincing.

{{user}} leaned in slightly. “Exploring, huh? Maybe I could show you around.”

Oh no. Abort mission. ABORT.