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“When I die, I want the ranch to continue to thrive. For Malon to find a way to keep going; not just for me, but for her as well.”
“You aren’t gonna die here old man! You aren’t!”
A light chuckle – weak in nature, but mirthful nevertheless.
“You’re right, I’m not.”
“Then stop speaking as if you are… please.” Uncharistic pleading, but he could not take the loss that those words imply.
“My point still stands, Vet. I still want that, and we all know the life of a hero is dangerous. That anything could happen at any time.” You, more than most of the others, is what has been left unsaid.
Still, an unknown magical attack all but wiping the Hero of Time out of the fight and flinging him into a wall behind is not the time to be bringing up what is to be left behind. Especially as the Veteran notices the slight difficulty breathing seems to have taken for the Old Man. Hopefully, he hasn’t busted a lung or something like that… Hopefully it’s just bruised ribs at the worst.
Especially considering the others are still locked in combat and the Traveler has yet to have the time to approach the two of them.
“I know.” He speaks, voice clipped as he speaks.
“The family I’ve built, the life I’ve managed to make for myself… even if it’s not remembered, I want the best for them.”
“Yeah…” The veteran hero trails off a bit, thoughts flowing in his head. “I… don’t think I want to be remembered. Or… anything like that. I know I am but… a life where I just live at my orchard, doing mundane things without being dragged away every time I think I’m finally ready to start _living_ again… That’d be ideal.”
He knows already that his memory lives on – his legacy and the time he currently lives will live on for a long time; the Traveler is enough proof for that. Still… he felt like being honest here.
“Just… something to think on, yeah? We all want something but… time has an odd way of unraveling.”
“Mhm…” A moment passes. The sound of the fighting has lessened; seems like the others are almost done. “You know… the Ranch is still up and running in my time.”
“Is it really?”
“Yes.” A moment of hesitation before continuing. “My grandparents live there; Malon’s legacy lived on even in my time.”
The affectionately nicknamed ‘old man’ smiles a bit before opening his mouth to respond before being interrupted by a cough which all but sends the others towards them.
The Veteran can’t help but be thankful as the hero of Hyrule and hero of Twilight storm forwards and all but demand the attention of Time. He got away from the questions this time at least… He doesn’t want to think of the implications that their ‘old man’ could have ever been the Fallen Hero…
That is a Legacy that the Hero of Legend would not wish upon anyone.