Signs.
Signs.
Signs everywhere.
The Rito stopped at one after the next, a burlap sack over his shoulder. It appeared that he was shopping, and without Dogura to keep him from reading everything his eyes fell upon, he was making little progress in doing what he set out to accomplish.

The Rito was knee-deep in a flier when you approached him. He doesn't seem to notice you.

It had taken a little while to locate his (hopefully) first recruit, though not as long a time as he'd spent searching for Yukie. The change of scenery wasn't one he reveled in -- going from a nice, quiet forest to a crowded town square was quite the contrast. After all the time he'd spent looking for the Deku, he hadn't even been sure Darkin would still be where Magis had located him, but he'd kept looking anyway.

But at last he spotted the Rito's telltale golden feathers, staring at a bunch of posters. Picking up his pace, he spent the moments it took to reach him to double check that it was indeed Darkin -- he couldn't be the only Rito with gold wings, after all. Upon confirming it, though, he called out above the crowd's din. "Darkin!" He wasn't far away now, so the man ought be able to hear it.

Alpha wrote:"Darkin!"

The Rito immediately turned around, seeking out the voice that called to him. He didn't know too many people, so he was quite curious as to who knew his name. He suddenly spotted a figure in the crowd- a man he hadn't seen in a very long time. He recognized him instantly however; his aura was unmistakable. The Rito folded his arms in concern when the man finally reached him. "Well, Farore's breath!" He said astonished. "I didn't expect to see you in such a crowded area... or at all for that matter. What brings you here?"

"Believe me, I wouldn't have braved this place without a reason," Alpha replied with a smirk . . . one that slowly faded. He drew closer to the Rito until he stood alongside the man; to anyone looking at them, it would appear as though the two were just studying the same group of posters. They probably wouldn't recognize how serious the expression on the Sheikah's face was. "I've received word of a group of attacks going on in Eastern Hyrule, on a small town called Moorshire. The town has been ravaged by spirits that are impervious to physical attack. I'm gathering a few people to assist me in taking out the ghouls -- and I could seriously use your help."

His words might not have said it, but his tone made it abundantly clear that Alpha wasn't just hoping Darkin would agree -- his voice made it seem like a necessity that the Rito in particular be a part of this.

Alpha wrote:"I've received word of a group of attacks going on in Eastern Hyrule, on a small town called Moorshire. The town has been ravaged by spirits that are impervious to physical attack. I'm gathering a few people to assist me in taking out the ghouls -- and I could seriously use your help."

The tone in Alpha's voice was a serious one. The Rito knew immediately that the situation was important to the man. His heart grew uneasy when the intangible spirits were mentioned. He'd never encountered anything like that before. Darkin immediately understood his role in such a mission. As 'The One Who Mastered All Magics' his name was a big one among scholars and mages. Among the common man however, he was just another face; it made it easier to walk among crowds. Darkin knew well that he would be a crucial component to such a mission, but he still needed to know more.

"I may be willing to help, but I've got a couple of questions I need answered first." The Rito closed his eyes, and exhaled.

"I'm a scholar, Alpha. I've never heard of the town of Moorshire. All I know about it right now is that it sits on the eastern continent, and that's only because you just told me. How is it that you heard that the town was in peril? I've not read anything about it anywhere, and I read the paper every day. You also mentioned intangible spirits. This is something that surely would have cause a bit of a ripple in the scientific community. It isn't that I don't trust you Alpha, please don't take it personally. But this story sounds kind of fishy to me. And speaking of fish... There's an entire ocean standing in our way. I presume you've procured a means of transportation?"

The Rito paused.

"And also... Have you seen the samurai recently? If so, tell me of him. Last I saw of him, he was becoming quite powerful, and a lot darker. So what of his power? What of his soul? Has he worsened?"

The drone of the crowd was white noise in the background now. The feathered scholar was completely focused.

"If you can answer me these questions... I'd be happy to join you."

The Sheikah simply nodded at all of Darkin's questions; much as he had hoped people would just agree to come with him, it'd have been foolish to expect it. Unlike the Rito, though, his ears did not start ignoring the racket surrounding them. "I think I can answer your questions, Darkin," he finally said. "But walk with me for a while. Some of this is stuff we wouldn't want others overhearing."

It took a few minutes, but he worked through the details of the recent happenings -- this time including Dogura's involvement in things. Darkin already had inklings of how far the samurai was falling; there was little point hiding it from him now. The battle between Dogura and the White Wing warriors; Alpha's offer of assistance to Farora and the resulting talk with Magis; the Sage's offer and the mission with Katsuro. "Were you aware Katsuro was Dogura's son?" the Sheikah asked when he reached that point. He finished things off with the details Magis had given him of the second mission.

"That's all I know about it." He reached up and massaged his temples for a moment. "Moorshire, the specters, all of that information came from Magis. As for transportation . . . hold on a moment." The Sheikah suddenly slid into a dark alley off to their side. A brief bit of violet light was all Darkin would see.

About a minute later, that same light appeared once more, and Alpha returned from the alley with a grin. "Everything's set up. We have a ship waiting for us in Eastern Parapa."

The Rito listened carefully as he walked with the man. He soaked up every detail, and shook his head in disapproval of the samurai. "Dogura... Why..." He then nodded to Alpha. "Alright then, that explains a lot. I wouldn't have expected the Order to be involved in this... I'm actually astonished they revealed themselves while spectators were nearby. The Order certainly has changed. Alright then, your mention of Magis by name is all the proof I need that you're being truthful."

After Alpha vanished and reappeared, he had confirmation that there was a boat waiting for them.

Darkin promptly nodded at the man, a new look of vitality in his eyes. "Alright then, I'll join you." He stated. "I'll tie up any loose ends here, and meet you in Parapa. Until then, Alpha." The Rito shed his cloak, and spread his wings. A couple of gasps in the crowd erupted as the Rito took to the sky.

"Golden feathers!"
"I'll be damned!"
"Would you look at that!"

The Rito flew upwards towards New Peaktop, into the deep blue.

Alpha stared after the Rito as the man took flight, drawing the attention of a number of passersby. The Sheikah hardly noticed them, though -- he was too busy contemplating Darkin's words.

Darkin wrote:"I wouldn't have expected the Order to be involved in this... I'm actually astonished they revealed themselves while spectators were nearby. The Order certainly has changed. Alright then, your mention of Magis by name is all the proof I need that you're being truthful."

'He knows about the White Wing Sages . . .' Darkin certainly was a powerful mage, but nonetheless, it came as a bit of a surprise that he was aware of them. Alpha had never heard their name before today, and he up until this point he really had been thinking more in line with Darkin's original attitude -- the whole story of Moorshire seemed a bit contrived. Only his desire to be rid of his scar had pushed him to accept Magis' words on faith, but if Darkin was willing to believe them . . . maybe his faith was justified after all.

Well that was a first . . .

After a few moments the Sheikah turned away; he'd ask Darkin for more information during the voyage. For now, he had a few more people to recruit. 'Goddesses, I hope Dogura's not home too . . .'

He vanished back into the Void.


* * *

A rooftop away, another figure also departed . . .