A night in the woods

Well. This was... Confusing. It hadn't been long since Oron returned back to Hyrule City for the Starlight Festival only for some fateful meetings to end with him returning to his true life as Oron El Hyrule, a prince and the elder cousin of the recently crowned Queen Marianne. Oron had heard about the news, but it was still a lot to take in... With the impending doom of the Twilight Curtain's expansion on the horizon, Oron had immediately gone to work making some arrangements and doing whatever he could to help Marianne... The process of crafting the swords were already underway and some other business was being worked on. He also had a lot more to be 'properly' caught up on...

However...

Oron was not doing any business right now. In fact, he had strangely been given some time put aside for a... Meeting? Oron wasn't entirely sure what was going on, but apparently 'something' had been set up in secret without his notice until he was informed of it. Nobody seemed willing to tell him what was going on and he was ushered away after being told to 'pretty' himself up a bit and allowing him to pack up his supplies for travel. Thus, Oron found himself in some familiar woods after a bit of traveling. There was a very specific spot he had to go to for meeting this person... Walking along a specific path, he believed he found it? Oron walked into the clearing and looked around... And there didn't seem to be anyone else here. Was he early? Too late? Or was someone messing with him...? "... Um. Hello? Is anyone here?" Oron scratched his head.

Ichika probably would notice that the man looked and sounded... Familiar.

Things remained almost eerily silent besides the sounds of nature around Oron... The weather has been getting a bit warmer. It's rather pleasant. It's a shame about... Everything going on right now. Oron's been trying to find whatever enjoyment he could to keep his mind more at ease... However, the silence was soon broken by... A tapping on his shoulder. Oron was close to reaching for his sword as he quickly turned around only to be met with... A Sheikah woman. Very close to his face. Not only that, he was pretty sure he recognized her face... Wasn't she the one from that one time in the desert...? What was her name again if he ever actually got it...? What was going on here?! He hadn't even been told there was anything that needed to be dealt with... Oron's cheeks reddened as he took a step or two back.

Oron put a hand on his chest and took a deep breath. Wait. She was here for hours?! ... Was she really early or was he actually late? It did take a little while to get out here from Hyrule City after all. "Uhh... My apologies." Oron chuckled awkwardly. As for the question she asked... "I cannot say I have an answer for you. I don't even know why we're out here... Nobody would offer me any specifics other than to meet 'someone'... Did whoever sent you say anything specific?" Oron might be able to slowly piece it together, but dating wasn't exactly an area he had much specialty in so it'd likely take a moment. It didn't help that everyone was being secretive about what the meeting was for...

Well, it wouldn't be good to let a nice day go to waste, right? This might not be completely fruitless...

Oron's eyes widened as she elaborated more on what this whole ordeal was apparently about... A... A HUSBAND!? Wait. Was this supposed to be some sort of date? Who in the name of Hylia set this up on his end?! Who did Ichika's grandmother speak to!? Why was he kept in the dark about something so important?! Oron normally didn't quite have it in em for people who aren't his enemies, but someone was going to get scolded if he finds out who did it... He wondered if she actually recognized anything about him in turn? It was vague, but Oron definitely knew her. "I... I see... That is certainly something I REALLY should've been informed of in advance..." Oron said it almost absentmindedly as he tried to process everything. Well. Ichika herself definitely didn't seem to want to be here, but they were both already here so they might as well make the best of the forced time off...

The question she started with definitely clued in Oron that perhaps she did remember him... That expedition that was an attempt to find the mythical Master Sword that... Went quite awry as expected for something that was too good to be true. Oron never really thought of himself in such a way... If he were some legendary hero, so much tragedy very well could've been avoided... Maybe his parents would still be alive... Maybe... They wouldn't be haunting him... Far as Oron knew, the hero was one of the last people to possess the might of a full Triforce piece as well as being the final wielder of the Master Sword, but was otherwise still a mortal... Thus inevitably died... The Triforce was now shattered and the Master Sword seemed to be fully lost to the sands of time as well... Her tone didn't exactly sound very pleased when making such a comparison and Oron could kind of understand why. "Well. I am many things... A 'bard', an adventurer, and... A Prince. I actually did train with the Royal Guard to get stronger as well as learning a new perspective in the process... I'm rather certain nobody could actually emulate the legendary hero nowadays based on what we know. I do want to help the people however I can, but... I wouldn't really call myself a hero..." Oron sounded a bit sad at his brief musing. Oron perhaps did want that sort of seemingly inhuman power, but he did try to keep himself grounded with the expectations. Oron could never fit the full ideal of... Anything either...

So, he was honest at least, she respected that. There had been far too many times that she meant some arrogant hotshot who ended up endangering the innocent in a hasty drive to do something heroic. The kingdom was plauged with those types lately, and every time she  encountered one her patience with them ran thinner. "Well, not everyone is meant to be a great warrior, and if you ask me the ideal hylian culture props up of larger than life hero's performing superhuman feats of courage is unrealistic. Battle is a cooperative effort, and your competency as a warrior depends on how well you can use your skills and rely on others to compensate for your weaknesses. For every showdown between the hero and the demon, there was a platoon of knights holding back the minions from entering the chamber. We shiekah don't glorify the accomplished, for they were merely doing what was expected of them, and they were aided by many other warriors."  she relaxes somewhat as her respect for him grows. There was nothing she detested more than arrogance, and his show of humility went a long way towards endearing her to him.  "I myself make mistakes in the heat of battle more than I wish to admit, and there have been a fair few times where I nearly paid the ultimate price for said mistakes. The important thing is that you learn from your failures and ensure that you never repeat them, that is how you learn"  

Oron ran a hand through his curly fringes of hair. Well, he certainly has taken his share of impulsive actions on the field of battle, but none of those times involved him trying to be an arrogant hero... Merely losing control to the rage within... Luckily, innocents were never endangered by his actions. Only himself. Silly, inadequate Prince Oron who everyone thought was dead for almost an entire year due to his rage consuming him at the Battle of Eldin... She was right that not everyone was cut out to be a warrior. That was the life that Oron mostly knew, though. He isn't exactly as adept at the political side of things as Marianne is... He tries nonetheless. Ichika seemed a bit cold at first, but she was already easing up a bit. The insight was actually pretty enlightening.

Oron offered a small, wistful smile. "That is all very true... I would never get very far in most fights I've ever been in alone. Most of the time, my failures have always been because of me attempting to go too far without the aid of others..." The hero vs. the demon, huh? Oron unfortunately had a bit of a knack for repeating his mistakes on the field of battle... A demon trying to be a hero... Especially given everything he's been through and witnessed over the past few years... The way she spoke did remind him a bit of Lowain... Though he would phrase it in a much more exaggerated, colorful way. "You are not the only one... I have also nearly lost my life many times in the past due to my shortcomings. Shortcomings that are much more difficult to overcome than more typical flaws. Alas, I cannot simply stop. I have to keep trying. Pushing against it..." Oron clenched his fist. He just wanted the echoes to stop. The cold burning darkness within. The negativity that drives him against his enemies nowadays... "It's good to acknowledge it. It just has to stay in mind so you don't forget it when you're about to make another mistake... It's wise and insightful. Sometimes you need a reminder of that..." Oron chuckled awkwardly. Well. This wasn't too bad so far.