A Royal Contagion

Three days had passed since Zelda's visit to Link's quarters, and the young hero had finally begun to show signs of improvement. Doctor Raymer had been tending to him around the clock, and his efforts had paid off - Link was now able to breathe on his own again, albeit with some difficulty. However, his recovery was not without its setbacks. He had developed a slight case of diarrhea, and his breathing was still very shallow. As Zelda entered Link's quarters, she was greeted by the sight of the young hero sitting up in bed, looking pale and weak. She smiled weakly, trying to hide her own concerns. "How are you feeling, Link?" she asked, taking his hand in hers. Link managed a faint smile. "I'm... getting better, I think," he replied, his voice still weak. Just then, Doctor Raymer entered the room, a look of concern on his face. "Your Highness, I'm afraid I have some news," he said, his voice hesitant. "Link's condition is... not unique. It seems that you, too, have contracted the same illness." Zelda's eyes widened in surprise. "What illness is it?" she asked, her voice firm. The doctor hesitated before speaking. "It's... Ky'Resh, a rare and highly contagious illness that affects the respiratory system. It's caused by a unique strain of bacteria that we've been unable to identify." Zelda's grip on Link's hand tightened. "And what are the symptoms?" she asked. The doctor's expression was grim. "For Link, it's been shortness of breath, back pain, and... other complications. But for you, Your Highness... your only symptom seems to be ringing in your ears." Zelda's eyes narrowed. "Ringing in my ears?" she repeated. The doctor nodded. "Yes, it's a... unusual symptom, but one that we've seen in some cases of Ky'Resh. I'm afraid that, given your... proximity to Link, we need to take precautions." Before Zelda could respond, the doctor continued, "I'm afraid we'll need to move you both to the castle infirmary. It's equipped to handle contagious illnesses, and we can keep you both isolated and under observation." As the doctor's words sank in, Zelda felt a sense of unease wash over her. She and Link, the two people who had always been there for each other, were now facing a mysterious illness together. The infirmary was a large, well-equipped room filled with rows of beds and various medical contraptions. Zelda and Link were settled into adjacent beds, and Doctor Raymer began to explain their treatment plan. "We'll need to run some tests to understand the full extent of the illness," he said, "but in the meantime, we'll focus on managing your symptoms and keeping you both comfortable." As the doctor began to attend to Link, Zelda couldn't help but wonder about the cause of this mysterious illness. Had they somehow contracted it from an outside source, or was there something more sinister at play? As she lay back on her bed, trying to make sense of it all, Zelda couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She closed her eyes, the ringing in her ears growing louder, and wondered what the future held for her and Link.