A Lesson in Futility

A few days had passed since Victoria's visit, and Zelda had been working tirelessly to help Link recover from the poison. His body was still weak, but his mind was sharp, and he was determined to find a way to escape. Zelda, sensing his frustration, had come up with a plan to teach him how to defend himself using a Cortana, a short sword that had been left in the cell. Link stood awkwardly, the Cortana held in his hand as Zelda tried to guide him through the basics of sword fighting. However, it quickly became apparent that Link's experience with swords was limited to wielding the Master Sword, and his skills did not translate well to the shorter, more agile Cortana. As Zelda tried to instruct him, Link's Hylian training kept getting in the way. He swung the Cortana with a powerful, sweeping motion, more suited to the Master Sword, and Zelda had to dodge out of the way just in time. "Link, no! You're not using the Cortana correctly," Zelda exclaimed, trying to hide her frustration. "You need to be more precise, more controlled. Think of it as a precision instrument, not a blunt force." Link nodded, determined to get it right, but his next swing was just as wild and uncontrolled. The Cortana whirred through the air, narrowly missing Zelda's head, and Link stumbled forward, off balance. Zelda sighed, rubbing her temples. This was not going well. She had hoped that teaching Link to defend himself would give him the confidence and skills he needed to escape, but so far, it seemed like a lost cause. Just then, Link's eyes lit up with excitement. "I've got it, Zelda! I've figured out the secret to using the Cortana!" Zelda's heart sank as Link launched himself into a series of complicated, spinning kicks, the Cortana waving wildly in his hand. She watched in horror as he stumbled and staggered, his movements more suited to a Japanese martial arts film than a sword fight. "Link, stop! What are you doing?" Zelda cried, trying to intervene. But Link was too caught up in the moment. He leapt into the air, Cortana flashing in the dim light of the cell, and Zelda was forced to dodge out of the way once again. As Link landed awkwardly on the stone floor, Zelda couldn't help but laugh. "I think we need to work on your technique, Link." Link grinned, his face flushed with excitement. "I know, I know. But I just can't help it. I've always been a fan of anime." Zelda shook her head, chuckling. "Well, maybe we can find a way to adapt your... unique style to the Cortana. But for now, let's just focus on getting you out of here alive." Link nodded, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Don't worry, Zelda. I've got a plan. And it involves a lot of kicking."