"A Glimmer of Hope"

Guard Thane's voice was low and urgent as he spoke to Nurse Elara, his eyes darting towards Link, who was still gazing up at Zelda with a mixture of fear and sadness in his eyes. "I'm telling you, Nurse, he's a ticking time bomb. If he shows any sign of aggression, we need to put him in a permanent coma. It's the only way to ensure everyone's safety." Nurse Elara's expression was firm. "I won't do it, Guard Thane. You know as well as I do that inducing a permanent coma in a Hylian is one of the five most harmful things you can do to that race." Guard Thane's face darkened. "I don't care about the risks. I care about keeping people safe. If you won't put him in a coma, then at least he should be back in the dungeon, where he can't harm anyone." Nurse Elara shook her head. "You're not listening, Guard Thane. Inducing a permanent coma in a Hylian is not only harmful, it's also a travesty. It's one of the five most egregious acts that can be committed against a member of that race. Do you know what the others are?" Guard Thane's expression was skeptical, but Nurse Elara continued, her voice steady. "Torturing a Hylian with the intent to break their spirit, amputating a Hylian's limbs without their consent, erasing a Hylian's memories, forcing a Hylian to witness the destruction of their homeland, and... inducing a permanent coma." As she spoke, Zelda worked on freeing Link from his restraints. She had already managed to remove the cuffs and most of the bindings, but one particularly stubborn strap remained, a thick leather band that secured Link's wrist to the bed. Zelda tugged on it, but it refused to budge. Link watched her, his eyes filled with sadness and fear. He didn't show any signs of aggression, just a deep-seated despair. Zelda's heart went out to him as she worked on the strap, her hands gentle as she tried to coax it into releasing its hold. Meanwhile, Nurse Elara continued to argue with Guard Thane. "You can't seriously be considering putting a Hylian in a permanent coma, Guard Thane. It's not only morally wrong, it's also against the laws of our kingdom." Guard Thane's face was set in a determined expression. "I'm willing to do whatever it takes to keep people safe, Nurse. If that means putting Link in a permanent coma, then so be it." Nurse Elara's expression was firm. "I won't let that happen, Guard Thane. I'll do everything in my power to prevent it."