Ruto traced her finger along the crystalline channel, checking for cracks in the ancient stone. The water flowed clear and cold beneath her touch, exactly as it should. Every morning she walked these sacred springs, making sure Hyrule's water supply stayed pure. Without her, everyone would be dying of thirst in a week. But did anyone thank her? Did anyone grovel at her feet like they should? No. Especially not the one person whose devotion she actually wanted. Link had saved her from Lord Jabu-Jabu's belly years ago, then left immediately to save everyone else. She pressed her palm flat against the cool crystal. One day he would understand that she was the real prize worth staying for. She stopped walking and stared at the path ahead. The springs led back toward the sacred waters where Lord Jabu-Jabu rested. That's where it would happen. That's where Link would finally choose her over all his other quests. Inside that majestic fish's belly, surrounded by danger, he had needed her. She had been the one who knew the way out. Next time he came looking for help, she wouldn't make it so easy. He would have to prove himself worthy of her attention. Her fingers curled into fists. She would make him beg. She would make him stay. And when he finally understood that she mattered more than saving anyone else, she would accept his devotion like the prize it was. But sitting around waiting was beneath her. She needed to be seen, to remind everyone of her importance. The twin white stone pillars near the gathering place always drew crowds. If she made an appearance there, people would notice. Maybe word would reach him, wherever he was running around playing hero. She turned away from the springs and headed toward the pillars. Her plan was simple: show everyone that the Sage of Water deserved attention, make Link realize what he was missing, and finally claim the complete devotion she had earned that day inside Lord Jabu-Jabu. The pillars stood tall against the sky, their white stone bright in the afternoon sun. Water stretched between them, calm and clear. People gathered in small groups, talking and pointing at the view. Ruto spotted something resting near the base of one pillar. A boomerang. She recognized the intricate designs carved into the wood immediately. Link had used one just like it to fight the Biri and cut through obstacles when they escaped together. Her heart jumped. Had he been here? Was he nearby? She grabbed the boomerang and held it up high. If he came back looking for it, she would be waiting. And this time, she wouldn't let him leave without giving her the attention she deserved.

Ruto clutched the boomerang against her chest and scanned the crowd. Link had been here. He had to come back for it. She couldn't just stand around like some common admirer waiting for scraps of attention. No, she needed a real plan. The first step was obvious: figure out what would make him notice her, really notice her. Not as someone who needed rescuing, but as someone worth staying for. She turned the boomerang over in her hands, studying the carvings. Maybe the answer wasn't waiting at all. Maybe she needed to create a reason for him to seek her out, something only she could offer. Her lips curved into a smile. Yes. That was exactly what a Sage of Water would do. She needed information first. What did Link actually care about? What made him choose one quest over another? Ruto tucked the boomerang under her arm and marched away from the pillars. The Temple of Time stood in the distance, its white stone bright against the trees. She had heard people talk about the records kept there, stories of heroes and their great deeds. If anywhere held answers about Link's adventures, it would be there. She pushed through the entrance and stopped. Stained glass windows lined the walls, each one showing the Triforce in different colors. Shelves filled with scrolls and books stretched toward the ceiling. Perfect. She grabbed the nearest scroll and unrolled it. The text described a hero who defeated monsters to protect villages. She dropped it and reached for another. This one mentioned a hero who collected special items. Her eyes narrowed. So he liked prizes. Things no one else could get. She smiled and set the scroll down. Now she knew exactly what to offer him. Outside the temple, she spotted a ceremonial ewer near the entrance, its surface decorated with the Triforce symbol. The vessel held sacred water for rituals. Ruto lifted it and studied the craftsmanship. Water from inside Lord Jabu-Jabu would be even more special than this. She could offer Link something connected to their shared past, something that proved she remembered their adventure together. She set the ewer down and pictured the scene: Link arriving to find her waiting with a gift only she could provide. He would have to acknowledge her then. He would have to stay and talk to her instead of running off to his next quest. But she needed the right tool to make it work. Getting water from deep inside Lord Jabu-Jabu meant going where visitors rarely went. She remembered seeing a grappling hook stored near the sacred waters, the same kind of equipment Link had used during their escape. The metal gleamed with ornate designs. She grabbed it and tested its weight. Perfect. With this, she could retrieve water from the deepest chambers where only she dared to go. Link would return for his boomerang, and when he did, she would present him with something truly rare. Then he would finally understand that she wasn't just someone he saved once. She was someone worth coming back for.