Ghirahim watched Aria's face closely as she looked down at the sealing spike jutting up out of the earth. She seemed utterly unperturbed by the dark aura emanating from it. Ghirahim wondered if it was due to her underlying dark aura.

"That sealing spike contains my master, Demise," he explained, causing Ari to look up, "I hope to resurrect him one day soon. As it is, I'm afraid a few rather bothersome obstacles stand in the path of that dream."

"You have a master?"

"Why, yes! This dismal land was much more beautiful when it ran rampant with his minions. But now my master is contained by a stupid piece of stone and Hylia is running around in the body of that golden haired girl and somehow amazingly evading my grasp!"

Ghirahim sighed at the quizzical look on Ari's face.

"Forgive me, I'm getting carried away and only serving to confuse you," he apologized, "Allow me to explain the whole story to you. Many years ago, a race known as the Hylians dwelt on the Surface, watched over by their goddess Hylia."

Ghirahim fell silent as Ari's face suddenly twisted into a look of concentration. He raised a quizzical eyebrow at her.

"What is it?" he demanded, feeling rather miffed that he had to interrupt his story.

"This goddess...Hylia? She was...important?" Ari asked brokenly.

Ghirahim narrowed his eyes, "Yes. Does she remind you of something?"

Ari was silent for a moment, then shook her head.

"Very well, then perhaps I can finish my tale without further interruption?"

Ari nodded.

"My master Demise defied Hylia and her creations, so he attempted to wipe out their whole pitiful existence. Unfortunately, Hylia...bested him, and sealed him away. She raised an island in the sky and brought her people there to keep them—" He pulled a face. "—safe. Then for whatever reason, she foolishly decided to reincarnate herself as a Hylian. And for years, I have been trying to break her insufferable cloud barrier so I can get my hands on that little—"

Ghirahim stopped himself, glancing up at Ari's blank face before muttering, "Well, I'm getting carried away again."

"So does that mean I'm a Hylian?"

"Naturally I would assume so, but I have reason to believe you are not Skyloftian."

Ari's brows furrowed, "Why not?"

"You appear to possess a certain ability," Ghirahim said slowly, watching Ari's reaction carefully.

"What do you mean?"

So she doesn't know after all.

"When I first found you, I sensed a faint aura around you. It much resembled my own, in fact."

"So you have, um, abilities?"

Ghirahim smirked. Raising one hand, he snapped his fingers and four glowing diamonds appeared over his head, hovering weightlessly in midair. Ari gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. Ghirahim snapped his fingers again and the diamonds vanished. Ari's hands dropped to her sides but her mouth still hung open in astonishment.

"Are you not Hylian?" she asked.

"No. I'm a spirit."

"A spirit? You mean, like a ghost?"

Ghirahim chuckled, "No, not at all. I'm the spirit of a sword. My master Demise forged me himself."

"You're a sword..."

Ari's words died away, her lower lip trembling with some sudden emotion, the pain visible behind her eyes.

"What is it?" Ghirahim asked.

Ari ran her fingers through her hair, vexed.

"I feel like there's something I'm supposed to know, something I'm supposed to remember, but no matter how hard I try I just can't!"

"How long were you sitting in those woods before I found you?"

"I don't know."

Ghirahim waved a hand dismissively, "Never mind that then. At any rate, I believe this power of yours may be put to some good use. Would you permit me to train you?"

"Train me? So that I can do the whole—"

She snapped her fingers.

Ghirahim smiled in amusement, "Not quite. It depends on whether or not your powers are the same as mine, which I very much doubt they are."

But a voice in the back of his head wasn't so sure.

Is it possible that she could be another sword spirit? I was sure Fi and I were the only ones. Of course sword spirits can only be forged by someone with god-like power. Aria's aura is dark like mine, so she can't possibly have been created by Hylia. Besides, I'm sure my master would have known of it if she'd forged another sword spirit, just like he knew of Fi. And if my master had created a second, I surely would have been aware. Besides, he would have no need of another. He has the utmost confidence in me. Yes, it's clear to me now. She cannot be a sword spirit. There must be some other explanation for her aura.

But for some reason, he couldn't shake the nagging doubt that he was wrong.