[ The question causes Link's lips to press into a thin, tense line. He keeps his gaze cast to the side, avoiding eye contact, although it is not apparent why. Perhaps it is shame, but the look on his face is subtly defiant and defensive. Perhaps he just doesn't want to answer, but if that were the case, he could stand up and leave. Perhaps, he is frustrated — with Akua, with the question, or with himself. Or maybe all of the above. ]

I guess you haven't been reading the newspapers.

[ With this, he sinks a little deeper into the water and heaves a weighty sigh. ]

Two days before the Oracle, I realized I couldn't feel the Meridian anymore. My powers had stopped working. I tried to reach out to it again, but it didn't work. I couldn't find it.

[ This is like chapter 1 of a trilogy when it comes to explaining "what happened," but let's start with that. ]