The Tale of Wandering Winds
Chapter Four: The Statue's Secrets
The silver links of the chain mail give off a clink! as the shirt was thrown over an auburn head of hair and given a tug, finally nestling over the frame of Aura, the ex-Golden Priestess of Hyrule.
With nary a grunt, she pulled the scarlet tunic, grazing the middle of her thighs that were clad in tan pants. Her long-sleeved white undershirt was already laced up underneath the layer of chain mail, the collar hiding her pale throat.
Once done, she casted a glance at the silver and gray sword that was already sheathed in its' rightful place, laying on the limestone slate that once held her tunic and chain mail. Sitting down on the edge of the slate, she tucked her feet into the dark brown leather boots and tightened them quickly, eager to have the sheathed sword in her keep.
Completely dressed, Aura stood, and reached for the sword, again unsheathing it and gazing into the blade like it was a mirror, catching sight of her pale cheeks and unsmiling lips, her smooth brow, aqua blue blue eyes full of expectation. With a sigh, she slid the weapon back into royal blue and sliver-lined sheath, cradling it in her hands as she turns from the slate.
She climbs up the steps the Sheikah warrior went up before Aura dressed into her new attire, Impa saying she was in need of her presence when she was done.
Aura made quick work of the flight, trying to get accustomed to her clothing, more specifically her pants. Aura had never worn a pair of trousers, and found them almost freeing. She didn't have to push her legs to fight against the extra material that made up the skirts, and Aura found this pleasing.
She stepped up the platform that held the pedestal that once held the silver sword, and the massive statue towering over all of it. Aura found Impa at the foot of the statue, her palms pressed together and in front of her face, her ruby lips forming unheard words. Aura did not hesitate to join Impa, and only a few feet behind her, Aura set down her sword, kneeling in prayer.
Goddesses, permit me safe passage through your land of Hyrule so I may be found in your favor once again. I, Aura, repent of all my sins and beg forgiveness. You have given me a way to seek repentance, and I will give it my all to achieve it. Give me strength, Din. Let me flourish in wisdom, Nayru. Let me walk the path of courage, Farore. Grant me your love, mothers.
Aura ended her prayer with an almost desperate glance upward toward the face of the woman the statue resembled, a spark of wonder of who the effigy was made to look like.
"Hylia," Impa whispered, her face still lowered in prayer. She turned to Aura, moving her hands to her sides. "That's who the statue is of. Hylia, Goddess of the Triforce."
The girl threw her gaze to the carved stone once again while she took up her sheathed sword. "Hylia? I've... I've never heard of her."
Impa chuckled. "Of course you wouldn't know her. She is an ancient deity, one that Hylians now disregard as a legend. But she's still there, influencing the land with her light and peace. Without knowing it, they have a grand lake named after her, right in front of them. They will never know of the goddess that kept them safe... the goddess that's shed tears for them."
Aura walked up to Impa and took her hands within her own. Aura now saw the tears that graced her crimson eyes, spilling over without hesitation. After a few moments, Impa wiped them away and gave Aura a smile.
"The clothes... they look splendid on you."
Aura grimaced and laughed. "It is far from a grand gown, but... they fit me well. That's all that matters. I'm just curious to how I'm suppose to charm Vaati dressed like this."
Impa patted Aura's shoulder before leading her forward to the statue, where Aura found, was another hidden door.
"This place is riddled with concealed passages, is it not?", Aura remarked.
Impa placed her fingertips to the center of the hidden door, murmuring a few words Aura didn't catch. The stone gave way, the smell of dust wafting through the void. Spiderwebs clung to the walls that could be seen.
"Step through, Aura, and learn of your destiny."
Aura did what she was told, and took a timid step forward. She took a few more, entering the darkness of the room. She turned to see her companion hesitating by the entry.
"Are you coming, Impa?"
Impa gave a dip of her head, nimbly moving onward. "Aye."
They entered the room with a low ceiling and musty smell, and Impa promptly whispered a few more words in the odd language, which sent the torches that lined the walls to flare up in fire.
Aura jumped and gazed back at Impa quizzically. "How do you do that?"
"It's the magic that flows through my veins, child. I can manipulate elements to my whim, and other things such as. Few Hylians have this gift."
Aura, satisfied with the answer, turned back to examine the room in front of her, and to her astonishment, found only two, large stone slabs that were fastened to the wall. The circular room was empty, drab brown tile composing the floor, equally mundane stones making up the walls.
Unsure, Aura approached the tablets, taking notice of the words that were carved into them.
"These tablets look like the ones in the temple," Aura remarked quietly. Impa said nothing.
Aura quickly began reading, until Impa stopped her. "Read them aloud, child."
Aura gave a hesitant look to the Sheikah, but gave a nod and cleared her throat.
"This temple was built upon the foundations of bones. Bones that were broken, brittle, and worn. This temple was built upon the foundations of blood. Blood that was defiled, tainted, and black. This temple was built upon the foundations of sorrow. Sorrow that was the cause of suffering, negligence, and violence. This temple was built to house the hope to cure the broken, beaten bones, to purify and cleanse the blood, and to bring hope to the sorrowful many. Shrouded is the land when innocence is taken, few is the number of those loyal. Three is the chosen of good, three is the paths that are laid before thou.
"Through forests and flames, depths of blue and shadowed halls, sandy dunes and pillars of light, there is always a way. Take courage, endeared ones, we never leave thou. Our love in the marrow of thy bones, in the pulse of thy veins, in the peace of thy soul. Radiant child, take to heart our gentle love and care, and the place we've led thou to. Take up thy sword, Chosen One, and fight. Thy task entails so much more than you knowest. Unlock the obstacles and unshroud the secrets. Look for the Oracle of Legend. Le vent soit sur votre dos."
Aura finished the last sentence with a wavering voice. She stumbled over the unfamiliar language, feeling tears sting her eyes. The words she just read seared through her mind.
These words! They relate so well to my disposition! Could this text truly be left for me?
"The last of it says, 'May the wind be on your back'," Impa explained coolly, her arms folded over her chest.
Aura turned to the Sheikah warrior. "What does this tell me, Impa? What will my mission led me to? I know I have to redeem myself through Vaati's devotion to me, but... is there something else? Something... you're not telling me?"
"I've told you all that I know, Aura. You need not fear of my defiance. My loyalties lie with the Golden Goddesses, along with your's."
Aura looked on, seething. "Why do they keep me from knowledge, Impa? Does my mission call for more than the task of capturing Vaati's heart? Is there more?"
Impa returned the hard gaze. "Is your faith lacking, child? Do you question the divine ones?"
Aura's eyes widened, almost panicked. She wasn't really sure what she was feeling at the moment. It felt like disappointment... betrayal. "I feel left in the dark. If they say knowledge is needed to carry out my task, why don't they tell me? Why are they being so fickle?"
The warrior's face darkened. "Fickle? You dare call the Goddesses fickle?! Insolent child, watch your tongue! For the one who is supposed to aid the heavens, you are foolish!"
Aura shrunk back from the furious words that flew from Impa's mouth, but, suddenly, gripping the sheath of the sword and sensing the ominous, powerful feeling run through her blood, Aura straightened her back and bore her teeth.
"I was thrown from my place, I was dragged down by a monster! How am I supposed to act? Courageous, when all I've ever know is this forest? Wise, when all I know is when to harvest the wheat? Powerful, when I've spent all of my life devoted to my Goddesses? Hope, when I've never felt fear? I was thrown into this, warrior! All you've ever known is courageous heroes, wise scholars, and powerful battles! I cannot alter who I am in a day! I was fine before this, happy! But, now... I have to survive. And I haven't even walked out the door!", Aura almost laughed at the last quip she said, but her rage boiled the laughter away. She was enraged, bloodthirsty.
Impa snapped back, shocked by Aura's demeanor change from timid to wrathful. She wasn't sure what to say.
So, she turned on her heel.
The thin soles of her sandals slapped against the stone floor of the hidden chamber, her long braid swishing with every movement. Aura took a step after her, a hand outstretched.
"...Impa, I..."
Aura was answered with a narrowed red eye glaring back to her. "Enough."
All was still.
Then, Impa left, her blonde head bobbing down the stairs, and out of sight. Aura leaned against the stone wall as she took calming breaths, her mind in a whirling mess.
"I'm sorry, Impa," she whispered as a tear rolled down her inflamed cheek. "So sorry."
Aura did not notice she had fallen asleep until she awoke many hours later, her eyes once again sore and puffy. She found that her arms encircled the sheathed sword in a tight embrace. A headache greeted her, accompanied by the faint light that shone from the doorway. It was not sunlight, it was white moonlight.
Night had fallen.
"Impa?", Aura called.
Silence answered back.
"Din bless it..."
The girl struggled up, one hand pressed up against the wall. She straightened her wrinkled clothing and positioned the sheath to one hand, exiting the statue's hidden chamber. The gaping hole that consumed half the ceiling was outlined with the silver gleam of the moon, and Aura noticed the pearly crescent that rested in the sky.
The cistern was illuminated by the milky glow of the crescent, the cerulean water of it now a shimmering ice-blue. The cavern was devoid of any life, including the spirit of the Sheikah warrior, Impa.
Aura gulped, the events that had occurred before her sleep replaying through her mind. She felt guilty of her shameful words and disrespectful attitude towards Impa, remorse weighing her down like a belly full of lead.
Sighing, Aura headed down the marble steps and to the jaded walkway that led out of the dewy cistern. The more steps she took, the more iniquity was piled on Aura's heart, a faint feeling of dishonor stinging along with the guilt.
Without fighting, she let the fresh tears fall from her eyes, a shiver running down her spine.
It was you who committed the sinful act, Aura. Not Impa. She was sent from the Goddesses to put you on your path after Vaati made you stray. If the Goddesses have something to keep from you, let them keep it. It is not your place to know.
Aura roughly wiped the tears that stained her cheeks, the skin raw and irritated. Biting her lower lip, Aura brought out her silver sword and dropped to her knees. She once again gazed into the surface of the blade and saw teary blue eyes and a runny nose.
"Foolish girl... what is the use in weeping?", Aura whispered to herself, watching her lips move in the reflection of herself.
Aura felt broken, like a gaping wound had opened itself on her chest, for all to see. Vaati had done more damage than steal her innocence. He stole her pride, her dignity. Her happiness.
But he hadn't taken one thing, though.
And that was hope.
"He must have thought I was just another flower to soil... noting important," Aura said, her voice shaking. It was shaking from rage. Now, she gave a laugh. Her fingers tightened around the hilt of the sword, her knuckles turning white. "But he was wrong."
With a single, swift movement, she kicked herself up and swung the blade with all of her might, the blade whistling through the air as it cut through the air. Her eyes glowed with a new, rageful gleam, her brow without a single furrow. She looked powerful, but controlled.
And when she brought down her blade, it did not leave. It did not vanish with a wave of timidness. Aura had been reborn.
"And he shall see the error of his ways."
Aura found Impa at the entrance of the temple, her back to Aura. As she approached, Aura heard a tune fall from Impa's lips, one that caused her spine to shiver. Impa's voice was beautiful, but it was haunting as it was majestic. These are the words the Sheikah warrior sang:
"Les enfants du sang
Par la lumière
À défaut les enfants du sang
Thr rivières sont remplies de cendres
Les champs sont maintenant désintègrent
L'espoir a été brisé
Ce jour-là défaut"
Once she was done, Aura let her pent-up breath go. She stood silent for a moment before speaking.
"That... was beautiful."
Impa turned and Aura cringed from the absence of expression on her face. Her red eyes glimmered in the pale beams shed by the moon, her tan skin looked embedded with shards of crystal, her honey-toned hair looked golden. She pointed her face up, looking elsewhere from Aura's face and to the starry sky.
"Is that so?", she murmured.
Aura shifted her leather-bound feet, clearly troubled by the air thick with tension. She refused to say a word.
"It was a song from my tribe from long-ago... it tells of the downfall of the Shadow Clan."
Aura, again, said naught a thing.
"Aura," Impa said gently.
The girl glanced up, silently wishing she was somewhere else, or had the courage to head out on her own. But she needed something first.
"I'm sorry for my short temper earlier... it was unfair to you."
Aura fought back her smile, but a feeling of relief flooded over her.
"I'm deeply sorry, too," she breathed, clenching tighter on the silver sword's sheath.
Impa gave a small, relaxed smile. "It's to be expected from someone who is going through great change... I was too callous towards your feelings. I truly am sorry."
Aura dipped her head in a nod, and returned Impa's smile. "I'm happy to settle that. I felt so terrible to question the gods. It's not my place anymore. I've realized... I am to be an instrument for their decisions."
Impa nodded. "That may be true, but, Aura... you can always make choices by yourself. You should live by your devices and not just for the gods. You have the power to live your own life."
Aura was taken back. Impa's words struck a cord within her, and it resonated in her soul. "Why do I feel like your trying to tell me something, Impa?"
Impa was the one to look shameful now. "I have been keeping something from you, Aura. Something I'm not proud of."
Aura's eyes widened as she felt herself be taken a step back. A fresh wave of surprise mangled with dread flooded her veins, and she, again, felt betrayed.
"What is it?" she hissed, taken back by the sound of her own voice.
Impa did not lower her gaze or try to look away. She stared into Aura's aqua-blue irises with guilt in her body.
"There is an evil stirring in Hyrule. Soon, darkness will plague all of the land, and you've been chosen to vanquish it."
OOOOOOOKKKAAAAAY! That's enough of cliffhangers. I think I'll lay off of the tension-building elements for this story... for now!
So, what did you guys think of this chapter? Not my best, but I liked it!
And, if you were wondering, the Impa in this fanfic is the Impa from Skyward Sword, if the physical description was a bit unclear. ^w^
Also, if you want to know the translation of the song Impa sang in this chapter... you've got to wait! It'll be explained later!
In conclusion, review and favorite as you wish, and have a fantastic day!