"Power is present inside of every living thing; it is the power to breathe, to think, to exist. All power is derived from the Goddesses and is of its own merit neither good nor evil; it is the heart of the being that serves as a filter, twisting the power within to either create or destroy. Magic, then, is in itself a sort of neutral life energy – do you understand?"

I watched Sahas intently, my mind going over and over the words he spoke, mulling and handling with careful concentration. Slowly, without my realizing it, I began to unwind the white linen wrap that guarded my feet. The first sentences out of his mouth had turned my existing concept of magic completely on its head; now I felt disoriented.

"So even insects have magic?" I asked, just to clarify. My teacher nodded.

"All living things contain life force – and magic is a part of that life force. However, not all beings contain the ability to bend it to their will or to draw it from other things, and those that do have varying talent and skill. Thus, it is most often transferred through receptacles… artefacts. Though they are living things, they are like algae; they are not created to think, but to contain and channel magic energy toward a predetermined purpose. Energy, channelled steadily from the Goddesses and through willing donators, can eventually create an awesome well of reserved power."

"Like the Triforce," I said quietly, rubbing my hand.

"We will get to that," Sahas said, holding up his hand. "The example that I wanted to give is one of the imphaka that the royal family possesses as a symbol of dominion over outlying countries – say for example Byrna. Long ago, talented mages used their energy to create it much as a blacksmith labours to create a horseshoe. They created it with inherent abilities and a certain degree of intelligence so that when it no longer had their energy, it could rely on that of the user to carry out its purpose. It has the ability to protect the user from harm, but only so long as he can maintain the energy needed to use it.

"The imphaka is like the Triforce in that it is an object containing magic, but it does not approach its power by a fraction. This is because the Triforce was created by the Goddesses themselves and therefore serves as a direct, unlimited channel from them to the holder."

"Wait," I said, holding up my hand to halt the bombardment of information, "Am I to believe that I have at my disposal a store of magical power so great that I could wipe out an army if I so wished?"

Sahas knit his brow, looking truly concerned. The frown made his features sharp, and I wanted to flinch away. He could be soft and grandfatherly one moment and fierce as a hawk the next.

"Hopefully," he said sternly, "You would not so wish it. An army is made up of many individuals, each not necessarily fighting against the cause of goodness and peace. To wipe out an army with such flippant will would be the act of a thoughtless child."

I raised my chin, my pride hurt. What was he suggesting? "I was merely clarifying; I never suggested that I would wish to do it. In fact, I would not. Rest assured."

"Either way," Sahas began again, speaking slowly, "You lack the knowledge and the skill to harness that energy. As you are now, you are like a swordfighter with a perfect blade and no arms."

"But you will teach me," I said, trying to soften my stance. I'd tensed with defensive indignation when he'd seemed to suggest that I would thoughtlessly exterminate thousands. The result could be called peace, but it would truly only be a silence: one filled with blood, resentment and shame.

Sahas seemed to study my face for a long moment and then relaxed as well, nodding solemnly. "I will teach you," he affirmed, "starting with the basics. Using magical objects with caution and discretion, first; magical objects are designed to draw on your own energy as you make use of them and so will guide the process on its own. And then… meditation. You shall not be able to draw out and shape any energy at all without the proper ability to concentrate."

Meditation? That sounded easy enough. And as for artefacts…

"What kind of magical objects?" I asked, smiling. My curiosity had been roused by the mask that morning; obviously that was what he had intended.

"There are countless magical objects of varying power and purpose scattered throughout the kingdom. Some occur naturally or are made from natural things, like a jabus bag; others are created, crafted to serve a specific purpose. The Goron's Bracelet, for example," he said, gesturing to the golden bracelet resting on the nearby shelf among Link's other possessions. "Increases the physical strength of the wearer. It has other magical properties as well, as most objects will; namely, it can expand or shrink to fit the wrist of the one who wears it."

"Who makes these things?"

"Magical items are exceptionally difficult to create, as they require absolute focus of attention and will while simultaneously sculpting a physical shell. Thus, only very skilled sorcerers will have any success. Many artefacts, you will find, have been made by the Sheikah in Kakariko."

"The gossip stones," I said, "will I learn to use those?"

"Yes, but only to watch. We have often used them as portals in the past, but we are sure that they are being monitored by Ganondorf's minions. We cannot be too careful in times like these."

"Ah, yes…" I said, my mood immediately sinking at the unexpected reminder of my current predicament.

"Hmm," Sahas said, observing my sinking spirits. "Perhaps we should start with meditation after all."


"Again."

This time, I didn't sigh. I didn't squirm or frown or whine. I knew, by now, that it would do no good. It was a pattern that we'd established and repeated, over and over, at least fifty times now: I would recite the nine tiers of the Sacred Hierarchy of our religion, never considered an easy task, and he would direct me to start over again. My voice was growing hoarse. The scripture was ingrained in my brain by now, more so than it had ever been. In my head rang nothing but levels and names and numbers, bouncing around and formulating as they poured from my lips.

"The Three Goddesses: Din, Farore and Nayru.

"The Aspect Guardians: Earth, Two Turtles; Wind, Two Frogs; Forest, Four Trees; Water, Four Fish; Fire, Two Dragons; Shadow, Four Demons; Light, Four Spirits; Spirit, Two Snakes; and Time, Four Giants.

"Sages of the Outer Order: of Forest, Fire, Water, Light, Shadow and Spirit.

"Sages of the Inner Order: of Time, Earth and Wind.

"Oracles: of Din, Farore and Nayru.

"Spirits,

"The Free Races,

"Animals,

"and the Undead."

Suddenly Sahas stretched one hand out over my head and with the other indicated the Jabus bag on the nearby shelf. "Retrieve that bag," he said quickly, before I'd even drawn a breath to begin again.

With my droning pattern (so fully the object of my concentration for the last two hours) suddenly removed, my mind wiped blank and all that remained was the impulse to follow the order. I directed my will to retrieve it but found in a confusing moment that I could not move a muscle; and yet I watched as, wavering and dragging, the bag flopped from the shelf and made its way jerkily across the dirt-covered floor to tap my bare foot.

Sahas let his hand fall back into his lap and relaxed back into his chair, watching as my body sagged in the absence of his magic and shock and amazement registered in turns across my face. I was too preoccupied with the idea that I'd moved something without touching it to care that, essentially, he'd just tricked me. He was a competent teacher… and I felt exhausted.

"You are still drawing on your own power, which is limited. That will be your natural instinct. You must learn to empty your mind of all but will; then you shall be able to do far more than move a bag a few feet."

I smiled wearily at him, beginning to take up and rewrap the linen strips I'd removed from my feet earlier. Tonight would be my turn to cook. Lena was hardly a top chef herself, but she was obviously doing her best at teaching me. While we worked around the house she would quiz me on 'our family'; and that was the worst bit, however simple, of all of this training. 'Who is your father?' she would ask, and I would have to swallow all of my sorrow and worry and answer that my father was Morik, even as I missed and longed for my real father. Denying him stung like a swarm of bees trapped in my ribcage.

"Where do you think you're going?" Sahas asked, and I halted near the door.

"Aren't we… done?" I asked, sagging. As exciting as the prospect of learning magic was, I had found that in fact it was exhausting work.

"Not by any stretch of the imagination," he laughed, gesturing for me to sit back down. I did so with a heavy sigh, which he ignored completely.

"Now, let us see if you can put the bag back…"


At dusk, I managed to make my way to Lena's tent with a gait that much suggested that I was dragging my own body behind me. She didn't turn to look at me as I entered, just gestured to the produce she'd gathered on the low table near the fire pit.

"It's your night," she said simply, "and I thought that a stew would be appropriate."

I groaned. Stews and cereals, cereals and gruel, every single night. If I'd known that the shadow guardians of the kingdom had so little to feed themselves, I'd have had a firm talk with my father. Well, I thought firmly, there will be time for that yet.

When we finally sat down to eat, Lena pointedly sniffed at my gooey creation and made a face. I narrowed my eyes but said nothing, enthusiastically digging into my own bowl and struggling as I did not to make a face myself.

When we were finished and I sat on the floor scouring the kettle, Lena did the unthinkable: conversed.

"How went your training with Sahas?"

I looked up at her, standing and staring out the door with a faraway gaze, in surprise. A lark gave a mournful cry somewhere out in the night. She gave me a sharp glance at the long silence and I quickly went back to work on the cleaning up.

"Well enough," I shrugged, "though for such a supposedly powerful entity, I have an outrageously difficult time so much as moving across the room magically."

"That's no surprise," she said, once again staring out the open doorway. "My talent never lay that way, but Sahas always said that learning magic was like…"

"Learning to dance with two left feet," Sheik finished for her as he entered, pulling the curtain firmly shut behind him. His eyes swept over me and then went to Lena. Something silent seemed to pass between them, and then Sheik jerked his head toward the door. Lena nodded, almost imperceptibly.

Feeling left out of the loop, I said quietly, "You're just in time to witness a miracle. Lena's decided to be chatty tonight," and laughed nervously. Sheik smiled at me, but it seemed distracted and unnatural. Forced. Lena was busy rewrapping her wrists, and she too looked distracted. I heard faint rustling outside, and the murmur of many voices. When a gust of wind caught the curtain on the door, Sheik held out his arm to block it; but I was able to catch a glimpse of movement beyond.

My smile disappeared. "The tribe is mobilizing," I said, my throat constricted. I turned to Lena, feeling somehow… betrayed. "You were trying to distract me," I added needlessly, my voice rising in volume.

I leapt up without hesitation and charged toward the door, but Sheik caught me in his arms. "Penka, stay inside!" He said, trying to hold onto me as I struggled against him.

Realising that there was no way that I would be able to overpower him, I straightened and glared into his eyes.

"Sir," I said darkly, my voice no longer that of a scared little girl. "Release me this instant." He stared wide-eyed into my eyes silently for several moments and I held his gaze, unwavering. "That's an order," I snapped, and he released his hold on my arms abruptly.

No one tried to stop me as I raced toward the cliff on which I'd stood just that morning with Sahas, now dark and treacherous in the failing light. I skid to a halt beside the edge and fell to my knees, staring down at the sight of Kakariko aflame. The budding city was like a hearth of glowing embers in the night.

"Come away from the edge." I jumped as Sheik gently gripped my elbow, trying to pull me away from the scene.

"Has the capitol already been taken?" I asked, hoping against hope.

"No," said Sheik, "the people still fight. Our allies in Labrynna march to join them as we speak."

"How did they take Kakariko? How could they possibly have gotten men up the pass?" The village had never fallen. It had stood for countless years, mysterious and invincible.

"They need only have snuck in one man. What has overtaken Kakariko is an ancient demon," said Sheik, still holding my elbow. "Resurrected by Ganondorf."

"Resurrected?" I asked, shaking his hand from my elbow. He only stepped closer, but this time he didn't touch me. I wasn't sure that I really wanted to know; but I had to keep him talking. I needed a voice of reason. I needed to feel something other than powerless.

"He was once one of our kind, a drummer, and lived in the village. He had a strange ability to always, unfailingly, see the truth… and it drove him insane. He was condemned and executed for murder. To remove the hands that committed the deed and the head that conceived of it: that is the way of our laws. But dark magic existed in him. He was sealed away, deep in the earth. Ganondorf has found him and unleashed his insane wrath upon Kakariko."

I don't know how long we stood in silence, gazing down at the wreckage that was the budding village of Kakariko.

"Sheik," I finally said, watching the fires of Kakariko flicker. "I should be down there helping them."

"Someday you will be strong enough," he said, his voice just as flat and cold as it always was despite the comforting words. "Someday the Hero of Time will awaken, and the fires of this war will cool."

I closed my eyes against tears, my eyes stinging from the smoke.

"Someday… I think that that is the saddest word in our language. There is so much longing and false promise in that word, whether you are waiting for something pleasant or unpleasant."

Sheik took my elbow again and tugged, but I refused to budge.

"Someday," I said sadly, turning at last to look at him with bloodshot eyes. "But people are dying today."