5 days earlier...

A light rain fell from the sky, as if the Goddesses themselves were in mourning. In the hazy gloom, a single rider strode across Hyrule Field. A black cloak with gold trim shielded the rider from the rain, billowing behind as the white horse carrying it galloped toward Hyrule Castle on the horizon. They hadn't been traveling for long, but the rider urged the horse onward. The drawbridge was already lowered as the rider approached, awaiting the visitor's arrival. The horse strode right through, and the Hyrule guards watched carefully from their sheltered watchtowers. They knew that horse, even they didn't recognize the cloaked rider.

Guiding the horse skillfully throughout the outskirts of the town, the rider passed straight by the upper and lower class residencies, and their respective stables. After weaving through the cobbled paths and past the guards who made no comment, the rider finally stopped. They were in a large courtyard, rectangular hedges and flowerbeds leading toward a small amount of steps that stretched the length of the Castle front. The rider led the horse up the few steps, sheltering them from the rain beneath the stone awning. Dismounting effortlessly the rider finally lowered the cloak's hood to reveal a young woman with sharp features, darker skin, and a head of strikingly blonde hair, tied back in a tight ponytail. But her most notable feature by far was the pair of piercing red eyes. It was a trait that marked her as what she really was, a living mystery: one of the ancient Sheikah tribe. And although many of the guards had never seen a Sheikah before, they all recognized one and new the significance of one's presence.

When the large double doors opened, a stout man with a thick head of brown hair and mustache wearing deep orange robes with symbols of the Triforce embroidered on the sleeves looked up at the Sheikah. "You've come," he said urgently. "Come inside, please, out of the wet. We will see to your horse. Marko." He gestured to one of the boys waiting by his side patiently. Marko took the white horse's reigns, guiding him across the courtyard toward the Castle stables. The Sheikah wordlessly followed the older man inside.

"My name is Rauru," he said once the doors had shut behind them with a loud, echoing bang. "I'm the castle steward." When the Shiekah said nothing in response, he nodded a little anxiously. "I will lead you to the King. He is waiting in the inner courtyard."

They walked through the spacious hall, and the Sheikah gazed around with no real expression on her face. The ceiling was covered in elaborate relief work depicting the Golden Goddesses' creation of Hyrule, along with the heroic and selfless conquests of Hylia. It was truly a masterpiece that went largely unseen by most of the population.

When they entered the courtyard, it was teeming with life. To either side of the pathway, flowers from all over the world blossomed in abundance. Insects of various kinds fluttered and buzzed about the Sheikah's head that she'd never even heard of before. Small streams flowed between the flowerbeds to a central pond, where right in the middle rested a small, covered pavilion. Beneath the shelter from the rain sat King Daltus himself, eyes glued to an old leather-bound book. He was still a young man, not yet married. His hair was a light brown and facial features rather bulky. He wore a garment of red and gold, and the symbol of the Triforce hung around his neck.

"Your Highness," said Rauru, "you have a visitor."

The King looked up. "Yes, I see." His voice was rather elegant, yet with an underlying hint of ruggedness. "Thank you, Rauru. Will you stay for our meeting?"

"Certainly, Your Highness," said the steward.

King Daltus looked at the Sheikah somewhat expectantly. "Who might you be?"

The Sheikah stepped forward, bowing at her waist. "Your Highness, I am the shaman of Kakariko Village, the residency of Sheikah just on the outskirts of Hyrule Field," she said with an incredible formality. "My name is Impa."

The King's eyes narrowed for the briefest of moments. "No doubt a family name."

Impa straightened again, red eyes revealing no emotion. "It is shared with my ancestors." She folded her hands behind her back.

"Have a seat," said the King, gesturing to both the Sheikah and his steward. They walked across the flat bridge and took seats across from the King. "You must be young for a Kakariko shaman."

"Not at all, Your Highness," said Impa. "Sheikah live for hundreds of years. We age and mature accordingly. Although I may appear a twenty-year-old, I have lived for nearly sixty Hylian years now."

"How fascinating," said the King. "Are there many of you in the village?"

"The Sheikah prefer a secretive lifestyle," said Impa. "I'm sure this is why we have adopted the name of the Shadow Folk from your citizens."

The King's eyes glinted in the dim lighting. "Anyhow," he said after a small pause. "It appears Rauru's message reached you in good time."

Rauru nodded. "Yes. I'm glad the symbol of the owl has still held its place in this era. Thank you for coming."

"Anything to serve the family of our Goddess," said Impa. Her voice, although still stoic on the surface, contained the slightest hint of malcontent. Even though the Sheikah lived to serve the Royal Family and protect the mortal forms of the Goddess Hylia, their oath to secrecy and discovering the truth often revealed information that painted the mortals a darker color.

"Shall we cut to the chase?" said Rauru, sitting forward. "Impa, I'm sure it's no secret, the rumors floating around Hyrule." When Impa remained silent, he continued. "Many have become...displeased with Hyrule's position in the land."

King Daltus looked at Impa. "Although we have done everything we can to serve our people." Impa's expression didn't flicker. "I'm sure you are well-versed in Hylian history."

Impa nodded. "My people have been around longer than the Hylians."

The King smiled. "I'm sure. In fact, they were a key factor in Hyrule's salvation."

"It wasn't Hyrule at the time," said Impa.

After a terse moment, Rauru spoke up. "What we are trying to say is that the Sheikah were a great help when we were in peril before. And now, our land might be in danger once more. After His Highness announced his motion to unify all of Hyrule under the Royal Family, including the Goron settlement, there has been endless talk about rebellion."

"I've heard," said Impa.

Rauru shifted slightly, unaware of what to do with the Sheikah's nonchalance. "We are afraid that the humans who occupied this land before the Hylians descended might join forces with the opposing side."

"They call themselves the Dinerats," said the King, "most likely as a reference to the Goddess who created the land."

"For fear of receiving a distasteful name from those who oppose us," said Rauru, "we've coined a term for our followers. The Adventaries."

"Those who believe and venerate the coming of the Goddess," said the King.

Rauru continued, "It has become clear to us that many do not see Hylia as a savior, but as an abandoner. That she only selected a few to be her chosen, and the rest were left to suffer on the ground. They make no acknowledgement of all she went through for the salvation of Hyrule."

Impa nodded. "What exactly is their quarrel?"

"They do not wish to serve under one kingdom," said King Daltus.

"Are there benefits to doing so?"

"Certainly. I plan to let every province maintain its current status, just to pledge fealty. They'll of course gain military and financial advantages, save for a bit of tax come our way. It's practically a benefit in every way."

"They only oppose," said Rauru, "because the Royal Family is Hylian."

Impa nodded, pondering to herself for a moment. "So the Dinerats consist of humans, Gorons, and Zoras." The two men nodded. "What about the Gerudo?"

For a moment the men said nothing. After a displeased look, the King finally said, "What about them?"

Impa looked at the King long and hard. If anything revealed what she was thinking, it was those bright red eyes staring for an indefinite amount of time at their victim. Eventually, she said, "They're Hylian too, no?"

Rauru shifted uncomfortably while the King returned Impa's hard gaze.

"They were once something entirely different," said King Daltus. "Now they have become some kind of hybrid race. It is not our say whose side they will choose to take."

"There are no non-Hylians on the side of the Adventaries then?" said Impa.

"I'm sure there are," said Daltus. "But the point of this meeting is not who is on each side, but that there are even sides at all."

Impa held the King's gaze. "Yes. You are informing the Sheikah of the looming possibility of a civil war."

The King seemed to tense at the comment, jaw clenching. "It is one I am rather reluctant to admit."

Impa nodded. She looked to Rauru, who had been nervously and idly wringing his hands. "Is your military prepared for war?"

"That is the idea," said the steward with an anxious laugh. "But what country is prepared for civil war?"

The Sheikah nodded again. "As you may be aware already, Kakariko and the Sheikah tribe will fight by the side of the Royal Family at any cost."

"That is what we like to hear," said the King, standing up. "It is good to know that in these trying times we still have a constant ally."

Impa and Rauru stood as well. The King excused himself from the courtyard, leaving the steward to guide their guest out of the castle. But Rauru turned to the Sheikah, voice lowered.

"Impa," he said quietly, "I realize there is danger stirring in our land with all this talk of rebellion. But there is something else much deeper occurring."

Impa, standing a foot taller than the Hylian, looked down at him. "Something is awakening. I believe I've noticed as well."

Rauru nodded vigorously. "Yes, I imagined you would, being the shaman of your people. I have been reluctant to speak directly to the King about it, since the rebellion has weighed more on his shoulders than he lets on."

Impa was quiet for a while, before lowering her voice as well. "The land itself is reawakening," she said. "Something is approaching, and the first signs of its coming have already revealed themselves."

"I agree," said Rauru, "and I believe you are the first."

Impa knew what he was referring to; her name was no coincidence considering the Sheikah tradition of naming. Being a tribe of truth-seekers, newborns are not "named" until the name is discovered through the Lens of Truth. Often the name is not known until the child has developed cohesive sentence structure in its thoughts. Impa's name was seen the first time her mother used the Lens, a few days after her daughter's birth.

"My name," said the Sheikah.

"You bear the name of the ancient Sheikah who assisted Hylia in her quest to save Hyrule. We mustn't overlook this obvious sign that she is returning. It is the ideology of our people!"

Impa shot Rauru a somewhat stern look. "I'd be careful what you claim, steward." With that, she fastened the cloak around her shoulders and turned on her heel to leave.