A few days had passed, Rusl gave Link time to think about what he wanted to do. This was a big operation, and once started there was no going back. If the Empire caught Link leading a revolution like this, he would probably spend the rest of his life jailed in an Enforcement Agency, or even killed. Once he left, there would be no more Ordon Village or Uli's warm and delicious pumpkin stew. No, all that would be left behind. A life of war and revolt only awaited Link. But it would be a necessary sacrifice to restore peace back into the world. No longer would the peoples of Hyrule live under the sovereignty of the Empire of the Subspace Army.
Link practically had nothing to pack, only the clothes on his back, and of course, the sword that Rusl had made for him. Rusl had sent word to the Academy headmaster of Links "enrollment". Through clever wording to keep suspicion down from the Empire, Rusl had laid clear Link's true initiative. For the sake of the official Academy records however, Link was but a young man from Ordon Village who wished to be train himself if the event of the Empires protection came. The Knight Academy was located on Skyloft, a providence of Hyrule. Skyloft was very peculiar, as it was a floating provenience. The landmass soared high in the sky above Hyrule. Skyloft had be around long before Hyrules inception. For a good period of time Skyloft was its own separate entity from Hyrule, it was not until recent times that Skyloft officially was a declared a province of the Kingdom.
Rusl and Link waited by the river shore. A Knight from Skyloft would arrive to get Link shortly. The Academy would be tough, but it would lead to the ways of mastering the sword. Rusl put his arm around Link. The two both stood there in silence for awhile. They both just enjoyed each others company for one last time. Link didn't know if he'd ever see Rusl again. Though the two men were often looked upon as the strongest willed among their peers, but in that moment they both shed tears. "Link..." Rusl spoke as he wiped away a tear, "I am so incredibly proud of you. You're on the path to do something that could change the world for the better. Its going to be tough. You might see a lot of things you wished you never saw. But, I believe in you. Don't ever go thinking I'll doubt your virtuoso. I love you Link, please, stay safe." The wings of a Skyloftian Knights Loftwing fluttered as he landed his bird by the river banks. Rusl gave a Link a smile. "And remember, once this ordeal is done, there's gonna be hot pumpkin stew waiting for you!" The men both laughed. They shared one last hug as Link climbed upon the Loftwing. Link gave a nod to Rusl.
The Loftwings were the only means of Skyloftian transportation. Being a floating provenance, its people needed a way to safely traverse to the surface. Loftwings were great birds, one of the largest species found in Nintendo. They had long round beaks and feathery curved tails. The feathers on their wings often formed elegant and beautiful patterns, and they came in many colors. It was a custom in Skyloft for each person to have their own Loftwing, which was a symbol of the divine protection granted by the deity worshiped among Skyloft, the Goddess Hylia. When a Skyloftian is young, they meet their bird companion under the Statue of the Goddess. Having a Loftwing and being able to ride it is what separated the kids from the adults on Skyloft. Link rode on the back one that was a stunning dark blue, with his arms wrapped around the waist of the Knight who piloted it. Link felt bit uneasy as the Loftwing was skillfully dipped and dived through the air, despite the pilots reassurance that it was a completely safe way of travel, as a Loftwing will always catch its rider, and passengers, if they ever were to fall off.
To Link, Skyloft was a marvel. An entire town floating miles above the ground, for centuries. Skyloft was small, a town of maybe 18 people. It had a residential area, were it's residence all resided. It had a bazaar at the center of town, which not only sold quality wears, but also imports from the Kingdom below. And of course there was the Knight Academy, which was the largest building on Skyloft. The Knight dropped Link off at the front doors. He was told not to be sky, and introduce himself the Headmaster, who had been waiting for his arrival. The Academy was not huge by any means, but still big to a newcomer. Link was never much of a talker, and at heart was always a but shy. But, after some directions from from a kindly girl named Karane, Link found the Headmasters office to be the big door on the right, second floor. Link walked down the hallway of the second floor of Academy, the dorms. He glanced at some of the names on the nameplates hung on each door. Pipit, Fledge, Cawlin, Link. Link? How nice, Link thought to himself. They already prepared him a room.
Link knocked twice on the office door. He was welcomed to a "Come in!" by loud and projecting voice. The Academy headmaster was man named Gaepora. He was a wider sort of fellow, quite burly. A neatly trimmed mustache hung from his nose, and small soul patch from his chin. He was balding, though his large, busy eyebrows were quite impressive. All of his hair was white, as Gaepora was considerably old. He spoke loudly, but in a friendly manner. "Ah yes, you must be Link! I have to save I've been quite eager waiting for you to arrive. You're guardian Rusl told me of some big plans that reside in your mind." Guardian? Truly Rusl did love him, Link thought. Gaepora moved from his chair. He shut the large doors to his office and turned the lock. He started talking again as he sat back down. "So, tell me boy, is what Rusl told me true?" Link gave a very honest nod yes. "Good... good. You are setting out to a very, very dangerous thing Link. Believe me, I am no fan of the Empire nor of its unjust and cruelty, but to try and stop it, destroy it even? Now, that just seems like wishful thinking. But, there is something about you, Link. I can not place my finger on it. Many of my knights have expressed their discontent with Empire and how they would love to watch it burn, yet when you say it, I believe it possible. You simply scream to me courage. Not to imply that you are one with out courage, my boy."
Gaebora's manner of speech amused Link. His projecting voice and rather archaic vocabulary was treat to listen to for Link. "Yes, I truly believe that of all people the Goddess has gifted us with, you could be the one to stand against the Empires shows of power and might." Link smiled. "Normally the Academy is only open to Skyloftians. We have prided ourselves with our long standing tradition of Knights. But, you are our honorary student Link. You shall be treated as one of our own. Not to sound pretentious, my boy, but that is not something that happens often. I would not take it lightly." Link sat up straight in his chair with pride, which was only just the slightest bit forced to make a good impression to Gaebora. "Now, if you want to take down the Empire, I will help you. Normally our knights not only take combat classes, but others on the responsibility's and expectations that come with being a knight. However my boy, I think you know well the what you responsibility's will be and what will be expected of you if you take on such a mission as this. So, I'm placing you solely in our combat classes. Not that I doubt your current skills with the sword, but you shall be tough the ways of the Skyloftian master. Once you have become knowledgeable in the ways of the blade, a plan can be formed and strategies laid out for our initial attack!" Gaebota gave a rather excited fist pump as he said this. He then proceeded to give Link his class schedule, show him to his dorm, and introduced him to the other instructors. For the next few months, this would be Link's new home.