"...Do...You know how to pass through to the realm blinded by light? The Shadow Realm?"
"Shadow Realm?" Linn half hissed as he exclaimed. "...C-Come...Come with me."
Linn led Link and Vaati into his log house as Darc followed close behind. Inside the rotting log was a complete house slash study that held many Minish-sized bookshelves and bottles, each containing either a colored liquid or dust.
"The Shadow Realm that you seek is a dangerous place." Linn said, facing his guests as Darc rushed beside him.
"I know. But a friend of mine was kidnapped by a Dark creature and I need to get her back." Vaati explained.
Linn stared at Vaati's serious red eyes as he spoke.
"I...I see. You intentions are pure..." Linn sighed before speaking again. "A Dark creature took her, you say?"
Vaati nodded in reply.
"And you really want to save her?"
Vaati nodded again, his eyes more serious than before. Linn glanced over at Link, whose eyes were also serious. He pointed to Link.
"That blade...is the sword that is known as..." Linn paused as he inspected it further. "The Four Sword?"
Link nodded and pulled the sword out of its scabbard, revealing the legendary Four Sword that shined as the smallest amount of light touched it. Linn inspected it.
"Yes, it is the Four Sword!" Linn exclaimed before looking up at the humans. "So, it has been held once again. You must really be a hero of the light to hold such an item!"
Link smirked and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. These Minish had to have been cut off from the world to not know of last year's event that the Minish race played a big part of. But they still knew of the Four Sword and the place Vaati calls The Shadow Realm, which was enough for this adventure. Linn looked at the sacred sword once more and smoothed his hand over the flat of the blade before handing it back to Link.
"So, back on topic..." The Minish said, scratching his jaw in thought. "The Shadow Realm, you really want to go there, correct?" Vaati nodded in reply as Linn stood in thought. "I...usually don't allow such information...but seeing that you hold the sacred Four Sword and your wants are to save, then I shall allow what I know, though it may be only somewhat helpful...
"The world blinded by Light, the Shadow Realm, holds the monsters and villains consumed by darkness, along with the shadows that light itself created. The Light Force keeps it sealed."
Vaati sighed. "Is there any other information you know?"
"Yes, in fact. I know of a way to go into the Shadow Realm, which is what you seek. It includes the Four Sword as well, so that challenge has passed. If you don't already know, the power of the Four Sword as it is now hold four elements: Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind. That power is enough to send creatures consumed by darkness to the Shadow Realm. But do not try to use that power on yourselves to go forth to the Shadow Realm, for if it does work, the way out will be almost impossible. If it doesn't, it's all over."
Good to know, Vaati thought as he threw that idea out of his mind.
"Now, to be able to open a way to the Shadow Realm, the Four Sword will need extra elements infused with it: Light and Darkness. From what I know, obtaining them is quite easy, since they are both found in the same place. But it's finding that place is what the challenge is. The goddesses hid them well to prevent a dark heart from having that power. And that is all I know."
"So there really is a way to pass through the door and enter the Shadow Realm..." Vaati said silently.
Thank the Goddesses. He thought. His faith in keeping his promise was starting to fade as the possibilities decreased, but now there was a way.
"Linn, do you know where we could start our search?" Link asked.
"Hmmm...my knowledge in this range isn't as good as..." Linn thought out loud, his voice trailing off as he thought.
"Ummm...Linn?" Darc asked, finally speaking up. "What about the myth of the graves?"
Linn's black eyes met with the younger stone eyes of Darc as he thought.
"Well...the myth Darc is talking about..." Linn started, thinking of how to word it. "may I say now that it is a myth, a rumor that is not proven right or wrong..."
"But that means that it could exist!" Darc said in an optimistic tone.
"Or could very well be just a rumor." Linn added in a realistic yet pessimistic tone.
"The myth of the graves is a rumor about ghosts knowing the future and pasts of the world, as well as its secrets. It's an old rumor, but it could be true!"
Linn sighed as Darc spoke and places his hand on top of the younger minish's head.
"Darc has been investigating that myth for a while now...he gets just a little excited when it comes to that."
"Well, whatever it is, it's a lead." Link shrugged before looking at the young minish. "Is there anything else on the topic?"
Darc nodded excitedly and ran to one of the bookshelves, his index finger scanning over the binding of the books, looking for a particular book. Finally, he spotted the book he was looking for, just inches above his height. He reached up to get it, his hand barely touching the book he wanted. Linn sighed as Darc struggled and began to take a step toward him to help.
"I can get it, Linn!" Darc said, stopping Linn. "I...I can!"
Darc kept reaching, already on the tip of his toes to gain height, his fingers could barely wrap around the binding to pull it out. As Darc made no progress to get the book out, Linn sighed as Link watched in wonder.
Why didn't Darc want any help? He asked in his mind. It would make it easier for him and speed this up.
Vaati smirked as the young Minish struggled.
A young minish clothed in violet reached up for a book, the tightness of the books pressed together made it unable for him to wrap his fingers around the binding. He reached for the top of the book and gave it a tug, freeing the book.
A noise was heard as all of the books surrounding the desired book fell along.
"Who's there?" a wise voice called, running into the room with a pointed staff in hand, ready to defend himself if needed. He looked down at the small pile of books on top of a younger minish. "Vaati?"
The minish Vaati looked up at the other minish with bright red eyes, an opened book lay on his head like a hat and the rest pinned his body down.
"Vaati, what are you doing?" The minish asked, putting down his pointed staff from its defense position and picking the book off of Vaat's head.
Busted.
Vaati quickly jumped up from the pile, holding the book he was trying to get in the first place.
"Master! I...was trying to get a book...but it was in such a tight spot that I had to use the top of the book instead and everything else fell." He explained.
His Master looked down at him.
"If you were having trouble, you could've just asked."
Vaati shook his head.
"Nah, it's just a book. I can do things by myself."
Vaati saw himself in Darc, wanting to be able to do things on his own. He crossed his arms and flicked his wrist casually. Anyone would've thought it to be natural. A wind blew behind the book and the binding fell into Darc's hand. The Minish smiled and held the book in victory. Linn looked at the book curiously; he was just waiting for Darc to give up. But instead, the book actually was retrieved. Like magic. Darc victoriously walked over to Link and Vaati, opening the book on the table beside them. This, to a human sized being, was just a peice of bark from a tree that was smoothed. As the book opened, notes were revealed.
"In the myth, there's supposed to be a specific place where the spirits can answer your questions. I think I have found the place, but I can't reach it in my size. Since you guys are human, you should be able to reach it!" Darc said as he pulled out a quick sketch of the place he was talking about.
The sketch showed a tall pillar; surely no Minish would be able to climb it.
"How tall is it?" Link asked.
"I guessed about 25 stories." Darc replied.
Link blinked at the answer.
25 stories? No way would we be able to climb a single pillar that high!
Vaati elbowed him in the arm, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"That's 4 feet." He whispered quietly enough that Darc and Linn didn't detect it.
"Oh..." Link said, remembering that Minish math would be different than Human math. At least there was one person who could translate.
"I don't know what could exactly lie in wait in that pillar, but I do believe that it's the graves of the spirits that can answer your questions!" Darc continued excitedly while pulling out a map of the graveyard. "The circle is the pillar."