Saria looked down at herself after having changed into the clothes Darunia had made for her.
"Wow, look at that!" Alta commented "They fit really well!"
"I don't really like the color, though…" Saria replied.
"Because all you've ever worn is green. Besides, you only have to wear it inside the mountain."
"That's true. Let's go, then." Saria said, as they headed to Darunia's room to find the shortcut the Goron mentioned. They found a hidden tunnel behind a statue, and followed it. On the way, Saria thought of something "Hey, Alta? How will you protect yourself from the heat?"
"I can protect myself from most environmental hazards. I learned those spells a while ago."
Saria nodded, remembering Alta's personal air bubble she mentioned back when they were looking for the Spiritual Stone of Water "Ah, okay. I guess you still can't protect me with it, huh?"
Alta shook her head "Nope, sorry. I just can't conjure magic that powerful. It takes a lot of training to do that."
"Why's that?"
"Fairies may have more magical power, but still, casting such a spell on something a hundred times our size is difficult, especially if they've never done it before. That's why it takes so much practice."
"Ah. But you've had seven years…"
"I tried a couple of times, to see if I could. I didn't get very far… I got frustrated with it each time. I just don't have the patience to learn something like that."
"I see… Is that also the case with healing?"
Alta thought for a moment "...I don't actually know. I never looked that much into healing magic, I've been occupied with other things."
"Hmm… Well, I guess that's something the fountain Fairies would know."
Alta nodded "Yeah… Hey, is it getting hotter?"
Saria was silent for a second "...No…?"
Alta casted her heat shield on herself "I guess that means the clothes are working!"
Saria nodded in agreement as the tunnel ended, and they came out inside Death Mountain Crater. They stood on rock cliffs high above the boiling magma, and several other cliffs lined roughly half of the outskirts of the crater, while rock platforms further inward led down closer to the lava.
"Be careful." Alta warned "Your clothes may protect you from the heat, but I don't think they'll save you from falling into a lava pit."
"Yeah… Where do you think the temple is?" Saria replied, panning the area. She couldn't see any obvious temple entrances, because of the rock spires that jutted out of the magma between the platforms.
"We'll just have to look around and see."
Malon reached the foot of Death Mountain, and entered Kakariko Village. She wished she could help Saria in the Fire Temple, but there wasn't anything she could do. She couldn't do a whole lot during the Forest Temple either, mostly because of her hammer's small reach.
She was beginning to see a pattern. Maybe it was time for a change. Into what, though? And she liked her hammer, anyway. She didn't want a bigger hammer, either - The one she had right now was perfect for her. What should she do?
Before she could answer her own question, she heard something nearby. Turning her head to see, she noticed that someone's window had been left slightly open, and someone was having a conversation inside.
She was about to move on when she heard the voice of someone she recognized "...Sheik?" Malon whispered to herself, before hiding just out of sight so she could hear what was going on, her curiosity now sparked. What's he doing in Kakariko?
She heard another voice, which she didn't recognize "So, how have your travels been?"
"Things have started escalating." Sheik responded "Saria has woken from the Sacred Realm, and is currently breaking the curses on the Sages' temples as we speak."
"Is that so?" The woman asked.
"After so long, the wheels of destiny are finally turning again."
"And I'm sure you're glad that you're still alive to see it."
"It's all thanks to you, Impa. If you hadn't taught me what I know now, I would never have been able to survive for so long."
Impa? That name rang a bell in Malon's head. That's right, she heard Saria mention that name, back when they rescued the ranch. Apparently, this Impa was the one who taught Sheik his battle skills. A hundred questions were running through her head right now; Who are these two? Why are the Sheikah suddenly appearing again, after their supposed demise during the Civil War? They both know about Saria's destiny as well, but how?
Malon realized she'd have to leave these questions for later, as she'd be discovered if she stayed there for long. She did her best to leave quickly, without attracting attention.
