Frowning, I leaned harshly against the shovel handle. I wiped the sweat off my brow, and leaned the tool against and abandoned building. Sighing, I grabbed the rock and my knife, beginning to carve into the stone.
It was slow and torturous work, I won't lie to you.
She was my grandmother, but I didn't have the money to pay for a proper tombstone, nor did I have the means to get it back to her final resting place.
Somehow, I think that as she watched me slowly carve into the boulder, she wouldn't be upset with me for that reason.
Yes, my grandmother Impaz was dead. She was old, and she lived a nice, long life. She did her job.
It was time for her to rest.
My tears were sure to leave a stain on the rock.
For everyone to see.
For them to know that someone grieved over the grandmother of the last surviving Sheikah.
The last woman of a dying race.
How far we have fallen.
We used to be a proud race that hid in the shadows, protecting and serving the Hylian family. But now, our name is just a whisper on the wind. Killed for loyalty, as they turned traitor with that horrible Ganondorf.
I stopped after I finished a word and used my scarf to wipe my tears away.
I caught my reflection in the stone, and remembered the times when Ely and I were trying to save Cateline.
Yes, a grown man is crying.
Laugh at my misery. Go ahead. My grandmother died a few days ago, and I'm the only one working on burying and remembering her.
It's hard being part of a dying race, I hope you know that.
It took most of the day to carve her tombstone. And it read a simple message.
Impaz
Loving Mother, Savior Nana
Proud to be Sheikah
Placing it at the head of her grave, I stood and tossed the shovel aside. Who would even see it to care? I walked inside her house and rewarded my hard work with a bath. Once I was clean again, I walked out of the Forgotten Village for one last time. One last touch. . .
I pulled a bow and bomb arrow out, lit the fuse, and let it fly. No more secrets will be revealed, our village is gone once again. Rocks slid at the force of the blow, and it was over. No more. The only way in and out of the village was gone. I cracked the bow in half over my knee, and threw it into the rocks.
Hiding my face, I began the journey to Ordon Village.
I was there in an hour, and by the time I was there, every sensible person would be asleep. I knew my destination, and I jumped to the second story of the Mayor's house. I opened the window a sliver and stepped inside.
I never got to meet little Caius.
The baby was in a cradle in the room, he looked just shy of a year old. With a quick glance, I realized that they were splitting the upper level into two bedrooms and a landing.
The baby slept on as I watched him, before the little eyes opened. I saw Ely's gold eyes, and some flecks of red in them. "You must be Kalle?"
"I am." I saw Link standing in the doorway.
"You were with her first, weren't you?"
"She was having some hard times. Will she be able to hear us?"
"She's basically dead downstairs. I think you would have to raise hell right now to wake her up."
I glanced at the wooden cradle, where the baby watched us with mild interest. "That's Caius, I'm guessing?"
"He's not some random baby off the street." Link grinned, "He has red in his eyes."
"I saw, not sure how."
Link nodded. "I've got a big day tomorrow, so I'm going back to sleep. Stay as long as you want, just leave before Ely gets up and if you take my baby, I'll hunt you to the ends of the earth." He paused in the doorway, "And I hope you know that his full name is Caius Kalle."
I heard the mattress shift as he settled back into bed with his wife, and felt a sudden pang of jealousy.
No, Kalle, don't think like that. Look around the house, you couldn't give her this. Look at that little infant; you couldn't give her him either.
Link was better for her.
I couldn't stay in one place for too long.
It would be impossible for me to live this life.
Link was better for her, and I knew it.
. . . I was just having some problems accepting it.
Suddenly feeling smothered, I opened the window and slid back out.
I couldn't give her this life.
I needed to let Ely go. . . But I don't know if I can.
I shook my head.
I was the Flying Shadow. That's my identity, that's who I was. That's who I was always going to be.
I was the last Sheikah.
FIN
ZeldaMoogle, MidnaLovesLinktotheendoftime (especially you, for all of your reviews), Bloody Emma, FE Girl 1, Yuki Rein, imsunprincess54, sunny, fingersfallingupwards, forgiven4ever, and Kaijukote, I owe you so much! *tears up* I love you all, have some cookies!