Author's note: Nothing special to report, just here to wish you a good day, and a thank you, as always.
Enjoy!
Chapter thirty-eight, The First Trial
For the first time since he had first ridden Epona, Link's trustworthy horse adamantly refused to go any further, outright ignoring his commands. Even the slightest snap of a wooden twig made her jump skittishly, but Link could not fault her for that. In fact, now that he was standing before the dilapidated stone archway that led into the Lost Woods, he himself was feeling very uneasy.
There was something mysterious and terrifying about those woods.
No wonder no one else ever came there. The fog was so thick and oppressive that Link could see no more than a few yards ahead, but even then, the endless sea of crooked trees that bore what resembled haggard faces stared at him menacingly, sending shivers down his spine. He had heard the myths and legends that surround that forest, as ever child in Castletown had, but only the bravest adventurers ever actually went there, and those who did never made it very far past the stone archway before becoming hopelessly lost.
It was called the Lost Woods for a reason. Not that anyone was ever reported to have died, just frightened beyond all belief. He at least had that going for him.
Accepting that Epona would not move one hoof closer, he dismounted and gave her free reign. He was glad he had a horse that was smart enough to not run away. She practically answered his whistle, when he called for her. He gave her his last apple as a thank you, and rubbed her cheek affectionately.
"Alright, sweetie," he said to her, clicking his tongue as he removed her bridal. "You stay close by okay? I won't be long, hopefully." She knickered a little in response before strolling a few yards away and began eating the green grass nearby before resting on all fours. She had served him faithfully, riding very late the night before, and rose early to bring him here. He knew if his legs were sore, hers probably were too. He would treat her with all the extra apples and carrots she desired once they made it back to civilization. However, he had more important things to think about now.
Link turned his gaze back to the stone archway and took a deep breath before taking the plunge into the unknown. The fog billowed at his feet in wistful spirals as he took his first steps into the ancient forest. The atmosphere was so full of… Something. He could not put his finger on it exactly, but in a way, it reminded him of Damel Forest, only scarier. There was magic tucked away in every corner of this place for sure.
He had only walked a few yards when suddenly he came upon a lone torch burning valiantly in the mist. Who put this here? he wondered. There were no signs of life anywhere, except that of wildlife, and there were no tracks made by intelligent beings. Link pondered the orange flames a moment longer, until something in his peripheral vision caught his eye. A second torch far to his right caught fire, casting its warm inviting glow ambiently into the foggy air.
Something was leading him. It must have been the Deku Tree. Who else could it have been?
Link swallowed pensively, before trudging forward, and followed the path laid before him by the guiding light. Sure enough, after a minute of walking, he came within an arm's length from the new torch, and once he did, another far off light lit up, and led him on his way. The sensation that accompanied these events mirrored that of equal parts childlike wonder, and eerie discomfort.
Someone was watching him, but he could not see who.
Ignoring the feeling in his gut, Link pressed on, and followed the trail, coming upon several more torched that led him the right way. However, after a few, the torches just stopped. There was nothing pointing him in the right direction anymore. Deciding to let blind choice decided his next heading, Link drove in between two large open-mouthed trees, and crept forward with a cautious stance.
Suddenly, a wall of white fog assaulted him, and reduced what little vision he had down to a few inches. Nothing ever came, however, so Link pressed on, and kept a slow and steady pace. He walked for a few minutes longer until he saw the radial glow of torch light in the distance.
Good, he chimed. With new purpose, Link pushed on, eventually coming upon the torch, but then he noticed something odd. The trees nearby were the exact same ones he had seen earlier. It appeared that somehow, he had looped all the way back to where he left the last torch. Link eyed his surroundings critically before deciding to try his luck again, and struck out in a different direction, only to once again find himself being consumed by a wall of mist, and yet again end up stumbling into the exact same spot he started from.
"This is weird," he said openly.
He figured the third time was the charm, so Link picked yet another direction, and trudged forward. Deciding that the wall of fog served as a deterrent, any time Link ran into one, he turned on his heel and sprinted back the other way until it stopped perusing him, and then chose a different path. After nearly fifteen minutes of walking and running, it seemed his new strategy had worked. Before him stood two cliff faces, and in between them ran a little trail.
His heart beat with nervous excitement.
And then without warning, he heard a quiet whisper behind him. As fast as a blink, Link snapped around, crossbow pulled from his belt, bolt loaded, and aimed. However, there was nothing there. Only the trees, grass, and fog. Link searched his surroundings with an unforgiving eye, but found nothing of immediate concern. The only notable noise were the howls of distant wolves, and the gentle breeze that tossed the grass in waves.
Reluctantly, he lowered his crossbow, and proceeded down between the cliff faces, fully expecting an ambush at any moment. Luckily, nothing ever attacked him, and before long, the fog began to dissipate, allowing the warm morning sun to stream in through the thick canopy above.
His jaw dropped when his eyes laid upon the one and only pedestal.
Link had only ever seen it in paintings, and if he had to be honest, they did not do the lighting justice. A hole in the leaves above allowed great shining beams of light to pour in directly on the exact spot the Master Sword would rest. Link approached the triangular dais carefully, with the utmost reverence, and kneeled to examine the pedestal more closely. It was nothing more than a simple slot a mere blade's width wide and thick.
"You have done well to find this place, Chosen One." The intrusion made Link jump defensively, but then he realized he recognized the voice. Link cleared his throat, and searched around him, until at last he looked up to the monolithic tree that stood tall before him, its roots wrapping around the very forest itself.
And then the tree moved. More than that, it had a face, or as close to a face as an ancient tree could have, long slender branches protruding from what Link assumed was representative of his brows and mustache. Now that Link had seen the Great Deku Tree in person, he could not imagine a more fitting voice for the sagely being. His uneasiness from before melted away as the wise and gentle presence of the ancient tree greeted him.
"I can sense my daughters magic upon you, Chosen One. I am glad to see you in one piece." The Deku Tree paused thoughtfully. "Although, you are not as whole as you should be, I believe. A Spirit you are missing. Among other things."
Link opened his mouth to speak, but the bitter singe of embarrassment burnt his tongue, and clamped his jaw shut.
"Forgive me," the Tree continued earnestly. "I seek not to upset you. But we have little time, Chosen One. I am afraid all formal introductions will have to wait. Will you allow me to gaze upon that which was once the Master Sword?"
Link complied without saying a word, drawing the Goddess Sword from his back in one smooth motion, and held it in his hands.
"Ah, yes," the Deku Tree sighed after an unusually long silence. "It is as I feared, Chosen One. Great trials you must face to restore that blade."
"What must I do?" Link asked, feeling rather small and childlike under the lumbering eyes of the Great Tree of Wisdom.
"Do you recall grand legends of your land, Hero? The stories and myths of dragons?"
"Dragons?" Link asked perplexedly. "They disappeared during the rebirth of our kingdom. Some say they will be gone forever now. The late King was the last of our people to lay his eyes upon them. At least, that is how the Princess explained it to me."
"Disappeared, yes. Gone forever, no," the Deku Tree explained urgently. "You see, the answer to this trial lies within each of them. To restore the Master Sword, you must seek them out, and answer the challenged they offer to you."
"A challenge?" Link asked worriedly.
"A challenge, Young One," he replied. "A challenge to prove your worth of that blade. Once you wielded it, but that was with the power of the Spirit that dwelt within you. Now that it has been removed from you, you must strengthen yourself, and prove yourself worthy of wielding the Sword that Seals the Darkness on the courage that lies within your own heart, alone." Link cleared his throat nervously, unsure of what to say to such a daunting proposition.
"And how do I find them?" Link asked sheepishly.
"Go to the springs that they swore to protect, Chosen One. Kneel before sacred waters of those springs and pray for their help. They will answer your call. Dinrall, chosen mouthpiece of Din. Naydra, chosen mouthpiece of Nayru. And Farosh, chosen mouthpiece of Farore. The chosen three will be the key, but great tribulations will you face. Only then will they help you restore the sacred power of that blade."
"How do I know I will be enough to answer their challenge?" Link asked worriedly.
"You won't know, Chosen Hero. You must rely on faith alone." The Deku Tree's expression shifted thoughtfully. "Your Princess speaks true. I heard the wise words of her counsel regarding faith through MiarindÍl, Chosen One. Reason alone will not give you the answers you seek. In this time of great peril, when the destiny of time has been so critically altered and disregarded, faith will be the last purveying light. Let not your worries impede you. It is now that you must act."
"I…" Link hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond to such an ominous remark. "I will try," he finally stammered before pressing on. "How will the Dragons help me restore the Master Sword?" he asked.
"I do not know, Chosen One. I only know that they are the last remaining ties to the golden goddesses. They will help you, as will all benevolent beings of great magic. Those with ears and hearts wise enough to hear and feel it know that the Void is coming, and that you and the Descendant are the only remaining hope. The survival of all creation hinges on your success."
"Oh…"
"There is one last thing, Chosen One. You must seek out the Dragons of the Goddesses alone. This is your trail to face, to prepare your mind and body for what is to come, as the Princess must prepare her own mind and body."
"I see," Link responded reluctantly, feeling quite overwhelmed with the weight of self-doubt. However, he had made it this far. There was no turning back. Confidence or not, he had a job to do, and he resolved to see it through to any ends. Failure was not an option.
"Good. Then I suggest you make haste, Chosen One. The Void waits for no man."
"You keep saying that. 'The Void.' What do you mean exactly?"
"The Void is the all-consuming darkness you witnessed within the Real of Gateways; or the Phantom Real as you called it. I saw it too, in your memories sent to me by MiarindÍl. I can feel its draw on this world as we speak, although I cannot say what it is exactly. Ganondorf and Demise syphon dark and terrible power from that tear in reality. Once it bleeds into our world, they will be stronger than any the came before them. They will launch their full assault very soon. It is of paramount importance that you restore the Master Sword before that happens."
"Understood," Link declared with a disciplined voice, sheathing the Goddess Sword. "Then I shall take my leave, Great Deku Tree."
"Go in faith, young one," he replied with an oaken grin. "May the stars guide you at night, and your courage strengthen your heart." The Great Deku Tree's eyes closed, and silence drifted down between them, as if the ancient tree had fallen asleep. Seeing that there was no more to say, Link turned on his heel, and prepared to leave, when a sudden glimmer of white light caught his attention. Not far from his feet stood a singular, and beautiful flower of white and blue petals. For a moment, Link was completely enthralled by its beauty, and kneeled beside it, examining it with wide and wonderous eyes. And then it occurred to him what type the flower was.
It was a Silent Princess.
His heart warmed with fond memoires of his beloved Princess. She always adored the rare, almost nonexistent flower. Clearly, they meant a lot to her for sentimental reasons, although she had never taken the time to explained exactly why. He reached out with his hand, and stroked one of the soft petals with his finger. It would make a wonderful birthday present for her, he realized. He had always imagined himself giving one to her someday, but until now, he had never been presented that opportunity. However, he hesitated. She said that because it was such a rare flower, that they feared it would go extinct, so they should not be plucked lightly.
"Go on, take it, New Mr. Hero," a high-pitched and chirpy voice said to him. Link looked up to a nearby boulder, and to his surprise and delight, he saw a small forest creature standing atop the rock, a green leaf pulled over its face, almost like it was a mask. He would have been more cautious of allowing a smile to stretch across his lips, but if he had to be honest, the strange little thing was… Well, adorable.
"Are you certain?" he replied.
"Mhm! More will grow here. They always do. Old Mr. Hero liked to pick them too, back when he used to visit." The creature shimmed a little, and bowed its small head despondently. "I do miss him. Last time he came here, he brought his little daughter. She was very nice, New Mr. Hero. Have you met her? She's very pretty."
"I have," Link replied kindly, when the bustling of leaves all around him caught his attention. One could only imagine his surprise when a drove of the small forest creatures surrounded him with fascinated demeanors.
"Its okay, forest friends," the brave creature declared loud enough for its friends to hear. "He is a nice Mr. Hero!" The forest dwellers all sighed and cheered in their own unique and high-pitched voices, some even springing into little lively dances or jingles. Link found it hard to suppress his easy laughter.
"What is your name?" Link asked, returning to the dweller on top of the rock.
"My name is Saria! I'm a Korok, Child of the Forest."
"Well, it is a pleasure to meet you, Saria," Link said before plucking the lone Silent Princess, and very carefully tucked it in his belt pouch, ensuring that its delicate petals remained relatively undisturbed. When he was done, he stood and then gestured for the Korok to follow him. Saria hopped down from her rock with a jovial chirp, and skipped beside him to keep up, as did many other captivated Koroks. It was quite the amusing sight to see countless Koroks trying their best to run as fast as they could to keep up with Link's leisurely pace.
"You know, you share a name with a very important girl from our lands history," Link continued. "A girl who helped seal away a very evil man. She lived in a forest like this too."
"Yep! Saria of the Kokiri! We used to look like that, actually. We looked like Hylian children. But then that nasty flood came, and gave us all a very hard time, Mr. New Hero. We had to change shapes in order to survive." The Korok slowed in pace for a moment, and looked to the ground ahead of her, pondering something very important. "But we lost most of our memories. Only our names, and fragments of who we used to be stayed in our new little brains."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Link replied honestly.
"That's okay!" Saria beamed, picking her pace and cheerful tone back up. "We're happy here with the Deku Tree. Although, we would love to see more visitors like you, Mr. New Hero! We find visitors very interesting. Not many people make it past the Lost Woods, though. You're the first one we've had in years. Not since Old Mr. Hero brought his cute little daughter. Have you seen him recently? How is he doing?"
Link stopped, and furrowed his eyebrows sadly.
"He… He's in a better place now," Link said quietly.
"Oh! What sort of place?" Saria replied, oblivious to his connotative meaning. "That sounds like fun! Do you think he will come back to visit?"
"No, I'm sorry. I don't think he will," Link said evasively before moving forward again.
"Why not?" she asked. Link sighed sorrowfully before answering.
"I'm sad to say that he passed away. He was killed fighting to protect our land from the Evil." The poor Korok and all of her companions stopped dead in their tracks, the rustling of their leaf mask shuddering to a halt. A singe of guilt panged Link's heart, having to be the bearer of sad news to such gentle and innocent souls.
"What about his daughter?" Saria asked in a depressed whisper.
"She is fine," Link replied softly. "She is very strong and courageous like he was. I like to think a part of him lives on in her heart."
"Well, that is good," Saria replied with a shimmy of her leaf mask, emerging from her saddened tone. "The Deku Tree says good souls live on in the hearts of those they loved. If you dig down deep inside, you can feel them. It's like they never left."
Link was at a loss for words at that. He could have never predicted such a child-like creature having the aptitude and strength to handle something so grim as death with that much optimism. For a moment he was envious of her ability. Perhaps one day he could learn to move on so easily.
"I hope I can learn to reach down that deep," he replied longingly. "But that is another task for another day. There's work to be done." With a deep breath, Link increased his pace, quickly passing through the rocky valley that led back into the Lost Woods. The Koroks that accompanied him stopped just shy of the clouds of fog, and began to wave.
"Goodbye, Mr. Hero," Saria said with a hop, along with her companions. "Come back to visit us. We have a nice bed you can sleep in, and some tasty mushrooms to eat."
"Thank you, Saria," he replied with a wave of his hand. "I promise I will try to visit someday."
"Good luck," he heard many little voices cheer with joyous skips. It warmed his heart to see them so quickly treat him with kindness, but as he turned around and plunged back into the fog, that sensation began to waver. Out there, in the wide-open world, very few treated him with that type of kindness.
Not that it truly mattered, he told himself. Only the opinions of the people he truly cared about mattered now. If Zelda and the rest of his friends cared for him, then that was enough. Besides, he was not in the 'feel good' business. He was in the 'save the world, or else everyone will die because of your failure,' business. Still, it did not hurt to have something to keep his heart going, and the benign forest children certainly did him some good.
Absentmindedly, he felt the leather pouch on his belt, and check if the Silent Princess he picked was still there. Sure enough, it was, although he worried it would wither and fall apart by the time he got it to her. Now that he thought about it, perhaps he should not have plucked it in the first place. It would be a sorry excuse of a present. Who would want a dead flower? And to think, he killed such a rare specimen for his own selfish wants.
He chastised his foolishness.
He used to be good at thinking things through, but now he found that he did most things out of instinct. For some things like fighting and surviving, instinct was great, required even, but in matters of the heart, it was his stumbling block. Instinct made him say and do stupid things, like plucking an endangered flower for someone he would potentially not see for days, or even weeks. Not to mention the romantic message it might send. Another fact he scolded his foolish mind for.
Not that he did not want it to be, but simply, he could not allow it to be.
She may have been very keen on not giving up on that, but he just could not muster the courage to agree. Link felt like he would implode if he allowed that hope to live, only to have be crushed by the inevitability of reality. It was better to accept the truth now, than have a false hope swept from under his feet.
Link nearly walked into a tree before he realized he was far too distracted with his pointless musings.
The task at hand, he reminded himself. Link back tracked the trail he took to reach the Korok Forest, cautioning to avoid the ensnaring walls of fog, until at last he reached the first torch, which was still lit nicely. Epona was still nearby, contently resting in the tall grass just outside the stone archway. She craned her neck up and peered at him with intelligent eyes.
"Hello sweetie," he whispered as he put the bridal bit in her mouth. "I know I've asked a lot from you the past two days, but we still have a long ways to go." Epona seemed to have no complaints, not that she could actually understand him, but Link liked to believe she could. Just for fun. Once he mounted his horse, Link considered his options.
The Spring of Power, dedicated to Din was in Akkala, in the heart of enemy territory. The Spring of Courage, dedicated to Farore was located in Damel Forest. And the Spring of Wisdom, dedicated to Nayru was located on Mount Lanayru, just east of Kakariko. Obviously, Din's Spring was out of the question for the time being, which left Nayru and Farore.
After a brief moment of consideration, he decided to go to the Spring of Wisdom first. That was the one Zelda was closest to, and he intended to report back to her as soon as possible, once his 'trial' was done, to tell her what he had learned. He also considered seeing her first, and then visiting Mount Lanayru, but he quickly disregarded that idea. Time was of the essence, as the Deku Tree put it, and he had not intention of spending unnecessary time.
To Mount Lanayru then.
Epona had slowed down quite a bit over the last few hours, and climbing Saharsa Slop certainly did not make her feel any better, but still, she trudged on admirably. Link wiped away the sweat on his forehead underneath his hood, and glanced at the late morning sun. He longed for the colder winds of Mount Lanayru.
The day before, he had cut across the countryside of eastern Hyrule Field to avoid the Eastern Front, and made camp late at night not far from Rebonae bridge. That morning, he arose at an ungodly hour and set his course for Kakariko Village, with the intention of reaching it by noon. Given the current time of day, it seemed he would achieve that goal, so he pressed Epona on.
Kakariko was bustling with activity by the time he reached it. Countless Hylian soldiers were station there, along with fully outfitted Sheikah Shadow Warriors, but they paid little attention to him as he passed by, hood and mask hiding his face. He rather wanted to avoid being recognized, mostly because he was unsure of how the soldiers would react if they saw him without the Princess. They might think he was 'up to something,' or that they would simply stop him out of spite. Either way, that was a prospect he simply did not have time for. If he had time, he would have stopped to rest, but now that he was traveling without the Princess, discomfort was something he could push past.
Luckily, he slipped through the village unhindered, and began his ascent to the Lanayru Promenade.
The loud activity of soldiers simmered down as he trotted further away from Kakariko, until at last the tranquil quite of the promenade was the purveying theme. As it was the last time he visited, there were no signs of modern civilization anywhere. Only decrepit ruins, and peaceful waters.
He allowed Epona to move on at a leisurely trot, eventually passing the East Gate, and out into the aspen meadow. Far above, the peak of Mount Lanayru shone brilliantly in the summer sun, its white snow and ice still blanketing the highest reaching points. As he had hoped for, the higher he and Epona began to climb, the cooler and more pleasant the air became.
As the day moved on, Link came closer and closer to the peak, opting to walk the last half-mile to stretch his legs, and allowing Epona some much earned relief. Still, Epona had no complaints it seemed. Link set her loose on the nearby trail as he finished the remainder of his trip alone under the now late evening sun.
The air began to grow much colder, turning Link's nose and cheek pink, but after pulling his mask back up, they warmed up nicely. Perhaps it was a little bit too cold, Link conceded. Regardless, he came to the edge of the Spring of Wisdom, and peered up the generous eyes of the Hylia statue. Link decided to quickly check his equipment before proceeding, just in case anything happened.
His crossbow, Clawshot, shield, dagger, Goddess Sword, and necklace that Zelda had enchanted for him were all set and ready to go. He stretched his arms and legs, and took deep, meditative breaths before finally kneeling on the dais before the statue of Hylia and began to pray aloud.
"Chosen mouthpiece on Nayru," he said nervously with his eyes closed. "As the Great Deku Tree has instructed me to do, I kneel before the Spring of Wisdom, and ask for your help in restoring the Master Sword to its sacred power."
He opened his eyes, but there was nothing. He decided to try again with a different approach.
"Naydra, Dragon of Nayru, I have come ask for your help. The Great Deku Tree spoke of a challenge you will offer me, to prove my worth of the Master Sword. Please, show me the way, so that I might fulfill my role as the Chosen Hero."
"I have heard your plea, Chosen One," a deep, but feminine rumbling voice answered. Link's eyes shot open, and looked above. From the sky there hung a swirling cloud of dark purple, and from it, a colossal beast drifted down in a gracefully slow and winding spiral. Its body was thin and long, much like a serpent, and it had three pairs of sharp and dangerous claws. On its back sprung light blue spikes of an almost crystal-like material, which were set in its blue and pearlescent scales. Its jaws bore many sharp teeth, and its eyes shone as bright as its ethereal body did. Link's jaw dropped with awe at the spectacular sight as the dragon slowly perched atop the mountain peak, and craned its large head down before Link's own.
He could feel its warm airy breath rush past him. It was surprisingly invigorating.
"Long have I hidden in the shadows to await salvation," Naydra began, taking deep breaths in between sentences. "Long have I been hunted by the Evil which seeks to usurp the sacred power granted to me by Nayru. You have done well, Chosen One, but as you are now, you do not possess that which is necessary to wield the Master Sword in its restored form without the Spirit of the Hero. A challenge I must offer you, to strengthen your resolve, and bestow upon you many gifts of the soul."
"What must I do?" Link asked wistfully after swallowing the saliva in his throat. He thought by now, he would not be so awe struck and speechless at the sight of tremendous and unbelievable things, but it seemed that even despite his ever-growing list of wonders, these things continued to shock him.
"Purge the corruption that has consumed Nayru, Chosen One," the dragon replied, tilting its massive head thoughtfully. "Only then will I be able to offer you my sacred flame." Link felt his heart seize up as hard as stone. How in the name of all that was holy was he supposed to do that?
"How, Naydra!? How can I do that alone? I barely survived last time I faced them, and I had the Master Sword and the Spirit of the Hero with me then."
"But you did survive," Naydra reminded him. "That is all that matters. And you have continued to survive, even when the fate of the world is unknown to all." There was a brief pause before the dragon continued. "Do not fret, however, for you will not face them all at once. Only Nayru will you battle."
"So I have to kill a goddess!?" Link shouted, disbelieving. "How is that even possible!? How can I even stand a chance against her?"
"No, you could never kill her," Naydra answered. "Your task is simpler than that. You are purging her of the foul magic that has corrupted her. Find peace in knowing that it is because of this magic, her powers are severely limited. If your previous exploits are to be considered, then you stand a chance of success."
"And I must do this completely alone?" he asked defiantly.
"Yes, Chosen One. As your predecessors have done before you, you must prove your worth alone to the sword on your back. Your ears are deaf to its wise words, but mine are not. Succeed in this trial, and I believe you will hear that which calls to you once again." Link took deep, shuddering breaths, ignoring the fluttering sensation in his stomach.
His head was racing. He was about to duel with Nayru. An actually, living goddess. Of course, he had fought them before, but that was long before he knew what they were. Something about this recent revelation sent his mind reeling. Never in a million years did he ever think he would end up here. It was almost a joke to think about the ignorant dreams he had as a child of growing up to be a brave Royal Guard, and nothing else. However, now he found himself at the feet of a mystical dragon, preparing to fight a goddess, one-on-one. The thought alone was too much to even comprehend. What would his father say if he could see him now?
"Very well," he said after his moment of reflection. "I suppose I am as ready as I will ever be."
"Good," Naydra replied. "Then I will pull upon the bond that connects me to my patron goddess. Steel your courage, Chosen One, and ready your body and mind. The Goddess Sword will be your weapon against the corruption. Do not hold back on your attacks."
"I understand," he said as he drew the Goddess Sword from his back, and equipped his crossbow in his off-hand, bolt knocked and ready to fire. Wish I had some armor, he thought briefly. However, it seemed he would not have time. Naydra appeared to be in just as much of a hurry as the Deku Tree was.
The Void must have been approaching terrifyingly fast.
"Be warned, Chosen One. Once I bring the goddess here, she will stop at nothing to kill you. I would advise the utmost speed. The others goddess won't know what is happening for a long while, but if they catch wind of what is happening, then they will come."
"How will you bring her here?" Link asked, absentmindedly twirling the Goddess Sword's hilt in his hand.
"A bond of magic do I share with Nayru," the dragon answered. "She is my creator, and I am her mouthpiece in this world. Not even Ganondorf's corruption will stop me from wrenching on the strings of that tie. I believe she will be quite surprised by the time she arrives. I suggest you use this surprise to your advantage."
"Noted," Link droned, feeling anxious.
Without another word, Naydra lifted her head skyward, and peered into the evening clouds above. Its mouth opened slightly, and from it came a low, shaking humming noise that echoed across the mountain side. Its hum drifted in pitch and volume, almost akin to what sounded like a song. It was a haunting tune, but captivating none the less. Naydra continued to 'sing' for a while longer, until her gentle humming finally halted, and out burst a fierce growl that made Link's ears hurt. Once the song was done, Naydra's attention returned to Link.
"It is done, Chosen One. I await your salvation." And then in a flash of blue light, Naydra vanished out of thin air, leaving him completely alone on the mountain peak. The air grew colder, Link noticed, and even his breath began to coalesce in a white mist. The only noise he heard aside from his own breathing was the gentle breeze drifting by.
He scanned the sky and earth around him, awaiting his challenge with a cautious eye.
And then without warning a cracking noise thundered across the mountainside as a billowing mass of black flames plummeted to the surface seemingly out of nowhere, colliding with the rock and dirt in a display of all consuming smoke. When the smoke settle, Link saw the kneeling form of the blue-flamed specter, bent over.
The corrupt goddess of wisdom, Nayru.
Nayru's hands shuffled across the gravel as she tried to stand, but it seemed that the impact had stunned her slightly. Taking the dragon's words into mind, Link pulled the trigger on his crossbow, sending its barbed bolt careening forward, and imbedded it into Nayru's side. She screeched painfully in a deep howling cry, but Link wasted no time, and fell upon her with the Goddess Sword as soon as his bolt made contact. However, in a blur of movement, a long-blackened blade shot out from Nayru's hand, and caught Link's blade mid swing, instantaneously erupting into a molten blue flame. The impact sent spark of gold and blue scattering across the ground.
Link pulled his sword back, and readied to attack again, but before he could, Nayru spun herself on her free hand, swinging her long legs across the gravel, and kicked Link's footing out from under him. He landed flat on his back, shocked to find that she was all ready plunging her blade towards his chest.
Had he already failed? Was this already his demise?
Apparently, it was not, as suddenly Nayru's blade shattered mere inches away from his chest as it collided with a barrier of golden light. It seemed that Zelda's magic had fulfilled its purpose, and saved his sorry hide. He would have to thank her for that later.
Nayru, despite the lack of facial features behind the encompassing hood that concealed her face, seemed utterly shocked by the unexplainable occurrence. Link took this opportunity, and swung his sword right at her ankles, making contact with the metal armor that guarded whatever was underneath. His blade lodged itself into the armor with a satisfying clang, soliciting an angered, but pained howl from the goddess.
With her uninjured leg, she kicked him as hard as she could, once again contacting the protective barrier around him, but it sent him flying none the less. Link flew side over heels through the air, losing his grip on the Goddess Sword, until he struck the unforgiving gravel a few feet away. Acting on instinct, as soon as he was able to roll to his knees, he ripped his Clawshot from his belt, slipping his fingers into the grip, and pulled the trigger. The chain clattered loudly as the three pincers gripped onto Nayru's sword arm, and bit in.
Standing to his feet, Link yanked the chain with all his might, and engaged the gears to pull the chain back in, practically flinging them together. His feet dug into the gravel as the were drawn to each other at an alarming speed, but just before the made contact, Link raised his left foot, and landed it square in the goddess' chest, releasing the claw, causing her to fall back in a tumbling splay of black smoke, armor, and cloth.
Luckily, the Goddess Sword pulled free from its ensnarement, and fell to the ground nearby.
As soon as he regained his footing, Link dropped his Clawshot, snatched the Goddess Sword from the ground, and surged forward to bear down of the fallen goddess once again. However, the moment before his blade met her, she vanished in the blink of an eye, and reappeared a few feet away, floating in the air as she sent forth countless shards of glassy-stone in a scattered barrage.
Most of the projectiles glanced off of Link's barrier, but one particularly audacious shard lodged itself directly into the golden shield, sending a shockwave of cracks throughout its whole. Link knew he could not rely on the barrier to save him much longer, so he resolved to finish the duel as quickly as possible. Nayru vanished once again, and reappeared behind him, but he spun around fast enough to block her next swing of a newly formed sword, and even landed a successful slice across her midsection because of his success.
She was slowing down, Link noticed. He capitalized on that, and flung himself into a flurry of unmerciful attacks.
Most of the attack she blocked, but he managed to land several lacerations on her arms, cutting through the plates of her armor. Unfortunately, this fury of attacks also cost him the remaining reserves of his protective barrier, as it erupted at one last grueling slash from his opponent. The eruption sent a shockwave of energy that knocked the goddess a few paces back, so using the brief moment of respite, Link pulled his knights shield free from his back, and prepared to defend himself from the now potentially lethal advances.
To his advantage, however, Nayru's attacks were growing weaker by the second, and her teleportation grew less frequent.
Then at last, when it seemed she could not blink around any longer, Link herded her to the edge of the mountainside, blocking, parrying, and attacking his way forward, until at last he saw his opportunity to plunge his blade into her heart. With a loud battle cry, he lunged forward, and met his mark, and drove the Goddess Sword into Nayru's chest clear up to the cross guard.
The forthcoming scream punctured his ears, but she fought on no longer, except to wrap her long metal finger around his arms, and pulled him over the edge with her. Together they fell, crashing into the sharp rocks below, causing Link more than a few tear worthy cuts, pulled muscles, and bruises. They continued to tumble down the mountainside, until after a few more seconds of excruciating pain, they landed on the trail that led back up to the peak.
Link grimaced in pain and he struggled to even get on his hands and knees, grunting foul curses and profanities as he did. His vision was a little hazy, but as he looked around him, he saw Nayru prostrate much like he was, the Goddess Sword protruding from her back, devoid of all signs of blood. To his horror, she began to stand. Link tried to do the same, but as he did, his vision fluttered a little, and his balance failed him.
"Shit."
Nayru finally stood straight, and wobbled forward to him with an outstretched hand, but after taking her first few steps, she fell to her knees again, and her arms went limp. A long airy moan emanated from her mouth as she slouched down, defeated by the sword in her chest. Before Link could even try to stand, blinding white light flooded his vision as the once black form of the goddess exploded into an orb of holy light, knocking Link back onto his side leaving the tattered robes and armor of her corruption to fall ownerless on the ground.
And then the orb dissipated in twinkling sparks of immaculate golden light.
Link could barely believe his own eyes. He had done it. He had defeated a goddess. The Goddess Sword laid dormant on the ground as proof, tangled in the black cloth of the once-specters robes. He let out a long wheezing sigh, and for a moment he even chuckled with relief. Somehow, despite his odds, he emerged victorious.
"Yeah!" he shouted to the heavens, although he imagined Ganondorf was looking down on him. "How about that, you piggish bastard!?" Of course, there was no reply, but that only made his smug laughter better, even if it hurt his ribs a little. He checked his wounds again. It was nothing serious. A few bruises and cuts there, a few tears in his tunic, and a bit of mud smeared on his chin and undershirt, but there was nothing serious. It just hurt like hell, especially his head.
He sat down for a moment, and allowed the throbbing to stop, until finally he shook himself, and slowly stood to his feet, massaging a pulled muscle in his hip. He inched forward to where Nayru has vanished, and scooped up the Goddess Sword triumphantly, and sheathed it, but then something else caught his eye. He bent down and searched through the empty robes, until from them produced a small crystal amulet.
The mind control amulet, he realized.
With a zealous heart, he threw the crystal on the ground, and drove his heel into it, shattering it where it lay. It was not until after landing right back onto his business end that he remembered the shock wave it produced last time he destroyed one. Another foolish instinctive reaction, he surmised.
"Should've thought about that one, huh?" he scolded himself as he yet again stood to his feet. "Least it's over… For now."
As he walked back up to the mountain peak, Link nurtured his wounds, and continued to stretch his tender muscles, but feeling quite proud of himself. He even offered a prayer to Nayru, thanking her for not killing him, and praised Zelda for her miracle magic. Had it not been for her protection, he would have surely died. Perhaps things were not as bleak as they originally seemed.
Epona was nearby, seemingly a little spooked by all the loud noises and explosions, but once she saw him, she trotted over to him, and greeted him with a warm nuzzle. Link led her by the reins to the peak of Mount Lanyru, where he awaited for the dragon to return.
"You have proven yourself worthy of my blessing, Chosen One," Naydra said to him as she materialized before him, perched in her same spot. "It will be long until Nayru recovers, but I have sent her to a place that she may rest, hidden away from Ganondorf's prying eyes. I cannot thank you enough. Please accept these gifts I give to you."
Naydra bent down to his level, and closed her eyes. Link noticed a small beading light begin to form on the crest of her forehead, which only grew with time, until at last from it drifted out a small crystal of blueish hue, no bigger than the palm of his hand. The crystal came to float right before him, emitting a soft light. Before Link even had the chance to ask, Naydra began to speak.
"That is a gift from the goddess, Chosen One. It is called Nayru's Love. It was once a gift given to one of your predecessors, but now it shall pass to you. Take it in your hand, and you will learn of its purpose."
Cautiously, Link reached out with a delicate hand, and grasped the strange crystal with his fingers.
As Naydra had promised, the moment he came into contact with the crystal, his mind was flooded with the knowledge of how to use Nayru's Love. As if it had always been second nature to him, Link gripped the crystal in his hand, which now shone with a brilliant blue light, and slammed it to the ground at his feet. A ring of blue energy expanded from the center of his palm, and around him formed an ever-rotating barrier of translucent magic. Unlike Zelda's barrier, however, he knew Nayru's Love would protect him from all types of damage. Arrows, swords, fire, nothing would break the barrier.
The only draw back to this tremendous magic was that it tugged on his life force for energy. Every second that ticked away, he could feel the energy being pulled from his core, and supplied to the barrier surrounding him. All ready feeling admittedly tired from his previous fight, Link dispelled the barrier, and pocketed the crystal safely for later use.
"Thank you," Link said earnestly, although he anxiously awaited the far more important 'gift' he expected.
"And now, draw the Goddess Sword, Chosen One," Naydra commanded, and Link obeyed, holding out in front of him. "Fear not the flames, for they only consume forces of evil." Before Link even had time to ask what she was going to do, Naydra opened her mouth, and out from it spewed a stream of blinding blue fire that enveloped the blade of the Goddess Sword. To his surprise, the sudden force nearly knocked him off his feet, but he dug his heels in, and braced the blade of his sword with his off hand. He was overjoyed to find that the flames did not burn him at all. In fact, they flowed against his skin with nothing more than a chilling sensation.
It seemed very counter intuitive, but then again, who was he to complain?
The force that pushed against him redoubled in effort, so he matched it, and held his ground until at last Naydra's work was done, and the Goddess Sword retained its blue flame. However, the flames dispersed over time, only to be overtaken by a flash of light, and then all of the sudden, he noticed the Goddess Sword transform.
Its blade grew much longer, and its predominantly down-curved hilt curled upwards. Other than that, it remained relatively the same. However, something very familiar, and uplifting fell upon his ears. The soothing ringing song of the Master Sword had returned to him. Fi was still there inside, only he could not understand her yet.
"That is now the Goddess Longsword, Chosen One," Naydra said to him. "Two more trials you will face until it can be restored to the Master Sword."
"Farore and Din," aired.
"Yes. Greater challenges these will be. Soon, Ganondorf will know what has happened here, and her will take precautions against it. I would advise that you reconnect with the Descendant, and share with her this ̶ " The last of Naydra's words caught in her throat. She turned her head south, as if she had heard something. The dragon closed its eyes, and drew in deep breaths, locked almost in a meditative state before at last she slithered over to the southern edge of the mountain.
Taking interest in what she was seeing, Link also walked to the southern edge, and peered off into the horizon. In the distance, the fading sunset danced upon the ocean tides, and sillohetted the many cottages and houses of Hateno Village, which was overrun by Ganondorf's forces. However, Link did not have the eyesight to see much more than that. He looked up to Naydra questioningly.
"A battle has begun in that village," Naydra explained, without peeling her eyes away. "We must act quick, or else those released from Ganondorf's control will be slaughtered by their own." With a new-found urgency, Naydra lowered her head, and pointed one large eye towards Link. "Chosen One," she said, "climb upon my back. I shall carry you to the heart of the battle. Use your new-found strength to save those in need. They need you now more than ever."
Without a moment's hesitation, Link collected his gear, and secured it to his body before leaping up onto Naydra's back between two of her spikes, and held on. It took a while for his nervous excitement to catch up, and he began to squirm anxiously.
"I'm read ̶ " Before he could even complete his words, Naydra surged forward, and leapt over the cliffs edge, effortlessly suspending herself in to cool mountain air. The sensation of flying brought Link fond memories of riding his ancestors Crimson Loft Wing. In that moment, despite the oncoming battle, he was as peaceful as a monk meditating in his monastery. This is where he was supposed to be, floating in the cloud without a care in the world.
However, he reminded himself of the risks at hand. Down below, a small village of innocent people were being oppressed, and those who were broken from Ganondorf's hold were undoubtedly just as afraid and confused as the rest of them. That thought filled him with resolve, and he leaned forward to look gaze upon villagers below.
"Naydra, can you drop me off near that pond?" he shouted as he pointed to a solitary observatory on the highest point of the village. "I'll move on from there." Naydra did not respond, but he felt a shift in her heading, and they veered left. Anticipating what was to come, Link drew the Goddess Longsword, and readied himself.
It was finally time to set things right, starting with the liberation of Hateno. He would try to spare every Faronite he could, but he needed to do anything that was necessary to see to the safety of the villagers, and those who were broken from the corruption, and that meant killing. Such is the price of war.
He had not come back yet. He promised her would return within a few hours, and yet she was left to hide in the straw of their little barn, where she often took to just to have a moment to rest her swollen feet. True, her father was growing much older, and the invasion from the Wildmen certainly did not slow his blond hair from turning a pale white color from stress, but he was still a healthy and strong man, and knew the area better than anyone. It was very unlikely that he had gotten lost.
He had run that route countless times before without any trouble. He had never been late before.
She shuddered at the thought. Her father would not have been the first to been found out, and killed. The invaders always chose the most gruesome means of execution, to torment any who dared to communicate with the Hylian army just west of them. Her heart beat faster with dread as the passing thoughts of death surrounded her mind.
She had suffered so much at the hands of these vile men.
Losing her father would be the death of her. He was all the family she had left. Her mother tried her hardest to pull her own weight, but when she fell to a terrible illness, those monsters had deemed her unfit for work, and took pleasure in removing her head from her body.
It had been four months since that happened, and yet she still cried herself to sleep every night.
Her mother was such a sweet and kindred soul. Her long red hair had caught the fancy of many men when she was just a young lady, but never did her fidelity waver. She loved her father with every fiber in her body, but love was not enough to save her. When they lost her, it broke her father's spirit, and will, but he held on for her. They still had each other.
Her father barely spoke anymore. During the day, he barely showed anything other than restrained rage. However, instead of taking to murdering their oppressors, like so many other villagers had done, he threw every ounce of his strength into suppling the muscle and knowledge of herding sheep, just to appease their captors, all while feeding the Hylian Army with vital information.
He used to be such a kind and easy-going man, but now his heart was hardened, and all that ever passed through his mind was how he was going to make the invaders suffer for what they stole from them. She feared for what little remaining humanity he had left, but there was still hope. Even though his eyes were so full of anger, and pain, his heart softened to her.
When exhaustion was not enough to coerce her to sleep, he would comfort her in his arms, like he had done since she was a baby. She wanted to be strong, for him, but sometimes his love was all she had to stay sane. Goddess, how she prayed for his safety.
The throbbing in her feet pulled her from the ailed thoughts of her mind, so she leaned forward and began to massage them lightly, avoiding the countless blisters on the soles of her feet. Working dawn till dusk in the pasture, carrying a seven-month-old baby in her belly was brutal on her body. The baby seemed to dislike the way she was bent over, as it began to kick the inside of her stomach in protest. The slight pain made her stiffen her back, as she complied with her child's request.
"C'mon," she whispered to it. "Can I not even rub my feet?"
Of course, there was no other response apart from the ceasing of kicks. She prayed to the goddesses above that her child would not be violent and wild like the men that held their village captive. Bile suddenly threatened to spew into her mouth as her feverish thoughts returned to that night.
Her lungs seized up, as they always did when the trauma of what happened to her haunted every corner of her mind.
It was the first night after they had arrived on the sea. By then, nearly all of the Hylian soldiers that were stationed in Hateno Village had been murdered by the overwhelming numbers. Her father tried to keep her safe, but he was not a fighter, he was a sheep herder. They knocked him unconscious before he even had a chance to retaliate. She tried to run, but they blocked every exit of their little cottage. She was trapped like an animal.
Tears ran down her cheeks as the memories of what happened sent shivers and pangs into her body.
They took her, one at a time. They ravaged her womanhood before she ever even got the chance to find a true lover. When they finally left her be, all she could do was sink to the floor, and wail until her eyes were bloodshot, and her voice completely lost from strain. She wanted to die then. She wanted to take a knife to her own throat, but she saw her father still unconscious on the floor, bleeding.
She could not abandon him. He needed her as much as she needed him.
Her mother suffered a similar fate, as did most of the women still of child bearing age, but when she awoke from the terror, she had to crawl back to their home. She possessed otherworldly strength of will. In her eyes, her mother was a goddess in her own right.
Until they killed her, she was the purveying source of strength in the young woman's life.
The helpless woman buried her face into her hands and a fit of sobs racked her body to the core. Her child kicked inside her stomach again, momentarily distracting her, so she cradled her belly in her arms, and tried to soothe its restless spirit.
The village healer assured her that the trauma would render her unable to bear a child, but after missing her monthly twice, that hope was shot down. That when she knew she was trapped with the child of their captors. When that revelation had come, she cried just as hard as she had when they first abused her, but her mother and father were there to hold and comfort her.
Many women would have driven a blade into the belly. In fact, many women had driven blades into their bellies, or even taken their own lives, unable to cope with the horror, but she was no ordinary woman. How could she take the life of the child she carried? It did not ask for this. The child was innocent of all crime. True, she was tempted to end both of their suffering, but something deep within her told her that she would be no better than the monsters that did this to her if she murdered the innocence that grew within her.
Despite all temptation, the deepest reaches of her heart could not bear the thought of killing a helpless child.
Someday, if they ever made it out alive, she would raise the child she bore to be a kind, caring, and brave soul. The life she bore would not be his child, it would be her child. She would shape her baby into something worthy of the goddesses' blessings. She would raise him as a true Hylian, not as whatever race these men were.
She found peace in that, at least. She could be strong for her child.
"Aryll," she heard a familiar voice cry to her. "Aryll, come quick! Its your father! They caught him! Please, hurry!" Her heart sunk to her stomach, and adrenaline surged through her body. She did not even put her shoes back on before she jogged as fast as her belly and blistered feet would allow.
"Where is he Regina!?" Aryll asked as she burst through the barn door.
"They're going to make a spectacle of him in the town center," Regina answered, practically catching Aryll in her arms, and held her in place.
"I have to go," Aryll shouted as she tried to push past her village friend. "I have to do something!"
"Aryll, please stay calm. We have to stay out of harms way." Regina leaned in and whispered in her ear so that no one else would hear. "The villagers are planning a rebellion. We won't let him die." Regina took Aryll's hand into her own, and began to tow her to the outskirts of the town center, avoiding all nearby enemy soldiers, until at last they came to peer over a small stone wall.
Aryll's heart stopped when she saw her father bound, and prostrate, a brooding dark-haired invader standing over him, flaunting a large axe in his hand.
Many of the invaders jeered and chanted words in their guttural language, riling each other up for the impending execution. The executioner in question pompously strutted around, twirling his axe in his hand before raising it high to strike her father down. Without any forethought, Aryll shot up, and screamed at the top of her lungs, drawing every enemy eye to her.
A moment of absolute silence passed, only to be washed away by countless villagers from giving out their loudest battle cries as they dove into action, and began beating the invaders littered in the town center with anything that could be used as a weapon. Shovels, pitch forks, walking sticks; everything was fair game. Regina grabbed Aryll by the arm, and began to pull her away, but she fought against her, unwilling to look away from her father.
She was not about to let her father die. Not without a fight.
However, amidst the brawl that insinuated, she lost all sight of him. She tried to climb the stone wall before her, but Regina wrapped her arms around her, and pull against her with all her strength.
"No Aryll! You can't! You'll get yourself killed!"
"I don't care!" she screamed as she helplessly flayed in her friend's grip. "I can't lose him ̶ "
Aryll's desperate pleas were cut short when there was a massive booming noise that shook the very ground around them. The fighting stopped for a moment, as each man and woman looked bewilderedly to the east.
And then something even stranger happened.
Nearly half of the soldiers that were scattered through the entirety of Hateno Village suddenly dropped their weapons, fell to their knees, and began to scream and wail wildly. The chaos that followed was simply to much for her brain to process. The Wildmen began to kill their own. All while the brave outfit of villagers fought on, the invaders that still stood began to cut the throats of their fallen brothers, and moved on to kill the rebels.
The villagers made a hasty retreat, as did Aryll and her friend, Regina.
Everywhere she looked, there was death. If it was not a villager, then it was on of the invaders, falling at the hands of their own kin. She did not even have to words to describe what was going on. Regina led her back to her cottage with as much speed as they could muster, and took shelter there, blockading their doors, and peered out the windows for any friendly faces they could save. Sure enough, as the anarchy of battle distracted their captors, many villagers scattered out to the furthest reaches of Hateno Village, and took shelter inside.
"Father!" Aryll screamed when she saw a familiar blond and white head peaking over the nearby hill, along with several other Hylians. She cried with relief. He was still safe, that was all that mattered. "Regina, help me get the door open," she shouted as she began to pull at the large cabinet they moved in front of the main entrance to her house.
If the child in her belly had any qualms with all the painful activity, she was not aware of it.
Sweat began to run down her forehead as they slaved away to remove their blockade, until at last she threw the door open, and in poured a frantic group of desperate escapees. Her heart leapt with joy when she finally laid her eyes upon her father's haggard, but whole face.
"Oh Aryll," he cried as he surged forward and wrapped his arms around her. "I thought I was going to lose you sweetheart!"
"Father, what is happening?" she asked urgently.
"I don't know," he exhaled. "I don't know. But I pray that this will break the stalemate, and we can receive aid from the west."
"How were you caught?" Aryll asked as she led him to a chair, helping him sit to relieve his trembling legs.
"I was on my way back across the Fir River, when suddenly I was spotted by a rogue patrol. I didn't have time to escape so they brought me back here, to show everyone the price of trying to deliver intel to our allies." Her father's attention turned to the other Hylians that were hunkered in their kitchen. "Hey, David, go to the basement, and search under the barrels stacked in the corner. There's a trapdoor there, and inside are a few swords. They're rusty and old, but they're better than nothing."
"Aye, Rusl," David responded as he made his way to the back room, which led to the basement staircase. When he returned, they distributed the three swords between them, and huddled together in the safety of their kitchen, keeping a cautious watch on the battle outside. It was horrifying to see the Wildmen turn on their own, even as some made an effort to run away.
"They're coming this way," Rusl said as he backed away from the window, and placed himself between Aryll and the doorway. Rusl, David, and the other Hylian villager all readied their poor excuses for swords, and anxiously waited to fight the oncoming horde. As Rusl had warned, the Wildmen battered against their door, slowly wittling away at their makeshift barricade, and cursing at them in their vile tongue.
And then something caught the invaders attention.
The whole group of them began to shout to one another, and pointed to the sky, before running for cover. Suddenly, a bright blue fire rained down upon the Wildmen as they ran in terror. The ragtage group of survivors all ran to window, and collectively stared in awe. In the sky flew a massive creature of blue and white, trailing orbs of ice spiraling all along its long snake-like body.
"A dragon!?" David gasped. No one had a response to give.
The dragon spiraled back round, until it landed near Zelkoa Pond, and from its spinney back leapt the slender form of a man, cloaked in a green tunic, his head covered in a hood. In his left hand there was a long sword of a whitish color, and on his hip hung a small crossbow.
The warrior, whoever he was, charged forward as if he had never felt fear in his life while the dragon took to the sky yet again. Surely the goddesses had sent them a demigod to save them. Who else would appear from the sky riding on the back of a dragon in their direst time of need? Aryll, her father, and the other Hylians continued to stare in awe as the green clad warrior made contact with his first opponents, dispatching them with lethal grace as his blade never ceased its rhythmic swinging, seemingly with as much ease as one would with breathing and walking.
Before long, a horde of ten or so surrounded the warrior, and for a moment Aryll held her breath, worried that he would fall, but the moment they all collapsed in around him, a shining blue light erupted from his hand, and all around him formed a barrier of angelic light. Their weapons glanced off of the barrier hopelessly, which the warrior took advantage of, either running his blade through them, or knocking them unconscious with the pommel of his unusual sword.
Aryll's heart beat with joy. A Hero had come to liberate them. The goddesses had finally answered their prayers.
The warrior continued to fight on, eventually coming close enough to their cottage window that they could see under the hood that overshadowed his face. Aryll expected a face more… Well, demigod-like. True, he had a handsome complexion, but she was dumbfounded to find that the warrior was so young. He looked just as Hylian as the rest of them.
Could that truly be all he was? Just a man?
For a moment, during a moment of respite between his fighting, he glanced over to the window, his blue eyes dancing fiercely in the setting sun. His expression was hard to read, but there was one thing to be sure of; he was fearless, and determined. His fighting only proved that notion.
"Who is he?" David asked, completely awestruck.
"I don't know… He's just a boy," Rusl replied. "But he has come to save our village… And we should do anything we can to help."