Revali grimaced as he cast his gaze around the vast expanse of land below him. Though his vision was largely hampered by the oppressive darkness hanging over everything beneath, he could still make out large sections of land which were now submerged under large puddles of water. And still, the rain continued to fall, battering itself against the ground before seeping into the soaked earth or adding itself to a multitude of bodies of water. He wasn't sure whether this sort of rainfall was typical or not, but he found it to be extremely unpleasant, especially with the way it soaked his feathers and exhausted him much more quickly. He had only been airborne for a few short hours, but was already waterlogged and wondered for how much longer he'd be able to maintain his altitude. Though he found the idea of walking in the rain to be miserable, he figured it would be better than crashing.
Revali dove down, fighting to maintain control as he angled himself to land a little ways ahead of Daruk, who had thus far kept up by curling into a ball and rolling across the landscape. How he managed to navigate the landscape was beyond the Rito Champion; all he really knew was that it was the most inelegant form of travel he had yet seen.
It was a struggle to maintain his equilibrium as he descended, and as a result, his landing was far from smooth. Thankfully, Daruk couldn't have seen how close he'd come to losing his balance. Once the Rito Champion had regained his composure, he straightened his tunic before turning to watch the Goron Champion roll toward him. It surprised Revali to find Daruk already so close behind despite how much speed he had picked up during his dive. Apparently, Daruk was far faster than he had believed possible.
Revali leaped into the sky again just as Daruk's coiled body sprung open, causing the Goron Champion to expand even as his forward momentum continued. The Rito Champion was glad he had taken to the air, as the mud kept Daruk's feet from finding traction, resulting in him to slipping and crashing straight through the spot Revali had just been occupying. Unfortunately for Revali, the action that had saved him hadn't calculated, meaning he had not accounted for the extra weight, which sent him careening back towards the ground.
He grunted angrily as he stumbled upon touching down again. "What was that about?!" he snapped after finally regaining his balance. Being soaked and covered in mud was bad enough, but the fact that he no longer had the same mastery of air was simply humiliating. He was simply not in the mood to deal with anyone or anything
"Sorry!" Daruk replied as he struggled to get up, nearly slipping and falling to the ground again. "I didn't think I'd fall."
"I'm beginning to wonder if you think at all."
"Hey now," Daruk muttered as he finally righted himself and stepped carefully over to the Rito Champion. "I know yer worried about the others -"
"I don't really care about -"
"But ya gotta stop lashin' out," the Goron Champion continued, not letting Revali's attempt to interrupt him. "If ya really wanna help, then ya have ta learn how ta direct that aggression."
"I know how to direct my energy." It took quite a lot of self-control to keep the bite from entering his voice. While he hated to admit it, he knew that the Goron Champion did indeed have a point. "...Sorry," he grumbled as he folded his wings and turned away.
"It's okay," the Goron Champion replied kindly. The Rito Champion tilted his head ever so slightly, observing Daruk as he turned toward the darkened horizon leading to Zora's Domain. A massive hand traveled to his beard, stroking it as his eyes narrowed in thought. "How bad does it look?"
"It only gets worse from here," Revali answered sullenly.
"Hmm."
"What?"
"Ya still got the rest of that potion that Beedle gave us?"
"No!" Revali replied sharply as he spun to address the Goron Champion directly. "It hasn't been twenty-four hours yet and you aren't -"
"I know what he said, but I got a bad feelin.'" Daruk explained calmly. "We need ta get ta the others quickly, and I think this is the best way to do that."
"His name is Beedle. What part of that isn't suspicious at all?"
"If I can't handle a little more potion than most, then I have no right ta call myself a Champion."
"Are you completely insane?" Revali was so taken aback by the backward reasoning that he couldn't even be upset by it. He couldn't fathom how the Goron Champion could have possibly reached that conclusion or from what basis he had even made it. He didn't even know how to adequately express his genuine confusion with the statement.
"Maybe, but I don't think we got a choice," Daruk replied with a grin. "He said the potion can only do so much, so maybe -"
"He also said that drinking too much would be akin to drinking an entire barrel of ale."
"There's nothin' to worry about. I could drink several kegs of the ale the stable was sellin' and not feel a thing."
Revali could only stare at Daruk blankly. He had known that Daruk was far from being a logician, but the gaps in logic he was witnessing were extreme even for the Goron Champion.
"Relax, buddy. I know it's risky, but I am willin' to give it a shot fer family."
"Family?" The Rito Champion asked incredulously. "None of us are even the same race, let alone share the same blood."
"Doesn't matter," the Goron Champion replied firmly. "They're the ones who woke up beside us, decided to stick with us and risked their lives fer us. That's enough fer me."
Again, Revali could only stare at his companion, utterly beyond the ability to comprehend what was being said to him. The only concept of family he possessed based on his brief memories was that of husbands and wives going about what must have been their day to day lives while rearing a little one or two. There had been a few exceptions where the couple's parents or siblings were also heavily involved in their lives, but it was nothing like what Daruk had just described.
Yes, Link had certainly put his life on the line for Revali's but he had only, and still only, chalked it up to the Hylian Champion refusing to give into fear. Link was many things, including an idiotic fool in Revali's opinion, but a coward was not one. It had simply been a matter of not giving into fear and saving himself.
Familial sentiment had nothing to do with it.
Regardless, Revali knew that Daruk wasn't going to be dissuaded from his beliefs or from reaching the Domain. The Rito Champion sighed before reaching down to his belt to retrieve a bottle of the potion they had acquired from Beedle and passing it over.
"Hmm," Daruk hummed as he turned toward the path that led to the Domain, downing the entire bottle in seconds. "How do ya feel about a little competition?"
Despite his misgivings, Revali found that even the suggestion of a challenge piqued his interest. "What did you have in mind?"
"Whoever reaches the Domain first has braggin' rights."
Revali narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. He wouldn't admit it, but he had quite a bit of respect for the Goron Champion. If Daruk really was offering him the chance to prove himself, the Rito Champion figured he should take him up on it. "Fine, but I don't want to hear any complaints when I win."
"That's the spirit!" Daruk replied as he slapped Revali on the back, forcing the Rito Champion to bite back a yelp as he stumbled forward. "Now then, I'll count down."
Revali sent him a glare before crouching down, ready to leap into the sky as soon as Daruk gave the signal.
"Three!" Revali took a deep breath.
"Two!" The muscles in his legs tensed up, ready to help propel him upward.
"One!" He extended his wings up just slightly, giving them enough room to move as they needed.
"Go!" The air was already whipping through his feathers as he soared upwards, his prior concerns about the Goron Champion's health forgotten in the wake of his competitive streak.
He was going to win, no matter how hard he had to push himself to do so.
Mipha cringed slightly as Link crashed back into the water for the umpteenth time. Unbeknownst to her, Link had opted to travel to the Veiled Falls immediately after his meeting with Purah and had proceeded to practice his new ability to swim up waterfalls. When she had found him after what she could only assume was several hours after he began, he had barely managed to keep his head above the water. It had taken quite a bit of coaxing, and nearly raising her voice to convince him to take a break from his "training."
Thankfully, she'd had the foresight to bring food for him, which helped to distract him once he was out of the water. Convincing him to take healing and stamina potions to help him recover had been another matter entirely. Thankfully, he wasn't immune to reason, so it hadn't taken nearly as much effort as she would have guessed.
Of course, he had only agreed to a small break before returning to his feet, briefly stretching, and wading back into the water towards the base of the waterfall.
"Don't treat your body like it is made of separate parts," she instructed as she joined him upon his surfacing. "I know that Hylians must move their arms and legs opposite to each other, but if you want to make it to the top, you must learn to swim like a Zora," she explained as she slowly circled him."Your body must be as one."
The Zora Champion felt herself becoming mildly flustered as she felt Link's eyes on her. Ordinarily, such a thing wouldn't bother her too much; however, recent events had increased her sensitivity to his gaze. Though she had no reason to believe he knew the meaning behind the armor she had painstakingly crafted for him, it sometimes felt to her that he really did know and was silently sizing her up. She knew that he wouldn't ever do that, especially if he had any idea how much distress his wearing the armor caused her. In fact, Mipha was certain that he would have taken it off without a second thought if he had any idea of her internal struggle. He wouldn't have even needed to know why.
Even so, it was difficult for her to accept when he was so reserved with his thoughts.
Link nodded before following suit. The Hylian Champion was ungraceful, with him struggling to synchronize his body's movements as he experimented. Mipha didn't let this deter her though, as she recalled training him to swim as her people did in his youth. He wasn't a particularly strong swimmer, but he'd managed to get a firm grasp on the basics. It would take some time for it all to come back to him, but she knew that he could master it if given time. When it was necessary, he would devote as much time as it took to master whatever it was he set his mind to.
She wished she could do something more to help than simply giving instructions and tips; however, as had been made clear while on her way home, she no longer possessed the strength she once had. While swimming up the waterfalls along the way hadn't been an issue for her, the Zora Champion had been concerned with how it had taken a worrying amount of energy out of her. There was simply no way she could support both of them all the way to the top.
"I thought I might find you two here."
Both Champions turned to find the Domain's Prince approaching them from the shores. "To think that two of the finest warriors our home has ever seen would be training even in these conditions, and just before a great battle… Incredible!" he cried as a large grin broke across his face. "With your power and diligence, we cannot lose!"
"Sidon, no matter how diligent we are, that does not eliminate the danger we face. And Link..." she trailed off as she exchanged a glance with the Hylian in question. He nodded to her, giving her his permission to speak for him. "Link is still unable to swim very far up the falls."
"I see," Sidon mused quietly as he wrapped a finger around his chin, closing his eyes. "It would be difficult for someone who was never taught to swim up the Veiled Falls," he mused quietly. "Perhaps I could carry him up? It is how you taught me, after all."
Link sent her another glance, which she returned with a nod of her head. She couldn't make the decision for him, but she could advise him. Allowing Sidon to carry Link up would allow him to get a feel for how it was to swim up the falls, which would be more than her words could do for him.
The Hylian Champion nodded his assent.
"Excellent!" Sidon exclaimed as he waded out toward them. Upon reaching them, Link climbed up on the Prince's back. "Are you ready?"
"Yeah," Link replied once he was situated.
"Then hold on!" Sidon dashed through the water, reaching the base of the falls and rocketing up them in the blink of an eye. Mipha watched, both astounded and proud by easily he ascended, even with Link's extra weight. It was only natural that Sidon would have developed the technique and strength to do so, but a part of her still just saw him as the same little boy that she had carried up herself. And now, it could be argued that she was younger than him.
When had life become so convoluted?
Her head craned back, allowing her to observe as both Sidon and Link reached the top of the falls, with her brother leaping high into the air before gravity resumed its hold on them both. Link let go of the Prince as Sidon reoriented himself, using his feet to ride the water back down. The Hylian Champion fell a ways before pulling out his paraglider, gliding down gently as Sidon dove reached the bottom with a dive.
"That was excellent form, Sidon," Mipha praised as he broke the water's surface.
"I had only the best teachers," he responded with his characteristic grin.
"You have grown so much in the time I have been away."
"Yes," he replied, his smile giving way to a contemplative frown. "But I did not have much of a choice." As soon as the words left his mouth, the Prince's eyes widened considerably, "I'm sorry! That came out wrong!"
Mipha hid her shock and hurt from his words well. She had known that her disappearance had likely caused him quite a lot suffering beyond the grief of losing her, but to have him confirm it even with subtlety was something she hadn't quite been ready for. "I'm -"
"Please don't apologize," he interrupted quickly. "Before you left, I promised you that I would protect the Domain if anything were to happen to you and I couldn't break it. Not a promise I made to you. So, I worked hard to become the Prince you always told me I could be. Sometimes, I can't help but wonder if I will ever become that Prince."
"You have already come so much farther than I could have hoped."
"Thank you, though I still have so much further left to go."
"We both do," Mipha replied quietly as Link finally landed. "Please remember to take a moment and appreciate how far you have come every now and then, okay?"
"I will," he replied quietly before turning to address the Hylian Champion. "Fantastic wasn't it?!"
Link shrugged with a troubled frown.
"It took me several weeks of practice to make it halfway up; however, I am sure you will master it faster! You have one of the greatest teachers in the Domain!" The Prince calmed slightly, his body language becoming as quiet as his voice. "What's more, you don't even need to make it to the top. The waterfalls produced by Ruta are only half the height, and much calmer than these falls."
Link's frown melted away as he turned back to the falls, his head tilting as he considered the wall of cascading water before them.
"Perhaps we should take a break," Mipha suggested quietly.
"No," Link replied quietly.
"Link..."
"Normally, I would agree with you, sister, but Link is right. I know it is dangerous to push too hard when training, but we do not have time to do this safely. If Link is willing to take the risks, then I think we should support him."
Mipha fought the urge to argue as she took a deep breath and held it until her chest began to ache. She understood the danger her home faced and kingdom faced, but she still abhorred the idea of putting Link in danger despite how necessary it was. So, she kept her mouth shut, giving Link a short nod and prompting him to continue.
The Hylian Champion waded back into the deeper water, followed closely by her brother. She remained alone in the shallows, struggling to reconcile herself with the reality of their situation. Setting aside their duty to Hyrule as a whole, having to handle Vah Ruta while also needing to defend against a horde of monsters was far too much. Mipha could accept that she was far from wise and knew that she had no hopes of understanding the Goddess and her plans, but she failed to see how allowing them to endure so much risk could possibly serve Her will.
Regardless, she had accepted a long time ago that there were simply some things she would never understand, and the machinations of a higher being's mind were one such thing.
The Zora Champion smiled fondly in spite of herself as she watched Link try and fail once again as Sidon called out encouragement. It did her heart well to see the two getting along so well, even after so many years and so few memories to bind them. She had always hoped that, if Link ever did accept her proposal, he and Sidon would get along famously. Her father was obviously fond of him, and she had all but given up on Muzu's approval, but Sidon had always gone back and forth on the Hylian. When Link spent time with both him and Mipha, the young Prince had greatly enjoyed him. When Link only spent time with Mipha, however, Sidon's opinion of him was far less charitable.
Thankfully, Sidon had not grown bitter in the wake of all he had lost and had instead become a fine young Prince. Now, he was ready to pick up where he had left off with both herself and Link.
Deciding that she had spent enough time lost in thought, the Zora Champion waded out to her brother just as Link made another attempt to make it up the waterfall.
"He is a fast learner!" Sidon remarked as Link climbed higher than his initial attempts.
"Yes, he is."
Mipha fidgeted slightly as an uncomfortable silence grew between the two. Above them, Link lost control of his ascent, causing him to fall back down toward them and crashing into the water.
"That was fantastic!" Sidon cried, startling Mipha as Link resurfaced. "You truly are incredible, Link!"
Link shot the Zora Prince a brief grin before returning his attention to the falls. Within a few short seconds, the Hylian Champion was racing up them again, leaving the two siblings alone yet again.
"Does he know?" Sidon asked quietly. "About the armor, I mean," he explained as he shifted his gaze to her.
"I do not believe so," she answered as Link fell yet again. Just as before, both siblings fell quiet as the Hylian Champion raced back toward them. Once again, her younger brother expressed praise and encouragement, despite the fact that Link hadn't even made it as high as he had the time before. In no time at all, Link was working his way back up the falls.
"I suppose that's not terribly surprising," Sidon stated thoughtfully. "It has been quite some time since he was last here. I cannot imagine him remembering the legend of the White Scale if even you had forgotten it. And with so much on both of your shoulders, I doubt you would have the time to sit and discuss it."
"Not yet." A small pit of dread had taken root in her stomach, growing as though watered by Sidon's words.
She felt her brother's eyes on her, as though knowing of her distress. "I will not claim to know what all has happened between you two, but I do know one thing. You are the most amazing person I know and Link knows it too. I have no doubt that he will accept you wholeheartedly."
"Sidon -"
Again, he seemed to sense her internal emotions. "Maybe not today, or tomorrow, or the day after that, but I know that one day, he will accept," he finished with an assured nod.
"Thank you," Mipha replied, feeling herself relax ever so slightly as Sidon gave her a large, confident smile. She found herself mildly amused that it was her little brother that was comforting and inspiring her. There was a time when she was the one that had to be his rock, yet now it seemed to be the reverse.
A splash interrupted the moment, causing both siblings to whip around. They had forgotten that Link was still with them; however, he didn't seem to have noticed their surprise at his dropping in. Before either of them could gather themselves and provide him encouragement, he darted back toward the falls.
"He truly is incredible," Sidon murmured, his awe at Link's sheer tenacity making itself heard.
"Indeed." Mipha watched, noting just how much his form had improved in just a few short hours. It would likely be a while before it was as proper and graceful as a Zora's, but it was still an impressive feat.
"I think I understand how you must be feeling."
As interested as she was in watching his progress, she found another question was very quickly vying for her attention. While her brother had certainly matured over the last century, it was still strange to her to hear him speaking of such matters, especially for such a prolonged period of time. He had always been excitable and had often displayed a penchant for a lack of extended focus yet he seemed stuck on her feelings for the Hylian Champion.
"Sidon, is there something you wish to tell me?"
"Something I wish to tell you?" He turned back to her, his head tilting slightly as he eyed her quizzically.
"You seem quite interested in my feelings for Link. Why might that be?"
The Prince of the Domain started to fidget as he searched for something to say.
Mipha giggled lightly as he started fumbling in an attempt to find the words he needed to answer her. "Little brother, is there someone that has caught your eye?" For a brief moment, as she watched her brother fidget almost violently, she understood why Urbosa enjoyed teasing her and Link so much.
"Ah, well you see, it's complicated," Sidon replied quickly. "She- well I'm not sure ho- I don't even know- how does one..." Sidon trailed off helplessly. He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly before starting again. "I'm sorry. This is a… topic I was hoping to discuss with you after everything had calmed down."
Though it had entertained her for a few brief moments to allow herself to tease him, the Zora Champion didn't fight the compassion that flowed through her. "Have you tried talking to father? He is quite skilled at navigating matters of the heart."
"I have not," Sidon sighed. "I had thought that I would sit on the matter for a while longer before speaking to him, but with you back..."
"I would still speak to father," Mipha stated quietly as she turned back to find Link over halfway up the falls. She couldn't truly process the feat, as she was so engrossed in the conversation with her brother. "I could barely work up the courage to allow him to give Link the armor, and that was for the sake of the Domain. Father will give you much better advice than I ever could."
"But you made the armor in the first place," Sidon noted. "Weren't you nervous?"
"Of course."
"Then, how? How did you overcome your fears and make it?"
Mipha thought on the question for several seconds. "I woke up one morning and decided I would make it," she responded, unsure of whether or not the answer would make sense to her brother. The truth, as simple as it was, sounded like a riddle even to her. She wasn't sure what had overtaken her to give her the strength to make it and see it through, nor was she sure what had kept her going through the uncertainty. All she really knew was that, in a moment of doubt, she had made her choice.
The Prince didn't respond, a thoughtful overtaking his features as he turned back, just in time to see Link lose his upward momentum about three-quarters of the way to the top. Unlike the previous times, he left the falls gracefully, twisting through the air and pulling out his paraglider to drift down toward them.
"Fantastic, Link! I have never heard of anyone making so much progress in a single training session!"
Mipha observed carefully as the Hylian Champion landed on the shore. He hid it well, but she could see he was winded and, if he hadn't already, was close to reaching his physical limits.
"I'm ready," Link stated.
She had known, deep down, that this what his training had been leading to: attacking Ruta without a moment's respite.
"Amazing!" Sidon replied enthusiastically "however, as incredible as you -"
"I believe you are ready as well, but first, we must make a stop in the Domain so you can take a stamina potion."
"Sister, are you certain of this?"
The Zora Champion's gaze remained locked on her fellow Champion as she answered. "I am." She didn't believe for a moment that a potion was a substitute for true rest, but she knew that she would be unable to convince Link that he needed rest first. As such, she would use what influence she had to convince him to take a small break.
It would be better than nothing, especially if she were to use Anora's potions, which had always been more potent than her own. That was no surprise though, considering that she had decades, centuries even, to devote to research and no healing powers to rely on to boot.
Link silently agreed, allowing Mipha to relax as the tension left her shoulders. He had a penchant for pushing himself far more than she would have liked, he at least had enough sense to know when help was needed.
"Very well. Shall we return to the Domain then?" Sidon motioned toward the path that led back to the Zora City. Link broke eye contact first, following the Zora Prince back down the path. Mipha was not far behind; however, she was far from present with her brother and friend.
Though it did her little good, the Zora Champion was still reflecting over the challenges ahead. She walked on, barely even registering the sounds of her two companions speaking as she quietly turned over everything she could remember. The part of her that existed before her amnesia found it weird that she would need time to process everything that had returned. The person who had grown accustomed to living without any recollections of her previous life was astounded at just how much there was to think about.
Mipha hadn't had anywhere near enough time to speak with the friends and loved ones she'd left behind, let alone process the years of information and experiences she had just been supplied with. While she tried to remain focused on the bits that would invariably help them in the battle to come, she found more often than not that her attention was drawn away by an image that darted through the labyrinth that was her mind. Memories of Sidon, Bazz, Link, Gaddison, Kodah, her father, Muzu, and several others all competed for her notice. By the time she realized how lost she had become in the streams of thought, they had already reached the Domain.
"Mipha?"
"Yes, Sidon?"
"Is something the matter?"
The Zora Champion smiled as she heard the concern in her brother's voice. He had always been a sweet child, even when he was being selfish, and hearing it once again was a cathartic experience for her.
"No. I simply have a lot to think about."
"Memories?" Link asked, almost too quiet for her to hear.
"Yes. There are still many pieces missing but what is not will take some time for me to comprehend. Have you remembered anything?"
"A little."
She didn't need to see the slight, downward tilt of his lips to know that he was dissatisfied with how little he could recall. She could hear it in his voice.
"Be patient with yourself," she counseled as they finished crossing the bridge, officially reentering the Domain. "I have no doubt that in -"
"Laflat?! What are you doing out here?!"
Mipha could see her own shock reflected in the thunderstruck expression her brother wore despite him having been the one to shout. Knowing that she would get no answers from him, she followed his eyes to find her father's secretary rushing toward them with a package in her hands.
The Zora woman closed the distance quickly, breathing heavily as she began addressing each of them. "Lady Mipha… Master Link..." Mipha's head tilted ever so slightly as she continued watching Laflat. As an assistant to the Royal Family, Laflat should have been well versed in proper etiquette when it came to greetings. So, why she would address Link before Sidon was something she couldn't quite understand. She wasn't bothered and knew the Prince wouldn't be either as he had never been much one for formalities. It was just interesting to hear someone in the secretary's position would overlook such a basic practice. "… Prince Sidon," she finished, trying desperately to sound like she wasn't fighting for breath.
"Laflat," Mipha replied with a graceful nod.
"What are you doing out here?" Sidon repeated, forgoing formality altogether. "My father ordered that all civilians evacuate to the lower city until it is safe."
"I know," Laflat responded as she held out the package to the Prince, "but I felt that finding this was more important. Besides," she added as her gaze fell to the metallic street below, "my duty is to the Royal Family. Abandoning you all to save myself would be..."
"I understand, I really do, but I wish you had not put yourself in danger for these."
"Prince Sidon, surely you know that you are an inspiration to us all."
Mipha tried to exchange a glance with Link; however, the Hylian Champion appeared to be too invested in the conversation to notice. All that was left to do was silently observe as the rest of the conversation unfolded.
"Hmm?"
"When you left to save that small fishing village from the giant octorok -"
"You did what?!" Mipha asked sharply. She hadn't intended to be rude; however, hearing that her brother had gone to personally attend to such a dangerous threat had made her forget herself and her fascination with the conversation for a moment.
"- many of us were inspired by your bravery." It seemed that her outburst had gone unnoticed. She wasn't sure whether to be thankful or not for that. "And when we heard that it had swallowed you whole -"
"It did what?!" Her second outburst was not missed, as both her brother and his friend stiffened before slowly looking over to her. They stared at her as though she were about to attack them both; however, she had no qualms with their current discomfort. "It did what?" she asked again. The volume wasn't there, but the dangerous edge remained.
"Before you get upset -" Sidon started, likely attempting to get out ahead of Mipha's anger.
"Sidon! You cannot simply up and do something so incredibly -"
"You asked me to protect our home!" the Prince snapped.
Mipha stopped in her tracks, her mouth hanging open ever so slightly in shock.
Silence dominated the four as Link and Laflat's eyes flicked back and forth between the royal siblings. The Zora Champion could only stare at her brother, dumbfounded as she quickly searched through her memories for whatever instance he was referring to. It wasn't long until she remembered the first time she had taken him up to the top of the Veiled Falls. When she had told him she was counting on him to protect her home if the day came in which she no longer could.
"Sidon… I am -"
"Please don't," he interrupted quietly as he placed a hand on his face. "I am sorry for shouting at you, and of course it was not your fault that I made such a dangerous decision. When hearing of Lurelin's plight, I could only think of you, and what you would have done for them. You would not have sat in safety while they suffered and so I could not either."
She could not argue with that logic. She had indeed asked him to protect their home, but she should have known that he, much like she herself, would have a very liberal definition of what that entailed. And, considering how kindhearted he was, it was impossible to ask him to sit by idly while others were suffering.
No matter how much she wished it weren't so, she was forced to admit that she was in the wrong.
Mipha stepped forward, setting a hand on his arm as she looked up at him. "I should not have shouted at you… either of you," she corrected as she exchanged a glance with the secretary, "and I should not have tried to lecture you so presumptuously. I hope you can forgive me."
The Prince finally met her eyes, giving her a small nod.
Mipha smiled back before retracting her hand and folding them in front of her as they turned back to Laflat. "Please continue," the Zora Champion requested with a small incline of her head.
"I-I was simply going to say that I could not go and hide while you- you all were in danger."
Mipha silently berated herself for causing Laflat's distress during what she could only assume was an important exchange. "Perhaps we should open her gift," the Zora Champion suggested, hoping that she could deftly guide them away from the poorly mishandled interaction.
The secretary looked down to the road as Sidon tore the wrappings away and held the object up. In his hands, he held a pair of trousers made of dark blue and black scales. Mipha recognized them instantly as specialized leggings that were made for Hylian visitors to the Domain. The sleek design, along with enchantments imbued within the scales, and the flippers that covered the feet, would allow a Hylian to swim much faster and far more efficiently than normal. They had become so commonplace in her day that she had designed Link's armor to match them in the hopes that his leggings and chest piece wouldn't clash visually.
"I searched through what was left of my grandfather's stores and found these. While I am sure that Master Link is an exceptional swimmer by Hylian standards, I believe that every little bit counts."
"Laflat… you truly are the most..." The Prince trailed off, almost physically reaching for a word to express his gratitude for the secretary. Unfortunately, after several seconds, he started to become flustered as the words continued to escape him.
Luckily for him, Mipha had a very good idea of what Laflat meant to him, and stepped in to interject, hoping to help him save a little face. "I believe what my brother is trying to say is that you did well to bring these to us. Thank you," she stated with a much steeper incline of her head. "Now, please, for our sake as well as yours, please join my father in the throne room, and remain there until one of us comes for you."
"Yes, Lady Mipha."
The Zora woman said her goodbyes, her gaze lingering on Sidon for a moment longer than anyone else before leaving them.
Mipha observed both her brother and the Hylian Champion for a moment, realizing that it would fall to her to direct them. Link wasn't lost as Sidon was, but she could tell from the way his eyes flicked between her and the Prince that he understood that Sidon needed some time to speak with her alone. She wouldn't have the opportunity to create as much time for her brother and his needs as she wanted, but what she could would have to be enough.
"Come," she said gently to her brother, "we need to stop by the infirmary before we can attend to Ruta."
Thankfully, Sidon snapped out of his fog, his characteristic smile already returning to his eyes. "Yes of course! Forgive me, I just had a lot on my mind."
"I know you have," she replied as she began guiding him toward the infirmary. "Perhaps," she continued, allowing her voice to rise slightly enough for Link to hear, "we can discuss some of that while Link is trying on those greaves."
"Perhaps so."
The rest of the very short trip was made with light conversation between the siblings. While Sidon did entertain a few of her questions while asking a few of his own, the Zora Champion could tell that he was simply biding time until he could ask her what it was that was truly occupying his mind. Link also seemed privy to Sidon's intentions, as he wasted no time in grabbing the leggings and marching to the back of the infirmary as soon as they crossed the threshold.
As soon as he was out of earshot, she focused all of her attention on her brother. "Laflat seems rather nice. I like her."
"I'm glad but… why would you send her to wait with father? Wouldn't she be safer in the lower city?"
"Maybe," Mipha conceded quietly as she sat down on one of the beds, motioning for him to settle down next to him. "You know how I feel about Link, correct?" It was meant to be a rhetorical question; however, he nodded regardless. "And you know that he is a far more competent warrior than I?"
"I know."
"Do you think whether or not he is a better warrior is important to me?"
"I don't understand."
Mipha was silent for a moment as she reevaluated her tactics. Her father had liked to ask her questions interspersed in their discussions to get her thinking; however, what worked for her wouldn't necessarily work for her brother. Besides, a few seconds reflection made her consider just how vague the question was.
"Even though Link is far better at fighting than I am, that will not stop me from fighting beside him. And, if for some reason I cannot fight by his side, I will be ready and waiting to heal him when he returns."
"Of course you will! That is who you are!" She smiled at his response, glad to know that he thought so highly of her.
"Say you were in her position. You unable to fight, but the person you care for most can and will fight. Would you want to leave her for the safety of the lower city?"
"I would not." She could see that he was beginning to understand the point she was trying to make. "And she would not want to either."
"No. While remaining in the throne room with father is not ideal for anyone, it will be safer than allowing her to wander, but near enough to feel that she can still help if need be."
"I understand," Sidon said quietly. "I don't like it, but you are right."
Mipha's gaze broke from her younger brother as she looked toward the back of the room. While she was interested in the conversation with her brother, she was still aware of their duty. Link was taking longer than she had expected, though she imagined he had found something necessary to do to occupy his time and give her and Sidon and herself more of it. And one look at her brother told her that he needed a bit more time.
"So, little brother," she said as she took to her feet, "tell me about Laflat." The Zora Champion began rifling through her old mentor's things, digging around for the excess potions she knew were present. She wanted to devote as much attention to the Prince as she could, but there was simply too much to do.
"There's so much to say!" Sidon replied, his childlike excitement beginning to return. "Is there anything in particular you would like to hear about?"
"Why not at the beginning," Mipha suggested. "How long have you known her?"
"About fifteen years, I think," Sidon answered thoughtfully. "She was assigned to assist me during her training. I suppose it was during that time that we became friends." He smiled fondly as his gaze traveled upwards. "She was so timid at first, but she eventually learned to open up."
"Oh?"
"Yes, and she was trying far too hard. One day, I had to ask her to allow me to take some of the responsibility."
"That was good of you," Mipha said with a smile, once again failing to recognize the potions she was looking for. Though the Zora Champion had intended to search carefully so as not to waste time, she had once again become distracted by her brother's words. "I know the Council can be quite harsh with apprentices, especially those that serve us directly."
"Yes they can," the Prince sighed. "Thankfully, she seems to take it all in stride."
"Did you two spend a lot of time together during her training?"
"Yes."
"And do you still spend time together?" she asked, finally catching sight of the green of a stamina potion. She had to take several seconds to process the color and what it meant to her.
"We do. It is largely taking care of the affairs of the Domain but, on occasion, we do sit and chat."
"Then it is no surprise that she is holding up well." Mipha finally registered that she was looking at Stamina potions and collected a few. It occurred to her that it shouldn't have taken her more than a few seconds to do so, but she devoted no time to it. Instead, she chose to focus on finding healing potions.
"What?"
"You are very supportive and encouraging," the Zora Champion explained absently, as her attention was finally redirected to the collection of concoctions before her. "An encouraging word and a large, genuine smile can go a long way."
"Thank you."
"So, have you -" The sounds of footsteps flapping against the floor cut her off. Link, finally returning from trying the greaves on, stood at attention, the apologetic look on his face telling the royal siblings that he knew he was interrupting. Mipha motioned for him to approach with a gracious smile, handing him one of the stamina potions she had procured from Anora's stores. "Those appear to fit you rather well," she noted with a gesture toward his new pants.
Link mouthed the word "no" as he set the bottle back down.
That was when she knew that the reason he had taken so long was so that he could refit the greaves.
"Well, I am glad that they will serve their purpose," she replied, attempting to be as diplomatic as possible. She knew Sidon was listening and didn't want to fear that Laflat would hear that her efforts had fallen short. On some level, he likely understood what she was trying to hide, but the matter was so small that it wasn't an issue needing resolving.
With their needs being met, the trio left the infirmary behind, reentering the darkened streets of the Domain. Taking the lead, the Zora Champion set their course for the Reservoir and the Divine Beast.
"So, sister, you were trying to ask me a question."
"It is related to your personal life, Sidon. I thought you might like to discuss it in a more private setting."
"It's only you, Link, and myself, and I trust you both."
"Very well," Mipha said. "Have you started courting her?"
"Ah… I have not," the Prince replied, "I am not exactly sure how to ask her."
Mipha and, to all of their surprise, Link offered the young Prince counsel as they crossed through the nearly flooded streets. Of course, the Hylian Champion was far more concise, but it was certainly interesting to hear his take on the matter. Most of his advice involved discovering what sorts of things the secretary liked and trying to communicate his affection through appropriate gifts. Sidon, while grasping the basics of the concept, still struggled to understand some of the more intricate details of Link's suggestions.
Mipha, on the other hand, chose to focus on Sidon's strong suit. She suggested that he find genuine compliments that he could give her and only her. The use of words and their implied meaning was something he understood far better than Link's instruction. The Zora Champion wouldn't claim that her younger brother was an expert in the use of language, but there were several things he understood instinctively. She had no doubt that some training with their father would help him develop his potential.
As engrossed as they were in the conversation, it quickly died as they crossed above the courtyard.
"It is so strange to see the city so empty," Sidon said sadly as he stopped, setting his hand on the railing as he looked out over the empty space.
"It is," Mipha agreed, setting a hand on his arm, "but we must keep going."
"Yes, of course." The Prince's eyes remained adhered to the courtyard, even as he continued following the two Champions.
The rest of the journey to the Reservoir was made with only the rain to break the silence between them all. Tendrils of dread began worming their way through, causing her blood to freeze slowly and almost painfully as they exited the Domain.
"Is something wrong, sister?" Sidon asked.
"I am worried about the battle to come," she answered honestly. "I have so few memories of Ruta, and what I do have will not help us prepare for whatever defenses Ganon has waiting for us."
"Not to worry!" Sidon replied. "You and Link are two of the strongest warriors I have ever seen! There is not a shred of doubt in my mind that you are up to the task of reclaiming the Divine Beast!"
Mipha smiled weakly as she shook her head ruefully. She wanted to believe in Sidon's declaration wholeheartedly, but she could not afford to let her guard down for even a moment. The Zora Champion did believe in Link's capabilities, as well as her own, but failure to properly acknowledge the risks they faced would spell disaster for one or both of them.
That was a risk she was unwilling to take.
After what felt like an eternity, they reached the stairs leading to the top of the dam. Taking a deep breath, the Zora Champion led them through the last bit of their agonizing journey. Each step seemed heavier than the last, each drop of rain crawled by slower than the last, and each breath caused her chest to tighten more and more.
And before she knew it, they were at the top, staring out over the reservoir.
For the first time in a century, she saw her Divine Beast. Ruta sat afloat in the center of the reservoir as it dumped endless rivers of water into the lake below; however, that wasn't what caught her attention. A harsh, red glow bathed the markings on the large machine in a sickening light, it's cheeks, long nose, and round form no longer bearing the resemblance to the cute animal she had always seen it as. Now, it was something else.
Ruta called to her, begging for her help. She didn't know if the Beast's cries echoed across the valley as they did her mind, or if they were for her ears alone, nor could she be certain that Link and Sidon saw the dark haze that was strangling the poor thing. All she knew was that her friend was suffering and had been for quite some time.
"Mipha!" She flinched violently at the sound of her name being sharply called, being accompanied by a firm grip on her upper arm. She looked around blearily, finally noticing that she had nearly walked off the pier and fallen into the water.
She looked over her shoulder, finding Link standing behind her and holding her in place.
"What happened?" he asked more gently than he had called her name.
"Ruta… she's calling to me."
She could see it in his eyes that he didn't understand the meaning of her words, but he did understand the urgency she felt.
"Let's plan," he suggested as he guided her slowly back off the pier.
Though she had dreaded what she would find awaiting her at the reservoir the entire way there, she was nearly overcome by the desire to rush to the Divine Beast's aid right then and there. Even so, she knew Link was right. Acting impulsively could very well get them killed, and who would be there to save Ruta and the Domain then?
Still, it was incredibly hard to focus as Link and Sidon developed a strategy for the battle to come.
"Careful with that!" Purah snapped as an unfortunate Zora knight accidentally jostled a few of the barrels that had been loaded onto the lift. "Those contain white Phosphorus. If any of them break open, the only way to put out the fire will be to cut off the air supply."
The knight had the grace to look abashed as he carefully adjusted the barrels under Purah's eagle-like gaze. Urbosa could only roll her eyes as she watched the entire scene unfold. While she understood there was quite a bit of danger in what they were doing, Purah's method of handling the issue would only lead to more mistakes.
"Perhaps we should climb up," the Gerudo Champion suggested as she watched the young scientist almost lose her composure once again as yet another guard was just a little too rough with their load. Urbosa looked around their surroundings, searching for some way to separate her partner from the situation. She was by no means in the mood to try and ease the tension, as the constant drops of rain frayed her nerves more than Rhoam ever had; however, she hated the idea of listening to anymore snapping.
"That might be a good idea," Purah sighed, rubbing her temples furiously. "Mind carrying me up?"
"My goodness, you are rather needy," the Gerudo Champion remarked dryly. Setting aside her annoyance with the current situation, she knelt down, allowing the girl to climb up onto her back. "I'm assuming you know that the rain makes it more difficult to climb."
"How stupid do I look to you?"
"I don't think you want me to answer that."
"Fine. I get it, hold on tight so that I don't make it harder for you to climb," she huffed.
Urbosa couldn't even grin in good humor as she approached the cliffside next to lift that she had helped construct. As she began hauling herself and the young scientist up, Purah began shouting orders over her shoulder. Though the shrill voice was calling for more efficiency in moving the barrels and any extra knights to be sent up to the top as well, she had to restrain herself from barking out a command for silence. Unfortunately, the girl didn't fall silent, but she did lower the pitch and volume of her voice, making it more bearable.
"How are you feeling about Urbosa's Fury?"
"I can control it well enough," she grunted as she focused on pulling herself up one hand at a time. Any other time, she would have been fascinated by the newfound ability to summon a bolt of lightning with just a snap of her fingers. Right then, she was more worried about getting to the top of the slick cliffside and escaping the rain.
"Good. If something goes wrong with the setup, we're going to need you to spring the trap."
"Do we have an escape plan?" Urbosa asked.
"An escape plan?"
"You said that whatever's in the barrels will burn until everything is gone or the air supply is cut off, right?" The Gerudo Champion didn't understand the science of a substance that would burn even in the rain, but she wasn't about to argue. If the "white phosphorus" had even a fraction of the properties that Purah claimed it did, then it would be invaluable in the battle to come.
"Right."
"So, if it comes to it, what happens to us and the Zora with us if I have to blow up the barrels?"
"Dinsake! I didn't think of that!" Though Purah fell silent, Urbosa could hear the gears turning in her head as she tried to engineer a solution to yet another dilemma.
"If there's an overhang, it may be best to retreat there and have the Zora dive into the river below, but -"
"-that doesn't help us," Purah finished. "What did you say helped you get down from the Plateau? A paraglider?"
"Yes."
"I wonder if that could work. From the sounds of it, it -" The Gerudo Champion tuned out Purah's mutterings as she continued their upward ascent. The paraglider might have come in handy; however, it would require expert steering to land on a thinner stretch of land, especially when a swollen, raging river sat right next to where she would need to land. If she knew how to swim, then maybe it wouldn't have been such an issue, but even then, it still would be disastrous considering how swift the river's current was. She could be swept miles downstream before managing to reach the shores.
And she had no idea if Purah could even swim.
"It might be tight," the girl concluded. "I think our best bet is to hope that we aren't attacked."
"And has that worked for you in the past?" While Urbosa was ready to agree they couldn't control if and when they were attacked, she disagreed that they should be relying entirely on luck. There were certain elements they could control, and she was determined to do so. Failure to accept that responsibility could cost lives.
"Do you have any better ideas?"
"We should send a few knights out to survey the area. Then, have them secure areas to retreat to if we are attacked."
"You say that like that was the most obvious answer," the young scientist complained. "This is why I never studied battle tactics and strategy."
Urbosa swallowed her reply, deciding that she would rather climb in silence than spark another leg of conversation with a biting comment. Purah seemed to agree with her, as the girl said nothing more on the matter. It was odd to hear her silence, as she was constantly speaking, shouting, muttering, or otherwise running her mouth since the Gerudo Champion had met her.
The absence of her voice was almost disturbing. Perhaps, if she were in better spirits, she would have asked the scientist what was going through her head. It must have been something fairly heavy to see such a drastic change in her speech.
Though she had resolved to not say or do anything to prompt more conversation, the part of her that was ever concerned about the people around her refused to remain silent. "What is it?" she asked, forgoing her normal tact.
"What is what?"
"Something is bothering you. What?"
"... I've never been involved in a full-scale battle before." It wasn't difficult to pick out the nervous veins littered throughout her answer. "I mean, I've seen plenty of brawls in taverns, and even a number of monster fights, but something like this… There's so much to consider, so much to try and account for, and for all the planning we do, there's still -"
"Focus," the Gerudo Champion counseled tightly as the exertion of carrying herself and Purah up started to wear on her. "You're trying to plan for an entire battle at once rather than breaking it down." She heard a noncommittal grunt from the girl. "What's the most important thing we need to accomplish?"
"Creating a barrier."
"Then that's what we focus on. Leave the scouting to Torfeau. Leave the formations and ground defenses to Bazz. Can you do that?"
"Yeah."
Even Urbosa felt several dozen pounds lighter as the words left her mouth. She had never stated it out loud, but she had been feeling like the defense of the Domain was falling largely on her shoulders. Captain Bazz, his Brigade, and the rest of the Zora forces had certainly taken charge, but it had fallen to her to utilize Purah's knowledge, Bazz's expertise on the strengths of his people, and her own intuition to develop strategies for the defense of the Domain. Saying that all she and Purah had to worry about was creating a barrier eased a tension that she wasn't even aware she had been carrying.
"Thanks, Urbosa."
Finally, Urbosa pulled herself up over the edge, allowing Purah to back down before stretching out her cramped muscles. She continued rolling her shoulders as they were approached by Rivan, who had been sent up to oversee the Zora's efforts. It took the Gerudo Champion a moment to recognize him, as his armor covered his entire body, including his face. "Madam Purah, Lady Urbosa," he greeted.
"How is it looking?" the scientist asked, immediately sounding more in control than Urbosa had yet heard.
"Not well," Rivan replied as he motioned for them to follow. "We've been staggering the explosives to make the most of them, but with such a limited supply, there are gaps we won't be able to fill."
"And I had to stretch the Phosphorus out already," Purah sighed. "The deposits won't burn for nearly as long as I'd like but as long as we time it right, we should still scare them down to where everyone else is waiting. I also added a few… ingredients, to help it burn hotter."
"That won't solve the problem entirely." Urbosa was beginning to understand why Rivan didn't have quite the same reputation as Captain Bazz and Gaddison. His actions said he had the same dedication as either of his compatriots, but he had a bad habit of verbalizing any negative thoughts that went through his head. All it took was one look at his subordinates, all of whom were going about their tasks with stressed frowns and limited communication, to know that his words were dragging down morale.
"But it may mean the difference between life and death," the Gerudo Champion replied.
"I understand that, but -"
"No," she interrupted succinctly as she stopped in her tracks. She set a hand on Rivan's shoulder as he turned back to look at her. "Whatever you think, you cannot speak like that in front of them," she explained as she pointed toward the knights who were still working diligently, "or we'll lose the battle before it even starts."
Rivan said nothing for a long moment before taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. "May I ask that you excuse me for a moment?"
"I'd really like to look ove -"
"Of course," Urbosa once again interrupted.
Rivan gave them both a nod and excused himself, leaving the two alone once again.
"Why did you let him go? We still have things to discuss with him."
"Watch," she commanded, pointing toward the knight. They couldn't hear him over the rain, but they could tell from the way that his fellow knights were gathering that he had called them to himself. They continued to watch as much of the stress that had marred their faces ebbed away. Satisfied that Rivan was taking charge and not unintentionally undermining their efforts, the Gerudo Champion strode toward the group. In short order, she informed Rivan of the adjustments to their plans, which the knight began delegating out.
Within minutes, the knights dispersed and were once again attending to their tasks with far more energy than they had prior as Rivan rejoined the two women.
"Am I correct in assuming you want to see the site?"
"Yes," Purah replied curtly. "I want to make sure that everything is placed correctly. Even one barrel out of place will -"
"What she means to say is that we are happy to help make any adjustments," Urbosa cut in, trying to not roll her eyes. She was becoming quite fed up with speaking for everyone else.
Rivan's response was to eye them both quizzically before deciding to leave the matter be. "As you suggested, we staggered the barrels in two separate lines, as well alternated the explosives with the… uh…"
"White Phosphorus?" Purah offered.
"Yes," Rivan confirmed. "We also brought it around to block off as much of the area as we could."
"But not enough to cut off access to the Domain entirely?" Urbosa asked as the line came into sight. Though the explosives would allow each of the barrels containing the flammable substance to be destroyed and send it flying in all directions, there simply wasn't enough to cover as much ground as she would have liked. Assuming they failed to send the Lizalfos down below, they would potentially cause a larger problem.
"Correct. I notified Captain Bazz and he decided to send some archers and a few spearmen to cover the gap. We're using that so we can tighten the line and fortify a few other areas," Rivan explained as they began walking parallel to the lines of barrels.
"That will have to do," Urbosa sighed. She really wished that Revali and Daruk were there. If the two had been capable of accompanying them, it would have increased their odds of victory substantially. Their battle prowess, alongside their unique abilities, would certainly have made up for many of the weaknesses in the Zora's defenses.
"If either of you has any ideas to impr-"
The last of Rivan's statement was cut off as the sound of a horn echoed through the open air.
"What was that…?"
Neither Rivan nor Urbosa answered Purah as they searched for the source of the sound. The downpour made it difficult to see; however, even the conditions weren't enough to hide the writhing earth on the horizon.
"Get everyone out of here!" Urbosa commanded sharply, sending Rivan and the few knights around them sprinting back toward the lift. "Sorry about this," she said as she bent down and scooped up the young scientist in a single arm as she began sprinting toward the ravine containing the river and the majority of the Zora forces. Purah made some complaints known, but the Gerudo Champion was so focused on reaching the ledge to care.
When she finally reached the cliffside, she stopped to watch the impending horde of anthropomorphic lizards descending on her and the girl she held.
Despite the threat bearing down on her, she refused to draw her blade, choosing instead to bide her time. She needed to wait for as long as possible to make sure that as many Zora were out of the danger zone, while still maximizing the damage to the enemy. It would require intense concentration, especially when she would need to jump at the same time.
Mercifully, Purah was either too smart or too frightened to speak.
The Gerudo Champion smiled ruefully as she saw dozens of eyes focus on her with many of them making beelines for her.
Taking a deep, calming breath, she kept her eyes fixed on a single, explosive barrel as she jumped just before the first set of claws grasped her.
Urbosa closed her eyes, curling around Purah as much as possible before snapping her fingers.
No amount of preparation, no amount of foresight, none of it could prepare her for the bright flash that shone through her eyelids, the sound that nearly blew out her eardrums, and the concussive force that sent them both flying far away from the cliff.
Her stomach leaped into her throat as she felt gravity latch back onto her as her eyes snapped open. They rolled around wildly, trying to catch sight of anything other than the pitch black; however, it took several long seconds before even dim shapes took form.
With her sight returning, she reached down, relying on sheer force of will to force the numb fingers of her free hand to grip her paraglider. Fighting with the paraglider, as well as her uncooperative body, the Gerudo Champion managed to remove it from behind her shield.
Purah, who must have recovered faster than she, lunged toward the device, helping Urbosa open it and grasping one of the handles as Urbosa weakly held on to her and the other side of the paraglider.
She dully registered how uneven their flight pattern was as they somehow turned around and wobbled through the air back to the path.
By the grace of what Urbosa could only assume to be the Goddess Herself, she and Purah collided back onto the path. She grunted, ignoring the screaming in her joints and her muscles as she tried to climb to her feet.
"Go!" she grunted to Purah as she looked to her right, watching a swarm of the monsters flee down toward them. She knew it wouldn't take long for them to see them and advance once again. In her current state, she wouldn't be able to adequately defend herself, let alone someone like the scientist as well.
She grit her teeth as a few of the panicked monsters caught sight of her. Though they were still visibly disturbed, the predatory glint returned to their eyes as they crawled toward her, bearing their weapons.
The Gerudo Champion's eyes widened as she felt a pair of hands wrap around her. "I told you to-"
A spear lunged past her, impaling the nearest Lizalfo as she was quickly pulled to her feet.
"Calm down, Lady Urbosa." Somehow, despite just how many monsters there were before them, Captain Bazz sounded as calm and collected as ever.
"How?" She couldn't even complain about struggling to form a coherent thought as he dragged her back while Gaddison and Rivan held the line.
"After I gave everyone their orders, Gaddison and I estimated where the blast would happen and waited. I'm not sure how Rivan got here so fast." Bazz set her against the cliffside, pushing a bottle to her lips and helping her drink from it. Once it was drained he dropped the bottle, drawing his spear as he sprinted to join his comrades.
Urbosa stayed where she was, using the wall for support as she felt the potion do it's work, restoring her energy. She took a moment to admire the skill she witnessed from the Captain and his two subordinates. Even as they were attacked by creatures on the verge of mania, they operated as a single unit, synchronizing their movements and covering each other's blind spots.
While the mastery she saw impressed her, she wasn't content to sit back and watch, especially with so much at stake.
Once again relying on her formidable will, as well as the energy that had been restored, Urbosa pushed herself off the wall, drawing her scimitar and buckler as she rushed to join the fray.
A/N: I know, I know. I said a few days, not several weeks but this has been the chapter from Hades. Like, I think between hardware failures and my discontent with the original course of this chapter led to me rewriting about 5-6K words.