Author's Notes : This chapter was fun to write as it brings together events from Breath of the Wild and other Zelda entries. Drawing parallels and linking their different lores really made for a great experience. The end results are the next paragraphs.
I hope you have a great time reading, as I did writing it! As always, I appreciate the support and the feedback!
The Zora and Sheikah tribes are standing at the ready. The Lizalfos' violent and relentless assaults compel them to a defensive stance towards their respective territories. The brutal and ruthless nature of the reptilians pressure the aquatic and shadow clans' troops both morally and physically, yet their faith remains strong enough to endure everything and set their doubts aside.
Now in possession of a divine power, Sidon leads the counter-offensive against the monsters outposts, crippling their advance and lifting the unbearable threat they pose to the Domain.
Following elder Impa's sound advice, Link travels to Hyrule's Central Forest on the northern side of the kingdom. There, he hopes to find his rightful, legendary weapon: a sword of mighty strength that rests idly in the deepest parts of the misty woods.
The melody filled the sinister atmosphere of the forest, its ringing notes spreading everywhere and surrounding its mystical realm with eternal melancholy. The many woodland instruments played a harmonious concerto where childish joy blended with the grief and torment of grownup despair.
Link focused on the source of the sounds, trying to establish where they came from. He had to put all his efforts into the task, the music reaching his ears sometimes from the right, sometimes from the left, and even from behind. As he walked and listened, his senses awakened to memories that were not his. Youthful laughter, the soft caress of the wind, the grass brushing his legs, the sweet scent of nature called for inner peace, though he had never experienced anything similar as far as he could he recall.
A sudden and painful headache then brought him to his knees. It felt as if some invisible force crushed his skull from inside as he fainted. His consciousness vanished from the living world, his spirit roaming somewhere between his body and the world of dreams and illusions. While on this dire ordeal, a vision appeared before him, one of an enchanted and magnificent forest where the first lights of dawn filtered serenely through humongous, verdurous trees. His sight broadened and the hallucination transformed many times, depicting scenes of mysterious wonder and beauty. Link discovered a village inhabited by upbeat children dressed in green tunics and their fairy partners, a maze of a grove covered in vine, ivy, bramble and thorny shrubs which led the way to a blessed clearing sheltering some king of sacred temple.
He could not prove his theory, but he was pretty sure he had been looking at the forest he was treading on, albeit on happier days. Millenia must have separated its current state and the reverie's, their secrets fading into darkness.
Those ageless mirages puzzled Link. The Hylian assumed they represented memories from other travelers who might have shared some of his own fate. What intrigued him most however, was the cause of such a metamorphosis. How could that wondrous place turn so gloomy and repulsive?
Now fully back on his feet, he stepped forward onto swampy pathways weaving around withered trees, their trunks rugged and threatening, their branches oddly thin and spiny. Crows had taken up residence there and they croaked angrily when Link walked past them. Everything in this cursed forest seemed inclined on sending the young man fleeing.
He still kept on listening to the odd melody, though he had to admit he had lost all sense of directions. Each path he took, each junction he came across looked so much like the precedent he believed he was running in circle. He confirmed his doubt once he crossed the wilted roots he had previously marked with his weapon, twice. Disheartened by the unbelievable fact, he considered giving up for an instant and was about to recast Farore's Wind to get back to Kakariko safely. Yet, that would also waste his whole journey.
Whispers rose to chaotic ruckus around him. Screeching shouts and rustling leaves followed as harmless animals bolted towards Link, squashing small bushes in their wake. Foreboding danger, the Hylian took up the spear he had scavenged on a Lizalfos corpse back when he fought the dreaded Hinox. Shortly after, echoing howls and growls warned him of an incoming wolf pack.
Two of them emerged from the thickets in front of him, their maws dripping with saliva and their fangs glowing brightly in the penumbra. Link prepared for battle, his shaft ready to block any one attack from the two beasts. They both pounced at the same time, the first going for their prey's throat while the other skirted around to backstab him. Link quickly bashed the former in the jaw, the iron of his weapon not clearly slashing the predator, though it did unbalance him. The wolf struggled to get back up, and Link took the opportunity to spin and repel his brethren who aimed at his left leg.
The Hylian tried to lunge at him, a third wolf sprung from darkness, forcing Link to roll backwards and avoid the beast's claws. The young man picked himself up nimbly and unsheathed his lizal boomerang without his foes noticing. The most impatient of them took a serious hit on the face and he dropped dead instantly, just like a puppet which strings were suddenly cut. While the other two were stunned by the sneak attack, Link used his slate to create a spherical bomb he threw at them. Fear took the better of the wolves as they jumped out of its trajectory a bit too late. Link remotely detonated it before they could get away from its explosive radius. Only scraps and bits of organs and flesh remained.
The harsh smell of gore and death rose up, weighing heavily on the already nauseous air. The skirmish had ended very fast, but the noise it made had intrigued many souls who were now converging to Link's position. Unwilling to spill even more blood, the Hylian strode away, going deeper in the thick fog, far from the edge of the forest. He cut through a clearing populated by uncaring fireflies, traversed a narrow water stream hidden under nebulous particles and he kept on running.
Until he passed upon the very same roots he had marked. Again.
He could not believe his eyes. He could have sworn he had sprinted forward without ever turning at some point, and yet there was no mistaking it, he recognized the plants perfectly. Panicked, frustrated, exhausted by his swift race, he fell back against the willow and took a breather. He reorganized his thoughts, wondering how he could ever find the legendary sword he had set out to retrieve. There was no way he would be able to keep going without any clue.
Then, a sneering laughter broke his concentration, like a cracking whisper shatters silence. Link realized the melody that accompanied him on his march had partially toned down: the initial orchestra was lacking several instruments. He raised his head intuitively, curious as to the reason why. A fleeting silhouette appeared between two oaks, glancing at the worn out Hylian, and cleared out before Link could take a good look at it. However, the latter had seen what the creature was holding in its hand.
A trumpet.
"That must have been one of the concealed musicians." The return of the trumpet's ringing notes in the lively music confirmed his statement. With no hesitation, he chased after him, guided by the tracks it had left behind. His tailing led him amidst thickets and dense bushes, and in all sorts of places. Link had to slip through walls of ivy, enter tunnels buried under creepers, cross streams and muddy ponds. The sound of the trumpet drew closer and closer as he progressed forwards, and soon enough Link could easily tell it apart the other instruments.
He happened across a clearing where the mist condensed into an even thicker and blinding fog. Link slowed his pace to tread on carefully, using his hearing to get his bearings. Luckily, it seemed the strange character had wandered not too far away. The Hylian walked over until the moist grass at his feet became a giant puddle that each of his steps disturbed.
And then, he sensed an evil presence nearby.
He stopped dead in his track, as still as a statue in the middle of nothing, and looked attentively at the waves on the stagnating water. Clinking sounds soon emerged ahead, a transient and undiscernible shadow drew itself on the greyish canvas of the fog. Link braced himself, waiting for the monster to enter his field of vision.
A skeleton warrior with incandescent eyes challenged him to a duel. The abomination was wearing a split helmet, held a shield so old it must have outlived even the damned soul that used it in one hand, and a twisted blade of sharp steel in the other. The vicious Stalfos rushed forward, buckler raised and slashed vertically with his sword. Link parried with his own shield and pushed the creature back. Unsteady, the monster reacted too late. Link's arrow buried between his two eye sockets, ripping the skull from the spinal column.
Yet, this unexpected beheading did not bring the Stalfos down. His body did fell idly, but his terrorized head hopped and skipped randomly in an attempt to rejoin its immobile carcass. Upon this comical sight, Link finished it off before he could do anything with a second arrow.
Then, he heard a horn resounding in the vicinity, bringing along two other Stalfos who came to avenge their fallen comrade. One of them jumped at its target, its sword collapsing hard on the ground. Link had swiftly avoided the blow but his riposte was also blocked by the Stalfos's partner who attacked the young Hylian in turn. Link parried at the last time and the force of the impact sent him flying in the mud.
Stunned, his vision blurred to a temporary veil of blackness. He tried to stand up achingly and heard the jolting movement of one Stalfos very close. Reactively rolling backwards made him dodge a mortal blow in extremis. Taking advantage of his momentum, Link put even more distance between all fighters to plan his next move.
Outnumbered by his opponents, he had to stay vigilant when he approached them. As a skilled duelist, he needed a way to isolate them and transform this face-off into two one on one battles. His new strategy in mind, Link checked he had his slate within reach and pulled out his bow. He then examined the mist, searching for the two undead warriors. The first to appear received a projectile right on the forehead and its body died out immediately.
One less to deal with.
The next one came up right behind its brother, all prepared. Its shield deflected Link's arrows fast, forcing him to confront him at close range. They both executed a complex series of dodges, parries, feints and lunges without ever falling for their opponent's strikes, nor managing to land a decisive blow. They seemed on equal footing and their morbid dance lasted several minutes until Link witnessed the unthinkable. The animated corpse he had defeated had come back from the land of the dead to join the fray once more. Fully recomposed, with no signs of the injuries the young man had inflicted him, the Stalfos rushed to its companion's aid and Link had to disengage again.
He could not count on conventional methods to defeat them. Going up against the Stalfos one by one had proven fruitless, so he needed to rout them together to sever the invisible link binding them. He thus improvised a new plan and threw his boomerang inches away from the first figure he saw. The target raised its shield and waited for the Hylian, supposing that this was a diversion for an approach. But Link had thought one step ahead and never faced him head on again. Instead, a cubic bomb exploded near his feet, making it move back a little.
At the same time, Link rushed to its acolyte and flanked it, assaulting it with powerful kicks, bashes and spear thrusts. He pushed the Stalfos hard until it collided with its friend and hurled a spherical bomb at them. The burst shattered the evil creatures into dust, finally letting them meet their makers.
Panting, Link exhaled deep and hard, expiating the stress and adrenaline he had piled up during the struggle. Those Stalfos had given him quite a hard time and had deviated him from his initial path. And when he pricked up his ears, he did not hear any music but the sound of a high-pitched, mischievous laugh.
"Heehee, I would never have guessed you would display such resourcefulness!"
Link turned around abruptly, before him stood a weird individual.
No taller than a child who had yet to reach puberty, he sported ragged clothes made out of autumn leaves stacked one onto the other to form some kind of orangey light shirt and a makeshift hat. His pointy shoes and his trousers were sewn with straw and stalk, yet the most conspicuous part about him was his face. Bearing no defined edges, he harbored only a disturbing, sardonic and eerie smile and a pair of wide, roundish eyes where no pupils could be seen. His candid, yet terrifying air made him appear as a delirious ghost or a scarecrow full of malice. The creature held in his hand the notorious trumpet and observed Link with genuine curiosity.
"I was so certain you'd end up just like them," he added in a reedy voice. "Adults who get lost in the woods always become Stalfos, you know. You must be a very special guest not to share their destiny."
The creature walked towards Link, only stopping at arm's length from him. The Hylian stood still, wary of his grim nature as he stared right in his eyes, trying to figure out his intentions.
"Oh? You look just like a former friend of us… One peculiar person among the Children of the Forest, the child without a fairy… So different from everyone, but our friend nonetheless. Are you and he the same? Is this why you defy fate's stream?"
Link did not understand anything he said, the context of his speech eluded him completely. Children of the Forest? People who turned into Stalfos? What did he mean? The Hylian decided to ask him more about all of it and the creature snickered happily, full of innocence and deceit.
"Long ago, here lived the Kokiris. Their physical appearance matched that of their cousins, the Hylians. However, they could never leave their home, nor could they grow up. This odd characteristic earned them the surname "Children of the Forest". They lived in harmony with nature, guided by the fairies who supported them as their partners, and were protected by the spirit guardian of the woods, the Great Deku Tree."
The creature stepped away from Link and introduced his next speech with a whistling tune and theatrical gestures, mimicking a dramatic scene to an illusory charmed audience.
"This place has always been enchanted by divine powers. The Children of the Forest were innocent, pure beings. The Goddess Hylia had made sure they could live far from the evildoers who roamed amidst the other races. As such, whoever found themselves lost in the woods shall become a wandering soul, doomed to err here eternally. Strangers from outside transformed into Stalfos, skeletons the likes of those you have put an end to their misery. But alas, the spell would discriminate no one, and the Children of the Forest who would forget their way home would have their fate claimed as well. Although with a minor difference I should say, they did not become mere walking skeletons, they morphed into Skull Kids, bastard offspring of the forest."
His eyes spun creepily and his enigmatic smile broadened horribly, showing strings strapping what should have formed his lips. The creature danced cheerfully, laughing out loud in his screeching tone. Link felt uneasy in presence of him, but he still questioned him more about Skull Kids. What the creature told him was full of meaning.
"Skull Kids may never return where they once called home. Even if they could, they have forgotten all about their past as Children of the Forest. I, for instance, do not wish to remember as I have no interest in whoever I was before. My newfound freedom suit me much better than staying in a remote area where fun is heavily limited."
The creature burst out laughing, insensitive to his own condition, misery and solitude. The Skull Kid had completely fallen to madness, though he did embrace it fully and with troubling indifference.
"Enough talking about me!" he exclaimed. "You resemble our friend way too much for it to be a coincidence… Something weird lurks around outside, isn't it? We've never figured out how or why, but our friend had managed to leave the forest, only to come back years later as an adult. He was no Kokiri after all, and most of us did not recognize him. We had thought of him as a threat, and yet he was the one who got rid of the evil that haunted our beautiful forest."
He immersed himself completely in his performance and into that piece of memory which seemed likely more important than his whole past life as a Kokiri. Link sympathized with the Skull Kid who had wandered the woods all this time, never able to attain eternal rest.
"Similarities between you and him keep on piling," he went on happily. "You possess the same physical abilities, the flames of determination lit in your eyes and most of all, you bear no trace of evil. Heehee, so similar indeed. The Great Deku Tree will be pleased to see you."
It was the second time he had mentioned this name and Link had no idea who he was referring to, yet it felt familiar somehow. Intrigued, he asked the Skull Kid about the spirit guardian.
"The Great Deku Tree has spent thousands and thousands of years overseeing the forest and keeping it from harm. He actually is a giant tree, the biggest, most imposing ever, and we believe he's got ties with many important figures from the outside world. I bet he has tremendous powers up his branches, though surely his knowledge may make him an ancient keeper of lore. Many heroes have sought his advice, and many returned as victors, shaping Hyrule as it used to be before the Calamity struck: a world of light and peace."
The young man pondered over the last sentences. If the spirit guardian truly earned his reputation, he would have no problem pinning down the Master Sword's location.
"So? Will you try and speak with the Great Deku Tree?"
Link nodded affirmatively. The creepy smile on the Skull Kid's face enlarged into a crazed grin that stretched the wires on his lipless mouth so much Link feared they would snap.
"Then come! Follow me!"
The Skull Kid bolted without warning. Taken aback, Link reacted a tad late and a great distance was created between the two of them as he started running behind. They did not follow any given path and jogged in the midst of nature. From secret tunnels to shortcuts made of gigantic branches, Link never expected to pass through so many woodland sceneries in search of the Master Sword.
The mysterious creature proved much nimbler than Link could have predicted. Several times, the Hylian lagged behind, but the Skull Kid waited him patiently. Whenever he would lose Link, he would stop and bring out his trumpet to play music vigorously. The melody that came out told the Hylian the way forward.
In the end, they arrived at a clearing illuminated with shiny insects, the now infamous and nostalgic tune of the woods resonating above and beyond, and out of the Skull Kid's own instrument. The small child was dancing gleefully on an immense stump, blowing in his trumpet vividly, a big smile on his black face. He looked very elated and proud of his day.
"Heehee. You caught up pretty quick."
Link analyzed his surroundings in the hope of understanding why he was led here. As he could not, he asked his guide expressively what he had in store for him. The Skull Kid's mouth widened even more, then he hopped to a torch on which a flickering flame burnt and danced like a wisp. The Skull Kid picked up a thick stick and set it on fire thanks to the torch before passing it to Link.
"Many travelers listen to Saria's Song, our melody, as a tracking tool. Lost souls often rely on it to reach the heart or the edges of the forest, but this isn't the only way. Just like our friend, the Hero who deserved the Goddess's blessings, you seem worthy of the Great Deku Tree's counsel. And this flame will show you the path to his sanctuary."
Link accepted the gift and thanked him honestly. In return, the Skull Kid bowed, beaming.
"Unfortunately, this is where we must part. I had a lot of fun with you today, I hope we'll see each other soon!"
The little child motioned towards the mist, grinning madly, his silhouette fading into the night-like horizon. He could have kept running, yet Link could have sworn he had witnessed him disappear in a torrent of leaves. Somehow, he might have blinked out of reality in an instant.
As the weird creature headed out towards the unknown, Link still wondered how this fateful encounter ever happened. Nonetheless, the little prankster had not shown any ill will and his advice might prove invaluable as he progressed further.
Link raised his torch high above him, illuminating the penumbra as much as he could. He was soon able to make out the pathways in front of him, but they did not seem to lead anywhere. Then he noticed the clear figure of an extinguished torch in the dark, at the edge of his field of vision.
"This flame will show you the path to his sanctuary." Now, he understood. Link ran up to the torch and lit it with his own stick. New alleyways magically appeared, drawn out of nowhere, all going deeper into blackness. But far away was the distinct silhouette of yet another torch.
Link repeated this course of actions a few times and was highly relieved to see that he had not once fallen back onto his own tracks. Yet, as soon as he came across one last beacon, the unveiled surroundings unsettled him. The flora had not changed at all, it still consisted in a mix of common and exotic plants, though they were now so thick and close together that they blocked sight of any pathway.
Dismayed, Link scanned the darkness for a torch, in vain. Annoyed but still determined, he searched for clues on the one by his side. He left no stone unturned, examining every inch of the wooden structure, but found nothing except that it looked more artificial than naturally built.
Confusion got the better of him. The Skull Kid's clue had brought him too far to suddenly become useless. Link did not know what to believe, see or hear anymore. No torch in sight, Saria's Song still resonated in his soul, but in such homogenous fashion it did not direct him anywhere. Each of his leads came to a dead-end.
Even so, he could not give up this close from his goal. He only needed to find one piece of clue, one landmark out of place enough to resume his track. In order not to stray away, he had to follow a certain pattern. It dawned onto him that he had just reached some kind of transition zone.
He strolled ahead, burning stick high above his head, until the glowing torch faded into a blur. A couple dozen feet away from that landmark, a sudden gust of wind hit him sideways, forcing him to protect his face. Miraculously, the flame on his stick had not died out, the gale had rekindled it. Conversely, all other sources of light had disappeared.
This signaled the birth of another trial. Link acknowledged the ordeal and supposed his portable torch would suffice to overcome it. What changed from the former trial to that one was the wind, he had to use it somehow. First though, the decrease in lighting and the thick fog meant that Link's sole source of vision came from his improvised torch, so he mechanically checked that it would last long enough to guide him.
When his eyes met the smoldering ember however, he realized the ashes that fell out of it like ardent flakes flew along the wind, in a unique and precise direction. Sensing a rather intricate anomaly and without any more solid plan, Link followed the fire dust's trajectory. Several times on his march, the blazing particles forked in other directions and Link had to turn consequently to get out of the invisible forest maze.
As he progressed further and further, he slowly came to the conclusion he was very close to unfolding the secrets of the woods. The withered trees and flowers he had first laid his eyes on when he teleported here had vanished and livelier flora had taken their place. Though the mist lingered and impeded on his sight, it somewhat felt warmer and more welcoming, a fact that surprised Link to the core. The patches of grey and dark that had surrounded him for the past hours were also coloring fast with vivid hues, of green first, then multiple shades of yellow, red and even blue painted the scenery.
The ashes led him to a tunnel concealed beneath beds of giant, glistening plants. Link went inside without hesitation and started treading along the path. On his way, he felt a presence observing him from the shadows, first one, then another, and finally there were more than ten of them nearby. But whenever he stopped and looked behind, he could not get a clear glance at them as they instantly hid using the guise of nature. Tiny creatures with wooden bodies and leaves covering their faces were all that Link could see. Link could not determine what kind of beasts they were, yet he sensed no hostility. As such, he resumed his track, albeit more prudently. As he reached the end of the tunnel, the landscape laying out before him left him speechless.
It was as if he had entered a new and unique world. The now luxuriant, shimmering forest contrasted fiercely with the gloomy and repulsive woods he had just left, it cleansed his exhausted body and mind, the surrounding quiet ideal to rest his wary soul. The young man rubbed his eyes in disbelief, but had to admit everything was real.
His steps cracked the grass and twigs under his boots, disturbing the serenity of this heavenly corner. Link walked around a bit, enjoying the respite before heading towards the heart of the sanctuary. And now, the plant-like individuals went out of hiding and openly examined the newcomer while keeping out of his reach. They showed neither animosity nor fear, only sheer curiosity. In turn, Link found an interest in the Skull Kid, the fabled Children of the Forest and those little, creepy yet adorable creatures.
One of them, undoubtedly braver, though more mature and appealing, greeted him.
"Why, hello there! It's been a while since our last visitor. Few travelers dare enter the forest and fewer make it here in one piece!"
His size, no higher than two feet tall, and his childish tone did not attest for the grownup aura he let out. The single leaf cloaking his face, pierced in two spots discovering hazelnut-like pupils and his very small arms and legs made him look like a wooden doll. A very friendly doll.
Link explained his objectives and spoke to him about the evil looming over the exterior world, Lady Impa's advice, the ancient relic he was supposed to retrieve in these woods, and his encounter with the Skull Kid. The creature listened to him attentively without interrupting, nodding regularly to signal his understanding.
"Hyrule is facing great danger, you say? Unfortunately, we Koroks are recluse, peaceful people who would rather remain inside the Lost Woods. However, I guess if the Skull Kid guided you here, you must consult with the Great Deku Tree."
Remembering the Skull Kid's final words, Link agreed. The Korok hopped and giggled in response, then told him to follow. He moved quickly for such a small being and Link had to focus not to lose him as his plant-like appearance made him blend almost too perfectly with the landscapes around him. The Korok felt really talkative as they walked, expanding happily on his brethren's ecological activities throughout Hyrule and on their safe haven.
"We aspire to preserve Hyrule's natural beauty thanks to the Deku seeds we sow across the world. These seeds come with incredible growth properties: they can bloom instantly and develop at very high pace, skipping through most of the ordinary steps. However, Koroks are a frail species, we cannot risk being seen whenever we go out of our forest. And thus have we mastered the arts of camouflage, only trained eyes may actually notice where we dwell.
Now that they talked about it, Link recalled witnessing odd events happening near him: rocks moving on their own, whirligigs spread in illogical places, sticks and twigs where trees were unseen… Maybe Koroks were responsible for those bizarre occurrences.
His new friend kept monologuing until they arrived at a gigantic grove sheltered inside a magnificent and massive vegetal dome. At its center stood a gargantuan tree which branches and roots dispersed and crept along the four cardinal points, covering most of the place. A guided pathway led to its base where an altar was carved onto the ground, highlighting a pedestal on which rested an elegant sword.
"Is it the one?" Link thought as his heart beat faster.
He had almost stopped moving to examine it from afar, yet the Korok had hastened his pace and ran towards the everlasting relic. Link hurried to catch up as they both neared the sanctuary. At such close distance, the ancestral blade, bathing in heavenly sunlight, gleamed with grace as much as it displayed a deadly, sharp edge.
"Great Deku Tree!" the Korok suddenly shouted. "Great Deku Tree, please awaken! Someone seeks your aid!"
The thousand-year old tree seemed to break here and there as it pulled out of its slumber. Gasping and awe-struck, Link watched as the bark shifted to reveal the face of an old and wise man carved onto the wood.
"Someone has come, you say…" the spirit guardian repeated in a deep, resounding voice. "Who could have, indeed?"
The elder looked at the foreigner who requested his help, recognizing him instantly.
"Dear me, if it isn't Link! You're finally back among us!"
The Hylian's astonished face and sudden inability to act amused the Deku Tree who laughed so loud every bird residing in his foliage flew away in shock.
"I suppose we have never had the chance to meet and discuss in the past. I am the Deku Tree, eternal protector of the woods. A hundred years ago, Hyrule's fall to the Calamity's rampage marked the beginning of a dark age, as it did eras before when the divine Triforce was robbed of its powers. However, History is about to repeat itself. It pains me to see the burden of such daunting fate placed on a single person, but your awakening means the gears of time have once again started to rumble. At long last, you must claim the gifts brought upon you by the Goddess and hold grasp of your destiny."
Link glanced at the pedestal, then at the sword. An imposing, powerful aura wafted from the pair, showering the young man with spasms of terror and excitement. At the same time, he felt a surge of nostalgia rise up as he stared at the sacred blade, and as it did when he heard the woodland melody, he visualized the memories of travelers who roamed the forest long before him. Link knew nothing of the Deku Tree, and yet the wise ancient did seem familiar as well. Still dazed by everything, Link's mind drifted into worries. However, his wonders did not go unnoticed.
"I understand how confused you must feel, young Link, though I cannot tell you much more unless you prove your worth to the divine blade, the Sword of Evil's Bane. Without its assets, you will not cleanse the realm from the vice that plagues it. You must now unlock the barrier that keeps it from harm and conquer its magical capacities."
Quite unsure about the task, Link stepped on the sanctuary, towards the shimmering steel. Unseen flux of energy bound the sword's sealed powers and the Hylian's spirit. The blade invited him, wanted him to free it from its stone prison.
Link raised his hand in an attempt to touch it but a sudden wave stopped him as he approached. The symbol engraved on the sword's guard sparkled brightly. Warmness spread through Link's body as the same pattern drew itself onto the back of his hand, shining through his glove. It was a downward triangle linking the centers of three segments forming a bigger trigon oriented in the opposite direction. However, his emblem highlighted its bottom-right part with much more radiance.
"The sword recognizes you as one chosen by the Goddess, the bearer of the Triforce of Courage," the Deku Tree commented. "Just like your ancestors, this makes you a legitimate heir to the Master Sword, but also the one to put an end to the schism that shattered the Triforce into three equivalent parts. The Calamity embodies the chaotic Evil that seized the Triforce of Power. It must be defeated for the relic to be mended."
Link addressed the Deku Tree an inquiring look, he wanted to know more about the legend, about what happened in the past.
"The time has yet to come, young Link. First, you must prove yourself worthy of wielding both the Master Sword and the Triforce of Courage. Overcome the trial of drawing the blade out of this pedestal and I will tell you everything you need."
His tone did not sound imperious but encouraging and confident, so Link gave in. He stood next to the sword, put a hand on the grip handle and let its energy envelop him. He held it firmly with both hands, pulled lightly at first, then with everything he had.
The weapon did not bulge and yet, Link's vitality crumbled quickly. The sword robbed him of his strength as he pulled and pulled. He heard the faint hiss of the steel edge grazing the stone as his muscles stiffened from the strain and his vision blurred. Link kept on trying unrelentingly, the blade chanting a song of healing to inspire its master, imploring him to free them both. Link's ears whistled unpleasantly, sweat dripped from his temples, his eyes stared at nothingness, his blood boiled in his veins. He was reaching his limits.
And right before his mind slipped into the void, just in the nick of time before his soul wandered in the realm of the dead, the Master Sword broke free of the pedestal.