Author's Notes : A pretty lengthy chapter to mark the end of Act 2 filled with theories and references. It's mainly focused on Link and Ledo/the Sheikahs for this purpose. I hope it doesn't seem too far-fetched and may you enjoy your read!
The war between the Zora and the Lizalfos rages on as the former's offensive is hindered by the curse of a demonic Blood Moon. Forced to abandon the outpost they had just conquered, Sidon and his team retreat towards their territory, leaving behind a hard-earned advantage and a cherished comrade.
Far away, peculiar pillars of light rend the skies and crash down on Hyrule on several areas. Witnesses to this strange phenomenon, Ledo and Cado feel the odds turning in their favor. They decide to venture in the woods on the hills above Kakariko Village in search of the fabled Great Fairy Fountain, home to a legendary messenger of the Goddess. They believe the magic column points towards her lair and that this miracle is all thanks to Link, who has retrieved the Sword of Evil's Bane.
Link regained consciousness slowly, his head still heavy from the exhausting trial imposed by the holy pedestal. He stood up painfully, a persisting headache keeping on hammering his skull, The Master Sword felt much lighter in his hand than he would have thought at first glance. Its radiant luster, the ornate guard and pommel and the engraved symbol at the base of the steel granted the weapon a regal aura that befitted it magnificently.
The Hylian raised the sword to the skies, which rewarded him with its own, pure energy and showered him with astonishing power. Link took the time to appreciate his newfound strength, and while he had not wielded the divine blade for a century, he had no questions about its efficiency. However, he also suspected the Master Sword was overloaded with energy as a side effect of its nature being deeply altered.
"The sword recognizes you as its legitimate heir to its legacy," the Deku Tree approved. "I see from your puzzled look that you know it doesn't shine with the same brightness it used to, don't you?"
Link turned to the ancient spirit of the forest with curiosity. His memories had yet to come back fully and he was hungry for any information, knowledge or shared history to reconnect the lost chapters from his past.
"You might not remember but surely you understand why your sword was created in the first place: to repel evil and restore peace in the realm. Hyrule's wisest had forged it in times immemorial and infused it with a sacred charm. Within its blade slumbers a holy light with the power to cleanse and cleave darkness itself.
"Much like you, heroes from old were gifted with singular aptitudes and a close affinity with the Master Sword. And similar to them, your unmatched ability to handle its divine blessings let you unleash the purgatory flames of light on your foes.
"Yet, the Calamity proved much more cunning than we expected. Its malice and cursed talents succeeded in corrupting even the Master Sword, the only weapon we had thought impervious to evil tides. Drained of its radiance, it had been reduced to a mere common sword.
"You undoubtedly figure among the most skillful and greatest swordsmen to ever grace Hyrule. Your resilience and your fortitude have brought you very far against the dark minions, even with such a disadvantage. However, the Calamity could not be defeated with conventional means."
Link interrupted the Deku Tree's monologue in fear of misinterpreting his speech. He summarized his takings from the elder's statements and his last adventures to situate his journey in the big picture. The spirit of the woods answered every doubt lingering in the Hylian's mind: his status as a champion and princess Zelda's personal guard, his part in the conflict and in the realm's fall, and most of all the circumstances surrounding his death and rebirth.
"Indeed, deprived of the assets it needed to vanquish the Calamity, the Alliance could not fend off the dark army anymore. Ultimately, all hope was crushed and Hyrule's champions defeated.
"In all fairness, ill luck had befallen you from start to end. Your final quest led you and Zelda to the Lost Woods where our sanctuary rests. Both of you wished to take refuge in this sacred land, but did not account for the creatures of evil who were tracking you down in order to slay you once and for all.
"Your last stand pitted you against ferocious, wicked beasts. You fought brilliantly and won the hard-fought battle, though you suffered great injuries in the process. Those wounds would seal your doom not long after, as you refused to stop your escorting the princess to safety.
"In the end, your heroism and devotion would save Zelda from her demise. She had stayed alone too long, her mind was about to step into the void, so close to jump into an endless chasm. Yet, she saw you struggle against the odds and never back down. This rekindled the flames of determination dormant in her soul. Thanks to you, she found the courage to undergo what would forever change Hyrule's destiny. Her last words spoke only gratitude towards you, for all you've done for her."
Somewhat reassured, though dumbfounded by the revelations, Link guessed without surprise that the Deku Tree was talking about his friend's sacrifice. At the thought, he could not help feeling remorse. Had he not failed in his task, maybe Zelda would never have had to shoulder such a burden. His sorrow shot a needle to his head and he grimaced from the pain which echoed at his wrist, as if his sword shared his agony. As if the sword lamented its own failure as well.
"Tis a curious artifact you hold, isn't it?" the Deku Tree went on. "The Master Sword is much more than an inanimate tool. It is believed within it resides an eternal soul that matches its wielder's own, a silent partner of sorts that shares your feelings as you draw its strength. As such, it drew its last breath exactly when you did. Zelda was the one to bring it back here, in hope that one day you would come to claim it.
"A hundred years ago, you were separated and as a result, the Master Sword had lost its sacred blessings. And for a whole century, it has awaited you. But now, the Sacred Grove's holy surroundings have restored its powers and they are finally yours to command once more.
"Nevertheless, I must warn you against any attempt at abusing its potential. I fear we were not able to return it to its former glory, as the Calamity's curse has latched itself and taken root in the blade's core and prevents us from eliminating the darkness lingering inside. It is an ancient bane created from a perverted relic, amplified by dark wizardry to spread evil. The sword's divine nature spares it from being overwhelmed and taken over, but it is still afflicted with an unbreakable enchantment. Consequently, the purifying blade may surrender its cleansing properties when used excessively and will need some time for the light to recover."
As he listened to the forest guardian deity's wise words, Link examined the simple etching on the steel: the depicting of an inverted triangle defined by the middle of the three segments forming another equilateral triangle oriented upwards intrigued him. For sure, he had seen the symbol before, though he could not remember where, when or why. Yet, he could not shake the feeling the emblem hid a secret that may explain everything. In fact, the more he looked at it, the more the southeastern part seemed to shine brighter than the rest.
"I can totally comprehend your confusion, young one. This symbol tells the origins of Hyrule's history, from its golden eras to its somber ones. It is a depiction of the Holy Triforce, an ancient relic that saw the birth of these lands in ages far beyond the era of the Hero of Time. Though passed down as a legend nowadays, its existence is true and absolute and has become the source of many trials as well as the cause of the Calamity's birth."
The guardian deity had proven his worth as a reliable informant and as such, Link asked him the full version of the legend. The youth needed to know how the demon came to life and hoped that knowledge would help him defeat it.
"In distant times, Hyrule comprised vast wastelands barren of life. The Goddess's three apostles Din, Farore and Nayru were tasked to shape them into a beautiful world where Hylia's teachings would be practiced piously. Together, they changed arid deserts into fertile plains, flooded dried up springs into lakes, rivers and seas, and created life out of nothing. Their deeds accomplished, they returned to the skies, leaving behind a single artifact of marvelous properties.
"The Holy Triforce ensured the kingdom's prosperity for the upcoming years, granting the apostles' creation a swift expansion. Different races flourished, evolved as believers of the Goddess Hylia and learned of her legacy. Whoever placed their hand on the Triforce would have their deepest wish fulfilled. Unsurprisingly, the greediest followed the corruption in their heart and tried to steal Hyrule's treasure. Thus, the sages of Hyrule were forced to seal it away in a spectral world no mere mortal could reach: The Sacred Realm.
"The main reason for locking its entrance was to prevent any evildoer from ever spreading darkness to the Triforce's holy core If this happened, chaos would befall Hyrule and send the realm in turmoil. Such a case occurred during the era of the Hero of Time, when the king of thieves, Ganondorf managed to foul the Sacred Realm with his presence. His reign saw misery and monsters crawling across the kingdom until the Hero of Time freed Hyrule from his rule. With the Master Sword in hand and the powers of the seven sages, Ganondorf was sealed away in the infinite void as they restored the Triforce. Hyrule raised from its ashes. Everything went back to normal, but Ganondorf's wrath knew no bound and he later defied the Gods again.
"Somehow, the Great King of Evil had broken the charm that had shut him out of Hyrule and reappeared, full of hatred for the Hero's lineage. His spirit wandered in our world, biding his time for revenge. He waited and waited until the Sheikahs began working on their war machines. He studied them from afar, learning how to bend them to his will. Before the shadowfolk realized his presence, he had already planted the seeds of corruption inside a broken prototype of the Divine Beasts. The hybrid birthed from their parasitic fusion would later become the Calamity.
"Ganondorf thus managed to subvert the Sheikah Technology and make the machine his weapon. The empowered beast's wrath would soon invoke darkness to scourge the lands of Hyrule again. What happens thereafter, you know the story.
"However, and here lies the origins of our fate, Ganondorf's tormented spirit had not come back from the limbs of nothingness empty-handed. Do you see what I mean, Link?"
The Hylian did not have to think long and nodded almost immediately. With him, or rather inside of him remained the reason why the Great King of Evil set out in his diabolic journey in the first place: a piece of the Triforce.
"Precisely," the Deku Tree confirmed. "It is said a tainted soul laying a hand on the Holy Triforce would shatter it into three fragments, with the perpetrator keeping the piece that befits them the best. Thus, the Triforce of Power sought refuge in Ganondorf's soul and stayed by his side as he rose to kingship, fell to the Hero of Time and returned to Hyrule. Similarly, the two other fragments chose two different individuals as their champions. The former princess Zelda inherited the Triforce of Wisdom and the Hero of Time received the Triforce of Courage.
"Naturally, the then divided Triforce tried to reunite its three parts and destiny would forever bind those chosen by the Goddess. Like magnets, the pieces pull themselves toward each other and Ganondorf would soon seek the missing ones he needed to assert dominion over the relic's true power. Eventually, the Hero of Time defeated him and the Triforce became one.
"However, his spirit had been sealed away for seven long years when the Triforce shattered because his child body could not handle both the artifact's magic and the Master Sword's at the same time. Princess Zelda sympathetically decided to warp him seven years in the past, so he could fully enjoy his childhood. Yet in doing so, she created a paradox she had not foreseen. As reformed as the Triforce was, its fragments were still linked to their champions and the Triforce of Courage accompanied the Hero of Time in his alternate timeline. Ultimately, the three pieces existed in three independent worlds: one in an endless jail, one in a liberated Hyrule and the last in a parallel Hyrule.
"Even now, those lost remnants search their siblings. Our world lives on from the liberated timeline also known as the era of the Adult Hero. Fate has dictated that descendants of the Princess bear the crest of Wisdom. The current princess still holds it in her soul, as the Calamity keeps the Triforce of Power within itself.
"Two pieces of the trinity had gathered, and their affinity played a major role in Zelda's successful sacrifice. Her final spell had revived the bond between her and the Calamity, sending them to a prison of sacred light. These divine shackles hold the dark creature to the castle and preserve the princess's life, as long as the enchantment lasts."
Link gasped in awe. After all these years, could Zelda really be alive? He clenched his fist instinctively around the Master Sword which in turn, poured him with an ethereal halo that lit the fire of his resolve.
"Alas, her conjuring weakens day after day and will not withstand the Calamity's wrath much longer. The Demon is preparing to lay waste to the kingdom again, and this time the Triforce of Wisdom will not suffice to stop its rampage.
"The cycle of the Triforce nears its end, Link. The fabled golden shards will reunite in battle and solve the conflict that has spanned over millennia. As the Hero of Time did before, the bearer of the crest of Courage will stand by Zelda's own Wisdom to face the vile Calamity. It is your duty as a champion chosen by the Goddess and your fate, Link."
The sudden reveal did not make Link flinch one bit. Deep down, he already knew his service to Hyrule responded to Hylia's will as well. Nonetheless, he asked the Deku Tree how the Triforce of Courage came to his belongings.
"Shortly after your demise, Zelda had the Sheikahs pull your body to the Shrine of Resurrection on the Great Plateau. This unique altar serves a different purpose than those you have encountered on your way here as it was built to shelter Heroes appointed by the Goddess and protect them from evil. As the wielder of the Master Sword, princess Zelda had decided to proceed with your healing.
"Using the Sheikah Technology enhanced with Hylia's blessings, the protocol preserved your body from natural decomposition while your spirit recovered in the Chamber of Sages that housed the Sacred Realm long ago. That holy place actually formed a node where all timelines converged. Eventually, the lost Triforce of Courage that came from the era of the Child Hero took refuge in your soul. I can only guess and hope that its former bearer has died peacefully while you slumbered this last century.
"It is clear now, Link, that you are the reincarnation of the Hero of Time. Your mastery of the Sword of Evil's Bane and your crest of Courage are proofs of this theory. What's more, only you are able to hear the Princess's voice through her light jail. Such a feat would never have been possible, were you not bound by the Triforce.
"Destiny is often cruel and the Triforce a burden you must carry. The knowledge you now possess is akin to our own. A newborn sprout I was when I witnessed the Hero of Time's triumph, who could have predicted I would see his fate reiterated… Go, Link! Fulfill your destiny and free the princess from her misery. Go and save Hyrule from the Calamity's yoke!"
Link did not hesitate, nor did he question the Deku Tree's story or his unwitting heritage. The Hylian had many reasons to curse his fate and cry out against the injustice his past endured, and his future would. Yet, he accepted it without hard feelings. After all, he only did as the Goddess dictated him, he could only obey to her will.
He sheathed his Master Sword, took out the Sheikah Slate and activated Farore's Wind to get back to Kakariko Village safely after thanking the guardian spirit of the woods.
Thus, his last adventure started, one that would end with a battle that had lingered on for ages, yearning for its conclusion. Afterwards would come a new era for Hyrule, whether it be one of peace or chaos.
Ledo took the eastside path that led to the upper part of the hill. With the night sky covered by the thick foliage of the trees, he could only trust his memory to figure out where the pillar of light had appeared. The Zora rarely ever had the chance to see nature as rich and beautiful as his surroundings, especially these last years. He enjoyed the scenery, the fresh air around him, the grass ticking his ankles, and the local fauna as he walked.
However, his expedition prevented him from straying too far, so he refocused on his quest to find the Great Fairy. Cado noticed his eagerness and interest in the wildlife and promised to give him a tour of Kakariko's neighborhood once they had dealt with Vah'Ruta.
"Our land is filled with wonders," he commented as they went deeper into the forest. "Animals. Plants. Landscapes. The Goddess envisioned Hyrule as a magnificent haven bearing multiple facets much like the waterfalls around your Domain. While the Sheikahs had settled in a recluse area, its surroundings deserve every praise worthy of Hylia's creativity."
"I share your sentiment, Cado," Ledo agreed. "The sheer diversity of Hyrule's species is enough to attest that. I can only imagine that each province possesses its own unique, biological sphere. This explains the differences between our territories a bit."
"We believe the Goddess associated each region to a certain ideology: the central plains represent serenity, Akkala's high mountains evoke willpower and sturdiness, the vast western desert portrays adaptability, the rivers illustrate balance, and so on. Our world's harmony is a canvas mirroring Hylia's spirit and breaking its integrity most likely causes troubles within its populations."
"The Calamity has broken this frail equilibrium," Ledo claimed. "Though in retrospect, its resurgence has not damaged Hyrule as much as we thought… How is that possible?"
"First, Princess Zelda's spell averted the event: her sacrifice makes it impossible for the demon's miasma to spread out of the castle's vicinity where the marks of the corruption are the most dangerous.
"Secondly, the Goddess and her apostles have sent their messengers, the Great Fairies, to keep an eye on the pure world they had created. Their holy presence ward Hyrule and its ecosystems from evil beings. For instance, every stable built across the land is protected by the Horse God Malanya who uses their magic to keep travelers and their mounts safe.
"However, the Calamity's own influence has taken its toll on their power and since its rise to dominion, the Great Fairies have gone to sleep in order to stay away from its grasp. As a result, only their direct neighborhood remains affected by their defensive charm. The woods we tread on is proof of that, our protector's fountain must be close."
"How come you've never found where she dwells?" Ledo asked.
"She has relocated recently, for she fears the invaders that crossed the Faron swamps. As far as we know, she must have gone deeper in the forest, hoping that would be enough to keep the raiders out of reach. Anyway, the pillar of light and the surrounding quiet hint at her proximity. Her barrier lives on."
For the first time since they had met, Cado thought wrong. Mere seconds after his last sentence, Ledo heard many grunts coming from the path they were taking. Some beasts were drawing near.
"Spoke too soon…" Cado sighed. "Let's hide and let them pass, no need to fight when we can avoid it."
Ledo nodded and both of them retreated behind bushes where they stood still as statues and out of sight, hidden beneath the veil of dark and green. A pack of heavily-armed Bokoblins passed by, rattling and growling furiously without noticing them. The agitated monsters seemed set on moving as fast as possible and did not once look back to check that they had not missed anything, clearing away from Ledo and Cado's itinerary.
Cautiously, the Sheikah and the Zora stepped out and resumed their walk. They had progressed for a couple hundred feet before they spotted another horde that looked even more undisciplined and erratic than the first. The monsters spread so far and wide they forced Cado and Ledo to separate and conceal themselves in even thicker brambles and vines.
They crawled stealthily around, Ledo snuck his way past the Bokoblins, his heart thumping nervously as he dreaded getting caught. The Sheikah engineer proceeded similarly, albeit with more confidence, demonstrating his worth as one trained in the arts of shadowfolk warfare.
Once again, they slipped through the net unscathed and rejoined at a cypress so massive its trunk could easily hide them both. So many dark minions roaming on these sacred lands left Cado perplexed.
"I wasn't expecting that big a swarm…" he conceded as they kept forward. "The Great Fairy is nearby; intruders shouldn't come in numbers as high..."
"Could her powers have decreased somehow?" Ledo worried.
"I sincerely doubt it, corruption would have plagued the forest already, yet it has not. Something's off but I can't tell what… Regardless, our way back is cut off for now. Let's press onward."
"Right."
The pair went on with their search. The deeper parts of the forest felt denser and more oppressive. Ledo and Cado did not encounter any obstacles on the way and paced up. Then they noticed unwavering, beautiful plants shining faintly over several tree roots. Ledo had never seen flowers radiating such a mysterious, yet exquisite light, and he could not contain his excitement. On the other hand, Cado identified them instantly.
"Silent Princesses. Splendid plants much appreciated by Hylians, it is said their petals have the ability to boost one's resistance and are often used as ingredients for potions. They are rare flowers that grow only in untainted areas, which confirms that the Great Fairy's enchantment remains as strong as ever…"
"Good news, then!" Ledo exclaimed as he knelt before one of them. "We're on the right track and have nothing to fear."
"I wouldn't be so certain. The Bokoblins are too close when they shouldn't be able to."
"How in the Goddess's name could they, then?"
"There's a way: someone has summoned them inside the Great Fairy's protection field."
"But who could…"
"GET DOWN!"
A huge gust of wind lunged at them fast, cleaving the air fiercely and slashing everything in its way. Cado promptly stepped in, unsheathed his blade in a quick motion and deflected the wind cutter. The invisible projectile shot upward, slicing tree branches mercilessly.
"Yiga…" Cado spat. "There's our culprit. Show yourself, I know you're here!"
"How perceptive…" a threatening voice murmured in the shadows. "Sheikahs do deserve their fame."
A small tornado vacuumed the air sixty feet from Ledo and Cado. A burst of wind followed and created a curl of smoke where a massive silhouette appeared. The stranger wielded a two-handed saber and wore a mask with an inverted Sheikah symbol drawn over it that covered his face entirely.
The newcomer prepared for battle, katana high over his head and slamming down as it cut the air in a swift, hard strike. The wind blade slashed grass and trunks alike, but yielded to Cado's steel once again.
"What are you doing so far from your country, you scoundrel?" Cado fumed.
"I come to retrieve that you have robbed. The medallion your friend safeguards in his pouch."
"This relic belongs to the Sheikahs. I will not let you steal it, who knows what your kind would do with it…"
"Times are changing, Sheikah. Our clan will stand ready when our supreme master will reign over Hyrule. The Calamity's advent is nigh."
"It is a bane that will destroy the kingdom! Only chaos will bloom as its demons ravage the land until there is naught but ashes. Is that what you wish?"
"Too long have we served the kingdom without profit, too long have we wrongly faced persecution when all we did was carrying out the Royal Family's will. The Yigas shall seek independence, the Calamity shall free us from an unjust burden and the world will cease loathing us."
"Despicable deeds you perform and scorn you shall receive. Your extreme methods have always stood out as controversial among the Royal Family's servants. It doesn't matter how effectively you accomplished your missions; your sins deserve all the punishment you got."
"Enough! The past is what does not matter. We now carve our future. En garde, Sheikah!"
"Ledo," Cado whispered to the distraught Zora. "He and I will fight until death claims one of us. Once the duel begins, flee and seek the Great Fairy. He must not lay his hands on the medallion!"
The apprentice was about to protest but gave up rapidly. He answered affirmatively and backed away slowly, biding his time to sprint the moment they clashed. Running furiously out of the fray, he stepped further and further in the woods without looking back, relying on Cado to cover his retreat and apologizing over and over for his inability to assist the Sheikah.
He rushed forward until he could no longer make out the echoes of the swordsmen's fight, then proceeded haphazardly. After a couple minutes, he reached an open clearing where starlight shone peacefully through the branches. Wild beasts, birds and insects wandered freely, not even aware of the disturbance inside their home forest. All around, Ledo could smell the fragrant perfume of Silent Princesses. Luckily, he had not strayed away from the Great Fairy's den.
Did he happen here by chance, though?
A voice, mysterious, ethereal and sweet hummed at his ears, guiding him in the woods.
"Come to me, child. Follow the Silent Princesses till the giant sequoia where I rest."
Intrigued, Ledo followed their advice, suspecting the Great Fairy herself to have talked to him. He quickly found a narrow pathway strewn with the aforementioned flowers, heading down south. As hinted, Ledo soon came to a gigantic, majestic old tree. It stood so tall Ledo wondered how it did not show as an obvious landmark from the region's highest points.
Stunned by the sheer beauty of the ambient nature and by the imposing tree, he approached the roots invaded by weeds and moss warily. Its mystical charm dulled his senses and his mind such that he did not notice the hole on the ground. He fell in and missed his chance to grab the ledge. He slid in a long, winding tunnel until he met a humid soil that stuck to his clothes.
His disgust passed, he stood up thinking that he would not be able to see anything in some beast's burrow. Instead, he found himself inside an underground, spacious grotto lit by something akin to a group of fireflies. The wisps danced over a pond filled with unexplainably unstained water. A little afraid, Ledo walked up the steps formed by sturdy leaves and stared at the bottomless well.
The enigmatic voice that had guided him became a booming, almost childish laugh. Suddenly, from the spring emerged a giant woman resembling the Hylians and the Sheikahs. White petals ending in yellow covered her body in a dress pattern, multiple silver accessories on her neck and wrists emphasized her elegance. Her long, wavy, blonde hair fell on her back gracefully, her facial makeup and the ornaments behind her ears reminded Ledo of patterns on a butterfly's wings.
"Welcome to my fountain, young Zora," she said. "I am the Great Fairy Cotera, servant of the Goddess Hylia. I sense a sacred relic devoid of its powers in your belongings and assume that you've come to restore it, haven't you?"
Astounded by her regal appearance, it took Ledo a while to return her courtesy. In the end, he bowed before her as a sign of deep respect.
"Lady Cotera," he responded, struggling to keep a constant tone. "I do have a Sheikah medallion formerly infused with divine magic. But there's a more pressing matter, my friend Cado and the people in Kakariko Village may be in grave danger! I humbly request your aid and implore you to save the Sheikahs who have only shown kindness to my people!"
Ledo knelt even lower as he offered her the medallion in open palms, heart beating nervously in fear of having seemed too presumptuous. However, Cotera laughed and answered gently.
"Your soul is one filled with bravery and loyalty. Everything must be done in due time though, because my abilities have lost their edge in the last century. First, give me a moment to bring back the medallion to its full potential. I assure you it will come in handy to protect Kakariko Village."
The Great Fairy spread her arms in front of her and made the artifact levitate before her face. Then, she exhaled softly, her breath a gentle breeze. Ledo felt a wave of energy filling his weary body and cleansing away his doubts. At the same time, the medallion shone brightly, its runic inscriptions flashed and flicked vigorously, as if asking to be activated promptly.
"The Medallion of Ether, deadly jewel created by the Goddess's first shadowfolk worshippers, has been given new life. It is a weapon to use only as a last resort. One may call forth divine lightning to chastise the dark envoys threatening the children of the Goddess."
Cotera snapped her fingers and sung a fast-paced melody. The few notes rose in crescendo, signaling the medallion to unleash its power. Simultaneously, she materialized a vision of the forest outside, so that Ledo could witness what was about to happen.
Despite the starless night hanging over the woods, the Zora could clearly see everything unfolding. Menacing clouds were gathering disturbingly over the hills. Cotera's song sped up and up as they merged into a single, eerie mass of storm, then stopped abruptly. On the last note, thunder howled, the clouds released all of their concentrated energy and lightning shook Hyrule several times.
Ledo did not know where each bolt landed, though he remarked that they oddly never touched any tree, so he guessed that they missed on purpose to strike something else. Cotera then zoomed in on a clearing where the aftermath was visible. Corpses burnt to a crisp lay miserably here and there, scattered randomly across the area, all Bokoblins.
"Minions of the dark have been judged and punished by law of Hylia's wrath. None have survived and Kakariko is safe once more."
"What about Cado?" Ledo worried. "Is he alright?"
"See for yourself, child."
Their third eye switched location and reached lower grounds in search of the dueling Sheikah. The remote area that served as their arena seemingly remained untouched by the hammer of justice, though one column of smoke rose through the trees. The sight shifted below the branches and near the two warriors. Fortunately, the one standing was Cado.
"Thank the Goddess…" Ledo whispered in relief.
"You should listen to their conversation," Cotera interrupted. "Here."
Sound reached Ledo's ears as if he assisted to the scene from a much closer distance. Cado straightened above the dying Yiga's body, one of whose hand clenched to his stomach where a crimson puddle dripped out mercilessly. Not far from him was the fuming crater where the thunder had struck.
"Damn this… lightning…" the Yiga cursed between two spits of blood. "I would've killed you…"
"Save your excuses," Cado retorted as he treated his foe's wound with arcane magic.
"What are you doing, fool?"
"That's gonna buy you time and make it easier to talk, though you don't have long anyway. Now, you told me you were going to attack Zora's Domain soon. When exactly?"
Ledo gasped, taken aback by the sudden declaration. Yet, he quickly regained his composure, he needed to know how the Yiga would answer.
"Heh…" the Yiga snickered. "You really think I will talk? How foolish of y- UGH!"
The injured criminal vomited blood on the side. Insensitive to his pain, Cado crouched besides him, not even fazed by his opponent's agonizing cries.
"I know your identity," the Sheikah replied calmly, "and your presence here makes literally no sense according to your prior speech. So, either you had another reason to come, or you were lying and are targeting Kakariko Village. But considering how few the thunder struck, I am discarding the second option."
"…"
"Lost your tongue? Means I've hit the nail, then. You've already shared more than you should have, and unfortunately, I won't be able to alleviate your pain, nor can I lengthen your life. So? What have you come for, brother?"
"Sharp as ever, eh, Cado? I could never hide anything from you anyway, I suppose…"
"Cut the chitchat and get to the point. Your suffering only ends after you talk."
"I don't recall you being so cruel though… Whatever. The tribe will strike the sooner the better. They're probably setting to march tomorrow. It'll be a full-on assault, a coordinated raid with the Calamity's forces. The Zora won't stand a chance."
"You shouldn't underestimate them; they won't go down without a fight. And they too, have allies they can count on. No war will be fought alone."
"I knew you'd say that. Oh well, that will set up the next phase anyway so it could turn in anyone's favor. Tell me, brother. Those allies you speak of; do you only mean the Sheikahs?"
"No."
"I see. It would have been a shame otherwise. Beware, traitors may lurk among you, waiting to backstab and cut your throat while you face what's in front of you.
"Don't fret about it. I've had my suspicions for a long time."
"Prepared for every possibility, then? Ah, such a shame I won't be part of it anymore. We may be enemies, but… you're still family after all… May the shadows guide you to the end…"
"Farewell, brother. May the eye of truth judge you fairly in the afterworld."
The Yiga finally collapsed, drawing his last breath and departing to the world of the dead. Before the vision vanished like smoke, Ledo could see Cado biting his lips, eyelids closed over tears. A deadly foe he may have been, but an honorable warrior he was. Ledo felt pity for the man who had betrayed his family to follow his beliefs.
"You are now aware of the Yigas' plan. Will you face them and stand by your people, medallion in hand to sway the tides of battle?"
"I will, Lady Cotera… Yet, how do I use its power wisely?"
"To summon the Goddess's wrath as I did, you need only pray to the divine apostles. Show them your faith and open your heart, so that they help you in your struggle."
Ledo nodded, fully understanding. It was only yesterday that he felt weak and out of place in a war where he did not belong. And now, he had successfully cast his doubts away and found his purpose in the conflict.
"Then come back to the overworld with this gift and lead the Zora to victory, my dear."
A halo of light surrounded Ledo who started floating upwards. His mind drifted out of reality and left the grotto, dragging his lighter than ever body with it. Cotera was teleporting him out of her fountain and back to Cado.
"When battle has made you weary, please come back to see me."