Divine Beast Vah Rudania was bigger in person than he remembered. The fire- lizard beast was huge compared to them, but then again, all of them were. Thankfully the beast hadn't moved back into the lava pit below. That made it easier for them.
With a nod of agreement, they moved towards the beast, helping Zelda up onto the beast. Link led the way towards the main control unit, but he checked the terminals along the way just to make sure everything was going smoothly. Each and every one. Zelda had also suggested she take a look at some, so the terminals were divided between the pair of them, making it much more smooth and quick.
As they arrived at the main control unit, Link looked around for any signs of Rudania but couldn't see any. Zelda took the Sheikah Slate from him and walked up to place it on the launchpad, hoping it would summon him but it did nothing.
"Uh, I think we should've asked Ruta what to do," Link coughed awkwardly.
"That would've been wise when we had the chance, yes," Zelda agreed as she turned to face Link. "How do you think we should allow the spirit of Vah Rudania to know we're here? Ruta said he was mute, not deaf, so hearing us shouldn't be a problem." Her eyes darted around.
"The terminals are all working. We tried the main control unit too."
"Maybe perhaps it'll work for you? You're the last living original Champion. Me? I was just the Commander, but you were one of them. Maybe it'll work for you if you try to summon him."
Link shrugged as he took the Slate from her. "If you think it'll work," he said. He couldn't see how it wouldn't work if he was honest.
"It's the only way we've got left."
With a deep breath, Link held up the Slate to the launchpad and watched as the color disappeared before it reappeared. Zelda watched with knowing eyes; Link would have to call upon the personifications from now on whenever they would want to speak with them.
Either way, at least know they knew.
Silence settled between them until the ground rumbled. Their eyes darted over to a bright blue smoke cloud appearing and they knew instantly it was Rudania, the personification of Vah Rudania.
Much like Ruta, the form was a Hylian male.
But unlike Ruta, this one was more taller ( by a few inches ) and more muscular. Broad shoulders too. He was dressed in Ancient Armor ( no helmet in sight ) with an image of the fire-lizard in the middle like Ruta had of the elephant. His hair was messy and short, red as the flames below with his eyes like the sky.
There was no sound coming from Rudania. He only stared at them and they jerked back slightly when they saw a burn mark covering his face; starting from his chin moving across his nose, ending underneath his right eye.
Link shivered. Fireblight had probably gifted that to him.
"Hello," Zelda greeted him, walking up. "You're Rudania, aren't you?"
Rudania nodded, bowing in respect as he moved down to his knees. He was respectful like Ruta as well. It was also when Link got sight of a stonebreaker weapon much like Daruk's strapped to his back.
"You can raise up," she continued on. "You don't need to be so formal."
He nodded, standing up as his eyes locked on with Link's. The hero could see wisdom in them but also the urge to battle. Link cleared his throat and settled his nerves, holding out his hand for the Divine Beast to shake.
Slowly but surely, Rudania shook his hand.
"Ruta said you wanted to thank me," Link said. "He also mentioned you signed instead of speaking. That you were mute."
'That is true,' Rudania signed. He surprised them with how well they could understand him. 'But he's wrong as well. I will speak when I wish to. I am selectively mute. My voice— it is louder than the rest, next to Naboris, but he can control his volume better. Urbosa taught him that much.'
"So you can speak?" asked Link.
He nodded.
Zelda smiled as she took in his appearance. "Are you all in the form of Hylians? There isn't one of you that takes the form of your respective races?"
'We all take on these forms,' Rudania answered. 'It's easier for us to control. That and we believe it is the one we are most comfortable with.'
"If you don't mind me asking…" Link coughed, catching Rudania's attention. He nervously pointed to his own cheek, mimicking Rudania's burn. "Where did you get that burn on your cheek?"
Rudania shifted nervously as a sigh escaped. A silent one. 'Fireblight Ganon. I decided to help Daruk out. I couldn't watch him fail like that; it was one-sided. Favoring Fireblight.' He reached a hand up and touched the scar, wincing like it was brand new, giving off an intense amount of pain. 'Daruk was out cold and I stepped in to help. Fireblight saw me, fired off some fire of his, and ended up burning me in the process. Of course, he was weakened. It was his way of escaping me. I would've won if he hadn't.'
Zelda frowned. "He killed Daruk first, didn't he? He managed to kill Daruk before he gave you that horrid scar."
'Sadly. Yes.'
"None of that was your fault," Link stated, sensing Rudania's foul mood that was turning sorrowful. "You did what you could and for that, we're grateful. You put up a fight and stood your ground— that's all we could ever ask."
'I still feel horrible. I allowed my pilot to die. Your friend, even. How can you forgive me?' asked Rudania, lowering his gaze to the ground.
"Forgiveness goes a long way," Zelda answered. She cupped Rudania's face, making him look up at them. Both were smiling. "We've both come to accept it."
Link nodded in agreement. "Yeah, so don't beat yourself up over it, okay? We're all good."
'Thank you. That, uh… that means a lot to me, you know? The others— they wouldn't have been so forgiving like you. Especially the ones who blame me for not protecting Daruk.'
"Forget about them," Link said, waving his hand. "They don't matter anymore. Daruk is at peace and doesn't blame you."
Rudania seemed like he was about to tear up at the mention of Daruk, but chose to nod his head. The Hylians exchanged a look. It seemed like, out of them all, Rudania was the one who blamed himself the most. Whether it was from the fact he had almost beaten Fireblight to save Daruk but failed when he couldn't protect him or the fact he carried that guilt for not stepping in sooner didn't matter; the guilt was finally being let loose.
He didn't have to carry it anymore.
Zelda smiled softly as she reached up and wiped away Rudania's tears with her thumbs, making the Divine Beast give off his own smile in return. Link watched with a warm heart as the scene continued before the beast got ahold of himself, shaking away any lingering feeling of sadness.
'Thank you. Again. I mean it.' Rudania stated again. 'I'm sure the others will have the same feelings; Ruta probably did. He's always feeling what others do. Me? Not so much, but right now, I am.'
"Again, no worries," Link replied.
"That reminds me!" Zelda snapped her fingers and the attention turned to her as Rudania arched an eyebrow. "You'll be gaining a new pilot soon."
The spirit paled. 'A-Another one?'
Link patted his arm. "Yeah, but don't worry about it. Ganon's gone which means he won't pull any sort of tricks again. Trust us."
'Okay… well, who is it?'
"Yunobo."
The Divine Beast stilled as it processed through his brain. His eyes went slightly wide as he racked a hand through his hair. 'Yunobo? As in Daruk's descendant?' he questioned.
"Yes," answered Zelda.
For a few moments, nothing was said. No signing occurred as Rudania took in the information before nodding his head, turning on his heels to walk towards the edge where he could see Goron City as if he was trying to locate said Goron, eyes never leaving as he brought his hands up to sign.
Link and Zelda looked on carefully.
'Yunobo is Daruk's grandson, you know? Gorons live a long time,' Rudania said with little care. 'I've watched Daruk's son make his way through the world without Daruk around; he tried to calm me down too. Pushed me back into the mountain as many times he needed. I fought back until Yunobo was the one doing it.'
The hero froze when Rudania turned to him, eyeing him like he was some sort of prey before glancing away to continue on.
'I always thought he was more scared than anyone else, but when you came along, Link, I was proven wrong,' A soft chuckle escaped past his lips, surprising them both as Rudania turned to them. 'The kid will do fine. That, I am sure. But do make sure he's okay with jumping into the pit of lava. He's going to have to at some point in time.'
Link laughed as he nodded. "I'll make sure of that, yeah."
'Thank you.'
He gave him another nod before they watched a grunt of pain escape from Rudania's mouth. The blue smoke started to appear around him and they instantly knew what was happening. Rudania's time was up and he needed to head back to sleep once more.
This happened with Ruta and it would happen with them all.
Zelda bit her lip, worried for the Divine Beast. "Rudania, are you—"
'— I'm fine, princess, really. This feeling is not new to me,' Rudania reassured but they knew better. It was all new to him again, according to what Ruta had said during their visits. 'I will be fine. I recommend seeing the others soon; Medoh and Naboris.'
"Anything we need to know?" Zelda quickly asked.
He thought for a quick moment before shaking his head. There wasn't. He was the only one who was selectively mute unlike the others who would speak just fine.
'No, you shall be fine without any advice from this point on. Good luck with your missions; whatever they may be.'
They didn't say anything else as they gave him their own respective silent reassurance of approval as they watched the glow become brighter until it covered him completely. When it finally dimmed, they could no longer see the mute beast before them; just the empty space where he had once stood.
Link took in Rudania's words about their mission at hand; revival of the Kingdom.
The wolf's words echoed in his mind next about the promise he had made when he suggested rebuilding the Kingdom and bit his lip. Could they really do this? They had the Zoras and Gorons' help at their command but what if the Ritos and Gerudos refused?
He didn't want to disappoint Zelda.
Zelda took her place by his side, grabbing a hold of the Slate as she clicked on the map, looking for somewhere to teleport. "Where do you want to go?"
Link stole a glance. "We should rest at a stable, or we could make our way to the Rito Village on our own like we used to."
"That would be lovely," Zelda smiled. "Venturing around Hyrule like the old days."
"Then," Link continued as he clicked on a shrine. "Let's go have our adventure, songbird."
Zelda rolled her eyes. "Idiot."
"Your idiot."
She laughed as they were transported away.