Chapter Twenty Three:
"Alright, it's your first day as a Gerudo. Who are you?"
"I am Calista! I'm a Gerudo and I am strong!"
"Good. What is your goal?"
"To prove my strength!"
"And how are you going to achieve it?"
"Blood, sweat and glory!"
"Excellent! Let's get you to the training center for your first day of training," Ganondorf said.
"Ok!" Calista squeaked, racing out the door and skipping towards the training center.
"She's got enthusiasm, I'll give her that," Athena said.
"That she does," Ganondorf agreed. They decided it would be best for Calista to stay with Athena and her mother for the time being. Athena gleefully agreed, foolishly thinking she could use the extra time with her to change the kid's mind. Her mother was a tougher nut to crack. She'd only had Athena, and according to her, she was more than enough. But eventually, she conceded and agreed to let Calista stay with her.
"Well go on Prince," Athena said, giving him a mighty slap on the back. "You don't want to be late for your kids' first day of getting her ass handed to her."
Ganondorf just rolled his eyes. "I'm sure your encouraging words are really helping you win her over."
"Just you watch, in a few days she'll be fawning over me and it'll be like you never existed," Athena promised.
"Right. In any case, you might want to clean up before she comes back. It looks like you live in a hovel that you just won from two hoboes," Ganondorf said, crinkling his nose in mock disgust.
"Nah, it's just part of my natural charm," Athena assured him.
"Ah. Charming her right out the door," Ganondorf said, nodding sagely.
"What's that? Is that the sound of jealousy I hear?"
"What would I be jealous of? I slept next to her. She snores like a fucking Molduga. If anything, I feel sorry for you."
"Sorry that you're about to lose your apprentice maybe."
Ganondorf shook his head. "I'm not arguing with you anymore. Stupidity must be clouding your mind."
"Not as much as it is yours, dumb-dumb head."
Ganondorf promptly ignored his friend and set off after Calista. Nobody paid much attention to the girl as she ran giddily through town. She'd occasionally get a glare from an irritated vai if she did something to disturb the relative peace, like step on someone's toe or almost knock something over. But overall, the Gerudo acted as if she was just another one of Gerudo Town's various inhabitants. Ganondorf breathed a sigh of relief he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Perhaps things would work out for Calista after all.
Ganondorf caught up with Calista just before she entered the training center. It was already full of kids her age, struggling to nock an arrow to a bow or wrestling one another in the sparring ring. Standing over all of them with a scowl on her face was Iris.
"You call that a throw? My grandfather could throw better than that! Unless you want me to tell you the story of how I threw my own voe onto his bed and screwed his brains out again, use your hips! Heroines, if you try that one more time I will have everyone spar against me and have you wipe up all the blood afterwards!"
Immediately Calista's enthusiasm disappeared and she came to a screeching halt. Ganondorf stopped beside her.
"She's only joking," he lied.
"Ganondorf, I see you finally got your ward up and about. Bout damn time! Now girly, listen here. You're a Gerudo only in name at the moment but I intend to change that. We're gonna make you a lean mean killing machine. In a year's time you won't even recognize yourself now. First thing we're gonna do is bulk you up. You're nothing but a speck of sand now. If you wanna live out here in the desert you need some meat on your bones," Iris declared. "But first, we've gotta introduce you to your classmates."
Basic training for the Gerudo began at around age three. It mostly consisted of muscle building exercises until the age of seven where self defense and basic weaponry was added in. Once a Gerudo reached ten they were no longer required to come to training. It was still highly encouraged and most came at least once a week. For those serious about pursuing a military career, a more advanced class was held for the Gerudo between the ages of ten and fifteen, when a Gerudo was considered an adult. For some reason Hylians weren't considered adults until they were eighteen. What a strange concept. If it was like that for the Gerudo, Ganondorf wouldn't have been an adult until a few weeks ago.
Most of the kids who lined up in front of Calista were well on their way to becoming proper warriors. They were tough and hardened by their years in the desert. Even the youngest would give a seasoned Hylian knight a run for their money. There were seven in all, two fourteen years olds, a thirteen year old, a twelve year old, two eleven year olds and a ten year old. They looked at Calista with a range of expressions, from disgust to confusion to fascination to indifference.
"Well go on, introduce yourself!" Iris snapped at Calista.
"H-hello, I'm Calista," Calista stuttered.
"I'm Koran! It's nice to meet you!" The thirteen year old said, stepping forward with her hand outstretched. Calista took it tentatively and gave it a small shake. The girl smiled brightly at her and stepped back into line.
"Mukeera," another girl stated simply. The ten year old Gerudo merely looked at her nails, annoyed that her training was interrupted.
"I'm Shai! And this is Reev! And we're twins!" the two eleven year olds exclaimed.
"I'm Tali," the oldest girl said, nodding at Calista.
"Luna. My sister, Lyra," the other fourteen year old said, nodding at the other twelve year old. "What exactly is a Hylian doing here?"
"She's Ganondorf's ward, or apprentice, or whatever he's claiming her as," Iris explained.
"Either will suffice," Ganondorf informed them.
"Alright ladies, break time's over. Get back to it!" Iris yelled, sending the girls scurrying back to their places. "Ok girly, let's see here. We'll start off easy today and work our way up. Core exercises and running for a while. Once you've built up some muscle we can talk more. Sound good to you Ganondorf?"
"Sounds good to me," Ganondorf agreed. "Do try to keep her out of the sun and hydrated. Her skin burns a lot easier than ours."
Iris scowled. "Right. I'll keep that in mind. Now get out! Bulara wanted to talk to you bout something and I don't need you hovering here."
"Fine. But if I get back and she's half dead in the dirt, I'm gonna have a talk with Bulara," Ganondorf warned.
"Bah!" Iris scoffed. "She doesn't scare me. I know my place, and it's here. Ain't nothing's gonna change that."
Ganondorf turned to Calista. "I'll be back soon. If you're exhausted, tell Iris you need a break. And hey, don't worry. You'll do great."
Ganondorf gave her an encouraging smile before heading up to the palace. Bulara was waiting for him there, holding a piece of paper in her hands. She looked up as he entered and smiled.
"Good, you're here. I was thinking yesterday about how you worked with the Princess and her Appointed Knight against the Calamity. You must've developed a close relationship with them on your adventure," Bulara noted.
"I wouldn't say we're thirst-bound just yet, but I suppose you could say we're close," Ganondorf answered, unsure of where she was heading.
"Battling something like the Calamity together takes a great deal of trust, and no small amount of respect for one another," Bulara continued.
"Indeed," Ganondorf said tentatively.
"That's why I would like you to be our Ambassador to Hyrule," Bulara finished.
"Ambassador?" Ganondorf asked, shocked by the proposition. Each of the Hyrule's allies had an ambassador that stayed in Hyrule Castle and appealed to the king about their own plights. Ambassadors represented their provinces in the Chief's stead within Hyrule Castle, bringing important matters to the king's attention and often serving as advisors.
"Indeed," Bulara confirmed. "Your mother assumed both the role of Chief and Ambassador during her rule. However, I am not as skilled as her and must remain here. Besides, your connections with the Princess may prove most valuable."
"But what of Calista?" Ganondorf asked. "I am going to train her as my apprentice. I would prefer to do so here, so she can become part of the Gerudo."
Bulara thought for a moment. "Perhaps while Hyrule heals and the Princess stabilizes her power you can remain here and continue to guide your student."
Ganondorf pursed his lips. "Perhaps. I will speak to the Princess on this matter."
Bulara nodded. "Good. The other thing I wanted to speak to you about is the compensation for your deeds. I'm going to give you a hefty reward for settling Vah Naboris down, but the rest of what you did I can't recognize you for. But I assume the Princess will reward you for saving her and helping to defeat the Calamity. Since it will be your reward, I figured you should have first say in what it's used for."
Ganondorf hesitated, thinking for a moment. For everything that he had done, he was likely to get a large sum of rupees. He could build a mansion up on Spectacle Rock or buy a fleet of mercenary ships. He might even be able to purchase all of Kakariko's land and tear down the whole village. The thought brought a small smile to his face.
"I think the best use would be to invest in the state of Kara Kara Bazaar," Ganondorf finally answered. "There is only one real building, the rest of it being ramshackle tents and huts. If we want to turn it into a trade center, it should be more developed."
Bulara nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, perhaps we could hire some Gorons to mine a quarry and aid us in the construction of the Bazaar."
"We may also want to build a stable on the edge of the Valley Pass," Ganondorf continued. "It would be easier if merchants could leave their horses there for safekeeping while they went into the desert."
"And we can have Gerudo with sand seals to help drag their wares to the Bazaar," Bulara added. "Thank you Ganondorf, you have given me much to think about."
Suddenly there was a sharp CRACK and a cry of pain from the training center. Ganondorf went over to the balcony, Bulara a step behind him. Below him, Calista laid on the floor, exhausted. Iris stood over her, a sneer on her face as she chastised the girl. The other Gerudo trainees paused what they were doing to stare at Calista.
"I hate to say this," Bulara said. "But are you sure keeping her in Gerudo town is a good idea? Frankly, I fail to see what you see in this girl. She'll only hurt herself if you continue to train her like this."
"Perhaps," Ganondorf mused as Calista struggled to pick herself up off the floor. He could see the tears brimming in her eyes as she got to her feet. Calista wiped them away as she slung the weighted sandbag over her shoulder. "Or perhaps not."
Bulara stared at him doubtfully. "I'll take your word for it. But remember, this girl is your apprentice. Whatever happens to her is your responsibility."
Ganondorf nodded grimly. "I understand."
"Good. Then I'll leave you to it," Bulara said, turning to leave. Ganondorf stood silently for a minute, watching Calista struggle. The tears in her eyes were gone.
"Everything hurts," Calista declared when Ganondorf strode into the room. She was lying on her bed next to Athena, her face buried in her pillow. Athena was trying to comfort the poor girl, placing sacks of ice around her body. She looked up at him helplessly as Calista moaned in pain. After Iris' brutal training yesterday, Ganondorf had to carry the girl back to Athena's house, where she promptly fell asleep.
"How do you people do it? I hurt in places I never knew could hurt before," Calista groaned.
"You'll get used to it," Ganondorf assured her. "But it's going to hurt for a while. But you've got to keep going. That's the only way to get stronger."
Calista turned and mumbled something into her pillow. Ganondorf sighed and put a hand on her back. With a gentle push, he sent a wave of healing magic into her. It settled around her body, wrapping her like a blanket.
Calista poked her head up. "I feel better now."
"Excellent. Then we can go do some training," Ganondorf said.
"No! Please! No more training! It just stopped hurting!" Calista shrieked, thrusting up her pillow to defend herself.
Ganondorf chuckled. "No, you can have a break for today. I meant magic training."
The pillow lowered. "Magic training?"
"Yes. I want to see what you know so I can figure out how to teach you," Ganondorf explained.
"I don't know, I'm kind of tired still," Calista said, sagging back into the bed.
"That's a shame. I was going to have us ride the sand seals out to the desert, but I guess if you're not feeling well," Ganondorf sighed, pushing himself up.
"Wait! You said we're riding sand seals?" Calista asked.
"Well I planned on it, but if you need some time to rest-" Ganondorf stopped as Calista leaped out of bed and sprinted out the door, kicked up dirt as she ran.
Ganondorf winked at Athena. "Do I know how to motivate her or what?"
Athena scoffed. "That's cheating."
"All's fair in apprentices and war," Ganondorf said as he strode out the door.
"I'll get you for this!" Athena vowed. Ganondorf just chuckled to himself. Oh, this is going to be fun.
Calista was waiting for him at the sand seal pits, hopping eagerly outside the fence. The sand seals glanced at her nervously, one in particular moving as far as it could to the opposite wall and burying itself up to its neck in sand.
"So it's you who got Jack-Jack all jittery," a short haired vai proclaimed. "I was concerned when he didn't come running for his usual brushing like he usually does."
"Apologies Tamry, my apprentice may have been a tad animated in her greeting of your seal," Ganondorf said. Calista, looked away, a flush coming to her cheeks.
"Ha, it's no problem at all. It's hilarious to see Jack-Jack so worked up over a fan. Usually he's all too eager to get some attention," Tamry laughed. "So, teaching your apprentice how to sand seal race? I see you've got your priorities straight."
"Only the finest for my apprentice," Ganondorf winked. "I'm going to take her to East Barrens."
"Gotcha. I'll saddle up Mindy and Fax for you," Tamry said, turning back to her office where she kept the bridles, ropes and shields. She returned a minute later with all the supplies they needed. "Listen now dear. The key to seal surfing is balance. It's not like riding a horse where you can sit and let the horse do all the work. You've got to have your knees bent at all times and lean forward a bit. Mindy here is my gentlest seal, so you can get used to the feel of it. But you have to really tug on the rope. She doesn't respond otherwise."
After dragging the two seals out into the desert and saddling them up, Tamry started instructing Calista on seal surfing. She adjusted Calista's posture and showed her how to pull on the ropes to make them dash and stop, and how to steer them. After about three-fourths of an hour, Tamry was confident enough that Calista was ready. Although she still looked apprehensive, Calista nodded and tugged the rope, jerking the sand seal into motion. She yelped as the seal took off and swayed on the shield, but stayed standing.
"She's a natural," Tamry commented, watching Calista struggle to keep her balance.
"And people doubt my judgement," Ganondorf grinned, hopping on his own shield and snapping the rope. With a yip, his sand seal raced after her. He caught up to her as she was trying to grab the rope with her other hand. Her eyes were wide with panic, her hair whipping back in a wild fashion.
"Lean deeper into the shield," Ganondorf called out. "It's all in the knees. The deeper your stance, the less likely you'll fall off."
Calista tried, still shaking as she sunk down. But with every divot in the sand she was jerked back up and had to start over. Eventually, she was able to ride the sand without being thrown around a lot. She looked over at Ganondorf and threw him a wild grin.
Fatal mistake. The instant she did so, she hit a small rock, making her lose her balance. Calista fell back with a yelp, flying off the shield and losing her grip on the rope. She landed in the sand and rolled, sending sand flying.
Ganondorf leaped off his shield and raced towards Calista. He knelt down next to the shaking girl.
"Calista! Are you alright?" Ganondorf exclaimed, healing magic flowing to his hand, ready to fix any injuries she might have. He stopped when Calista rolled over, face flushed tears rolling down her face, a mighty laugh erupting from her lips. Calista howled, exhilaration and amusement on her face. Ganondorf breathed a sigh of relief before joining her chorus of laughter. Together they sat in the desert sand, roaring to the sky.
When the laughing finally stopped, Calista looked up at Ganondorf. "Again?"
Ganondorf chuckled. "You sure you're alright?"
"Yeah, nothing really hurts," Calista said as she got to her feet.
"Good," Ganondorf said, standing as well. "I think this is a good spot to begin your magic training."
Calista paused and looked around. "Here?"
This place wasn't called the East Barrens for nothing. It was a flat wasteland of sand. Jagged pieces of rock climbed haphazardly from the ground. Pillars of stone clawed towards the sky, relics of a past long forgotten. Not even the oldest history books mentioned this place in anything more than speculation. The air here was unusually still. The wind rarely blew here, placing an eerie quiet on the sands. Even the sand itself felt coarser than the rest of the desert.
"Here," Ganondorf confirmed. "This is where my mother taught me. We're far away enough from the town where they can't see what we do here."
Ganondorf looked around and spotted a particular pillar with a wooden board serving as a ramp leading up to the top. He gestured to Calista and they walked up to the top. Ganondorf went to one side of the pillar while Calista stayed on the other.
"Alright, the best way for me to gauge your strength is to feel your power firsthand. So I want you to hit me with the strongest gust of wind you can muster," Ganondorf told her.
"Are you sure that's the best way?" Calista asked.
"Yup. Show me what you got," Ganondorf encouraged. Although, there probably was a way to determine her strength by seeing her aura. If only he could convince Oni to teach him how to do that.
Calista inhaled sharply and closed her eyes. As she concentrated, the wind picked, whipping through Ganondorf's hair and picking up sand. Ganondorf observed the vortex that was beginning to form around them. Most impressive.
With a shout, Calista lunged forward and thrust out her hands. A hard burst of air slammed into him, nearly knocking him off his feet and throwing him off the pillar. The only thing preventing him from flying away was the ice capturing his feet in place.
Oh yes. This girl was strong. There was no doubt about that. Ganondorf looked at her as she heaved, chest rising and falling rapidly. Strong, but not very experienced. Ganondorf grinned to himself. It was time to get to work.
"Excellent! Most extraordinary. You'd give Revali a run for his money with wind magic like that," Ganondorf cried out. Calista smiled brightly at him. "Ok. Now, I want you to maintain a gust of wind for as long as you can. It doesn't even have to be that strong. Just make one long gust of wind."
Calista nodded and focused again. A moment later, another burst of wind slammed into Ganondorf, but died out immediately.
"I-I'm sorry-" Calista started.
"Hey, it's all right," Ganondorf said. "Just take a deep breath and try again."
Calista nodded and steadied herself. After a few breaths, she tried again, only to come up with the same result.
"Hm, ok. Let's see. How do you focus your magic?" Ganondorf asked.
"I don't know. I just kind of...push," Calista shrugged.
"Hm. Similar to how you'd push a crate off a ledge?"
"Uh, I guess."
"Humor me for a moment. Imagine the crate was farther away from the cliff, and instead of giving it one strong shove, you had to push it over a long distance."
"Um, ok, I think I can try that."
Taking up her stance once again, Calista readied herself. The wind picked up once more, pushing Ganondorf back towards the edge. Planting his feet more firmly on the ground, Ganondorf braced himself against the rush of air. The stream continued for a minute, then another. The strain on Calista was evident, her features distorted in concentration. Sweat beaded down her face, her teeth were clenched, her hands trembled. As the fourth minute drew to a close, Calista let out a gasp and fell to her knees, the wind dying. She tried to push herself to her feet, but failed, catching herself with her hands before she face-planted onto the rock.
Ganondorf came over and kneeled down next to her. "Nice job. I'm impressed."
Calista turned her head up to him, still breathing heavily. He smiled at her, and she smiled back at him. "You're a real magician now, kid."
"A real magician," Calista repeated. She smiled to herself. "I think I could get used to this."
"Good. Cause I want to teach you a new trick," Ganondorf said.
"Now? But I'm exhausted. That's the most magic I've ever done!" Calista exclaimed.
"Ah come on, real magicians don't give up that easily, do they?" Ganondorf asked, extending a hand to her. Calista smiled, and took his hand. Ganondorf hoisted her to her feet, letting her lean on him when she almost fell.
"This is a technique I learned while battling one of the Calamity's spawns, called Windblight. You push the air in a circle to make a tornado, like so," Ganondorf said, holding out his hand to demonstrate a miniature vortex.
"Woah," Calista said, her eyes wide.
Ganondorf closed his fist, dispelling the air. "Now you try. Hold out your hand and open your palm," Ganondorf instructed. "Good. Now focus on the air on the tips of your fingers. Draw a circle with it."
Calista squinted at her hand, trying to force the air to move like Ganondorf's did. When nothing happened, she focused even more, squinting further, trying to push the air in a circle. Yet nothing happened! The air wouldn't move like Ganondorf made it! Why didn't it work?
"Ugh! I don't get it!" Calista exclaimed in frustration. Why wasn't it working?
"Don't worry, Calista," Ganondorf said, staring up at the cyclone that surrounded the pillar they were on, towering into the sky. "I'm sure you'll get the hang of it."