Waking up was like coming out of a deep fog. Harun stared at the ceiling until he realized he was conscious, then turned his head to look around. He did not recognize his surroundings, but he was in a small room with three of his guards standing nearby.
What happened?
He tried to figure out where he was and how he'd gotten there, but before he could give it much thought, one of the guards noticed him stirring.
"He's awake!" Emri shouted. She ran to his side, kneeling by his bed. "Are you well, my prince?"
Kyra approached him holding a bowl of something. "Are you hungry? Please, eat. You need your strength."
Laine knelt down beside Emri. "Great One, if there is anything you require, you need only speak the word."
Harun was overwhelmed. He sat up and pushed himself back along the bed until he was up against the wall. "Where am I?" he asked in confusion.
"In hospice, beside the Spirit Temple."
"Fear not, my prince. We've reached the Arbiter's Grounds."
The Arbiter's Grounds?
He remembered now. They had nearly made it. They were so close. But then…
"Where is Katta?" His attendants all lowered their heads, not answering. It came as no surprise. He'd already known the answer when he asked. He'd seen the Molduga swallow her along with the other girl she'd been trying to rescue. They had both died for him - them and everyone else who'd died just to get him to the Arbiter's Grounds. "I see," he said gravely.
"My prince, is there anything I can-"
"No," Harun said, holding up a hand. "Please. Just leave me." His attendants exchanged uncertain looks, but they obeyed him and left.
As soon as he was alone, Harun's eyes watered.
It's not fair.
Katta was supposed to be a great warrior one day. She was meant to die an honorable death, perhaps fighting to defend her kingdom, or protecting the innocent. Instead, she had died a pointless death, succumbing to a monster of the desert, without leaving behind so much as a body to entomb. They would not have been able to perform her last rites, either. Even now, her spirit could be wandering aimlessly through the desert that had taken her life, unable to cross over to the other side.
All because of my selfishness. All because of this demon inside of me.
Harun's sadness soon gave way to anger. In a rage, he slammed his fist against the wall, turning his head upwards to the heavens.
Were you not watching? Could you not have protected her? Why did you let her die?
He didn't know which gods he was angry at. Perhaps all of them, but Nephysis and Alkawbra most of all. The voe lifted his arm and stared down at his hand, as if he could see the demon's spirit inside of him.
I just want this fucking thing out of my life...
They were there, now. All this had been to get him to the Sage of Spirit so she could cure him. Now, he wanted nothing more than to get it over with.
And then what? March back across the desert so more of my people can die needlessly?
Harun let out a pitiful wail of despair, then collapsed back down onto his hospice bed. He considered staying there, as if all the pain and destruction his existence would cause could be avoided if he simply never left that bed. However, he could only stomach doing nothing for so long.
The sage will exorcise this demon and free me from its curse. I have to try.
Feeling the need to do something about it, he stood up. He'd been told he was right next to the Spirit Temple, so he planned to march over there and demand the sage's assistance. After pulling the door open, he stepped outside the room and found himself face to face with Elder Kobami. The old woman stood there, leaning on her cane, and she did not seem surprised to see him awake.
"It is good to see you are well, young one," she greeted him.
I am not well.
"Where is the Sage of Spirit?" he asked, not taking the time for courtesy.
The witch smiled. "Eager, are we? Good. It is time for your true potential to be unlocked."
Harun growled lightly at that, but said nothing about it. "Take me to her."
"As you wish, young one." Elder Kobami turned around and led Harun down the hallway. Harun immediately regretted asking the witch to lead him there. She walked so slowly, limping along on her cane. "The events that transpired on our journey here were a tragedy," Kobami said. "But fear not. When we leave the Arbiter's Grounds, you shall be strong enough to destroy or enslave every monster in the desert single-handedly."
Harun felt something deep down as he heard those words. There was a dark allure to the idea of having the power to take revenge on everything that had harmed his people, especially the monster that had killed Katta. But he knew that was the Beast inside of him talking - tempting him with promises of vengeance.
Begone, Ganon. I shall not play host to your spirit much longer.
Harun and Kobami passed by several guards and servants as they made their way to the exit, but they spared no time to speak to any of them until they reached the door leading outside. At that point, Elder Kobami called the nearest guard over to her. "Take a message to the queen. Tell her I am taking Harun to see Sage Nashorla."
"Yes, Elder One," the guard said, exiting the building ahead of them.
Harun did not object, but he was not sure how to feel about that. The more people who were around him, the more others might get in the way of his impending exorcism. Not to mention he could be a danger to them, even though the Arbiter's Grounds were supposed to be well-defended.
When they stepped outside, Harun could see the side of the Spirit Temple a short distance away, having recognized the Desert Colossus. However, Kobami began walking around the building to the main entrance in the front, and Harun was forced to follow. "How familiar are you with the Arbiter's Grounds, young one?" Elder Kobami asked.
"Not very," Harun said tersely. He had never been there before, so he knew only what he had been told.
"It is our people's second largest settlement after Naboris, now that the Hyruleans control Taafei and Yarna," she explained. "The Spirit Temple is the very heart of the city. Everything else sprung up around it over the years, often from nomads finally settling down to stay in one place. The temple itself is actually connected to several other buildings, allowing it to serve as a place of worship, a crypt, a dungeon for criminals and malevolent spirits, a coliseum, a treasure hold, and a courthouse. Most of these buildings have been built or rebuilt in the past century. They had already been falling into disrepair before the Hyruleans nearly destroyed the entire settlement in the Twilight War."
Damn you, witch.
Harun silently seethed. He knew the Arbiter's Grounds had been sacked by the forces of Ganon during the Twilight War, and the Hyruleans had only been there to expel the Twili and Bulblin invaders. They had even peacefully returned control of the settlement to the Gerudo after the war.
It seems the truth of history doesn't matter if it gets in the way of what you wish to believe.
But he did not care about the history of the Arbiter's Grounds. At the moment, all he wanted was to find the Sage of Spirit and do what they'd come there to do.
At the Spirit Temple's entrance, Harun and Kobami were greeted by two priestesses. The women carried ornate golden staves, and their sheer outfits and excessive jewelry reminded Harun of the dancers back at Gerudo Palace.
"My greetings, honored guest. You must be Prince Harun. You are most welcome to enter the Temple of Spirit," one priestess said to him.
"Take me to Sage Nashorla," Harun said, almost forcefully. He was acutely aware of how rude he was being, but his current one-track mind prevented him from caring. However, whereas Lady Averla would have reprimanded him, Elder Kobami only smiled.
"Yes, of course," the other priestess said with a bow. "Right this way."
The entryway of the Spirit Temple was a massive, high-ceilinged room that reminded Harun of the throne room in Gerudo Palace. In front of him was a short set of stairs leading up to a higher level on the other half of the room. The stairs were flanked by large sandstone cobra statues holding up flat slabs with Gerudo writing carved into them. More priestesses and other Gerudo women lingered about the room, many of them on their knees in prayer. As soon as Harun entered, he felt something inside of him resonating with his surroundings. It was as if the temple was teeming with spirits - unseen, but present nonetheless.
After climbing the stairs and crossing the other half of the room, Harun and Kobami were led through other parts of the temple until they arrived at a chamber containing a massive stone statue. It was very similar to the Desert Colossus on the outside of the temple. The goddess Nephysis sat with her legs crossed, holding up her hands to her sides, with Alkawbra coiled around her and resting upon her head.
Standing at an altar in front of the statue was a woman dressed similarly to the other priestesses, but with much gaudier jewelry. A chain made of swirled gold pieces linked together was wrapped around her waist, coming together at a triangular red gem in the center. She wore golden bands with elaborate etchings and jeweled adornments around her right wrist, her left upper arm, and her neck. Each ear held two gold piercings connected with a thin gold chain, along with a third piercing from which hung a long, thin, pointy red gem. The jewel she wore on her forehead was even larger than Elder Kobami's, and she had an even larger one rising straight up from the golden clip that held her hair in a ponytail down past her back. The staff she held had a lantern hanging from the top of it, lit with a ghostly gray flame.
"Sage Nashorla," one of the priestesses said, getting down on one knee. "The queen's ward and prince-to-be requests an audience with you."
The sage turned to face them more fully. By all accounts, the woman was exceedingly beautiful. She reminded Harun of Lady Averla, but with slightly darker skin and slightly lighter hair. "Greetings, Prince Harun," Sage Nashorla said. "I have been expecting you."
Harun wondered briefly if she had sensed his intention to come to the temple days earlier through spirit magic of some sort, but he realized she merely meant the situation had been explained to her while he was unconscious. "I must speak with you at once," Harun said, forgetting to greet her back. He gave a quick glance over his shoulder. "Alone," he added, wishing to rid himself of Elder Kobami. He wanted his spirit cleansed, but she would have him corrupted instead.
Nashorla looked him up and down appraisingly, likely put off by his attitude. However, she nodded to her priestesses. "Thank you. Please give us a moment to speak in private."
"As you wish." The priestesses stood up and turned to leave. When Kobami did not move to leave with them, Harun gave her a cold stare. She smiled and chuckled darkly, but got the message and followed the priestesses out of the room.
"Queen Urballa has informed me of your plight," the sage said once they were alone. "Dark visions haunt your dreams as well as your waking life. Visions of a dark beast that you believe to be the demon king himself."
"Yes," Harun confirmed. "My wish is to be freed from the dark lord's curse. If his spirit lingers within me, I desire for you to banish it. Many died to bring me here for this purpose. I will not leave here until it is done."
"Your wish is for me to perform an exorcism," Sage Nashorla reiterated, stepping down off of the altar to be on level ground with Harun, the lantern on her staff swinging slowly as she walked. "Has this spirit possessed you? Taken control of your body? Spoken through you?"
Harun narrowed his eyes. "No. Why do you ask?"
"Has it ever spoken to you? In your visions, your dreams, your thoughts?"
Harun considered this for a moment. "No. Only the visions."
"Have you ever spoken to the spirit? Ever tried?"
"No. What does it matter? Will you rid me of this disgusting parasite, or won't you?" Harun was getting angry. He did not come here to be asked useless questions.
"I may be able to exorcise you," the sage said calmly, ignoring the voe's outburst. "But I do not recommend it. Not yet, at least."
"Why not?"
The way Nashorla looked at him was like a mother looking at her child - annoyed by his petulence, but sympathetic of his lack of knowledge. "Even if they do not always use words, the spirits often try to speak with us. They have much to tell us. Much to warn us about. Perhaps you should try speaking to this spirit. Dangerous or no, if you can commune with it, you may find wisdom where you did not expect to."
"And what wisdom is there to be found in the most evil man who ever lived?" Harun asked scathingly.
Nashorla tilted her head curiously, her earrings jangling as she did. "Is that what you think of your predecessor?"
Harun hesitated. Despite what he'd just said, he knew it was more complicated than that. The way Queen Urballa spoke of Ganondorf suggested he'd had several qualities of a great king, but even if that were true, surely that could not excuse everything he had done.
Before Harun could say anything, Sage Nashorla planted her staff in a metal holder on the floor and sat down, legs crossed like the giant statue of Nephysis behind her. "Sit with me a moment," she offered.
Harun furrowed his brow, confused and annoyed. Sighing, he sat down on the floor across from her, mimicking her posture.
"Close your eyes," the sage instructed. "I want you to reach out to the spirit that is trying to contact you. Do not fight it this time, even though your instincts may tell you to. Lend an ear to what it has to say."
This is a waste of time.
This was not how Harun had hoped this meeting would go. The way the sage spoke to him, it was as if she shared Elder Kobami's wish for him to embrace the demon's spirit and obtain its power. However, he listened to her instructions, fully expecting another vision of the dark beast.
With his eyes closed, Harun saw only darkness. The sage continued to speak to him, encouraging him to open his mind and feel the thousands of souls surrounding him in the temple. For a long time, nothing happened, and his nerves were beginning to strain. But as he sat there, Nashorla's words began to sound more and more distant. He soon felt something indescribable from within - the same sort of feeling he'd gotten when he'd first entered the temple.
He opened his eyes. He appeared to still be in the same room, but now, for some reason, he was sitting on the altar beneath the statue, facing the opposite way.
"The time is right, my king. We must act." He heard two voices speaking in perfect sync, one on either side of him. Glancing to his right, he saw an old crone sitting on the ground below the altar. She looked even older than Elder Kobami, and the jewel on her forehead was a large red ruby. Her hair was red and orange, but not the normal Gerudo hair color. It looked like fire. Glancing to his left, Harun saw a perfect double of the old crone, except this one's jewel was a blue sapphire, and her hair was blue and white, as if frozen in ice.
"Yes," Harun heard himself say, but it was not his own voice. "We have waited long enough. I suppose it is time."
Harun blinked, then flinched in panic as he suddenly found himself back where he'd been a moment ago, sitting on the floor across from the sage. "What the hell was that?" he asked, his breathing rapid and heavy.
"What did you see?" the sage asked him calmly. There was something mysterious about her gaze. It was like she was looking through him, or like she was always seeing more than he was.
"This room," Harun answered. "But I was over there." He pointed to the altar. "I was me, but not me. And there were two witches with me, too."
"Who were you, if you were not you?"
"...Him," Harun said softly. "Ganondorf. The one who haunts me."
Nashorla nodded. "I see." She stood up and retrieved her staff, then waved it gently through the air, as if spreading something from the flaming lantern on the end of it. "I believe this confirms your suspicions that the spirit of King Ganondorf is reaching out to you."
"But why was I him?" Harun asked, climbing to his feet as well.
"You were likely seeing a memory of his. Such visions are most often experienced from the point of view of the memory's owner," the sage explained. "It may also be an indication of a past life, but given your shared status as the voe, I believe it more likely that you and him are simply connected spiritually."
"A memory?" Harun asked. "So he came here as well."
"Yes. Although it was long before my time. He was king two centuries ago. But, this is an ancient place," Sage Nashorla said, spreading her arms and gazing around the room. "Gerudo kings have been making pilgrimages here for thousands of years, and they are all entombed here in the end."
Which means I will join them someday.
Harun did not like the thought of that.
"Who were the witches?"
"Twinrova," Nashorla answered. "Koume and Kotake, twin sorceresses who lived for four hundred years. They fostered Ganondorf and raised him to be king, as they had done with the three previous generations of voe before him. After Ganondorf's failed rebellion, they were executed by the Hyruleans."
"...I see." Harun thought of the women who were raising him - his foster mother, Queen Urballa, and his teachers, Lady Averla and Elder Kobami.
If the Hyruleans ever decided to kill me, would they execute them, too?
The Hyruleans did not often concern him, but at times like this, he truly could see why Elder Kobami and the other Ganonites feared them so much. But that was not the issue right now. Harun had come for Ganondorf.
"If I have a spiritual connection to Ganondorf, I want you to sever that connection," Harun stated plainly. "I do not care if I am his successor. I am my own voe, and I will not be weighed down by the demon king's legacy."
Sage Nashorla regarded him for a moment, again appearing to be seeing more than he could. "Let us not be hasty," she advised. "I believe we should discuss this with the queen."
"No." Harun spoke forcefully, a sudden burst of anger consuming him. "This is my decision. Mine alone. You have no idea what this demon has taken from me."
The Sage of Spirit turned her head slightly, as if she were looking at something over Harun's shoulder. "I am sorry for your loss," she said, turning her attention back to him. "Truly, I am. But I have good reason to advise caution. What you are requesting can be extremely dangerous, especially when dealing with a spirit as powerful as Ganon's. If one were to attempt to forcibly expel him, he may lash out. There's no telling what he might do."
"You think yourself incapable?" Harun asked, taking a step forward. "You are Alkawbra's avatar, are you not? If you cannot command the spirits in her place, then what good are you?" He tilted his head up, glaring at the stone cobra wrapping itself around Nephysis. "And what of you? Are you to sit there and do nothing? Why do you ignore me?"
"Prince Harun!" said a voice from behind.
Turning, he saw Queen Urballa entering the room, joined by Averla, Kobami, Bularis, and several others. "My queen," Harun said reflexively.
"Do not tempt the gods," Urballa warned. "And do not expect their undivided attention. For all we know, the Goddess of Spirit is busy ferrying the friends we lost yesterday to the other side as we speak."
Harun considered that for a moment. He realized his hands were shaking, and he was breathing heavily. Something about this place was getting to him. "You are right, my queen," he said, trying to calm himself.
Lady Averla walked over to him and placed her hands on his shoulders. "We all share your pain, young voe," she said. "This is not the way to overcome it."
Elder Kobami said nothing. If anything, she looked upset that the others were managing to calm him down.
Averla stepped away, and Urballa put a hand on Harun's back as he turned to face Nashorla. "My apologies for intruding, Sage Nashorla," Urballa said.
"None necessary, my queen," the sage replied.
"Harun," Urballa continued, removing her hand from his back. "I assume you and the sage have discussed the issue at length?"
"We… We were in the middle of such a discussion, yes," Harun confirmed.
"He wishes me to sever the connection between him and Ganondorf's spirit," Nashorla explained. "I have warned him of the dangers."
Urballa turned to her advisors. "Lady Averla, Elder Kobami, this is not the first time we have discussed this. Let us have your input one last time so that we may have a decision."
"So long as Harun's safety is maintained, I believe the demon should be exorcised at once," Averla advised. "No good can come of it, and it is what the prince desires."
"No," Kobami disagreed. "You all must reconsider. War with the Hyruleans is nearly upon us, and you would throw away our greatest weapon in the fight for our freedom? The Great Ganondorf has chosen this child to inherit his power. We must teach the prince to harness it."
Urballa nodded, then turned back to Nashorla. "And you, Sage?"
"It is true that this spirit is powerful, and quite possibly a danger to the prince and those around him," Sage Nashorla explained. "But if he is willing, Harun may be capable of communing with it. Perhaps Ganondorf's spirit can be placated and put to rest without needing to risk an exorcism. He may even impart some wisdom that could be the key to resolving our feud with Hyrule."
Urballa nodded again before addressing Harun once more. "There you have it. As our future king, you must learn how to assess the advice of your council. You have heard their words. Now, the decision is yours."
Harun did not need to hear all of this again. "I have made my decision already. The connection between me and Ganondorf must be severed."
Lady Averla smiled. "A wise choice, my prince."
"My queen, I must protest," Elder Kobami began to argue.
Urballa held up her hand. "Enough. It is decided. Wise Sage," she said to Nashorla, who was observing her with something close to a thousand yard stare. "I am aware of the risks, as is my ward. Will you do as he has requests?"
Harun found it interesting that Urballa often chose to request what she could otherwise demand. It made him wonder what she would do if the sage refused, as she had done for him.
Perhaps she only asks because she is already certain of the answer somehow.
Before answering, the sage gazed up at the statue of Nephysis and Alkawbra, as if silently requesting their counsel. Harun could not tell whether or not she received any divine instructions, but she nodded her approval nonetheless. "Yes, my queen," she said. "I shall try, but I make no promises."
"Thank you, Sage," Harun said, breathing a sigh of relief. "Let us begin immediately."
Nashorla shook her head. "Not here. I believe it best if the ritual is performed somewhere that Ganondorf has a greater connection to. This will allow his spirit to manifest more strongly, and allow me greater ability to interact with it directly."
Lady Averla looked horrified. "You do not mean to bring him down to the crypts where the demon king's body is entombed?"
"No," Nashorla denied. "There is somewhere else with a greater connection to him. Somewhere that represents an important turning point in his life."
The sage led them out of the statue chamber. They were joined by several more of her priestesses who, along with Urballa's guards, formed a protective retinue around them as they walked through the temple. Many residents of the Arbiter's Grounds as well as passing pilgrims were eager to get a look at the queen and the voe, but they did not have time to gladhand the citizenry. Harun was especially happy to keep his distance from strangers, given his current mood.
Without setting foot outside, they left the Spirit Temple and entered another large building connected to it via a long stone hallway. The room they ended up in had an unfathomably high ceiling. A spiraling staircase lined the circular walls, leading as high up as the eye could see.
The long climb to the top nearly caused Harun to pass out, but once they were at the top level, they stepped outside onto the roof. The view was incredible. Even though Naboris was larger than the Arbiter's Grounds, Harun's home city did not have any buildings quite as tall as this one, not even the palace.
However, after going around the outer walkway up to their final destination, Harun felt the strangest feeling wash over him.
"Ah, the Coliseum," Commander Bularis said, stepping into the sandy pit. "It's been a long time since I've been here."
Lady Averla nodded. "Many fine warriors have competed here."
The Coliseum was massive. It was a great, empty circle of sand with thousands of seats atop the stone platforms surrounding it, but Harun did not admire the sight. As soon as he set foot within its boundaries, he collapsed down onto one knee. He groaned, feeling lightheaded, and also strangely angry, although he could not say why.
"Prince Harun!" Averla came to his side, kneeling beside him. "Are you alright?"
"This is an evil place," Harun growled. He did not choose to say the words, but they had come to him nonetheless, and he felt as if they were true. Somehow, he knew this Coliseum, even if he had never been there before.
"Sage," Queen Urballa said in alarm. "What is happening?"
Nashorla observed Harun with great interest. "Ganon's spirit is within him now," she said. "As I suspected, he is quite strong here. This is where the Ancient Sages tried and failed to execute him before banishing him to the Twilight Realm."
Elder Kobami watched him closely as well. A wicked grin spread across her face. "Is it true?" she asked. "Rejoice, young one! The Great Ganondorf has come again!"
"Kill it," Harun hissed. "Now, Sage! Rid me of this curse!" The voe kept his arms close to his chest. He could feel a presence within him now, as if something else was trying to move his body.
"The ritual cannot be done so quickly," Nashorla said. "I need time."
"Then bind me," Harun demanded. "Chain me down until it is done."
"Prince Harun, I am not sure that is wise," Lady Averla warned. "You are in pain. Perhaps we should leave this place."
"No," Queen Urballa said. "Do as he wishes. Guards, seize him."
Harun felt a strong grip on both his arms as Commander Bularis grabbed him from behind. Two other guards came at him from the front, holding him tightly so he could not move.
"Bring him to the center of the arena," Sage Nashorla commanded. Then she turned to one of her priestesses. "Take some of the queen's guards down below to the operator's deck. Raise the pillar in the center. The one with the manacles." The priestess nodded, and she and the guards moved to obey.
Meanwhile, Harun struggled against the women dragging him through the sand, even though he did not mean to. "I… was betrayed," he choked out, not knowing where the words came from. "You will all pay for this!" He screamed and shook his head, trying to regain his senses. "Those are not my words," he said. "Please, help me!"
As they approached the center of the fighting ring, a circular trap door opened in the ground. From it, a stone pillar rose upward, bearing several sets of manacles that hung from it. Harun imagined it was a way to raise prisoners up into the Coliseum before forcing them to fight, or to hold them as they were executed. His body tried to pull away at the sight of them, but Bularis and the other guards held strong.
"I am sorry about this, my prince," the commander apologized. "It will all be over soon."
"My gratitude, warrior," Harun said, before closing his eyes and grunting in pain, feeling as if Ganondorf's spirit was drilling holes in his head.
"Do not fight it," he heard Elder Kobami urge him. "Feel the power within you. Let it become yours."
"Begone, witch!" he shouted as the guards chained him up by his wrists.
"My queen, please. This is madness," Lady Averla protested.
"It was Harun's choice," the queen replied. Her face was hardened, but it was clear this was as painful to her as it was to Averla.
Nashorla and several of her priestesses formed a circle around the pillar. The sage raised her staff and swayed the lantern from the end of it back and forth gently, muttering something under her breath. Her eyes were closed, and when she opened them, they resembled the lantern's gray flame. "Old King Ganondorf," she said, her voice reverberating unnaturally. "Come forth."
Harun pulled against his chains, grunting angrily for a moment. He looked around him, seeing his mentors, the guards, and the priestesses surrounding him. Then he blinked, and suddenly they were gone.
In their place were six white, glowing, ghostly specters. At first, they appeared as old, bearded men wearing robes, all of them identical, but then Harun saw one of them turn his head. The old men's faces were merely masks, floating in front of an empty robe where a face should have been. Yet, even as masks, the faces were staring at him intently. It frightened him, but more than that, the sight of those empty husks infuriated him.
While the six ethereal figures appeared mostly identical, they each had a different symbol on their robes. Harun recognized them. Light, forest, fire, water, shadow, spirit - the symbols of the original Six Sages. The one with the light symbol on his robes stood in the center. He raised his hands, and an ornately crafted greatsword materialized from a magnificent white light.
"Ganondorf, King of the Gerudo," the Sage of Light spoke, his voice deep and echoey. "For attempting to claim the Triforce for yourself, you have been found guilty of crimes against the gods. For that, the penalty can only be death."
"Rauru," the Sage of Water spoke from beside him. "Please, allow me to bear this burden. I fear you have been forced to shed too much blood on our behalf."
The Sage of Light hesitated for a moment. "Very well," the old man agreed. With no feet beneath his floating robes, the sage glided silently to the side. The Sage of Water moved to take his place in front of the white greatsword that sat hovering in midair.
"May the Golden Goddesses show you mercy in the next world," the Sage of Water said. Raising his arms, the sword flipped upright, then pointed toward Harun.
This is where I die.
The sword flew forward, impaling Harun through the chest. He screamed in pain, but it was not his own voice. He leaned forward, hanging limply in his chains, expecting death to claim him at any moment. However, death would not come. Suddenly, Harun felt a surge of anger - and power. With renewed vigor, he raised his head and pulled against his chains, the sword still sticking out of his chest as he bled profusely. As he struggled, a glowing symbol appeared on his right hand - three golden triangles, the Triforce. The shackle around his right hand snapped, and the sages reared back in surprise. He then pulled with his left hand, shattering the other shackle as well. Thinking of nothing but vengeance, he lunged forward, reaching out with his hand for the Sage of Water's neck.
Suddenly, the sages were gone. Harun heard gasps and screams from the Gerudo women all around him. His right arm was extended, holding someone by the neck, but it was no sage - it was Lady Averla. Her neck was snapped, and she hung limply in his grasp. He froze, staring at her lifeless body, horrified. "...What?"
Harun felt a steel grip on his right arm. It forced him to let go of Averla, letting her body drop as others came forward to cradle her. Next, he was shoved to the ground, pressed face down into the sand by Commander Bularis. "Wait! Stop! I did not, I was not, I, I…"
"Careful, Commander," Queen Urballa ordered. "Keep him restrained, but he is not to be harmed." After seeing her commands followed, the queen knelt beside Lady Averla and checked her pulse. "Prince Harun," she asked. "What happened?"
"I don't know!" Harun shouted, in tears. "I was not myself! I could not see her! I, I, I…"
"By the gods..." Urballa muttered as she stood up. "Sage, was the ritual successful? Have you banished the spirit of Ganon?"
Nashorla shook her head. "The spirit has receded for now, but I did not have time to sever the connection."
Harun wailed in despair at this news. He had killed Averla, and they didn't even have anything to show for it from this accursed ritual.
"Guards, get the prince somewhere safe before the spirit returns," the queen commanded. "Priestesses, perform Lady Averla's last rites and make the necessary arrangements."
"I did not mean to!" Harun shouted as he was pulled to his feet by several guards. "Please, you must believe me!"
"I believe you," Queen Urballa responded, looking at him with a mixture of sympathy and caution. Then she turned to give further instructions to her guards. "Keep him isolated until we can determine if he is safe. Do not put him anywhere uncomfortable, but keep him watched."
"Yes, my queen," Bularis replied, still holding the prince from behind. Harun did not resist and allowed them to drag him back inside the building. He could not believe the misfortune and devastation that seemed to keep following him.
First Katta, now Averla. Are all the ones I care about to die before I am rid of this curse?
Harun spent the next few hours in the dungeon. True to their orders, the guards did nothing to mistreat him, but Commander Bularis and several others stood outside his cell to keep him there regardless. The cell was larger than expected, but completely empty, having nothing in it but a floor of desert sand. His only source of light was a small, barred window that was several feet higher than he could reach. The walls were solid stone rather than bars, and the only door was made of heavy iron. He could see and speak to the guards if he went to the door and knocked, signaling them to slide open the slot in the door, but he did not wish to see anyone. He was worried he would kill someone again. So, he sat alone in the middle of his empty cell, waiting for the queen to return with her decision regarding what was to be done with him.
He did not see any more flashbacks of Ganondorf's life, but whenever his thoughts about the situation made him too angry, he would see visions of the Beast once again. He could no longer say whether he preferred Ganondorf over the monstrous Ganon. As far as he was concerned, they were both monsters.
And now, so am I.
A muffled sound drifted through the door. Someone outside his cell was talking.
"I wish to see the prince," said a young girl's voice.
"Princess, please. It is not safe," Commander Bularis's voice replied.
"Harun would never hurt me."
"We do not know that. His condition is unpredictable. If Ganon possesses him again-"
"Then come inside with me. You can protect me," Princess Sabah argued.
Harun sighed. He often found it endearing when his betrothed got stubborn like that, but at the moment, he wished she would listen to her elders.
"...Fine. But I beg of you, Princess, please make it quick," the commander relented. A moment later, the door opened and she stepped inside, followed by Princess Sabah.
"...Greetings," Sabah said, standing awkwardly several feet from Harun. The commander stood by her side, holding her enormous battleaxe.
"Do not approach me," Harun warned, not getting up or moving from his position.
"Do not worry," the princess replied. "I am not here to scold you or anything like that."
Harun only grunted in response.
"What happened was a tragedy, but it was not your fault," Sabah went on.
Then whose was it?
"It makes no difference," Harun insisted dejectedly. "I was the one who killed Lady Averla."
Sabah winced at that. "Mother says you are not to be punished. You were not in control of your actions, so the blame does not rest with-"
"I don't care." Harun stared up at her, his face burning with shame. "Lady Averla is gone. She is gone because I could not control it. This entire journey has been a pointless failure. No matter what I do, I am destined to become the next Ganon - the next enemy of the world."
The princess clearly did not know what to say. She stood there for a moment, twisting her hands together nervously. Commander Bularis eyed them both warily, ready to move if needed. Then Sabah walked forward. "Princess," Bularis began, reaching out with her hand.
"I am fine," she insisted. Harun watched her curiously as well, wondering just how naive she could be. For all she knew, he could kill her at any moment. And yet, she came and sat down in the sand right next to him, her jewelry jangling with the motion. She waited for a moment, but Harun could think of nothing else to say. "What do you want to do now?" she asked him.
"What else can I do?" Harun replied. "We came here because we could not think of any other option. If the Sage of Spirit cannot help me, then I am a lost cause."
"There is another option," Sabah said. "If the sage could not help you, perhaps her Patron can."
Harun sighed. He had asked the gods for help before, and nothing had come of it. "The Goddess of Spirit is not here," Harun said. "If she wanted to help me, she would have revealed herself by now. I suppose she considers me unimportant, or otherwise not worth helping."
Sabah shook her head, her earrings whipping about as she did. "That is not what anyone thinks of you, and certainly not the gods," she insisted. "They must have had a plan for you. They chose you to be the voe, after all."
"They chose Ganondorf to be the voe, too," Harun reminded her. He'd raised his voice a little more than he'd intended, and the princess flinched in surprise. Bularis took a step forward, but Sabah raised her hand to stop her. "I apologize, Princess, but I cannot rely on the gods. They have allowed my loved ones to die too many times, and they have done nothing to free me from Ganon."
Princess Sabah sat quietly for a moment, nervously twisting the gold bangles running up and down her wrist. "Do you hate the gods, Harun?" she asked quietly.
The prince had not been prepared for that question. Thinking back, he had never felt very strongly about any of the gods. It was only recently, when everything seemed to be getting worse and worse, that he thought to wonder why they refused to help him. "Maybe," he said bitterly. "They have so much power. They could fix everything wrong with the world, and yet they do not. Why is that? Why allow us to suffer?"
Sabah did not answer him. "Demise hated the gods," she said. From the way she winced as she spoke, Harun could tell that even speaking the name of the First Demon King was unpleasant to her. "Do you know why he did? Or how he became the Demon King?"
Harun shook his head, unsure where she was going with this. "No one knows that."
The princess nodded, staring up at the ceiling. "I think he was probably mortal once," she said. "Like Vaati, and Ganon. They always start out as normal people, in the stories. They want something, so they seek power, and take it too far. Ganondorf wanted the power to save his people. Vaati wanted the power to be something more than what he was destined to be. And Demise wanted the power to take revenge on the gods."
"What does it matter if they were mortals once?" Harun asked. "What does it matter if they had their reasons? Nothing can excuse their actions."
"I do not know Demise's reasons for hating the gods, but I imagine they were a lot like yours," she said.
"What?" Harun glared at her.
It is bad enough that I am compared to Ganon. Must I be compared to another demon as well?
"He must have suffered a lot," she went on. "Something terrible must have happened to him that was beyond his control. With no one else to blame, he blamed the gods, and decided they had to pay. He became so consumed by his quest for vengeance that he spent millenia chasing them across the realms, destroying entire worlds if they got in his way. That's what I think, anyway."
As the princess spoke, the room around them darkened, and her voice faded. Wherever Harun looked, he saw great cities topple and burn as great walls of flame poured forth from cracks in the Earth. Then, through the fire and ash, he saw the Beast walking towards him, but this time, in the form of a man.
"Harun."
The prince flinched, snapping back to reality as Sabah put her hand on his. She was facing him now, looking him deep in the eyes, her concern evident.
"I do not wish to see you become what those who fear you say you are destined to be," she said. "What happened to Lady Averla was tragic. What happened to Katta and all the others who lost their lives on the way here was awful, too."
Harun felt a pang of guilt as his betrothed spoke the name of his deceased lover.
"But you cannot give up now," the princess continued. "There is still time to cleanse you of the evil spirits that haunt you before any more tragedies can occur. So please, pray with the Sage of Spirit. Ask for her guidance in communing with Alkawbra so that the gods might finally help you."
Harun did not know what to say.
She is certainly surprisingly wise beyond her years when she wishes to be.
Things had seemed so hopeless before, and they still felt that way, but at least there was still someone who cared for him. "I… I shall try," he relented.
Sabah smiled. "Thank you," she said. "I wish you luck, my prince." She leaned closer and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. Despite being betrothed to her, the thought of close physical contact with the princess ordinarily made him uncomfortable, but this was different. He appreciated the gesture.
"You have my gratitude," Harun said.
Princess Sabah stood and wiped the sand off of herself. "I will ask Mother to send for you," she said, walking back towards Bularis. "I do not wish to see you spend more time than necessary in this cell." She and the commander left, shutting the door behind them.
For the next hour or so, Harun was left with nothing else to do but consider what prayer he would offer to Alkawbra. He was still skeptical that it would even be worth trying, but he had little else to lose at this point, and it would make Princess Sabah happy if he at least tried.
Am I supposed to make an offering? Or swear devotion to her?
He figured the Sage of Spirit would give him instructions. Harun knew the sages were among the few who could somewhat reliably contact the Patron gods, but he did not know how they did it. It was strange to think about, but despite being much younger, Nashorla was probably a much more powerful sorceress than Elder Kobami, in a way.
I wonder if she can summon the Goddess of Spirit to fight for her.
Harun shook his head. They might even stand a chance against the Hyruleans if she could do that, and surely Kobami would be trying to recruit her for just that purpose if that were the case.
Unless Kobami believes me to be stronger than the gods.
If she truly believed him to be a demon like Ganon, it was possible. Back when Ganon reigned over Hyrule, defeating him had taken the combined might of the Hylian Hero of Twilight, the Twilight Princess, and all four of the Light Spirits who had collectively served as the Patron of Light back then. If Kobami had her sights on someone that powerful, she would not consider a god to be worth her time. Harun chuckled bitterly to himself.
I wish I truly did have that kind of power.
If he had been strong enough to fight the Molduga, Katta would still be alive. If he had been strong enough to ward off Ganon, Averla would still be alive, too. At that thought, Harun's mood turned foul once again. He decided to lie down in the sand and sleep, hoping not to dream at all.
Luckily, it seemed as though the gods were answering his prayers already. The next thing he knew, he was awakened by the sound of his cell door opening again. Queen Urballa walked into the room, followed by Commander Bularis. Harun sat up, then climbed into a kneeling position down on one knee.
"Rise," the queen said quickly, and so he stood. "How are you feeling, Harun?" she asked. "Are you once again in control of your actions?"
Harun nodded. "Yes, my queen," he replied. "I cannot begin to apologize for what happened in the Coliseum."
Urballa raised her hand. "There is no need to apologize," she said. "You were the victim as much as anyone."
Except for Averla.
"I understand my daughter has spoken with you," the queen continued.
"She has," Harun confirmed. "She suggested Sage Nashorla and I attempt to commune with the Goddess of Spirit. If the sage could not exorcise the spirit that haunts me, perhaps her Patron can," he explained, repeating Sabah's reasoning.
Urballa nodded. "I understand. And I think this is most wise. I have already spoken with Sage Nashorla, and she has agreed to aid you in contacting her Patron. We may join her at once if you are ready."
Harun nodded his understanding. He noticed his heart was beating fast. It wasn't something he had realized before, but the notion of meeting a god face to face was making him nervous. If he did anything to anger such a powerful being, there would be nothing he could do to protect himself.
The queen must have noticed. She walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You must be strong, young prince," she told him. "You are the future of our people."
"I know," Harun said. "My queen," he added.
"Simply do as the sage instructs. No harm shall come to you," she said reassuringly. Urballa stepped to the side and gestured to the door. Harun nodded, and together they left the cell. As he'd expected, there were several guards waiting outside.
Well, I suppose I am still dangerous…
Harun and the queen were escorted out of the dungeons and back to the Spirit Temple. As Harun walked, he could once again feel the spirits swarming around him. It was a feeling that was hard to place, but one he was sure was there.
So long as Ganon is not among them, I will be fine.
When they reached the chamber with the giant statue of Nephysis in it, they found the Sage of Spirit kneeling at its altar in prayer. Princess Sabah was kneeling beside her, and many priestesses throughout the room were doing the same. The eyes on the statue of Nephysis were as still as ever, but they gave off the impression that she was looking down at all of them.
I hope you truly are watching.
Queen Urballa walked to the center of the room, but did not say anything to interrupt the proceedings. Harun followed and stood by her side. Soon, Sage Nashorla and Princess Sabah rose to their feet and turned around.
"My queen. Prince Harun," the sage said, gazing in their direction as if looking through them. Sabah smiled at Harun, but said nothing.
"Greetings, Sage," the queen spoke. "My ward and I have discussed the matter. If it can be done, we would request that you call upon Alkawbra to aid him."
Nashorla nodded, then fixed her gaze on Harun. "Young one, what happened at the Coliseum was due to my failure, and for that, I apologize. I will help you commune with the gods. Perhaps they can help you where I could not."
"Thank you, Sage," Harun said. He was still skeptical, but Sabah's encouraging nods gave him hope. "I will humbly accept your assistance."
The sage and the princess stepped down from the altar and walked towards him. Sabah joined her mother and the two of them backed away, joining the guards and the priestesses circling around the room. Nashorla walked slowly around Harun, waving her lantern with its ghostly gray flame close to him.
"Kneel, young one," the sage instructed. Harun did so, as did many others in the room, all of them facing the statue. Down on his knees, he leant forward, placing his hands on the floor and almost pressing his forehead to the ground. "The spirits are all around you," Nashorla went on. "Alkawbra sees them all, hears them all. You must reach out with your own spirit. Call to her, loud enough for her to hear."
Harun took a deep breath, and began to pray.
Alkawbra, Goddess of Spirit, servant of Nephysis, hear me. I am set upon by the demon known as Ganon. Please, I beg of you, lend me your aid…
Harun listened. All around him, he heard the faint breathing of others at prayer, the footsteps of the sage circling him, and the sound of the chain from which her lantern swung. He did not hear the voice of the divine, nor any other sign that his prayers were being answered.
Please, O Wise Patron of my people. Many have died to bring me here so that I might beseech thee. What must I do to rid myself of this curse?
Harun listened. Sage Nashorla had begun to hum the Requiem of Spirit, but other than that, nothing had changed. He continued on like this for what couldn't have been more than a few minutes, but to him, it felt like hours.
I do not know what you want from me, Goddess of Spirit. If I have displeased you, I am truly sorry. Please, I cannot continue like this…
He listened again. Nothing. He felt his heart beat faster, his face burning.
This truly was a waste of time, after all.
"Enough!" Harun said, feeling his anger rising. Despite his talk with Sabah earlier, the wicked thoughts that had previously been in his head returned to him. He sat up straight before climbing to his feet. "I will have no more of this."
"Prince Harun, please keep your voice down," the sage said. Others who had been praying with him were beginning to lift their heads to see what the commotion was.
"No," Harun refused. "I should have known the gods had no interest in me. Why would they? The demon has been allowed to haunt me for this long already. If Alkawbra had wanted to rid me of this evil spirit, she would have done so long ago!"
"Harun, please," Queen Urballa pleaded from behind him.
"No!" Harun walked forward, looking up at the goddess statue. "You do not care about me," he said. "No, us mortals are beneath your notice. You want us to worship you, but you never-" Just as he was beginning to raise his voice once again, he froze. The whole room had gone dead silent, and everything appeared gray, as if all color had been drained from the world. Scared and confused, he turned around, but found no one except Sage Nashorla. Everyone else had vanished. "What is this new devilry?" Harun asked. "Sage! Explain yourself!"
"Your arrogance is truly impressive, mortal," said a voice from behind him. The voice was feminine, and it had a reverberating, demonic quality to it. Harun turned around to find its source, but found no one there.
"Show yourself!" Harun called out.
"Oh, but I have."
The voice was coming from above. Harun tilted his head back, looking up. He flinched and leapt back in fear when he realized it - the cobra that was wrapped around the giant Nephysis statue was moving. No longer made of stone, it lifted its head high, looking down at them with wicked eyes.
To his side, Harun saw Nashorla drop to the ground, assuming her prayer position. Harun considered doing as she did, but defiantly chose to remain standing. "Alkawbra," he said, speaking the name of the goddess. "So you have come to meet me after all."
"Yesssss," the cobra goddess hissed. "It is not ordinarily my policy to dignify such pathetic whining with a response," she went on, coiling her body around the statue of Nephysis as she slithered down to the ground. "But sometimes even I cannot take an insult lying down."
Harun took a step back in fear, but Alkawbra's condescension made him furious. "I did not come here to be lectured, snake," he said. "I want the spirit of Ganon banished back to whatever pit he belongs in."
"Prince Harun!" Nashorla shouted, lifting her head up, but remaining on the ground. "Your Eminence, I offer my apologies for his behavior. He means no disrespect."
"Is that so?" Alkawbra asked. The cobra reached the floor and began slithering toward the edge of the room. "I suppose this one is rather fond of snakes, then, is he?"
"Most snakes I kill," Harun said.
"Prince!" Nashorla cried.
The snake laughed. Harun had never heard a more unpleasant sound. "Very good, little prince. Perhaps you wish to try adding one more kill to your list?"
"He wishes nothing of the sort, Your Eminence," Nashorla insisted.
"Rise, my sage," the goddess ordered. "Your groveling grows tiresome." Nashorla did as commanded and climbed to her feet. Alkawbra had circled around the room now, her scaled body nearly long enough to meet her tail as she did. She continued to slither as she spoke. "I find it interesting that you choose to blame me for your predicament, little prince," she said, her voice full of mockery. "I do not recall hearing prayers from you very often up until now. What changed, might I assssk?"
Harun took a moment to answer. "I became desperate. The gods were the last ones I could turn to."
"You offer worship only when you require my aid. How typical of mortals."
Harun noticed the goddess was getting closer to him and Nashorla each time she circled the room. Soon she would be coiling around them. "Were I to constantly ask favors of you, I imagine you would find that pathetic."
"Perhapsssss," the snake hissed, her tongue darting from her mouth. "Although I would not consider it as pathetic as throwing a childish tantrum at my altar."
"Enough of this!" Harun shouted. "I have made my request. Will you help me, or do you prefer to watch me squirm a while longer?"
"The latter is tempting, I must admit," Alkawbra said.
"Your Eminence, if I may," Sage Nashorla spoke up, standing very close to Harun. "Our request is but a simple one, and it falls well within your domain. The spirit of Ganon has escaped the Spirit Realm and is haunting Harun. We merely request that his spirit be returned to the afterlife where it belongs."
"And who said the spirit escaped?" the cobra asked, slithering very close to them now. "Maintaining the boundary between this world and the next is my sworn duty. None may cross without my say."
Harun's eyes opened wide at what he was hearing. "Are you saying you sent the demon to me?!"
"Indeed," Alkawbra confirmed. "Despite your lack of faith, I have been watching over you regardless, little prince."
"Why would you do a thing like this?!" Harun demanded. "This is your fault! All of it! Everyone who died to bring me here - Katta, Averla, all the others - you killed them! You killed them all!"
With astounding speed she had not demonstrated before, Alkawbra suddenly circled around them and slithered in front of Harun, holding her giant reptilian face inches from his. "You understand so little, mortal," she said, her voice radiating power. "You are marked by something much older and much darker than Ganon." As she spoke, her eyes grew bright. Harun stared into them, as if hypnotized, until a vision appeared before him.
He once again saw burning cities with the Beast walking through the ashes in the form of a man. He could see him more clearly now. The man was not human. His body was black as coal, and his hair was made of flame. The man turned his head toward Harun as if he could see him, and then the vision ended.
"Demise," Harun spoke, thinking back to everything Princess Sabah had said to him in the dungeon.
"The First Demon King," Alkawbra confirmed as she resumed coiling her rope-like body around him and Nashorla. "His curse rests upon you, carved deep into your very soul. I sent Ganon to keep the curse at bay, but you chose to treat him as your enemy."
"I apologize, Your Eminence," Sage Nashorla said. "I tried to convince him to commune with the spirit. I should have known it was of greater importance."
"But what am I to do?" Harun demanded. "You cannot truly expect me to welcome a demon into my body to fight another demon! If you are aware of this curse of Demise, then rid me of it!"
"You presume too much once again, mortal," Alkawbra replied. "Demise was the slayer of gods, and his curse has persisted since long before I took up my mantle. Immortals such as I cannot touch it. If you wish to overcome it, you must do so on your own."
"And what of Ganon?" Harun asked. "Am I to overcome them both?"
"Ganon was only ever a temporary measure," the goddess replied. "If you have the necessary fortitude, you may in time learn to harness his power without letting it consume you entirely."
Harun was horrified. "You speak of what Kobami wishes me to do."
"Do you see, my prince?" Sage Nashorla said. "The goddess has been your ally all along. Please, return to the material world with me and I shall help you commune with Ganondorf."
"Listen to my sage, little prince," Alkawbra commanded, beginning to slither back towards the statue of Nephysis. "Do not make me change my mind."
"Wait!" Harun shouted. "That's not good enough! You must-!"
"I grow weary of this prattle." Alkawbra wrapped her body around the statue again, beginning to climb it. "I have been more than generous with you," she went on. "Take what you are given, or you will only make things worse for yourself."
"How can it be any worse?" Harun shouted.
"Is that a challenge?" the goddess replied, her tone betraying amusement.
"Thank you, Your Eminence," Sage Nashorla said. "We shall make the most of your gifts."
"See that you do," the cobra replied. "And do not come asking for more." As the snake finished returning to its original position atop the Nephysis statue, it turned back into stone.
The next thing Harun knew, he was waking up on the floor, staring up at the temple ceiling. Color had returned to the world, and the queen and the princess were kneeling at his sides, looking down at him.
"Harun!" Sabah cried, wrapping her arms around him as he sat up. "I was so worried!"
"Are you alright?" Urballa asked. "What happened? What did you see?"
"I…" Harun was confused. He did not remember falling down. "I am not sure. I may have had a very strange dream."
"It was no dream, young prince." A few feet away, Sage Nashorla had awoken in a similar state. A few of her priestesses helped her climb to her feet. "The Goddess of Spirit spoke to us." Someone handed her staff to her, and she used it like a walking stick to make her way over to him. "Rise, young one. It is time to begin your training."