Chapter 35
Of Flesh and Blood
The tunnel was short and quiet, too quiet, it was like the presence of the wizards was watching me here. I didn't like that feeling, and with all their magical abilities, I really hoped they weren't. If they were watching me now, does that mean they know where I am? I might not have a chance for escape. Obviously, I was still a little nervous despite the disguise I took. But then again, I'm still unsure if it'll work or not. Wizards are hard to fool, they may know immediately it's me.
The tunnel turned around and became a wider chamber, and then I was immediately blinded by a strong burst of light. After recovering, my heart skipped a few beats when I saw this place had more of the wizards wandering here! But none of them even seemed to notice me. Looks like it's working, at least, from a safe distance. I turned down the candle and put it away before taking in the room before me.
The light looked like it was coming from the ceiling, but there was no source there to bring that light. When not glancing up at the ceiling, it made it seem like the bright sky, like there wasn't a ceiling at all. Beyond that, this seemed to be the wizards' headquarters. There were desks and shelves everywhere, the latter of which were built right into the dirt walls. Old parchments and tomes took up both desk and shelf space, and I noticed more of the white robes were hanging in the far corner next to the desks.
Should I dare to explore this place, or would it be better for me to turn around? I don't think I have a choice, as I didn't see anywhere else I could go back there. I took a second to breath and relax, trying my best to blend in with the wizards.
They moved about slowly and gracefully. Some were at desks while others patrolled from the shelves to some other rooms of the chamber I haven't seen yet. I folding my arms before me and copied their slow walk. And I swore some of them looked to me, but still continued with their own business. I tried my best to remain calm. I wanted to explore this room and look for a way out of here, but I was worried I would look too suspicious if I did. No, I needed to look about while keeping busy doing what the wizards are doing.
And so, I slowly made my way for one of the far desks, even though there were rooms at the end of the wall that drew my interest. A few of the doors there were left open, and now that I was closer, I could see past them somewhat. They were small rooms, like they might be living quarters. But they may have been studies, because I could only see chairs and stacks of books. But then something interesting came to mind; why would they have individual studies when there were books and desks out here? I didn't see any beds, sources of food, or even personal belongings in there.
I was at the furthest desk by the hanging robes now. I glanced over the room. There wasn't much more here than I already speculated, although there was a hallway going by all the studies. I wonder if they have more chambers like this around here, maybe a dining area, or sleeping chambers?
Well, I was at the desk now, maybe this is the best chance to take a look at it too, just in case. The desk was actually made from a strong type of wood, but it was old and falling apart. But I noticed it was the same thing with the shelves. Some of the legs and corners were rotted and broken entirely, making some pieces unusable.
There was a small, rotting stool here too, but it looked unsafe to rest on. Taking yet another glance at the room, I saw there were indeed wizards sitting on them, perhaps it was stronger than it looked? I lowered myself slowly down on the stool... And as soon as I made contact with it, it creaked loudly in protest and shrank under me, like it was made of soft butter. I panicked, standing back straight and looking about to see if I caused any attention. A few of the wizards looked my way, but then went back to ignoring me. The stools hardly creaked under their weight, why was this one different?
I continued to search the desk while standing up. The contents of the counter were a mess. Pieces of paper were scattered everywhere. Some were in better condition than others, at least, it looked like a lot of these were still being used. Some of the better ones I could tell were spells or studies of something similar. And a lot of the papers I couldn't even read, as they were either in a language I didn't know, or were simply too old. But most of them were decorated with runes and swirls.
Those were the only items on the desk that seemed important, now should I check inside the drawers? Honestly, I was surprised when the drawer easily rolled open. I was expecting it to be totally stuck. In here were some leather bindings, but most of them matched with what was on the desk already. The only difference with these being full tomes rather than loose pages.
One by one, I stacked them on the desk until I came upon something that wasn't a tome. This one was a much smaller, black leather book. And this little book, more like a diary, looked to be the newest object here. I opened in at a random page. This was definitely a journal, and it was even written in the hylian I could read. But it looked like the writer was in distress when he wrote this page. The writing was very random, like broken pieces of thought, and each and every ink drop was a deep, well soaked stain. They were writing slowly, pouring emotion down on paper.
"I grow tired from it all, of every day walking down the same passages in the palace again and again… I will fulfill what my lord King wished of me, but I also wish for my own selfish desires to come true. If only I can leave this world in peace! It seems so long ago when he appointed this job to us, and while he said he didn't know how long it will be before the chosen one comes here, I didn't think it to take this long. I guess I underestimated the wait… I feel trapped! Oh, chosen one, set us free of this never ending life so I may take my place in the next world side by side with my long forgotten family and king!
Carock waits ever patiently for the time of truth like he holds all the patience of the world. He doesn't seem to mind it here at all. I am unaware of how much time I have spent here, but I am sure it has been several hundred years if not thousands! I just pray the chosen one will come soon. He must find the boots needed to reach the Ocean Palace, fight the guardian, Carock, and place the gem in its proper place to finally break us of this unending cycle…"
This was written by one of the wizards. What did he mean by leaving this world in peace? The entry stated he wanted to take his place in the next world. Were these people dead? That man I fought back before the tunnel, was he a ghost? That would explain why he disappeared. These wizards have been appointed to protect the palace, and have done so until death, but even then they've stayed until the need to protect it is no more. Obviously, he feels overwhelmed about being stuck here. He simply wishes to return to his family.
My heart grew heavy, these were innocent people indeed, dead or alive. I've never thought I'd meet such ordinary people in a place like this. It's sad they've been here so long, forgotten by the world, yet unable to join the next one.
"Did you lose something?"
I was shocked back into reality, shutting the journal close and dropping it on the desk. Without noticing it, one of the wizards have came up to check on me.
Quickly, I glanced around for a good excuse as to why I was here. "Uh, yes!" I exclaimed, trying my hardest to come up with something quickly, while not appearing suspicious. I believed I was failing. "M-my spell, but I'm looking…" I went to grab a random parchment from the still open drawer, as that was all that remained under the diary. Then I held it up for him to see before closing the drawer. "Found it, and thank you for asking." I walked around the desk, aiming to leave as soon as possible, but I didn't get too far before he stepped in front of me.
The red cross covering his face stared into my lying eyes. "Are you feeling all right?"
I froze. Despite my attempts, he was already suspicious of me. "I feel fine, why do you ask that?"
"Something seems different…" He replied, not moving an inch.
I was as good as caught, and I was standing in the midst of the hornets' nest! All what he had to do was call, and I would be overwhelmed by wizards, stuck in an near impossible fight to the death.
I didn't say much else, as I waited for what his next response would be, but seconds continued to pass and there wasn't one. So I reacted first, by trying to go around him. To my surprise, he didn't move to stop me this time, nor did he call for help. But I could feel his gaze boring into my back as I rushed away to the hall.
Once I was far enough and convinced he didn't plan to stop me, I slowed down and folded my arms, again moving like the wizards do.
That was too close, I don't know why he just let me go like that, but I was glad he did. Now what should I do next? The dairy said I have to find a set of boots in order to reach the next palace. So I have to be sure I find those before I fight Carock, the next guardian mentioned.
Then I realized I was still holding onto the paper I took from the desk. I took it from my sleeve and unraveled it, curious as to what I grabbed. It didn't give me a lot of information, but it was a spell simply called "Thunder". And from the directions, it looked like only a master could cast it. I wonder if this will help me in any way. It won't hurt me to hang onto it, I suppose. I mean, more than likely, I would never be able to cast it myself, but maybe it'll help me in some other way. I rolled it back and returned it to my sleeve for now.
I was now walking by more of these small studies, some were occupied with wizards mumbling to themselves as they were going through heavy tomes. If these people were already spirits, then that would explain why their rooms had no beds or anywhere to rest. And if that be the case, I probably won't see any dining areas either.
And as I walked by the rooms ignored, the passage ahead started to grow darker and darker. I was leaving the mysterious light from the ceiling behind me and entering more dark tunnels.
Now, the sound of the murmuring wizards was replaced with gentle trickling water, and my straight road was split in two, a choice on the left and one on the right. I turned to the left and saw a small underground pond. A slow, short waterfall streamed down from a hole in the wall and into the small round pond and I brought out my candle in an attempt to see how deep it was, but I still struggled to tell. Despite it being underground, the water was really quite clean.
I turned to my right, but there was absolutely nothing over there. The dark dirt road ran only a short distance before being stopped by a wall. I approached it and held my candle up to see about the quality of the wall, but it didn't look hollow. I placed the still lit candle on the ground and tried to remove my sword from the long robes I had on. I gripped the hilt and ran the blade into the wall anyway, but it was most definitely not hollow, for my strikes sounded muffled and low, and only a few pieces of earth fell to the ground. This, despite how suspicious it looked, wasn't a secret passage, so I quickly gave up on it and thought on what to try next.
After a while of scouring the room, I finally found a lever in the pond that I didn't notice the first time. Pulling it revealed a decending staircase in the suspicious corner. Now that I was left shivering from the cold water still on my skin, I picked the candle back up and headed down the stairs.
The stairs were made from dirt, and were tight and narrow against the walls. It decended far down, like I was heading for the center of the world. It went on just long enough for me to think I was in an endless loop, then I finally stepped down the last one.
The staircase led me to a tight corner, and from around to my right came a floating, familiar light. I let my candle burn out and then peeked around the corner. A wizard was sitting before a bright hovering sphere… This chamber and sphere looked really familiar to me. Was I back at the beginning? There was the pit in front of me, but I think I was on the other side of it now. The light was leaking through a crack on the other side. But how could I be here if I fell so far down and then took a descending staircase? The only logical explanation I could find was that I was in a palace full of wizards. I'm sure they had something to do about it.
Where do I go now? I wanted to see if there was anything important in the spaces of the room I couldn't see from where I stood, but at the same time, I didn't want a conformation with the wizard sitting there. But it's not like I should go back. What were my options? I can't stay here, I can't go back, and even if I could cross the pit, that would, or should, take me back to the very beginning.
While I was busy standing around undecided, the wizard sitting just around the corner stood up and came forward, like he was waiting for me. It was too late, there was no hiding or running from it now.
"Well?" He asked once he stopped.
I was trapped in yet another encounter. It was no use, I'll just have to play through it like I did last time. "Well, what?" I spoke quietly and regarded him with the same still pose.
"Did you find the intruder?" He responded patiently, unmoving.
I thought for a second. "No, not yet."
He tilted his head curiously, finally moving a little, even if it was just by a few inches. "Then, what are you here for?"
I didn't know how to answer, and I almost broke my still posture trying to think of one. I fought myself into standing still, then answering with the first thing that came to me. "I… What are you doing here?"
"I am waiting to see if the intruder would come to me. With everyone looking for him, I thought that this place should be watched as well."
Well, it worked, I thought with an inward sigh. These wizards were smart for sure, no wonder the old king picked them personally. I nodded slowly, showing him I understood. "Then I won't stop you. I'd better find my way to the others."
He returned the nod and began back to the sphere when he hesitated. Then he turned to me once more, again filled with curiousity.
His gaze made me uncomfortable. Turn around and run! Just go! But where should I run? There was nothing back behind me and I haven't found a new way forward yet. It was too late, I waited too long and now our gaze met. "Is… Is something wrong?" I asked.
"No… I'm not sure."
There it was, it was like he knew what I knew. Somehow, he was regarding me then like I wasn't one of the wizards. And yet, he was still confused. What was going on in his mind? Why was he so confused on what to do with me? What did he really know?
And Just after that, five more wizards came from a tunnel to the side I didn't bother noticing before and came before the sphere. "We haven't found the intruder yet, but give us time. I'm sure we'll find him eventually." One said as he stopped and turned to us. There were so many of the wizards here now, I had to get out of here!
Keeping myself calm and steady, I moved slowly past the group, heading for the tunnels they just came in from. But of course, I didn't walk by unseen. And then I heard a voice calling for me. "Where are you going?" The one from the tunnel asked.
I froze, pointing to the tunnels. But that wasn't answer enough for them, I realized. "Perhaps I can find him better by myself. You know, in a smaller group." I responded, then realizing that I made a mistake. These were wizards, they could hide better than any man. It didn't matter their group's size, and if they were ghosts as well, then that only furthers their skills. "I'm going to go back through, this time keeping the ground covered. He has to make his way here eventually."
"Sounds like a fair plan." He agreed, to my surprise. "I think it'll be best if we split up." The wizard glanced over to the first one I was talking with. "How are you feeling, my friend? You haven't said much."
He was still frozen in place, and looking at me with that uncomfortable curiousity when he responded."I don't know what it is that makes me feel he's different from us." He nodded in my direction and then the others turned to me. This was not good… The second wizard came to me, and I fought every urge to run away.
Suddenly, he spun back to the others. "He's among the living! We've been deceived!" He yelled. They all jumped into action, standing together and preparing their magic.
I needed to protect myself quick! Throwing off my now useless disguise, I was able to bring my shield up just in time for the collective might of wind they casted. By the time the wind broke up against the shield's barrier, they were already gone. I spun around, watching for them at every angle. There were so many of them this time, if they surround me, there would be little chance to stop that magic from hitting me.
For some reason though, they appeared as a group like before. Maybe this is what I needed, since they're all in the same place, maybe I can use this to cast my reflect spell. I hid behind my shield and focused simply on casting it. I barely even noticed the wind that crashed up against me. The wizards were safe this time, but now the spell was complete. Their next burst of magic will be sent back to them.
When they appeared next, they were apart and now showing at random. This is what I was afraid of. I went for the first one I saw who was almost ready to releasing the spell. The wind bounced off my shield and blew the caster away. Like before, he disappeared, leaving his white cloak floating to the ground.
But the battle became even more difficult after that. I would see one appear before me and focus on him, but then one would show somewhere else, not too far from casting the next attack. Before long, there were spells of wind flying everywhere and from every direction!
One wizard showed in front of me and prepared the spell, and, when I realized I had one to my right as well, I held my shield out to it but kept my focus on the first. The wind came first from the wizard straight ahead, and I brought the shield before me and took a few steps forward to avoid the other coming from my right.
In that split second, I heard an enemy from behind me, but I told myself to not look back. The magic struck my shield and was sent back to the first opponent. Astonishment hit when the wind blew the piece covering the face away and revealed the mystery underneath. What I saw was an aged face, too bony for the living, like the skin was simply stretched and weathered over the skeleton. He moved through transparency, and seemed to float too lightly before disappearing in a single poof of mist. So it was true, I've stared in the face of an undead hylian.
But now I've made the mistake of not turning back to the wizard behind me in time. I quickly brought my shield up and turned, but the wind was already so near, and I saw it close up before I was knocked to the floor. My head was pounding, and fear gripped my stomach as I knew the wizards were not slowing down. I didn't have any time to stand and protect myself. I was at a disadvantage. But I had no other choice, I needed to protect myself from down here.
I rolled over with my shield leading and met the first spell. It shot back and took that wizard out, then, I returned to my back and shrank as much as I could behind my shield. All of the wind bounced off, I was unharmed, but not for long. All that strong wind bounced off my shield and instead of racing harmlessly away, it ran right into the ceiling.
All of the constant attacks stopped coming. I'm sure that they were all retreating as the first few rocks and shakes came loose. I scrambled to my feet and ran to the tunnels. But it was already too late. Boulders were already fallen in front of them, my escape was cut off!
I turned around, thinking to run back to where I came in, but the ceiling was already coming down hard. It was just too late to try anything else. Instead, I fell on my stomach and held the shield above my head. This was my last means for defense.
Rocks pummeled my head in, and the whole chamber darkened when the wizards' light sphere burned out. I'm not really sure what happened after that. I don't know for sure if I lost consciousness, but I do know that I was lying there in the dark with rocks falling on me for quite some time. At some point or other, I noticed the shaking had slowed and only pebbles shook loose from the ceiling. I opened my eyes, but couldn't see anything. I tried to move, but I was pinned down. From what I could tell in this moment however, I was not seriously injured, at least, I didn't think I was. I had aches and bruises, but all of the bigger boulders have missed me.
Minutes passed, I was still trying to make sense of my condition when I heard a voice. A voice belonging to a wizard from earlier. "The ceiling collapsed on him, is he dead?"
"No," Another replied. "Can you sense it? His life force, he still lives!"
Great, they could tell I'm still alive, which most likely means their coming back to finish the job. No time for assesment, I needed to stand and fight. I crawled from the rubble and scrambled to my feet. Despite the earthquake having stopped, the ground was still moving beneath my feet, or perhaps that was just my head making the space around me spin? I drew my sword and shield and faught just to hold my position. The sphere of light was still gone, but my eyes had adjusted and I could barely catch the outline of white cloaks surrounding me.
Surprisingly the rest of this battle was all right, their spells were easier to see than they were. There's not much to say about this match because it was just me watching for their attacks. But for a dazed man, this fight couldn't have gone better!
By the time they were gone, I've regained my senses. And now I could finally bring out the candle so I could see. The light caught the remaining dust in the air and the chamber was much smaller than I remembered it a while ago. I was surrounded from almost every angle by the boulders that fell from the ceiling. White cloaks were littered everywhere. Should I take one with me? It seems to fool the lot of them as long as they stay far enough away, or they can sense my life force or something. I might as well take one.
I turned to the tunnels I wanted to go down. It looks like a lot of these rocks were damaged when they fell, perhaps I could dislodge them with my sword? And as I was chipping away at them, something happened that make me spin back around. A treasure chest has just appeared where that light sphere was. Was it always there? Maybe that's why there was a wizard guarding it here.
The box carried a rustic key. I was sure this was to unlock the door at the beginning. But before I returned back to that door, I needed to look for those boots the dairy mentioned. Apparently, I need them to reach the next palace.
