I decided to start chapter 5 early. Like I said before, I have more inspiration! Ironically, I think it's cuz the summer's almost over, which is rather depressing. But still. All the better for you readers, eh? Anyhoo, on with the fic!
Legend of Zelda: Quest for the ArcBlade
Chapter 5: The Watcher of Worlds
The passageway was dark and dank, and quite musty. The only thing lighting Link's way were a few small candles in the cold stone passageway. Even the Mirror Relic hadn't shone even a ray of black light. Link slightly set his arms out in front of him so that he wouldn't bump into one of the walls if the passageway suddenly curved or made a sharp turn. As he worked his way into the passageway, it began to widen and branches of other pathways jutted out on both sides periodically. Down those pathways were even more candles to dead ends, and figures that looked like ReDeads leaning and clinging to the walls, trying to support themselves to stay on their feet – as if staying up was the only thought on their minds. As Link continued on, the passageway continued to widen, and it seemed like the candles were getting bigger and brighter, but they looked like they were starting to be more and more spaced in placement. Finally, the passageway rounded out and before him were two large stone pillars with a stone slab across the top at the back of the room, with carvings in languages long since forgotten accompanied by runes of different shapes and sizes. Further off to the left of the room was an old wooden desk that looked like it had seen ages and ages. There was a chair at the desk as old as the desk itself with a musty and ancient-looking book open about halfway. The writing in it was beyond Link, so he didn't even try to decipher it. Behind the desk was an old bookshelf – also incredibly old – with several other books as old and as big as the one on the desk. Chances were, they were filled with the same ancient writing. To the right of the stone gateway was a large coffin-shaped set of stone slabs with writing engraved all over the lid and everywhere else.
Suddenly, Link felt that he wasn't alone. From all sides, a solid but eerie voice strongly came from all around him.
"You…" Link turned around and looked franticly. He knew there was someone else was there. Suddenly, a chill went down his spine. Slowly, he turned around. There was a floating figure wearing a brown (and quite old) cape-like robe that covered its entire body very loosely, with a hood. Its hands were sort of scaly like a reptile a dark and yet a light pale blue and it had claw-like nails. The creatures eyes were a solid reddish-brown with a soft and yet glaring look. The rest of it's face was hidden by the shadows. The creature stopped floating and gently landed on the ground.
"You, what are you doing here? How did you find your way and what do you want? Speak now." Link gave a stuttering and stammering response.
"I… err… uh… I came in from… err… I'm here for… um… uh…"
"Listen, Soul of Sol, I don't have time for this. So either tell me your business here and why exactly you're here or leave. Not just anyone can stumble across this place – especially children. You must have been searching. So if you truly have no purpose here please leave, I have much work to do." He pointed over to the desk. Link pulled himself together; it was obvious that the one in front of him wasn't going to hurt him. At least, Link hoped so.
"I've been looking for the gateway to the Undead Realm and a Kage Musuko to help me get there. I'm searching for a certain sword in the Undead Realm to help me in a forthcoming battle against a great evil of my world. Could you, perhaps, help me find any of those?" The 'man' stretched his neck.
"I know nothing of this 'Undead Realm' you speak of. Nor do I know of any 'Kage Musuko' creature." He made a loud, grumbling noise and continued, "I think you might be referring to Karama'Kathan when you said Undead Realm – you people under Sol tend to receive mixed and incorrect information. Your 'Kage Musuko' could be Shadow Walkers, but they reside in Merrama'Kathan…" He blinked. "Oh, I'm sorry young one, gomensai (1). I tend to run at the mouth a bit, it's a habit of mine I've developed over the countless millennia. But for my rambling, gomensai. I am The Watcher. I was sentenced to stay here by the gods and watch over the worlds countless ages ago. And who would you be?" Link seemed to be more relaxed now. Someone called "The Watcher" probably wouldn't hurt a 'child' like Link.
"My name is Link; I am The Hero of Time from the land of Hyrule. The task I am on now is dangerous, but if you've been here for so long, perhaps you can help me finding a sword called the ArcBlade... among other things." The Watcher gave Link a smile.
"So you're the one who comes seeking the ArcBlade. But from the things you've told me, your knowledge is far from accurate. The ArcBlade can be found in the Temple of Saris in the city of Merrama'Kathan, which can only be reached from here by crossing Karama'Kathan."
"What are "Merrama'Kathan" and "Karama'Kathan"?"
"Merrama'Kathan is called The City of Resting by some, since it is the only relief after a long and perilous journey through Karama'Kathan, which is called The Phantom Desert by many. Shall I describe either of those in particular detail?" Link thought for a moment. This was completely different from what Princess Zelda had told him. The Watcher was right, misinformation had gotten through to… what did he keep calling his fellow Hylans? Souls of Sol? Link decided about inquiring about that line a little later, but right now the only thing that was lingering in his mind was that shred of information Zelda gave him about the 'Undead Realm'.
"A person I know… uh… a person who was giving me information about the Undead Realm… well, she said that the realm itself could tear my body to shreds from the moment I entered it. Does either Merrama'Kathan or Karama'Kathan do that to a living person?" The Watcher laughed.
"Last time I checked, neither of those places have the property of tearing a flesh body to shreds." Link gave a sigh of relief, The Watcher continued "Merrama'Kathan is a resting place, and is much like the rest of your world in terms of physical properties. You won't feel too much of anything there. Karama'Kathan, on the other hand…" Link suddenly focused his complete attention to The Watcher. Things were about to get complicated.
"Karama'Kathan has some rather unwelcoming features in it, if you so choose to cross this dead world to reach Merrama'Kathan. First off, there is no White Light, there is only Dark Light. Constant exposure to Dark Light on living beings is a lot like… say, standing in constant sunlight without anything blocking you from the sun or the sun from you. Eventually, your skin will burn. Well, Dark Light will eventually start drain your living energy as sunlight will eventually burn your skin."
"Next is the relentless Reaper's Wind. It tears at your flesh as it tears at your soul. The wind is fierce and relentless and is to be faced and feared by all those who feel it, and the wind occasionally picks up dust making itself even stronger. Overexposure by a living being will result in soul separation from the body while still feeling the pain from both nonstop."
"Moving on, there are corrupt ghosts there called Grouters, who roam the Phantom Desert searching for spirits that roam there. Grouters feed off of the spirits they find, and they are as crazed as the Reaper's Wind is relentless. Chances are, the Grouters will not bother you – they usually fear living creatures. But, per chance, if one works up the courage to attack you, their bite is not any less potent then it would be on a wandering spirit. Grouters may be dead, but they can still attack the living – with devastating effects. However, most Grouters wander the Upper and Lower Trails, and they usually are wandering where you won't see them. They should not be that much of a worry, but fear them nonetheless."
"Lastly, I come to the most important part of the description of Karama'Kathan. I spoke not too long ago about the Upper Trail and the Lower Trail. If you are to cross Karama'Kathan, half way the trail will split three ways. Aside from the Straight Trail, there will be the Upper and Lower Trails. DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, GO ON EITHER OF THESE TWO TRAILS. Karama'Kathan is sometimes referred to as 'The Middle World' by the gods. That is because, after every being dies, they are sent to Karama'Kathan. The ghosts of animals run the wild lands away from hungry Grouters, while the ghosts of people eventually find their ways to the Upper or Lower trail. Can you guess why?" Link was taking this in rather difficulty. This was far worse then what Zelda had told him about the so-called Undead Realm. Karama'Kathan WAS a Dead Realm! Link realized The Watcher was waiting for an answer, and he had already forgotten the question. Pretending to still know what it was, he responded.
"This is a complete rude awakening and completely different from what the other one told me. So I don't think I could possibly guess."
"Well then, I'll educate you. Take the Upper Trail and you'll reach Limbo – the no-man's land of the afterlife. Farther up is the kingdom of Heaven in all its glory. Take the lower trail and you'll reach the Judgment Gates. Beyond them from which you will never return, are the 9 Levels of Hades. Either way, once you reach Limbo or pass the Judgment Gates, you're stuck there for an eternity. Just don't say I didn't warn you." Link stared at him. A blank, shocked, stare. He had traveled across time and between worlds; from danger to greater danger. However, it dawned on him that he'd be walking among ghosts; on the same plane above and below was the two places in the afterlife your parents always said you'd go if you were good or bad. And Link wasn't even dead yet! He dropped to his knees, completely overwhelmed, but the fate of Hyrule depended on his crossing of Karama'Kathan – and returning back here alive. No questions asked; he promised Zelda he'd find that sword, so what was there left to do? It was only a little walk among ghosts and phantoms, and The Watcher said that he'd only get stuck there IF he took one of those trails. Since there was a continuing middle trail, it was no big deal. He could do this; besides, everyone back home was counting on him. Link stood up with the look of determination of his face.
"I won't say you didn't warn me, Watcher. I won't take those trails." The Watcher looked stunned.
"You mean… after all I've told you about Karama'Kathan, you're going to actually go there? What a foolish little boy you are, throwing your life away!" Link frowned.
"I'm not throwing my life away. There are people back in Hyrule who are counting on me to get this sword, and if they believe in me, then so should you… and so should I. There is no choice I have to make. I was sent on a quest to retrieve the sword that will stop an evil man's domination of Hyrule, and that's what I'm going to do. So, if you try to stop me – and many creatures have tried before – then you are my enemy," Link drew his sword and shield, "And all of my enemies are defeated in the end." Link stood ready for battle. The Watcher threw back his head and deeply laughed.
"Boy, you are young and reckless, and would not last two minutes against me. However, you have courage and wisdom beyond your years. I commend you for that. Perhaps you could make it through Karama'Kathan alive. But you will need more then courage and wisdom to pass through The Phantom Desert." The Watcher's eyes searched Link who was putting his sword and shield away, "And from the looks of things if the Dark Light doesn't get you, the Reaper's Wind will. Bare flesh cannot last long, and the Wind is always blowing." The Watcher took off his brown robe that covered him. His features looked young, about maybe that of a 28 year old man. His hair was solid black and short and quite weathered; his body was the same odd shade of blue. He wore a black tunic, not so different from Link's, with black pants that loosely went down to his knees. The Watcher walked up to, and gave Link his brown robe. "This cloak may not look like much, but it will offer a great deal of protection from the 'elements' of Karama'Kathan." Link took the robe at put it on. Somehow, it was a perfect fit for him – and it covered him in the same way it had covered The Watcher, even though he was much taller then Link.
"Thank you, Watcher. I don't know what to say."
"Say that you'll prove me wrong. I said you probably won't last the journey, so prove me wrong." Link laughed.
"Thank you, I will." Then it hit him, he knew where the gateway was; he knew quite a number of accurate things about where he was going, and yet he still didn't know how to open the gate. He looked down; then back up to The Watcher, "Uh… how do I…?" He pointed to the gateway.
"Ah, yes. I'll deal with that." The Watcher walked over to the gate and chanted some words and the light between the archways began to spin; swirl; warp; and then stabilize. The world beyond the gateway looked dark and bleak, in many shades of blue and black and white. A fierce wind raced through the gate and past The Watcher, who didn't seemed to be bothered by it. The Watcher turned back to Link, "Behold the Phantom Desert. You may ask me what you will before you enter – time is foreign in this world and any worlds beyond here."
"Time is foreign? Would that mean that… time does not exist?"
"In a way, yes. 'Time' passes, but nothing ages or gets older in the Kathan worlds. It has a different effect to all the other worlds, but I'm sure you don't want to be bored by universal logic; you also have a daunting task to complete."
"One more thing… you said you've seen ages. Would that mean that… you're immortal?" The Watcher nodded.
"You are correct."
"Would that mean… were you once mortal?" The Watcher blinked at the awkward question. His eyes seemed to wander.
"Yes… I was once mortal. Countless ages ago, I was mortal." He smiled with a slight laugh, probably at happy memories, "I knew a human boy, not much unlike you. Oh! And I had a name then, you know? I have long since forgotten my true name. But my human friend… what did he call me again?" he thought hard for a moment, "It was… Mithras?" He nodded at his own question, "Yes, it was Mithras. How funny how such ages seem to be like yesterday… gomensai, my rambling."
"No, it's ok. It was a very long time ago; I guess it's good to have nice memories to comfort you."
"Yes… but I shouldn't keep you any longer. There are people counting on you, remember?"
"I never forget them… Mithras." And with that Link took his first steps into Karama'Kathan, The Phantom Desert.
Things are about to get interesting, I assure you. Oh yes, and before I forget:
*~*~*!AUTHOR'S!*~*~*!NOTE!*~*~*
Just because I am the author, it does not necessarily mean that I believe everything that I write. And that means that you also should not take certain aspects of this fic for real. I don't know what happens to people in the world after they die (if there is a world after we die), or even if there is a heaven, hell or a world in between. As a catholic, I am supposed to believe in them, but does that mean I know they are real? Of course not. If you can simply go along with the fic and keep in mind that it's a story and not reality, then you can enjoy the fic all the better. If you can't seem to go along with I, then don't read it. But, simply, I don't want to receive a thousand e-mails complaining about the content, ECT ECT ECT. So I shall repeat myself: if you can just keep the idea in mind so that the fic makes scene while knowing the borderline of reality, then please do so. If you cannot, then either don't read the fic or send me e-mails about it. Thank you for you time.
*~*~*!END!*~*~*!AUTHOR'S!*~*~*!NOTE!*~*~*
Next issue of business: (1) gomensai (Japanese): meaning "I am very/so sorry"
And finally, thank you for all you readers who have been keeping with the story. I still have a long ways to go 'till the end, but I'll get there eventually. Please review so that I know what you think and so I know that there are people still reading and enjoying this fic; I have a tendency to stop writing if I think no-one's reading my 'fic-in-progress'es
Thank you, and 'till next time!