Disclaimer: Ok, I guess everyone puts one of these in here, so here's mine.
I obviously don't own Zelda or Link or any other characters thought up by
Miyamoto, or anything else Legend of Zelda related. I just like to write
about them.
Chapter 8
My steps gradually grow heavier as I walk away from Ramala and Delphie until I am at a complete stop just in front of the marble fountain in the center of town. The water still runs a transparent red, and the streets are still empty, the scattered broken items and silence--with the exception of the fountain--evidence of a sudden, horrified evacuation of the entire populous. I can't help but think of Delphie's question, and then Ramala's answer. Their words repeat endlessly in my head, almost to the point of sending me back. If it weren't too late, I would go back. But I must confront this demon, man or beast. Hellpahrn must not live to hurt anyone else, even if the last person he hurt was considerably creepy.
I sit at the fountain and stare into its stained waters. The body of the merchant is gone now, but the smell and sight of his lingering blood sickens me. Leaning over the edge, I look into the shifting waters in an attempt to move my bangs away from my face in a, shall I say, neat way. By now they are plastered to my forehead and probably very funny-looking. I search for my reflection, leaning to the left and to the right, but I just can't make it out. Frustrated, I squint my eyes in the hopes that it will make my reflection a little more visible, but I find something else that I was not intending to find, or rather, not to find.
I have no reflection.
Jumping up in alarm, I lean over the edge and look intently into the murky liquid, my eyes frantically searching for something that isn't there. This is just eerie. How could I have no reflection? It goes along with the fact that, every time I get hurt, my wounds magically disappear without a trace besides the occasional ripped clothing. No scars, no reflection, soon-to-be no sanity...
Now that I've totally freaked myself out, I can't help but wonder if leaving the girls alone was such a good idea after all. I mean, the last time I left them, Hellpahrn tried to kill them, and he might try to do it again. I don't know what to do anymore. I can't get Ramala out of my head. She's so beautiful, so elegant, so charming, yet I go off and frighten her the way I did. But I can't stop the attacks if I don't confront Hellpahrn. Go fight Hellpahrn and leave the risk of them being attacked, or stay with the girls and risk him attacking someone else?
I turn around and face the alley that led me away from the girls' house. Should I go back? I really shouldn't get involved with her, since she is a few years older and obviously doesn't plan on moving anywhere. But wait! She's homeless now! She needs me! A damsel in distress. Link to the rescue!
I take one, and only one, step before slapping myself. "Snap out of it!" I scorn myself. I have to remain professional, or at least rational. What am I going to do, drag her with me and thus bring her right to the criminal mastermind? Or am I to run away with her and allow him to terrorize innocent people? There has to be a better option. Let's see, Ramala needs a home and Delphie needs someone else to help care for her, Hellpahrn is terrorizing the populous of Baltica, my partner is gone, and I have no reflections and can't die. What else? Perhaps if I question the few remaining people in Baltica—if there are any—I will learn some useful information. Facing a nearby and better lit alleyway, I walk until I see signs of life. Alas, I am forced to walk for a while, up and down streets void of sound, movement, or any otherwise living indication of existence. Finally, after turning a sharp corner, I come across a clearing. There's a towering stone temple, much like the Temple of Time in Hyrule, with a small, black iron fence around it. The fence goes on about a mile behind the temple, and as I get closer I can see a few graves in said area.
My attention is directed toward a small, shifting shape in the graveyard. As I approach the fence, I notice that there is no entry gate, so I turn instead toward the temple. Surely there is someone in there, and if not, there is some way to get behind it. The giant wooden doors open surprisingly easily, a slight creak the only resistance against my entry. The interior of the temple is quite spacious, much larger and much more beautiful than the Temple of Time could ever be. Intricate paintings line the ceiling, depicting colorful scenes of when the goddesses created the world, though there are a few discrepancies from the tales I heard when I was younger. My eyes absorb as much in one moment as possible, from the giant arched windows lining the sides to the elaborately carved molding and pedestal. It seems that the entire building is made of a soft, white marble, something I have not seen much of. Apparently, the clergy in Baltica are either very rich or very good at brown-nosing the aristocracy or perhaps even the royalty of nearby, wealthier towns.
I pull my wandering mind back into reality when I catch a quick glint of light coming from the far side of the cathedral. There's a small door on the left of the pedestal, swaying just enough to let the sun peek in every few seconds. I walk quickly to the door, blatantly aware that my footsteps are echoing extremely loudly. Come to think of it, even my breath is audible. If anyone ever came here for a moment of silence, they would have to be dead.
The door, a stone slab featuring a remarkably vague rendering of the Sacred Realm in relief, is a little harder to open, considering it's weight in comparison with the wooden doors on the front. I slide my head out and look around to see if anyone is nearby, but the only living being is a dark- haired woman in a plain brown dress, kneeling in front of a grave. I walk up slowly so as not to alarm her, shifting some dirt and pebbles every once and a while so she's aware of my presence. I think I've scared enough girls for now. I'm finally about five feet behind her when I clear my throat.
"Uh, excuse me?" I say in a hushed voice.
"Yes?" The familiar voice of Ramala lightens the atmosphere as she stands to face me. The look of surprise on her face is enough to make me grin from ear to ear. "Oh, Link! I thought you left?"
"Well, I did. But I figured I would go around town and ask some of the citizens some questions before I barged in not knowing anything."
"What kinds of questions?" Her question, though valid as it is, takes me off guard. That is something I never even though about. What kinds of questions would I ask? Guess it's time for one of those brilliant answers of mine to throw her off.
"No idea." Real suave. Probably the best answer I've come up with in a while. Maybe I should change the subject. "So, where's Delphie?"
"Home." I can't help but think about the two of them, and how they remind me of the girls in Termina.
"You know, I used to know a couple of girls just like you and Delphie. Cremia had to take care of her younger sister, Romani, as well as to keep her ranch going."
"Really?" A gentle, shallow smile grows on Ramala's face. "It's nice to know that I'm not the only one out there with responsibility. I wish I could meet them."
"In fact, Delphie looks a lot like Romani." I pause a moment, thinking about how identical the two girls were. "Ramala, why is it that your eyes and hair don't match Delphie's at all?" Her smile turns into a full- toothed grin.
"Not all sisters are identical, you know." I look down at the ground, a bit embarrassed, but she notices and continues. "But you do have a point." I look up at her, a little more curiosity surfacing in my eyes. "Actually, Delphie and I had different fathers. That is why Delphie prefers to stay home when I visit this cemetery." I'm surprised at my interest in this subject. I'm about to burst with questions.
"Who is Delphie's father?"
"We aren't quite sure. My mother never spoke of him, only that she regretted having done what she did. Soon after, a man in a deep blue cloak came to our home and, and," Ramala stops short, closing her eyes with a sigh.
"And what?" I ask, concerned.
"Murderer."
Her quiet, one word answer leaves us in complete and awkward silence, and her attention is eventually redirected to the grave behind her. I try to peer over her shoulder, but it's gotten dark and the words on the tombstone are illegible. "So this is your father's grave?" I ask, curious as a goron at a rock museum.
"Yes," she states in a near whisper. "I come here every week to talk to him."
"Does he hear you?"
"I don't know." If I was a better conversationalist, I would have something perfect to reply with. Unfortunately, all I can do is stare at the ground in bewilderment. Sooner or later, the sound of Ramala's voice breaks my uneventful thoughts: "Link—" she pauses, but does not resume.
"Yes?"
"Why are you here?"
"Because I was looking for someone to ask questions and—"
"No, why are you here?" I raise an eyebrow in incomprehension, and after a few moments of no response Ramala faces me again and continues. "Why are you in Baltica?" At this point I'm not sure if I should tell her everything, and I'm really not sure what I've told her already. She crosses her arm and gives me a look that quickly convinces me to speak up.
"Uh, well, you see, I am on a sort of mission."
"What kind of mission?" she asks, her arms falling to her sides.
"Well, you heard Keal say something about being a bounty hunter, right?"
"Yes." Her eyes plead with me to continue.
"Well, I am a bounty hunter. I was sent on a mission to apprehend the leader of a band of thieves named Korpus Hellpahrn. When I was—"
"Wait," she interrupts, "Hellpahrn isn't just some crook."
"I can see this now. He's a very powerful man, but nonetheless, he is still my charge."
"No, I mean he doesn't lead a band of thieves." I lower my head and glare at her in surprise, my gaze a gesture for her to resume. "He is more a mercenary than anything else. He gets paid to murder people, from small families to whole armies. He's practically unbeatable. By the time this town found out that he was based here, it was too late. Anyone who stood against him was killed."
"If all he is is a mercenary, why is everyone so scared of him?" A legitimate question, and hopefully one that will help me understand all this.
"He is a very formidable warrior, but more than anything, he has an ability to foresee things. He often knows of events before they even happen."
"And this is scary because?" The people of Baltica seem to fear people who can see the future, strange as it is. I think back to when I was younger, when every time I slept I dreamed of the horrors that would be my future. But after the battle with Ganondorf, it went away. I kind of miss it, as it came in handy when I met him the first time. He was actually much scarier in my dream than in real life.
"It makes him virtually unbeatable." Her words bring me back into the conversation, as I seem to have let my mind wander on the past again. "No man has ever landed a blow on him."
"That's not true."
"How do you know?" Her eyes widen in disbelief.
"Because I released a little fresh air on him earlier." I smirk at my choice of words, finding myself funny.
"Pardon?" Everyone's a critic.
"I cast a wind spell that pretty much knocked him senseless." If she opens her eyes anymore, they may just pop out of her head. An amusing thought.
"How?" I open my mouth to speak but am interrupted by an old man. I nearly jump out of my boots, being as he just sneaked up behind me like that. I'm surprised I never noticed him, since he is carrying not one, but two lanterns. Poor guy must not see very well in the dark.
"Come, children, it is late. You must not linger in places such as these." Before I can argue with his assumption that I am a helpless child, Ramala nods and starts toward the temple.
"I'll stay for a few more minutes," I say, hoping that the silence of the cemetery will help me think straight. The old man, probably a priest, thrusts a lantern into my hands.
"Do as you wish. I warn you, though, it can be very—"
"Dangerous at night, I know." His look of disgust is impeccable. I can't help it, old guys are not in my top ten list of cool people. The only nice old guy I've ever met was the idiot astronomer in Termina. Everyone knows how Ganondorf turned out, and I'd always catch crap from Rauru. I swear, if he would have called me 'Hero of Time' one more time, I would have torn him limb from limb right there.
The old man stomps off toward the temple behind Ramala, and I'm left in peace. I've never noticed before how nice it feels to be alone in the dark. I close my eyes and revel in my aloneness. In fact, I feel better than ever, that is until I hear something coming from outside the perimeter fence. Why does everything always go 'bump' in the night? Why not 'tweet' or 'moo' or even 'hi there, how are ya?' I narrow my eyes toward the far side of the fence, holding up the lantern as if I might be able to see whatever it is from way back here. Something rustles a couple of bushes to my left, and I spin to look. I can't see anything, and I'm beginning to think myself paranoid. A rustling behind me sends me spinning on heel again, and again I find nothing. The old man and Ramala are gone now, so I'm completely alone with rustly bushes.
After a few minutes of silence, I begin to relax again and hope that it's all my imagination. My relaxation is cut short, however, when I hear a thud behind me. This time I turn around in one quick motion, dropping the lantern in mid-jump. I focus on the creator of the sound, squinting a bit. There is most definitely something there, though I can't make out a distinct shape. Locking my eyes on the dark form some thirty feet ahead, I lean over to pick up the lamp, which had landed right next to the grave of Ramala's father. My eyes gain a mind of their own upon the realization, wandering slowly toward the epitaph on the headstone. "May the immortal soul of thee find eternal serenity, Decidius Shikarhu." My eyes widen, and for a moment I am completely oblivious to the black form ahead.
Shikarhu that's, that's—Keal's surname.
-------
A/N:
Sorry it's a bit shorter, but I just had to end it. Otherwise, it would have made no sense whatsoever. NEwho, I also apologize for the wait. We've been doing reconstruction on my house [i.e. tearing down walls and making a bar in the kitchen], so I was at the 'rent's house. I hope everyone is totally confused, since this chapter kind of left a lot of loose ends, which will remain loose until a few chapters in the future. wink
Thanks to all who reviewed my previous chappies, and don't forget to REVIEW this chapter please!!!
Chapter 8
My steps gradually grow heavier as I walk away from Ramala and Delphie until I am at a complete stop just in front of the marble fountain in the center of town. The water still runs a transparent red, and the streets are still empty, the scattered broken items and silence--with the exception of the fountain--evidence of a sudden, horrified evacuation of the entire populous. I can't help but think of Delphie's question, and then Ramala's answer. Their words repeat endlessly in my head, almost to the point of sending me back. If it weren't too late, I would go back. But I must confront this demon, man or beast. Hellpahrn must not live to hurt anyone else, even if the last person he hurt was considerably creepy.
I sit at the fountain and stare into its stained waters. The body of the merchant is gone now, but the smell and sight of his lingering blood sickens me. Leaning over the edge, I look into the shifting waters in an attempt to move my bangs away from my face in a, shall I say, neat way. By now they are plastered to my forehead and probably very funny-looking. I search for my reflection, leaning to the left and to the right, but I just can't make it out. Frustrated, I squint my eyes in the hopes that it will make my reflection a little more visible, but I find something else that I was not intending to find, or rather, not to find.
I have no reflection.
Jumping up in alarm, I lean over the edge and look intently into the murky liquid, my eyes frantically searching for something that isn't there. This is just eerie. How could I have no reflection? It goes along with the fact that, every time I get hurt, my wounds magically disappear without a trace besides the occasional ripped clothing. No scars, no reflection, soon-to-be no sanity...
Now that I've totally freaked myself out, I can't help but wonder if leaving the girls alone was such a good idea after all. I mean, the last time I left them, Hellpahrn tried to kill them, and he might try to do it again. I don't know what to do anymore. I can't get Ramala out of my head. She's so beautiful, so elegant, so charming, yet I go off and frighten her the way I did. But I can't stop the attacks if I don't confront Hellpahrn. Go fight Hellpahrn and leave the risk of them being attacked, or stay with the girls and risk him attacking someone else?
I turn around and face the alley that led me away from the girls' house. Should I go back? I really shouldn't get involved with her, since she is a few years older and obviously doesn't plan on moving anywhere. But wait! She's homeless now! She needs me! A damsel in distress. Link to the rescue!
I take one, and only one, step before slapping myself. "Snap out of it!" I scorn myself. I have to remain professional, or at least rational. What am I going to do, drag her with me and thus bring her right to the criminal mastermind? Or am I to run away with her and allow him to terrorize innocent people? There has to be a better option. Let's see, Ramala needs a home and Delphie needs someone else to help care for her, Hellpahrn is terrorizing the populous of Baltica, my partner is gone, and I have no reflections and can't die. What else? Perhaps if I question the few remaining people in Baltica—if there are any—I will learn some useful information. Facing a nearby and better lit alleyway, I walk until I see signs of life. Alas, I am forced to walk for a while, up and down streets void of sound, movement, or any otherwise living indication of existence. Finally, after turning a sharp corner, I come across a clearing. There's a towering stone temple, much like the Temple of Time in Hyrule, with a small, black iron fence around it. The fence goes on about a mile behind the temple, and as I get closer I can see a few graves in said area.
My attention is directed toward a small, shifting shape in the graveyard. As I approach the fence, I notice that there is no entry gate, so I turn instead toward the temple. Surely there is someone in there, and if not, there is some way to get behind it. The giant wooden doors open surprisingly easily, a slight creak the only resistance against my entry. The interior of the temple is quite spacious, much larger and much more beautiful than the Temple of Time could ever be. Intricate paintings line the ceiling, depicting colorful scenes of when the goddesses created the world, though there are a few discrepancies from the tales I heard when I was younger. My eyes absorb as much in one moment as possible, from the giant arched windows lining the sides to the elaborately carved molding and pedestal. It seems that the entire building is made of a soft, white marble, something I have not seen much of. Apparently, the clergy in Baltica are either very rich or very good at brown-nosing the aristocracy or perhaps even the royalty of nearby, wealthier towns.
I pull my wandering mind back into reality when I catch a quick glint of light coming from the far side of the cathedral. There's a small door on the left of the pedestal, swaying just enough to let the sun peek in every few seconds. I walk quickly to the door, blatantly aware that my footsteps are echoing extremely loudly. Come to think of it, even my breath is audible. If anyone ever came here for a moment of silence, they would have to be dead.
The door, a stone slab featuring a remarkably vague rendering of the Sacred Realm in relief, is a little harder to open, considering it's weight in comparison with the wooden doors on the front. I slide my head out and look around to see if anyone is nearby, but the only living being is a dark- haired woman in a plain brown dress, kneeling in front of a grave. I walk up slowly so as not to alarm her, shifting some dirt and pebbles every once and a while so she's aware of my presence. I think I've scared enough girls for now. I'm finally about five feet behind her when I clear my throat.
"Uh, excuse me?" I say in a hushed voice.
"Yes?" The familiar voice of Ramala lightens the atmosphere as she stands to face me. The look of surprise on her face is enough to make me grin from ear to ear. "Oh, Link! I thought you left?"
"Well, I did. But I figured I would go around town and ask some of the citizens some questions before I barged in not knowing anything."
"What kinds of questions?" Her question, though valid as it is, takes me off guard. That is something I never even though about. What kinds of questions would I ask? Guess it's time for one of those brilliant answers of mine to throw her off.
"No idea." Real suave. Probably the best answer I've come up with in a while. Maybe I should change the subject. "So, where's Delphie?"
"Home." I can't help but think about the two of them, and how they remind me of the girls in Termina.
"You know, I used to know a couple of girls just like you and Delphie. Cremia had to take care of her younger sister, Romani, as well as to keep her ranch going."
"Really?" A gentle, shallow smile grows on Ramala's face. "It's nice to know that I'm not the only one out there with responsibility. I wish I could meet them."
"In fact, Delphie looks a lot like Romani." I pause a moment, thinking about how identical the two girls were. "Ramala, why is it that your eyes and hair don't match Delphie's at all?" Her smile turns into a full- toothed grin.
"Not all sisters are identical, you know." I look down at the ground, a bit embarrassed, but she notices and continues. "But you do have a point." I look up at her, a little more curiosity surfacing in my eyes. "Actually, Delphie and I had different fathers. That is why Delphie prefers to stay home when I visit this cemetery." I'm surprised at my interest in this subject. I'm about to burst with questions.
"Who is Delphie's father?"
"We aren't quite sure. My mother never spoke of him, only that she regretted having done what she did. Soon after, a man in a deep blue cloak came to our home and, and," Ramala stops short, closing her eyes with a sigh.
"And what?" I ask, concerned.
"Murderer."
Her quiet, one word answer leaves us in complete and awkward silence, and her attention is eventually redirected to the grave behind her. I try to peer over her shoulder, but it's gotten dark and the words on the tombstone are illegible. "So this is your father's grave?" I ask, curious as a goron at a rock museum.
"Yes," she states in a near whisper. "I come here every week to talk to him."
"Does he hear you?"
"I don't know." If I was a better conversationalist, I would have something perfect to reply with. Unfortunately, all I can do is stare at the ground in bewilderment. Sooner or later, the sound of Ramala's voice breaks my uneventful thoughts: "Link—" she pauses, but does not resume.
"Yes?"
"Why are you here?"
"Because I was looking for someone to ask questions and—"
"No, why are you here?" I raise an eyebrow in incomprehension, and after a few moments of no response Ramala faces me again and continues. "Why are you in Baltica?" At this point I'm not sure if I should tell her everything, and I'm really not sure what I've told her already. She crosses her arm and gives me a look that quickly convinces me to speak up.
"Uh, well, you see, I am on a sort of mission."
"What kind of mission?" she asks, her arms falling to her sides.
"Well, you heard Keal say something about being a bounty hunter, right?"
"Yes." Her eyes plead with me to continue.
"Well, I am a bounty hunter. I was sent on a mission to apprehend the leader of a band of thieves named Korpus Hellpahrn. When I was—"
"Wait," she interrupts, "Hellpahrn isn't just some crook."
"I can see this now. He's a very powerful man, but nonetheless, he is still my charge."
"No, I mean he doesn't lead a band of thieves." I lower my head and glare at her in surprise, my gaze a gesture for her to resume. "He is more a mercenary than anything else. He gets paid to murder people, from small families to whole armies. He's practically unbeatable. By the time this town found out that he was based here, it was too late. Anyone who stood against him was killed."
"If all he is is a mercenary, why is everyone so scared of him?" A legitimate question, and hopefully one that will help me understand all this.
"He is a very formidable warrior, but more than anything, he has an ability to foresee things. He often knows of events before they even happen."
"And this is scary because?" The people of Baltica seem to fear people who can see the future, strange as it is. I think back to when I was younger, when every time I slept I dreamed of the horrors that would be my future. But after the battle with Ganondorf, it went away. I kind of miss it, as it came in handy when I met him the first time. He was actually much scarier in my dream than in real life.
"It makes him virtually unbeatable." Her words bring me back into the conversation, as I seem to have let my mind wander on the past again. "No man has ever landed a blow on him."
"That's not true."
"How do you know?" Her eyes widen in disbelief.
"Because I released a little fresh air on him earlier." I smirk at my choice of words, finding myself funny.
"Pardon?" Everyone's a critic.
"I cast a wind spell that pretty much knocked him senseless." If she opens her eyes anymore, they may just pop out of her head. An amusing thought.
"How?" I open my mouth to speak but am interrupted by an old man. I nearly jump out of my boots, being as he just sneaked up behind me like that. I'm surprised I never noticed him, since he is carrying not one, but two lanterns. Poor guy must not see very well in the dark.
"Come, children, it is late. You must not linger in places such as these." Before I can argue with his assumption that I am a helpless child, Ramala nods and starts toward the temple.
"I'll stay for a few more minutes," I say, hoping that the silence of the cemetery will help me think straight. The old man, probably a priest, thrusts a lantern into my hands.
"Do as you wish. I warn you, though, it can be very—"
"Dangerous at night, I know." His look of disgust is impeccable. I can't help it, old guys are not in my top ten list of cool people. The only nice old guy I've ever met was the idiot astronomer in Termina. Everyone knows how Ganondorf turned out, and I'd always catch crap from Rauru. I swear, if he would have called me 'Hero of Time' one more time, I would have torn him limb from limb right there.
The old man stomps off toward the temple behind Ramala, and I'm left in peace. I've never noticed before how nice it feels to be alone in the dark. I close my eyes and revel in my aloneness. In fact, I feel better than ever, that is until I hear something coming from outside the perimeter fence. Why does everything always go 'bump' in the night? Why not 'tweet' or 'moo' or even 'hi there, how are ya?' I narrow my eyes toward the far side of the fence, holding up the lantern as if I might be able to see whatever it is from way back here. Something rustles a couple of bushes to my left, and I spin to look. I can't see anything, and I'm beginning to think myself paranoid. A rustling behind me sends me spinning on heel again, and again I find nothing. The old man and Ramala are gone now, so I'm completely alone with rustly bushes.
After a few minutes of silence, I begin to relax again and hope that it's all my imagination. My relaxation is cut short, however, when I hear a thud behind me. This time I turn around in one quick motion, dropping the lantern in mid-jump. I focus on the creator of the sound, squinting a bit. There is most definitely something there, though I can't make out a distinct shape. Locking my eyes on the dark form some thirty feet ahead, I lean over to pick up the lamp, which had landed right next to the grave of Ramala's father. My eyes gain a mind of their own upon the realization, wandering slowly toward the epitaph on the headstone. "May the immortal soul of thee find eternal serenity, Decidius Shikarhu." My eyes widen, and for a moment I am completely oblivious to the black form ahead.
Shikarhu that's, that's—Keal's surname.
-------
A/N:
Sorry it's a bit shorter, but I just had to end it. Otherwise, it would have made no sense whatsoever. NEwho, I also apologize for the wait. We've been doing reconstruction on my house [i.e. tearing down walls and making a bar in the kitchen], so I was at the 'rent's house. I hope everyone is totally confused, since this chapter kind of left a lot of loose ends, which will remain loose until a few chapters in the future. wink
Thanks to all who reviewed my previous chappies, and don't forget to REVIEW this chapter please!!!