VII. Into the Dark
Note: You may have sometime stumbled upon a great site called zeldalegends (add dot net and you've got it). In the section called "Articles" seek for n. 20: "Creation of the Dark World". I'm not the author and I don't know the author, but his article, I believe, explains a lot. And yet it is actually a weird exegetical account. I have also quoted a big part of his articles 6, "The Sleeping Zelda, Revisited".
It doesn't really matter that much, because at this time, in the story, all those ancient legends of Hyrule are almost forgotten. And the actual truth of the Triforce and those chosen by Destiny is far more interesting than those old confrontations, only pieces of the Great Cycle. Endnote.
Begin
Sheikah City. I am officially, I think, the first non-sheikah to ever visit this place. Er, after Zel.
Whatever its real name is (Kal told me, but its frustrating just trying to pronounce it), it is a real experience. Not because there's really all that much you can actually see. The "city" itself is just a series of tunnels. Well conditioned and illuminated, and it smells almost nice… not like death, anyway… but they are still tunnels. It is a cavernous city. Hey, I like that. I'll call it from now on Cavernburg. Somehow, it sounds just right.
"That's because I already told you the name is Cavernburg," Kal points out. Damn. I still don't realize if I'm only thinking stuff or if I actually say them out loud.
"Well, maybe if you just pronounced it correctly, I would have gotten it."
She doesn't even bother to look back. She's walking ahead, as usual. She is always showing the way. I suppose as the Leader or the Impa—or whatever—of these guys she's the Boss around here.
Some guards at the entrance just looked at her and let us pass with no further questions. They were giving us some weird glances, on the other hand, and I swear they can speak to themselves just by looking at each other.
Crazy Shadows.
"Stop mumbling and move it, kid," Kal again. She's been cheery like these since the encounter with the Redead Zombies of the Order of the Crazy Cuccos (two days ago, that was). Zel smirks every time I give them a name like this. And I like that. But I can tell Kal is not happy. From what I've been able to gather (and that took me roughly the whole following day of our great travel) they weren't even supposed to let us see them.
"They," Kal told me, with the usual solemn voice she always uses when she's speaking about something important, and which I've come to think is a fake voice she only uses to annoy me, "are the Guardians of our sacred grounds".
She wasn't too pleased when I said it figured that an old, ugly deserted graveyard is an important place for them. It took me nearly an hour to make her even look at me again. Anyway, Redeads guard places important for the Sheikahs. Normally their mere presence is sufficient for anyone to feel them and flee, and very rarely do they let someone see them. Much less attack them. What's even stranger, she told me, is that they are sort of slaves of the Sheikah. They should have stopped when Kal asked them to do so. But they didn't. And Kal doesn't know what that means, and she's not happy.
Back to Cavernburg. Crazy shadow name.
We have stopped walking through tunnels, I can see, and are reaching the actual caverns. They are bigger. Mostly they seem to be meeting points for various tunnels. Kal efficiently leads us through them.
There are many Sheikahs around here. Kal obviously lied when she told me she was one of the last. There are men and women. There are old men and small children, all dressed in pure black cloth. I suppose Zel and Impa's blue uniform with silver designs are a symbol of leadership. I have only seen two others wearing those in the city. It figures: they were walking in front of small groups of people. They all move rapidly and it seems no one has time to stop and spare a few words. The place is not silent, but I have not heard human voices. Besides Kal's. And I'm not sure she's human.
She looks back at me darkly. Oops, I was talking out loud again. I may just have to learn to shut my mouth.
"We're almost there, Hero," I don't know how, but she manages to make my, er, title sound like an insult. And yet she's right, as usual. In a couple of minutes we pass two great caverns full of people whispering to each other in small groups and moving around with frenzy, descend some gigantic staircases, which seem to take us to more nobler parts of the Burg, cross more tunnels, now more elegantly decorated, and reach a small cavernous hall with a lot of doors. Impa leads us to the one on the far right. The room is a small parlor, fitted with old (deadish?) wood chairs and a small table. There are no ornaments, though: only some weird inscriptions on the walls. Some look like letters; others seemed to have no design at all. And yet all shine with a strange blue luminosity.
Impa lets us in, and then speaks. "Wait here for a moment." And she leaves. I look at Zelda, puzzled. She rolls her eyes and goes to find a seat. I prefer to stand stupidly, looking around. The room is not exactly a place to have fun. The door is, funnily enough, locked. Crazy Impa locked us in. How's that for trust?
I look at Zel. She's fallen asleep. She must be dead tired by now, hardly said a word. Her chin is resting peacefully on her shoulder. Some wild locks of hair have fallen over her face. I stand before her, overwhelmed, I guess, as her chest rises tranquilly. I haven't been close to many ladies, let alone a princess, and she's captivated me. I consider touching her hair. Impressive how this little idea can make me feel so happy? And just as I move slowly towards her and raise my hand to take off the rebel bangs, the door opens unceremoniously and Impa comes in followed by a very old man.
Zel wakes up, notices my hand almost touching her hair, and immediately turns crimson. I blush too, fiercely. Now this is an embarrassing position. With a false dignity I turn around. Kal is trying hard not to laugh. The old man's face is like a wall. Like an ugly wall. Impassive. Zel has somehow managed to jump and stand in the other side of the room, suddenly very interested in one of the inscriptions on the wall. And she has managed to do that without loosing an ounce of dignity.
"Right, then," I say. "So you wanted to tell us something, Kal?"
"I did. But perhaps you want to tell us something?"
I don't believe her. She seems to be having fun with this whole mess. "Um, yeah," I manage, "yeah. It's just that I find these, er, inscriptions, ah, fascinating."
"Sure you would find that fascinating," se adds, with a straight face. "But it is not the time to… illustrate you about these matters. Instead, I wanted you to meet Erra. He is one of the Wise of the Sheikah."
"Hello, Link. I am Erra, one the Wise, and the leader of the Vanir Sheikah," the old man begins. I can only now notice how old he looks. He seems to be death. No pun intended. "Indeed, I believe you have met my brother Nergal. He lived in your town, only with another name."
I frown. A Sheikah living in Kakariko? And then it strikes me. "You… your brother was Master Curt?"
"Indeed. He was my brother."
I was just going to add that they look nothing alike, but restrain myself. Surely this is not the time for smartassness.
"I am here because of all Impa has told me. I wish to aid you, providing you with as much information as I can. I believe we may be able to help you".
"And why should we?" comes another voice. I look back at the door and notice another man has entered. This guy looks younger (not much, but in comparison to Erra, definitely so). He also looks more noble. He has long black hair that elegantly falls on his shoulders, and a great dark mantle covers him. He looks like a true king of the Sheikahs. Much more than Impa. "Why should we help this man, of whom we know nothing?"
"Because I have vowed to him," Impa puts in simply. As usual.
"I do not know if we are to trust them, Impa."
"Perhaps he does not know if he is to trust you, either."
"Oh?" he asks with a mock smile. I definitely do not like him. He turns to me and bows, somewhat overdone, in my opinion. "Excuse me. I am Enlil, Lord of the Sheikah Aesir. I too am, therefore, one of the Wise. I help Impa rule and plan the actions of the Sheikah. I have been told of your coming and have been expecting you. But I do not know if we should welcome you so openly into our haven. We Sheikah are not easily opened to others, and we rarely confide our secrets."
"I've noticed," I manage to grunt. I don't like him. But I notice Zel seems to have some appreciation for him; I can see it in her eyes. And I do not know why, but that makes me like him even less.
"I told you, Enlil: I vowed to him. I trust him to be who I told you."
"Following your lead, Impa, I would trust him also with my life, as always. But sometimes things are not as easily settled. His identity must be more clearly established. Imagine someone may extract information from him by torture?" I can only roll my eyes.
"I took precautions. Many times I lead them in circles."
I grunt. Crazy Sheikahs. Like there's a whole host of whackos out there just dying to find out how to get to the nearest bathroom in Cavernburg.
"We use different… facilities. Not bathrooms," the old man, Erra, says looking at me amusedly.
Damn. Still thinking out loud.
"Look. I know you guys are wise, and know many things, and all that, but you have to stop thinking I am going to betray you. Above all, I have no idea where I am, not exactly anyway, and second of all, I have found nothing out that would be worth selling to anyone. Lastly, I know no one to sell or give this information to, and I wouldn't just allow myself to be captured. I'd rather die in battle. I will never join them, and I will make sure they all end up dead for messing up with Hyrule"
Don't ask me why, but the last part seems to have been exactly the thing to say. Erra and Enlil are looking appreciative, as if looking at me for the first time, and approving. Impa is trying to hide a note of pride in her face. And Zel is looking at me calculatingly, but I cannot read her expression.
"I can see now why you believe in him, Impa," Enlil says after a few minutes. There is a strange glint in his eye.
They take me to a slightly bigger room, as I seem to have passed their first test. There are many more in this room, maybe a dozen. All are dressed in blue, not black, so I guess that means they are high ranking Sheikah. Though only a handful have a silver emblem on their uniform, and certainly not as big or as elaborate even as Zelda's.
They tell me their names and all that, but I cannot remember them. I do now that there are two groups, the Aesir and the Vanir. Looks like some kind of clan structure, but it's not exactly that. Maybe they are different motivations among the Sheikah. The Aesir look much more like noble and strong warriors, tested by experience and suffering. They have cold but not arrogant eyes. Their faces are hard-worn. These guys have seen death. I can tell that. The Vanir look somewhat older, if you can call it that, not that they are really much older to the other guys. But they seem grave and reflexive, subtle and cunning. But hey, that's just what I think. Enlil and Erra lead them respectively. They are seated closest to Impa. They are the ones that look older, and all look wise and noble.
Impa, by the way, seems to be in total control. And I mean total.
I do not know exactly what they are planning to do. My first surprise is that everyone is seated, but when I look around there seems to be no place for me to sit in. Impa passes by my side casually and whispers in my ear that this is deference, as I am their guest, and the one they are going to instruct me with their wisdom and council. I think she is making fun of me. Again.
It is Erra the one who begins to speak.
"This is what we know, Link. Many years ago there was an Imprisoning War. That we know for a fact. Other details are now only legendary. And many versions of this legend have been passed down. In some, the King fought with the Knights of Hryrule. In others, the Hero fought alone. We do not know this clearly. There also seems to be some kind of time warp, against which our powers of Seeing are useless. Some believe the Imprisoning War may have taken place in different time dimensions. In any case, the multiplicity, their differences and possible interpretations are irrelevant. I will only tell you what we do know. The Imprisoning War was fought within Hyrule, not against outside enemies. One of the people that inhabited the lands, the western Gerudos, fought to gain control of the castle and the country. They were led by a dark sorcerer. Seven Sages fought in the War also, so we are told, and in the End they imprisoned this evil sorcerer in another dimension. Perhaps they imprisoned him in another version of time. It is hard to say, any way. But we do know the Sages sealed the passage between our dimension and the dark one. The Dark World or Evil Realm are names our different traditions give to the place where the evil sorcerer is confined. No one should be able to come forth or go that way.
"Much more we know of this dark sorcerer. A name has been given to us, like an old evil from forgotten legends. It is a name of dark omens. It is the name of Ganon. You flinch. You know of him. Many names have been given to him. Dragmire, the Dark Ruler; Mandrag the Black of the Enchanted Thieves; Ganondorf the Evil Sorcerer. It matters not. He is evil. All that matter is that.
"Many legends of Hyrule speak of him. He is always there haunting our history. Legends pass on: legends of Cycles and Cataclysms, of coup d'états and revolutions. Somehow this Ganon was able to break the seals between worlds and come to Hyrule again and again, his intent to gain possession of the land always driving him. He seems to be immortal, for all we can tell. The Book of Mudora, which Impa tells us you possess, includes some of these legends and stories. It also includes prophecies meant to be used by the Heroes that have always saved us."
"And this makes us wonder," Enlil cuts in. "The Wise have always wondered indeed about this: every time Ganon enters our world, there is always someone against him. A sword, a champion of light, a true hero."
"What do you mean, enter our world?" I ask.
"You might have heard," one of the Aesir begins, and I'm not sure who, might be Balder or Honir or something like that, "the Legend of the Triforce. A relic of ancient and divine powers that is. Ganon has always craved for it. His intent, as we have been able to decipher, is to gain possession of the Triforce. And he has tried just that many times. Indeed many believe the place we now call Evil Realm was once the Holy Land, the Golden Land, the place where the Triforce rests. He has been shut in that dimension, but he has not the Triforce. Not the complete Triforce, at least. But it seems he has been able to… interact with our dimension, on occasions. Nevertheless, he does not have the Triforce."
"And he has never been able to get it?"
"No," says Erra. "Here we deal with another matter of the utmost importance. A very curious matter. The Triforce has always seemed to avoid Ganon's grasp."
"Because of these heroes you told me about?"
"Partially," Enlil continues, "but not quite. It is the Triforce itself, which seems to refuse governance under the Dark King. We have heard the legend of a time in which Ganon had complete power over the Triforce. He had, however, to break the seals between the Dark and Light worlds."
"Yeah, I've seen something like that," I say. Sure, I remember that adventure: waking up in the middle of the night, meeting my uncle on a cold dungeon, rescuing Zelda, losing Zelda…
"Indeed," Enlil continues. "So you must be aware that he did not manage it. The Hero stopped him before he could effectively eliminate the seals. And the Triforce made no effort to aid him. Not completely, at least. You see, when Ganon first sought to rule it, the Triforce split into tree triangles, each bearing one of the supreme triforsic powers."
"Er, tree triangles…?" I stutter.
"That they would look like, but it is not what they are exactly," explains Erra. "Rather, it seems that the Triforce itself divides, so that instead of these powers being contained in the sacred Relic, it chooses three hosts to wield it. It seems the Triforce is able to imprint itself on the souls of these Chosen Ones. The external appearance would be that of a golden triangle, much like a drawing, in the body of those Chosen by Destiny."
"A tattoo, you mean? In their bodies? How big is it? Where is it? Can it appear on your—"
"So," that's Impa, cutting me off. Again. "I believe, Master Erra, that you could tell us how to deal with this information."
"Certainly, certainly," Erra breaks in. "What I was about to say is that these Three Chosen Ones have always been Ganon himself, the one and only Ganon, mind you, and—"
"Let me guess. Zelda, a Princess of Hyrule, and Link. A nomad." I finish for him.
"Well, yes," concedes Enlil. "Conceded, there have been many Zeldas in the history of Hyrule. An old Prince made sure of that after her sister was put to sleep by an evil sorcerer. Indeed, that involves the first legend of the Triforce we have. It is the story of the sleeping Zelda. In ancient days, many, many a year ago, a great king used the whole united Triforce to keep the peace with the True Force. So the Triforce became the basis for Hyrule's providence. Perhaps he kept the Triforce in temples, since centuries later some were said to house the Triforce itself... And maybe the Triforce gave advice to the king, since it is said it was to guide the intelligent life on the world of Hyrule. When the king died, the Triforce passed to his son, but the prince's heart was not in balance, so he only got one piece. Before he died, the king had told his daughter Zelda why the Triforce would be split and or where the pieces would be hidden. An evil wizard knew this, and tried to force Zelda to tell him where the Triforce pieces were hidden. The wizard failed, but when he put Zelda to sleep he forced the Sages to reconsider letting just anybody try to take the Triforce. The Sages realized that the Triforce could fall into the wrong hands, and responded by hiding the Triforce in its original resting place, the Golden Land, and sealing the entrance with the Master Sword and the Temple of Time. Over the years the location of the Triforce was forgotten because these select few neglected to pass on the knowledge. The Hylian Book of Mudora, however, kept a record of its location and how to get there..."
"And by what Impa has told us," Erra continues, "you seem to be able to recall all this. Indeed, this evil wizard we know was named Agahnim. He was defeated then, but later came back, in the time of the Abduction, and he was the one who helped Ganon discover the sages or descendants of sages, that could power the spell to break the seals. And that you remember, it seems. You are able to recall the lives of the previous Links, I mean. And that can only make us wonder."
"What?"
"Whether the Three legendary Chosen Ones are the same Three," a different Aesir explains.
"What? What do you mean?" I gasp in disbelief. "You mean… you mean…"
"We do not know much for certain," a Vanir helps me. "We know nothing for certain, actually. But some interpreters claim that you are, for all purposes, the same Link that has always fought the same Ganon, with the aid of the same Zelda. Of course, this is only one possible explanation. It is not necessarily true. We also realize this information might be disturbing."
I always thought that I was the most resourceful and witty man that has ever existed. I thought no one could ever surprise me, or get ahead of me, or surpass me in any way. Certainly not speaking. But right now I don't know what to say. So I do the only possible thing: I open my mouth very stupidly. And I notice that somehow I've lost my balance, and I'm sitting on the cold stone floor.
"Link? Are you feeling well?" Enlil asks me, as he reaches down to look at my bewildered face.
"Crazy shadows," is all I manage while he helps me up to my feet.
"Well, surely you don't have to be so rude," he says and I suddenly loose his support, consequently falling back on the floor. I certainly don't like him. Tiredly standing up again, I look at Zelda. She looks quite calm, serenely seated next to some Vanir.
"What does the Princess think about this?" I wonder at no one in particular.
"Nothing at this time," Impa speaks. "This information has already been confided to the Princess. She knows of this possibility already, and she has heard other theories as well."
"Really?"
"Yes, but that is not what matters right now," Erra says.
"What is it that matters right now, then?"
"Your part in all this," Enlil explains. "The part of the Hero, that is. I am prepared to accept you as the Hero of Legend. It may or may not be that you are the same Link that has saved us all countless times before, but that matters not right now. In this precise moment, our most important issue is to decide a course of action. And that, it seems, necessarily involves you, as you have accepted a role of destiny. Indeed, for all Impa has told us, you seem to have virtually accepted to be the hero. As we have told you, the Triforce has never allowed Ganon to gain possession of it. But to ensure this, the part of the Hero is necessary. The Triforce has also always guaranteed this. At least always that we have known of. The Triforce, you may know, is divided into three different aspects of magic. These three represent Strenght, Knowledge, and Nobility. They are the Triforce of Power, Wisdom, and Courage. The Triforce usually grants its Courage to the Hero of Hyrule. And so, you may be the actual possessor of the triforsic Courage."
"So you are wondering if I have this golden triangle tattooed on my body?"
"Well, yes," Erra concedes, obviously not living my choice of words. "Do you have it?"
"Not that I know."
"And you have, ah, searched for this particular marking?"
"If you mean that somewhere in my privates there is a shining golden triangle that I have seen and admired, I can tell you, no. What do you want me to do, strip?" I can't help but see that Zel has blushed with this, and I kinda start blushing, too. Time to divert attention, I guess. "Have you, er, seen if the Princess has a Triforce mark?"
"We are not sure about it."
"What do you mean?"
"They mean," Zel tells me, "that I do have certain manifestations of being imbued with Wisdom, but there is no physical manifestation of the Triforce. Yet."
"You mean you have suddenly become all-knowledgeable and wise, knowing everything about everything? It figures." Zel frowns. Oops. But she is no wise woman, I can tell you that. Pretty, maybe, but she's definitely not my kind of guru.
"She is actually the one that has helped us clear a lot of our legends and data. This is not the first time she has been contacted. Since the war began, she has also helped us. We do not know if the Triforce is united or divided right now. We don't even know where it is, but she seems to hold Wisdom, or at least to be connected with it. Princess Zelda has dreams and psychokinetical ventures into other times and places, which leads us to believe that the Triforce of Wisdom may have encouraged her psychic abilities, so as to make her able to react with parallel dimensions and planes from the time continuum and space vortexes."
"Thanks for clearing that up for me, Impa."
"She means Link that I can sense events taking place in other parts of the realm, and I can reach, mostly through dreams and visions, into the past and future."
"Right, your Worshipfulness, thank you for clearing that up. Next time I want to know why my reflection in the mirror is turned the other way around, and why I have two equal but non interchangeable hands, I'll let you know."
"She means she knows what's going on in the palace and see the future, you daft cucco-brained man!" Erra yells. I didn't think him to be the exasperating kind. Maybe I'm going to start not liking him either.
"OK, so I am stupid! Bite me!"
"I beg your pardon?" one of the female Vanir asks me, bewildered.
"I meant, OK, she seems to possess the Triforce of Wisdom. So, what do we do with that?"
"The immediate course of action," Impa explains, "is to determine whether you are a suitable receptor for the Triforce of Courage. That is, to determine if you can have it, actually have, will have it, or if you are simply unfit."
"And how do we do that?"
"You alone can know the answer, Hero," Erra speaks mysteriously. "You can reach the memories of the ancient heroes of Hyrule, can you not?"
"As far as I know, I can reach the memories of two previous Links if that is what you mean."
"Yes, that we know," one Vanir continues. "According to our conjectures, the most likely possibility is that you can see the most important events in the labors of past heroes. Thus, you have been granted access to the memories of the most prominent heroes. Only the important events, mind you. You would not be able to see them sleeping, or drinking water from a river or something like that. We believe them to be the Hero of Time, and the Cataclysm Hero."
"Why are they different? Are there different kinds of heroes?"
"That depends on your point of view." Good thing he told me that. I hate straightforward answers. "Many claim that they are essentially the same kind of Hero. Others do not think so. Some distinguish between the legendary Hero of Hyrule and the Cataclysm Hero. The titles of Hero of Time or Hero of Winds could be the same as one or both of these, or an altogether different thing. I myself believe the Hero of Time title is the same as the Cataclysm Hero. The Hero of Time should be able to travel between time dimensions, and I believe the Dark World is nothing but an alternate time dimension that has continued to exist due to Ganon's Power. That would explain the similarities and parallelism between our world and the Dark world."
"We have a lot of prophecies concerning that," the female Vanir adds. "Of all them, this is the central, the prophecy of the Great Cataclysm: If a person who has an evil heart gets the Triforce, a Hero is destined to appear, and he alone must face the person who began the Great Cataclysm. If the evil one destroys the Hero, nothing can save the world from his wicked reign. Only a person of the Knights of Hyrule, who protected the royalty of Hylia, can become the Hero."
"But you should take into account," Erra adds, "the legendary inscriptions in triforsic pedestals: The Hero's triumph in Cataclysm's Eve wins three symbols of virtue. The Master Sword he will then retrieve, keeping the Knight's line true."
"And what about," Enlil asks, "our own prophecy, the Prophecy of the Sheikahs? When evil rules all, an awakening voice from the Sacred Realm will call those destined to be Sages, who dwell in the Five Temples… Together with the Hero of Time, the awakened ones will bind the evil and return the light of peace to the world."
"But that may only refer to the Hero of Time, not to him," a Vanir says. "I do not share Feyr's time-dimensional interpretation. And so, we must remember, an ancient Sage once said, "the power to fight together with the Sages makes you the Hero of Time."
"And indeed that is not enough, maybe, to be the Hero of Hyrule," Erra intervenes. "Remember the other prophecy: if one clears all of the dungeons of evil and wins the Triforce, he will be recognized as the true Legendary Hero of Hyrule. Maby this true hero has never appeared."
"But has that ever happened?"
"Some of the legends that have come to us claim so" Enlil again. "Indeed, the Abduction Era hero seems to have obtained the whole Triforce and vanished Ganon. This would be one of the two Links you recollect. In my opinion, you are able to recall the actions of the first and last heroes. But even if the Last Link obtained the Triforce and healed the land with it, whether the Triforce is now united or separated, who can tell? And anyway, we must not forget Aginah the Sage's prophecy: The Hero will stand in the desert holding the Book of Mudora."
"Besides," that's the female Vanir again, "remember: The true Hero will find the Moon Pearl in the mountain tower."
I can't take it anymore. Too much nonsense. "OK, OK, people! Can we turn it down for a while? This is getting too much historical for my gusto. I know nothing about prophecies and ancient I only agreed to one thing with Her Excellentness: to get three stones and one sword. Later, if I remain alive, I will try to wipe out an entire army and destroy their leader, thus saving king and country. And I've got to do this in three days. So, if you would kindly take your minds out of the past, and come back to the present, we may continue."
"Link," Impa tells me, "you must realize how important these matters are."
"Really? What does it matter if I become the Hero of Light, the Hero of Life, and the Hero of cuccos? The only thing that matters is—"
"Link," Erra explains with the pained voice of one explaining something very important to somebody very stupid. I am really beginning to dislike him. "What is the one thing that the great heroes had that aided them in their quests? What is the one weapon that can effectively face and conquer evil? The words of legend we have told you already: The Hero's triumph in Cataclysm's Eve wins three symbols of virtue. He will then retrieve…"
"The Master Sword!"
"Right. So, you see, we already know many things. Above all, we know you must obtain the Master Sword. Without it, it is doubtful you will be able to even face these fiends. And yet, we also know that to obtain the Master Sword, you will first need these three symbols of virtue the prophecy speaks of. Indeed, the ancient Sage Sahasrahla once said of the Sword of Evil's Bane: Not just anyone can use that weapon. Legends say only the Hero who has won the three Pendants can wield the sword."
"We also know," Enlil says with a smirk, "that you have to hold the Book of Mudora in the desert, that you will obtain the Moon Pearl in the mountain tower, that Five Sages will be awakened in their temples, and that if you rescue them in this temples clearing them of all evil and get the Triforce, you will be the true legendary hero. Provided you are of the line of the Knights of Hyrule. If not, then this is all a scam."
"I am. My father was a Knight."
"We mean the ancient bloodline. Many Knights of our age are just knights because they took the job. Not because they are descendants of that particular, original clan."
"Whatever. I am a Knight."
Impa and Zelda roll their eyes. And I think Erra tried to, also. Crazy ancient dead shadow.
"Fine. We can worry about that later. Right now, tell me, where are the Pendants?"
They look at each other almost sheepishly for a while. I am beginning to wonder…
"Oh, give me a BREAK!" I scream exasperatedly, throwing my arms up. "You don't know? What good have you made? You've only remembered a bunch of prophecies and you are a bunch of pathetic historic—"
"Link, will you SHUT UP for a moment?" an Aesir shouts. "We do know where the pendants are."
"Oh. Sorry. My mistake."
"We told you of the Five temples," Enlil explains. "We know them. We have Sheikah doing reconnaissance missions around them. We know two of this temples have a Pendant, one of them is in a mountain, so we are guessing the Moon Pearl is over there, but do not know that for sure, and we know the other is in a forest. This last temple appears to be desserted, but we have not gone inside. We detect a lot of magic emanating from there, and we are not sure if it is light or black magic. And lastly, we know General Kane wields the Pendant of Power around his neck."
"Oh, this is just great—"
"We are working on it, Link. Right now, the best thing you can do is visit the other two temples holding a Pendant. When you get the first two, we will talk about the rest."
"You want me to go to two unexplored, magical, probably full of lethal things, temples?"
"The first two do not appear to be full of lethal things, as you put it. Indeed, the Heroes of history have many times entered temples full of evil and defeated them. I do not know why you fear."
"Well, maybe because they were heroes. And we do not know if I am."
"You are," Zelda speaks softly. "I am sure."
"Er, right, Princess." I unexpectedly feel uncomfortable with her confidence.
"Besides," Enlil speaks again, "you will not go alone. Other Sheikah will be with you. As our leader vowed to you, we will help you."
"Good, I was beginning to think you guys were all talk, and no action. Let's hit it, then."
Later
From the depths of the night, the Phantom has come back. I think it is time to build my reputation a little bit more. And this is just the best opportunity.
They showed me these weird things they call "lost doors", which are actually portals that take you anywhere in Hyrule. That's how these shadows get to be everywhere.
After getting some food and sleep, and I actually had to press Impa to get these, I got into one, and the next second, I was out. The door comes out in a specially placed underground cave they made. Three Sheikah are behind me. Impa rejected my kind invitation to join us. Said she had to go through a lot of things, having got back to her city. To me, she's just weaseling out. They are young Aesir, which seems to be the more active, fighting-oriented, better spying-trained Sheikah. They didn't give me their real names. Whatever. Apparently, Aesir use special battle names when they are in active duty. I have to call them Ace, Bully, and Flatface. The last one did not sound much pleased with his nickname. I wonder how he got it. They all look the same to me. They wear black suits, faces covered. Their eyes shine red, and that makes me nervous.
Me? I have my green stuff. Its warm enough, I think, fits, and it's not too heavy. I have my sword in my belt, my bow and quiver in my back, and my Great Green Hat.
"Right," I mutter. "Let's do this."
We step out of the cave through some dissimulated very poorly built, too-much-vertical-for-my-taste stairs (if you can call them that: they are so well hidden I think it would be better if there weren't any stairs at all, and you just used ropes). We are in the middle of a small, dark forest scene. The trees seem tall, oppressive, and old. We move a little bit, with Ace in the lead. After a few minutes we seem to at last have reached the edge of the forest.
"How's it?" Ace asks.
"I think," I begin to answer, until another voice cuts me off.
"All's clear. Go in now," it's another Sheikah that steps out of the shadow of a tree. Crazy Sheikahs. "We will keep watch here, until the morning. If you do not come out, we will bring reinforcements."
Ace only nods, and steps out of the forest at full speed. I brace myself and get ready to follow him. Bully and Flatface are already moving ahead. As I step out of the forest, I notice why they are running. We are in a small bowl shaped island in the middle of Lake Hylia. The moon is shining brightly above us. Anyone may be able to see us. Fortunately, my friends seem to know how to avoid making any noise. As for me, well, I am the Phantom.
In the eastern shore a tall menacing tower shines to the moonlight. I adventure a glance just before joining my teammates, who are hiding on an edge in the western side of the wall. I can't see much, but the tower surely looks ancient. Positively ancient. So ancient I suddenly feel just how young I am. It gives me the creeps. Everything's too quiet. The lake makes little noise, providing the whole atmosphere with an eerie serenity.
When I reach the place my friends are, covering in some bushes close to the wall, I have to recover my breath, but they seem to have just gotten back from a pleasant walk. Flatface is checking out everything to assume we are not being seen. The moon is shining just above us, after all. We have to keep very close to the bushes, you know? Very—
"Move," he says in a barely audible whisper. Crawling through the bushes and thick plants that grow on the tower or temple's (whatever this thing is) side we move alongside the wall, until we reach a great black door, flanked by a series of very elaborate stairs. I wonder how the hell we are getting in. Without being seen. Knocking does not sound like a very phantomlike or sheikahlike option.
"Coming?" Bully tells me. Ace is nowhere in sight, and Flatface is entering a small hidden passage on a corner or the wall a couple of meters to the left of the great stairs. Hidden door? I must have missed it. Good idea, though. Taking in a small breath, I prepare myself to follow them. Bully is awaiting me, so, without further ado, I bend down and throw myself into the tunnel. Into the dark.
