The tournament began late in the morning, but no one had seemed to sleep that long. A several small arenas were set up between Hyrule Castle and the town, with a special platform for the King and the princess, the lucky knight who were guarding them getting the best view.
Link had skipped the initial battles, preferring to go to the town and spend time there. Eshie and Diddy had tagged along, wanted to get to know each other better. They had bought various foods, with Link aiming to satisfy his sweet tooth, Diddy going for hot foods, and Eshie stealing from both of them.
"I meant to ask," Eshie said, poking Link in the arm. "Whats with the green outfit."
"It's what I wore back home in the forest." Link replied before biting down on another slice of cake.
"Ok, fair enough, but why is it green?"
Link paused. "I actually have no idea. Maybe its the easiest dye to get in the forest, or matches the trees."
"Besides," Diddy interjected. "That hat would look stupid red."
Eshie smiled. "Probably worse purple." They laughed.
Link blushed. "Yeah, well, I dont question what you wear."
"Thats because none of use care."
"Right. Sure."
A group of small children ran past, almost trampling them over, giggling and waving around wooden swords.
Link grinned. "People really do come from all around, don't they?"
Diddy nodded, swallowing a steaming potato. "Yup. Few years ago the champion was from Hebra." He stuffed another potato in his mouth. "Diunt evuan noo tey 'ad ordsmun."
Eshie rolled her eyes. "Right…"
Link pursed his lips. "I wish Malon were here."
Eshie tilted her head. "Your ranch friend?"
"Yeah. I haven't seen her."
"They provide the milk right? They probably sell it to the stalls and make a profit of them. No need to stay here."
"Yeah you're right. Still a shame." He thought for a moment. "Is there any history to this tournament?"
She turned to Link. "Not much, but they say a few centuries ago a demon won the tournament and used its power to unleash Demises forces on Hyrule."
Link frowned. "Is that a story or real?"
"Who knows? All we know is that there was a gap between tournaments and in that time monsters flooded Hyrule."
"Yet people still celebrate it?"
Diddy patted Link on the back. "It's a festival. Of course people are going to celebrate it! Good times outweigh the bad times."
Link shook his head. "I'm not sure thats a good excuse."
"Oh shush young one. Should we check out how the tournament's going? Don't wanna miss it all."
"You just want to see people get hurt."
Eshie tilted her head. "I see no problem with that."
Diddy pointed at her. "You scare me."
"You say the nicest things Diddy."
Before either of them could respond, she dragged them towards the masses and sounds of singing swords.
"Amazing." Link breathed. "Just… wow!"
The tournament had moved at an incredible rate. The less skilled swordsmen were weeded out quickly, but even when the experts crossed blades, the tournament didn't slow down. The clashes were fast, each move precise, less a test of ability, more a test of strategy, a clash of intellect. At this point in the day, only a third of the competition remained. At this rate, the completion would end by the next night.
Link had been watching a slim swords woman with a claymore outwit a fast moving rapier welder, and Link was sure that she had lost multiple times. Yet she not only won the duel, but came out without any more scratches to her armour. Link could only feel envious of her skill. He prayed to the golden goddesses that he would one day be as good as her. Or her opponent, for that matter. Anyone, really.
His thoughts were interrupted by Aram. "Link! You need to see this guy!"
Link pushed through the crowd, trying to get to get to the arena Aram was it. After much pushing, squirming and apologising, Link found himself next to Aram, having missed the duel. Aram was awestruck.
"He's incredible! I don't believe his skill!" He grinned at Link. "I think he's going to win this!"
Link craned his neck to look at the swordsman as he left the arena, and recoiled.
The black swordsman.
He couldn't make out the armour, the sword or even the build of the swordsman. But there was no denying, it was the man from his nightmare. Same void-black metal, same walk. Link felt his mind begin to shut down, but managed to steady himself. He didn't believe in coincidences, they always turned out to be manipulations. He tried to get another look at the man, but he had disappeared.
"Where is his next fight?"
Aram shook his head. "No idea. Tell me if you find him, please." And with that, he bolted off, searching for the black swordsman.
Link tried to find him as well, but to no avail. He failed to enjoy the rest of the day, too afraid that he would miss the man to notice that the day had ended. Diddy practically had to drag him back to their quarters for the night.
He didn't sleep well that night.
Link was at the arena by the time that the sunrise over the horizon. He spent the time he had before people arrived trying to find who the swordsman was, but he didn't recognise any crests. Not that he knew what he was looking for. Raven on a black shield? Black cat on a starry sky? He eventually gave up and tried to find out his man. Of course, no one knew, and by the time Link realised this, the tournament had restarted. This didn't deter him. He checked every arena he passed. He passed the swords woman from earlier against a large swords woman with twin scimitars, a bare chest long swordsman being soundly beat by a short man with a broadsword, and many more. Never the black swordsman.
"Oi, Link! What are you doing?"
Link looked up to see Oulson frowning at him. "I'm looking for someone. Black swordsman."
Oulson grunted. "Well, there's only half a dozen duels left. If your guys still in, he'll be closer to the Royals."
"There's only twelve left?" That couldn't be right. He looked skyward to see that the sun had already passed it's peak a couple of hours ago.
Oulsons brow creased. "Where have you been all day? Have you even eaten?"
Now that he mentioned it, Link was feeling rather hungry. He was silent for a moment. "No."
Oulson scowled. "Well hurry up! You'll miss the final duel if you take too long." And with that, he spun back and headed towards the arenas towards the castle.
Link thought for a moment. He needed to check is the swordsman was there, but soon the stalls would be closed for the ceremonies.
He ran to the nearest stall and ordered a meat and mushroom skewer, payed the exact amount (because those Rupees were hard earned) and sprinted back to the arenas.
He found the swordsman dancing around his opponent, a man armoured only with chain mail. Whatever they tried to do, the swordsman was already moving to counter. It seemed he was on the defence, but in reality the swordsman was simply toying with their opponent. Still the man tried, again and again to break the swordsmans defence, stabbing and following with a fient before slashing at his left arm. However, the swordsman, growing bored of the game, simply stepped side on, effortlessly dodging the sword. Then, in a flash of black, the chain mailed man disarmed, knocked to the ground, and staring down the sabre of the black swordsman.
The crowd erupted in applause. Everyone screamed congratulations to the victor, who barely acknowledged the insufferable sound. The only one that remained silent was Link, not that anyone noticed. As the swordsman walked out of sight once more, it was evident that he had a variety of different blades hanging from his waist, with at least one rapier, a scimitar and a pair of sabres. His Armour was lean and angular, with each metal plate fused to chain mail underneath. Link frowned. Did the chain mail form a hat like his one? He was so stuck up on this fact, and somewhat insulted, that he couldn't focus on anything else before the swordsman disappeared from view.
Damnit.
Soon enough, there was only two champions left; the black swordsman and the woman with the claymore. She had heard of his reputation, and she had no intention of taking him lightly. She shifted her weight from her feet, her knuckles white on her blade.
The black swordsman, however, was holding his sabre loosely in his right hand, his body like a statue.
This final duel had a level of grandeur. The arena was set before the king and the princess, with a chest sealed with a gold hilted sword, the prize.
The king rose from his throne and the crowd silenced. He raised his arm, and with booming voice, addressed the combatants. "You have done well to get this far. Only one of you may claim the title of champion. I wish you both the best of luck." The swordswoman nodded in acknowledgement, but the black swordsman remained still. "Very well." He raised his arms, and when he dropped them, he announced "Begin!"
The black swordsman lunged forward, his sabre arcing downwards. The woman moved her claymore to block the attack, and the sabre bounced off the larger sword, but the swordsman continued to strike at her, beating his opponent to her knees. As he pulled back one last time, the swordswoman sprang up, ramming the flat of her claymore into the swordsmans chest, staggering him. She swung her blade at his free arm, but he ducked underneath, leaving her open. He struck her side, throwing her off balance, before jabbing at her in the ribs. The swordswoman lost ground, and the swordsman advanced. He attack her sides, alternating each strike. After a moment, the swords woman went to block, and the swordsman struck at the same side, only for his sword to be deflected away. The swordswoman had anticipated he was tricking her and took a gambit, which was shown to be the right move. She swung her claymore and hit him twice before he darted back out of her range. He straightened up and spread his arms, taunting her, beckoning her to strike.
The swordswoman circled around him, trying to assess her opponents strategy. He seemed only trying to bait her, or anger her into making a mistake, but she would not fall for such obvious traps.
Which is why she was surprised when he suddenly sprinting at her, about to slash at her. Quickly, she raised her sword to deflect his attack, which staggered him just long enough for her to drive her blade directly into his chest, sending him flying back. Before she could relish her success, He was on his feet, glaring through his mask. He moved quickly, closing the distance in moments. In surprise, the swordswoman swung her claymore without thinking, a swing that would take off the head off a less skilled warrior. Unfortunately, the black swordsman was very skilled. In one swift motion, he deflected the claymore and swung his sabre around and hit her with enough force to not only knock her to the ground, but also make her lose her grip on her sword, sending it flying across the arena. Before the swordswoman could every think about rising, not that she could do so easily, the black swordsman places his blade to her throat.
This all happened in under two minutes.
The crowd was silent for a moment, but only a moment. Screams, applause and hysterical noises filled Links ears. Link wasted no time with these ceremonial approvals. He moved as close as he could to the princess. He was afraid, terribly afraid of what the black swordsman was going to do. He needed to be ready for the worst. He needed to protect her. He cursed himself for not bringing his sword, or even his shield. Lack of foresight will get you killed.
He slipped through the crowd easily, one advantage being younger, and found himself right on the barrier before the king had even risen from his throne. He assessed how he could get to Zelda, how they could get out of there, the best places to lose the swordsman if followed them, and how quickly he could get a weapon.
He had half formulated a plan when the swordsman approached the platform. Up this close, Link could get a clear look at the swordsman. Unlike earlier, he was wearing a simple purple cowl draped over his shoulders. Instead of a traditional helmet, he wore a two piece mask in the the image of a face with sharp feature, the first part attached to his face and the second attached to his lower jaw. Link wondered if that was what he really looked like. He had a ruby encrusted in the center of his forehead. Around his body he had chain mail fitted over him like a second skin, with individual plates attached to his chest, stomach, shoulders, upper arms and legs, in addition to sharp gauntlets and greaves. There was, of course, the hat. It wasn't detached from the rest of the chain mail, simply a continuation of it. Link wondered how it kept its form.
The swordsman kneeled before the king, who rose to meet him.
"You have risen above all other combatants. You have proven your skill, not only through your strength, but your mind. You have earned your right to the title of champion!" The crowd once again erupted in noise. The king waited until the masses had exhausted their voices. He indicated to the chest. "Claim your prize, the blade only the greatest may hold."
The swordsman nodded before approaching the sword. He extended his right hand and grasped the grip. For a moment, the sword resisted, before slowly slipping out of the chest. Once the sword was free, the swordsman turned to the masses and raised the blade over his head, and looked over the ecstatic crowd.
Then he locked eyes with Link.
Time seemed to slow. Link noticed the swordsmans eyes. They were the colour of rust, not red nor brown. Link felt there was something about them that was familiar.
They stood there, motionless for several seconds. Sound washed over them, but fell on deaf ears.
Link registered the swordsman was moving. He was waving the sword around. No, he was pulling it back.
Link realised that the swordsman was about to throw it. His body acted before his brain, moving out of the path the sword was going to follow. He fell to the ground, and dully noticed that the joyous sounds had turned to screams.
In a flash of light the sword pierced the ground that a few seconds ago Link stood. The scraping of metal on stone slammed into Link like a goron. He spun, eyes fixated on the black swordsman, who was charging at Link, his eyes radiating malice.
Link didn't realise what was happening. He wasn't aware of the sounds around him. He wasn't aware he was panicking. He just ran.
Ran from the being that was trying to kill him.
You wanted things to get more intense?! HERE YOU GO!
Seriously though, all the previous chapters have been leading to this. Things are finally picking up speed now that the unnecessary baggage is gone. Hopefully the quality gets better along with the pacing.
Ok, this is your second to last warning. From the next chapter onwards, sh^t goes down. People die, it gets bloody and I'll overly detailed. If you're under 16, get out now. I do not want to be responsible for permanent trauma or get stern yet scary emails from upset parents who you tricked. This is not a story for little kids or young teenagers. You have so much innocence left! Don't waste it! It's the best part of being that age.
Ignore me and I'll send Tingle to haunt you. We all hate that guy.
Kooloo-Limpah mother puncher.