Chapter 40

The River Devil

I rose the next morning to find the elder of Kasuto already up. He was cooking with a floating flame and offered me some roasted tektite. Then, we were out on our way again.

We walked for many hours. It must have been hard to flee through here with the survivors of town. Though it still seemed like he knew where he was going, I just felt like we were growing more and more lost. The woods thickened here, and the wasteland was nowhere to be seen, but we still kept on walking.

Sometime later, we came to a tunnel in the middle of a cliffside. "It's just on the other side." He promised as we went in. The tunnel was a straight passage through, no tricks or dangerous steps here. The morning light from the other side beamed in hard, and I could see every corner of here without the use of my candle.

The light became blinding still as we stepped out into it. "Welcome to New Kasuto." I heard the elder say, though it took a minute for my eyes to adjust. I saw before me a warm little settlement still made up of tents and temporary homes. Though it looked like there were a few wooden cabins they were currently working on.

The homes were spread pretty randomly, and there were no dirt roads through here, just the grass and trees. The people outside at the time called for Sun-Summoner, happy to have him return safely. He nodded, greeting each and every one.

The land here was small, just a short spit of land hidden between the ocean, which spread over the horizon, and the sharp mountains we went through. It was the perfect size for a modest town, though perhaps not a bigger city. Of course, this location was secluded and safe, here there would be few hazards to protect against.

We kept strolling through what was almost too small to be called a settlement until a middle-aged man came from nowhere, calling to the elder as he jogged to us. "You're back," He said, stopping before him. "Did you bring the medicine? What was the condition of the town?" He asked in a hurry.

Sun-Summoner responded by handing him what he had taken from the so-called medicine house back in the ruined village. "This was all I could find, though I think it'll last us for a little while." He answered. The younger man grasped onto them tightly. He had bushy, dark hair and a widened face. Though he was missing the beard, it occurred to me these two looked alike. "As for the town," Sun-Summoner continued. "I'm afraid we won't be going back for some time yet. There's little remaining of it, the monsters did well with tearing everything apart. And worse yet, the infamous moas from Death Valley are taking over. It'll be difficult to be rid of them."

The younger man huffed in response after glancing at me weirdly. "They're not so difficult, all that you need is a holy charm! I'd say let's take it back now, the people are starving to return home."

"The holy charm weakens them, yes, but they can still be dangerous. And we can't risk going back when those monsters may still be on the loose! Son, this place isn't so terrible."

"But the people-"

"I believe you are the one starving to return home." Sun-Summoner interrupted, losing patience. Then he softened again. "We all miss it, but for now our safety is more important. We have no other choice."

But the man only became angrier, he shifted the bottles in his arms and looked to me again. "If our safety is the most important, then why did you lead a stranger into our vulnerable camp?"

Sun-Summoner glanced at me, shocked a little. "Don't you recognize him at all? This is the hero, Link!"

But the man wasn't fazed in the slightest, he even laughed and nearly dropped the bottles. "Father, I think you've been made a fool! He cannot possibly be Link, he's never been to this side of the kingdom. If he has, he would have shown up in time to save not only the town, but the people who were lost there."

The accusation burned me inside out. A part of me was upset that I wasn't. If I would have known, I would have tried my best for them. I was sorry by how angry he was about that. But that led me to my other side, the side that was angry for him thinking that I would have been here. Despite the popular tales about me and how great of a hero I was, I am still very much human. Unless I happened to stumble to their town at the right timing, I wouldn't have known it was in any danger. I'm not like the stories, I can't see whenever people need help all the time. I'm more normal than what they believed.

The man speaking was serious once more when he continued. "And please don't tell me you found him in the town."

Sun-Summoner barely hesitated when he answered he has, though he still had little doubt that I was the real thing. But now the man was even more upset. "It can't be him. More than likely, he's one of those monsters looking to finish us off. We can't have this, the elder needs to protect the town, not lead monsters into it."

By now, the elder was tired. "Please, Daniel..." He asked quietly, pausing here for just a moment. "Bring the nurse her medicine, her patients need it." The man he called Daniel opened his mouth to argue more, but he froze when Sun-Summoner gave him the pleading look. The elder even reached to pat his shoulder, but then the man turned without another word, glaring at me for a second before speeding away for a particular tent.

Sun-Summoner sighed and shook his head. "I'm sorry." He apologized to me. "He shouldn't have brought you in like that, but please forgive him. The poor boy has lost a lot during all of this, we all have."

"That was your son?"

He nodded. "Yes, that was Daniel, though many just call him Dan. He's a nice kid at heart, and a hard worker too, but he can be difficult when he lets his emotions through. I knew he was proud when I became the town's elder, but with all the frustration and work, we haven't been getting along very well anymore. I've been trying to give him some space, but I worry about him."

"Must be hard," I answered, not knowing what else to say. Sun-Summoner simply nodded and picked up the pace again.

…...

Sun-Summoner slowed when we were on the very edge of the campsite. The tents were now quite a way back, and the trees here were chopped down. This was where the townfolk gathered their wood. "It looks like the pillar went back down." He declared, scanning the ground. "Here," He suddenly picked up his march and climbed past some logs and stumps. I followed, coming around the pile to see him standing next to a weird hill. "You can still see it. I guess it didn't go completely back under." He was right, it was rather strange how it was perfectly round. Not just that, but I could see the stone trim near the ground. And it wasn't a very large hill either, maybe three people can stand on it at once.

Sun-Summoner backed up and asked for patience as he began to cast his spell. He focused intently and his deep voice rumbled through the air speaking unfamiliar words. I took a step back and waited for something to happen to the suspicious hill. The elder's chant echoed across the little bit of land there was, and then he let his voice silent, but I could tell the spell wasn't over, because he kept his arms before him and remained oblivious to anything else around him.

I waited patiently, but nothing seemed to happen. The air breezed by normally, everything was quiet, save for the sound of the shore beating against the cliffside below us, and the hill remained unmoved for what seemed like an hour. Sun-Summoner didn't budge, even after he was done, and was now waiting with me.

Finally, the ground around the hill began to rumble and I saw the carved stone began to lift. The ancient building kept its round shape and carved stone as it rose from the ground, and before long, I could see the beginning of its tall, open door.

Sun-Summoner let his arms rest as the structure stopped and was still before us. I walked in the small room that was in the ground only a few seconds ago. The elder of Kasuto followed behind me and was quiet when I stopped to look at the words carved in the stone before me. Indeed, he wasn't lying. It was covered in the language of old, but like before, I found myself able to read it like I've known it all my life. The words and letters came naturally to me, though I couldn't make sense of it. And the more I thought about it, the less sense it made. I read it quietly.

Chosen one, the Hidden Palace is your next challenge, but you would be unable to reach it unless you have traveled to the Ocean Palace first. Use the item given to you while standing before the three pillars of rock, and the palace will rise before you.

What was the item given? Ah, it was that flute. That was rather simple then. All that I have to do is play the flute before the pillars outside of old Kasuto, and I can enter the palace? I looked around the small room for any more information, but there was none. I came all the way out here just to find out to use the flute where the temple was?

I shrugged, mostly to myself as I turned back to Sun-Summoner. I was fixing to tell him I was done here, but I paused when I saw he was too intently focused on something to hear me. I followed his gaze down and to the back of my hand, where the Triforce was glowing brightly.

But that wasn't the only one glowing, there was another triforce marked in the stone under the words that matched the golden radiance. There was a light pull like they were trying to come together. I lifted my hand and held it against the mark. The light flashed from the two before dying down completely, and the triforce on the stone slid back, revealing a golden key with a ruby embellished handle.

Sun-Summoner was shocked, he stared ahead, once at the slab, then at my hand. "You," He stumbled, fighting just to speak. "The chosen one? But... How did-"

"I'm sorry I didn't say anything." I started. "It's a little complicated, I just thought I could come and look without having to explain any of this."

He stared at me for a little while longer before finding his voice again. "You are truly something else, Young Hero. Now I understand just how much of the world rests on your shoulders." He shook his head and chuckled.

He backed out of the small pillar for me to do the same. "So do you-" But he was interrupted by a terrible sound.

The sound of battle in the distance.

I turned back for the camp, and my heart sunk when I saw the people of New Kasuto fighting with a horde of moblins. "No!" The elder cried. "They found us!" Instantly, he broke into a run to help his people. I followed closely behind, bringing my sword and shield before me.

The battle grew closer and closer, and I already made my target. I leaped right into the fray, defending a group of young kids and a mother, trying to give them enough time to go safely inside one of the tents.

The moblins barely flinched and threatened me with their weapons, but I wasn't in the mood to play. While they taunted and grinned, I aimed and struck first. It was easily blocked by the wooden body of a spear, and now they were serious, each wanting to take a turn.

They attacked in between each other's strikes with brilliant timing, making it hard for me to strike back. Most of my time spent was with my shield, moving it left to right, blocking their weapons. Even when I had the chance to attack them, they blocked or dodged it each time. They protected every flaw, every opening. It was an incredible thing to witness. Even warriors who were trained for years hardly had the teamwork and effort these guys had!

But I tried my best to at least take one of them out. Still, they continued their timed jabbing and I with my blocking, but with each jab and thrust, I came a step closer. Once I was close enough, I decided my best plan was for a two-step attack. I swept my sword low, aiming for a moblin's ankle. His buddy next to him dropped his spear low, easily casting off my swing, just like I thought he would. I then lifted my boot high, kicking him in the stomach.

He tumbled back, not down, but having to recover. Of course, the others filled in for him, closing the gap and not allowing me through. That was fine, all that I needed was one less moblin. Now that there were just two, I followed through my same strategy, swinging low, allowing them to block, and then kicking high. But this time, I surprised them by kicking the one I attacked first instead of his defender. It wasn't as effective, however, as I kicked him in the thigh rather than the stomach. He still flinched though, giving me enough time to shove a shield into his buddy's face and a sword through his side.

Finally, that was one monster down, and by this time, the one recovering in the back came forward, ready to fight again. And the one that I stunned with my shield grew upset from seeing his friend on the ground. And so together, they fought with the utmost fury, making up for their lost friend.

And yet again, I was kept busy just trying to defend myself. Worse yet, I had to back up and keep them both in my sight. I knew one was trying to creep behind me. But that gave me the idea, shouldn't I let them try? I asked, suddenly deciding to plant my feet in the ground. And for a while, I swung, blocked, and twisted as they moved on either side of me. They were foolish to think I would so easily allow them to take the upper hand. I then surprised them both with a spin attack, knocking both of them down, where I finished them off. Now, as I turned, I could inspect how the camp was faring. But sadly, it was not going well.

Moblins ran to and fro, traveling in groups of at least three. But in total, the moblins made up a small army. This was why they were so potent, the prince was right to see them as a deadly storm. The already weak camp fought with everything they had left. Men, and some women, held their ground, protecting the young and injured with weapons and magic. Sun-Summoner was the strongest in the camp, standing before the nurse's tent, dropping blast after blast on the monsters. But the camp's grass was littered with more hylians than moblins. There was no way New Kasuto was strong enough to survive these beasts. Something had to be done, but I didn't know what to do. People said I was strong, perfect, and fearless, but I was no better than a helpless child. There was no way I could save this town.

But then the sun burned out.

It was like we were standing under a long shadow, and eyes, hylian and moblin alike, were cast up the western mountain, where a ginormous, dark figure covered the light from the sky. It scaled down the jagged rock with ease on six legs. It moved like a spider, and the form was the darkest black one could imagine, it showed no pattern or texture of any kind, even after the sun was released again. And its face was built like a hylian's, though it had red eyes that could be spotted from miles away.

After a second look at this weird creature, I finally recognized, past my mix of amazement and disbelief, what this thing was. The people of Kasuto, (along with the now uneasy moblins,) cried similar feelings and pointed at the odd sight. "That can't be!" They all exclaimed. "Is that the River Devil?!" That was the only explanation anyone had. I suppose it really did exist.

The River Devil crawled off the mountain and onto the grass in a matter of seconds, then it immediately charged for the nearest group of moblins. They scattered away from this new threat, not even bothering to face and fight it. Panic ensued everywhere, but there was true fear coming from the moblins themselves. Weapons dropped to the ground as they gave up fighting entirely, now focusing only on escape.

But I wasn't done with them yet. The Prince of Hyrule wanted them stopped, I wasn't going to allow them to run away and return to their dirty schemes. And so, as I caught one racing by me in a blind uproar, I grasped onto his shoulder. And for a second, he continued to run, nearly taking us both to the ground. But I held on, not allowing him by. He screamed and begged for me to release him, but I refused.

"Just end me then!" He finally yelled after whining, growing more crazed the longer I held him in place. His breaths came in quick, and his large eyes widened further every time he looked back at the River Devil. "I think I'd rather be ran through by you than that beast back there anyway!"

"Leave the people of Hyrule in peace," I demanded, ignoring his cries for death. "Did you hear me?!" I yelled as he didn't show any change. I pulled hard on his shoulder, trying to grasp his attention. "Disband your group, and stay away from our towns and property. I don't want to hear from you and your group again."

He snorted and met my eyes for a second. His face told me he was ready to die then, but at the mention of my offer, he lit up a little. I waited, giving him the time he needed. Finally, he nodded. "Fine, I promise!" He yelled, giving the River Devil another quick look. I was satisfied with his answer, and so I released him, allowing him to run free.

But the fleeing moblins were now the least of our problems. By the time I examined the camp again, most of the monsters were gone, and those who were not were well on their way. But the River Devil didn't pursue them. No, it was still here, though now it was terrorizing New Kasuto.

It stomped around with its long legs, nearly taking down tents, as it targeted the people rushing by it. And I saw many people rushing by! Those who were brave enough even stopped by the tents and cabins, bringing people out and taking them to safety elsewhere. But those who stayed remained on watch, many frozen with fear. No one dared to attack this beast. I guess I couldn't blame them. The rumor was this monster couldn't be harmed by any weapon, but surely we can't stand by and watch it destroy the camp? The people had nowhere to go, the monster was blocking the only way through the mountain, and we were otherwise trapped by the cliffside. What the people thought was a safe, secret haven, was now a dead-end, trapping them from any means of escape.

Already, the people were gathering at the end of camp, moving back where Sun-Summoner and I looked for that pillar. But it was hopeless, the River Devil was beginning its march there. The people knew it too, I could hear the cries from all the way over here.

"What's the plan? Tell me what I need to do to help!" I yelled as I jogged for Sun-Summoner. He was already talking with his son in the midst of the gathered people.

"Link, I'm so glad you're still here." He replied, turning to acknowledge me. "We're trying to come up with a plan now."

"I should be the one to distract him," Daniel said, completely ignoring me. "I'm faster, he won't be able to catch me, besides, you're growing too old for these battles."

Sun-Summoner was drawn back to Daniel, though he remained unoffended. "Yes, I am older than I used to be." He answered with light humor in his voice. "But I'm not too old yet. Believe me, my magic is strong, this beast won't even be able to see you and the people beyond the sun just inches before its horrible face."

But Daniel hesitated. "Please, just let me handle this. I know you'll be a lot safer leading the people out through the mountain. They trust you, you're their leader."

Sun-Summoner reached out to pat his son's shoulder, but he stopped. "But you're the son of the leader. They trust you more than you think. You helped the nurse treat the ill, you helped to build the camp. I'll be fine. I've had plenty of training with my magic, even more than you had. Lead the people out, protect them with your life. Link and I will catch up with you."

Again, Daniel hesitated, but the time to argue was up. The River Devil was just a few strides away. One last time, Sun-Summoner told his son to go on, and then he charged ahead for the monster.

Daniel sighed and called for the attention of Kasuto's residents. Then, after he was done saying they needed to make a wide turn around the fight and for the mountain, I heard him remark, under a quieter tone, how he wished there was a different way to do this. Which brought me a curious thought. "Does this River Devil have no weaknesses?"

He shrugged. "No one knows for sure. One story suggested the River Devil was scared away by a loud tune, but none of the other stories support that. Even the warriors who were brave enough to try and scare it away with that knowledge never came back." And with that, he continued with the people of Kasuto behind him.

Why would just one story mention fear of a loud tune, but not any of the others? If this was what I thought this was just a few days ago- nothing more than a ghost story- then it would make more sense if the story changed, but the monster's real, what gave the storytellers the idea this thing was scared of music?

"I'm gonna need some help here!" I heard Sun-Summoner cry as he dodged another needle fine-tipped leg.

There had to be a reason for that tale, and I'm going to solve it once and for all with the flute I found. After all, it is supposed to be strong enough to lead me to the next palace, surely that was a fine enough instrument to scare away the River Devil.

I ran ahead, reaching inside my pouch as I did. And when the thin, shiny pipe rolled into my waiting hand, I stopped just before the River Devil and brought the flute up. I didn't know exactly what to play, but I guess anything should work as long as it was loud enough. And so I was drawn into melody, focusing on playing loud and shrill, but still holding rhythm and pattern. I didn't even hear what Sun-Summoner was asking me, though I just heard his voice.

And was it a loud tune indeed! The flute whistled past the heavens and reached both Sun-Summoner and the monster above the sound of fire and explosions. Immediately, the fighting stopped, the River Devil now acting like it was in pain. It trembled from its skinny legs to its horrible face, and released a terrible screech, though even that didn't cover up the music. I continued to play my song, not giving it a moment's rest, when finally, it had enough.

It turned and skittered for safety, moving as quickly as it possibly could, which was crazy fast. One second, it was moving through the end of camp, and the next, it was already over the mountain, disappearing behind it. But I didn't drop the flute until I knew it was gone for sure, and when I finally dropped it to my side, I heard one final screech from the weird monster before that too faded in the distance.

The camp was quiet now. Sun-Summoner picked himself slowly from the ground, brushing the dirt from his robes and adjusting his sleeves. He didn't bother saying anything, I guess he was too shocked too, though I could hear his breathing from here.

I turned back to where Daniel and the rest of the people were. And they were all staring at the mountain where the beast left. "It's gone?" He asked, taking a few unsteady steps forward. "The story was true then."

"Only it was scared of a special kind of instrument." Sun-Summoner finally spoke, coming nearer. "I'm guessing you didn't find that just anywhere." He told me.

"You're right," I admitted.

Daniel sighed. "Please, allow me to apologize to you. I'm sorry for what I said about you earlier." He said to me. "Clearly, you are the real Link, you proved that to me, and if it weren't for you, then we'll all be dead now. You came to us at the right time."

But he just made me embarrassed. I shook his comment off. "But if you didn't tell me about the River Devil's secret, then I wouldn't have thought to play the flute. I'm not as mythical of a hero as people think I am."

Sun-Summoner chuckled. "Ah, such modesty."

But I was serious. "No, I'm-"

"And you made a fine leader." He continued anyway, now speaking with his son. "I'm proud of you."

"Thank you, but I'm glad it's over." He answered. "I was worried you'd get hurt. I wanted to apologize for all the fights we had. I know you're trying to be strong for Kasuto, and that you lost just as much as we did."

"I've always understood," Sun-Summoner answered, embracing his son in a tight hug.

I was glad to finally see the forgiveness between those two, even though they still thought I was much more than I was. And now that the threat was gone, and the moblins disbanded, the people of Kasuto were well on their way to recovery. Perhaps they can even return to their old home now and begin rebuilding.

As for me, I had everything I needed. It was time to enter the Hidden Palace, the last one before the final challenge.

Note: Hey, y'all! I know I haven't uploaded in a long time. 'Been on some other writing adventures. I know I said on my profile I wouldn't upload a story until I finished it, but these chapters are not new. They've been sitting on my drive for quite a while now! So I kept that promise. I just didn't upload them. I cleaned them up nicely for you, but they are a little old. If you've been waiting for this story to be finished, then thank you so much! It's finished now! I'm not sure what I'll be posting next. I might post some more stories soon, and/or, I might not. Love ya and see you later!