"The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown."

~H.P. Lovecraft~

Ancient Roots

Chapter 3: Discovery

"Wakey, wakey! Rise and shine!"

I jerk awake with a snort, not sure at what point I fell asleep but instantly sitting upright at the realisation. My vision is blurry when I snap my eyes open and it takes a few moments for everything to clear. I groan and I rub my tired eyes, mentally scolding myself for falling asleep. Casting my gaze over to the fuzzy figure, my heart leaps at the sight of them until I realise it isn't who I thought it was.

"What time is it?" I ask, desperately trying to keep the disappointment out of my voice.

"Not long after sunrise," is the redhead's simple response. Karane—my neighbour and close friend—offers me a sad smile as she adds, "The Headmaster wanted me to make sure you were awake when I came back from patrol. Maybe we could spend some time together today?"

I raise a brow at her. She looks tired for someone who's offering to spend their day with me rather than resting after her night patrol. But then I spot that sad look in her eyes again and realisation slams into me hard. My gaze drifts over to the Goddess Sword on my desk—noticing a brown sheath decorated with blue lines next to it—and everything that happened yesterday comes back in droves. The fact that the sword is still there is a cold reminder that none of it was a bad dream.

Swallowing thickly, I croak, "Not today, Karane."

"Well, at least let me keep you company," she insists. "It's… I know what happened." I look over at her with parted lips.

"You do?"

"I mean, I'm certain there's not a single person in Skyloft who didn't see what happened. I saw the storm when I was running errands." Her shoulders slump a little and her eyes wander around my room. "It was… he was my friend too. We'll get through this together, Zelda; I promise."

I stare at her for a few moments. She doesn't know the truth, not the whole truth anyway. She's sure that Link is gone forever, and a part of me questions why I'm not thinking the same thing. But then I look over at the weapon on my desk and my doubts fade away.

"He still is your friend," I murmur without meeting her gaze.

She sighs softly, "Oh Zelda—"

"No," I interrupt, rising and starting to change into the clothes I was given last night. Karane silently watches on, glancing away only to let me keep my modesty. "I know it sounds like false hope. I know that, for all intents and purposes, there isn't any chance he could have possibly survived. But he did, Karane. I swear it."

I can feel her eyes on my back as I sheathe the Goddess Sword and, using the belt attached to the sheath, tie it to my waist. I start making a mental note of the things I'll need—water, rations, potions—grabbing my empty leather bag from its place hanging on my chair as well as some glass bottles. Slinging it over my shoulder, I turn back to the stunned knight.

"You aren't allowed to carry a weapon around," is all she says at first, refusing to acknowledge any of what I said. "It's against the rules."

"Father has allowed it. If you want to go and take it up with him then be my guest." I don't mean to sound as harsh as I do, but it's not like I have time to be explaining myself to everyone. "I need to go."

But she doesn't listen.

"Where do you need to go?" she demands as she follows me out of my room and falls into step with me as I make my way into the kitchen, which is thankfully quiet because of how early it is. "And with those news clothes and a sword, too?" I ignore her and ask Henya, the Academy's cook and caretaker, to spoon out some portions of pumpkin soup into some bottles for me. Once she asks me to come back in ten minutes, I head back out with Karane hot on my heels.

When she repeats her questions, I simply reply that, "I'm going to search for him. That's all you need to know."

She grabs my elbow before I can turn away from her and leave the Academy, "Look, what happened was horrible and I'm not telling you to get over it right now. But you have to think about this logically, Zelda. I don't know how you managed to convince your father to let you carry a sword and go searching for Link, but…" She bobs her head as she searches for the right words. "This isn't helping you process what happened."

I bite my tongue before I can say something horrible back to her, before I can yell at her for not understanding something she doesn't know about. I purse my lips, then say, "Talk to my father, Karane. He won't be able to explain everything, but he can reassure you that I'm not doing this out of false hope. There's a reason I have to go, something that's too complicated to explain myself right now. Just… please believe me."

I leave before she can reply, shoving any emotions down before they boil over the edge and make me say something that I'll regret. The islanders are already up and about by the time I reach the central part of the island where the Bazaar is situated—a large tent filled with our local businesses, from repairs to potions. Despite everything looming over me like a shroud, I smile and wave as I pass by those I've known all my life.

The same people who have no idea what I'm about to do or where I'm about to go.

I shake my head as I step into the Bazaar, recoiling at how overwhelming the bright lights and voices are compared to the stillness outside. My shoes click against the multicoloured cobbles beneath me as I head over to the potion stand manned by Luv and her husband, Bertie, who seems to be struggling to stay awake. The couple offer me warm smiles nonetheless when they spot me.

"Good morning, Zelda," Luv greets. "You're certainly up early! Is that a new dress?"

I nod and lie, "It is. I made it a few months back, but never had the chance to wear it."

"Well, you look lovely in it. What brings you here then, sweet?"

"Just two heart potions, please."

She nods and takes the bottles I hand her, taking a ladle and filling each one to the brim. "Say, did you see that green beam of light on your way over here?" I shake my head. "Well, it's rather strange, isn't it? First that storm yesterday, and now—" She straightens suddenly as her mind catches up with her mouth and she glances between the potions and my face. "Oh, I should have realised sooner! How are you feeling? You should be resting."

"I've already got my strength back. These potions are just in case," I assure her. But there's a silent question on her face that I can't ignore. "I'm going out to search for Link."

"S-Search?" Luv parrots with wide eyes. I nod firmly. "But you've barely rested and, well, we all know how bad those storms can get. First the rest of his family, and now him too; it's tragic. Either way, I really don't think that—"

"Zelda!"

I spin around just as another person collides with me, effectively knocking the air out of my body and sending me staggering back into the stall. The vats of potions are jostled by the movement, though they aren't knocked over. The figure wraps their arms around me so tightly that I can't catch the breath that I lost and it takes all of my strength to finally free myself from them. When I do, I meet a familiar pair of golden irises that immediately put me on edge.

"Groose," I breathe as I steady myself, gripping the stall so tightly that I can feel my knuckles going white. "What was that all about?"

"You need to be gentle with her," Luv seconds with a warning glare at the redhead. "She's been through a lot and doesn't need you—"

But he doesn't listen to her. Groose, the man who has a crush on me for years that he refuses to hide and has made it his goal in life to be a constant pain in mine and Link's sides, holds me at arm's length and checks me over for any cuts and bruises. His eyes are a storm of emotion, fear and infatuation being the main ones, and as much as I can usually tolerate him, right now I have better places to be.

"I had to see you," he says. "I wanted to see you when you were first brought back, but the Headmaster wouldn't let anyone in. Then I heard about the storm and that you were caught up in it, and then I was so scared that you wouldn't be alright and then—" He runs out of breath and bundles me back up into a tight embrace, whispering fiercely into my ear, "I'm just glad that you're alright…"

I close my eyes and will myself to remain calm. Gingerly pulling myself away, I say, "I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me. It's very sweet of you," I add when he goes to protest. "But I need to go. There's somewhere important I have to be. Thank you for the potions, Luv," I add, paying the kind woman and bidding them both farewell.

Well, I leave Luv in the Bazaar. Groose, however, is close behind me when I step back outside. "Wait a minute," he says as I start walking back towards the Academy. "You're not going anywhere until you've recovered from that ordeal."

"I can take care of myself," I snap before I can help myself. "And besides, Link needs me." Groose almost crashes into me when I suddenly stop and wince when I realise that I've accidentally let the Remlit out of the bag. He slowly moves in front of me with a strange look in his eyes, as if he can't quite believe what I've just said.

"Zelda," he murmurs. "I… I know he meant a lot to you but… there's no way he could have possibly survived falling from that high up." My heart squeezes at how genuinely comforting he's trying to be. But Groose will forever be Groose because he then ruins it by adding, "Goddess, it's not like I ever would've wished it on him, but if he got to that age and couldn't even stay on his bird during a storm…"

Even though he trails off, his words still pack a punch and for a second I just stare at him, mouth agape. Then, through gritted teeth, I demand, "Then what, Groose? Because if you were going to say that he had it coming to him, then I won't be held responsible for what I'm about to do to you."

Having never heard this tone before, his eyes widen and he quickly realises his mistake. "I-I wasn't gonna say that!" he defends immediately. "I just meant that—" But the irritation that I'd kept in check around Karane rears its ugly head again, and I refuse to let Groose get away with his comment.

"No, I know exactly what you mean—we both do!" I cry. "But you don't know what happened yesterday. You don't know that Destiny panicked and I almost fell, and if it weren't for Link then I would have fallen." His face loses a bit of colour but I don't care. My chest heaves as the memories come back with full force. "So, you're right Groose: Link fell because he couldn't stay on his Loftwing. But he couldn't stay on his Loftwing because he was so desperate to protect me that he almost lost his life because of it."

He blinks a few times. "I… I…"

"And I don't need you, or anyone else here, getting in my way of doing what's right. So, before you can make any more comments about the man who saved my life, you can take those comments and shove it!" I shove him for good measure. "Link has more courage and kindness in his little finger than you do in your entire body. Maybe before you slander him, you could take a few lessons from his sacrifice."

I storm off before he can utter a reply, angrily wiping away any tears that threaten to fall. Groose is always a frustrating man—a boy, I correct myself, not a man—but it's rare that he actually makes me angry, and this is one of those times. Groose's constant bullying and snide comments about Link always annoyed me more than it did him, but after everything that's happened, I don't feel the slightest bit ashamed for how I acted just.

The worst part of it is, it's not like I'm completely certain that Link is still alive. Even if Fi's correct about him, just because he was alive hours ago doesn't mean he is now. And everyone unintentionally reminding me of that isn't helping my doubts.

I practically run back to the Academy, collecting the soup from Henya as I go and dodging the few people that are awake. All they'll do is give me the condolences that I don't need right now and I have more important things to focus on. I glance at the door into my father's office too but quickly decide against going in and seeing him. I can't see him, not with all my emotions bubbling underneath the surface; he'll understand, I'm sure.

I sigh when I leave the Academy, trying not to get too nostalgic as I walk towards the plaza on the south side of the island. But my mind is a traitor and often brings up old memories as I wander the streets of my home, reminding me of the place I'm leaving behind in the name of my supposed destiny.

The Goddess Sword suddenly feels heavy against my side.

I'm physically drained by the time I reach the wooden diving platform, standing in the shadow of the Light Tower and gazing down at the clouds below. As Luv mentioned, a green pillar of light shines off in the distant sky. Only a day ago was I standing here, a bundle of nerves and excitement as the Wing Ceremony started. Now I stand here as a changed person and unsure of what the future's going to hold.

Checking to see if anyone is around (and thankfully there isn't), I call out, "Fi? Am I ready?" The hilt of the Goddess Sword glows with a soft light before her words echo around the square.

"Dominae, you have enough supplies to survive at least two days on the Surface," she tells me. "The green pillar of light before you is a Column of Light. You will be able to reach the Surface by passing through the portal in the clouds at the column's base. As your Loftwing will be unable to fly through such a small gap, I advise that you—"

The last of Fi's analysis falls on deaf ears as I hear someone running towards me from behind. Expecting to find Groose, I'm surprised when I turn and watch as Karane races towards me. She has a shield now to accompany her sword and some white cloth in her hand that I recognise instantly—Sailcloths, just like the one I'd made for the Wing Ceremony's winner. She skids into a stop just before she crashes into me.

"The Headmaster explained most of it to me," she says between pants. "I still don't entirely believe what he said, but I trust you. And if you are going where he said you were, then you're going to need this."

I reach out to the proffered sailcloth, "Thank—" She snatches it away before I can take it from her.

"You can only have this on one condition: that you let me come with you."

I sigh, "Karane…"

"Not only are you my best friend, but you've never done any sword-based combat outside the Sparring Hall, and even then that's not proper combat." She looks at me with a fierce look in her eyes, one I haven't seen in a long time. "We almost lost Link yesterday. I'm not leaving you to go down there alone today and face the possibility of losing you too."

"If I may, Dominae," Fi speaks up from within the Goddess Sword. Karane furrows her brow, not quite sure if she heard Fi or not. "While I would advise against a large party, I hypothesise that having a partner would greatly increase your survivability and improve your mental health."

Karane blinks at me. "The Headmaster told me about a spirit in the sword you have. Was that…?" I nod when she trails off. She lets out a defeated huff. "Well, the less I dwell on it, the better. Are you ready to go?"

I stare at the white cloth in her hand and swallow thickly. Fi's right: I don't know what's on the Surface, but I doubt it's as perfect as the place I've imagined, so having Karane with me will keep my spirits up and she has far more fighting experience than I do. Maybe there's just that part of me that doesn't want anyone else to get hurt which holds me back, but there's not much I can do about that—all I can do is protect people from getting hurt in the future.

I take the Sailcloth from her, ignoring her broad grin as we whistle for our Loftwings.

Within minutes, we've taken to the skies and Skyloft quickly becomes a distant memory. Despite her panic yesterday, Destiny seems to be unhurt from the storm and is at ease flying again, unlike her rider. I constantly scan the horizon for any signs of darkening skies or strange feelings in my gut, but I don't see or feel anything. If Karane senses my anxiety from atop her green Loftwing, Lily, she doesn't pick up on it.

The memories from yesterday seem to hit harder which only serves as a reminder of the openness and vulnerability of flying. As much as I try to keep my breathing in check, the thought of having to jump and practically fall down onto the Surface only makes my heart pound harder against my chest.

At least you'll be falling voluntarily. Link didn't have that choice.

And while my mood continues to sour, Karane smiles and relishes in the sun on her face. "What do you think the Surface will look like, Zelda?" she asks me over the wind. "Just think, we'll be the first people to walk on the land in thousands of years! We're about to do things that we used to dream about."

I hum absently. "It's going to be an interesting day; I'll give you that." I can only imagine the pout she throws me.

"Come on!" she encourages. "I know there's a lot on your mind, but you can at least give yourself this moment."

I bow my head and think on her words. She's right, of course: despite every dark thought echoing around my mind and the weight of the world on my shoulders, I can give myself these few moments at least. After all, there's rarely been a moment where I haven't talked about the Surface or my theories of what's truly below the cloud barrier, and now I can see for myself. Is it full of beauty and wonder like I'd always dreamt it would be? Or is it truly barren and desolate like everyone claims?

I smile at Karane and she knows how thankful I am without me even having to say it. I already have the feeling that she'll keep me grounded throughout whatever trials lie ahead; maybe it was the Goddess's doing, or just a good friend being there for me. Either way, I won't ever forget what she's doing for me.

And then we arrive at the Column of Light.

Our Loftwings fly straight through the pillar of light and, true to Fi's word, I catch the briefest glimpse of the world below. My breath is caught up in my throat as I eagerly steer Destiny back towards the gap in the clouds, almost unbelieving of the flash of green below that I just saw. As our Loftwings circle around the gap in the clouds, Karane and I simply stare and take it all in.

Beneath us is a vast expanse of greenery unlike anything I've ever seen before. Hundreds—no, it has to be thousands—of trees are scattered across the land, far from the few clusters of trees on Skyloft. I pick out a tree that's much larger than the rest right in the middle of the greenery and what looks like water on the outskirts of the greenery, but I'm too caught up in the sight before me to think on it too hard.

It's the Surface. The genuine, real life Surface. It's not barren like people had believed. It's wild and alive and full of life, like nothing I ever could have dreamed of.

I meet Karane's equally awed expression and we both manage to exchange brief smiles. Turning our attentions back to the world below, I ready my Sailcloth and swing my legs over so I can easily jump. The doubts start creeping back into my mind then, but I shove them down as quickly as they arise—doubts haven't gotten me anywhere, and they won't now.

Breathing deeply, I let go.

There's a brief moment where, behind closed lids, the sensation of freefalling is nothing but adrenaline fuelled bliss. But then, when I realise that I'm truly falling without Destiny being there to save me (which sends waves of dread through me) and my mind is traitorous, a horrible thought enters my head—is this how Link felt when he fell? I can't even begin to equate my fall to the terror he must have felt for those brief moments, but even feeling just a tiny portion of that makes my heart ache.

I open my eyes and brace myself against the harsh winds, my heart skipping a beat at the world I'm seeing. Now that the Surface is growing closer and closer by the second, I can't help but change my original analysis of what I'd seen before. The Surface isn't just adorned in green—that feels too simplistic of a description now—there are so many shades that I can't even describe them all, but all of them are bright and warm and welcoming.

I glance up briefly to make sure that Karane isn't too far behind before raising my Sailcloth above me and feel my body being instantly jerked up as the wind catches the material. I can hear Karane doing the same, but my eyes are too focused on the Surface as we glide down towards a small settlement nestled between the trees.

From above, the settlement doesn't look like much, and it certainly hasn't won its battle with the elements. Situated next to what looks like a spiralling pit, the building looks like some sort of temple, though it's difficult to make out from this high up. I sigh and focus on relishing in the world around me as we slowly descend, knowing that I can think about it more later.

Landing turns out to be harsher than I would have thought despite our relatively slow glide down here. I cry out when my feet finally touch solid ground, the force of the landing sending me crumpling to my knees in moments. Thankfully, I manage to brace myself before I can hurt myself too much, and I watch as Karane shares a similar fate to me when she floats down moments later.

We sit on our knees for a while and catch our breaths before rising and pocketing our Sailcloths in my bag. Glancing over at my partner, I whisper, "We made it."

"We made it," she says with a smile, climbing onto her feet and offering a hand out to me. I let her help me up and we dust ourselves off. "I don't know what I was expecting, but this definitely wasn't it."

I nod but don't say anything. There's a strange quietness to this area that distracts me from responding. If anything, it almost bothers me how quiet it is. There's barely a breeze down here and, since I've lived in the sky for my entire life, the strange silence and lack of wind is more jarring than I expected. Before I can get too distracted by the smaller details, I focus on where we are instead.

We stand in a small alcove beside the large, spiralling pit which is lined with metal fencing that's in surprisingly good shape despite how decrepit the nearby temple looks. It's safe to say that, based on how open and somewhat well-tended this area seems, there could be someone or something living here which is taking care of these grounds.

That thought sends my mind spiralling with all the potential possibilities. But I quickly shake my head and do my best to focus on the task at hand: finding Link.

"Dominae, we've arrived," Fi says after appearing in a flash of light. Karane gasps at her sudden appearance, blue eyes flickering between the spirit of the Goddess Sword and me, who hasn't reacted to the spirit.

She swallows thickly, then croaks, "I-Is that…?"

"This is Fi, the spirit who lives in the sword I have," I explain as simply as possible. Karane's shocked expression doesn't falter, so I add, "She's here to guide us across the Surface."

When Karane doesn't respond, Fi takes the initiative and continues, "This is the fabled Surface that has long been a part of Skyloft legend. By my calculations, you are currently positioned in a location known as the Sealed Grounds. Suitability to current location is ninety-five percent. I detect no particular danger here, but please proceed with caution, nevertheless." I nod.

"Thank you, Fi." Once the spirit returns to the Goddess Sword, I turn to Karane. "Are you ready to go?"

The knight nods after a moment and, despite Fi telling us of the lack of danger here, we take out our swords anyway. Even though I've held a sword before, I was never the type to pay attention to honing any skills in swordplay. I always preferred archery ever since I was a child, so holding the Goddess Sword feels strange in my hand.

I shrug. You better get used to it, Zelda. You won't survive down here without it.

As we start down the pathway hugging the outskirts of the spiralling pit, my eyes wander across the terrain and I can't help but lose myself in deep thought. I wonder what Link—technically the first ever person to set foot on the Surface in thousands of years—thought when we woke up here. Despite whatever fear and confusion that I'm sure he felt, I wonder how he's—

"Watch out!"

Karane grabbing my arm and wrenching me backwards is enough to snap me from my thoughts, and I cry out when I find out why. A strange plant-like creature appears from the ground, its head covered in what looks like blue scales and a large mouth that drips with saliva swaying from side to side as it sizes us up. The creature—a monster, I correct myself—is supported by a thin stem, but I'm too occupied to question how it can sustain itself like that.

"F-Fi!" I call, partially out of fear and partially out of frustration that she said there was no particular danger here and we've found ourselves treading toe-to-toe with our first enemy within minutes.

The hilt of the Goddess Sword glows in my hand and her voice rings out, "Target locked: Deku Baba. This violent plant is widespread in wooded areas. It will attempt to bite anything that approaches it. Though it is covered in a tough outer husk, the inside of its mouth is soft. I have confirmed the existence of two varieties: those that open their mouths vertically and those that open them horizontally."

Karane leaps forward before I can and slashes at the creature's mouth. The attack cleaves the monster's head in two and sends one portion flying off in one direction, green liquid—I can only assume is its blood—spurts in our direction and splatters on our clothing. We grimace and step back as the monster disappears in a plume of purple smoke.

Bile rises in my throat at the blood on the ground, and it takes all I have in me not to gag at the acrid smell. Noting the other tufts of vegetation that's similar to the one this Deku Baba sprouted from, I tighten my grip on my sword and continue down the pathway until we reach another of the plant creatures.

However, as if willed by the Goddess herself, I involuntarily choose the smarter of the two Deku Babas to fight. This Deku Baba, which opens its mouth vertically unlike its brethren, can either sense my hesitation or is simply quicker than the other creature we fought because as I raise the Goddess Sword to strike it as Karane had, it attacks first and lunges at me.

"Zelda!"

I cry out as the monster latches onto me and digs both rows of teeth into my sides. I drop my sword on instinct and desperately try to push the monster off me, but to no avail. If anything, it only makes the Deku Baba's teeth slice deeper into my skin. Tears burn at the edges of my eyes as I struggle against it, the next few seconds feeling like an eternity as I squeeze my eyes closed and try to shut out the pain.

In a flash, the monster's screams and it falls limp against me. I dare to open my eyes and almost throw up at the sight. Karane sliced through the Deku Baba's stem which managed to kill it, but the head is still very much latched onto my sides and remains there for a few moments before it disappears in a puff of smoke.

I groan as the weight is lifted and stumble off to one side, grateful when Karane catches me by the arm and supports me. She gently lowers me down to the ground and eases me against the metal fencing, the two of us wincing at the sight of my ripped and blood stained dress.

"Well," I say through gritted teeth. "I knew the Goddess brought you here with me for a reason."

But my weak attempt at humour doesn't make Karane smile like I hoped it would. She pulls out a roll of bandages from her pouch and gestures for me to show her the bite marks. "We don't have anything to clean these marks with properly, so hopefully we can find a spring or creek to wash the blood out later. This'll have to do for now," she muses as she tears off a strip of material and starts to wind it around my middle.

"And hope that they don't get infected either," I offer, wincing when the bandages are pulled tightly over the marks.

"Don't jinx it."

I laugh through my nose. "Thank you, Karane." She looks up and goes to say something, but I get there first. "For fixing me up, and for saving me, and for keeping me company. You were right before: I really do have a lot on my mind. And I lot of it I haven't had the chance to tell you about because I'm still reeling from it myself. But I'm glad to have a friend with me. Thank you for coming with me."

"Well, what sort of friend would I be if I left you down here?" she says with a smirk. "Wouldn't want you and Link having all the fun down here and discovering the Surface while the rest of us just sit in the sky and have a boring time, now would I?"

I roll her eyes and let her pull me onto my feet, wobbling a little but standing firm and retrieving the Goddess Sword. We carry on down the pathway and defeat the few Deku Babas in our way, hopping off a small overhang at the end of the pathway and jump down into a small clearing outside the temple I saw during our descend.

Apart from the temple, this clearing's only other path is down into the spiralling pit below us, though something in my gut tells me not to go down there yet. There's a small ledge made up of wooden planks nearby too, though nature has done its best to reclaim it. I test the ledge's stability before stepping onto it, leaning over the edge and peering into the dark pit below.

There are dark markings at the very bottom of the pit, almost like a sigil from the ancient texts in Father's office, and a small stone pillar in the middle of it. I narrow my eyes at it when a strange feeling of déjà vu settles in my gut, hating its presence when I can't understand it. For a second, I almost start to see shadowy wisps ooze out from the stone pillar and create the silhouette of a large figure—

Then Karane places her hand on my shoulder and the shadows are gone.

"Are you alright?"

I release the breath I didn't realise I was holding, "I'm fine. I just thought I saw—" I shake my head. "It's nothing."

I can feel Karane wanting to interrogate me further, but she holds back and turns me back towards the temple with my shoulder, "Come and look at this."

The temple's clearly seen better days, and also looks as if it's literally been torn in half; like a Deku Baba appeared and tore a chunk out of the building. Rubble and half-broken stonework lies dormant around the few remaining walls, moss and vines having claimed them a long time ago. Large cracks in the stone has been filled with vegetation too, though how the structure's still standing after what looks like thousands of years is beyond me.

And yet, there's a beauty to these ruins that I can't quite describe. Despite the obvious wear, I can still make out some decorative carvings in the walls and main doors. We make our way up to said doors, which are also covered in greenery but have held up much better than the rest of the temple, and throw our weight against them to force them open. The doors groan as if they haven't been opened in a while but yield to us and allow us into the temple.

If outside the temple was quiet, then inside the temple is practically silent. In comparison to the extent of the exterior damage, the interior of the temple has at least been saved from such a fate. Moss has claimed most of the stone floor and walls, and there are gaps in the ceiling where the sunlight floods into the cavernous room and illuminates it, but it's a far cry from the ruins outside.

Thick pillars line the room and a small set of steps in front of us (which strangely leads to nothing, as if something used to be there) draws our eyes to a larger staircase on the other side of the temple where the light shines on the most, a pair of large stone doors standing beyond them. There's an alcove off to the left with a few forgotten stools—which aren't broken or rotten, only further proving my theory that someone lives here or nearby—and a door off to the right, but my attention is focused solely on the figure sitting at the top of the steps.

"This is the Sealed Temple," Fi says from within the Goddess Sword. "I do not detect the presence of any monsters here. It is safe."

We keep our weapons out just in case as we start towards the other side of the temple, the lull of our shoes against the stone ground echoing between the cracked walls. At the bottom of the larger staircase is a circular design carved into the stone, much like the one in the courtyard beneath the Statue of the Goddess. But the confused part of my mind is quickly overshadowed by yesterday's memories returning, and I force myself to press on before I can become any more melancholy about that day.

Adjusting to the sunlight streaming in through the broken roof, I can finally see the figure sitting at the top of the steps in front of us. They seem to have their back turned to us, and if I strain my ears I can just about make out a few words which sound like some sort of devotional prayers. Their large red cloak with a large hood, all adorned with muted golden embroidery, engulfs their figure.

As if hearing my train of thought, they straighten suddenly and turn towards us, and I'm unable to hold back a gasp at their appearance. She, I think, looks older than anyone I've ever seen in Skyloft, her slender form truly weighed down by the colossal cloak draped over her shoulders. Her thick blonde hair is plaited and wrapped around her head numerous times, the bottom part swaying with her small movements.

Her crimson eyes, something else I haven't seen before, are sharp and alert but shine with a warmth and recognition that I can't comprehend. "Ah, travellers descended from the clouds above," she greets, her voice strong despite her frail form. "I welcome you, children of fate." She straightens, revealing a necklace of blue crystals around her neck, as we kneel before her. "Tell me, what are your names?"

"My name is Zelda," I say.

"And I'm Karane."

"Ah, good. Very good," she muses. She sounds as if she already knew our names and simply wanted to confirm her assumptions—I try not to think about it. She nods down to the sword in my hand. "I sense a great power in the sword you carry; it is an ancient weapon with a sacred power. It is your duty to gain control over that power and use it in the name of the Goddess."

Karane tilts her head, "How do you know that?"

The priestess offers us a warm smile, "I know such things because I have sat here for many years wating for you to arrive, all so that I could fulfil my purpose as your guide. You stand under the roof of the Sealed Temple, a place built by the Goddess an eternity ago. Your arrival was predestined many, many years ago."

This comes as a surprise to Karane but, since I heard similar things from Fi last night, I hum absently. My mind's too caught up on the first part of what she said. "I'm sorry you've had such an uneventful life," I murmur, referring to her waiting here for so long. I blink. "I'm sorry. I never asked for your name."

Her smile twists into a toothy grin as she chuckles and reaches out to take my free hand, her parchment skin a stark contrast to my own. "You may call me Impaz. And I can promise you that I have led a most interesting life indeed. Perhaps I may tell you of it once the Goddess's Mission has come to an end."

Impaz's words are cryptic at best, just like Fi's were when I first met her, so I let it go and quickly change the topic, "We're here in search of somebody. Have you, by chance, seen him? He—" The priestess raises a hand to stop me.

"The Spirited One you seek arrived here shortly before you, descending to this world in a shower of light." My heart skips a beat and dares to hope. Having not heard Link being referred to as the Spirited One before, Karane silently pieces everything together at my side. Impaz hums, "There's no doubting it. The gears of fate have begun to turn."

"Was he alright?"

Her expression shifts into a half frown and effectively destroys what hope I previously had. "In a manner of speaking, yes. Yet all is not as it should be. The Spirited One was not meant to reach this land in the manner that he did. Although I was able to protect him from the monsters that sought to assail him, I feel an evil power working in the shadows. It moves to warp the destiny of which you two are a part."

My heart starts to beat faster. He was attacked?

Karane shares my concerns, "Was he hurt?"

But the priestess shakes her head and waves us off, "The boy is made of stronger stuff than to be gravely wounded by such creatures." I raise a brow at her and read between the lines—he was hurt, but not badly. It's comforting, but only just. Turning her attention back to me, she squeezes my hand and asks, "Zelda… you are concerned for the Spirited One and seek his whereabouts, yes?"

I nod. "I am, and I do."

"That is understandable, but for now you must focus on moving forward." I clench my jaw and go to protest—it's not up to her to decide what I should and shouldn't focus on—but she shakes her head and insists, "The boy has his own purpose he must pursue, as do you."

Irritation swells in my heart. "How do you—?"

"He set out for Faron Woods to discover that destiny for himself, and you must follow." She releases my hand and pulls out a piece of rolled up parchment from within her cloak and spreads it out in front of her. It seems to be a map of the area we've descended to, with the Sealed Grounds in the bottom left-hand corner. "You will be travelling in unfamiliar land, and many monsters have settled there. Proceed with the utmost caution, Zelda and Karane."

I nod and take the map, rolling it up and holding it tightly. "Thank you, Impaz. And thank you for taking care of Link."

"It is my duty to protect those favoured by the Goddess," she says simply, humbly, then, "Now, there is one last thing that I must give you." Before I can question it, Impaz moves her cloak aside to reveal a familiar object that glows in the early morning light.

"My harp?" I breathe. "But I thought…"

"Like the Spirited One, its descent to the Surface was protected by the Goddess," Impaz clarifies. "It is a powerful instrument, Zelda, and it is your duty to protect it. The boy had wished to take it with him; however, it is your destiny to carry it, not his."

I reach out and trace the edge of the golden instrument with my fingers, unable to fathom how I have it in my possession again after thinking I'd lost it forever. But, then again, I'd thought the same about Link and here we are, standing on the Surface and in the same place where he stood mere hours ago. I slowly take up the harp and rest it in the crook of my elbow, offering the priestess a tearful smile.

"Thank you, Impaz. Truly."

She pats my forearm lightly, "Go now. You must head into Faron Woods and follow after the Spirited One. You are ready. Leave through the door—" Impaz nods to the doors I saw earlier, "—and head into the woods. I wish you safe travels." Meeting my gaze evenly, she adds, "And know that all the questions you have now will be answered in time. For now, go bravely."

We nod and clamber onto her feet, ready to heed her words. Bidding her farewell, we make our way towards the smaller doors off to the side. I take a deep breath as I reach out for the handle and give myself a moment before stepping out into the open air. My vision is awash in sunlight and I hug the harp closer to me, stepping aside so Karane can close the door behind us.

"You know, I'm surprised at how easily you took that priestess at her word," she muses as we walk up the stone steps before us and wander down the dirt pathway towards a clearing ahead. "We could've asked more about—what? What is it?" She almost crashes into me when I stop all of a sudden at the edge of the pathway.

But I can't speak. I don't trust myself to get the words out.

The clearing before us is small and hemmed in by tall, craggy walls. Trees loom high above us, stretching over the walls and creating a canopy of shade for us. There seems to be a pathway off to the left, but my eyes can't focus on that right now. All I can see is half a dozen cleavers dotted around the area, some lying on the ground and others embedded in the soil around one particular spot.

But it's the blood that sends my heart to my throat. It stains the earth close to where the weapons are embedded in the earth, and it's not green like the Deku Babas' blood—it's red.

"The Spirited One was not meant to reach this land in the manner that he did. Although I was able to protect him from the monsters that sought to assail him, I feel an evil power working in the shadows."

"Goddess above…" Karane breathes. "Is that…?"

I nod but say nothing, my body acting before my mind can catch up. I climb down into the clearing and shuffle closer to the scene, my heart aching at the images my mind's eye conjures up of what happened here. I hear Karane joining me but I don't look back, glad that she gives me this moment alone.

You were here, I think to myself as I stare down at the blood stains. You were right here… I turn my attention to the only pathway out into the woods—Faron Woods, Impaz had called it. And now you're out there…

Karane nudges me lightly, "Impaz is right: he's made of stronger stuff than we usually give him credit for."

I force a smile but take little comfort in her words. Tightening my grip on my harp, I say simply, "Let's go." She nods firmly, unsure of how else to comfort me (not that I know myself), and we start down the pathway into Faron Woods.

I'm coming for you, I promise him. I won't stop until you're safe.