Kaladin got smart and walked around at the Eldin stable this time. Skeptical, he bought and drank an elixir from someone who claimed to regularly make the trip to Goron City. Apparently that was usually how a Hylian survived the Eldin region, but whatever it was tasted worse than crem. He began the hike.
A few minutes up the mountain he wasn't on fire. Whatever that elixir stuff really was, it seemed to work. Kaladin met a few Gorons on the long walk up the mountain. They looked almost like they were made of rock, and all were friendly.
He wandered into a clothing store just inside town. He wasn't going to make the same mistake he'd made in Rito village. Better to buy the special clothing first, then almost die.
Inside there was only a clunky looking outfit, made of metal and some sort of hide. It was clearly meant for a Hylian, since a Goron couldn't fit in it if they wanted to.
"So, if I wear this, I won't light on fire from the heat. And I won't have to drink those nasty elixirs?" Kaladin asked the store clerk. He was still skeptical, even after the Goron had explained it three times.
"Yes, it's of the finest quality." The Goron seemed to hold back a sigh.
"It doesn't look very practical…"
"It's not really meant to be, but it works. Do you want it or not, bro?"
Kaladin sighed at the price again but handed over his rupees. He really needed to find a few more treasure chests soon or he'd be out of funds. Kaladin could tell that the effects of the elixir were wearing off, so he threw on the suit in a nearby changing room. It was clunky, and he made so much noise walking out of the room that Syl couldn't stop laughing. There were creaks and squeaks and bizarre rumbles emanating from the suit as Kaladin walked out of the shop.
Zelda apparently had something to say. "That suit is Goron made right?"
Kaladin walked off to a quiet part of town before saying,"How can you even tell? I thought you only knew my location, and I guess any sound I make."
"That set of squeaks and squeals is pretty memorable. Link always complained about the armor, but it's the only way to keep safe. Though…"
"Yes?" Kaladin prompted.
"I think Link used to get away with not wearing the helmet. Unless he was on death mountain itself. If I recall correctly, each piece of armor's magic can insulate up to a certain point. You could probably take off the helmet, but don't. I don't want you to get hurt."
"Too late." Kaladin carefully removed the helmet, and didn't light on fire. "I'm not smoking."
Zelda gave an audible sigh of relief. She really was a worrier, but it was a nice quality. Maybe if he worried more-actually, he worried enough as it was, just not usually about himself.
"That feels amazing." Kaladin had been getting claustrophobic in the suit, and taking off the helmet felt wonderful. He managed to cram the helmet into his suit's pocket, which still had magical properties. The infinite pockets seemed to be a Hyrule standard, though he still saw plenty of people with sacks and pack horses.
Zelda was able to say part of a goodbye before her response was cut off. Maybe she was getting stronger-or their connection was strengthening.
Syl said,"I'm glad you don't have to wear the helmet." Kaladin raised an eyebrow. Where was this going? "I don't think I could have taken you seriously. It's bad enough to watch you stumble around in the suit, with only being able to imagine your face. This will be even better."
Kaladin rolled his eyes. He and Syl walked towards the back of town, to a small shelter. An older Goron was waiting out front. Rocks started to rain down just north of them, knocked off by a lizard machine. That must have been the divine beast in the region.
"Blasted Rudania!" Bludo then noticed Kaladin and said,"It's rare to see a Hylian in these parts. What brings you all the way here? And who are you?"
"My name is Kaladin. I'm actually here to talk to you. Impa sent me."
"Glad to hear it. I like you already, brother. The name's Bludo. I'm the big Goron boss and I can make crying babies silent. Or maybe it was silent babies cry. Anyway, it's Bludo." The Goron reached out a hand, but as he stretched, he cried out in pain.
"Where is Yunobo with those blasted painkillers? It's about time to scare off Rudania." Bludo looked at Kaladin. "Will you go find that boy? He's supposed to be at the north mine. Knowing him, he's probably running from a butterfly. If he doesn't get back soon, Rudania will get too close to the cannons. Then the whole mining operation will be a bust. Argh!" He tweaked his back again, and gestured for Kaladin to get out of there.
Kaladin walked off, confused by his map for a bit until Syl pointed out the path to get to the north mine. A few minutes later, dodging lizafoes and balloon creatures called octorocks the whole way, they made it.
"Oh good, boss sent reinforcements. You don't look like much but you must have been tough to make your way here." A Goron said as Kaladin walked into the camp. "Lizafoes have overrun the place, and Yunobo is stuck in the storage room because of a cave-in. I'll man the cannon while you fight through to him."
Kaladin noticed a large contraption behind the Goron.
"Wait, what's that?"
"A cannon. They aren't terribly common south of here, but we Gorons use them to explode stuff."
"I think I've got an even better plan."
After some discussion, the Goron, Drak, agreed to fire bombs at the lizafoes while Kaladin flew over to the storage room using stormlight. When he got there, the entrance was covered by a cave-in. He tried to move the rocks with a lashing, but they wouldn't budge. A different solution was necessary.
Kaladin flew back to a nearby cannon and figured it out pretty quickly. He loaded a remote bomb, and managed to launch the rock in the right direction on the first try. The rocks blocking the storage room exploded out. That cannon really packed a punch. Hopefully Yunobo was okay.
Kaladin walked inside as some said,"Don't eat-" Yunobo turned around and noticed Kaladin. He calmed immediately and said,"Oh, you're a Hylian! Thanks for rescuing me, goro. The name's Yunobo. I've got boss's painkillers, but I couldn't get out. How did you manage to get in, anyway?"
"I used the cannon." Yunobo was shocked. Kaladin could just make out Yunobo saying to himself,"I thought only boss could use those."
"I better hurry back. Boss needs those painkillers, stat. Oh, and stop back at the boss's. He always repays a favor."
Yunobo activated some sort of orange shield and bounced back to the main road.
"I'm not one to judge, but I'm surprised he couldn't break out. Or fight a few lizafoes," Kaladin said as he watched Yunobo.
Syl watched too, and said,"To each his own, I guess."
They made it back to Goron City pretty quickly, and walked to Bludo's house.
"I'm glad you rescued Yunobo. He tells me you know how to work the cannons. I know these are hard to make so here are some fireproof elixirs for your trouble. Hylians need those, right?" Bludo handed Kaladin a few bottles. Kaladin nodded his head in thanks. "My back is still killing me so would you mind helping Yunobo with Rudania today? Firing rocks at Rudania doesn't work, so we fire Yunobo instead. Only Daruk's protection seems to do any damage. He's waiting at Eldin bridge."
"I'll help. But if you don't mind me asking, who's Daruk?" Kaladin hadn't heard the name yet.
"You don't know Daruk? The younger generation…That statue is a monument to him," Bludo said, pointing to a nearby formation. It was nothing like the statue of Mipha, but made in a less refined way that was somehow more life-like. It was of a Goron lifting up another smaller Goron, the bigger smiling and pointing.
"Daruk was the Goron champion and Yunobo is of his kin. Daruk was something special, a great warrior and the friendliest guy you'd ever met. It's a crime that our people have forgotten him over the years. I love Yunobo but he's spineless and I wonder how he could be of the same blood as Daruk. I wonder what Daruk thinks of him. What Link would say."
"You knew Link?"
"Not terribly well, no, but Daruk and him were fairly good friends. Link was well liked around the village. You could always count on him to lend a hand. I hope he's safe, whatever happened to him." Bludo looked up at the sky. "I've talked too long. Yunobo is probably in some sort of trouble. Go quell Rudania for the day."