Chapter Three: Lanayru's Request

Nobleman lay dead upon the floor, dispatched by this strange man almost effortlessly. I still couldn't believe it, but the man who had trained me since I was four years old was now dead. Now, the man had his gaze fixed upon me. He approached me calmly, acting like nothing had happened. I could see evil ambitions in his eye, just as I knew he could see the fear in mine.

"Link… we meet at last." He said.

How did he know my name? There wasn't time to find out. The moment there was an opening, I ran out of the hole in the wall. I decided to run to the spring, hoping to lose him there. When I got there, I hunched over trying to catch my breath. But it wasn't over.

"Did you really think you could lose me that easily?" the masked man said. He didn't lose my trail at all!

I was still exhausted, not only from running, but also from the previous battles. I tried my best to regain my composure.

"Why don't you stop running, and show me what that swordsman has taught you?" the man said.

Hearing that, I decided that it was time to stop running. I drew my sword and stood ready, with my powers activated.

"That's it. Come at me with everything you've got." He said.

The man braced himself as he saw me rush towards him. He dodged the first few attacks, but when my attacks got faster one strike managed to hit him on his armored shoulder. The force of the impact made him skid backwards a little.

"Well. That certainly was more impressive than when your master tried to strike me. But it's going to take more than that to defeat me." He told me.
After that he advanced on me with several martial arts moves. This caught me by surprise, as I had never practiced against physical combat before, and while I was able to dodge the first few strikes, the last blow got me on the side and knocked me down. I quickly got back up and let loose with a barrage of sword attacks, but he dodged all of them.

Suddenly, I felt extremely exhausted. So much that I fell to my knees, hyperventilating profusely. I knew what had happened: I had been using my powers for over ten minutes, and the side effect had kicked in. I could barely move, and it would take at least a minute for my strength to return, a minute that I did not have.

"Out of steam already? I expected more from you, kid." The man said.

While I was immobile, he proceeded to grasp me by the throat and raise me into the air. I could barely struggle free, and even if I could his grip would likely be too strong anyway.

"Don't tell me that's the best you can do." He said, "Disappointing."

"Wh-wh-who…a-a-are you?" I asked, barely being able to with his hand trying to crush my throat.

But before he could give an answer, the water and rocks in the spring started to glow. Both the masked man and I noticed this. Suddenly, a gigantic glowing serpent rose out of the water and thrust itself at the masked man, which knocked him back several yards and released his grip on me. When he got back up, the serpent reared up and hissed viscously at him.

"Black-hearted one… leave this place now, or suffer the consequences!" the serpent told the man.

The man's gaze went from the serpent, to me, and then he said to me, "You haven't seen the last of me, kid. We will meet again."

With that, he threw down a smokescreen and disappeared.

I was still on the ground, gazing upon the serpent in awe. The glowing snake then fixed its gaze on me. I was worried for a moment, weakly attempting to retreat.

"Calm yourself, Link. That man is gone now. You are safe." The serpent said.

"You know my name too?" I asked.

The serpent nodded. "I do. My name is Lanayru. Light Spirit, and guardian of these lands."

Did I hear that right? Lanayru?! As in the 'Great Spirit' that Nobleman had kept talking about for years?! I could hardly believe it, but the spirit was real!

"You're….Lanayru?! The spirit that is supposed to protect the village?!" I asked.

"Indeed. Though I do not only serve as guardian of this village. I also serve as your guardian." Lanayru answered.

"My guardian?! But…why me?" I asked.

"You are destined to play a part in a very important series of events. Though that is not the only reason. I also serve as your guardian because it was your mother's last request that I do so." He told me.

My…mother?! My mother knew Lanayru?!

"How do you know my mother?" I asked.

"She came to me at the brink of death carrying you in her arms. Knowing that she wouldn't make it, she pleaded for me to watch over you in her absence. Unable to do so directly, I had Nobleman raise you, until this day," he told me. "The mound in front of my spring is where she rests in peace."

I walked over to the mound of earth in front of the spring. I had always wondered what that mound was. And now that I knew…

I placed my hand on top of the mound, and a tear fell from my eye. She had given her life so that I could keep mine. But… why was she dying when she had come.

"You must have many questions," Lanayru said, "But now is not the time for the answers to be revealed. For now, the time has come for you to leave this village."

"Leave the village? But…where will I go?" I asked.

The spirit gestured his head to the west. "I have a task for you to undertake in an area west of here." He said.

Lanayru then opened his mouth, and two glowing rings slid off of his fangs and then levitated in front of me.

"Take one of these rings." Lanayru told me.

I did what he said. As I held the ring, its glow faded, and I was able to see serpentine markings on it.

"What about the other one?" I asked.

"You are to give the other one to a certain individual that you will encounter in the area west of here. An individual that is also destined to play a part in the same series of events." He told me.

There was another person…..like me? Maybe I wasn't all alone in this world after all.

"Who is this person?" I asked.

"I am unable to reveal the identity of this one to you, but trust me when I say that you will know when you have found this person." He said.

"Could I at least have a hint?" I asked him, confused.

"I will say this: simply look to the stars and the answer will come to you," he said, "Farewell."

With that the spirit vanished back into the spring. I had more questions, but apparently Lanayru wasn't going to answer them yet. With both rings in my hand, I put one of them on, and slipped the other one into my pocket. As I headed back to the village, I began to contemplate everything that had just happened. Who was that man who attacked me? How did my mother die? And what of this person I'm supposed to meet?

When I got back to Nobleman's house, it was still a wreck, and Nobleman was still lying dead on the floor. I took a moment to mourn his death. He may not have been like a father to me, but he still raised me, even if it was only because Lanayru asked him to do it.

I gathered some things I thought might be useful, such as some food, medical supplies, and a compass. I also decided to take the shield that was hanging on the wall. I knew it would provide me some defense, and it even had Lanayru's symbol on it. Finally, before I left, I made a grave for Nobleman. After he gave his life to defend me, I thought he deserved it.

I stood on the edge of the village boundaries, staring out into the world. I had spent all of my life in this village, and now I was being thrust out into a world that I barely understood. It's not like I had anywhere else to go, and maybe out there, I could find out more about…me. I was also looking forward to meeting this person Lanayru told me to find. I just hoped that this person wouldn't reject me like everyone else.

After taking one last look at the village that I lived in for years, I started on my journey west, to fulfill the task that Lanayru had given me.