"Impa..." Euphony thought out loud.
"Lady Impa," Mouriar announced, kneeling to her, "we have come in hopes that you are able to answer some questions we have."
Impa stood at the entrance for a moment...then jumped off doing a signature Sheikah flip and landed gracefully in front of Euphony, kneeling before her.
"Lady Impa, why do you kneel?" Asked Mouriar, dumbfounded by her actions.
"Because," Impa responded, getting up and smiling at Euphony, "She is of the Deity Sheikah."
"The Deity Sheikah...?" Chorused Mouriar and Koraeir, both clueless.
"The Deity Sheikah is an even more ancient race of the Sheikah." Impa explained. "Actually, they are the forerunners of the Sheikah, so to speak."
"Deity Sheikah markings bear a resemblance to current day Sheikah markings, but if you look closely, they have several differences." Added Impa. "I recognized Euphony's markings right away for what they were, that is why I kneel before her."
"What differences... Wait. How do you know her name?" Asked Mouriar, looking even more confused than before.
"It's best that we do not speak of it out here." Impa responded, gesturing to their surroundings.
Everyone nodded their heads in agreement as they followed Impa inside the waterfall.
Inside it was "lavishly" decorated. Lit torches surrounded the room, along with several banners. They bore the Sheikah symbol on them along with the colors.
Impa lead them to a circular sort of room, it looked to be where all the important meetings and planning's took place.
"Sit." Said Impa, gesturing to the chairs in the room.
Mouriar and Koraeir said, but Impa and Euphony preferred to stand.
"Before you ask any questions, I would like to tell you a story." Impa said, glancing over at Mouriar.
Everyone nodded their heads, signifying for her to continue.
Impa began:
"After this land had been created by the three goddesses and humans had roamed, there came an ancient warrior race that was put here to protect the Royal Family, the Sheikah. It has been this way since that time, however, there is more to the story than most know.
Before the Sheikah were ordered to protect the Royal Family, there was another race of warriors. These were the Deity Sheikah. Their purpose was to protect the Triforce and the original 6 Sages, the Royal Family was unimportant. The Deity Sheikah are bound by honor, living and dying only for honor. The honor? To protect the Triforce and Sages. It was against honor for any of the Deity Sheikah to have friendships, even worse; it was against honor for the Deity Sheikah to fall in love. If one Deity Sheikah were to fall in love, they would be punished severely. That was the way of life for the Deity Sheikah, they knew nothing else.
Soon after that a new Sheikah race arose. This is the race I belong to. You see, we hold the same values as the Deity Sheikah, but unlike them, we were allowed friendships and love. But now we protected the Royal Family, who in turn protected the Triforce and Sages. However, it is said that a 7th sage was added to rule over the other 6 sages. A balance, so to speak.
But the Deity Sheikah were enraged at this. They believed that the adding of a 7th sage was an abomination. They also didn't believe that the new race of the Sheikah should be allowed neither friendships nor love. It was against their way of life, against their honor.
From then on a war raged between the Deity Sheikah and everyone else. In the end, the Deity Sheikah was recluse. They wanted nothing with new Sheikah, the 7th sage and the Royal Family.
However, as said before, they were still bound by honor, so they still protected the Triforce and the 6 original sages. That how it was meant to be, and that is how it still is today."
Everyone was quiet for a moment.
"What happened to the remaining Deity Sheikah?" Mouriar asked.
"After time had passed, the Deity Sheikah race began to die off. Anyone who was born into the Deity Sheikah wished for friends, wished for love. They left their home and joined with the new Sheikah instead." Impa answered. "I didn't think any of them were still alive today...but now I see there are still some left..."
"Oh..." Koraeir said softly.
"You said if any of the Deity Sheikah had friends or fell in love, they would be 'severely punished'. What kind of punishment?" Koraeir asked.
Impa opened her mouth to answer but Euphony spoke first.
"Usually the Elder Deity Sheikah would have disowned you. You were stripped of your honor and banned from your home." Euphony explained. "But, that was if you befriended someone. If you fell in love...that would mean a terrible fate."
"Terrible fate?" Impa asked, surprised like the others. "You mean death?"
"No," Answered Euphony, "this fate was worse than death. The Elders would imprison your soul in a mask. You would forever remain in a mask. Unless...the person you loved set you free, but in that case, they were killed."
"...That's horrible." Mouriar said, disgusted. "How can that be worse than death?"
"You do not understand because you are a commoner." Euphony responded, coldness in her voice.
"I...I didn't mean to offend you..." Mouriar muttered.
There was an awkward silence...
"Euphony, you needed something?" Asked Impa, breaking the silence.
"Oh...Yes." Answered Euphony. "I am looking for someone... He is also a Deity Sheikah. He wanders this land, speaking to no one. Many fear him, none know nothing of him."
Impa pondered this for some time...
"I have heard of a place where none dare to enter... they say a warrior has made his home there, killing anyone who enters it." Impa finally said. "I can take you there."
Euphony nodded her head as Impa turned to Mouriar and Koraeir.
"I don't recommend you coming along," She said to Koraeir, "it is too dangerous. As for you Mouriar--"
"Only come if you wish for death." Euphony said quietly.
"You know what, I guess I wish for death then 'cause I'm coming." Mouriar said, a note of determination in his voice.
"Hey! You can't leave me here all by myself!" Koraeir interrupted.
"You'll be fine." Mouriar said, patting her head, Koraeir glaring at him first, then sighed in defeat.
"Alright...be careful." She told him, giving her big brother a hug.
"Don't worry, I will be." Mouriar responded, letting go of her and walking to the entrance.
While they were saying their goodbyes, Euphony had been thinking to herself.
So, the forest is where he's been. I really would have expected something much more secretive than that from him...But, as long as I find him, that's all that matters.
"Euphony, you ready?"
Impa's voice cut into Euphony's thoughts. She looked up and saw that Mouriar and Impa had already mounted their horses. Euphony mounted hers and nodded her head.
"Right." Mouriar said.
Impa nudged her horse as it began to charge through the forest, Euphony following after and Mouriar coming in third.
Though Euphony followed Impa, she was still lost in her thoughts.
Let him...Let him be okay.
They were no longer in the forest, their horses galloping across dark fields. Night had fallen upon them so it was even harder to see where they were heading.
Why would he have done that? He knew it was against honor...
After some time they all stopped.
"We have arrived." Said Impa, dismounting her horse and the others following suit.
Before them was a sort of path, which lead into the heart of the forest. The tree's here gave off a sense of evil to them. All of them began to walk into the dark forest, the path becoming harder and harder to see the deeper they went in.
There was a rustling and they stopped.
"Leave now if you wish to keep your lives." Spoke a man's voice. It didn't sound evil but it wasn't a kind voice either.
Out of nowhere, an arrow shot to where the voice had come from, but this arrow was no ordinary arrow. It seemed to have some illumination to it, but after it struck the tree, it burst into light.
"A light arrow..." The man whispered, but now they could see who was speaking.
It was a tall man, young looking, 19 or so. He was clothed in what looked like the same clothing's Euphony wore, but for males. They held the same tribal markings... This man and Euphony even looked alike.
Was he a Deity Sheikah as well?
The light began to fade and darkness took over again.