"MOOOOO!".
"Cuck a doodle doo!"
Feeling the warm sunshine on her face, Noar slowly opens her eyes.
"Dina?"
"Mooo."
Noar slowly and sleepily gets up and stretches. Seeing a note on her book, she goes to read it.
'Noar, you'll be alone for a while, I'm gonna talk to your mom, tell her that I asked you to guard the river since Yasmin didn't show up. There will be someone to relieve you this evening, make sure Halima is milked this afternoon. Dina.'
"Sounds good to me." She knew her mom won't be happy, she preferred her daughter to stay in the fortress, but everyone had to work. She made sure to feed the animals down here, their chickens tended to come down here to cool down on occasion, and Halima needed to be fed.
An hour later, she sat down to rest. Opening up the diary, she was curious to see what happened next.
Alyva arrived at the Desert Fortress, not knowing what to do next. At Joan's insistence, she did the trials but discovered something about herself.
"Yuck. What is that...thing?" It looked humanoid, but it was floating through the air.
Joan took out her bow and arrows.
"Watch." She takes Alyva's bow and arrow and walks behind a torch, but not before dipping the arrow in a small container of oil. Then to Alvya's surprise, she carefully aims and fires through the flame, the anubis grunting as it burns away. "Anubis. Harmless on its own, but if you go near it, it will push you off the cliff." They were standing on the edge of the room, with nothing but empty air underneath. "Fire is the only thing to kill it."
"Thanks." Alyva was impressed. "You got good."
"Like I said, it's strict around here." She hands the bow and arrows back. "This is only the beginning. It gets better." They walk forward and were immediately ambushed by Stalfos. "Stay calm, these bastards are huge, but not very smart." She takes out her sword.
Alyva didn't have a sword, but she did have a dagger. She and Joan stand back to back. Once the stalfos raise their swords, both started attacking.
"Argh!" Alyva took no time ripping out one of the ribs, making the stalfo stumble. She then takes her dagger and starts stabbing it in the spine. Once the stalfo started falling apart, she rips off its head.
"Ninety-eight seconds. Not bad." Joan puts away her sword. "Unfortunately you failed."
"What! How? I defeated the monster!" Sure she was a little rough around the edges, but she managed to defeat the monster with just her dagger and wits.
"We are supposed to win this battle in under a minute, and that includes grabbing the key from the chest. Remember Teacher's training? Every second counts."
"You expect me to kill two stalfos in one minute?" Alyva was panting hard, the room was hot thanks to the lava pits nearby.
"They don't call this the hardest school in Hyrule." She and Alyva walk deeper into the dungeon. "It ain't over yet, you have ninety seconds to grab all the hidden rupees in the room."
"Easily done." Alyva was no slouch in climbing, she used to play with the fairies and kokiris in the Woods. She used to chase them up and down cliffs and trees. She quickly takes out her gloves and climbed up the pillar, she had a feeling where the rupees were hidden.
"Fifty-eight seconds." Joan whistled. "You beat my score, and that included dodging every trap." This test was dangerous, if the rolling rocks and fire traps didn't kill you, the cliff would have.
"How long did this take you?" They were by the doorway, watching the rolling rocks go down the never-ending hole.
"Six months." Joan was terrified of being crushed, she saw what happened to the last trainee. She got a Gerudo funeral at least. "You think this is hard, it gets better."
They managed to make it to a locked room, unfortunately, they couldn't go any further.
"Seriously? That's it?" Alyva was riding high defeating those wolves, and after destroying that fake door, she felt like going forward.
"Yeah." Joan was disappointed, she should have taken the other door. The entire training center was just a loop. But as far as she knew, almost no one went through the other side thanks to that large boulder blocking the doorway. "Congratulations, you're done."
"Hmm." She saw the doorway, the boulder blocking the entrance had a etch carved on it. "What time is supper?"
Ting was eating dinner when he saw Alyva walking in.
"Alyva!" He flies over to her. "How did it go?" He wasn't allowed inside, even as fairie. The gerudo were very strict with their rules.
"Exhausting. But I passed. Barely." She tiredly walks over to the nearest table. "Ting, mind ordering for us? I'll cover the bill."
Later that night Alyva was staring at the ceiling. She heard Joan's heavy breathing, she was a deep sleeper. Ting was on the nightstand snoring away.
'Now what?' Being careful not to wake her sleeping roommates, she walks over to the window and looks out. She saw the night guards patrolling, one guard using her bow and arrows to kill any keese that flew too close. The night was beautiful, she could see the sand glowing in the moonlight's gaze. She closes the curtain and goes back to bed.
Noar yawned. When will this get to the good stuff? Yeah, it's nice to hear about her back story, but what about the temple? The Goddess? She turned the page.
Diary, I hope you don't mind me rambling, the days and nights just melt here. Writing keeps me distracted from the screams. Goddess. I hear a familiar voice. My goddess. I have to look away, it's close by me, poor Cassian. I pray his death is quick, otherwise, they'll have taken him away across the dead sea. I heard rumors that's where you live as an undead. Ayala, her next adventure started almost immediately. She turned down a job as a guard, instead, she chose to walk across the never-ending sandstorm.
"WHAT! That's suicide!" Joan was aghast. "No one goes across and lives." Joan heard the stories, only the chosen ones go, like the priestesses. "If you want adventure, we're going to Hyrule Lake to check out the land." Thankfully the earthquake was minimal, not many buildings were lost. She had never been but heard rumors that the lake's region was hit hard. "Even if you were allowed to enter, the desert is now impossible to cross." The lake wasn't the only place to be affected. "Your boots won't make it."
"I'll find a way. Nothing is impossible." Alyva said stubbornly. "I appreciate the offer, but I didn't come all this way for nothing." Joan recommended to the guards that Alyva become one of them, she proved her skills.
"Alright. But I have to sneak you across. I'm on gate duty tonight, come after the moon is halfway across the sky, but stay in the shadows. If anyone asks, I'll just say you left the region." This was a huge risk, if Alyva is caught, she won't be the only one arrested. "Get some sleep, I'll get you the supplies you need."
"Finally." Noar wanted to read more, but she needed to eat. Luckily the chickens down here laid some eggs.
She waved to Link as he swam by, he's lucky the river was deep, she heard stories the river was temporarily drained all those years ago. She hid the diary, her fellow guards would be happy to take it. Once he was far away, she cleans up her dishes.
"Hey girlie!"
Noar immediately draws out her weapon. One of the men from above was standing on the path leading above.
"What do you want?" She was trying to sound brave, but she was terrified. She wasn't as well trained as the other guards. Just her luck that fairy boy was far away.
"Whoa! Whoa!" Ichiro puts up his hands. "I'm only here to buy some food!" He turns around to show his satchel. "I can pay!"
Naor's heart was beating fast but didn't put down her whip.
"We don't sell to outsiders." She lied. The gerudos did, but he didn't know that.
"Please. My brothers and I are starving. I can pay extra." He slowly puts down his hands. "May I?" He carefully takes out his satchel and bounces the bag. "I have a hundred rupees. Some food, maybe a few chickens and milk. Please, Miss."
"Show me your goods." She warned.
Ichiro carefully opens the bag, the blue and green rupees shining in the sun's rays.
"We may have come here as thieves, but we are honest men. This is all I have."
A hundred rupees? Alyva was tempted. But she knew she had to give those to the animal's owners.
"Fine." She didn't put down her weapon but she gestured to the chickens. "You can take four, plus three jars of milk. But you need help taking all that up, and I cannot leave my post."
"Oh thank you, Miss! May the Goddess always bless down on you." He bowed to Alyva. Once he paid her, he takes two chickens. "I'll be back for the rest." He knew she won't trust anyone, his coming down was a risk, and impossible with his brothers.
Alyva waited till he walked up the hill before she moved. She slowly picks up the bag and looks inside. A red rupee? She counts the money and takes a few for herself. 'It's for my fee.' She silently tells herself. She waited till he came back, but not before filling up three jugs. She knew Hamila wouldn't let anyone milk her, like the gerudos, she didn't trust outsiders.
"Have a nice day!" She shouts when the carpenter walks away after he came back for the third time.
"You too!" He says cheerfully back. He grunted as he carries the jugs up the hill.
She needed a swim, it was hot down here.
"Hamila, let's cool you down." Alyva was lucky, it was winter in her time. She already saw the chickens sitting by the river's edge. She didn't take off her clothes, she looked up and saw the old man staring down at her. Gross. She gave him a rude gesture and was angry when she saw him laughing. "Pervert." She wished she had the power to throw him and his carpenter friends out, but her hands were tied. She knew where the waterfall was, there it was ultra private. She took Hamila for a walk, luckily another guard was coming for her shift.
"Noar! Your mom said you were on duty!" Yasmin was supposed to relieve Dina, but she didn't show up.
"I had no choice. It's Dina's day off."
"My apologies. My sister, she is ill."
"Don't apologize." Noar was good friends with her, she knew about the desert sickness. Luckily Akila's case was mild. "I'll be taking a walk, mind watching the river's edge?"
"No problem." Most of the guards liked being down here during the summer months, who wouldn't like being close to water? "Will you be long?"
"Maybe an hour? Or two." Noar wasn't sure yet.
"Take your time, those carpenters wouldn't dare try anything." Yasmin was bored. Shame they were all wusses, she was dying for a good fight. "If you are bored, you should try the Trials. You'll be eighteen in a few years."
"Eventually." She wasn't looking forward to it, she hated the creatures that hid inside. Speaking of, how did Alyva beat it? As far as she knew, almost no one did. Whatever was inside, Nabooru was secretive about the treasure. Oh well. She wasn't interested, she was still figuring out what to do next. "I'll see you around, and if anyone asks, I'm on patrol."
"Have fun." Yasmin takes Hamila's leash and walks to the edge to relax.
It took Noar an hour to get to the waterfall, it wasn't easy to get there, especially with the heat. But once she got there, she takes off all her clothes, knowing she'll be alone.
'That hits the spot.' Nothing like a cool shower. After she was finished, she takes her clothes and goes behind the waterfall for a quick nap. But not before reading the diary's contents.
Alyva, not only did she cross the desert, she also conquered the Desert Colossus. How do I know this, my friend came back with food. Thank goddess it's been three days. All of us in here gave him our blessings. But he also told me about the desert secret. The Colossus wasn't supposed to be a temple.
"Finally!" Joan felt stupid whispering, she was alone. The other gate guard went on patrol.
"Sorry!" Alyva apologized. "I had to wait till the night clerk went for lunch." She left her room key behind. "Plus wait for Ting to wake up." For a fairie, he was a very heavy sleeper.
"Us fairies, we are built differently from humans." He yawned. "Besides, you need me to cross the desert." Ting knew there were fairies across, but it was very hard to get to where they were. Only the dekus had a road to get there. "I can be your eyes. I can guide you."
"Better get going, the night guard will be back any minute." Joan hugs Alyva. "May the Goddess protect you."
"Amen." She and Ting wave goodbye. Alyva was wearing a hooded outfit, the desert winds were harsh. "I'll see you soon."
"I know." Both were lying, almost no one came back from the desert. "Good luck."
Oh Goddess! Alyva wasn't expecting the wind to be so strong. Ting was inside her hood, as a fairie, he would have been blown away.
"Now what!" She shouted. It was pitch black, the moon was totally invisible in the storm.
"Walk ahead! But wear your boots! The desert sand will swallow you alive!"
"What about the wind!" As she puts on her boots.
"There are poles! Just hang on! Don't stray too far, otherwise, we'll be lost forever!"
It seemed like hours. She did what Ting told her to do and stayed close to the poles. She thanked the person who planted the poles, shame she or he most likely died in the desert when they were done.
What was that? Alyva wasn't sure. She went closer to take a look.
"Ting! I think we reached shelter!" What was this place? Beggers can't be choosers. She walked in.
"Where are we?" Ting was glad to be out of those robes, as much as he liked Alyva, he hated being squished inside. His wings will take forever to air out.
"I have no idea. But I'm exhausted. You hungry? Because I am."
They went downstairs to relax, Alyva was exhausted from walking so far.
"Where is the colossus? Because I doubt this is it."
"Because the desert buried the town."
"You say something Ting?" As Alyva ate her sandwich.
"No." Ting's eyes widened when he saw they weren't alone. "Do you believe in ghosts?"
"Not really. But I'm talking to a fairie." She dropped her food when she saw the floating lantern.
"A ghost?" Noar heard the stories growing up about the Haunted Wasteland. That a man died saving his people from the never ending storm. Her eyes widened at the text. "So that's her name." She turned the page.
"Uh, hi?" Alyva wondered if she got the desert sickness herself. Hallucinations were part of the symptoms.
"It's been forever since I seen a face. In person I mean."
Ting flies in front of the ghost's face.
"Why are you here?" Most ghosts move on. Except those that can't or won't.
"Ting?" The fairie was talking to thin air.
"Shoot! I forgot no one can see me.''
"He's a ghost. As a fairie, I can see things you cannot." Ting flies around the ghost. "Who are you?"
"Bevel."
That name. Alyva looked up.
"Prince Bevel?" In that play, she was getting ready for back in Hyrule Castle Town, the hero Prince Bevel was lost forever in a desert, his lover waiting forever for him in her desert fortress.
"I honestly don't know. I been here for years. I don't even remember who I was. Just my name." He swung around his lamp.
Both Alyva and Ting dive out of the way.
"What's your problem?" Alyva demanded.
"My apologies my lady. I'm just doing what a ghost is supposed to do."
Ting flies over to him.
"The Desert Colossus. Where is it?"
"Desert Colossus? Is that what people are calling it?" He floats upstairs.
"Hey! Wait up!" Alyva and Ting chase him upstairs. "Ugh!" Her eyes. She grabs Ting. "We can't go anywhere at the moment!" She swore the storm was getting stronger. "We have to go back inside."
"My wings."
"Whoops. Sorry." Luckily she wasn't holding him too hard.
"Don't worry about it. If you hadn't, I would have been joining Bevel as a ghost." The storm would have taken him away.
They go back downstairs, luckily it was clean.
"I'm shivering. I'm going to light a fire." She was glad the gerudos taught her how to make fire. When she lit the touches, she was surprised to see a chest appear from the ceiling. "Ting, what exactly is this place?"
"My home. Castle... Goddess, I can't remember."
"Ghosts, the longer they stay, the harder it is for them to retain their memories." Ting didn't fly over, instead, he sits on Alyva's shoulder. "Why are you here? You should move on."
"Believe me. I would, but who would guide the lost? They need someone to lead them to the fortress in the Oasis."
Alyva saw the play of the feuding families. There were once two kingdoms, they both coexisted peacefully in the desert. Then one day, they became enemies. No one knows what exactly happened, but the two kingdoms started feuding. The two royal children, the Prince and Princess were childhood best friends and were horrified at the fighting. To stop the war, they decided to wed. Unfortunately, the Prince got lost looking for the Princess and was consumed by the freak storm that appeared. The gerudos always said the play was based on their faith. They claimed that the Princess was actually a goddess who was punished for falling in love with an ordinary mortal. The Powers above her sent a storm where his home was, forever burying him in the desert. To keep him from finding her after his death, they kept the storm going, forever keeping him away from finding her. Whatever legend was true, it was a tragic story.
"Your castle? Is this place?" No way was this a castle. It was too small.
"It was my farm actually. Huh. I remember." The ghost paced back and forth. "I called my land The Castle, only because I wanted to provide my love with everything I had." He sighed. "Tell me, is she okay?"
"I don't know. Bevel, what happened here?" She moved away when he came too close. She didn't want to get hit with the lantern again.
"I don't remember. All I know is I cannot leave. Travellers come by here from time to time. Those poles outside, they were left there by previous travellers, that way they won't be lost like I was.''
"Hmm. But the poles guide, you can leave." Ting saw his ghostly form, he looked sad.
"The poles aren't enough. It gets dark the deeper you go in. I have to stay, to guide them to safety." He stopped pacing. "When you see her, tell her I'm sorry for standing her up on our wedding day."
Both Alyva and Ting exchange glances.
"Before you go, take my treasure. It ain't much, but it's all I have."
Alyva opens the trunk. Fifty rupees? This must have been his life's savings. She was tempted, but she didn't need the money. She closes the trunk.
"The Colo- I mean Oasis. Where is it?"
"Follow me. But stay close."
"He means me." Bevel was invisible to Alyva, luckily Ting could use his own light to guide her. "We're about halfway there."
"About time." That guard must have followed the same beliefs as the gerudo. She flipped the page.
"My goddess." This place was magnificent. "This is Desert Colossus?" The fortress had a huge statue of a gerudo woman sitting outside.
"This is as far as I go." Bevel stared sadly at the fortress. "Beware when you go inside, that place isn't easy to get into. They made sure of that. Farewell."
Both sent prayers to the ghost. Whoever Bevel was, he could never leave.
"Someday I hope he forgives himself."
"Amen." Ting flies ahead. "Alyva! Come see the Fairy before you go inside! She'll give you many blessings!" He points to a cave. "Just sing the Song of the Royal Family!"
"Huh? What Fairy?" She saw a few fairies flying in an oasis. "Which one?"
"No. The leader of the fairies of this region. Don't worry! She is incredibly wise. She'll tell you what path to take next." Ting eagerly flies to the oasis, his friends were waving at him.
As tempting as it was to enter the fortress, she goes inside the cave, unsure of what to expect.
'Sing a song huh.' What song? Looking down, she saw the Royal Crest. She opens her mouth and sings, her golden voice echoing across the cave.
She jumped hearing giggles.
"Helloooo...Oh, goddess." This fairy was huge! She couldn't help but step back.
"Young Alyva, you come all this way seeking adventure." The fairy's voice boomed, but her voice was strangely soothing.
"My friend, your subject told me to come here." She curtsied to the Fairy. "My Lady."
The Fairy giggled.
"The stage is wherever you want to be in! You don't have to look for adventure, sometimes the adventure finds you!"
"What do you mean? I mean, how do you know that?"
"It's all over your face. Your heart. You seek answers, but sometimes it was always close to home."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Only you can answer that." The Fairy giggled. "When you are ready to leave, stand in the courtyard outside. Farewell." She laughs as she disappears back into the water.
"Thanks for nothing." That was her advice? Frustrated she walks back out. "Ting! Let's go inside the fortress!"
What she saw inside, no wonder Bevel warned her.
"Great." It was the Training Center again. "Any ideas?" One side was covered with a large boulder, and one was a tiny little hole.
"I can take a peek." Ting flies inside the small hole.
"Hello?"
Alyva jumps at the voice. When she turned around, she was startled to see a ghostly woman.
"You can see me? Oh, thank Goddess.''
Alyva didn't know what else to think.
"Can...I help...you?" She was obviously gerudo, her skin and features were the same.
"Bevel. You saw him. Is he still waiting?"
"Bevel?" So the play was true. "Was he...?"
The ghost smiles sadly.
"He was a poor farmer. But his heart was richer than any man or deity I ever met."
"Did you say deity?" The goddess of the gerudo. "Is your name, Din?" Alyva couldn't help but bow.
"He needs to rest."
"Din! I mean, Princess." She nodded respectfully. "What do I do next?"
Din/Princess just looked at her.
"The answer you seek, look inside. Farewell." She fades away.
Alyva was too in awe to wonder what that cryptic answer met. She was pondering her answer when Ting flew out from that small hole.
"Monsters are everywhere. But that's not all I found. I found a message. Arubani and Bevel BFFs 4-Ever."
"Arubani and Din." She read the gerudo books. Both names meant life. "Let's go back."
"Now? We just got here!" He saw a giant statue inside, it was identical to the one outside, except the one inside wasn't as damaged.
"We can come back another time." Alyva knew what her next act was. "You ever been to Hyrule Castle Town? Is it quite lively." She looked around, as tempting as it was to look around, she didn't feel like it. "Let's go back."
"Just as well, life here isn't like home." Ting's fairie's friends said they were forced to live underground. The oasis only existed whenever the rains came, and when it ends, so did the Oasis. He was glad the storm didn't reach here, but he wondered how they'll get back. "It won't be easy to get home, but the dekus come by on occasion to trade. It'll be hard for you to go home." The storm looked even worse from here.
''I can pray." She thought about the Princess and Bevel. "I see the courtyard." It was a slab of concrete, but it had the Royal Crest on it. "I don't know if this will work, but if it doesn't, guess this would be my new home."
Ting follows her, not knowing what she meant.
"Stay close to me." She put on her gear, including her boots. 'Goddess Din, guide us back across the storm.'
Ting wasn't sure what was going on, but he closed his eyes as well, praying to the Great Fairy to take them home. What he didn't expect was both appearing in the middle of the Gerudo Fortress.
"Did you see that!"
"She appeared out of thin air!"
"Goddess Din!"
Alyva was startled to see everyone staring at her. Especially when she and Ting were getting bowed by everyone.
"Huh? We're back?" Ting was wondering how they'll get home, especially Alyva.
Alyva looked up and gave a silent thank you to Din. When she took off her hood, she saw everyone's expression.
"It's a long story."
Later that night, after the pub closed, she, Joan, and Ting were talking on the roof facing the gates.
"So she wasn't a goddess?" Joan was disappointed. All she heard was Din this, Din that.
"To be honest, I'm not really sure. She wasn't a ordinary ghost that's for sure." Whoever that woman was, she sat in her tower forever waiting for her lost love. "Whoever sent us home answered our prayers." Maybe the Great Fairy did. Or maybe the magic surrounding that thing did. Whatever was, Alyva was ready to go home. "I did find what I was looking for." She took out her heavy boots. "You asked me about them." She still didn't know what Joan wanted with these. Unlike the Hover Boots (Ting suggested that name), the steel ones were very impractical. "Why do you want these?"
"As long as I been here, all I learned is everyone is looking for their riches. The gerudos here, they search everywhere for their treasure. Except one place."
"Kinda hard, you'll drown." Why didn't she think about that?
"Not unless I have a Zora Tunic." She yawned. "Before you go, are you going to finish that test?"
"Damn right I am." She was so close to passing those Trials. "Maybe I'll take you up on that job offer." Alyva thought about what she really wanted to do. "I need to save money, maybe I'll open my own shop."
"What about your dreams about becoming an actress?"
"Why not both?"
"I can help." Ting saw both women looking at him. "What? I may be a fairie, but I can work hard. We have to make a living too."
"Sure. First order of business." She yawned. "Get a good night's sleep."
"So that's how it happened." She read the part about the ghost. "Din, was your sister's jealous that you chose to become human?"
There were stories whispered among the gerudo that long ago their land was a lush landscape filled with grass and trees. A young dancer lived among the people, using her talents to bless the lands with her gifts of dance, not only there, but also inside the desert fortress dedicated to the Three Goddesses. The unnamed dancer spent every holiday there entertaining the folks, whenever she wasn't working in the temple as a priestess. The people believed her dance routines gave the land a full bounty of life. But things changed when a poor farmer moved to town and was immediately taken in by the beautiful dancer. No one knows how they met, but all legends said they fell deeply in love. The dancer started shirking her duties, and instead of staying at the temple, she spent her days with the farmer. Whatever happened, the leaders of both regions were angry. The priestesses at the temple were worried that the goddesses would punish them for her shirking their duties, while the town was getting angry that the priestesses took away their dancer. History got blurry after that, but legends say both regions got punished and the once lush landscape became bare and devoid of life when the storms from the east bought harsh winds and no rain, quickly destroying the land into the dry desert of today. Both lovers were separated forever, the farmer forever buried in the desert, guiding the lost, while the dancer waited in her desert prison hoping to see her love again.
Hylians changed the story in some ways, like the identities of the two lovers. Instead of an ordinary dancer and farmer, they were changed to a prince and princess, torn apart by feuding families. Personally, Noar preferred the original story, it was more tragic, it wasn't just the lovers that lost everything.
Noar sighed and hugged the book. The history, the true history was written here. She read the part about the ghost again.
'Wonder if he's still out there?' The bedtime stories she heard when she was very young said if there was a bad storm outside, you can see a flickering light in the darkness. 'Someday I hope you find your way home.'
Noar had to know what happened next.
Alyva, she lived among the gerudo for a few years, she wanted to finish her training as a guard, plus save her money to achieve her dream. Once she was done, she and Joan moved back to Hyrule and applied as guards. Joan anyways, Alyva wanted to do her grand finale in another way. That play that was cancelled? She wrote her own version, and it was a hit. She played the part of Arubani, the lost dancer forever waiting for her love.
Noar skimmed through the next parts, like how Alyva retired from acting after a few months, so she and Joan decided to become bodyguards for women. Then whenever she wasn't on shift, she worked in her own shop selling fine shoes and armor. Her fairie friend, he told Alyva he was searching for his own adventure, starting in Termina.
She yawned. Looking up, she saw the sun going down.
'Crap.' She needed to leave, she didn't want to spend the night behind the waterfall. Before she left, she left the diary behind in a trunk, she didn't want it to be soaked with the moisture from the falls. 'Here's a gift from me.' She threw in something for the young man, he deserved it for letting her borrow the diary. She was confident he'll find it, he was a hero after all.
A few days later, Navi cheered when Link hit that crucial last target.
"Way to go!" The horse handler was clapping hard. "Fifteen hundred points! You did it kid. Here, you earned this." She goes behind her crates and pulls out a large quiver. "This meant a lot to me, I want you to have it."
Link thanked her and walked away. He had no use for his old quiver, it was pretty small. Maybe he could sell it to someone who wanted it.
"For me?" Noar was surprised. She hugs her mom. "Thanks!" The quiver was a standard size, it was perfect for her height. "Where did you get this?" She was admiring it. Unlike most people, the gerudo preferred used quivers, it showed how durable the item was.
"Remember our guest? He sold it to me for a good price. Very generous of him, he threw in a bag to hold deku sticks as well." She handed Noar the bag.
"That's nice of him." As much as she liked her gifts, she wanted something better. Unfortunately, Alini gave her the bad news.
"You're a day late. The boss, she already gave away her prize." Alini was the same age as Noar, she worked as an assistant with the horsewoman who worked here.
"Dammit." Alyva's grand quiver, Naor was kicking herself for not beating the archery range. "The boy, did he leave?"
"Early this morning."
"Darn." Oh well, easy come, easy go. She yawned when she saw that Ichiro guy walking in. "What's he doing in here?" He wasn't alone, he was with his brothers.
"Amira hired them, said she needed to make this place ready for Ganondorf when he comes home."
"Okay." She remembered her mom's warning but didn't say anything. "I'm going home. See you."
"Bye."
As Alyva walked out the door, she was temporarily stopped by Ichiro.
"Can I help you?" Her tone was cool, but not rude. Thankfully that old man wasn't with them.
"I just want to say thank you for your hospitality." Ichiro straightened up his belt. We won't be long, we work fast."
"Take your time, my mom, she needs customers. Have a good day." She was due to work the desk this afternoon.
Her mom was pleased when the carpenters signed up for a few weeks, luckily the creepy old man didn't come, Ichiro said he was going home to Kakariko.
"That should be enough to cover the bills for a few months."
"That's good." Noar was barely listening, she was looking at the names. "No way." Her mom must've noticed, she was looking over Noar's shoulder.
"Wonder if they are related to Alyva." Alyva's name wasn't common. "Anyways, you're on bathroom duty this afternoon."
"Sure." Looking at the name, she had a new respect for the carpenters. "Mom, can you make chicken stew tonight, the men would be hungry." She smiled when Ichiro walked in. "Mom, you think he's nice?"
"I haven't talked to him much."
"You should say hello." She saw her mom's pink face. "I'm sure Alyva would approve."
Link was riding out of the Valley, he was glad the diary was okay, although he was puzzled about where it was located. The treasure inside was delicious, Link loved that candy.
"So where to? I wouldn't mind going home, I'm not ready to face that dungeon again."
Link thought about it. He needed to clear his head, he did nothing but work these last few months. He pulled out his map.
"How about home? I'm sure you miss playing with your friends."
Link thought about it. He missed Saria, but also the other kokiris.
"The Great Tree always said the kokiri dies when they leave the forest, but how? I have never seen a kokiri grave."
Link wondered about that himself. The past kokiris, what happened to them?
Epona neighed when Link kicked her, she ran towards Hyrule forest.
The moon was just raising when they rode away, with a few gerudo waving goodbye. Especially Noar, she was glad to meet the young man.
"You think he'll be back?" Noar hoped so, she wanted to read the diary again.
"He will. This is the only path to the Desert Colossus." Her mom was standing with her, she wanted to train Noar how to hunt in Hyrule Field with her new bow.
"When he does, he should take the Trails." Maybe she should start her own diary, that way future gerudos can know their history. "Mom, let's go." She thought she saw a deku scrub watching. Alyva, how she managed to pass the Trails, Noar wished she knew. The other gerudos simply said she'll know when she does the test herself.