Link spent a long time listening to the champions explain what they have prepared for the defense against the possible of Calamity Ganon. For some time he had heard murmurings of contraptions with divine power. After a prophecy telling the King to look underground, four massive stone beasts were found. With such powerful contraptions, there needed to be pilots. Because of where the beasts were found, the King looked to finding champions from those regions. And so the four champions were chosen through various means and now have been working closely with Zelda, the King, and the Sheikah led by Impa's guidance.
After about two days of info dumping about Calamity Ganon, the Divine Beasts, the Guardians, and ancient technology, Link finally was given something to do other than follow Zelda around the castle and listen to her ramble. He was to travel to the Rito village and get a good look at Vah Medoh, the flying beast commanded by Revali. Zelda also explained that she would be traveling to the Spring of Courage. He didn't even get a chance to ask why he wouldn't attend her before she quickly explained herself.
"And, no, you do not need to accompany me to the Spring. I am going with Impa who will protect me. It is a sacred place where I am to pray to the goddess of courage, and I simply do not think it wise to have you tromp around in such a sacred place. We will meet up back here at the castle in four days. That should be plenty of time for you to travel to Rito Village and to assess Revali's progress before returning to the castle shortly after I do. Is that clear?" she asked with authority.
He nodded.
"Good." She turned away quickly and went into her room.
The two guards in front of her door glanced warily at each other.
"She'll come around, Link," one assured.
"Yeah, she couldn't stand us for a while, but eventually she kinda forgot about us and doesn't give us give us crap anymore."
He took a deep breath before turning to go back to his new quarters. The room was small, but certainly nicer than his previous home. This room actually had furniture that wasn't falling apart every week. And at least the bed was comfortable. Link already found it too easy to oversleep in the new bed.
The following morning he awoke, practiced his daily workout routine, ate a simple breakfast, and went out to find the Princess talking with a few Sheikah researchers.
Zelda had everything packed and had him attach the bags to the horses. The the mounted up and went their separate ways.
He did certainly enjoy his long ride alone with his steed, but he couldn't help but worry about Zelda and her journey.
When he arrived one morning, he came to a small collective of people strewn along the sides of a tall, sheer rock. A Rito came to greet the two and gave them a simple tour of the village, showing off their prized clothing shop and fletcher. The village elder, who was relatively young to be called an elder, came to speak with Link briefly.
"We Rito are quite happy to hear that one of our own has been chosen as one of Hyrule's champions," Kaneli said, looking down to Link who was much shorter than him. "Young Revali has been quite the talk of the village recently. He's been spending almost all his time up in Vah Medoh, learning and honing in his skills. That beast is quite fascinating." He stroked a long feather that came from his chin. "Link, why don't you go on and have a look at the beast, I'm sure Revali will be happy to see you and fly on down."
With a nod and a small bow, he turned and made his way up the walkways until he reached one of the higher wooden platforms that jutted out. Looking up he could see a massive bird-shaped creature circling the village. However, he didn't see any sign of Revali. He marveled at the Divine Beast when a sudden gust of air blew in and there Revali came with it from below.
He landed on the wooden railing, his head held high and feathers perfectly preened. "Impressive, I know," he said with a pleased look. "Very few can achieve a mastery of the sky. Yet I have made an art of creating an updraft that allows me to soar." He waved his wing up with a smug look on his face. "It's considered to be quite the masterpiece of aerial techniques, even among the Rito." He hopped off the railing and stepped forward towards Link. "With proper utilization of my superior skills, I see no reason why we couldn't easily dispense of Ganon. Now then, my ability to explore the firmament is certainly of note…." He stepped around Link as he spoke. "But let's not—pardon me for being so blunt—let's not forget that I am the most skilled archer of all the Rito. Yet despite these truths, it seems that I have been tasked to merely assist you. All because you have that little darkness-sealing sword on your back. I mean, it's just.. Asinine." He spoke as if it were obvious. "Unless… you think you can prove me wrong? Maybe we should just settle this one-on-one. But where…? Oh I know! How about up there?!" He pointed his feathers up at Medoh. "Oh, you must pardon me, I forgot you have no way of making it up to that divine beast on your own," he finished in a strong voice. With a flap of his wings he took off for the sky and called back to Link. Something about darkness? Link couldn't be sure of anything other than that it must have been pretentious.
The Master Sword's weight felt as if it had increased once again.
He stared up at Medoh, unsure of how to get up there. Zelda ordered him to meet her up there once she finished speaking with some of the Rito. And he had no interest in asking one of the Rito guards to bring him up.
"Hey little man," a young woman called as she approached the platform.
He turned quickly to see not a Rito like expected, but a Gerudo.
"You need to get up to Medoh? I can get ya there," she said pushing a set of goggles onto her forehead.
He stared at her.
"Follow me." She waved him on and led him down out of the Rito Village.
Link grew worried that she was taking him somewhere to get ambushed, but he couldn't get himself to try and ask.
"Just over here," she said as a massive wooden canon came into their view on the other side of the Rito village mountain spire. "Now climb on in." She turned a crank and the canon barrel tipped downward.
He stared at her.
"Go on. Get in. Trust me. The cannon may be made of wood, but I know my calculations. Look at these goggles. I know what I'm talkin' about," she said pointing a thumb at herself.
With a deep breath he turned and went to the barrel. He climbed right in.
"Alright!" she called. "Just relax and three, two—"
And the cannon blasted off and Link went soaring through the air. He screamed as he soared through the air straight past the whole of Rito Village. His velocity only started to slow as he drew close to Medoh. He stopped shooting upward just as he crested over Medoh's wing. So when he fell, he only fell four feet before landing on the stone bird. He stood for a moment, collecting himself. After a moment, he chuckled lightly and relaxed.
"Link? H-how did you get up here?" Revali asked coming out on the deck. "No matter. Oh, and here comes Kaneli," he sighed.
Kaneli happily lead Link through Medoh and explained everything he knew about Medoh. Revali did what he could to take charge of the tour and explaining.
For the rest of the day and the next, he worked with Revali and Vah Medoh on changing a few aspects about it to better suit the needs of a Rito and of someone with a large head. Link really didn't know what he was doing, but it was really just work that someone with feathers couldn't do.
Link was glad to head back to Hyrule castle where it was warmer and free of pompous champions.
Immediately upon returning, Link went to Zelda's chambers to check that she returned safely.
"Now where have you been?" King Rhoam asked in a booming voice.
Link jumped at the noise behind him and quickly turned to face him and kneel.
"My daughter ventured outside of this castle without you. I know you haven't been here long, but simply because you are now an official knight does not mean you have free reign on where you go and what you do. You are to accompany the Princess everywhere she goes!" he called, his deep voice growing louder.
"Father, that's enough," Zelda's voice called from behind Link. "I told him not to accompany me to the Spring of Courage. I did not find his presence there appropriate. Also, I needed eyes to oversee one of the Divine Beasts. I thought it best to split up our assets and accomplish our tasks faster."
Rhoam stood tall and crossed his arms. "Now Zelda, you are not to be without your knight. I assigned him to you so that you would always be protected no matter when or where."
"But I had Impa with me. I was in good hands, father," she defended.
"It is not simply a matter of good hands, but the fact that his job is not to play errand boy, but it is to stay by your side no matter what. Are we clear?"
She inhaled as if to start shouting, but then released it. "I understand. But do not take it out on him. It was I who gave him directions to not attend to me," she said almost defeated.
"Yes, but he is to follow my orders over yours, and those orders are to stick by your side no matter the circumstance."
"Yes, father," she said softly.
Rhoam then continued on down the hallway.
Link slowly stood and turned to Zelda.
"Ugh, he treats me like such a child," she snipped. She took another deep breath and closed her eyes as she breathed out to calm herself. "I do apologize for his scolding of you. You did just as I asked and you bare no blame…. I will be in my chambers for the rest of the evening, so you make relax for now." Slowly turned with a sigh and made her way back to her room.