Chapter 4: Waterfall Trail

Dear Link:

I'm sorry for this sudden letter, but we're in terrible trouble. We were betrayed by some of our knights, including the captain you met with; the Sudain king Ganon has overtaken the castle. For now, I'm safe but being held captive in the prison tower. My handmaiden Impa is with me, but Ganon ordered Joachim locked into his office in order to keep doing work there. In a way, I'm glad that he finds him useful enough to keep alive. I wouldn't know what to do if I lost Joachim so soon.

While I don't know of your capabilities from first-hand experience, the Triforce of Wisdom has chosen to be with me and it shows me visions of what you've done. You rescued the horses of your hometown with the help of a friendly stranger, then went back to destroy the Moblin Shaman that was leading the other monsters in the theft. Since the Triforce with me shows great interest in you, I am certain that the Triforce of Courage must be watching over you. Each part of the whole Triforce requires the one who bears it to prove themselves worthy. I believe you can do so and gain Courage for yourself.

Remember that I asked you to look for the Medal of Valor when you go after the Zora Hunter? I was going to test you with that, but given the circumstances, I will tell you more about the three medals that act as a key to the shrine holding the Master Sword. When I felt the forces of legend stirring, I prayed until I could locate all three medals. One is in that cave, another is hidden in the Dust Devil Flats further to the west (the Zora will know a way to get there), and the third is within the depths of Death Mountain in the east (the Gorons should be able to help you there). Once you have located all three, you may find the shrine in the town of Onduran in central Hyrule.

I do not wish to draw attention to myself in sending messages, plus I cannot guarantee that I will be able to do so after this. But I will pray for you. Should I see something more that may help you, I will try to write you again. Don't worry about the license, there's no way they can enforce that law now. And please don't try to come after me before you get the Master Sword. Ganon is chosen by the Triforce of Power and is very skilled in magic. Even if you could get through his army of monsters and soldiers here, you would be incapable of winning should you come up against him.

Please take care.

From Zelda

Get the three medals, get the Master Sword, get recognized by the Triforce of Courage, then go defeat the sorcerer king who had been chosen by the Triforce of Power. Leaning against the window frame, Link closed his eyes and thought. This was well beyond the scope of what he thought he'd be doing. Maybe he was named the same as the heroes of legend, and appeared like them because that's what made the kids feel safe. But he didn't feel like he could be a hero. Those heroes were brave, selfless, and diligent. Sometimes people called him one of those things, but he certainly didn't feel like he fit into that ideal. If he could do anything, he'd rather take things easy: go fishing, take a nap in the sun, not draw a lot of attention to himself.

Some laughter from people leaving the tavern below came to him through the open window, as did the hooting of some owls. The warm spring breeze felt nice, seeming at peace. After reading Zelda's letter, it seemed strange too. Of course, he wasn't in the castle town anymore. The mountainous path up to the top of Zora Waterfall was said to be difficult, so he'd come out to this town of Narin to stay the night. It was within sight of Lake Hylia, and close to the start of the road. How long would this town stay safe and peaceful? For that matter, how long would his town be safe?

But chasing these medals wouldn't bring him anywhere near Taven. Since this town seemed oblivious so far, Link got a piece of paper in order to write Gale. If his work was in exchanging information, he'd want to know this if he didn't already.

To Gale:

That sounds like an unusual trade. Can you really make a living off that? I mean to be fair with any mercenary work, even if it means being thrifty in how I live. But that suits me. I don't see how one could make much just with information.

As for my license, I wasn't able to get one today, but it's no longer a problem. The captain of the knights tried to talk me out of it and become a knight instead. Thankfully, someone else intervened and I was able to get permission to search around from Princess Zelda, as long as I do some work for her. But sometime after I left town, the Sudain king you mentioned invaded the castle with the help of the knight captain I talked to. Ganon's imprisoned the royal family and apparently some workers there. I only found out because Zelda decided to write me; I'm in Narin right now.

I'm going to have to avoid the castle town for now, but I want to do something to help out in this situation. There is an idea that Zelda told me about, although it's of a bigger scope than I anticipated taking on when I decided to travel. But if you could help me out with things you know, it would make things a little easier. I'm heading to the town at the top of Zora's Waterfall; do you happen to know any quicker ways up there than the mountain road alongside the river? Epona should be able to make it up the path with me, but that's going to be a long trek for both of us.

From Link.

Back in the Hyrule castle library, Ganon paused in his search of the area to read through Link's letter. So that desk up in the tower room did have supplies for writing letters. And Zelda had interest in Link too, asking her to carry out some errands for her. That was fine, let her write her letters too. Ganon just had to make sure she couldn't receive any letters in return.

He had some idea of what Zelda was sending Link out to do. If she recognized him, she would be trying to guide him to his destiny as a hero. That meant getting him to acquire the Master Sword, which currently required locating three key medals to get into the shrine. Ganon didn't recognize the Zora territory as being a place where one of the medals had been left, but the princess would know better. Or, she could be trying to get him recognized by the Triforce by sending him after the powerful monsters in Lake Hylia.

After making sure no one was around, Ganon wrote up a response to send back to Link immediately. For his plan here to work, he needed this exchange to be frequent. He sent the letter off, then went back to examining the walls. There was a hidden part of the library which held the information he was really looking for. According to discrepancies in the castle map, it had to be around here. Ganon was looking for something out of place: an unusual book, a hidden switch, a faint line in the wall, specific wear on the floor that indicated a moving shelf, an illusion. There had to be a way to access this secret room.

And he had to find it so he could get his plans rolling before Link could claim the Master Sword and the Triforce.

To Link:

Thank you for telling me about what happened at the castle. I haven't heard about that yet, but I could warn my partners against going into the town market tomorrow. And that's part of why my work is so valuable. We could have lost a lot of inventory and time, even one of our own, if they'd been captured by the forces Ganon must have brought with him. More commonly, I can get a research fee from wealthy clients if I can find information they need. I was born into nobility, so I really don't have any concerns about my finances at this time.

About getting up to the top of the waterfall, there are some alternate routes but if you're bringing your horse with you, the river road merchants use is your best option. There are some tunnels in the northern mountains that can be taken for a quick passage, but it involves a lot of climbing with no way to get a horse through there. The Zoras have a method of getting up the river quickly, but you'd need to be a Zora or have one of their diving suits in order to pull it off.

Once you manage to get up there, there is a way you can get back quickly by using that pan flute you got from the Skull Kid. I use the spell form of it on occasion, only learning the song form as a curiosity. The melody I put at the top of this letter is the Song of Soaring; it will return you to a place you have been as long as you keep the place in mind while playing it. Otherwise, it will send you somewhere random if you activate its power.

There is a bit of a cheat with it too which I'm sure you can pull off. While it normally requires the caster being able to remember the place, it invokes an owl spirit. Thus, it can be used to locate and arrive by an animal that has a powerful spirit god like it, like an owl or a wolf. It will take you to a random owl or wolf if you try it that way, so I wouldn't recommend it. But there is a horse spirit that I'm sure you're aware of, due to how your village depends on horses. And you have your horse Epona that is important to you; you could use the Song of Soaring to return to wherever Epona is if you think of her instead. So don't worry about leaving her somewhere if you can't bring her along; you'll be able to return to her with this.

If you don't mind me asking, what are you headed up to the Zoras for?

From Gale

To Gale:

Thanks for that song and letting me know how to use it. It'll be very helpful.

I'm going to meet with the Zoras as a part of the first thing Zelda asked me to do, while I was still in the castle talking with her. There's a monster in the lake that's been capturing and eating Zoras lately. Because it makes its den in a cave on a cliff, they have no easy way to fight it themselves. I'm going to them first to ask more about it, as well as buy one of their diving suits because I might need it even though I'm being sent in because I can more easily climb the cliff wall.

If it were just myself, I'd only be concerned with taking down this Zora Eater. But apparently there's something called the Medal of Valor in its den that acts as a key to the shrine of the Master Sword, which might be needed to deal with this invasion. I don't know what the medal is doing in a place like that. However, this conquest can't be over with so soon and is bound to cause more trouble on everyone in Hyrule. I'd like to do what I can, if I can do what the princess is asking me to do.

Be careful out there.

From Link

To Link:

You're the one who really needs to be careful if you're going to get involved in all that. My group and I have decided to do what we can about this invasion too, even if all we can do is warn others and make sure fighters like you are well supplied. While I am decent at magic, I don't dare think to compare myself to Ganon. He's supposed to be quite the prodigy. Though, I used to hear that he was someone who cared deeply about his subjects and didn't want us to suffer through another war. Time changes all, I suppose. I just worry about how my land is going to be affected by this; I am from Sudai as well.

I've heard of that Zora Eater, but I thought the knights were supposed to take care of it. The knights must not care as much as they pretend to. While it's been attacking mostly at night, monsters like that have been known to change their hunting strategies if their prey wises up. The last waterfall up to the Zora's town is rather high, but if it manages to find a way up that, then they're in big trouble. And it can climb cliffs due to the entrance of its den, so it really needs to go.

You sure you want to go after that medal, and thus that legendary sword? It could only bring you trouble since people will expect a lot out of you if you show up armed with that. Though given what's happening, I'm sure people would appreciate a hero showing up to take care of things. I just don't think we should be relying on one person who manages to find one sword. With so many knights under Hyrule's banner, you'd think that a good number of them were actually loyal to the kingdom and will fight back.

But if you do end up going for that, I'll still help you out. It'd be an honor to be an ally of a hero of legend.

From Gale

To Gale:

Becoming a hero isn't what I meant to do. But I've been thinking it over ever since Zelda's letter showed up. The whole reason I wanted to go into mercenary work was to help people with what I'm good at. If our time needs a hero and I can help the most people that way, then I'll go ahead and be a hero. If a hero is not needed, I'll do all I can on my own. It seems like the former is the most likely case. I overheard some locals talking about how they've been having some issues with Likelikes being high in numbers this year. The case of the Zora Eater is more pressing because more people are dying from that monster, but that kind of talk is something for me to keep in mind.

Oh, and I'm sorry if I'm bugging you with sending the third letter tonight. I don't have an easy time talking to people and this has been a lot to consider. But writing out things made it easier to decide on this. If there's anything you'd like me to check on while I'm doing all this, just ask.

From Link

To Link:

Don't worry, this wasn't a bother. This all is interesting to me; it hasn't been that long that I've known you, but you're very different from the people I know. Perhaps it's because I don't know many outside of nobility or merchants. Though we should probably stop for tonight, if you have to trek up the river trail tomorrow. You should be well rested for that; there's a number of monsters in the area, although your bow will be of great use in taking them down before they get close.

From Gale

Shortly after sunrise, Link was already leading Epona out of the inn's stable to head on. There were a number of roads leading from Narin, but the northern road from town would simply lead to the northern plains of the central province. The Zora's territory was to the northeast, more north than east. A mile out of Narin, a crossing gave three roads to follow. The southern and western roads went down to Lake Hylia, with the northern one led to a steep road heading up into the mountains that encircled almost all of Hyrule's traditional boundary. From the ways her ears twitched, Link could tell Epona was alert in climbing this new road.

He was alert too, checking where monsters were to see if he should shoot them down or try avoiding them. If he was more familiar with the area, it might be easier to take smaller side trails to avoid clusters of monsters, mostly bokoblins and chus that he saw. But there were also octoroks in the water and some kind of monster bird that he occasionally saw flying overhead with the eagles. The octoroks weren't bothering him yet, but that bird worried him. It flew too far overhead to be shot down, but it was trailed by shadowy magic that marked it as different from the rest. If it decided to attack, it could be trouble.

Along the incline, there were occasional outcroppings that got close to the rapids of the river. Link looked them over, usually seeing a few monsters that could be passed by without much trouble. But as the stone arches of the Great Eastern Bridge got close, he spotted a small Zora huddled near a rugged tree. A child? Her legs looked torn even from the road, so Link guided Epona onto that outcropping and dismounted to check the child out.

She was dazed enough that she didn't notice him immediately. The wounds were most likely from last evening, but some of them seemed infected. Her skin was warm and on the dry side, like what was normal for other humanoids. For a Zora, that seemed worrisome. Link checked his bag and found a potion that could counter the infection; it'd definitely stop any pain.

As he was applying that to her legs, she lifted her head. "Uh, huh? Mister?"

"Don't worry, I can take you home," Link said softly. Or if she didn't live at the top of the waterfall, they'd know better how to care for her there. She was young enough that it shouldn't be a burden on Epona to take them both.

"What happened to the monster?" she asked, looking towards the river. "It was watching all night, I watched it."

"The sun's up," he said, although she was lucky another monster hadn't found her like this. "Can you stand up?"

She shook her head, being careful about it. "Got dizzy."

"All right." Once the potion was on, Link picked her up and carried her to sit on the front of Epona's saddle. This would make it harder to fight off monsters, but they could take a slower pace and still make it to the top well before evening. He didn't know the road well enough to try hurrying Epona along.

It got harder when the child fell asleep on him, leaning on his right arm. He could handle the reins with that hand, but he couldn't use the bow with just one hand. Perhaps if he knew magic like Gale, he could use something in case they got attacked. But once they got up to the bridge, there weren't many monsters on the road itself. Link spotted some down side paths, but the main road seemed safe enough. When it started climbing again, the way turned winding in order to have an easier grade on horses and wagons.

Approaching one turn, he found three Zoras in scaled armor. One was sitting on a rock alongside the river, his armor dripping from being underwater recently. The other two were acting as guards. "Hey, traveler, is that Sophie with you?" one of them called out.

Since they were still approaching, Link called back, "Don't know, found her by the bridge."

"She's the only one that went missing last night," the other road guard said.

"It's a miracle you found her alive," the first one said. "How is she?"

"Asleep, her wounds got infected," he replied, slowing Epona by the guards. The horse shifted her ears curiously, not nervous around the Zoras.

"You mind taking her up to town for us? I can go on foot with you to keep monsters away."

Link nodded. "That's what I mean to do."

"I'll alert the doctor," the one by the river said before he dove back in to get back quicker.

"Thank you sir," the guard staying behind said, giving him a salute.

The guard going with him kept ahead, using his fins as boomerangs to keep monsters away. If he had to fight closer, he used a spear masterfully against them. Link felt comfortable with a sword and didn't think he could handle a spear anything like that. All the while, the girl remained asleep. He could feel Sophie's breath against his arm, so he wasn't too worried about her.

When they got to Zora's Waterfall, the road went in and out of caverns. The area was carved out carefully to be even and spacious, enough for a wagon to pass through should traders come up this far. There weren't many people on the road with them, but it was the early afternoon. At the base of the waterfall, he had seen several of the Zora taking care of fish they'd caught. Others might be working elsewhere, especially down at Lake Hylia now that the sun kept the Zora Eater away.

At the top, they passed through a beautifully tiled hallway into a town that lay mostly within the deep spring that fed the river. There were a few Zora waiting there for them, including the girl's parents. "Oh, Sophie, is she alive?" her mother asked, coming over.

"Yes, but she's sick," Link said, letting go of Epona's reins after silently telling her to keep still. He kept his right arm around Sophie while putting his left under her legs in order to pass her down to her father.

"At least she's back with us," her father said, stepping back so the doctor could check on her. "Thank you, sir, for bringing her back home."

"I hope she gets better soon," Link said, dismounting there.

"Did you treat her in any way?" the doctor asked, checking her general symptoms before looking at her legs.

"I put an antibacterial lotion on the wounds," he said, getting out the container for that so he could see.

"Hmm, that will help out," he said. "Let's get her back to the clinic, there's something I must do right away."

As they hurried off, the guard turned to him. "We don't keep horses, but the inn right there does have a stable with a pasture for travelers like you, in case you still had some business here."

He nodded. "I was sent here by Princess Zelda to slay the Zora Eater monster. Is there someone around I can ask for more details on it?"

The guard stared at him in surprise a moment, his arm fins twitching. "You... really, that's why you're here?" When he confirmed that, the guard bowed. "That's wonderful, we'd just about given up on getting help from the castle on that monster. Good to know that we can still count on the princess. I'd tell you what I know, but I really should get back to my position since I'm on duty. If you can find a guard who's off-duty, they can tell you what we know. Or you could ask Rosso, he's the only one, well aside from Sophie now, who's managed to survive a battle with it. But, he lost an arm in doing so. It's really dangerous to tangle with. Good luck."

After giving the guard a respectful wave, he led Epona over to the inn to get a room and stable pen rented. The Zora actually had a nice little meadow there for her, full of vibrant grass and fenced in with wards against monsters. There was even a small waterfall and pool in one corner from a higher spring, giving her a good place to drink. Figuring that he wouldn't take her back down to Lake Hylia to fight the Zora Eater, Link took off her gear to store in the stable. She should be happy in this pasture for a few days.

Now he either had to find an off-duty guard who'd likely not be in their armor or a one-armed Zora. Link could tell there were small differences between them, but finding Rosso would probably be the easiest method for him. The innkeeper said that he'd been trying to regain some swimming ability, so he was most likely at one of the smaller springs in the area. While Link knew how to swim, he tried walking around the town first. He took note of where their shop above the water was, then searched up smaller streams and rocky paths.

This eventually brought him to the overhang right above the inn's pasture. There was just one Zora up there, but he was the one he was looking for. Keeping to the surface, Rosso was working on swimming across the pool of water. He seemed to be doing fine, as he swam straight over once Link waved to him. "You're the one who came in with the lost girl, aren't you?" the Zora asked.

Link nodded, crouched on the stones around the water. "I need to talk with you about the Zora Eater. I'm here to slay it."

Skeptical, Rosso frowned. "Are you now? That's a foolish task; can you even fight in the water?" He hit the surface with his one hand. "I was considered the best fighter among us. Even so, I barely got away with my life and now have to relearn every motion thanks to trying that battle. Maybe it won't try to eat you as a Hylian, or maybe it will. Either way, you could end up just as defeated as me. Are you sure you want to go after it?"

He nodded again. "Someone has to."

Rosso snorted and looked away, but it did turn into a small laugh. "You talk serious for a fool. Then again, I don't think any of the others around here have the guts you or I do. Fine, you'd better know what you're really getting into." There was an incline in and out of the spring a few feet over, but he preferred pulling himself out. "You must have had a long ride; have you had lunch yet? We can go get something to eat while we talk."

Although he didn't seem to be a guard anymore, the Zoras still treated Rosso with respect as they walked through town to a restaurant around the main spring. The waitress there even addressed him as captain and brought them to a table with a good view over the water. Every dish they offered was fish-based, some Link was familiar with and some he'd not been able to try for himself. He got some poached river trout, since he wasn't sure how to poach fish himself. Rosso simply asked for his usual, getting a traditional dish with fish, kimchi, and rice.

"First thing you've got to realize is that there's more than one," Rosso said while they were waiting on their meals. "We've only ever run into one at a time, but they have different glow lines on their bodies: yellow, red, and blue. Since we weren't sure if it was one changing color or not, we asked a few different people who could investigate with magic. They all agreed there are three of them, and they nest in that cave on the cliff that we can't reach. So even if you do manage to kill one, which is a feat by itself, there's two others who'll keep threatening us."

"If I can beat one, I can beat the other two," Link said.

"True," he said with a shrug. "Beating them is the problem. Our spears can't pierce their hides, so your sword won't do much good either. If we're lucky, it'll have an eye open that can be stabbed. They keep them closed most of the time since they don't rely on sight."

"What kind of monster are they?" he asked, since that would be important to figuring out how to beat them.

"Giant squid," Rosso said. "It's a mystery how they got into Lake Hylia. I suppose they could have come up the river, but such creatures usually don't come this far inland. Also, they have been seen coming out of the lake and climbing the cliffs there. That's highly unusual for natural squid, plus they don't have the qualities or behaviors of Octoroks. We suspect that someone managed to summon them there. Without any evidence that we can find, we can't figure out who did so. There's probably something in that cave, so keep an eye out."

Link nodded. So these were tough creatures, probably quick in the water. And they had to be strong in order to take Rosso's arm from him. Unless it was a poison. "How did it take your arm?"

"It completely crushed the bones of my upper arm and elbow with a tentacle," he said, touching his shoulder. "Then some kind of digestive acid ate away at the skin and the doctor had to cut it off entirely." Rosso bowed his head. "I hope that girl doesn't have to lose her legs."

"I didn't see anything like that," Link said, although the infection was worrisome.

"There is a good possibility on how to defeat them, as long as you can avoid being grabbed," Rosso said, looking back up at him. "There are some monsters that have long been in Lake Hylia called Bomb Fish. They're exactly what they sound like, hiding like fish until you come close, then they explode like bombs. If you're quick, they can be triggered and taken a short distance to bomb obstacles or other monsters. I managed to get a Bomb Fish to swim at the Zora Eater; it grabbed the fish and swallowed it, then got stunned when it exploded. I didn't have any underwater bombs at the time, so I tried to get it to swallow another. Unfortunately, it outmaneuvered me once it recovered, before I could find another Bomb Fish."

Underwater bombs... he didn't have a bag for bombs yet. And they needed a separate bag to ensure that they didn't go off accidentally "Would the store here have a bomb bag and the underwater bombs?"

"Your bravery is good but don't let that get you killed," Rosso scolded him. "Yes, they do. But let me buy those for you in thanks for getting the girl back here; I'd rather her parents save their money towards getting her healed up. You'll have to get diving gear yourself, though." He also paid for the lunch, so Link was sure Rosso was more grateful than he let on.

To Gale:

We are very different when you put it that way. My father was a lumberjack and my mother was an herbalist back in Taven, but they got recruited into the Hylian army when I was young. Due to that, I've spent most of my life at St. Saria's Orphanage there. Gregio settled there in Taven to help out and taught several of us how to live like an honorable swordsman. Although, I'm the only one who focused on that rather than choose another career.

I've made it up to the Zoras and have found two who managed to escape the Eater. One was a lost girl that I found alongside the road; she's been badly hurt and will take some time to recover, but she'll live. When she had a few minutes alert, she told her parents that she'd kicked the monster in the open eye, which caused it to throw her out of the river where I found her. The other survivor used to be the guard for the Zora queen and he lost an arm trying to fight it off. He said that there's actually three of them and they seem to be vulnerable to bombs.

Since I mean to take care of all three, I've spent a few hours practicing swimming and underwater combat with the Zora guards. They were surprised at how quickly I adapted, saying that I was a natural. But it was like that bow you helped me pick up in the Grotto. I've never swam like that before, but I have dreams that helped me recall a skill I don't have. Actually, I think I'm having dreams of the heroes of legend. I had thought that maybe it was just because I liked the stories, but if I can impress Zoras in fighting underwater when they're not holding back, on the first day I ever put on a diving suit, maybe I really am connected to them already.

I'm going to attempt going after the Zora Eaters tonight. I've got a good stock of underwater bombs now and I can dash for short bursts while swimming underwater, so I can keep out of their grasp. As only one has been seen at a time, only one should come out to hunt tonight. I can take care of that one, then get into their den after the other two. For now, I'm resting so I can be in good shape for fighting at night.

How are things looking where you're at?

From Link

"I wanted those Zora Eaters to last longer and decimate those people," Ganon said, pausing in his study to consider the letter.

Just as he'd thought, there was a hidden part of the library that held books the Hylian royalty did not want anyone else to find. There were more detailed and accurate accounts of past wars, more analytical writings about the patterns in legends, and reports on many magical artifacts. They even had the gall to hide these writings further behind rolling shelves, while rare but unimportant books were more easily found around the secret entrance. Since there was a table and chair in here, Ganon had the references he wanted stacked around him.

He got up and went to a map that was hanging on the wall here. The Zora could be useful if controlled. However, they were at their best around water. On the grassy plains or in the volcanic area to the east, they would be little good. But having them as an enemy on lands with rivers and lakes, such as in the west or even in Sudai's swamps, would make them a complete pain in trying to hold that area. By reducing their numbers, he could take Lake Hylia and Zora Waterfall to make sure they didn't try to cut off the water supply to the castle.

Of course, he could just replace all of his human followers with monsters who didn't need food or water to exist. It would take a lot longer for a lack of water to weaken the lot of them. But he wanted some of the humans around for his next big move, to spread word of what he was doing. It'd be no good if the only witnesses died then. Besides, water wasn't a big concern here.

He heard the boots of a soldier coming up, so he folded up the letter and tucked it into the pocket of his cloak. The soldier knocked, quickly saluting on seeing that he was there. "Your majesty, if I may?"

"What do you have to report?" Ganon asked, keeping his eyes on the map.

"We've secured Onduran, Narin, and Fiolus," he said. Those were the three smaller towns in central Hyrule. While he'd had to delay the Narin group to give Link the time to leave, that town had never been a big worry in capturing. "Although the Zoras have already gotten word of us and have closed off the northern canal. Also, a great many of the townspeople here in the capitol have gone missing."

"Killed?" he asked. Zelda must have tipped off the Zoras too.

"No sir," the soldier said. "They've simply disappeared from their homes, taking a few things with them. We suspect there's some hidden route they're escaping through. If we could find whoever is directing them..."

"That won't be necessary," Ganon said. The person most likely to be directing them was Joachim, but it didn't bother him. "If they want to flee, let them. We'll want to drive out those we can't count on eventually to turn this place into a fortress."

"But with the water supply closing off," he started to say, uneasy with the situation.

"We'll be fine," he said, still looking over the map. "The northern canal is simply a means to bring peace of mind to the townspeople. This castle is designed to be closed up entirely, including the canal doors, and remain self-sufficient indefinitely. By losing the burden of the townspeople, our position is further secured. I now have the entire plans of the castle; we'll be fine."

"Thank you, sir," the solider said, bowing to him. "I should have been more faithful; you really do think of everything."

"Is there anything more to report?" When the soldier shook his head, he waved him off. "Back to your regular duties, then."

"Yes, your majesty."

That would be something he wouldn't get with just a monster army, Ganon reflected. Although he'd get more accurate reports if he used certain intelligent monsters as spies, as most monsters had no will of their own. They wouldn't have the earnestness or awe of the human soldiers. Besides, the humans were an important reminder to him. They were a connection to his own humanity. Without them, the darker voices of his soul would be louder. He might become more powerful or have a greater deal of insight from past lives if he turned to that darkness fully. But it was clear that doing that would be playing right into fate's hand.

That was important to keep in mind. At the moment, though, he needed to reply to Link. Reading that he had powerful dreams of the past, he could see things a little clearer. It was an important piece to this mystery. The things that past heroes did were incredible, almost unbelievable. Skills such as archery, music, magic, swordsmanship, and more should take years to learn. But if that knowledge trickled along from hero to hero, it made a lot more sense of how they could pick up a new weapon and use it like a master. This Link had experience that he had not lived through himself because he had inherited it.

With that inherited knowledge, he was perfectly capable of destroying the Zora Eaters. He was a little under-equipped for such a battle. The bow would be useless underwater and even if he could use the sword, the Zora Eaters were covered in thick rubbery skin save for useless eyes and toothy mouths. With the scale armor from a Zora diving suit, he should be decently but not fully defended. And the pan flute was utter nonsense underwater. The only useful item he had were those underwater bombs. Yet, Ganon was still certain that Link could win this.

But that was because he knew a lot more than he could let on. His response had to reflect a lesser knowledge. Not only that, it had to make progress on this facet of his overall plan. What to say?