Chapter 17: Owlan Temple
Skittering noises caught the four off-guard until they came to a spider-web with a large spider-like creature on it that had a skull-shaped design on its back.
"A Golden Skulltula!" Professor Phosile exclaimed.
"What's so special about it?" Link asked as he drew the Master Sword out.
"I have a friend who's very interested in collecting rare bugs. His name is Professor Scarab, and if we could get this to him in one piece—
Link immediately sliced through the Skulltula just as it was attacking him and caused it to fall on its back along with the web.
"We could get a huge reward for it," Professor Phosile finished.
"Who cares about rewards when the Fused Shadow fragment will bring us plenty of grant money from the Hylian University," Tera said stepping cautiously around the fallen Skulltula.
"Well, I was just thinking we could take advantage of it," Professor Phosile said noticing the Skulltula's legs twitching slightly. "Assuming we get out of here alive."
"I could see how someone could get easily lost in this place," Zelda remarked.
At the end of the passage, the company came a fork where another passage went around a bend to the left while to the right was a staircase carved from wood. A large plant with red flame-like petals grew from the wooden panel between these two paths, though it appeared to be wilted. Below the plant was a message carved in Hylian.
"'To light the torches, you must fan the flames,'" Link read.
"What does that mean?" Tera asked.
"It's clearly some kind of riddle," Zelda said. "Only those who knew what the writer was talking about would get it."
"But we didn't write it so how are we supposed to know what to do?" Professor Phosile said anxiously.
"Maybe we should explore," Link suggested.
"Good idea, only I don't think we should split up," Zelda responded.
"But we could cover more ground that way," Professor Phosile noted.
"I only have one lantern to spare and it wouldn't be wise considering how little we know about Owlan Temple," Zelda said firmly. "Let's just stick together for now."
"Then which way should we go?" Professor Phosile asked.
"Aren't you forgetting someone?" Proxi said, flying out of Link's shirt-pocket.
"Goodness gracious!" Professor Phosile gasped.
"A real living Fairy," Tera said reaching out to touch Proxi. "I've always wanted to see one up close. They're more beautiful than I imagined."
"I appreciate the compliment, but no touching, please," Proxi responded sarcastically.
"Of course!" Zelda exclaimed. "Fairies generate a light of their own."
"So we could split up," Link realized.
"I'll go with Link while you and Tera can borrow my lantern," Zelda said as she handed the lantern to Professor Phosile. "We'll meet back here once we've found something of interest."
"Sounds like a plan," Professor Phosile said as he linked his arm in Tera's. "Shall we?"
"Lead the way, dear," Tera said and followed Professor Phosile around the bend to the left.
"Then I guess we're going upstairs," Link said and ascended the stairs with Zelda.
The staircase curved around the inside of a trunk with several Skulltulas and Deku Babas littering it. Fortunately, Zelda was able to blow them away with her Wind Parasol while Link cut them down. At the top of the staircase was a wooden door with a curved spiral on it. Link used his strength to move it aside, revealing a small chamber with bats on the ceiling and Skulltulas crawling on the walls.
"Wherever these monsters came from, they're obviously protecting something," Zelda said using her Talon Clasp to hit the bats as they flew toward them.
"No kidding," Link replied using the Master Sword to slice more Skulltulas in half.
Once the room was clear, a chest suddenly appeared in the middle of the room. Curious, Link and Zelda walked over to it. After a brief pause, Zelda knelt down and opened the chest. A faint light poured from it, until Zelda held up the item that was inside the chest.
"It looks like some kind of fan," Link said, while Zelda was busy examining the item which consisted of thin tree leaves held together by thin wooden sticks.
"Yes, I believe it's the Kokiri Fan," Zelda replied. "I read about it while I was 'studying' in the Goddess Statue. The leaves this fan come directly from the Deku Tree himself, and are supposedly embedded with magical winds."
Link stepped aside as Zelda waved the Kokiri Fan. A gust of warm wind blew straight from the fan and up to the chamber's ceiling. A lone Skulltula caught fire and came crashing down at Zelda's feet.
It was then that Zelda suddenly gasped. "Now the riddle makes sense."
Before Link could question her, Zelda ran out of the chamber and back down the stairs. She found Professor Phosile and Tera waiting by the wilted plant looking surprised to see her.
"I take it you found something," Professor Phosile guessed.
"The answer to the riddle," Zelda said holding the Kokiri Fan up.
Zelda then used the fan to blow the same warm wind that set the Skulltula on fire onto the wilted plant. The petals suddenly ignited but instead of burning up they maintained a steady flame that illuminated the fork and the ceiling overhead which were made from wood.
"Fascinating," Professor Phosile mused. "A plant that contains fire like a torch, and a fan that can produce wind at will."
"But not just any wind," Zelda corrected. "According to what I read, the Kokiri Fan produces different kinds of winds depending on the temperature of the area. For instance, if the area is cold then the fan will blow warm wind, then if it's warm the wind will be cold."
"Makes sense," Professor Phosile nodded.
"Doesn't your Wind Parasol work the same way?" Link asked.
"Not exactly," Zelda responded. "I can use the Wind Parasol to glide on air currents as well as to store air within it for wind-based attacks. But the Kokiri Fan produces air on its own without needing to absorb the surrounding air. Does that make sense?"
"Sort of," Link said scratching his head.
"Well, we found something interesting too," Tera said and held up a small silver key. "There was a chamber adjacent to the passageway with a chest that had this key inside. Did you find any doors with locks upstairs?"
Zelda and Link shook their heads.
"In that case, let's continue down the passage my husband and I went down," Tera said taking Phosile's arm. "Maybe we'll find a locked door in need of a key."
To be continued…