Chapter 30: Desert Cave Fish Tetrylobyte
"What is that?" Zelda asked, backing away from the frozen spring.
"Tetrylobyte," Impa answered. "He guards the Sacred Spring from intruders, but he's acting more aggressive than usual."
"We need to defeat him if we're to obtain the Wind Instrument," Lana said. "Since he can't see, his other senses must be heightened such as hearing and smell."
"Then this will come in handy," Zelda responded, holding up the Sheikah Silencer.
While Lana hit the surface of the spring with blasts of energy that caused Tetrylobyte to surface, Zelda shot it in the head with bullets from the Sheikah Silencer. This caused the creature to cry out in pain and dive back under the ice. After taking several bullets, Tetrylobyte trashed violently onto the surface of the frozen spring and then he coughed something up before passing out. Lana walked over to the thing Tetrylobyte had spit out and levitated it in her hand. It appeared to be a black gemstone with red lining.
"This was what caused Tetrylobyte to act more aggressive," Lana said showing it to Impa and Zelda. "It was a Shadow Crystal."
"How did it swallow such a thing?" Impa wondered. "There are no Shadow Crystals in the Sheikah District."
"But they do come from the Twili District," Zelda said. "Midna must've known a Wind Instrument was here and sent one of her non-Twili agents to feed Tetrylobyte a Shadow Crystal so that it would go crazy and eventually die from the crystal's corruptive power."
"That's horrible," Impa said with disgust. "All to prevent someone from summoning a Light Spirit, which is the only thing that could weaken Midna's power."
"So if the Twilight Wolves got here before we did, then they must've gotten to the other Wind Instrument locations too and affected their guardians," Lana guessed.
"You're probably right, Lana, though that would imply that Midna has been planning this attack for a long time," Zelda said.
The ice melted off the frozen spring as Tetrylobyte sank to the bottom and a bassoon made of wood that seemed to radiate heat from it appeared at the center of the spring.
"The Bassoon of the South," Impa murmured. "I've heard stories about this instrument since I was a child. It was said to be forged by the first Sheikah Tribe leader when he discovered a tree in the desert that could produce fire. It saved Kakario Village from a terrible winter, but it was the last tree of its kind. So the bassoon was made in honor of that sacred tree."
"Let's hope it still works," Zelda said and used her Talon Clasp to grab the bassoon from the spring's center. She picked up the bassoon and was about to try playing it when the mysterious masculine figure Impa and Skull Kid saw suddenly appeared.
Impa immediately rushed at the boy, but he parried her attacks with ease.
"Who are you?" Impa asked, standing her ground.
"I'm a Sheikah, like you are," the boy responded.
"But Skull Kid told us the remaining Sheikah were all dead," Lana said.
"He didn't tell you the whole truth," the boy said. "Most of the Sheikah died when Mayor Ganon decided to punish us for Impa's treachery, but a few survived and went into hiding. I was one of the lucky ones."
"What's your name?" Impa asked.
"Uh…" The boy hesitated, and then he said, "Sheik."
"Sheik?" Lana said bemused. "That's an unusual name."
"Why were you following us earlier?" Zelda asked.
"I saw that flying contraption you three were flying and got curious," Sheik answered. "But now that I've overheard your conversations, I want to help you."
"How?" Zelda said doubtfully.
"If you hope to summon Eldin, the Light Spirit that resides in the Sheikah District, then you need to play the Sonata of the Desert Wind," Sheik said, taking out a small gold harp. "Are you musically trained, Zelda?"
"Of course," Zelda replied.
"Fine, then repeat after me," Sheik noted and played a few notes on his harp twice.
Zelda repeated Sheik's notes on the bassoon, creating a melody that was smooth and melodic. This caused a real fountain to burst forth and a creature appeared that seemed bird-like with spiral patterns on the tips of its wings with a glowing orb clutched in its talons.
"Who calls Eldin, the Spirit of Light that slumbers in the Sacred Spring?" the bird demanded in a low roaring tone.
"I-I did," Zelda said, taking a few steps back.
The bird looked down at Zelda. "What brings you here?"
"We need your help," Zelda answered. "Midna, the leader of the Twilis, has gotten ahold of the Fused Shadow artifact, and it's all my fault. Is there some way you can keep the influence of the Twilight Realm at bay?"
Edin ruffled his feathers slightly, and he sighed. "The tone in your voice suggests truthfulness, and even now I sense a great darkness that is slowly engulfing the floating city. Unfortunately, I cannot do it alone. You must find my brothers, and only then can we drive back the darkness."
"Then I have to awaken the other Light Spirits before you can do anything?" Zelda said, trying to hide the irritation in her voice.
"Exactly," replied Eldin. "I shall remain here and gather my strength, but I can tell you where the second Wind Instrument is located."
"Where is it?"
"Go to the eastern shore, and look for a grotto that lies beneath the waves," said Eldin as he vanished in a flash of light.
As a circle of light appeared, Zelda stepped toward it but looked back toward the slope.
"Where did Sheik go?" Zelda asked.
"I don't know," Impa said, looking around. "I didn't see him leave."
"Neither did I," Lana replied, and followed Zelda and Impa into the circle of light.
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Back in the graveyard, the three women discovered that Skull Kid was nowhere to be seen.
"Well, it's no wonder Sheik was able to follow us into the Sacred Spring," Zelda said. "I knew we shouldn't have trusted him to keep watch."
"But at least he told us where the Bassoon of the South was," Impa said.
"Yes, but the fact that he's gone is troubling," Lana responded looking worried.
To be continued…