Chapter 2 - The Gist

"So the gist of this," said Link as he jumped onto a pillar that rose from a moat of molten rock, "is to walk around this ruin, find some keys, a map, a compass, a treasure-slash-weapon, fight little monsters, then their boss-"

"Not necessarily in that order," said the fairy.

"-and get a key item from that boss that will most likely do nothing but occupy space in my bag?"

"Oh," said Navy. She flew behind Link, a little to the side, to look at the bag under his shield. "I'd forgotten you had a bag."

"Why do you think I keep reaching back there when I need something? Or when I want to put things away?"

"It seems convenient."

"It is."

The pillar on which Link stood lowered dangerously close to the magma. The proximity to it made nervousness slither up his spine. He'd made sure that the pillar did not become completely submerged before jumping on it, though. It even sounded like it hit bottom once it was all they way down. Still, rock should not be melted. What would that much heat do to him?

Once up again, Link jumped onto a central platform, circular in form. For some reason, Link thought of this room as the great hall of the dungeon. He walked to the center of the platform to admire it. There was the huge skeleton of an arachnid beast hanging right in front of him, reptilian creatures the size of a small dog dragging their bodies on the floor off to the right, and some goblins that had just noticed him on a naturally formed balcony above him. Sure, it was menacing. But the cavern itself gave off a feeling of wonderment.

"And you say we should start with a map?"

An arrow landed right in front of Link. Its head penetrated the ground and the shaft vibrated as both the fairy and hylian stared at it. Another arrow hit the ground, closer to them. The goblins on the second floor were firing bows. Link put his shield in front of him just in time for an arrow to hit it and break in two.

"I think we should probably look for a map around here."

Link thought it curious that the fairy's words upset him more than the projectiles hitting his shield.