Zelda had not found a single clue to the whereabouts of Link's Loftwing. She returned to the Knight Academy to ask other students if they knew anything. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw an upperclassman named Pipit, standing outside of the sparring hall and signaling for her to come talk to him.
"I thought you should know, I just saw Link. He's going to the waterfall."
"Thanks!" Zelda called over her shoulder, rushing to catch up to Link.
Back on her Loftwing, Zelda saw Link emerge from the Waterfall Cave. She called to him, dismounted her Loftwing, and ran to his side. They were standing in an area that was more secluded from the rest of Skyloft. It was only accessible by Loftwing or by traveling though the cave. True to its name, there was a waterfall at each entrance.
"Hey Link, did you find your Loftwing?"
"No...not yet"
"Oh, how disappointing...well, there is a place up ahead where Groose and his buddies like to hang out. We still have to look there..."
As Zelda was about to say something else, she heard a faint, ethereal ringing sound.
"Come to me, Spirit Maiden," she heard a charming male voice whisper. A chill ran down her back at being addressed as such by the mysterious voice.
"Who...who's that,?" Zelda stammered. Skyloft was a fairly tight knit community, and this wasn't a voice she recognized. She looked around, feeling as though she was being watched. Nobody was around of course, it was just the two of them. From this spot, Zelda could not even see or hear anyone in town.
Link gave her a puzzled look.
"Oh...Sorry Link...I got distracted there for a moment," Zelda explained, wondering why Link hadn't heard the voice, too.
They rounded the corner of the outside of the cave and saw Link's crimson Loftwing inside an alcove, which was boarded up. Link rushed past Zelda and wasted no time cutting down the boards, as she looked on. She was still trying to process all that was happening today. Groose and his friends were really getting out of hand lately, but trying to ruin Link's chances of becoming a senior Knight Academy student was a new low, Zelda thought. As soon as the boards fell to the ground, the Loftwing stepped out, stretched its wings and took to the sky, circling close above them.
"I'm so glad we found your bird, Link. Now we've got to hurry..."
The ringing returned to Zelda's ears, and she could hear the voice again.
"My dear Spirit Maiden, I am waiting for you on the surface."
Link's relieved smile faded when Zelda trailed off. "Zelda?"
"Link...I heard this voice just a moment ago...did you hear it, too?"
"No...what does it sound like?"
"It's like someone is calling for me..."
Zelda hesitated and then changed the subject, not wanting her childhood friend to start questioning her sanity.
"Do you ever wonder what's beneath the clouds? I've been reading my father's ancient texts, and they describe a place beneath the clouds called the surface. It's said to be far more vast than Skyloft. I know everyone says it's a barren place, or that there's nothing down there, but I just have this feeling that they're wrong. Someday, I hope to see it for myself."
"Only you, Zelda, only you," Link laughed.
"What do you mean by that, Link?"
"You take those ancient books way too serious, and you're too old to be daydreaming. Even if there is something down there, our Loftwings can't fly below the cloud barrier. You know that."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Zelda conceded, deciding to drop the issue. "Well Link, it looks like your Loftwing is in good shape. We'd better get going. I'm sure everyone is eager for the ceremony to begin."
Link nodded. He was elated to find his bird and begin the race, but all Zelda could think about was the ominous, yet beautiful voice she had heard. She wondered if she would hear him again soon.
