And she's back! Hey, again, everyone! I am soooo excited to present this chapter. Sorry if it took longer than expected - I didn't realize how beefy this part of the story would get until I finished it.
Let me say, though... I didn't realize how sad this one was going to get. Like, I got a little choked up. I hope it resonates with you as much as it did to me.
Again, I just wanted to thank everyone for reading Corrupted Hero. We've only just started, but things are going so well, I can't wait to keep going!
Happy reading!
The walk to the old man's cabin was, in a way, peaceful. Gusts of wind rolled through the sunny, grassy plain, blowing at their backs and pushing them along the easternmost stretch of the plateau. As they passed between the aspens and boulders dotting the landscape, they were both inwardly relieved to be leaving the old abbey, and for the same reasons; Link was eager to finally have some answers to his questions, just as the old man was ready to find answers to his own. They had much to talk about, and they wasted no time in their march to the cabin.
While the walk itself was pleasant, it wasn't without its rigid, awkward silence; it hung in the air like a fog between them, thick enough to run your fingers through. The old man walked an arm's length away from Link, and, apart from his initial invitation, said absolutely nothing to him, his eyes set straight ahead. He kept his gaze averted from Link, but Link's glowing yellow eyes wandered to the old man, getting another look at him.
He hadn't changed since they first met — albeit he was a bit shaken — but Link abruptly took notice that the old man didn't use his walking stick to aid him as he moved. He instead held it close to his person, off of the ground. Link found that his gait wasn't hindered by a limp or old age. Perhaps he used the stick for self-defense? He ended up dismissing the thought; he figured it didn't matter all that much.
But before long, the silence grew unbearable. Link thought he'd break it with his first question.
Looking over his shoulder at the smoking crater far behind them, he asked, "What was that thing? I've never seen anything like it."
The old man's reply was delayed, but he eventually answered, "That was a relic from an age long passed. I didn't think there were any active Guardians left on the plateau, but it seems I was wrong. Hopefully, that was the last of them."
Link cocked his head, the name tickling his brain, though he couldn't pinpoint why. "Guardians... What exactly are they?"
Instead of giving him a straight answer, the old man responded with a question of his own. "Well, what do you think they are? From your experience. You found two — one at the pond, the other at the abbey. Tell me what you think. I'm curious."
Link, scrunching his brow, explained it the only way he understood, saying, "They looked like statues, worn by time. But I've never seen a statue moveof its own accord like that. Like it could think for itself. It was… alive, almost."
A thought breezed through Link's mind as he said that aloud: perhaps it was somehow Calamity Ganon's doing, bringing the statues to life? He knew undeniably that the beast had watched him through the Guardian's eye. The fear that had struck him was unforgettable. He then began to wonder, too, if the old man knew of Calamity Ganon. He'd ask him later.
"Indeed," the old man agreed, much to Link's surprise. "Though it may be difficult to believe, the Guardians were crafted by human hands many ages ago. They are not statues, but machines — mechanical warriors that move autonomously, ready to aid their masters at a moment's notice. Over one hundred years ago, the Guardians roamed Hyrule freely, offering protection to the people across the land. Repulsing monsters, standing guard at villages, patrolling roads — they were built to protect, and they did it exceptionally. Now, they are scattered across Hyrule, some still mobile, others broken down, yet ever vigilant."
Link, awed by the old man's words, listened intently. But something was bothering him. He wondered, "But if they were made to protect people, then why did that Guardian attack you? Was it malfunctioning?"
"...In a way, yes," the old man shrugged. "But I cannot explain it in such simple terms. No, to understand the full truth, you must know what happened one hundred years ago." Link's ears had just perked up when the old man continued, "But I'd rather not discuss it here. I think you may want to be seated when I tell you. With your memory being as fragile as it is, I fear the truth may overwhelm you."
"And why is that?"
The old man finally turned his head to face him, his aged eyes brimming with grief. "It pertains to the desolation wrought by Calamity Ganon… More importantly, how it razed Hyrule to ruin, and possibly, how you became the creature you are now." The old man looked him in the eye for a few seconds before wrenching gaze away, his lips pursing.
So he did know the beast.
A chill darted through Link's blood at that. There was that word, again. Creature. He tried to fight it off, but their first meeting reared its head once more in his mind, bringing with it the words that had crushed his hopes. Monstrosity, devil, abomination... and the scorn in the old man's eyes. He couldn't escape the image of the beast that polluted his mind, then. His gaze wandered down to his hand, to the bones glowing through his transparent skin.
He ground his jaw, swallowing a lump in his throat. "I see," he croaked.
Another silence followed, undertoned by their feet against the grass. Even if he had seen Link's reaction, the old man paid no heed to it. After a moment, he murmured, "Come. We're nearly there."
They walked on in silence for a short while before Link spotted the silhouette of the cabin through the aspens. Rounding a small knoll, they came around to the dirt-clod courtyard. In many ways, the cabin resembled the old man himself: it towered over its surroundings, weathered, aged, and rough, relying on a piece of nature for support. In the cabin's case, it was a rugged boulder, composing the southern wall and holding up the logs bound together with thick rope. An overturned log sat by a charred fire pit equipped with a cast iron cooking pot, all near the empty doorway into the cabin.
The old man paused in the courtyard, Link coming to a stop beside him. He didn't so much as glance at Link when he gestured with his walking stick to the log by the fire pit, inviting him to make himself comfortable.
"Please, have a seat," he said. "I will be out shortly. Then, we will talk." With that, he turned and trudged into the cabin.
Link did as he was told, but not without his spine stiffening. He seated himself on the log, hanging his head and staring into his hands. Eager as he was to finally have some answers, he was beginning to grow anxious of this meeting, expecting the worst. Part of him believed that the old man would help him — after all, he seemed apologetic after Link saved him from the Guardian. But all the same, something about the old man didn't feel right — even with his apology, Link still could sense his constant scrutiny and caution. In the end, Link supposed he'd have to hope for the best and see what came of it.
The old man emerged from the cabin a few moments later with a woven basket in his arms. Bringing it to the fire pit, he knelt and began unpacking its contents: a chunk of flint, a small pot of water, two bird's eggs and a bundle of rice, a wooden spoon, and a single ceramic bowl.
Link looked over the ingredients, confused at the small portion sizes. "Won't you be eating, too? I'd... hate to have you cook just for me."
As the old man struck sparks onto the firewood, he replied, "Perhaps later. I am not terribly hungry at the moment." He then added with a sheepish shrug, "...I hope you like eggs and rice. I'm not much of a cook, myself — this is all I know how to make. It's a wonder I've made it this far, really."
Link chuckled a bit, watching small ribbons of fire burn to life on the blackened firewood. Even with his feast of apples before, his stomach turned in anticipation. "That sounds wonderful, actually. Thank you very much… er..."
Something then dawned on Link: he didn't even know the old man's name. In their interactions, it had never occurred to him to ask it.
He bit his lip, saying, "I'm sorry, but I just realized I never found out your name. Yet... you somehow knew mine. Tell me, what is it? I wanted to thank you properly for doing this for me."
After pouring the water and rice into the pot, the old man turned his head to face him, offering up a wan smile. "Polite as always. I knew you had forgotten me, Link," he said, the warm familiarity in his voice a complete tonal shift. It left Link stupefied. "I simply failed to realize how faded your memories would be after your hundred-year slumber."
Wait — how did he know that? Link had heard that from the girl, before, not the old man. Before Link could prod him for more information, the old man provided him with the answers he had been seeking.
"But enough riddles. I suppose the time has come to show you who I truly am. I have kept you in the dark long enough."
Link leaned back, eyes wide. The old man rose to his feet, and Link couldn't help but follow. Collecting his thoughts, the old man turned his eyes to the sky, where they rested for a moment, gazing into nothing. His eyes swam with memories and tragedy and time.
Finally, he began, "I was King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule. I was… the last leader of Hyrule." His eyes then sank into the ground, his voice faltering. "A kingdom which no longer exists."
A sudden burst of light seared Link's eyes as he watched the old man. Bizarrely enough, it seemed to gleam from the old man himself. Link brought his hand up to shield his eyes, twisting them shut with a grunt, but the light faded as quickly as it came on. Puzzled, he reopened them, only to discover that the man in front of him had completely transformed.
His jaw dropped, and he let out a gasp. The old man's dark overcoat and hood had melted away to reveal a tall, broad man dressed in a stately blue coat trimmed with gold. A naggingly-familiar, triangular crest adorned his shining belt, with a winged, gold crown encrusted with rubies topping his head, poised above a billowing cascade of snow-white hair. A familiar beard poured down his chest, his entire body alight with a pale, ethereal glow. Wisps of ghostly flame flickered around him, and he hovered effortlessly a few inches above the ground, looking down on Link through exhausted, crystalline-blue eyes.
Link suddenly lost strength in his legs; he sunk into the log, stunned at the sight before him.
"You're… you're a spirit," he breathed. "All this time… You weren't really there." That certainly explained the old man's disappearance, as well as his inhumanly-swift movements. Link thought he was hallucinating for a moment, but no matter how many times he blinked, the apparition before him remained.
"In body, no, but in spirit… yes," King Rhoam replied with a nod. "I knew you would not recognize me in my true state, so I thought it best to assume a temporary, simple form. I hope you can forgive me for lying to you. No, one hundred years ago, when the Great Calamity ravaged our beloved Hyrule to dust… it was then that my life was taken away from me." Shadows bloomed beneath his eyes, and his shoulders fell. "And since that fated day, I have remained here, in spirit form — doomed to walk the burning fields, to watch my kingdom crumble into nothing, powerless against the merciless march of time..."
Goosebumps erupted over Link's skin. "What happened?" he gasped. "How did it happen? H-how could it?"
Rhoam tilted his head pensively. "I've asked myself that very question for one hundred years, exhausting my mind with every possible action, every change we could have made. In the end, we did everything we could to avoid the impending catastrophe, and yet, our efforts were for naught," he sighed. "We did not learn from our land's history, and were thus fated to repeat it… with bloody consequences."
Link, growing more and more numb with each word, found his mind squirming with the King's words as he spoke. He could hardly breathe — all he could do was listen, enraptured by the history of a land he couldn't remember.
The King began his tale, "I was always a skeptical man, even in my childhood — I didn't believe in the fairy tales that were so oft spoken throughout Hyrule. No, the stories of a knight chosen by a sacred sword, of a princess blessed with a sealing power, and their conflicts with a demon king... they were fantasy to me. Bedtime stories. In all my years as King, I never thought such stories would walk off their pages and into my reign. That was, until I heard the prophecy."
"Prophecy?" Link repeated.
"Yes, a prophecy passed down through the Sheikah tribe from generation to generation, imparted unto me by a young Sheikah, Impa."
The King then recited from memory the words of a dark divination, making Link's skin crawl, "'The signs of a resurrection of Calamity Ganon are clear: the earth will shake and travail, spawning hordes of restless monsters, howling and terrorizing beneath the rays of a bloody moon. The power to oppose the beast lies dormant beneath the ground. Find it, and Hyrule will be set free.'"
Link listened, transfixed, as the King went on, "I thought it to be no more than another legend, but as the signs began to manifest themselves, I took heed, and ordered mass excavations all throughout Hyrule. It wasn't long before we discovered a treasure trove of ancient relics, preserved for us by our distant ancestors."
"The Guardians?" Link interjected, pieces of history clicking together in his head.
"Indeed," the King agreed. "And we found yet more. In addition to our armies of Guardians, we also unearthed four colossal machines from each corner of the continent. They were the Divine Beasts: Vah Ruta, Vah Rudania, Vah Medoh, and Vah Naboris, each named after a legendary figure in Hyrule's vast history, piloted by champions of old. These Divine Beasts, as well as the Guardians, coincided with a ten-thousand-year-old legend whispered over time, and we relished in our findings with fascination. It was clear that we were meant to follow the path of our ancestors."
"So you found the Guardians, the Divine Beasts… what happened then?" Link asked.
He responded, "We then selected four skilled individuals from across Hyrule, and tasked them with piloting the Divine Beasts, each chosen for their devotion, vigilance, confidence, and spirit. Just as they rose, so did the princess with the sealing power, as well as her appointed knight with the sword that seals the darkness. With the princess as their commander, we dubbed these individuals Champions — a name that would solidify their unique bond. And so it was, our vanguard against calamity, awaiting the hour when they would seal the beast away…
"But nay…" Rhoam sighed, his eyes closing, visions of that dreaded day burning within his mind. "Ganon was cunning, and he responded with a plan beyond our imagining. We were paralyzed to react as he bursted out from deep below Hyrule Castle, sending out his vile claws to seize control of the Guardians and the Divine Beasts. One by one, our mechanical allies were infested by his Malice, and turned against us.
"They devastated villages to skeletal ashes, annihilating every soul in their path with a voracious appetite. The Champions were slain within their Divine Beasts, and the appointed knight, gravely wounded, was stricken down while defending the princess. Like a fell flood, the Guardians surged through the doors of Hyrule Castle, purging its halls of all life in a matter of minutes. My guards, Hylia rest their souls, protected me to the death — they were incinerated in their armor, leaving me cornered in my own throne room at the cruel mercy of a corrupted Guardian…"
Rhoam reopened his eyes and gazed at Link, who had gone completely cold. "With a single beam of deadly light, my life was snuffed out, along with the lives of thousands of innocent people across the land. Within the spanse of an afternoon, the kingdom of Hyrule was devastated absolutely."
Link shuddered, his bones rattling and his mouth hanging open. He thought that to be the end, but the King continued, his voice weak, "However, in spite of everything… the princess survived. And amidst the dead strewn in the streets, she made her way to the castle to face Ganon alone. It was she who halted the Great Calamity in its tracks, stifling the beast's wrath, imprisoning it for the coming century."
The King's spirit dimmed for a moment, his head hanging. His hands rolled into fists. "That princess was my own daughter…" Rhoam lamented, his voice breaking. "My dear, sweet Zelda…"
Link's heart gave a heavy thump at the name and he choked on his shallow breath. Hername. Zelda. Princess Zelda. He finally knew it — the name belonging to the gentle voice that had reached out to him in his time of need. It brought a comforting warmth to him after hearing of the fall of Hyrule. It was fitting name — as soft and beautiful as the grace she so readily gave him.
His mind was so unraveled at the revelation of her name that he nearly didn't hear Rhoam's next words, but he snapped back into reality just in time.
Rhoam continued, "And the courageous knight, who tore through legions of Guardians to protect her to the very end… that knight was none other than you, Link."
Link, astonished, took his chin back, his eyes widening. "Me? I was Zelda's knight?"
"Indeed, and you were Hyrule's finest, hand-picked from the ranks of the royal guard when I witnessed firsthand your heroic prowess." Rhoam's eyes clouded over as he thought back on a distant memory. "It was during a field test of a Guardian — even our brightest minds struggled to make them move, and in a freak accident, the Guardian unleashed a volley of powerful beams in every direction."
He smiled at Link. "Thankfully, you were there. Had you not been, I would not have lived to see the day I appointed you as my daughter's knight. Everyone ducked and scattered, but I was distracted. As a Guardian beam sailed toward me, you scooped up a pot lid — " the King paused, chuckling, " — a humble pot lid of all things, and leapt before the beam to deflect it away from me.
"When I saw you perform the very same act just now, I knew you were the knight I had chosen for my daughter, though your appearance said otherwise." He looked Link from head to toe where he sat, making him shift a little.
"Now, I have answered your questions. You must answer me this," the King began lowly; Link straightened, listening. "When you emerged from the Shrine of Resurrection in your current state, I believed Ganon to be toying with me. When we parted ways, I went back to the Shrine, to see for myself. I found the Shrine in shambles, aglow with an evil light and its sole occupant missing." His eyes tightening, he prodded, "Tell me, how did this happen? Why are you thus?"
Link, sweating beneath the King's stern gaze, grasped at whatever explanation he thought he might have had, but found nothing of worth. He didn't know why he had woken in his monstrous form, but he had a suspicion it was Ganon's doing. After all, their glaring similarities were apparent to even the passive eye.
He sighed, cupping his palms around the jagged, bony mask enshrouding his face. "I'm sorry, King Rhoam," he murmured. "But... I don't know. I can't remember what happened during the Calamity, what Ganon did… but I would give anything to find out." He brought his trio of eyes up to the King, his shoulders sagging. "I don't know why I'm a monster."
The King frowned, his hopes dashed. "I feared as much. Though I initially believed you were nothing more than a beast, I see now that I was grossly wrong. Link," he said firmly, capturing the young man's gaze. "I offer up my sincerest apologies for making you feel like such a mongrel. I hope you can grow to forgive me and my poor judgements.
"I see now that you not are a monster; you are far from it, in fact. However, I worry that you could descend to become one, should you let Ganon overshadow you. It appears he has somehow managed to worm his way inside of you, and into the Sheikah Slate as well. Though you carry him with you, you cannot allow him any more dominion than he already has. If you do, Hyrule is doomed."
Hearing those words from the King himself both filled Link with hope, and curdled his blood. Spine shuddering, his fingers automatically clenched into fists, and he brought them close to himself, body stiff and heart thudding. His stomach writhed against the reality that Calamity Ganon was inside him. Part of him wanted desperately to throw up, but his rational mind knew there would be more to purging the beast from his body than that. The thought of it was nothing less than torture.
Link finally asked, his voice shaking, "What do you suggest I do, my King?"
Rhoam sighed. "Considering that I could not save my own kingdom, I have no right to ask this of you, Link… but you must finish what was started one hundred years ago." Link gazed earnestly into the King's eyes as he gave his advice. "Kill the source of Malice, do whatever it takes to annihilate Ganon, and erase his blot from you, and our fair land. Perhaps then, his hold over you will fall, and you will be cleansed. But you mustn't rush the castle, now — it would be suicide. It would be best for you to prepare to face him, first."
The King drifted to the side, pointing a finger beyond the cabin. Link followed, his eyes falling on the twin peaks far off from the plateau. "I suggest you make your way east, out to one of the villages in the wastes. Kakariko Village, home of the Sheikah. Follow the road north — there you will find the elder, Impa." His voice softened at the mention of her. "Impa is an old friend, and one of my most treasured advisors. She will tell you more about the path that lies ahead of you. Should you get lost along the way, I trust your Sheikah Slate will guide you. I could never make sense of it, but before the Calamity, you and Zelda traveled Hyrule with it at your sides."
Link's hand found the Slate as the King spoke. It suddenly had more meaning to him. He'd keep it close, even if it had been corrupted by Ganon.
With his journey laid out before him, Link had one final question. "Thank you for the guidance, King Rhoam," he began, bowing his head in respect for the spirit. "But do you… happen to know a way off the plateau? I couldn't seem to find a way down, myself."
The King smiled again. "I admire your dedication in the face of adversity, Link. You haven't changed in that regard. Come, join me in the cabin. I have the solution you seek." Turning, Link followed Rhoam as he drifted across the courtyard and through the empty doorway of the cabin.
When they stepped inside, Link's eyes were overwhelmed, flying everywhere at once. It appeared, while in the guise of the old man, that Rhoam had been gathering supplies from across the plateau. Tucked into every possible corner and placed on every shelf and table were bundles of mushrooms and truffles, baskets of apples, smoked fish hung on hooks on the walls, even weapons and shields laid about: woodcutting axes, rusted broadswords, spare pot lids and age-crusted shields.
"I gathered all of this for you, Link. I wanted to be of use to you when you woke from your slumber," the King said as he floated above his collection. Link's breath caught, amazed at his kindness. Rhoam gestured his arms around the cabin, continuing, "Before you leave the plateau, feel free to take anything you wish, just ensure you take these above all else..."
From beneath a rickety bed in the corner, Rhoam removed two objects for Link. He presented them to him, neatly folded in his ghostly hands. At the top of the pile sat a black hood with a small cape fluttering at the back. Beneath it, a broad sail crafted from cloth and sturdy wood and rope, emblazoned with a winged crest.
"A paraglider…!" Link gasped, stunned by the simplicity of its design. With it, he could effortlessly glide from plateau to the mainland below. He wondered why he hadn't thought of that sooner. As for the hood, he was even more grateful — it would help to hide most of his frightening face from view of others.
Link looked up from his gifts to the King, beaming with gratitude. "My King, I… don't know what to say."
Rhoam looked upon him with a new, shining hope in his eyes. "You needn't say anything, Link, but say what you will through your actions." His brows knit together. "Make me a promise here and now, that with these tools, you will journey into Hyrule, free the Divine Beasts from Ganon, and deliver Zelda out of his clutches. Promise me that, and my soul will be eased."
Link gave a firm nod. "I promise."
A relieved smile found the King's lips. For several moments, they fell silent, the only sound the wind through the grass outside. Eventually, the King locked eyes with Link again, only then, his eyes had fallen solemn.
"You said before… that you heard her voice," he began, his voice feeble. "I haven't heard her voice in one hundred years. Tell me… how is she…? My Zelda?"
Link's mouth firmed into a line. "As brave and faithful as she ever was, but… she sounded weak. She needs help."
"Her power must be waning," Rhoam said. "Then you mustn't delay." His posture visibly wilting, he then implored Link, "Please. From a hapless King and a failed father, please… you must save her… my daughter."
"I will," Link stated.
"Though you may not remember who you once were, remember this: you are our final hope, Link," Rhoam said, staring him straight in the eye. "The fate of Hyrule rests with you."
Then, in a shimmering sigh of light, the last king of Hyrule faded into nothing before Link's eyes, leaving him alone.
Link stood in the cabin for several moments, King Rhoam's face still in his mind. He clutched the paraglider and hood, his body shaking without his control. Swallowing a lump of anxiety in his throat, he cast a glance around the cabin's stock, taking mental note of all that he'd be taking with him.
Before he stocked up for the journey off the plateau, Link stepped back outside, shakily striding over to the log and setting down the hood and paraglider. He was about to slip the hood on when something caught his eye, stopping him in the act.
There, on the log, sat a single ceramic bowl filled with fluffy white rice, and topped with two golden, gooey, over-easy eggs, a spoon draped across them.
Link smiled.
And so ends chapter 5 of Corrupted Hero. I had a ton of fun adapting this part of the story. It's so freaking sad!
Anyway, join me next chapter as Link finally sets out into Hyrule. What awaits him there, we don't know. But we'll soon find out!
Let me know what you think! Thanks again for reading my work! See you next chapter!