Chapter 1 - Effervescent

"Has anybody seen Impa?!"

A guard shook his head. His colleagues just behind fumbled about.

"She was just with you, Lady Purah."

"Ugh," Purah pinched her brow. "We're so late."

There were two tall doors leading to the battlement, Rhoam and his advisors would be waiting in the room just beyond. This early of a call was not routine. The stress-levels amongst Hylian royalty regarding the newly dubbed champions was nothing short of hellish. And it was up to Impa and Purah to somehow mitigate the madness.

The guard leaned in. "Should we advise King Rhoam of potential delays?"

"Absolutely not," Purah spun around. "I'll find her. If Rhoam asks you anything, just say you don't know."

He choked, and by the time he could utter a word she'd already made it halfway down the corridor. There were only a handful of places Impa could be, and Purah tackled the easiest spot on the list - the Great Hall.

"Miss Purah," The guard pointed.

While scanning around the crowd of people to her right, a clear visual suddenly funneled to the corner of the room. At just the right moment, she found Impa, tucked away at the end of the room with a small crystalline glass in her hand. Taking sips periodically with her arm wrapped around her chest.

Purah shook her head. Impa had ditched her usual field cloak and was wearing a lightly armored tunic. There was a freshly inked insignia on her forehead, contrasting the monochromatic white of her attire. Halfway into a national conference and she'd already changed twice. Notorious for coming and going without notice.

Purah loathed the sight of Impa tucked away to a corner. The calamity had made her nothing short of paranoid. She stared her down from across the room. Through a sea of people Impa caught sight of Purah walking toward her. The glass against her nose fogged up.

"Don't look at me," Impa glared. "I don't exist right now."

Purah huffed in disbelief. "What are you doing?"

"Oh, you know," Impa sloshed her drink around in circles. "Stuff, things."

The look in Impa's eyes was visibly different. Her eyes sat low and her voice was more monotone. Whatever was in her glass was certainly doing its job. Purah was too familiar with Impa's dampened demeanor.

Purah stared. "You okay?"

Impa nodded with another swig of her glass passing her lips. "Just freaking out a bit." She held the glass close to her chin. "Where's your other half?"

Purah squinted. "He's my friend."

"Oh. Ook."

Purah stared, wandering down to Impa's glass. It was filled with a completely clear liquid, more viscous than water or wine. There wasn't much it seemed, Impa was taking very tiny sips.

"What are you - ?" Purah leaned in.

Impa pulled her glass away. "Nasty cocktail."

"What is it? Give it to me."

Impa shook her head. "Buzz off."

Purah plucked the glass out of Impa's hands. Impa chuckled, letting the glass leave her hand willingly. Purah quickly analyzed the contents of the cup.

With the glass only a few inches away from her nostrils, a sharp and poignant odor attacked her senses. It didn't smell like alcohol and had a fumey quality. A syrupy texture, even more apparent when examined up close, but for whatever reason, it started to glow the more she stared at it.

Purah twirled it around and took a quick, conservative sip. A cascade of different tastes exploded in her palate; she blinked to keep her eyes from watering. The drink had an earthy bite. Paired with a bizarre aftertaste of ivy that stung her nostrils on the way down. Within seconds, Purah felt her heart race with her vision turning blurry. Her hands went cold. Numbing potion.

Purah stared. "What are you doing with this?"

Impa took the glass and immediately put it back against her lips.

Purah coughed. "It's really strong."

"Told you," Impa chuckled.

"Impa," Purah coughed. "You can't be serious."

"I'm not going."

Purah glared. "Excused me?"

"I'm not going."

Silence. Purah stared. The two of them were in charge of guiding the champions' induction outside. Impa had a bag over her shoulder, prepped for departure, but not toward the ceremony. A mockingly backhanded gesture. The champions were likely already outside, running the champions' ceremony without them.

"Look," Purah pinched her brow. "I get you're nervous, but you can't keep bailing on me like this. Also put that potion down." She squinted at Impa's bag. "Where are you off to?"

"Hateno," Impa put her glass down. "Don't be upset with me. There's a lot you don't know."

"There's a lot -" Purah trailed off. "What are you talking about?"

Impa pulled back her sleeve, engaging one of the many talismans wrapped around. She aimed at the ceiling. "I'll be back."

"Ugh!" Purah lunged forward, missing Impa by merely inches. There was an orb of light on the roof from where Impa had quickly torn through. Dust particles formed a ray of luminescence in her stead. Purah had crafted many runes in private, and she was quickly regretting sharing them with anybody. She knew Impa would start using them right away, but Ascend was the last one she'd have expected on a day like this.

Time was wearing thin. All that arguing had already eaten up half the clock. Purah avoided taking a look at her watch as much as possible.

The guard politely tapped her shoulder. "Miss Purah - Rhoam requested an update."

"We're all set here," Purah took a deep breath. "Tell him I've met the champions. And that I've shown them the Sheikah slate."

"But - the champions are waiting outside for you milady."

"I know that, knob-end. Just tell him it's done. I have no time for his nonsense."

"Yes ma'am," he bowed. "There's just - one last thing."

"What?"

"He asked about 'devices' - of some sort?"

Purah squinted. "No update."

🎶 Blaudiss - Cannot Be Undone 🎶

Y'kno been sitting on this one for ages but haven't had the guts to post it. I'm glad I waited, the way Purah is portrayed in TOTK is stellar, and her still-obvious distance with her sister Impa raises a lot of curious questions. It'll jump around between their younger days before BOTW and their later days as told in TOTK.

Also, I almost never post music with rhythmic elements but I'm trying to change that with this story. It's a totally different vibe from Grace (I think), while still retaining a similar theme.
Love love love you all

(づ￣ ³￣)づ