After bathing, I enjoyed a moment of solitude, away from Dark's presence. However, I couldn't help but notice his occasional glances in my direction. I knew time was of the essence and that we needed to continue our journey, yet there was an unusual sense of calmness emanating from him. He didn't exhibit any signs of urgency or restlessness that I had expected. I couldn't help but wonder what might be going through his mind, what reasons lay behind his lack of haste.
As I explored the debris scattered around, searching for anything of interest, my eyes widened in astonishment. There, nestled amidst the wreckage, I discovered a captivating dark stone that shimmered with a mystical glow. My heart quickened with excitement as I recognized it to be a Luminous Stone, a rare and precious gem known for its ability to emit a soft, cyan light. However, to confirm my suspicion, I would have to wait until nightfall, as the stone's true brilliance would only reveal itself in the darkness. Filled with eagerness, I knew I wanted to embellish a weapon with its power, and hopefully, Dark would allow me to use his sickle for the task.
Approaching him, I observed Dark sitting against a tree, seemingly lost in a moment of rest. With his eyes closed, his damp hair covered his forehead, and his lips were slightly parted as he breathed softly. I noticed that his previous wounds appeared to have healed; the gash on his shoulder was now nothing more than a small scar.
A small fire crackled nearby, skewered fish cooking over its gentle heat. I took charge of tending to the fire, ensuring the fish wouldn't burn. With the fire steadily smoldering, I finally settled beside Dark, the black stone held delicately in my grasp. I let it slide between my fingers, examining its intricate details.
Decidedly, I leaned towards Dark, intending to borrow his sickle. Suddenly, his hand shot out and firmly seized my wrist, startling me. His touch sent a cascade of goosebumps rippling across my skin. A wave of nervousness washed over me, causing my throat to become dry as I swallowed anxiously.
His eyes met mine as he questioned, "What are you doing?" I held his gaze, my voice steady yet tinged with uneasiness.
"I wanted to fuse a stone I found earlier with your weapon," I explained. "To enhance it, you know, make it stronger… But it's okay, never mind. I should have asked," I hastily added, feeling a mix of embarrassment. I took the opportunity to pull my arm back as his grip loosened.
As I was about to put the stone away, berating myself for the foolish idea, Dark looked through his bag, retrieving a small dagger. He studied me before handing it to me and saying, "Show me."
I stared at him in bafflement, surprised that he accepted my offer. It seemed that he had somewhat gained a level of trust in me. Carefully, I took the dagger in my hands, examining it closely.
"A Gerudo Scimitar," I remarked, my voice filled with knowledge. "It's quite common in the Gerudo deserts. As they are made of metal, they can conduct electricity and are resistant to scorching climates. They are highly valued by the Gerudo people, who possess the skill to forge the legendary Scimitar of the Seven, a powerful weapon with a rich history. Legend has it that the last known replica was wielded by the only Gerudo boy in the century who turned to evil in his relentless pursuit of power... Have you ever heard of Ganondorf?" I questioned, looking up at him, only to see a shocked expression on his face.
"How do you know all this?" he asked, his curiosity evident, eyebrows furrowed.
"I've always had a keen interest in weaponry… Let's just say my skills are unique," I replied with a slight smile. Taking the stone in my hand, I pressed it onto the blade of the dagger. We both sat there in silence as the stone seemed to seamlessly meld into the weapon. My eyes darted to Dark, who watched me with awe as I worked on enhancing his weapon. The stone, though initially small, appeared to grow in size, covering the entire blade. Finally, the transformation ceased, and the stone materialized, its surface as hard as before.
"Here you go," I said, handing the scimitar back to him. I observed his reaction as he took the weapon from my hands, his expression still filled with disbelief.
"How did you do that?" he asked, his eyes fixed on the object, as if in a trance. I simply shrugged. "The only person I've read about in tales who possessed such abilities was the Queen of Hyrule herself," he remarked, looking at me with a serious and scrutinizing gaze.
I couldn't help but giggle at the comparison. "I can assure you I am not related to the royal family," I replied. "I've always lived in Hateno for as long as I can remember. My mother passed away when I was very young, and my memories of her are scarce. During the war, my father had entrusted my care to a distant relative, an uncle. He was like a father figure to me, but he, too, passed away a couple of years ago. Since then, I've been taking care of myself."
After a brief pause, I realized that I had just shared more about my personal history than I ever had before.
"I see… I don't recall much about my past either," he said, sympathizing with me. The momentary silence between us allowed his words to sink in.
Trying to shift the focus away from myself, I pointed to the stone on his dagger, hoping to divert the attention to the item. "That's a Luminous stone on your weapon, it yields powerful properties, making it stronger. It should also shine brightly at night," I said, attempting to steer the conversation towards a more neutral topic.
As I observed him, he seemed to carefully consider my words, studying me for a moment before responding. "Thank you. Nobody has ever done anything like this for me," he said, genuine gratitude evident in his expression. I was taken aback by his acknowledgment of my act, pleasantly surprised that he would show appreciation.
With a slight nod, a smile formed at the corner of my lips, touched by his unexpected thankfulness. It was a rare moment of vulnerability from him, and it made me wonder what kind of life he had led to receive so little kindness. I looked down at my fingers, fidgeting with the grass, contemplating the complexity of the man beside me. There was so much I still didn't know about him, and despite the dangers and uncertainties, I couldn't deny the strange connection that was forming between us.
"You're full of surprises, aren't you?" Dark unexpectedly remarked, his comment catching me off guard. I could feel a slight blush coloring my cheeks as he observed me, his head resting against the tree. I quickly diverted my gaze, feeling a mix of embarrassment and intrigue at his observation. What did he mean by that?
Realizing the change in his demeanor, he quickly repositioned himself and turned his attention to the skewered fish. Taking them off the fire, he silently handed one to me. With no hesitation, he began devouring his meal with a ferocity that hinted at his hunger.
While we sat there, eating in silence, I couldn't help but be intrigued by the contrast in Dark's behavior. The fierce warrior, who had previously exuded a sense of raw power and dominance, now seemed almost childlike as he hungrily consumed the food. It was as if I was witnessing two completely different sides of the same person.
After finishing our meal, Dark leaned back against the tree, letting out a satisfied sigh. He seemed more at ease now, as if the act of eating had brought some solace to the turbulence within him.
As the night began to descend upon us, the Luminous stone on Dark's dagger started to emit a soft, ethereal glow. It cast an otherworldly light around us, illuminating the darkness and adding an aura of mystery to the scene.
"You weren't kidding about this stone. It's quite something," he remarked, a hint of wonder in his tone. I smiled, captivated by the beauty of it.
"We should get some rest," he said, breaking the silence that had settled between us. "Tomorrow, we continue our journey to retrieve my sword."
Whilst I prepared to find a comfortable spot to rest for the night, Dark's sudden serious tone caught my attention.
"Stay here. I need to look for something," he said, gazing into the distance as if he had noticed something peculiar.
Curiosity ignited within me as I watched Dark depart, his attention seemingly captured by something in the distance. As minutes passed, a strange drowsiness washed over me, the enchanting sensation feeling oddly familiar, leaving me more fatigued than I had realized. I found myself questioning whether I was still awake or merely drifting in the realm of dreams, unable to discern reality from illusion.
Amidst the haze, a figure materialized before me – a woman, perhaps a fellow traveler judging by the bag slung over her shoulder. It was odd to encounter someone in this remote area, as it wasn't a common path for travelers to tread upon.
The woman's voice pierced the air, her words tinged with urgency and warning. "Young lady, that man you are traveling with, he is the bearer of bad news. Continue your travels with him and you will perish… Run, run now," she urged.
My vision suddenly flooded with terrible images - blood on my hands, flames engulfing my surroundings, and Dark's menacing red eyes staring at me just before he plunged a knife into my heart. As fear took over me, I suddenly believed it to be a favorable idea, the ideal moment to escape, pondering whether I was making the correct decision.
As if a force activated me, I made a split-second decision to flee. I started sprinting relentlessly until my breath could no longer keep pace, my feet scraped and bruised from traversing through the vegetation and the ruin filled terrain. Regrettably, in my daze, I couldn't identify the unfamiliar fields I found myself in, or so I thought. Feeling a sense of foreboding, I could discern I was in a territory I shouldn't be, as if aware of the lurking dangers it held. Almost as though summoned, the atmosphere thickened, tainted with a reddish hue that enveloped my surroundings—a harbinger of gloom.
"Oh no" I fretted, expressing my anxiety. I leaped over a stone wall, oblivious to the pervasive gloom that lay concealed. Inadvertently stepping into it, I experienced excruciating pain, as if my life force was being drained away. Coldness gripped me, rendering me motionless and incapable of thought. A dreadful desolation surged within me, gloom was seeping into my veins taking hold of my being. Summoning all of my strength, I crawled forward until succumbing to unconsciousness.