Shadows were nothing new to Cami. He had no fear of the dark. Moving around quietly and disappearing had its appeal. But seeing dark silhouettes dancing and evolving in unnatural ways, unaffected by weather or shifting light, still set him on edge.
Link didn't fail to notice this. "You alright?"
"I'm fine," Cami replied, swallowing back how unnerved he was. They were approaching the crest of Mount Hebra. It wouldn't do for him to lose his cool now. Not to mention, the slithering whispered cacophony grew louder with each passing step. It ceased to be a whisper, and Cami was no longer the only one to hear it.
"Listen. What is that?"
"Dunno. I've heard it for a while now. It's coming from the shadows."
The Champion beside him visibly shuddered. "Those aren't natural in Hyrule, at least, not like anything I've encountered. Monsters are one thing. Unknown beings whispering in the dark crevices of the mountains? Can't say I'm eager to encounter them face to face."
"Don't mind hiding in the shadows– as long as I know that I'm the only one in them," Cami deadpanned. He earned a snort from the blond beside him thanks to his comment. "Got stuff to light the way?"
"Brightbloom seeds we can use as a grenade. Lights up anything around where it lands." Link tossed him a couple. "Here."
"Oh, I've seen these before. They don't glow very much but they're better than nothing."
"More convenient than carrying multiple torches and flint everywhere we go. There's much to be said for efficiency and lightweight packs," Link commented with a grin.
Cami didn't reply. He simply reached the crest of the mountain and looked around him. A hundred paces to the north was the yawning opening of a cave, but in that entrance, he could see carved stone pillars. "It's not just a cavern. There's more to it."
"Sounds like an adventure." Link jogged up to join him. "Wow. That's dark. Glad we've got the seeds. I've got about 50 or so of them. It should be enough. And who knows what we will find. Maybe even more along the way."
"Do you hear that? The voices are growing louder."
"They're coming from the cave then. Let's go." Link didn't wait to see if he was being followed. His pace quickened down the rugged, snow-covered ridge.
Cami tracked in his footsteps, but he found himself sliding when his boots lost grip on the icy surface. Yet he managed to keep his footing til he jogged his way to the entrance to the cave.
"Keep an eye out. We're going to want our guard up. Especially with shadows that whisper. I suggest a sword in one hand, the seeds to light our way in the other." Link tossed him a small pouch. "Here. For your hip, so you can store them."
The brunet hooked it on his right hip and drew his blade with his left hand. "Let's go then."
"Enter Camilio. Enter Link, Champion of Hyrule. Venture through the darkness and discover the truth."
The pair looked at each other and Cami gestured to the yawning maws of the cave. "You heard that, right? They called us both by name?"
"I heard it," Link replied. His grip on his sword tightened. "Alright. Let's see who knows our names and is summoning us into darkness."
"After you, Champion." Cami waited until Link had thrown a seed to light their path before he followed.
Their boots echoed off stone walls while they descended into the cavern. Link nearly lost his balance when the light suddenly vanished. He stumbled backwards and paused. He threw another seed which landed on the wall.
A steep set of stairs was revealed by the glow of the plant, descending further into the mountain. Link shivered and threw a second seed downwards. "That brings back not-so-pleasant memories."
"Stairs into the dark?"
"Following the Princess deep under the castle. Before we found the runes regarding the Zonai. And him."
Cami didn't reply. He didn't have to. He'd heard everything when Link had shared his tale upon entering Lookout Landing. And it was enough to set him on edge as well.
Link took a deep breath and jogged downwards with Cami on his heels. When he reached the limits of the glowing but plant on the wall, he threw another to illuminate the path.
"See that? Hallway is narrowing again."
The shadows around them tittered and Cami spun wildly, trying to catch a glimpse of anything that moved. The laughter continued for only a moment before abruptly cutting off, as if interrupted by something – or someone.
Link paused at the bottom, looking back at his companion. "You alright?"
He took a final look around before descending to join him. "Yeah. C'mon. Where's the hallway lead?"
"Looks like a straight shot for a bit, then veers left." Link threw a seed to light the way. "If you see any torches along the way, let me know. I've got some flint we can use to light them."
"Might provide better lighting, all things considered." Cami's eyes darted back and forth while they walked. The shadows were silent, and he couldn't decide if that was a good thing or not.
A strange clicking came from somewhere unseen and echoed off the walls, causing both young men to freeze. They listened intently with Cami quickly identifying it. "Lizalfos in a room ahead. At least four or five."
"You can tell that just by listening?"
Cami rolled his eyes. People were always incredulous when they found out his hearing was so good. "My eyes are shit. My ears are not."
"Glad for that. It means that we've got an idea for what we're walking into. Also explains how you heard the shadow voices from so far away. Damn useful skill to have."
"It's come in handy a time or two," he acknowledged. He paused at the corner of the hallway. "What's the plan?"
"Hmm. Let's bomb them with the brightbloom seeds, then use the swords. You got potions in case we get hit?"
"Never leave home without them. 'Specially when I knew I'd be with you, in Lynel country. You ain't exactly known for being careful."
The Champion chuckled. "You're not wrong. Smart to be prepared."
"Blame Azzy."
Link drew his sword and grabbed a couple more seeds from his pack. "Count of three?"
Cami silently initiated the countdown then ducked around the corner and into the larger open room. Their footfalls didn't disturb the monsters. It was easy then to count the pairs of glittering, darting eyes belonging to the Lizalfos. "Five," he whispered, gesturing the same number behind him.
The two moved nearly in unison, staying in the shadows and waiting until their quarries were facing away from them. On a silent cue, two sneak attacks landed, dropping the Lizalfos dead without a sound where they stood.
Cami stepped back against the wall, waiting for the trio to turn around. They would have to each take on one, and then battle the final one together. There was no way to defeat the third without being detected. Such was the nature of being outnumbered in combat while trying to navigate in the dark.
Link tapped his wrist and gestured to the monsters. Two out of three turned. Good enough.
Cami's sword made almost no sound when he drove it through the monster's back. The faint, indignant tongue clicking from the final Lizalfos notified him of the monster's awareness of their presence. Heat exploded across his face while a bright orange glow filled his eyes, temporarily disorienting him. He slashed blindly, hearing the monster scream in pain. He whirled away, and stood still. Link's grunt reached his ears at the same moment the sting left his cheeks. Cami blinked and ran his right hand over his eyes.
"You alright? You took the brunt of that flame attack." Link was beside him now with a seed in hand to check his face. "Singed a little, but no real burns. Not bad at all."
"I'll take it. Less reason for Fae and Azzy to kick my ass later for my 'dumbassery' as he says." Cami sheathed his sword and waited for his eyes to adjust to the dark again. "See anything by the light of the flames?"
"Chest in the corner, and another hallway to our left." Link collected the treasure, chuckling when he saw what it was. "A torch. How convenient."
"Good. Light it and let's go."
A few minutes of maneuvering through the corridors with only the light of the torch to guide them later, Cami held up his hand to stop them. "We got another room of Lizalfos. Four this time."
"Perfect. Two for each of us. Ready?"
The brunet grunted and drew his sword. "After you."
Sneak strikes worked on the first two but neither managed to face their second foe without first alerting them to the presence of their impending doom. Cami hissed when he twisted his ankle leaping back to avoid a flame attack. But the sword he drew took the monster off its feet, allowing him to swiftly kill the brute. He dropped to his knee, panting, and groaned at the pain shooting through his leg.
"Damn, you're getting all the rough ones today. Need a hand?" Link offered, coming to stand beside him.
"No, but a potion sounds pretty fucking fantastic right now," Cami groused while fumbling for his pack in the dark.
"Here." The Champion handed him one. "It's a health, so it'll fix up the ankle right away."
"Thank the Goddess," he mumbled under his breath. He jugged the potion and sighed when it took immediate effect.
"Better?"
"Much." Cami ignored the hand offered to help him up and pushed himself back up to his feet. "Huh. Room branches in two directions. Go together or split up?"
"Let's split up, but we'll meet back here shortly. Let's use the brightbloom seeds to light up the room. You take this. I've got enough seeds to last me a while." Link handed him the torch. "If you encounter anything you need help with, give a shout."
"Ditto.
Link disappeared down a dark corridor to the left while Cami took five small steps up towards a pedestal bearing Zonai customer, then abruptly was faced with a wall that guided him further right. He rolled his eyes but followed the halls winding in the darkness.
"Well done with the Lizalfos, Camilio. I had a feeling you would perform well in the dark."
Cami nearly jumped out of his skin. The low, sultry woman's voice came from somewhere behind him, unseen in the shadows. He whirled and swung the torch, attempting to catch a glimpse of the elusive voice's owner. He saw nothing.
"Thanks. Who are you?" he asked bluntly.
The voice simply chuckled. "You'll find out soon enough. But don't worry. We wish you no harm. This is merely a test of your reflexes and skills – nothing more. Continue to impress us, and you'll go far. You're not one to fail, and neither is the Hero of Hyrule. You'll complete this challenge very shortly. I'll be waiting for you when you do."
"Cuz that's not at all creepy," he mumbled under his breath. The voice chuckled again before leaving him once more in silence.
He gave one last look around him before returning to his slow venture through the corridors. It yielded him nothing but two treasure chests in corners of the labyrinth-style halls where it ended in a dead end. Cami pocketed a small key from the first one. But the second chest had him pause and stare for a few seconds.
"You've gotta be fucking kidding me," he mumbled incredulously before picking up the chunk of pink sapphire. "What are the chances?"
Cami added the gemstone to his pack and carefully retraced his steps. The silence he'd experienced since the female voice went quiet continued even when he passed through the same region. He peered over his shoulder, half-expecting to see the shadows moving on their own. But nothing shifted. He let out a faint sigh of relief and made it back to the room Link had illuminated.
The blond was leaning against the wall, drinking from his waterskin when Cami arrived. He closed the lid and dropped it back into his inventory. "How'd it go? Find anything that would lead us deeper?"
"Nothing. But I found a small key that'll let us get into a locked room. And… I found another chunk of pink sapphire in a treasure chest."
Link raised his eyebrows in the low light. "That's a rare find! Congrats! Does that mean you're going to be able to do the necklace and earrings set you wanted?"
"And a bracelet. Maybe even matching earrings for Fae and I. Pink ain't my color, but if it makes Azzy happy, I'll consider it." Cami handed him the small key. "What'd you find?"
"Couple dead ends, and a locked door two turns away from us. Good thing you found the key." Link grinned at him. "Ready to continue?"
The brunet pushed up his glasses, gave a curt nod, and followed the Champion down the hall. Maybe they'd get lucky and it wouldn't take too much longer. He could hope.
One hour, two locked doors, and three rooms full of Lizalfos and Moblins later, Cami was regretting his life choices. The dark labyrinth only seemed to go deeper into the mountain, and his mood was dropping along with the light level. Pitch black wasn't his favorite color, never had been, and he wasn't about to start loving it now. He bit back a curse when he caught his toe on a corner as he turned it three steps behind Link, then promptly bumped into his companion's back.
"Hold up," Link whispered. "Did you check that chest two hallways ago?"
"The one that had the big, weird key. Yeah, I got it here. Why?"
"Because I found the lock it goes into."
Cami reached into his pocket for the key, then promptly froze. He pressed his ear against the door, listening for a few seconds. "Oh, shit."
"What is it?" Link asked.
"I hope you're itching for a fight. Cuz there's a damn big monster humming in there… and it's even further below us."
The Champion let out a mirthless laugh. "Of course it is. Twenty rupees says we're going to freefall down in front of it instead of being given a ladder."
"Bet you're right." Cami blew out his breath. "Alright. Let's do this."
Link turned the key in the lock. The door slid open, revealing a yawning void with no clear walls around. He peered down before rolling his shoulders and bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet to psych himself up. Then he took a flying leap into the chasm.
Cami watched him disappear, then jumped after him. Falling sensations were never pleasant… but he tried not to lock his knees. He would injure himself if he wasn't careful.
Fortunately, the fall wasn't too far, and he landed on his feet in a massive, dimly illuminated room. But the impact onto the surface proved it wasn't solid, and Cami toppled forward from the bouncing recoil underneath him. "What the hell!?"
"I'd say brace yourself, but it's a moot point. You were right." Link offered him a hand back up to his feet. "Large monster, humming to itself… and we're on its instrument."
Cami drew his sword, glancing from the taut surface up to the monster guarding it. "Well, that's fucking disgusting."
Two giant disembodied hands, each measuring nearly ten times the size of the two young men, flanked them. In the middle of the upper wall above, a large appendage dangled. It was not unlike the long bodies of the Like-Likes, but with two additional 'arms' connected. The center was the longest part, and was capped with a glowing red eye. The entire being rippled in shades of gray and black, nearly disappearing into the darkness every few moments.
"Grotesque, isn't it? Well, let's take it down, shall we?" Link spun his sword in his hand.
"Gladly." Cami's sword was in his left hand, and he raced forward to the hand on their left. His peripheral vision caught Link doing the same with the right hand.
It was simple enough to dodge the giant fingers and strike it several times. He didn't want to think about the massive, dirty nails trying to scratch him or knock him off his feet. He landed four hits in rapid succession before the hands withdrew and left the hanging eyeball in close proximity.
"Attack the eye. Together!" Link was at his side in seconds, racing forward to slash at the ominous red glow.
Cami let him go first, but as soon as Link was safely out of range, he too attacked the crimson eye until it snapped closed, and the monster recoiled out of range.
"It's going to regroup for a second, then we'll do it over again!"
He took a deep breath and backed up to where he'd been before they started attacking the hands. This time he knew what to expect. And expectations made it easier.
A minute or two later, both of them were mildly out of breath from dodging the monster's hands, and delivering blow after blow to the eyeball. Then the atmosphere around them changed. Cami watched in disbelief as an oppressive, full darkness crept up from the chasm surrounding the drum where they stood. Everything around him faded, including his ability to see Link whom he knew was standing at his side.
"Well, that's something new," Link quipped with a forced air of amusement. "I take it you haven't moved, Cam?"
"Not at all. Now what?"
His question was immediately answered by a massive jolt on the surface where they stood, knocking him down to his knees. "What the hell!?"
"I'd say that was just phase one!" Link grunted beside him. "Can you figure out where the hands are?"
"Only by a guess. You see the eye?" Cami's eyes were desperately trying to focus on something. Anything. He latched onto the faint crimson glow. "I can just barely see it. Based on where it is–"
"I got it! I think it was about ten paces to the side for each of the hands. Be careful. We don't want to be knocked off the drum. Goddess only knows what's below."
"Probably death," Cami said with a hint of mock cheerfulness.
"Watch your feet then. On three." Link counted them down.
Cami stepped cautiously forward, relying on his hearing and honestly a bit of guesswork to try and find the monster hand. He managed to locate part of it and hit it with his blade twice before a finger sent him sprawling out on the slightly bouncy floor. And the impact of a hard, warm body colliding with him knocked the breath out of him before he could get back on his feet. An elbow jammed into his face, and a knee straight into his groin. He moaned and curled around himself, hissing at the discomfort.
"Oh, crap! Did I hurt you? Sorry, Cam! Couldn't see anything."
"I can tell," Cami groaned. He pulled away from the blond, keeping his head down, and his hand firmly cupping himself under the pain subsided.
"You injured?" Link asked in concern.
He snorted. "If you're not counting the blow to my nuts, yeah. I'll be fine."
"Yeesh. Sorry about that." A grimace was evident in Link's voice. "Afraid to say, but we need a plan B."
"Use the shadows, Camilio. You know how to manipulate them to your advantage. Reach out with your spirit. This is the only assistance I will offer to you."
"What?!" Cami scoffed under his breath. He had to be hearing things now. But given the lack of options, what harm would come of trying it? He closed his eyes and imagined grasping the shadows and forcing them to pull apart like a blanket being opened.
Much to his shock, the darkness didn't fade, but he was now able to see the outlines of the figures in the room - including the location of the monster and his companion.
"Get up." He didn't leave time for Link to reply before he was giving him directions. "Take fifteen paces to the right, then four paces forward. That'll put you in range of the hand. Once you've done that, ten paces left will allow you to hit the other hand. Then five paces forward to strike the eye."
"How do you know this?" Link asked. He rested his elbow on the hilt of his sword while he struggled to get back up.
"I can see the outlines if I try to become one with the shadow. Dunno how long I can keep it up either. Voice didn't sound thrilled when I brought it up."
"Nahh. I just wasn't expecting to get that kind of help here. I didn't hear anything this time. Guess those voices were feeling generous." Link sighed. "Alright. Repeat the directions again, so I don't stumble off the edge of this platform."
Cami complied, keeping a tight hold on the shadows. It had a kind of weird, mental strain. Yet it allowed Link to begin to repeat the motions they had done before the darkness closed in. But by the time Link had finished the first volley on the right hand and moved to the second, Cami's grip on the shadows failed when his head pounded. Immediately, the pitch black returned fully to his vision.
"Got it!" Link crowed heroically.
The glowing eye swung wildly, thrashing back and forth before going still. Cami exhaled as the pounding faded from his head. Maybe it was over.
The room failing to brighten immediately offered little solace.
"Not that this ordeal hasn't been fun, but I sincerely hope that was the last of it. A little light would be nice!" Link said loudly.
His voice echoed off the walls, but there was no further reply.
"Alright. Let's try and find the exit," Cami suggested, blowing out his breath. "We fell to a different floor, so there's gotta be some other kind of other way out."
Before Link could offer any suggestions, the ground beneath their feet bounced hard, knocking both young men back to their stomachs on the floor. Over and over, it shook and rumbled, with concussions that echoed off the rounded walls of the chamber.
It's rhythmic! Cami recognized after a few seconds. He closed his eyes and latched onto the shadows once more. The giant hands they had been attacking were beating against the drum floor, left, right, left right. And the eye was in the same location as before, slowly opening and swaying in time to the beats.
"Link! Follow the rhythm and get to your feet! It's still the fucking hands!"
The Champion groaned. "How did I know the fight wasn't over?"
Cami closed his eyes when the pounding began in his head once more: an ache that didn't follow the pattern of the drum. The outlines in the darkness vanished when he did, and the aching ceased. Maybe if he practiced he could hold onto it more than a few seconds. "Are you up?"
"Best as I can be. If I anticipate the rhythm, I can keep from falling. You able to do the same?" Link called.
The brunet opened his eyes and pushed his glasses up his nose - an action that availed him nothing beyond offering a tidbit of normalcy in the midst of the nonsense they were presently enduring. He listened intently for several seconds. There was a momentary hesitation where he could hear the whoosh of air from the incoming impact on the drum. Cami waited for a couple of drumbeats before utilizing the hesitation and leaping to his feet. He landed in time with the impact on the drum, bouncing slightly.
"You got it?" Link asked again. "Whatever you do, don't lock your knees!"
He was a second too late, for Cami had done precisely that. He cursed aloud as he landed wrong, sending him back onto his hands and knees on the drum. "This is such BULLSHIT!"
"Agreed! Let's kick some ass and get out of here then! One more time!" The Champion encouraged. "I'll be damned if I let some grotesque monster beat me in the dark!"
"That makes two of us," Cami grumbled below his breath.
Timing was everything, but within a few cycles of the drumbeats, both the young men were able to dash up to the hands and flurry rush the large knuckles, effectively pausing the beats. Cami grabbed the shadows to see the monster's outline and directed Link on where to run to hit the eye before both of them leaped backward to avoid the thrashing appendage.
Everything fell quiet for a few moments. Cami held his breath and let go of the dark curtain he was holding back with his mind, silently thanking the Goddess for the voice who had encouraged him with what to do. Without her guidance? Both he and Link would've easily been flattened in the second stage of the fight.
Then the drumbeats resumed, using a different pattern than before.
"OH, COME ON!" Cami groaned in disgust. "We've kicked your ass over and over! Can't you let us go already!?"
Link sighed heavily beside him. "If it's doing more than one phase, chances are, it's going to be three times now. Be prepared for that."
"Such bullshit," Cami repeated loud enough for Link to hear him.
"Agreed."
Cami sighed and checked the location of the hands. Nothing had changed, save for the annoying rhythm. Instead of left, right, left, right, it had shifted to an uneven beat. Left, left, right. Left, left, right.
Link started to hum to the beats. "Bum, bum, bump. Bum, bum, bump! One, one, two. One, one, two!"
"Would you knock that off!? It's bad enough that the monster's doing it. Don't need to hear it from you too!" Cami snapped irritably.
"Sorry about that. Talking to myself sometimes helps ease the tension in circumstances like this," he sheepishly admitted. "Let's go together. Next cycle… and GO!"
The brunet joined Link in fighting the hands. By this point, both had memorized the number of paces they needed for flurry rushing the hands and escaping before they could be struck down. And Link easily recalled the steps forward to the eyeball and wounded it before leaping backwards to join Cami.
"Please be the last fucking time we have to do this," Cami grumbled. "This is such a pain in the ass."
"It'll be the last time," Link promised. "Three phases for a boss, plus three phases within the final one? It's all the monster bosses ever do, at the very most."
"Alright. Let's pick up this pattern."
No sooner had the words come out of his mouth before the drumbeats began again. Cami tried to stay on his feet, but with the abrupt change, he found himself seated on his ass within mere seconds. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down so he could listen and feel. Right, right, right, left, left. Right, right, left, left, left. The final rhythm felt off, as if the monster was faltering. Out of curiosity, he peered through the shadows towards the monster. There were streaks silhouetted on the wall behind the creature. Darkened pools of liquid coated the floor behind the hands, and underneath the eye.
"Watch out when you're under the eye. There's blood underneath it," he warned.
"Thanks for the heads up! That would've been a nasty surprise." There was silence for a moment, outside of the concussions of the drum. "Is this pattern right, right, right, left, left. Right, right, left, left, left?"
"Yeah. Feels weird."
"Definitely. Probably because it's almost dead."
"Goddess, I hope so." Cami picked himself up and took a deep breath. "I'm so sick of this shit."
Three cycles of the rhythm later, Link landed a critical blow to the monster's eye. Unlike before, blood sprayed from the appendage while it thrashed, covering both young men in the spatter before it finally closed and drooped, slowly swinging to a halt while the hands went still.
"Fucking disgusting," Cami grumbled while he wiped his glasses clean with the unstained side edge of his tunic.. He spit to the side, gagging while trying to remove the coppery smell and taste from his nostrils and lips.
"Look on the bright side: the light's coming back," Link pointed out.
It was true. As the two cleaned the gore from their skin, the light level was slowly increasing - as was the elevation. Cami shifted his stance to regain his balance when the drum began to move upwards. "This is progress. Least we're not climbing up a ladder or some shit."
"You can say that again. I'll be glad for a break. My arms ache, and my legs aren't much better," Link admitted with a faint sigh. "Everyone seems to think that as the Hero that I must be nearly invincible. The truth is I'm very much still a man and my body gives out eventually too."
"You're not immortal and invincible? What the hell? I never would've known," Cami drawled. He glanced at Link in the dim light and rolled his eyes. "You're such a fucking disappointment. And you call yourself Hyrule's Champion? What a joke."
Link cracked a grin at the sarcasm then chuckled aloud. "I know, right? Someone better tell Princess Zelda. Once my secret's out, she won't have anything to do with her loyal knight."
Their ascent halted, effectively cutting off further conversation. The room where they now stood was cylindrical like the chamber below, yet it opened via a gaping archway into a stone hallway partially lit with torches mounted in metal wall sconces.
"Never thought I'd be excited just to see fire again," he mumbled mostly to himself.
"Reminds me of being in the Depths with Zen. Not one of my favorite places, but it worked out in the end. I've still got exploration to do when I go back."
Cami let out a grunt but otherwise didn't acknowledge the Champion's comment. He followed the blond down the hallway. This was the challenge of being the companion to the Hero. He had found himself comparing his own capabilities to that of Link's after a fight, then getting irritated when they didn't align. On the other hand, he had proven himself to be rather useful against the monster moments before.
The hallway opened up into a large, rectangular room similar to one they had fought the Lizalfos in earlier within the dungeon. This one however was lined with torches that flickered on the walls and illuminated the area with a brightness they hadn't experienced since venturing inside.
Against the far side of the room was a pedestal raised three stairs above the floor. In the center was one of the glowing seals meant for Link's modified right hand. Cami would have ignored it, save for the glistening gemstone in the center of the stair below the seal.
"Go pick up the tear," Link instructed.
"What? Why me? You're the one who defeated the monster." Cami argued. "You do it."
"Trust me on this."
Cami rolled his eyes, but he walked up to it all the same. When he bent over, he was able to determine it was a carved stone shaped like a teardrop and radiating a golden light. Before his fingers could touch it, the tear rose up in front of his face, floating in the air. Cami flinched back and straightened. The stone followed his motion, keeping the same distance away from his nose.
"What the hell?!"
The grin could be heard in Link's voice as he gave another order to Cami. "Touch it."
"What?! Why?"
"Must you be so stubborn? What do you think it's going to do? Become a monster and bite your face off?"
"The thought had occurred to me," Cami mumbled. His finger reached out to touch the stone all the same.
The golden radiance exploded outwards in all directions, temporarily blinding Cami. He backed up another step and clutched his forehead. His glasses went into his left hand while he rubbed at his eyes in an attempt to return his vision faster.
"Congratulations on passing your test and completing the challenges posed to you, Camilio. Although you did take your time making your way here. I was beginning to become rather impatient."
The sultry woman's voice was back, and it held a hint of amusement combined with the air of appreciation.
"Great. Now will you tell me who the hell you are?" Cami replied brusquely.
She chuckled, the sound a replica of what he had heard earlier. "I am Midna, Sage of Shadow and the Twilight Princess. You've kept me waiting - how rude of you."
"How was I supposed to know I was talking to royalty!? And where are you? Are you a ghost or something?"
As if on command, a tall, willowy figure emerged from behind him: from his own shadow created by the torchlight. She was clearly a spirit with the blue-green glow emanating from her. But Cami eyed her up and down. If it were anyone else, he guessed that their opinions would find her attractive.
Midna had bright golden-red hair that curved around her face, with a pair of longer locks that fell onto her neck and were bound together like a necklace. Her pale blue-tinted body showed a lot of skin between the gap in the bra-like black top that emphasized her full breasts to the curve of her navel and exposed belly button. She wore a floor-length black skirt covered in brown clockwork style designs, however it only covered her waist and her left leg. Her entire right leg was exposed from the waist down her bare feet, showcasing a pair of pale glowing green tattoos on her thigh and a shackle wrapped around her ankle. Her arms were covered in skintight sleeves bearing a similar design to the wrap around Link's Zonai-sealed hand. And the outfit was capped off with a pointed, hooded cloak that covered her shoulders, with a separate cape piece that fell to the back of her ankles in a triangular pattern that reminded Cami of folded wings. He crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. His Azzy was still more attractive to him.
Link apparently didn't share his sentiment when Cami glanced over at him. The blond was clearly torn between admiring her body and looking away out of respect and to hide his arousal.
A smirk curled Midna's lips, and red eyes danced with laughter when she caught him staring at her. "You're hardly the first to be intrigued by this form, Link. Your counterpart from long ago was similarly mesmerized when the curse on me was broken and I was able to return to my true state. However, we are becoming rather sidetracked, Camilio."
Cami blinked at her. "It's Cami. It's only 'Camilio' when I'm in trouble."
She continued as if he hadn't said anything. "With the Secret Stone in front of you, it will enhance your capability to utilize the power of the shadows that I guided you to. I will act as your instructor in aiding you to strengthen the ability to wield them. In time, you will repeat the actions of today, as well as becoming one with the shadows. Control of them will be yours, and you may form them into weapons. All this shall be done to assist Link in his quest to gain strength for facing Ganondorf. Camilio, his reign of terror must be stopped! Your cooperation and strength is necessary for this to succeed. Will you take up the mantle and become the Sage of Shadow?"
"Alright, alright. Long as you stop calling me Camilio!" He groused, looking away in irritation.
Midna let out a laugh. "I shall make no such promise. However, I will bequeath the title to you nonetheless. Observe."
Cami blinked when her hand stretched out towards him. A beam of shadow burst out, hit the stone then exploded in golden light that struck his chest. Warmth flowed through his veins with a tingle that had him shivering. Then as quickly as it washed over him, it was gone.
A shadowy version of himself now stood beside Link. The spirit's arms were crossed, and it mirrored the mild irritation that Cami felt about being ordered around.
"This spirit will accompany Link on his journey and allow him to use the Shadow abilities without requiring your physical presence. You will also be capable of utilizing them without needing to be in proximity to him, as they are your powers to bear. Recognize your limitations and guard them well." She turned to address Link. "Sniff out the other Secret Stones and use their powers to strengthen yourself to fight Ganondorf and free Princess Zelda. The fate of Hyrule is in your hands. Good luck."
"Sniff them out?" Link raised an eyebrow at her. "Am I missing something?"
"Simply a private joke. Farewell Link. Camilio, my presence will be near for training and guidance as needed. We shall speak again soon. Until then, offer Link your assistance as necessary. He cannot do this without you."
With those final words, Midna vanished. Yet, as promised, Cami could sense her presence nearby - perhaps as close as earlier. He closed his eyes and grumbled. "You better not be in my shadow all the time. My lovers will have something to say about the lack of privacy!"
Her laughter rang through his head. "Worry not. You'll have your peace from me. Consider me your companion until you reach your home, then again when you have need of me."
Cami sighed and looked over at Link. "Looks like you're stuck with me, since I'm now the Sage of Shadow. Guess I'll be needing this, huh?" He reached out to touch the floating stone in front of him.
The stone glowed, then raced towards him. While he watched, an armband materialized around his left bicep, and the tear embedded itself in the outer center of it. A rush of shadow flowed through him more strongly than what he felt when he'd previously used it. Simultaneously, Link's right hand glowed, compelling Cami to approach him.
"Don't make this weird," Cami mumbled before reaching out a balled hand towards Link for a fist bump.
"Not at all."
When the two of them touched, the glow surrounding the Champion's arm intensified, and Cami felt a portion of his power flow into the blond. The shadow form of himself appeared next to Link, then vanished when the two pulled away from each other.
Cami tried to ignore Midna's prompting in his head, but finally sighed and repeated the words she was prodding him to say. "I offer my vow as Sage of Shadow to heed your call and offer my power to assist you anytime you see fit."
A flash of light appeared from Link's arm then faded, allowing them to see a gemstone tear appear on the back of his hand. It was black, with a Zonai design on it, and it sat on the left side of a design… a design that Cami only noticed then. There was a collection of divots on the back of Link's knuckles, and the four points of a compass on the back of his hand surrounding a larger golden tear in the middle. One of his knuckles had a light green tear in it already, and a dark, forest green tear rested in the southernmost point, closest to Link's elbow.
"Well, that's unusual."
"Yeah, I'm starting a collection," Link quipped with a grin. "Zen's got the green, obviously, and yours is black. Fitting for forest and shadow. Lighter green is the one I just got from Tulin, for wind."
"Right." Cami took a step back, took off his glasses and ran a hand over his face. "Are we done now? Did we have enough adventures for one day?"
"I'll say. I'm more than ready to return to Lookout Landing. And I'll daresay that Azzy and Fae are missing you. Let's go."
Cami took a final look around him and shook his head. What a change. He had no doubt that his lovers would have something to say about his new abilities - especially given the reception Zen received when he returned with his Disguise power.
His gaze shifted to the new wrap above his left elbow. It would take some getting used to, but he had a feeling that wielding shadows would come in handy sooner or later. And as long as he could protect Azzy, and kick ass doing so, he really had no reason to complain.