Chapter 2: The Mask Festival
"Link, take these to the customers."
"I got it, Father."
Link's father gave him many different sets of potions, ranging from healing potions to those that resisted the elements. Fire, Ice, Water, Electric, made from various plants, as well as those that boost your energy levels throughout the day. The potion shop was busy, full of customers preparing for the festival that morning.
"That'll be 30 rupees, sir. Please pay here."
I need to finish working soon, I don't want to be late picking up Saria for the festival. The masks would be sold out if I wait too long…
He quickly gave the potions to the customers and organized everyone's orders as much as he could. In the crowd, he began noticing other different races. A small Goron asked for a couple of Fire potions while a Zora asked for multiple Ice and Water potions. He could barely make out the Deku, since they were so short and hard to find. Some Gerudo also came into the shop, asking for directions.
"Since when did we get other groups coming to the festival? It's so rare to see them visit the village at all, let alone during a local festival!"
"Probably they want to see what this century's Chosen Hero is going to be. Don't distract yourself, Link. You won't get any work done if you keep staring at them…"
Link sighed and tried to keep his excitement from seeing a diverse group of customers. Usually, their customers were the locals and the few travelers that pass through to their destination. He juggled as many pots as he could, that stored giant vat of potions for travel on carriages and horseback.
Oh, Saria! You're going to see many new things this time!
Totem Village was a village near the Lost Woods and slowly became a popular midpoint between many important destinations all over Hyrule. Hyrule Castle and its castle town was a straight road ahead for many travelers, so a large road was built in the middle of the village for it. It was also the perfect route for the local Mask parade held annually.
The constant flow of travelers grew the village into a small town.
Meanwhile, a large wooden bonfire was also being set up in the middle of the village.
"If only I could be one of those travelers. Then I can easily go straight to the castle town to sell the potions there. We could earn more money than being stuck in this place. But there could be other regions I never went to, maybe they might want potions there too…"
But the potion business was extremely common all over Hyrule, so there would be intense competition fighting for customers. Some created expensive brand name potions. Others diluted their potions to lower their prices. Generic potions were being sold everywhere, so it was very hard to make a profit.
Different regions specialized in different potions, based on their geography and local plant life. Special insects and creatures were also used for its special effects, but they were very expensive. Some could cost as much as 100,000 rupees alone.
If only my brother had never left. Then it would be easier for me to leave the village…
Link hurried to the mask shop after work, trying to find any available masks that were left. As he walked towards the shop, he overheard a couple of guards and locals talking among themselves. He noticed them panicking about something.
"Are you sure it's safe to allow so many people into the village? What if something bad happens again? Like that potion maker's son being cursed by the forest."
Do they really have to talk about me like that? Saria isn't some witch.
He mumbled about hearing it and was about to go in until they began talking about the Hero Ceremony. They tried to whisper to each other, so Link hid behind the shop to listen in.
"The Sages will arrive soon. They want to enjoy this festival as much as possible before announcing it. There has been many protests in some villages about the dire situation with the crop failures and taxes. Seems like they want to plead to the Hyrule Castle at some point for a treaty."
"They don't want the other villages to know about this?"
"Of course. They don't want any incidents happening here with such an important ceremony going on soon. The next Chosen Hero could be the great mediator between them. But we can't really say anything here, our village is too important as a resting point in the kingdom."
"I understand their complaints, we do have many issues in the village as well. Bandits, thieves, and all sorts of groups roam the traveling routes in Hyrule, so it's dangerous trading between them. We are only safe due to the knights protecting us during our travels."
"There might be more issues than they're letting on, it must be really bad if they want some treaty with the royal family for it. The knights sometimes put down the small rebellions against them. So it isn't looking so good."
"Don't say that! My son is an honorable knight! He is protecting the kingdom."
"I'm sorry for offending you, madam. That's all I have gotten from the travelers."
They argued for a while before checking if anyone was watching them. Afterwards, they left the area. Link listened in for so long that he almost forgot what he was supposed to do.
Rebellions? Treaty? What's going on? I haven't heard anything about that. Is there something wrong with the royal family? News travel slow here, so the best we got is rumors.
He was about to follow them, but Nikki immediately pulled on his ponytail. She dragged him over to the mask shop as best as she could.
"What are you doing? Eavesdropping on people is bad!"
"Ouch! Hey! But it sounded so interesting—Watch it you're pulling my hair!"
"Don't make Saria keep waiting for you!"
"Got it!"
He rushed into the mask shop to see if there were any masks left. Shelves full of masks usually lined the shop, but there weren't many left. During the first day of the Mask festival, it was common for them to be sold out due to the sheer amount of visitors that come every year.
There's only scary masks left. Is there anything plain?
Link spotted some fox masks from the pile of scary demon masks. He picked one up to see if he fit him with a mirror nearby. But they seemed way too big for Saria.
"Interested in those? These are what's left after all the popular ones were taken. A trickster fox spirit is in these masks, so be careful with them."
"Really? They look like normal masks to me."
But the shopkeeper chuckled.
"That's what they all say. But you look brave enough to take it. I'll give you a bargain for them."
He handed Link one of the fox masks. Link grudgingly handed him a couple rupees, pointing at another mask.
"I need two of them, please. She also needs one."
"Ohoho. Having a girlfriend already? I didn't think you would get a girl, knowing your reputation…"
Link madly blushed from that remark and kept his posture as much as he could.
"My reputation is fine! I'm not cursed or anything. I just don't want her to scare people, that's all…"
"I see. Knowing you, just be careful out there in the Lost Woods. Many villagers have gone missing in the past for getting too far into it. Some went mad, talking about a witch deep in the forest. But you're the only one that's immune to its effects."
"D-Don't go too deep into that. It's really nothing…"
"Are you sure? You're truly a strange fellow, Link."
He gently pushed Link out the door before he could say anything else.
"Now then, get going. Don't forget to burn the mask at the end of the festival!"
"I'm not a visitor! I know that already!"
Were mask sellers always this weird? But he does this every year…
Link shook his head in dismay. But there wasn't much time left before sunset. The Mask Festival was starting soon. He gripped the two masks in his hands as he hurried to the Lost Woods. Nikki quickly guided him into the forest to look for Saria.
"I'm back! Sorry for the long wait. Did you prepare your—"
"Link!"
Inside the meadow, Saria was wearing a hood and a light garment for the festival. A small pile of leaf masks were in the corner, set up by the fairies. He went to test them out before trying them on her. But they felt too thin to wear, since it slipped off easily from his face.
This is not as stable as I thought. These won't even do well at the bonfire either. What was I thinking?!
Link sat down on a rock, frustrated with himself.
"I don't think that the leaf masks were a good idea, Link. Those mask from your festival uses wood, since they get burned in the end. I know that you meant well, but it's best that you just buy them from the shop."
Saria patted him on the shoulder, and noticed the two masks that he was holding.
"Are these foxes? You picked up something interesting this time. I'll take it."
She gently put a fox mask on her face.
"Ah! Saria! Those were the only ones left that weren't scary looking. I don't know if you would like them…"
"They're fine."
She then touched the fox mask, sensing something within it.
"You just need to be careful with them. Don't make them angry with you."
"Huh? Those masks?"
She nodded as she put up some garments on Link for the festival.
Did I really need a change of clothes like that?
Afterwards, the two embarked to the village together. The dark sky was filled with stars, glittering upon the loud festival going on throughout the village. Many vendors were selling food, souvenirs, and other goodies for all the visitors.
"Pumpkin croquettes! Apple crepes! Glazed pies! Souvenirs for your travels!"
Link guided Saria around the village as they strolled around the vendors and munched on some food. Many spectators were preparing an aisle, where the parade would begin momentarily. The fox mask twitched Link's face a bit, so he scratched at it.
The crowd was slowly gathering around them.
Did the parade start already?
A lineup of people started to appear, wearing various masks, and carrying a large box on their shoulders. They chanted and chanted as they marched throughout the village, with a small group of spectators following them. Dazzling faces of animals, monsters, and other figures decorated the box.
Meanwhile, the bonfire burned brightly in the center of the village.
It would keep burning until the third day of the festival, when everyone would throw their masks into the bonfire to wash away their sins of that year. A ritualistic cleansing of the spirit.
"Link, what's wrong with your mask?"
"Huh?"
The fox mask turned into a sinister ghoul, frightening the crowd around them. Saria's mask reacted as well, and popped out of her face, revealing a witch. They immediately ran away, spreading the rumors of the witch returning once again to Totem Village.
"It's the witch! She came to curse us this year!"
What's going on?!
He pulled it off to see it's mischievous fox face, right before it disappeared within the mask. The outer mask now looked creepier, with a smile on its face. He turned to see the parade still continuing on as it had gone far enough from them.
"You're feeding it?"
"It's the only way so that it won't cause trouble again."
Saria gently put pieces of bread onto the mouth of the mask, before covering it with a thin layer of iron over the edges of it. It was meant to subdue the fox spirit within it, before it gets thrown into the bonfire.
"Do you want the same done to your mask?"
"…"
After a while, the festival continued on, ignoring the two of them resting by the hillside. Link sat down meekly, sighing at the minor incident that scared the crowd not too long ago. He brushed up on his fox mask, clinging onto it so that it wouldn't run away.
"I can't believe it happened again! I just wanted you to experience the festival, since it was the only time that you could leave the forest. Seems like bad luck follows us everywhere…"
Saria giggled as she enjoyed the moonlight above them.
"It's alright. You have always meant well and have a good heart. Just be more careful with the spirits and not anger them."
"I-I tried. Maybe other people were wearing them too…"
"It's possible. The box that they are carrying around holds a strong spirit within it. They probably sensed it and wanted to escape."
I guess being trapped in a mask can be annoying, especially with people wearing you…
Link sighed as he held on to his mask.
"Are there spirits in everything?"
She nodded.
"There are. Just like how there are good spirits that help others, there are mischievous and evil spirits that may be supporting the Demon King. But it is still best to be cautious. Some may want you as a vessel."
Then I should be careful then. Dealing with spirits is already troublesome enough…
Link continued to lay down on the grass.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
What's that sound? This sounds different from the chanting earlier.
"Link! That sounds like soldiers marching into the village!"
Nikki flew over towards him, pulling on his arm.
"Really? I almost forgot about them. I didn't think they would come back so late into the festival. The first day is almost over."
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
The sounds of drums beat all over the village, signaling the knights' arrival. It was nearing midnight, but the amount of visitors continued to increase. They were met by a large crowd, who eagerly formed an aisle for them to pass through. Link held Saria's hand as they walked to the commotion near the village entrance.
More lanterns were placed immediately to brighten up the area.
"Don't let anyone touch your mask, Saria! Hopefully they won't suspect us again."
Thump. Thump. Thump.
The horses' footsteps slowly came through, as the foot soldiers continued marching into the village. One by one, families were reunited as they met with their husbands and boyfriends with each greeting. The atmosphere was filled with warmth with many families reunited.
But his brother still hasn't arrived.
Was he lying? But why would he send a notice to me about coming back…
Link continued looking around for him to no avail. The soldiers continued marching, now with knights on horseback behind them. Eventually, it momentarily stopped for an announcement by the village entrance guard. He blew a small horn to get their attention.
"Now then, here comes our finest knights in all of Hyrule!"
The crowd immediately looked to the entrance gate.
"Please welcome them with open arms, as they will be protecting the village and participating in the upcoming Hero's Ceremony!"
One by one, a line of knights in armor paraded in a single file on horseback. Their helmets were on their backs, so that they could show off to the crowd below them. Each knight carried a distinct flag crest from their village or hometown, to signal where they came from.
Thump. Thump.
I can see a couple flags from our village. It's just a simple crest of a totem pole, with a triangle inside each of them. He should be in there somewhere in the line, since I can't see him yet.
He looked around the knights that were near him, but it was difficult in the crowd. Eventually, he could make out a familiar figure not too far away. A prestigious steed towered over him as he got closer. A young man with rough brownish blonde hair and small bangs was wearing the Hyrulean royal emblem on his metal chest. He dressed in more decorative armor on him compared to the others before him.
Thump.
The Totem Village flag was beside him.
"Link, is that you? Is that really you?"
Link didn't say a word. Except for one thing.
"Raven, you finally returned home!"
Author's Note: The name Raven is based off of the Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages manga. Link's ancestor is Raven in the manga.