Chapter Five

In the morning, I spent breakfast with Impa and Paya and informed them I was shortly going to set off for Hateno Village. "Already?" Paya blurted out. When she realized the tone of her voice, she collected herself. "You… You won't be gone long, will you?"

"My dear Paya," Impa addressed her granddaughter. "I know that you are worried for our Link. As am I. But we cannot detain him. Rest assured he will be all right." She put her hand on Paya's. "Link, I request that you return soon, actually," she addressed me. "I still have more to tell you. But you need Purah's assistance first. I also have something of yours that I mean to give to you before you set off to free the Divine Beasts."

And what might that be?

"Patience, Link," Impa chuckled. "One task at a time. I don't anticipate you needing to be gone longer than a week. I expect you to return within that time. And when you do, come speak to me and I will inform you further." I accepted her instruction.

There was something else that I noticed when first coming here. There was an orb on a platform next to the stairs, behind where Paya currently sat across from me. I didn't think it was anything of importance at first, but getting a better look at it, I noticed that it glowed orange like deactivated Sheikah technology. And it had unfamiliar words around it that I assumed were in the Sheikah language. I inquired about it.

"Th-this?" Paya asked, surprised. "This priceless artifact here?" I nodded. "This is our Sheikah heirloom that we have long protected. 'The hero, as chosen by the Sheikah heirloom, will be gifted with the blessing of antiquity.' With these words as our guide, we have watched over this sacred artifact since my grandmother's grandmother's time, and even long before that! I cannot say that I entirely know the meaning of these words. But now that I think about it… 'The Hero, as chosen by the Sheikah heirloom…' Could it be…"

"I cannot say for certain," Impa interrupted her granddaughter's thought. "But I do believe more will be revealed in time."

Paya addressed me again before I left. She extended her hand to shake mine. It was soft and delicate, but her grip was firm and decided. "Best of luck, Master Link," she said gently. I thanked her and departed.

When retrieving Braeburn from Nanna, she asked where I was off to next. I informed her that I was going to Hateno Village to speak to Purah. Nanna admitted to me that Purah was once her mentor. And that she was… 'a little odd.' I'll keep that in mind. She wished me safe travels, and I was off.

Half way to Dueling Peaks Stable, I turned on a path pointed east through The Guardian Graveyard, as I called it. At the end of this graveyard, there was a ruin ahead of me; a broken stone wall with wooden spikes on the top. It looked like a fortress. I slowed down my steed to get a better look at the structure as we passed by. It seemed very familiar, but I didn't know why. To the side of the gate, I saw a man admiring the structure. We slowed to a stop as he greeted me.

"Come to see Fort Hateno, I take it?" he asked.

I'm on my way to Hateno Village, actually, I answered. I'm just passing through.

"Figured as much," the man sighed. "But it's well worth seeing! Fort Hateno here was the last line of defense between Hateno Village and the awful tragedy all those years ago. Everyone's got to come and pay their respects at least once in their life, right? Do you know the story of the warrior who fought here at Fort Hateno?"

Tell me, I invited.

"So, 100 years ago," he began, "we had these special warriors called Champions. The warrior who fought here was supposedly one of them. I heard the others all died in the big fight. The warrior, though… Some say he gave his life here too. But others think he went into a deep sleep to prepare to fight another day. Which would mean he's still alive, right? I wonder if I'd still be around when he wakes up. I'd love to meet the guy. If I'd been alive 100 years ago… I would like to think I'd have fought these Guardians here, right at the warrior's side." He was speaking about me. But I can't remember anything that happened at all. Anything! Nothing! All that remains is the smallest inkling of familiarity, and that's it. I kept my identity concealed from him and asked for directions. "Continue along this road, turn left at the eventual fork, and then up the hills along the windy path is where Hateno Village lies."

In two short hours I had made it to the village. The guard at the entrance was wary about me, but let me pass after determining that I wasn't a threat. He was armed with a pitchfork of all things. Clearly the people in this village aren't fighters. I saw at the top of the hill past the village was a structure that looked like a large house. That must be the Hateno tech Lab. As I made my way through the town, I was greeted by an old lady.

"Good day, stranger," she addressed me. "Are you some sort of traveler?" I stopped Braeburn so I could speak to her.

That's right.

"Well, I'll be… The village has grown to be quite a lively place. I suppose that's on account of things bein' so peaceful in general."

Peaceful, indeed. I looked around at all of the cottages and farmland, the rolling hills and the streams.

"Oh yes… But when I was a child, this whole region wasn't in a state fit to be sown, much less harvested. Hyrule Castle and Castletown had been destroyed, and all the lovely folk there fell victim to… Well, back in bygone days, we called it the Calamity. But words often fall meaningless when we try to describe tragic events of a certain magnitude."

I thought for a moment just how long 100 years is to certain people. Impa was alive back then. I was told that most Sheikah live to be well over 100. But it seems that Hylians like myself only seem to live to about 80 or even 90. This woman hadn't been born yet when the Calamity hit. I studied her aged face. She had a kind expression and a welcoming demeanor. I can only imagine the peaceful environment in a place like Hateno being destroyed suddenly by an event such as the Calamity. I lived it. But I remember none of it. I feel a little defeated about that fact. But Impa assured me that I can be helped. So, I made my way to the tech lab to receive that help.

Halfway up the hill, I noticed a young boy peeking out from behind a tree, as if spying on the tech lab. And then another. The two of them were speculating about there being a little Sheikah girl up at the tech lab. Perhaps Purah has a daughter? Or a granddaughter?

I made my way to the tech lab and tied Braeburn's reins to the signpost. You stay here, girl. Okay? I fed her an apple and pet her nose. She nuzzled me, affectionately. I chuckled at the sensation. When I entered the tech lab, I saw, as the boys had mentioned, a small girl at a work table and a man in the back of the lab in a library corner, both with white hair wearing Sheikah attire.

Good afternoon, I greeted them. I'm looking for someone.

"Oh… Hello." The little girl eyed me very curiously. "Welcome to the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab. Do you have some business with the director?"

That's right. I walked over to her.

"The director is in the back," she sighed. Evidently a little bored. "A terribly busy person, that one. Please try to keep it brief." I nodded and made my way over to the gentleman. Behind me, I heard a small chuckle from the girl. What was that about…

"I imagine you've never seen so many books in one place," the man inquired as I approached him. "Pretty incredible, isn't it? We've gathered all of Hyrule's known literature on ancient civilizations here." He uttered a hum of surprise as I stopped in front of him. "Is that… That thing on your waist? Is that a Sheikah Slate… There's no mistaking it. That's a real Sheikah Slate, isn't it?! I've never actually seen one in person! If you could show me the Runes on it, I'd be most appreciative." I show him my Slate and explain each of them. "Hmm… So that's it for runes, but… Strange… It doesn't seem like you have the basic runes… I don't understand why they're missing. There must be a reason…" He pondered a moment. "Ah! Where are my manners! I nearly forgot to introduce myself! My name is Symin." He extended his hand, and I shook it. "And you are… Link, right?"

Of course you know my name. I suppose that's one way of introducing myself, I jested. People have seen the Slate and already knew who I was without me having to open my mouth.

He chuckled at that. "Lady Impa caught me up to speed. You see, we were told, 'A young man will appear holding a Sheikah Slate. And you must do all that you can to help him. He will be the hope that awakens from the Slumber of Restoration. His name will be Link.' Oh, dear! I forgot to tell you something very important. Ms. Director!" He called across the room. I looked over to only see the little girl. "This is a real Sheikah Slate!"

Director? I looked over at her, very confused.

"Oh, that's right… I haven't introduced you to our director. Ms. Purah. As the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab director, Ms. Purah is the world's foremost authority on ancient Hyrule culture." She held up a pair of peace signs at me. "I have the utmost respect for Ms. Purah and all she's accomplished. I'm honored to be her assistant. On that note, Link…" I turned back to Symin as he lowered his voice. "You see, the director may look like a young girl, but… Well… maybe it's not my place to be telling you these things. You should talk to Ms. Purah herself."

"Yeah, yeah. Don't spill the beans!" Purah snarked at her assistant. I skeptically walked back over to her. "Hey! Are you surprised?!"

Why… Why have you played a joke on me?

"Oh, come now," she scolded me. "I couldn't help myself! But now you know that the director isn't Symin. It's me! Snappity Snap!" She posed with a strange hand sign in front of her face as she introduced herself. 'Odd' is a pretty accurate word for her, I must admit. Her energy will take some time for me to get used to… "Aaanyway, Linky…" What did you just call me?! "Do you remember any of your dreams from your time in the Slumber of Restoration?" I shook my head. "You don't look like you've changed a bit in the last 100 years, but something must have happened in all that time! Well, no matter. I'm just happy you're still in one piece." She tilted her head at me and adjusted her oversized glasses. "… Linky? What's with that look? You do still remember me, right?"

No, I admitted. I don't remember anything.

"Really?!" She exclaimed. "Well! I'm so shocked I don't know if I'll ever be able to recover from this!"

Hey, hey, calm down! I retorted. It's not like I chose to wipe my memory. I was told to go to Impa, and she told me all she could before sending me here to you.

"Even though… 100 years ago… I took you to the Shrine of Resurrection after the Calamity fatally wounded you… Even though I was the one who put you safely into the Slumber of Restoration… Despite all that… you still don't remember me?" I shook my head. "Hmm…" she mumbled, scribbling something down on a note pad. "'After 100 years… subject… has… lost… all… memories.' Noted."

Um… Miss?

"Oh, sorry… I have a bad habit of taking note rather abruptly like that. It's a charming quirk, isn't it?"

If you say so…

"Oh, come now. Don't be so serious. Anyhoo… do you have any questions for me before we begin?"

So, you're… not a child?

"How very rude!" she exploded. She corrected herself immediately. "Hm… Or perhaps it's not rude at all…. I suppose that's actually a rather logical conclusion to jump to… The truth is… I look this way because of a failed experiment. Well, I say 'failed,' but… in some ways, it was a success. I documented the full affair in my diary and everything." I curiously raised an eyebrow at her. "BUT!" she cut me off before I could ask any questions. "The whole thing is rather embarrassing, so I insist you refrain from reading it, should you come across it."

I don't see any problem there.

"Good! Anyway. Enough about that. Back to the topic at hand! Here you are, after 100 years! Here to defeat Calamity Ganon, who is growing in strength with every passing moment!" She stamped her food for effect. "And here to rescue our beloved Princess Zelda!" She held up a fist. She's rather expressive, isn't she? "That is, if you've got the courage to try. And to help the one true hero, I, the one and only Purah, will restore the basic functions missing from the Sheikah Slate! What do you say to that?"

Once more…

"Hmmm… I see, I see…" she mumbled as she scribbled on her note pad again. "Post-Slumber of Restoration, the subject's verbal comprehension skills have… somewhat… atrophies. Noted."

Hey! I spat. Miss, that was a lot of information all at once! Can you blame me for wanting to make sure I have my facts straight?

"Well… no, I suppose not. Anyhoo! This is the really important bit, so listen up!" She clapped her hands together as a transition. "Calamity Ganon still rages within Hyrule Castle, kept at bay by Princess Zelda. You've just awakened after 100 years of slumber. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to free our beloved princess and vanquish Ganon. And I, Purah,will assist you in your quest by supplying your technological needs! Now… shall I upgrade the Slate for you?"

Yes. I answered politely, still uncertain as to what she means. Yes, please.

"All right, then. First, I need you to run an errand for me."

That being? I probably sounded cross by this point.

"What's with that look on your face? You didn't think I'd fix your Slate for free, did you?"

I did, actually, I admitted, setting my hands on my hips. Since I was told it was your requirement to assist me. So why complicate things?

"Hmmm…" she mumbled again, pulling out her notepad. "Post Slumber of Restoration… subject is plagued by… presumptuous… tendencies. Noted."

Alright, now you're just making fun of me! I'm only reiterating what I've been told!

"Whatever. Let me explain what this errand entails. Have you seen the unlit furnace on the wall outside this laboratory?" I told her that I had, and that my horse is next to it. "Oh, really?! Symin!" she called to her assistant. "Would you be a dear and go tend to Linky's horsy friend? I wouldn't want to poor sweet thing to feel neglected." Symin complied. At least she's considerate… "Anyhoo," she continued, turning back to me. "Could you please bring the blue flame from the ancient furnace in town and use it to light our furnace?" She pointed to a pedestal on a large platform to the side of the front door. "This sweet little Guidance Stone will start working once you do that, allowing us to restore your missing Runes!" She went back to talking to herself, "Huh… I wonder if young ladies these days still say things like 'sweet' and 'little' when referring to things… Ah, well. I suppose it doesn't matter anyway." She turned back to me. "Oh, and you probably shouldn't try carrying it while on a horse. So, I request you leave your steed here."

I sighed defeatedly. Fine…

"Okay then, I'm counting on you for that blue flame! And make it snappy, alright?" I learned in that moment that I don't like being bossed around very much… Well… at all, really. I'm willing to be of service to anyone who needs me, but please don't order me around like a trained dog. I find it rather degrading.

Couldn't I rest first, and maybe have some food? I asked. I just got to town and haven't eaten since breakfast. I looked at the clock on her wall whose hands showed nearly a quarter after two.

"Suit yourself," Purah accepted. "Just get that flame here by sundown. Alrighty?" I sighed and headed outside. Then I had an idea.

I glided down to the village to locate the blue flame. I saw where it was and made a mental note of it. I had something I needed to do first. I was informed the other day that various foods have different effects when cooked. So, at the communal cooking area in the middle of town, I decided to cook up some swift carrots to eat before the task so I could make it go by faster.

I walked across town to the furnace and sat down to eat. Once I was done, I got up and stretched, preparing to make a mad dash. I lit the torch that Purah provided for me, and I ran. I ran twice as fast as I usually do. I was up the hill within minutes! When I lit the tech lab's furnace, I heard a whirring sound from inside it and everything lit up – inside and outside the tech lab. "Oh! So soon?" I heard Purah gasp on the other side of the door that I then shoved open.

There! I panted. Happy?

"Hey, you!" she greeted me, excitedly. "Linky, thank you so much! Now then, take a look over there." She pointed to the pedestal. "The Guidance Stone is starting to react! There's nothing mysterious about it – this is pure science!" She sighed, "Heh… My sweet little Guidance Stone… you sure know how to make this old researcher's heart flutter."

How touching, I deadpanned, still panting. Purah looked back at me spitefully. She sighed and hopped down off her stool to grab me a cup of water which I downed immediately. Thank you.

"Well then," she continued. "Let's go ahead and restore those runes for you!" She snapped her fingers expressively. "Give me a nice SNAP! Go on, no need to be shy about it!" She did it again. "SNAP!"

Uh… Snap. I followed suit.

"Hmm… That was pretty weak. But that's okay. Confidence takes time I guess." Hmm… I wonder how far she'd go if I drop-kicked her off this hill… No. No thinking like that. I need to be respectful. As irritating as she is, she's still here to help me. So I must listen to her and do what she says without complaints. "Ho-kay then, Sheikah Slate repair… underway!" She hopped down to do some calibrations. "Guidance Stone lock removed. Now then, let's do this thing!"

I set my slate down in the pedestal and the guidance stone distilled information into it – the same way the shrines applied the Runes and the Sheikah towers applied the regional maps. I had received three new things: A camera rune, a catalog called the Hyrule Compendium, and a picture album with twelve photographs in it.

"Aaand… it's done!" Purah beamed. "So? Is it all fixed up now?" I showed her my Slate. "Hmm… lessee here… Which one is it…" She went through the list of things I had acquired. "Yep, looks good! So… I know this is sudden, but hear me out. I need you to take a picture of me with the camera rune. Oh, and don't forget to lemme see it!" I did as she requested. I was interested in knowing how it worked too.

"And, snap!" Purah exclaimed as I took the picture. "So how did it go? How did it turn out? Can I see it? I can't wait to see it!" I showed her the picture I took of her. "Hm? My, who is this beautiful young creature?" Don't be so full of yourself. I'm getting rather annoyed. She looked up and saw my unamused expression. "Huh? Oh, I guess that's my cue! Sorry I kind of lost it there. It wasn't on purpose." Oh, really? "And it's not just a pretty girl in these images. Yes, there are some old landscape photos stored in the album." I took a look and the rest of the album. "I knew Princess Zelda had made frequent use of the camera feature, but this…" She paused.

"Hey, Linky! It dawns on me that you were the princess's appointed knight, which means there's a strong possibility that you accompanied her to all of these places where these pictures were taken." I looked through them, not recognizing any. "Oh… right. The 'lost memory' then could prove troublesome. But don't lose hope! It just means these pictures could be the missing pieces to help restore your lost memories!" For the first time today, I actually agreed with her. "If my hunch is correct, I suggest you check in with Impa. She knows more about Zelda than even I do!"

Understood.

Don't mind if I- "Now that that's done," What now? "Let's get started on diagnostics."

Of?

"Why, you, you silly thing! I need to check your vitals to make sure you're healthy! You've been in stasis for a very long time, you know. I want to make sure nothing was damaged. If there's one outlier within your body that negatively affects any of your basic functions, it may prove difficult to complete your mission. Resulting in frequent fatigue, for instance, or hallucinations, or muscle cramps or spasms. All of that can be determined by your vitals."

I seem to be doing well so far, I pointed out.

"So far! But that could deteriorate. Slowly, or possibly all at once. And I do not want to take that chance! Now come sit. We have a lot to get through this afternoon!" I sighed and reluctantly took a seat.

Purah spent the next hour or so doing a series of tests on me. She drew some of my blood to analyze and then hooked me up to various wires. One on my arm, one on my finger, one on either side of my head, one on my bare chest, and two on my back. I still had no idea what was going on, but I had no choice but to sit there and wait for her to finish her notes to explain everything. But she didn't yet.

"Thank you, Linky," she said as she removed the wires from me. I put my tunic back on. "Now there's two more things I need from you." She handed me two glass cups with measurements on them that she called beakers. When she told me what they were for, I was very discomforted. Both were very personal…

You want me to do that in these?!

"It's for science, Linky! For monitoring your health." I looked at her, dumbfounded. "Now go drink a bunch of water! Get that one out of the way first, and then we can discuss the second."

I'd rather not…

"And I'd rather be an adult again," Purah sighed. "But we can't always get what we want." I scowled at her and went to do as she requested.

Once that was over, she addressed me about the second sample. I… I don't think I can do that.

"Why not? Surely you know how to, don't you?"

I've… figured it out…

"Only being awake for six days with no memory to your name and you figured it out on your own? That definitely sounds like a man to me."

Purah… I was greatly affronted. Someone else told me.

"Oh?" I explained the conversation I had about romance with the twins and how I was recommended to start experimenting with myself first. "Oh, I see. Well, that makes more sense. How many times?"

Once.

"And?"

And what?

"How was it?"

It was… okay.

"Well, I need you to do it again so I can study it."

Is there some place… more private than the washroom?

"Other than our two bedrooms, I'm afraid not. Why? Do you have performance anxiety?"

Purah… I rubbed my face nervously. Please stop… I couldn't look at her.

"I'm being serious! If you need some assistance, I can go find some suggestive pictures for you."

N-no, no. I'll be fine… I hated having this conversation with a female. Especially one who looked too young to be hearing these kinds of things. But I had to keep reminding myself that she's much older than I am.

"No, I insist. It'll help. Believe me." She hopped down and started rifling through a basket of magazines until she found one with women on it. It was… um… advertising women's undergarments. I flushed bright red as she handed it to me. "Here you go," she said casually.

Uh, Purah… W-why do you have this?

"Well, considering I tried to revert myself into a young adult, I thought I would buy a corset or two." I hesitantly took the magazine and looked down at the cover, trying not to imagine such a thing on her. "But as you can see, there have been some complications with my experiment. So, I'll have to try again."

Uh-huh… I mumbled as I scanned the cover.

"Oh, don't be so shy, Linky! You're an adult! Take it with you. Take your time. Get comfortable. No rush." I knew she wanted me to get these tests over with as soon as possible no matter how many times she said 'take your time.' And honestly, I did too. "Do you need some noise or something? Would that make it more comfortable?"

I guess it could help… Truthfully, it was too quiet in there. And it did make me self-conscious. So, when I left for the washroom, Purah turned on a machine that made a mild rumbling sound. A generator of some sort. I didn't know what it was, but I didn't care. It was better than silence.

So… This next part is a little personal… But I wanted to write down the precursor to it anyway. I locked the door to the washroom and leaned against it, immensely embarrassed. I took a few deep breaths to center myself and tune everything else out before opening the magazine. I wanted to see why she gave me what she gave me before I, uh… did anything to myself while viewing it. I know this might sound rather lame… but… beauty aside, it was actually rather interesting. I learned a little bit about the composition of women's bodies and why each of them has different needs when choosing structurally different clothes to support themselves. I won't divulge. Let's just say I put it in my Slate to read properly later. I want to understand females a little bit better. I didn't need it there. I was fine by myself.

Finally having that over and done with -it took a while, but I got it done- I returned to Purah. "So, how'd it go?"

Uh… Maybe don't ask that question… I requested as I handed her the cup. She accepted it and stared at me expectantly. I, uh… had to try twice.

"How come?" she asked as she started examining everything.

I… missed… I missed the first time. She chuckled a moment. I felt very uncomfortable. Could you please stop? I rubbed my face anxiously. I was doing that an awful lot, wasn't I…

"Are you really that shy?" she badgered me.

Y-yes.

She turned around and removed her goggles to look at me properly. "Linky. You're an adult. And a man. Why would I judge you for ogling at prints of pretty women in a magazine?" I sighed deeply, still very uncomfortable. "You can give it back now if you'd like." She held out her tiny hand. I didn't think about that.

Oh. Um…

"You do still have it, right?"

Well… no, I lied.

"Oh, really?" She glared at me curiously with her hands on her hips. "Where is it, then?"

I, uh… I threw it away, I lied again.

"Why is that? Did you get it dirty or something?" she prodded. "You did say you missed."

My face got very hot. N-no. No, nothing like that. I-I threw it away because I didn't need it.

"Well, if you didn't actually need it, there was no need to throw it away!" She sighed. "I guess I'll have to go get another when I actually get around to ordering a corset. I don't want to dig through my trash for such a menial thing as that." I sighed with relief (softly, so she didn't hear me behind her) that she stopped asking questions.

So then, I changed the subject. How long will this take?

"Oh, it'll take several hours for everything to process!" she informed me. "But some things are already done. Personally, I would prefer to go over everything with you at the same time. Until then, I'll compile all my notes for you. In the meanwhile, why don't you go admit yourself at the inn and get back to me tomorrow morning?" So, I left.

I thanked Symin for feeding, watering, and brushing Braeburn. He invited me to sit with him for dinner to chat more. He's an interesting individual, so I accepted his offer. We talked extensively about their research at the Tech Labs, and I learned a little more about Robbie too. Apparently, Robbie is Purah's old colleague from before The Great Calamity. He's nearly as old as she is. His Tech Lab is to the far Northeast of Hyrule in the Akkala region. I assured Symin that I will head there at some point. But I wanted to make sure where it was so I could add it to my route directly. I wanted to waste as little time as possible when traveling.

I thanked him for his invitation and his information, bade him good evening, and rode Braeburn down the hill to the inn. Before I left, a sprinkle had started. And once I got to the inn's stable, it turned into a shower. I got her situated at the small stable, gave her a pet goodnight, and entered the inn. By that time, the rain had graduated into a downpour. But thankfully, I was only damp rather than drenched.

"Hello!" the young lady at the reception desk greeted me. "Thanks for coming in the rain. Welcome to the Ton Pu Inn. If you're looking for a relaxing and restorative mind and body experience, you can have one of our extra-soft downy beds for forty rupees. But if that's not your thing, then a regular bed will be twenty rupees." I opted for a soft bed. She collected a towel and a room key for me and gave me a tour of the place -showing me the washroom, bathing room, dining and lounge area- before leading me upstairs to my room. "Please enjoy your stay!" She smiled as she opened the door. I thanked her. I deposited my belongings and got ready for bed, wasting no time in opting for a bath. I needed the hot water.

In the morning, I went out on the inn's balcony to breathe in the morning air. I was greeted by a young man. "Hello there, brother!" I was confused.

Brother?

"I could recognize a fellow traveler a country mile away! We share a unique bond, you and me! I've recently returned from both Goron City and Gerudo Town." I inquired more. He told me about Goron City north of here in the Eldin region. Since it's on an active volcano, he said had to turn back because he felt like he would burn up. Then he talked about Gerudo Town far to the west out in the desert. But the gatekeeper drove him off because, apparently, only women are allowed in. I asked him about other places. He mentioned Zora's Domain and Rito Village. However, he said road to Zora's Domain is dangerous and Rito Village is way far away in a fairly cold climate. Neither are easy places to get to, so he's never been. I thanked him for his information and bade him good morning. Hypocrite.

After breakfast, I rode back up to the Tech Lab. I was greeted by Symin, who I handed Braeburn off to. "I'll make sure she's comfortable and well cared for." I thanked him before I went inside.

"Good morninggg!" Purah addressed me when I entered the lab.

'Morning.

"Come sit! There's much to discuss!" I pulled out a chair and sat down. She started off by explaining my metabolic levels, water intake, vitamin and mineral levels in my blood, and briefly went over how to keep them stable; giving me dietary advice, going over supplemental benefits, and foods with special effects. The last of which, I told her I already knew. Next, she went over information about my vitals, which is what the wires were for. Heart, lungs, brain, other organs. I didn't understand most of what she was talking about because she used so many words that I was unfamiliar with, but it didn't matter since she said everything was regular anyway.

After that, she wanted to do a physical, height and weight measurements, various sensory tests, and, uh… a pair of more personal physical examinations… But I asked her if Symin could do those instead of her. Fortunately, that was acceptable, and thankfully all was well with me. The result of the sensory tests surprised her. Apparently, my senses have been heightened. Specifically: sight, hearing, and smell. Honestly, that seems rather useful for stealth fighting and hunting, so I'm perfectly alright with that. Purah was a little concerned about strain on my eyes or damage to my ears, but just warned me to be careful and to report to her if anything goes wrong. Next, she examined my battle scars and said that most of my wounds had been healed in The Slumber of Restoration and none of them should produce problems any in the future. Which was good news. She continued on the subject of my physicality by saying this:

"Five feet, four inches…" she wrote that down in her notes. "One hundred… and ten… pounds," she wrote down as well. "Hmm… You're rather small, aren't you…" I understand she's not aiming to make fun of me this time -I mean, look at her own height at the moment!- but with bigger men around me, I feel a little… inadequate. She tried to cheer me up with this: "Even though you're rather slim right now, with the right exercise and nutrition, you'll certainly put on bulk in almost no time! Aging should add to it as well. You're only eighteen after all. By twenty-one so you should start to look like a man rather than a teenage boy. And with the journey that you're on, neither food nor exercise are things we need to worry about. You're gonna be fine." It reassured me somewhat… But…

But… what if I don't?

"Don't what, exactly?"

Grow taller.

"Who the heck cares! As long as you remain strong, it doesn't matter if you remain pint-sized too. It'll just be more of a surprise to your rivals who underestimate you." I suppose that made me feel a little better… She also went over hygienic routines, most of which I already knew and conformed to, except for one. "Do you know how to shave?"

Shave what?

"Your beard, silly! Whenever you grow one, that is."

Well… I gestured to my face. As you can see, I can't.

"Yet," she encouraged me. "The reason why I bring it up is because it's traditionally a rite of passage for a father to teach his son to shave when he starts growing into a man. And since you have no memories of your father at present-"

You want to simulate yourself as my parent?

"Well… no. Not exactly. But if you ever need to learn, Either Symin or I would be willing to show you."

But as I said, I can't grow a beard. So, it's not relevant.

"For now. But you're still young. Some boys start growing facial hair when they're thirteen, and some don't start till their thirties. There's nothing wrong with being a late bloomer. Just one less thing to worry about." It seems I must be late at a lot of things then…

Throughout the entire visit this morning, she ran me through a bunch of spontaneous short-term memory tests. Asking me to remember a series of words several minutes later, repeating the tune of a song back to her, a passage from a book, various simple math equations that kept getting harder over time, and so on. She estimated that it might be a useful exercise to help unlock the memory bank in my brain so that my experiences from before my slumber can return to me. She reminded me that my birthday is September 20th and that I'll be eighteen-and-a-half in two weeks. Surprisingly, that didn't spark anything in me. There was one very odd thing that did, however. One of the songs that Purah sang was a lullaby that Zelda's mother used to sing for her. I recognized it. But I couldn't pinpoint a situation in which I'd before. When I explained that to her, she thought that was rather interesting and put it in her notes.

The last two things she went over were my immune system and what she referred to as reproductive health. We started with the latter topic first. "That second sample you gave me informed me that your reproductive system is one of the only things majorly affected by your recovery in the Shrine of Resurrection."

How so?

"First of all, you are now 99.5% sterile."

… Could you explain what that means?

"Every time you shoot your shot, 99.5% of what you're working with is impotent. 995 out of 1,000 cells out of commission. Or 199 out of 200 if you prefer to simplify it."

… Could you explain further? She then gave me a brief rundown of male and female anatomy, procreation, female menstruation, childbearing, romantic attraction, and a long list of intimate interactions and satisfaction experienced by both sexes. Ah. So that's what the twins meant. And Purah giving me a half-nude magazine makes more sense now. She didn't explain the information in a judgmental way as if I was supposed to know already, nor in a childish way as if I wasn't ready to. I presume I had once known before my amnesia, and she kept that in mind during her explanation. I asked numerous questions about how things worked and she was surprisingly serious about it. Not being teased for 20-30 minutes as we discussed it was really refreshing!

So… Every woman goes through that? I asked once she had concluded her explanation.

"Uh-huh. Every woman after her teenage years and before old age."

Is it… painful?

"Sometimes. It depends on the woman, her age, the season, her diet, her weight, and so many other things. Overall, yes. It's very uncomfortable for the few days that it lasts. But it's only present once every four weeks for a few decades before her body draws her reproductive window to a close."

I… I didn't know what to say. I'm so, so sorry you all have to experience that.

"Why thank you, Linky. That's very kind of you. Make a note to care for your woman whenever you get around to courting one. She'll need you to care for her when she's feeling unwell."

I will, I sighed. I promise. She looked at me pensively. W-what?

"Does the subject make you uncomfortable?" she pondered. "Female anatomy and procreation?"

It's rather… personal, to be completely honest. But as you said, it's a natural part of life for many creatures, so I shouldn't have an outright aversion to it. Any of it.

"Are you… intrigued by the idea of romantic intimacy?" she prodded.

I wouldn't say that's quite the right word, I contemplated. It's certainly interesting, but I don't feel the need to explore such things right now.

"I suppose that makes sense. It's not like you need to focus on romance, marriage, or childbearing at this point in your life considering your mission at hand. Especially since you're mostly infertile. And besides, not many people get married at eighteen anymore. You'll most likely grow into it eventually. But anyhoo, the last thing I found concerns amplifications of your immune system."

So, does that mean I can't be poisoned or something like that?

"Kinda…" Purah hesitated. "How to explain this…" She looked away from me and tapped her fingers together in deep thought. "So… Concerning your immune system… The Shrine of Resurrection didn't simply heal you, but it gave you various immunities as well." She paused. "I don't doubt that you could now survive minor poisoning. So, if you eat any dubious food, for instance, you wouldn't get sick. But that's not the point I'm trying to make.

"Firstly, you now appear to have a high intake and exposure tolerance, which does include poison. One of those poisons, as some people put it, is alcohol. Your body now behaves like a heavyweight when you're actually a scrawny little thing." I didn't appreciate that jab. "To what degree your alcohol tolerance rose, we can only determine that by experiments. But that's not exactly humane. We could assume it means doubled. So, two glasses of wine would only feel like one, two pints of ale, two shots of liquor, et cetera; all will be felt as half the strength to you. Or it could have tripled and you'd only feel it at one-third the strength. Or quadrupled and you'd only feel it at one-quarter the strength. In theory.

"Secondly…" She paused. "There are certain… diseases that one can contract from intimacy…" She explained that topic further, what they are, how they happen, and what's treatable. It's not exactly appropriate to write down, so I won't. "But anyway…" she continued, "apparently, you're immune to that stuff now. Both taking in, and passing on. Which probably sounds like a relief to a man!"

But as we discussed-

"I know, I know," she cut me off. "But I'm certain it'll happen eventually at least once. So now you know you'll be safe! Thousands could only dream of being so lucky!"

I suppose…

"And that's basically all of what was majorly affected. Besides your attitude, that is." I only sighed indignantly, not wanting to fall into her trap. "Oh, yeah! There's just one more thing I need from you." I glared at her indignantly but gestured for her to continue. "You don't have to worry about this until after you see Impa again, but I want you to bring me some ancient materials. Deliver them to either me, or Robbie at the Akkala Ancient Tech Lab. If you bring us ancient materials, we'll give you some great things!"

What kinds of things?

"I'm glad you asked!" she announced, making her funny little hand sign in front of her face. "If you bring materials to me, I'll power up your Runes." She listed off the materials I'd need and what they'd be used for. "You can find these parts by scavenging through decayed guardians, or even defeating activated guardians. I may speak of it lightly, but make no mistake. You'll be risking your life if and when you try to defeat a Guardian. It's imperative you activate and enter every Sheikah Shrine you can find. Very often you can find Guardian Scouts in shrines that can drop parts. There are 120 shrines in all of Hyrule, and the monk who built the shrine in question will be waiting at the end of it to grant you a Spirit Orb. You're aware of how Spirit Orbs work? Obtaining those and granting them to a goddess statue will allow you to amplify your vitality and vigor."

Yes, I do. I've already used some of them.

"Good! Good. Also, I was told long ago that if you're able to collect all 120 of them, the ancient monks would grant you a reward. They were specially curated by ancient Sheikah to test the Hero, after all. And in this time period, that Hero is you! Wander around a bit on your journey. The Sheikah Sensor will alert you to their locations. Mind you, some of these shrines are hidden and you're meant to be tested on the surface in order to find them rather than being tested inside of the shrine itself.

"I also advise activating the Sheikah Towers so they can transfer their regional maps to you. Have you gotten the tower in this region?" I told her I did not; that I came straight here from Kakariko and only stopped to ask for directions. "Ah, okay! That makes sense. Well, on your way out of here, recommend you do that too." I thanked her for the information.

"Also, Linky, before you go, there's some useful information about your Slate that I would like to mention to you. If you haven't been informed already, that is." I listened. "On your map, each Sheikah shrine and Sheikah tower acts as a teleportation point. You're able to tap on one of those locations on your Slate if you have unlocked it and warp back to it if you need to. From what I saw in the Slate's data, you're only able to teleport once every twelve hours. If you decide to teleport at noon, for instance, you would not be allowed to again until midnight. I'm able to upgrade it so recharge time is lessened, but I'll need some extra materials for that.

"In addition to time restrictions, only the person holding the Slate and everything on their immediate person is able to be transported. Any other life form -such as an animal or a person or a monster- or any large objects will not be able to follow you. So then, if you need to deviate off your path, you can hop off your horse at a shrine or a tower and walk to another location and then warp to your dear companion once you're done with that beaten path. Does this make sense to you?"

It does. It sounds very useful, actually. Is there anything else you need from me before I head out?

"No, not right now. You're dismissed. Now, go out there and kick some butt!" She pumped her fist into the air. I hung my head to suppress a small smile and raised my fist in the air along with hers. "Your enthusiasm needs more work. But time should fix that."

If you say so… I sighed indignantly. Anyway, I'm off to go activate the shrine at the edge of town.

"Good luuuck!"