Chapter 29: A Hero's Negotiation
Noah craned his neck upwards, feeling comically small compared to the towering Korok. Hestu's face, if one could call it that, resembled someone's attempt at artistic woodworking. Two carved wooden Mustaches rested above an oversized leaf that barely passed for eyes.
Despite the questionable aesthetics, Noah couldn't deny the awe of seeing Hestu in real life, not just through a game screen.
"Shoko...so you can see me?" Hestu boomed, a hint of surprise cracking through his usual monotone. His elaborate disguise, it seemed, hadn't worked.
Noah nodded. "Yes, I can."
"Impossible!" Hestu exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief. "The last time anyone saw a Korok like me was over a hundred years ago! Are you some monster of malice wearing human skin?"
Noah raised an eyebrow. "Do those actually exist?" He chuckled nervously, trying to lighten the mood. "Calm down, you already knew I could see you, right? Otherwise, why follow me here?"
Hestu regained some composure, his giant face creasing in curiosity. "Well, I still struggled to believe it... "Hestu trailed off, staring at his surroundings.
"Something wrong?" Noah asked, looking over his shoulders.
"Shoko…. Grandpa generally forbids us from entering large settlements. But after you mentioned my missing Korok Seeds… well, this is my first time seeing so many Hylians and buildings at once!"
'That explains the festive mood earlier,' Noah thought, suppressing a smile. "Grandpa, huh? Seems The Great Deku Tree still exists here." Noah spoke, affirming his suspicions.
"You even know about Grandpa?" Hestu boomed, a flicker of suspicion replacing his curiosity. "Just who are you?!"
"Heh," Noah thought, momentarily caught up in the nostalgia. 'I knew about the Deku Tree since Ocarina of Time.' He quickly cleared his throat. "Someone of importance, but never mind that for now."
Hestu seemingly remembering why he was here, suddenly lowered his massive form, extending his wooden hands in a pleading gesture. "Soooo… my Korok Seeds? Pretty please… with a rupee on top?"
Noah winced internally. He hadn't actually had any Korok Seeds. It had been a desperate lie to avoid a potentially fatal fall. "About that..." he started sheepishly. "I lied. I don't have any seeds."
"SHOOOOOKOOOOOOOO!" Hestu roared, leaping back dramatically, wooden tears welling in his large, leafy eyes. "You lied to me? Did you lie about that pencil threat too? Wait, what's even a pencil?"
Noah sighed. "Okay, okay, I wasn't lying entirely. It's true the Koroks have stolen your seeds, hidden them all over the place just waiting for you to find them. But the rest of the story… yeah, I admit I embellished a bit but in my defence, you were able to kill me."
"Kill you? Hylians can die from such small heights?" Hestu exclaimed, bewildered. "But still! You lied! Wait till Grandpa or the Elder hears about this!"
Noah winced again. This whole situation highlighted just how little Hestu knew about Hylians and how much of a child the Koroks truly were.
"Alright, alright I apologise. You need to find Korok seeds right?" Noah asked, adopting a polite tone.
Hestu, seemingly forgetting his anger in his desperation, puffed out his wooden chest. "I'm Hestu! Musician of Korok Forest! But there's something wrong with my maracas! The Korok seeds inside were stolen so I can't sing, dance or use my powers… if only I had just one."
"Ah wow, a musical Korok," Noah spoke sarcastically, his internal monologue running wild. 'Musical or not, I need to benefit from this somehow!' He dragged out his response, purposefully making it sound difficult.
As he was contemplating how to manage the situation, an idea started to sprout in Noah's head. "There must be a lot of seeds for you to find now."
"But… how?" Hestu grumbled. "Grandpa will yell at me if I'm gone from the forest for too long. I followed you out of desperation, but even now, I need to get back soon."
'Back to the Great Deku Tree, huh?' Noah mused; a plan finally formed in his mind. "Well, I can't let you do that," he said with a touch of fake concern.
"Why not…?" Hestu asked, confused.
A devilish smile emerged onto Noah's face, the kind a hero wouldn't be caught dead with. "You see, Hestu," he began, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "I am Link! The mystical Hero blessed by the Goddess! A hero like me can't simply let a good-natured Korok like you slave yourself away, only to get into trouble with the Great Deku Tree!" Noah finished with a flourish, hoping the dramatic reveal would overshadow his earlier lie
Hestu's wooden brows furrowed. "You? A hero?" Hestu asked with suspicion as he slowly walked backwards, clearly not trusting Noah.
"Hero, huh?" Hestu mumbled, the word unfamiliar to his ancient ears. "No one's seen the Hero in Hyrule for over a century, not since…" Hestu trailed off, a flicker of something akin to fear crossing his large, leafy eyes.
"True," Noah pressed on, seizing the opportunity, "but I'm not lying to you. I've awakened, destined to save this land from the calamity that threatens it!" He puffed out his chest, trying to project an air of heroism despite feeling anything but. "Besides, you can always ask the Great Deku Tree himself. I'm confident he'll tell you the same."
"After all, I can't trick the amazingly, powerful Great Deku Tree." Noah finished, with a smile.
Clarity, tinged with a hint of awe, replaced the suspicion in Hestu's eyes. "Of course!" he boomed, his voice regaining its earlier enthusiasm. He then extended one of his massive wooden hands. "Thank you, Link! You truly are a Hero! If you find my Korok Seeds, I can sing and dance again!"
Noah grinned, internally celebrating his successful deception. "Of course," he said, shaking Hestu's surprisingly sturdy hand. "As a Hero, it's my job to help people like yourself… but…" he trailed off, his voice dropping a notch.
"But?" Hestu echoed, his brow furrowing again.
"No, it's nothing," Noah said quickly, forcing a smile. "As a Hero destined to save this Kingdom, my time is limited. I can probably find your seeds, but I won't have much time to do anything else… Man, I've never spoken to the Great Deku Tree in this life…" He added the last part casually, gauging Hestu's reaction.
Hestu, seemingly getting his 'own' idea, adopted a proud face as he placed his hands on his sides. "Fear not, Hero! I will reward you greatly for your generous actions. If you find me some Korok Seeds, I'll gladly pass messages to Grandpa for you!"
Noah looked up at Hestu, feigning surprise. "Wait, really? You'd do that for me?"
His internal monologue, however, was a different story. 'Yes! Do it! Fall for it, you oversized pencil! Muahahaha! I know exactly where those little Korok twerps are hiding! Accept my glorious scam and become my glorified messenger bird! Sing all you want, but I'll be the one writing the music!'
"But… Koroks must have spread all over this kingdom…" Noah continued shamelessly pondering aloud. "To send some messages for that, is that really so great?"
Hestu became anxious as he held his hands out defensively. "No! Of course not, Hero! I intended to give more rewards than just that! Like uh…" Hestu hesitated, his wooden face contorting as he struggled to come up with something convincing.
Noah, suppressing a smirk, decided to push his luck a little further. "Hmm," he mused, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "A reward that would truly benefit a Hero on a quest… something rare and valuable…"
Hestu, chewing on a non-existent wooden fingernail, racked his brain. "Something rare and valuable, huh?" he mumbled, his voice echoing in the silent clearing. Suddenly, his oversized eyes widened in realization. "Yes! I know just the thing!"
Hestu puffed out his wooden chest, his voice booming with misplaced pride. "I can teach you music!"
Noah's face fell faster than a Deku Scrub tumbling off a cliff. Disappointment washed over him, erasing any trace of amusement. "Music?" he echoed, his voice flat.
Hestu, oblivious to Noah's deflated expression, waved his massive wooden hands dismissively. "Shoko, Shoko! You don't understand! My music is special, imbued with magic! Learn my melodies, and you'll be able to do amazing things! Like…" Hestu paused dramatically, searching for the right words. "Like… turning a gloomy rainy day into a bright and cheerful one!"
Noah's eyes widened a fraction. Now that was something he hadn't anticipated. "Wait, really?" he blurted out, a flicker of genuine interest replacing his earlier disappointment.
"Absolutely!" Hestu boomed, his oversized leaf practically vibrating with excitement. "But… I need permission from the Elder Koroks before I can teach you anything that advanced. Hold on a sec, Shoko!"
Before Noah could react, Hestu lumbered away with surprising agility for his size, his wooden legs pounding a rhythmic beat against the forest floor.
'Permission from the Elders? He didn't even ask me what message to give the Deku Tree,' Noah thought, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Despite the unexpected turn of events, a sense of satisfaction settled over him. This little scam was turning out to be far more lucrative than he'd initially imagined.
Not only did he have a way to communicate with the Great Deku Tree, something he thought impossible given the distance and challenges to get to the Lost Woods, but he might even gain access to magical music!
'Magical music…'The memory stirred a forgotten memory in the back of his mind. Back in the Ocarina of Time, Link learned songs that manipulated the environment or activated specific items using his Ocarina. Perhaps this was something similar? Did that mean that somehow features from other games were now inside BOTW? The possibilities were… intriguing.
Did he feel a twinge of guilt for misleading Hestu? Not a single bit. In Noah's mind, this was a classic case of win-win. It wasn't like he'd lied about the Korok Seeds out of malice; he'd simply capitalized on an opportunity. Besides, he actually did know the location of a few Koroks, thanks to his knowledge of the game. It wouldn't be a complete fabrication.
With a newfound sense of purpose, Noah dismissed his fleeting moral qualms. As Hestu's lumbering form vanished into the dense foliage, a sudden sweetness filled the air, stopping Noah in his tracks. He inhaled deeply, the scent unlike anything he'd ever encountered before. It was an intoxicating blend of ripe berries, freshly cut grass, and a hint of something floral – like a thousand springtime meadows condensed into a single breath.
The aroma sparked a primal curiosity within him, urging him to follow it. Perhaps it was a signal from the forest itself, a reward for his (admittedly cunning) deal with Hestu. But a nagging voice in the back of his head reminded him of his priorities.
Finally, with a heavy sigh, he turned his back on the enticing aroma and set off towards the bustling town centre. He had more pressing priorities to attend to. He asked a nearby Hylian woman, her weathered face etched with the wisdom of years spent tending her flower stall, for directions to the guild.
The woman, her eyes twinkling with a hint of amusement, pointed him towards a large, imposing building across the marketplace. Its weathered stone facade was adorned with the Hylian crest, and the rhythmic clang of metal echoed from within, hinting at the activities taking place there.
As Noah approached, the sweet scent from the forest faded completely. In its place, the town's familiar mix of sweat, leather, and dust filled his nostrils. He pushed open the heavy oak doors, stepping into the bustling heart of the adventurer's guild.
The air inside the guild was thick with the sounds of clinking tankards, boisterous laughter, and the rhythmic sharpening of blades. A large variety of characters filled the room. Noah, somewhat overwhelmed by the sensory overload, scanned the room, searching for where Neph may have fled to.
His eyes landed on a weathered bulletin board crammed with faded parchment notices. He weaved through people, dodging a tray of tankards carried by a clumsy server and a group of boisterous bulky Hylians engaged in an arm-wrestling match.
Reaching the board, he found it overflowing with announcements. Some advertised bounties for captured monsters, others offered details of ongoing expeditions. A faded yellow notice caught his eye: "Seeking Information: The Great Deku Tree. Anyone with knowledge of its whereabouts or how to contact it is urged to report to Northern Guild Master Eldrin."
A tang of disappointment hit Noah; this must be the Eastern Guild so his momentary thoughts of making a few quick rupees on selling out the Great Deku Tree passed quickly.
The disappointment was quickly eclipsed by a commotion erupting near the corner of the room. A Zora, his blue scales shimmering under the flickering lamplight, stood precariously on a wooden crate, his booming voice straining to be heard over the din.
"Please! My people are dying!" he called out, his voice thick with a Zoran accent. "My people, the Zora of Zora's Domain, face a dire threat! We require the aid of courageous mercenaries to…" He trailed off, his brow furrowed in concentration.
Noah, drawn by the spectacle, pushed his way through the curious crowd. The Zora's predicament piqued his interest, this was Noah's first encounter with a Zoran, and the sight was unlike anything he'd ever seen.
The Zora was a towering figure, easily a head taller than most Hylians. His broad, muscular physique spoke of a life spent swimming in powerful currents. His skin, a vibrant cerulean, shimmered with a pearlescent sheen, reflecting the warm glow of the torches like polished sapphires. Along his back, sleek fins ran from his head to his powerful tail, which twitched nervously despite his attempt at a bold stance.
His face, however, was a fascinating blend of fish and human features. Large, intelligent eyes, the color of a deep ocean pool, stared out from beneath a thick brow. A prominent, hooked nose jutted out above full lips that were currently pursed in concentration. Gills, similar to those of a fish, fanned out on either side of his jaw, their rhythmic movement betraying his growing anxiety.
Even from afar, Noah could sense the Zora's discomfort. He seemed out of place despite his imposing stature, there was an almost comical awkwardness to his stance on the crate, his long, webbed fingers gripping the edges tightly as if fearing he might topple over at any moment.
"What kind of threat, Zora?" a gruff Hylian warrior bellowed, his hand resting on the hilt of his broadsword.
The Zora shifted nervously on his makeshift platform looking at an empty corner in the room. "Well, uh…" he stammered, a blush creeping up his neck. "It's… a delicate situation. I can't exactly divulge the details here, in front of everyone."
A chorus of groans erupted from the crowd. Some adventurers crossed their arms and rolled their eyes, clearly uninterested in a blind mission.
"The Zora Domain will reward you handsomely!" the Zora bellowed, his voice desperate. "Anyone who can help, that is!" His gaze darted across the room, scanning the faces for a flicker of interest. He landed on a young Hylian girl, her hair pulled back in a determined braid.
"You there!" he boomed, pointing a webbed finger. "You look like a mighty strong Hylian! Perfect for the job!"
A shriek pierced the air as a flustered woman yanked the young girl back. "She's 15!" the woman screeched; her voice laced with a healthy dose of maternal fury.
The Zora blinked, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Female Hylian? But… she's so tall…" His voice trailed off as the weight of his mistake settled in. "Sixteen, perhaps?" he offered hopefully.
"Monster!" the woman roared, her face contorted in fear and outrage. Murmurs of disapproval turned into a cacophony of shouts as the crowd turned against the Zora. He shrank back on his makeshift platform, his once imposing figure reduced to a comical parody of himself, his pleas for help drowned out by the growing tide of anger.
"State your business here, Zora," the Sheikah commanded, his voice clipped and emotionless. "If your intentions are unclear, you will be escorted out."
The Zora gulped, his bravado shrinking under the Sheikah's icy gaze. "I-I only seek assistance, honourable guard! We face a… a… well, a problem in Zora's Domain that requires a discreet touch."
The Sheikah guard didn't seem impressed. He grabbed the Zora by the arm, his grip surprisingly strong. "Discreet problems are best handled by the Sheikah," he declared, dragging the hapless Zora towards the guild exit.
"No! Wait! My people are dying! Can't anyone see this?!" The Zora begged helplessly before his pleas faded into the background.
As the Zora's desperate pleas for help faded into the background, Noah couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. The whole situation reeked of something fishy.
Perhaps the Zora's problem wasn't as 'discreet' as he claimed, or maybe the Sheikah were the ones forcing it to become discreet.
'Trying to enlist help against the divine beast in Zora's domain?' Noah guessed, resolving to ask Impa later.
Noah finally reached the desk, manned by a weary-looking Hylian woman with a perpetual frown etched between her brows.
"Excuse me," Noah began, leaning over the counter. "Sorry, what's with the Zora? Also have you seen a young woman with brown hair come through here recently goes by the name of Neph?"
The woman's frown deepened. "Neph, huh? Can't say I recall that name specifically. But that Zora fellow… he's been here quite frequently these past few days. Arrived with an envoy to speak to the Great Families, or so the story goes. Seems like his envoy lost him somewhere along the way. Now we're stuck with him, creating a bit of a stir."
"Stuck with him?" Noah echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Can't they just… leave?"
The woman shook her head, a flicker of worry crossing her features. "As of yesterday, the gates of Kakariko Village were locked down. Apparently, the Blood Moon was supposed to rise a few days ago, but it's running quite late again. Anyway, back to your question. Mercenaries typically don't have meetings with our staff. But if this Neph of yours is here, she might be down the corridor in one of the private rooms."
"Appreciate it," Noah replied, a sliver of unease settling in his stomach at the news of the Blood Moon. He followed the Hylian woman's directions, his steps echoing on the worn wooden floor. It didn't take long to find the nondescript door marked with a simple number 3.
With a deep breath, Noah knocked. A muffled reply came from within, and he cautiously pushed the door open. The sight that greeted him sent a jolt of shock through his system.
Neph stood in the centre of the room, her back to him. In front of her, a man sat slumped in an armchair, his face pale and contorted with a mix of fear and pain. A horrifying glint of crimson stained the blade of a knife held firmly in Neph's hand, and the man's right hand… it was missing three fingers, the wounds raw and bandaged haphazardly.
The silence stretched, thick and suffocating, until Neph finally spoke, her voice calm amidst the chaos. "Oh, hey," she greeted, her words flippant in contrast to the scene before him. "Mind shutting the door?"
Noah, his mind struggling to process the situation, numbly closed the door behind him. "Neph?" he finally managed, his voice barely a whisper. "Wait, what the fuck."
He lunged across the room, his adrenaline surging. With surprising speed, he grabbed Neph's wrist holding the knife.
"Who the hell is this?" he demanded, his eyes blazing with anger as they flickered between the terrified man and Neph's impassive expression.
"Whoa, calm down," Neph replied, a hint of annoyance creeping into her voice. "This is the broker I mentioned. The one who got my crew killed and damn near got us wiped out too."
"Got your crew killed? What do you mean?" Noah demanded.
A flicker of hope sparked in the man's eyes as he saw the newcomer. "No! Please, this was all a misunderstanding! I didn't know anything about…" his voice trailed off as Neph's grip tightened around his arm.
Oh yeah?" she spat, her eyes hardening. "Then explain the increased payout, huh? You knew that blasted mission was a trap."
The man sputtered; his voice tinged with desperation. "You… you never asked about the payout! You just accepted the contract! Jobs outside the guild board are always risky!"
"Excuses!" she spat.
Noah's mind spun, caught in a whirlwind of confusion and concern. The easy confidence he'd exuded moments ago had evaporated, replaced by a cold knot of dread tightening in his gut. Neph, usually a picture of icy control, seemed dangerously volatile, the calmness in her voice a stark contrast to the brutal scene.
He glanced at the hapless broker; fear etched into every line of his face. He sure looked helpless, but Noah knew Neph wasn't one to become irrational so easily so despite the man's claims of innocence, Noah couldn't shake the feeling he was somehow complicit in this mess.
"Neph," he began, his voice low and measured. "Let's… let's take a step back. Explain what happened."
Neph, her grip loosening slightly on the broker's arm, met Noah's gaze. A flicker of something akin to vulnerability crossed her face.
"This bastard," she spat, "Sent us on a suicide mission. Lied about the difficulty, upped the payout to get us to accept, knowing we wouldn't return to collect it." She paused.
"It was the cause of everything, my entire crew died… even Benjamin that bastard… he didn't deserve his fate…"
Her voice cracked on the last word, and for a fleeting moment, Noah saw the grief simmering beneath the anger a woman on the verge of losing control.
"Christa and I would have joined them had you not interfered."
"And the missing fingers?" Noah asked gently, his gaze fixed on Neph.
Taking a shaky breath she answered. "I only came for answers, but this bastard called their deaths acceptable causalities, and tried to fucking bribe me into silence…. So I decided to make an acceptable causality of my own." She answered with broken eyes.
Noah absorbed Neph's explanation, a heavy silence descending upon the room. He understood her rage, the need for justice. But the brutality, the cold calculation in her eyes – that was a side of Neph he hadn't seen before.
"There's another way," he finally said, his voice firm yet calm. "Can't you take him to the guild, explain what happened. They handle these kinds of situations."
The broker, sensing a glimmer of hope, piped up. "Yes! He's right! The guild will sort things out, ensure a fair trial!"
Neph scoffed, a dark humour twisting her lips. "Fair trial? After what he did? They'll slap him on the wrist and send him back to his crooked deals."
"Look," Noah continued, his voice low and persuasive, "If you kill him, it'll cause trouble for yourself."
"Bullshit." She replied. "I'm not staying in this village for long, as soon as the blood moon is over, I'll leave here, return to my family and they'll never find us."
"What about Christa and I?" Noah replied sternly. "You'll be shooting us in the foot for being involved. You want to cause trouble for us?"
Neph's face contorted in a silent struggle.
"I'm not saying leave him alone, believe it or not but I'm closely tied to Lady Impa, I'll speak to her, and she'll have him answer for his actions. But if you kill him, it'll fuck us over."
Upon hearing of the Sheikah's involvement, the fear in the man's eyes suddenly increased by twofold.
The anger ebbed and flowed in her eyes, warring with a flicker of reason. The broker whimpered, his pleas blending into the background noise of the guild.
Finally, with a deep, shuddering breath, Neph tossed the bloodied knife onto the table. It clattered against the wood, a harsh punctuation mark in the tense silence.
"Fine," she spat, her voice devoid of emotion, sitting down in the opposite chair.
Silence reigned the room, as Noah struggled to figure out what to do next. The broker he wanted to make a deal with was a murderer who sent mercenaries into suicide missions for profit who was now tied to a chair and missing three fingers, while Neph was being quite unhelpful.
"Hello… I am… Noah." He spoke hesitantly, his voice strained as he looked into the eyes of the terrified broker. "I originally came here to ask you for information…"
The broker's head snapped towards Noah, a desperate hope flickering in his eyes. "Yes! Information! I can give you whatever you want!" he blurted, his voice cracking with fear. "Just please, don't hand me over to the Sheikah!"
"Well, let's start from here," Noah spoke in a low tone, his gaze flickering between the man and Neph, whose face remained a mask of cold fury. "This elaborate scam – was Neph the first?"
The question hung heavy in the air. The broker's bravado had evaporated, replaced by a palpable dread. His eyes darted nervously between Noah and Neph before finally settling on the floor. "No," he stammered, his voice barely a whisper. "I've done it… many times."
A flicker of something akin to a feral snarl contorted Neph's face. Noah, sensing the storm brewing within her, swiftly moved to his next question, hoping to quell the rising tide of her rage. "What's the benefit from it?"
The broker's voice trembled as he spoke, his eyes darting nervously between Neph and Noah. "The payout, sir. It's much higher for these… high-risk contracts. I take a hefty cut, whenever they're accepted. Of course, the mercenaries wouldn't ordinarily take such missions, so I downplay the risks and make it appear to be easy money."
"The mercenaries themselves… well, they're often desperate for coin. They don't always ask the right questions."
A cold anger flickered in Noah's eyes. He clenched his jaw, the broker's callous disregard for human life churning his stomach. Neph, however, couldn't contain her disgust. "You prey on the desperation of others, sending them to their deaths for a few extra rupees!" she spat, her voice dripping with venom.
The broker shrunk further into his chair, his voice barely a whisper. "It's a living, sir, not an easy one, mind you. But the guild jobs are all picked over by the bigshot mercenaries. We little guys gotta find a way to make ends meet."
"By gambling with people's lives." Noah retorted. "There's a difference between taking a risk and being sent on a mission with a hidden price tag."
The tension in the room was thick enough to choke on. Neph finally lifted her head, her expression a chilling mix of grief and fury. "Enough talk," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "Tell me who else you've done this to."
The broker whimpered. "I… I can't! Some of them… they have powerful friends. If they find out…"
Neph slammed her fist on the table, making the broker flinch. "Don't make me repeat myself. Names. Now."
The man's face contorted in fear. He glanced at Noah, a flicker of desperation crossing his features. "Please, sir. Intervene. She… she doesn't understand. They'll kill me if I tell."
Noah found himself caught in a precarious situation. He understood Neph's yearning for vengeance, but the thought of her resorting to cold-blooded murder sent shivers down his spine. He needed a solution that would appease both of them, a way to get the information Neph craved without resorting to violence.
Taking a deep breath, Noah addressed Neph directly. "Look, killing him won't bring your crew back. But if we get these names, we can take this to the guild, to Lady Impa – whoever it takes. Make him pay the real price, not just with his life, but with his reputation, his livelihood."
Neph considered his words, the raw emotion slowly receding from her eyes, replaced by a glint of steely resolve. She finally turned back to the broker, her voice cold and firm. "Alright, you heard him. Names. Every single one of them. And if you leave out even one, I won't hesitate to finish what I started."
The broker, seeing a flicker of hope, swallowed his fear and began to speak. He rattled off a string of names, each one a grim reminder of his callous actions. Noah made a mental note of them, a vow forming in his mind. These mercenaries, or their families, deserved some form of justice for the broker's greed.
As the broker finished his confession, a heavy silence settled over the room. The weight of his crimes hung in the air, a suffocating reminder of the darkness that could lurk beneath the surface of seemingly ordinary transactions.
Noah gritted his teeth in frustration. This entire ordeal had been a colossal waste of time. He wasn't any closer to the information he needed and keeping Neph from enacting her brutal justice on the terrified broker felt like a losing battle. He knew that pushing her further wouldn't end well.
With a sigh, he muttered to himself, "Time to cut our losses."
Suddenly, a mischievous glint sparked in Noah's eyes. He turned towards the empty room, a sardonic smile twisting his lips. "Is this how the Sheikah guards and protects their own citizens?" he challenged into the air; her voice laced with a dangerous undercurrent.
The silence stretched for a beat, thick with tension. Just as Noah thought there'd be no response, the broker whimpered, his body convulsing as if struck by an invisible force. His eyes widened in terror, darting between Neph and the empty space before him.
Then, a sound unlike anything Noah had ever heard filled the room. It was a soft, ethereal chime, resonating from all corners at once, sending shivers down his spine. The broker let out a strangled gasp, his body crumpling to the floor like a puppet with its strings cut. He lay unconscious, but undeniably alive.
Noah, however, remained eerily composed. Unlike Neph, who felt a prickle of unease crawl up her neck, she seemed to recognize the sound. A flicker of something akin to respect, or perhaps even fear, crossed her features for a fleeting moment.
The disembodied voice echoed through the room; its calmness tinged with a desperate undercurrent. "We'll take it from here," it declared, the words hanging in the air like a plea for Noah's approval.
Noah offered a curt nod, his expression devoid of emotion. "I hope you do," he replied before exiting the room, Neph trailing silently behind him.
Internally, he fumed. 'Looks like I was right,' he thought, clenching his jaw. 'Still being followed by that assassin.'
He didn't have concrete proof, just a nagging suspicion from his conversation with the Sheikah Guard before he left Impa's dwelling. It still bothered him, perhaps she had even witnessed his bizarre conversation with Hestu, or more realistically, his one-sided rant to thin air.
In the aftermath of his fight with the assassin previously, Lady Impa portrayed that Noah had lost the fight on purpose and didn't hide the fact to the assassin he was Link, the legendary hero. From the assassin's perspective, then, it was only natural that she would strive to appease the Hero. This realization gave him opportunities to exploit like right now.
Perhaps learning more about this girl following him would be beneficial.
As they navigated the hallway, they stepped aside to allow a group of Sheikah guards to pass. Noah couldn't help but notice the familiar figure of the guard who had intervened earlier, the one who had extracted the Zora from the guild. Their expressions were grim, it wasn't long before they returned to the lobby.
I'm sorry," Neph finally whispered, her voice barely audible.
Noah rubbed his temples, the beginnings of a throbbing headache already making their presence known. How should he react? Should he condemn her borderline torture? Or should he offer empathy, acknowledging the grief and anger that fuelled her brutality?
Both options felt inadequate, his own earthly morals didn't help either, but noah felt it wrong to try to push those onto her.
"I don't approve of those methods," he admitted solemnly. "Dealing with these situations humanely is more appropriate.
Neph raised an eyebrow, a flicker of curiosity sparking in her eyes. "Humanely? What does that word even mean?"
Noah's face fell. Right. Humanity, as he knew it, didn't exist here. These were concepts far removed from Hyrule.
"Don't worry about it," he sighed, pushing the weight of his ideals aside for the moment.
"While I didn't get the information I came for," he continued, adopting a more optimistic tone, "that guy was a dead end anyway. Perhaps the guild itself can provide some answers."
He'd initially been hesitant about going public with his information-gathering efforts, fearing the ever-present eyes of the Sheikah. But then logic prevailed. The assassin was undoubtedly eavesdropping on their conversations anyway, and the knowledge he sought wasn't inherently illegal. Even if it was, Noah suspected the Sheikah would play a tactical game, allowing a certain level of information access. Ultimately, learning about the Divine Beasts would likely benefit Impa's goals anyway.
With Neph by his side, the two returned to the guild counter, they were greeted once more by the same woman whose smile seemed a touch less genuine this time. Neph, clearly remorseful for her outburst, took the lead in translating Noah's request.
As Neph spoke and asked for his request Noah, ever the pragmatist himself, decided to take matters into his own hands. With a grimace at his own shaky penmanship, he began to meticulously list his desired information.
'Seeking information about the Kingdom of Hyrule,' he wrote in bold lettering, 'including but not limited to its various species, notable towns and settlements, a comprehensive history leading up to and including the Great Calamity 100 years ago, and a detailed account of the events that transpired since, with a particular focus on the impact on the various races.'
He paused for a moment, deliberating the pricing structure.
'Fifteen Rupees for common knowledge," he wrote, mirroring the guild's base price. 'For more in-depth information, pricing will be determined based on the complexity of the topic and the effort required for compilation. Additional gratuity will be offered for exceptional service in information relating to current crisis occurring in each region.'
"Here," he said, handing the completed request to Neph. A flicker of amusement danced in her eyes, but it was overshadowed by a flicker of guilt as well.
"You sure about this?" she asked, her voice soft.
Noah shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Is there a problem?"
Neph hesitated. "Well, it's just…" shame coloured her cheeks. "I don't recognize the language."
A slow realization dawned on Noah. "Ah... it's in English," he muttered, feeling a pang of foolishness. He still couldn't understand Hylian written language.
"So, translate it for me, would you?" she asked.
"Sure," Noah mumbled, feeling a little sheepish. Together, they went over the request, Neph making minor adjustments and clarifications based on her knowledge of the local culture and pricing structures.
By the time they exited the guild, the once vibrant sun had had long retreated below the horizon, painting the sky in a breathtaking tapestry purple hue. Noah had never seen so many stars – they seemed to sprawl across the vast expanse like scattered diamonds. He gazed upwards, momentarily speechless at the sheer beauty of it all.
Neph gently touched his shoulder, gesturing to a nearby bench. Noah sank down gratefully, his mind still reeling from the day's events. The rhythmic creak of crickets filled the air, punctuated by the distant sounds of laughter and conversation from nearby homes. The Hylian architecture, with its towering bridges and intricate balconies, cast long, dramatic shadows under the moonlight.
Silence stretched between them, a comfortable quiet that spoke volumes. Finally, Noah broke the stillness. "So, you're leaving soon?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Neph nodded. "Yeah, I need to see my brother. He lives in Hateno Village, near the beach. I'll leave once the Blood Moon has passed."
"Hateno Village, huh?" Noah mused, a hint of longing creeping into his voice. "Maybe I'll buy a house there someday."
A faint smile played on Neph's lips, but she didn't respond to his joke.
"Giving up on adventuring then?" Noah prodded, trying to lighten the mood.
Neph sighed. "Maybe for now. Hateno seems peaceful, a quaint little village. I've run from it for too long, you know? Parental troubles and all that."
Noah chuckled. "That doesn't surprise me. No one's ever been able to control you for long."
A ghost of a smile flickered across Neph's face. "Well, I'm not leaving just yet. Anyway, I do need to go…" Her voice trailed off. "I have to meet up with some old friends I haven't seen in a while. They must be worried sick about Christ and me. Gotta fill them in on what happened."
"Of course," Noah said. "Thanks for showing me around the guild, even if the finger thing could have been skipped."
Neph winced, a sheepish grin spreading across her face. "Sorry about that. I tend to get a little… enthusiastic sometimes."
Noah nodded his head, as he watched Neph's outline retreat into the darkness.
Left alone on the Bench, Noah stared at the skies, finding it comfortingly as he decided to rest his mind.
After some time, his relaxation was interrupted as a sickening thud shattered the serenity. Noah's gaze shifted as a dark shape plummeted from the bridge above in his view. It arced through the air in a grotesque ballet, landing with a sickening crunch just a few feet away.
Noah's eyes glazed downwards to see a woman, middle-aged by the look of it. The blood wasn't a neat splash, but a horrific explosion outwards, a tide of crimson that seemed to defy gravity, clinging to the cobblestones in glistening pools and macabre rivulets. It had soaked through her dress, her once-vibrant cooking apron was now a grotesque canvas of crimson, the dark stain spreading like a malevolent spiderweb.
The force of the fall had contorted her body at an unnatural angle. Her neck, snapped at a sickening angle, looked like a grotesque question mark. One eye, wide with terror, bulged from its socket, a milky white orb staring sightlessly at the moon. blood, thick and arterial red, pulsed from the wound, tracing a grotesque path down her temple and pooling in her ear, threatening to spill over. Her remaining teeth, a stark white against the crimson canvas, were shattered and broken, some protruding from the mangled flesh like jagged tombstones.
Her hair, previously tied back in a neat bun, lay splayed around her head in a halo of disarray. A single object lay clutched in her hand - a child's drawing, a vibrant burst of colour amidst the macabre tableau.
Noah's eyes shifted back upwards to the sky, even after he heard another sickening thud, from someone much smaller than the women in size.
"What a beautiful night." He mused to himself looking at the stars, wondering how to make more money.