Chapter 35 Promises of a new day

When the dust settled, all that was left of the magical ring was a spiraling white cloud. In the breeze, it quickly dissipated. Everyone returned their gaze to the mysterious man who had single-handedly vanquished the monster with just a wave of his hands.

The wizard coughed, clearing his throat, and then flapped his cloak back to the attention of the others, particularly Zelda. "Now, where was I? Oh yes, where are my manners? Your grace, I am the wizard you have summoned. I am… Kelcifer–"

Zelda was still dazzled, unable to focus, and at a loss for words for a proper greeting. The girl was entranced by the wonderful display of magic she saw. It's not that she disbelieved what just had occurred, for she has seen even more astounding shows of magical forces before. But, those were never the doings of mortal men.

With the sealing power, it was different. She may have felt the divine gift overcome her being in that pivotal moment when she called upon it, but that wasn't her power. Just like her mother and grandmother before her, it was a blessing that had to awaken and come to her. But, this display, however, was something entirely different, and it captured all her imagination.

Turns out she wasn't the only one who had questions.

A Starsguard escort swallowed his amazement and blurted beside her; "He's the Hylian overseer of the stonelands, under the tutelage of house Draene, and is Malifus's right hand, as I may recall."

"Chief Hylian overseer..." Kelcifer corrected before turning back his focus on the princess, reaching for her hand as he bowed. "And your humble servant, your highness."

Simon groaned, having enough of the pleasantries. "Are we just going to stand here and pretend that the creature which stood before us now didn't just vanish? Explain yourself! What did you do? What tricks did you perform?"

"Tricks?"

"Yes, I heard all about you. You're quite the magician! And if it is no trick then how did you destroy it?"

"Destroy? Who said anything about destroying anything?"

"Then, if it isn't dead, what have you done?"

"Oh, he is quite alright, that I can assure you. Just, no longer presently with us."

"Obviously! We can all see that. You think I'm blind!? What sort of illusion is this? Where is he?"

"Bah!" Kelcifer huffed, now agitated. "The only illusion here are your delusions, man. You are so unwilling to accept powers that exist that are not of your understanding."

"Enough already," Zelda said, interrupting them both before turning to show kindness to the man who had performed the miracle. "But, that being said, my lord, where is the creature?"

"Let's just say I gave the beast a change of scenery." He said with a mischievous chuckle before turning back to face the agitated lord. "But, if you are so inclined to know, he is exactly one-hundred leagues in that direction," Kelcifer stated, raising his finger from his cape to point to the east, past the city walls.

Everyone gasped. Zelda could hardly contain her surprise.

Simon stumbled over himself in shock, unable to fathom it. It was beyond his comprehension. "One-hundred leagues!? Why, that would cast him halfway into the Eastern Sea!"

"Precisely, my studious one. So, for that creature's sake, I sure hope it can swim." Kelcifer finished with a light, low chuckle.

Simon stomped. "Everyone knows bokoblins are deathly afraid of water. They drown at the sight of it."

"Well, then, I guess your problem is solved now, isn't it? One less demon to contend with." Kelcifer said while grinning before walking closer to him. He then leaned in with a satisfactory head tilt. "You're welcome. Now... are you finished?"

Simon just stood flabbergasted beside himself.

Hearing no rebuttal, the man continued. "Thank you... Well then, if you don't mind, I have urgent business with the princess."

"Hold on just a damn minute!" Simon demanded. On second thought, he did have something he wanted to get off his chest.

Simon prattled and paced closer to Kelcifer to interrogate him further. "So, 'mister magician,' or excuse me, I mean, wizard, whoever you are; if you could indeed really make that filthy cretin disappear with no illusion, then why couldn't you have just done the same with yourself and instantaneously arrived here sooner? Hell, why not just make Ganon disappear altogether!? Send that devil bastard to drown in the sea!"

"You really think an ocean could keep the devil at bay? That if he really wanted to claim this world and come for you, you think some knee-high waves would have done the trick? I don't think so, my Lord."

Everyone who stood watching had a quiet laugh at the man's point. Simon on the other hand wasn't having any of it.

The young lord then swung his gold-trimmed cape in a grandiose display of contempt towards the humble wizard, brushing past the others to get in his face. "Well, you would think that it would have been no problem for you to do something with such a clever trick as that hidden up your sleeve! And ya know, it would have saved us a great world of trouble if you had just done that instead. I mean, if you have that sort of ability, then why not just magically appear here? Hmm?"

Everyone stood silent and watched their exchange, glancing from one to the other, anticipating what either would do next.

Kelcifer sighed and turned away from him with a groan of bewilderment, reaching for the skies above in explanation. "Because that is far too vulgar a display of power. To vanish a creature such as that ill form of life you saw earlier, a foul beast of lesser than Hylian intelligence, is one thing; but to disappear and transcend someone like you or I through the aether is another thing entirely. The power to sustain and perform a miracle as to move a person would require a vastly higher form of payment."

"What? Payment? What in Hylia's hell do you mean? Pay who!?"

"You misunderstand me. Like all things in life, nothing in this world is given for free. The air, the water you drink, and even the sun in the sky above that warms thee. All require payment."

"What do you mean by payment? If I want to drink water, I can just send for one of my men to the stream to fetch me a barrel full. If I need to breathe, then I just do it! What do you mean it requires payment?"

"The air of life that fills you comes from the gentle whisperings of trees to one another." Kelcifer paused, hands stretched out wide, and glided them among the wind as if he felt their still small voices hearken back to him. Then, after a few short moments of silent sighs, he again turned to face the bewildered party with his hands firmly placed at his sides.

He continued. "Their whistling breaths invigorate you, and yours does them. The water from which you drink springs up from deep wells within the earth, and when your time comes to depart this world, yours will be given back at the end of your days when you have long returned to dust. So, you see, nothing is truly free in this world, and neither could be said for maa-jick. Everything has a price."

"Maa… jick?" Zelda questioned curiously, hand cupped to her chin.

Kelcifer grinned and spun to face her. "In the common tongue, you know it as magic, but the proper stewards of this world had another name for it..."

Zelda bellowed a bated breath, hardly able to contain the excitement at the tale of his tellings. She knew that she could answer the riddle to them before any other had a chance to follow.

She chirped beside him like an eager-eyed schoolgirl claiming extra credit in class. "I see! Yes, now I understand! You couldn't bend space and time around you because you would have risked yourself in doing so. The strain and intensity of such a high display of power would have sapped away your own life!"

Kelcifer spun with eager eyes and was glad that finally, somebody made sense among their confused throng. "That is correct. The laws of time and nature are the most powerful forces in this world to harness. If one masters them, one masters the universe. And once again, our princess proves to us all yet again when she speaks why she is in the high place she's in and why you are in the place you are, my lord… She is correct."

"I mean... it was nothing really," Zelda replied, combing back her bangs in humility. "I just-"

"You are right. If I were to move instantly in that manner, the drain on my spirit would have been too much for me to sustain my powers, and upon my arrival, I would not have been able to perform the task I was set out to do. It would have greatly diminished my ability to orchestrate my Maa-jick in the days following. And by the time I would have been restored, I fear that it may have been too late and your friend would have been too far gone to save. That is why I stayed my power."

Zelda lifted her chin solemnly, worry weighing heavy on her heart, and asked. "You can still save her? Right?"

"I am here, aren't I?" Kelcifer smiled back eagerly. "That being said, where is your friend?"

"She is back at camp. My knight here..." Zelda said, pausing to gesture over to Link. "He and I—we're just on our way to her."

Link stepped forward to shake hands with the wizard. But, the man took a long hard glance at the brave young lad's hands open before him, contemplated a shake of his own, but was accidentally cut short by Zelda, who was eager to help her friend. "Won't you come?"

Kelcifer opted to stay his hand and smiled at her instead. "That is why I came… and so, it shall be done."

Zelda then spun to face the group of others waiting on what to do next. And that was when Prince Sidon, of all people, spoke up from behind her.

"Which reminds me, your highness, I mean, Zelda." The prince said, inching closer.

"It's fine, Sidon. Call me Zelda… What is it?" She said, twirling to face him. He was now towering over her in explanation.

"Before you leave, I want you to know that I tried my best to find it. I swear, but it slipped from my fingers. I know how important it was to our plan and that it should have been saved, but I failed. I failed you all."

"Hmmm?" Zelda's eyes went downcast, and she saw the worry of his heart weigh down in his face.

"The Moon Pearl..." He replied, head hung low.

"Oh, I see…." she said before sighing back in acknowledgment.

Sidon continued to explain. "During the fight, it fell and washed away in the moat. I tried to recover it, but I was too late."

"It's alright, Sidon, we could still-"

"No, Your Majesty. It's likely halfway to the Faron sea by now, if not already sunk to the bottom of Lake Hylia. It's all my fault!" He said, squeezing a massive fist in the air in total contempt for himself.

During this time, the wizard remained quiet and watched their exchange.

Link spoke up beside Sidon, resting his hand on his back in consolation. It would have been his shoulder if he could only reach. "Well, then perhaps it's for the better that it remains there. It's alright, Sidon… you did your best."

"Huh?" The prince turned, confused why they were so forgiving.

Lord Simon nodded with a huff and added. "For once, I agree with your man here, princess. A malevolence such as that is too overwhelming to be left in the care of mortal hands. Perhaps lost to the depths where no man can find it is exactly where a dark power such as that should reside. Hidden and forever out of sight."

With amazement in her eyes, Zelda turned to him. She couldn't believe what he had admitted. "I thought you didn't believe in such things as magic, my lord?"

"I don't... but I do believe in the devil. And I know what I saw earlier when that monstrosity opposed us. If it weren't for my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed such a terrible force could be wielded against this earth, not from any man, at least."

"I see. Then, what do you say of Lord Kelcifer's display of magic just now?" She asked quizzically, pointing to their new friend among them.

The wizard leaned humbly, correcting her. "Please, Your Majesty, Kelcifer will suffice."

Zelda smiled at the mention. "Well, then, Mister Kelcifer." She faced Simon and continued. "Certainly, you believe seeing that, right, my lord?"

"I'm not impressed. Nor am I convinced of anything he has done. So, what, he made a bright flash, and some smoke appear. I have seen better parlor tricks performed at Riley's Square back at home."

Zelda leaned back and rested her hands on her waist. Just as she thought she already knew the most stubborn man in the world, this mule found new ways to surpass all her expectations by leaps and bounds. She was utterly amazed by this man's posturing. "And the disappearance of the creature? What's your grand explanation for that?"

"That I'm still working out."

Kelcifer interrupted. "Oh, so little faith... You will see soon enough, my lord, in due time. You shall witness miracles and wonders before the end."

Zelda spun to him. "So, is it true what they say? That you can really help Riju?"

Kelcifer smirked. "That, my dear princess, will only be but a taste of what you will see of what is possible for those who believe..."

"Could such a power be real? To reverse the inevitable sting of sickness and death?"

"That and a whole lot more Your Grace. Come, you will find out soon enough. This very day in fact!"

The wizard spun, flapped his cloak to address everyone, stuck two fingers in his mouth, and whistled a call out into the air. In no time at all, out from the ruined streets, a steed galloped into view before settling beside him. "I believe this stallion here belongs to your cohorts?" he said, facing Simon.

"Aye, he does. But, what I want to know is, where is my-"

"Kelcifer cut him off. "Great! Then you won't mind if I borrow him for a short while longer. The princess will need him for riding. It's a long road back to their encampment, and the fatigue of battle surely has taken its toll on her."

Simon crossed his arms, stood back, and relented. "As you wish. If the princess is in need, then I have no qualms with you borrowing the beast. But-"

Kelcifer interrupted him again, ignoring his final question on the matter. Instead, giving all his attention to the princess. He offered his hand for Zelda to take so that he might lead her to the horse, but she only stood back and spoke. "If it is alright, I would much prefer Link to ride than me. He is very weary from the battle and in far greater need of this majestic animal than I am."

"Very well then, you can both ride him. It shouldn't be a problem at all for this strong fellow," Kelcifer said with a grin. The horse neighed in delight as the wizard stroked its backside with soothing hands.

Wearing a bright smile, hopeful for a new day, Zelda then turned to face Link and stretched out her hand for his. "Ready to see Riju?"

Link nodded and mirrored a smile back to her. And in short work, he glided his hand over hers, boosted her atop the horse, and leapt up to saddle cozily behind her. They were now ready to embark on their mission.

Zelda accidentally turned slightly to face him as his arms reached over her for the reins. When he did, her nose narrowly grazed his. The pounding in her chest drummed all over again, but she would have to contain her emotions. All the others were still watching. Not that she was embarrassed to display her affection for Link. She just wasn't able to navigate those feelings publicly as of yet. Or how to deal with the repercussions of such a public display.

So she swallowed the smiles, gulped the blush from her cheeks, and faced onward down the dusty road. Desperately, trying to think about anything other than Link straddled up behind her. So, she closed her eyes and focused on the task at hand, which was saving Riju and unifying the kingdom.

Standing alongside the mounted couple, Kelcifer twirled to face all the others gathered and waved farewell. "Good! Now, if there is no more to be done here, I, the princess, and her knight shall be off! Time is of the essence, and there is so much to do and so little of it!"

Unanimously, everyone nodded, and the trio departed from their presence down the road, with Link and Zelda atop the horse and Kelcifer walking beside them.

However, another one of them didn't want to be left behind, and seeing his moment evaporate right before his eyes, Sylmoor snapped to attention and broke formation. There was no need for him to be on the battlefield anymore with the war over.

"Wait up! Hold on a second." The lord shouted as he tried to flag them down. It was too late, though. They were already out of earshot. Earlier during the exchange between his brother, the wizard, and Zelda he must've gotten lost in his own thoughts. Likely bored by their titter-tatter back and forth. But, before he could run up to join them, he turned his attention back to the crowd of soldiers. "Wait a minute, where's my squire?" He had a better idea. It would be much easier than running to catch up to the three.

"Right here, m'lord." The young man called out from the throng of men. The squire made himself known and hopped his way over to him.

"Well, don't just stand there! Fetch my horse!" Sylmoor ordered. "They're getting away!"

"Didn't you want to help the others and see more of the castle?"

"Have you lost your mind? Or do you intentionally relish in my misfortunes?"

"You know I only wish to serve thee, m'lord."

"Well, don't serve me so much! I can only imagine if you hated me!"

"Well, I wouldn't be here, and you'd probably be dead, m'lord."

Sylmoor gulped, wearing a ghostly look on his face upon hearing the squire's serious mention, unsure if it was a joke. Despite quickly dismissing it with a nervous chuckle. What is that supposed to mean? He spoke up. "Note taken, boy. Now, where is my horse?"

"Right where you left him, of course." The squire smirked, spun, and called out to another man, one who took charge of the livestock for the army. "You there, my liege will be leaving back to camp now! Bring forth his stallion." A lanceman approached them both, leading a pale horse by the nose.

Sylmoor nodded farewell, mounted, and kicked his beast. The horse snorted in reply, and he was on his way.

"Wait a moment!" His twin shouted. "Wait, you clown! Wait! I'm coming with you!"

It was too late; Sylmoor had already stormed off in a gallop and was beyond hearing.

Villamor spoke beside the esteemed lord. "I thought you wanted to clear out the castle? Make it safe for Her Majesty?"

"What do you take me for? Some common grunt? That's the work of a butcher, not a lord."

"But the castle could still be holding villains? Well, the princess has already made off with her knight and that wizard. So, if you wanted to address her about your plans that you have—"

"I can see that, Villamor!" Simon interrupted. "You think I'm blind!?" He huffed, and spun to face another one of his men. "What about you? Are you blind?

His other subordinate remained silent, and thought better to do so.

"Exactly what I thought... Now, Taleran, where are you? Taleran!" Simon shouted.

"Right behind you, m'lord." The sleek man said.

Simon spun to notice he stood right behind him and felt sort of silly for shouting.

"There you are. Hiding I see! Now… since you represent your Lady of Tarble and her interests, won't you accompany me to the pavilion where camp is? There is much to discuss with the princess about the kingdom going forward. Now that the danger has passed and victory has all but been assured-and Ganon's filth have been annihilated."

"I will… but on one condition." Taleran said, lifting a solitary finger up to the air for Simon to adhere to.

"And what is that?"

"That we refrain from bringing up any matters of state until her friend is made well and recovered. The young girl already has so much weighing on her shoulders right now. It isn't fair for her—"

"Fine, fine, fine, as you wish. Now, can we be off? Before my brother says something ill-advised or worse, before that wizard spins his webs!"

With horses of their own, they were on their way. Ready or not, princess, the kingdom wouldn't be able to wait; it was now time to govern.

Authors Notes- More to come soon. Thanks again for reading and I do hope you enjoy this bit. Let me know in a review! It really helps me a lot. Thanks again and I hope you are well wherever you are in Hyrule.