Shadow was happy.
Maybe he shouldn't have been, considering he was still lost in an unfamiliar place with several hostile creatures around him, and the only thing he knew was that the young woman's voice asked him to "unite them as he always did."
But the mere fact that he had found the ones he sought so much, and all good company, brought a smile on the brunet's face.
The small group moved toward "where the lines would cross," which, according to Vio, was the ruined temple that Shadow had already explored before meeting each of them. Maybe, finally, with the five gathered, the giant statue of the Goddess reacts to them ...
"Wait ... Are we Hylnias?"
"Hylians… And most likely, since their description is very similar to ours. Considering I've read that, basically, Zoras are fish, Gorons are stone giants, Ritos are birds, and Gerudos are just women. "
"Yes… But maybe you're a Sheikah. You said they look like Hylians, but they have red eyes." Green's aura shone a little more when a thought arose. "If you are a Sheikah, then do you know what is going on? Is that why you and the old man wanted to reunite us? To explain everything at once?"
"I wish it were that." The brunet gave a small laugh, looking back to the front. "Only the old man knows what is really happening. I'm almost as lost as you, I just know these things because I'm awake a few days longer than you ... "Or a few months, maybe, but they don't need to know that. "... And also because I read a little of the old man's diaries." Green blinked, looking incredulous.
"You ... Did you break into his privacy?"
"I knew I wasn't the only one!" Red shouted excitedly, his aura stirring a little before returning to normal as he approached the brunet very quickly, who almost made his partner pull his bow, but Shadow prevented with a gesture subtle with the arm. "I tried to make the fish recipe I saw in the diary, but I could never find the necessary fish."
"I caught it near the snow mountain ... Or was it in the lake near the forests ...?"
"Who cares where you found a fishy crap? Stop this clowning and tell us what you're hiding! "Blue's scream interrupted brunet's reasoning and made Vio pick up his weapon quickly in alarm, his aura becoming turbulent from the possible threat.
Shadow approached and gently lowered his partner's weapon with a small grateful smile, Vio looked at him for a few seconds before sighing and putting his bow away again. They both watched Green and Red begin to scold Blue, causing him more anger, his aura becoming even more hostile.
... Speaking of hostile aura ...
He turned to his partner, wriggling his right hand slightly before glancing at the trio. Vio turned to them and closed his eyes for a few seconds before turning his attention to the brunet and subtly closing his hand tightly with a determined expression. Shadow frowned, worried about his partner's decision as he looked at his covered wounds, but the archer simply nodded, which the dark haired man returned a few seconds later and turned his back to the trio.
Maybe it wasn't a good idea to do that now, with Blue like that in an almost explosive state, but if Vio said he could protect him if they tried something, then Shadow trusted his partner.
Shadow knelt on one knee and closed his eyes as he put his hand on the floor, trying to ignore all his other senses except the sixth. It took a few seconds before I could 'turn off' them all, but it's a big step up from the many minutes it took to ignore just one sense when he woke up.
Soon Shadow could see everything, even with his eyes closed. The light and strong auras of the trees, the small auras of insects, and some that passed over their heads of some birds. He could also feel the aura of his four companions more clearly, one hot as fire, one serene as water, one bright as light, each more confused than the other as they turned to the brunet. The only one that remained the same was the strong and, ironically, most unstable of the four, Vio was already used to what Shadow did, even though he wasn't sure what 'that' was.
Honestly, even Shadow wasn't sure what 'that' was, just knew it was very useful.
Focusing around him, the brunet began to feel other auras, hostile but not cruel auras, around the temple. He could also feel the strange aura of the goddess statue that seemed stronger than usual, and very close to the statue, he felt the old man and his disconcerting aura, as if consciously trying to fight to continue on this earth.
Just like the aura he felt from the Koroks ... Or a living being when it is about to die.
Oh well. At least soon the old man can rest in peace.
"... There are some Bokoblins around this region, but not many." He said after returning to his senses, opening his eyes and turning to the group. "If we're very discreet, I think we can sneak into the temple without a fight."
"I accept!" Green and Red said at the same time, still confused by 'that', but the relief and hope that they didn't have to fight supplied the confusion. Shadow turned to his partner, the question being said in his eyes. The archer frowned slightly, his aura gaining a thoughtful twinkle, before looking at his bruised leg and other bandages, and nodding, also preferring the discreet manner.
"... Wait, no one's going to say anything about him 'finding out' that there are few Bokoblins nearby just touching the floor?" Blue asked incredulously. Red shrugged and elbowed him.
"Admit it, this isn't the strangest thing that has happened since we woke up." Red blinked, a mischievous smile on his face. "And I know you've already noticed that Shadow has a sixth sense for these kinds of things, especially when you look at him like you want to gut him right there." Green nodded several times, looking at Blue as if daring him to disagree.
Blue's left eye twitched several times, her aura looking about to explode like an eruption. When Shadow thought he would start screaming and physically fighting with his original teammates, he turned sharply on his back and began to growl as he pulled his hair before approaching a large rock and violently start to punching the stone as it roared, but never loud enough to catch the attention of the monsters. Their joints began to bleed and the rock was cracked by the brutal impacts of the punches, but Blue's aura had cooled a little. Not much, since his aura seemed naturally hot and explosive, but it calmed considerably from before.
A small smile appeared on Shadow as the stronger came back, he was beginning to like this guy.
"You two must be the most gullible idiots in this world, following the words of a guy who chained you just yesterday." He grunted and crossed his arms, looking at the brunet with an annoyed expression. "... So, sneak in, right?"
As the brunet had imagined, they managed to sneak into the temple without much difficulty. The only Bokoblin who could have alerted others was quickly silenced by his partner. Not that it was necessary, but Vio had a very justifiable grudge against the monsters, especially the Bokoblins.
Even though he himself has not noticed that he has a grudge ...
Oh well. He's still new to this feeling thing, Shadow won't judge.
"Wow ... How's this still standing?" Green was open-mouthed as he stared at the ruins with wide eyes. Blue and Red had similar expressions, possibly wondering the same thing or just admiring the place, while Vio watched with an analytical look, stopping when he noticed a small broken pedestal near the statue.
"... This wasn't just for the statue." Vio whispered to the brunet, who nodded.
"I thought the same thing when I came here the first time ..."
"Hey guys, do you think this is the' Goddess Hylian '? The one that those weird men talked about so much? "Red asked as he pointed to the giant statue, starting to approach her. The other four had also approached, Blue frowned.
"If she's not, then I eat my ax." Red looked strangely at Blue.
"But you don't have an ax anymore ..."
"You understand what I meant!"
Shadow tilted his head a little, a little confused by the aura the statue emanated. He hoped the statue would react to them now that they were all together, but she was just ... pulsing. Like a heartbeat, almost as if she was calling something between them ... The brunet's gaze shifted to the warrior who looked mesmerized at the Goddess, his brilliant aura also pulsing.
Correction, she was calling someone ...
"How about you pray for her?" Green blinked, coming out of his trance and turning to the brunet, looking lost. Shadow gave a small smile. "From what I read, she is a goddess, and is supposed to answer the prayers of her followers. I think it's worth a try, don't you? "
Green blinked again before looking at the Goddess statue and approaching it. He stood still for a few seconds, but soon took a position very similar to what Shadow had done before, except that his hands joined like a silent prayer, his aura and that of the statue beginning to pulse in sync. Blue and Red looked at Green with curiosity and confusion as Vio stared at Shadow, a silent question in which the brunet could only answer with a simple shrug, helpless about the situation.
Suddenly, Shadow's chest tightened and he put his hand in place, soon realizing that he wasn't the only one to feel it. The Spirits Orbs suddenly snapped out of their bodies toward the statue, starting to spin faster and faster before they crashed and burst into thousands of tiny glowing fragments.
Before anyone could react to that, a golden light covered all five from head to toe. Shadow's eyes widened as a sudden surge of energy began to revitalize him, feeling the regions where he was injured tingle and his head feeling lighter than when he woke up. When the light faded, the brunet couldn't stop to blinking stunned before looking at his hands.
His corns and scars ...
... Disappeared ...
... OK, he had to admit, this is amazing.
The brunet began to study his body, noting that his wounds became almost imperceptible scars, and his small cuts and bruises disappeared completely, as if they had never existed. He also felt more refreshed than when he woke up, and stronger than before.
This 'Goddess Hylian' has become Shadow's new favorite Goddess.
Not that he had a favorite before, but still ...
He looked at the other warriors, watching Blue stare incredulously and stunned at the knuckles of his hands without any injury, as if he had never punched a rock a short time ago. Red's mouth was open as he frantically touched the sides of his torso and then moved into his arms. Green was also on his feet, analyzing himself a little with fear as his wounds and bruises healed.
But what put the smile back on the brunet's face was to see his partner leaning normally with both feet while removing some bandages from his body, his eyes slightly wide as he analyzed himself.
"Are you ok?" Shadow asked his partner quietly, Vio wrapped the bandages of his hand again before answering.
"Maybe, I'm not sure ..." He stomped his right foot a few times, his face twisting a little in the process, before stepping softer a few times and stopping. "It still hurts in some places, but only when I push hard."
The brunet's smile faded a little at the blonde's statement, he figured he shouldn't be surprised considering that not all the injuries he had were healed and Vio had much more than him. Vio shifted his shoulders a little to relieve the tension, cracking his neck a little and swinging his arms and legs slightly at the end, a relieved sigh escaping his lips.
... Still...
"I'm glad you're better." He commented. The brunet wasn't sure if it was his calm, selfless side or his stormy, selfish side that was saying that, maybe both of them together, but Shadow was glad to realize that Vio, his friend and combat partner, was less stiff and feeling better than before.
The archer's answer was a simple nod, but the happiness his aura exuded unmasked what he really felt.
"Green, what the hell did you do ?!" Blue suddenly shouted, finally seeming to have overcome the shock a little.
"And can you do that again?" This time it was Red who asked, with Blue nodding several times, also wanting that to happen again.
"I-I don't know!" Green looked at his hands, then at the statue, back at his hands, and looked at the four with a startled expression. "Shadow said I was supposed to try praying for her, and then it happened!"
"Shadow what ?!" Blue turned sharply to the brunet, his aura boiling again.
"Don't look at me like that! Nothing strange how this happened to me when I prayed to her before!" That was half true, nothing like that had happened to Shadow, the most that had happened to him was his aura being gently repelled by the aura of the Goddess, like two equal magnets . "And I was just kidding about praying, I didn't think anything like that would happen!" That was also half true, in so many situations that popped into his head, being healed like that hadn't been one of them.
Maybe he should have thought of that, she's a Goddess after all ...
"The Spirits Orbs we had disappeared, maybe they'll be used to grant prayer requests, as an offering or a kind of sacrifice." Vio scratched his chin as he shared his theory, which Shadow believed was half the answer. Red snapped his fingers with a gasped and turned to Green.
"Green, did you ask the Goddess to heal us?"
"Uh ... sort of?" He scratched the back of his head in confusion. "I knew we were exhausted, hurt and confused from everything that happened ... And I kind of asked her to help us?"
"Well, she sure helped us with the wounds and tiredness!" Red laughed and started making stars and pirouettes around the group. "I never feel so much energy even when I woke up! This is amazing!"
"Unfortunately, she seems to have completely ignored the help part with the confusion." Blue complained, crossing his arms. Shadow simply chuckled, whether it is strange and confusing or not, he will not complain about the help of a Goddess.
"The blessing of the Goddess has made you that much more resilient, I see..."
The five stopped and quickly turned toward the familiar voice. The old man was on the roof, staring at the five of them through the large missing piece of roof, leaning a little on his cane. Even at this distance, Shadow could see the smile on his face.
"Here I am... Get up here, quickly! "He said before disappearing through the roof. The group looked at each other before Blue growled.
"I hate when he does that ..." The four of them looked at each other again before nodding slightly, also agreeing with that feeling. "How exactly does he want us to go up there? Climbing the walls? "
"There must be some kind of stairs around ... maybe outside." Green commented after looking around again. In fact, there was a staircase outside, but Shadow let the group find out where it were alone.
When they reached the roof, with Red suddenly quiet as he sweated cold and did his best not to look down, they walked carefully until they reached the place where the bell is, the only safe place on the roof ...
... And where the old man was waiting, with his back to them, looking at the castle covered by a darkness of cruel and murderous aura.
"OK! No more games, old man! Tell me what you want from us and what the hell is going on here! "Blue shouted rudely at the old man. Green and Red looked at their mate, ready to complain again when ...
... The old man laughed, genuinely this time.
"I see you are still as impatient as ever, Blue ... I am glad to hear that even after everything that's happened, that has not changed you." Blue stepped back, stunned. "... Or Red's kindness and good humor ..." Red tilted his head in confusion. "... Or Vio's determination and loyalty ..." Vio frowned slightly. "... Or Shadow's ability to feel what others can not feel ..." Shadow simply blinked, with no further reaction. "… But you, Link… No. Green… You have changed a lot. I almost did not recognize you when I first saw you ... "
The old man finally turned toward the group, smiling proud and sad at the same time as he looked straight at Green.
"... And I am glad you finally feel free, despite the current situation you are in ..."