Chapter 44 - Infiltration
Summary: A Yiga Clan spy enters the Forgotten Temple. Zelda and Purah discuss the next steps with Robbie. Zelda reminisces about a time she and Link sought shelter from a rainstorm.
As the pale light of the early morning sun filtered through a patchwork of clouds, it cast a soft glow over the rugged landscape of the Tanagar Canyon and the canyon floor below. A group of Hylian laborers made their way from the lifts to the Forgotten Temple entrance, ready to begin another day's excavation.
The air was crisp after an overnight rainfall, and the earth was still damp and cool underfoot. Another rainstorm was expected later that morning, making everyone thankful to be working indoors. Anton spotted his colleague Landon and called out to him as they approached the temple entrance.
"Hey! Long time no see, buddy!" Anton exclaimed, laughing as he greeted Landon.
What Anton didn't know, however, was that it wasn't Landon: it was a Yiga Clan spy disguised as Landon. Landon's brow furrowed in confusion as he tried to play along.
"I…guess it has been a while," he said awkwardly.
Anton chuckled at his joke. "Just messing with you, mate. We only met last night," he reminded him with a grin.
Landon shook his head and smiled sheepishly.
"Right, right," he said. "Some days, I'm just not myself."
Along with other workers, they entered the temple, but Landon seemed uncertain where to go. Anton noticed his hesitation.
"Are you okay, Landon? You seem a bit lost today," Anton asked, pointing to the red armband on Landon's work clothes. "You're on rear room cleanup duty today. My armband is green because I'm on duty in the front room. You'd better hurry; they don't like us to be late."
Landon nodded in understanding and made his way to the designated area at the back of the temple. He couldn't help but reproach himself for his carelessness, realizing he had mishandled the situation. For one thing, he had not expected to run into someone Landon knew. And in hindsight, he should have asked Landon for more information about his job assignments here.
He planned to discuss that with Landon tonight as he delivered his week's wages and some fresh food. It wasn't an act of kindness but rather a strategic move on his part. Fear was his most potent weapon in securing cooperation, but he didn't want to push Landon to desperation by stealing the rupees he needed for his widowed sister. Desperate subjects could become unpredictable, believing they had nothing left to lose, and he needed to maintain his cover for now.
Anyway, despite the rough start to his day, he had succeeded in reaching his main objective - getting inside the temple. However, as he gazed around at the ancient walls, he felt a sense of unease. His focus was naturally drawn to the looming presence of the colossal statue of Hylia, which was said to be the oldest such statue in Hyrule. The cursed Goddess towered over them all, and his spine tingled with a sense of foreboding as if she were watching his every move. Of course, it was ridiculous; she was just a lifeless statue. With a shake of his head, he pushed aside these thoughts and got to work.
Meanwhile, after seeing everyone getting settled into work and busy with their expected tasks, Robbie adjourned to his tent for a video conference call with Queen Zelda and Dr. Purah. He had been up all night pouring over ancient manuscripts, and the fatigue was evident in the dark circles under his bloodshot eyes as he greeted them through the screen of his Sheikah Slate.
"Good morning, Your Majesty and Dr. Purah."
Zelda's soft voice was filled with genuine concern. "Dr. Robbie, you look utterly exhausted. Are you getting enough rest?"
"I… well… I've been completely consumed with learning everything I can about our astonishing discovery and staying up late into the night to translate," Robbie replied, sounding both exhilarated and drained.
"You must take better care of yourself," Zelda insisted. "We need you to be healthy and alert. Promise me that you will start getting a proper night's sleep. If not, I will be forced to issue a royal proclamation that you do."
"Understood, Your Majesty," Robbie replied with a chuckle.
"So, what have you learned from your sleepless nights?" Purah inquired.
"Well, for one thing, it appears that whatever lies behind this door predates the creation of the Divine Beasts," Robbie answered.
"How do you know that?" Purah pressed.
"I found some references to it in the ancient manuscripts," Robbie explained as he searched for his notes. "There were some missing words and phrases in the original text, but here is my interpretation of what the author wrote.
After completing the Guardians and Divine Beasts, our leader ordered this wall be built to seal off the Hero's Alcove and its contents within the Temple of Hylia. He believed we no longer needed them now since our new creations should protect Hyrule from any threats. But he did not wish them to be destroyed as they could be a second resort should all else fail.
"That seems pretty straightforward," Robbie concluded.
"It does," said Zelda. "So, can we assume that whatever lies behind this wall could be used to defend Hyrule before the Divine Beasts and Guardians were built?"
"That is my understanding as well," Robbie affirmed.
"Then there is a good chance that what lies behind this door is benign and not dangerous?" Zelda continued.
"Well … at least I will go so far as to say whatever is there was intended for good and is not inherently evil," said Robbie. "But whether it results in good or ill may depend upon who uses it and for what purpose. Of course, this is just my speculation."
"Have you learned anything useful about how to open the door?" Purah interjected.
"Based on what I can glean from these documents, the only way to access this area is by utilizing what is called the Goddess Sword to perform what is called a Skyward Strike. I believe this must refer to unleashing the power of what we now know as the master sword."
"It makes sense," Zelda agreed. "I am not aware of any other sword with the title of Goddess Sword."
"So, if that is the case, it seems that we will need Link to attempt to use the master sword and its energy to open this door," Robbie concluded. "Of course, it is ultimately up to you, Your Majesty, whether or not we should attempt to open it at all."
Zelda nodded, her expression troubled.
"I must admit I am disappointed to hear this, Dr. Robbie," Zelda sighed. "I had hoped we would not have to rely on Link's assistance for this venture now that he has become a husband and a father. I remember Mipha voting against exploring this area during our meeting, and I can understand why. I can't help but think I would feel the same way in her place."
Zelda fell silent momentarily before speaking again, and neither Purah nor Robbie wished to interrupt her thoughts.
"I need more time to think about this. If I decide that we should proceed, I will inform Mipha and Link myself. Is there anything else we should discuss at this point?"
"I don't think so," said Robbie.
"Nor do I," said Purah.
"Then, I believe we can adjourn this meeting. And Dr. Robbie, please remember what I said about getting some rest," said Zelda.
"Of course, Your Majesty," Robbie replied as the meeting ended.
Robbie emerged from his tent, taking in the scene before him. The area was alive with activity as everyone carried out their tasks purposefully and efficiently. A wave of relief washed over him as he saw everything running smoothly. Now, he could get some much-needed rest. He retreated to his tent, settled on his bedroll, then pulled a blanket over himself and basked in its warmth and comfort. Closing his eyes, he released a deep sigh and drifted off into a peaceful slumber, the sounds of tools clanging and Goron chants fading into the background.
Meanwhile, as the hours passed, the figure resembling Landon settled into the monotonous tasks assigned to him. He watched his colleagues closely, taking note of their methods for clearing debris left behind by the Goron laborers who had broken through the solid stone. He noticed that those with more specialized skills were focused on repairing damages, whether fixing broken brickwork or patching up ancient wear and tear. A faint sense of relief washed over him, seeing that Dr. Robbie, the Sheikah scientist in charge, was nowhere to be seen. Being a fellow Sheikah himself, he knew those trained in the ancient arts had a certain sense for detecting another member's presence, even if a disguised Yiga spy.
As soon as a worker's break was announced, he couldn't help but give in to the urge to wander toward the mysterious area Landon had told him about. Almost at once, he could sense a strong aura of potent magic emanating from the door. But it was not the dark magic he had studied and had some skill in using. Instead, it felt golden and full of light, sending shivers down his spine.
As he approached closer, the force blocking anyone from entering grew stronger. Its power seemed to pulse through the air, daring him to try and breach it. It was as if the magic detected his presence and taunted him, tempting him into a reckless action. But he knew better than to succumb to its allure. He could sense his magic was not strong enough. And, of course, in the failed attempt, he would expose his true identity as a member of the Yiga Clan, not Landon, and fail in his mission. So, he needed to remain hidden and rely on his enemies to open this door if they could. But then a shout reminded him his break time was over, and he needed to return to work.
Anton also kept himself occupied throughout the day, and the primarily physical nature of the work allowed him ample time to ponder things unrelated to his tasks. He couldn't shake off Landon's strange behavior this morning, and he remembered a speech given by Dr. Robbie weeks ago when they first started working on the restoration of the Forgotten Temple.
On behalf of Her Majesty, I want to thank all of you for your dedication to this important project - restoring this magnificent temple and searching for hidden secrets. In exchange, we have provided very competitive wages and expect a full day's work from each of you. Now, there are a few crucial points I'd like to address.
Firstly, if you encounter anything unusual, please notify me immediately for further examination. As I said, the temple may hold secrets from a distant past, some of which may be dangerous. Please do not attempt to deal with them on your own.
Secondly, let us keep our work discreet. Although it's natural to want to share our experiences with loved ones, please urge them to respect the need for secrecy, too.
Lastly, recent events have raised my suspicions that some may wish to exploit any secrets we uncover for their gain, potentially harming our kingdom and its people. We must stay alert and watch out for spies among us. If you notice anyone behaving suspiciously, please notify me immediately. Some people are skilled at deceiving others by masquerading as someone else, so it is important to be watchful. There is no shame if your suspicions are unfounded; it is better to err on the side of caution.
Now, let's all get to work and restore the former Temple of Hylia to its former glory!
Did Landon's behavior fall into the category of suspicious behavior? Maybe, but he wasn't sure. Perhaps he should discuss it with his wife tonight. She always had more sense than he did about the right thing to do.
However, Anton wasn't the only one considering Landon's earlier behavior while they worked. The spy disguised as Landon wondered whether he should dispose of Anton before Anton drew anyone's attention to him. It would generally be the safest thing to do and even mildly enjoyable. But fellow workers no doubt saw them chatting this morning, and the investigation into Anton's untimely death might draw attention to him anyway. So, perhaps it was best to leave matters as they were.
Meanwhile, earlier that morning in Zora's Domain, Mipha and Link walked beside their two children, Raypha and Tidon. The gentle rush of the ever-present water in the domain provided a soothing soundtrack to their morning routine. Ever since the added security measures were implemented, walking their children to class had become an essential ritual for the family.
"I hope our increased precautions haven't hindered your studies," Mipha said with a hint of concern.
"Just a little," Tidon admitted, shrugging his shoulders. "Our science tutor had planned an exciting field trip to the Lake Akkala area next week. We were supposed to study the environment there, but unfortunately, it had to be canceled. Instead, she will provide us with samples to examine here. It's not quite the same experience."
"I know! It's very disappointing!" Raypha said, her usually bright eyes clouded with disappointment. "There is nothing like seeing nature in person."
"I'm sorry, but it's for your safety," Link interjected. "We can't take any unnecessary risks right now."
"But how long must we live like this, Dad?" said Raypha. "Are we condemned to hide within the domain like snails in their shells for the rest of our lives?"
Mipha glanced at Link before responding.
"We certainly both hope not. But as your father said, we don't have all the answers. For now, we must all be patient and make the best of our situation."
They exchanged goodbye hugs upon arriving at their tutor's meeting place. Then Mipha and Link held hands and began making their way back home. The warmth of their joined hands seemed to spread throughout their entire bodies. But Mipha could sense what was on her husband's mind.
"I know you always want to make things perfect for our children, sweetheart," Mipha said softly, her hand squeezing his. "But don't grow impatient and do something rash, thinking you can solve all of Hyrule's problems alone."
Link turned to her, his face breaking into a warm smile at her words.
"You know me too well," he chuckled, leaning in to kiss her forehead. "I guess I'm an open book to you now."
Mipha laughed along with him, her eyes sparkling with affection.
"You are now, but it wasn't always so," she teased.
"No, I suppose not," Link chuckled. "And you're still not an open book to me. But I feel like such a fool. I wish I had realized sooner how you truly felt about me. I should have told you I loved you from the very beginning."
"It would have been nice," Mipha said wistfully. "But don't be too hard on yourself. You just needed a little push to summon up your courage."
"Ha, ha, very funny," laughed Link. "I can't imagine how you thought to ask me all those "what if" questions to draw me out. Anyway, thanks for lifting my spirits. I do hate to see our children disappointed."
Suddenly, the sky opened up, and a gentle rain fell from above. The cool droplets landed on their skin, creating a soothing sensation against the warmth of their bodies. Mipha's eyes lit up with excitement as she grabbed Link's hand and pulled him towards the nearby lake.
"Let's go swimming in the rain! It's one of my favorite activities, especially with you by my side," she exclaimed, her smile infectious. "Just the thought of us together there makes me … um … giddy."
"Giddy? Or were you going to use a Zora expression?" Link laughed, using his other hand to shield his face from the rain. "But, yes, we had better hurry. I'm getting all wet!"
"Me too," Mipha replied, and they both laughed.
Meanwhile, as workers toiled away in the depths of the Forgotten Temple, the Yiga spy disguised as Landon used any idle moments to scout out the surrounding area. He searched for secretive places to hide, anticipating the possibility of needing to stay overnight if things took a turn. It was only logical that his enemies would want to investigate when fewer outsiders were around.
As the sun finally began to set, signaling the end of another long workday, the Landon look-alike lined up to collect his weekly wages, then left with other tired workers heading home. Before going to Landon's residence, he stopped at a nearby shop and purchased enough food to sustain Landon for several days. He then continued to Landon's house, where he would pay Landon another unwelcome visit and again remind him of the price his family would pay if he disobeyed his instructions.
As the evening wore on, Queen Zelda picked at her Salmon Risotto while seated across from her beloved Royce in the cozy family dining room of Hyrule Castle. The flickering candlelight illuminated her troubled expression, and their conversation had been brief and sporadic. It was clear to Royce that the burden of decision still weighed heavily on Zelda's mind.
"I'm grateful you could make time for dinner tonight," Royce said, breaking the silence. "You've been busier than ever lately."
Zelda let out a tired sigh. "Just endless meetings and worry about this situation at the Forgotten Temple."
She took a sip of wine before continuing. "But at least dinner with you is a safer option than lunch. I wouldn't want you to rush off to some lecture on me again."
Royce chuckled. "The students didn't seem to mind when I was late. But I can tell you're still struggling with what to do."
Zelda nodded, stirring her soup absentmindedly. "Yes, it's a difficult decision. On one hand, the technology and discoveries we could gain from whatever is hidden could greatly benefit our kingdom. However, it could also bring harm. And as Hyrule's ruler, I have to consider both sides. Plus, on a personal level, I don't want to lose any of the few friends I have."
"What do you mean by that?" Royce asked.
"I fear Mipha won't ever forgive me if I ask her husband to get involved in this," Zelda explained. "And, of course, there's Link himself. I can't bear the thought of putting him in danger, especially considering his two adorable children."
"I can't imagine how difficult this must be for you, sweetheart," said Royce as he reached out and took her hand. "But I believe if you do decide to proceed, Link will understand his duty as the wielder of the sacred sword," Royce reassured her. "And I have faith that Mipha will come around in the end, too."
"I hope you're right," said Zelda as she smiled and squeezed his hands. "But I'm going to sleep on it again tonight."
After she and Royce parted ways with several goodnight kisses, Zelda made her way to her bedroom, her footsteps muffled by the thick hallway carpeting. The gentle patter of raindrops against the windowpanes greeted her as she undressed and climbed into bed, pulling the soft covers up to her chin. It was a familiar sound - rainstorms were common this time of year. She remembered from her travels with Link that he loved the sound of rain beating on a stable roof, finding it soothing and peaceful. One memory in particular stood out.
The day was slowly fading into evening, and Link and I were returning from the Spring of Courage, where, yet again, my search for answers to my prayers had ended in disappointment. To distract myself, I suggested we explore some of the mysterious Zonai ruins scattered throughout the area.
"I'd like to take a minute to examine some of these ancient structures," I said as I dismounted. Link did the same and then took the reins of my horse along with his own.
The ancient carvings and structures towered above us, their intricate designs weathered by time and nature. As I ran my hand along one of the stony figures, I couldn't help but wonder about the people who had once called this place home.
"Sadly, we know almost nothing about what these ancient people were like," I said, and Link, his usual quiet self, nodded.
I glanced at him and saw that he was vigilantly scanning our surroundings for any signs of danger. It gave me a sense of comfort to know that he was always watching out for me, especially after my reckless stunt in the Gerudo Desert that nearly cost me my life. Just then, the sound of distant thunder echoed through the lush forest.
"Highness, perhaps we had better go," said Link, glancing up at the sky. "I suggest we hasten to the nearby Lakeside Stable before the storm hits."
"Yes, good idea," I agreed.
We quickly mounted our horses and galloped across the Sarjon Bridge and then onward to the south, raindrops starting to pelt us as we rode.
By the time we arrived at the stable, darkness had fallen, and a steady rain was pouring down. Unable to cook a proper meal, we had to be content with some fruit instead. After our quick meal, Link and I settled into our bunks, and mine was positioned right next to his. The soft creak of the wooden bed frame echoed in the small stable as we both lay down for the night.
"Tomorrow, we can head directly back to the castle," I said, breaking the silence.
Then I turned to thank Link for keeping watch over me, but to my surprise, there was no response. He had already succumbed to a deep sleep, his breathing steady and calm amidst the gentle patter of the rain. I smiled and shook my head, realizing how much Link must love the sound of water.
And with that recollection over, Zelda closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
