POV Link
"LINK! LONG TIME NO SEE! HOW HAVE YOU BEEN?" Sidon greets us with his usual enthusiasm.
He's still at the top of the stairs in Zora's Domain, but quickly runs down to meet us. I chuckle, as I do every time we meet.
"And who's with you…? It can't be… PRINCESS ZELDA?" he yells, excitedly.
Zelda looks slightly uncomfortable with all the... animation. She tries to recognize him, which makes sense considering he was still a child the last time they met.
The Zora are an aquatic species, but they can live on land. Their lifespan is absurdly longer than that of hylians or even Sheikah. Sidon is over 130 years old, but his species matures very slowly, so he's still at the beginning of his adulthood. The last time he and Zelda met, despite being over 30 years old, he had just learned to walk and was a third of our height. Today, he is almost twice our size.
Sidon is the prince of the Zora. His older sister, Mipha, was on our team of Champions in the fight against the Calamity. When everything happened, she was, unfortunately, one of the fatalities. Mipha was responsible for piloting the Divine Beast Vah Ruta. Each of the four tribes of Hyrule had its own Beast. They were gigantic machines, shaped like animals, built to aid in the fight against Ganon.
Their construction wasn't in our time, but during the Calamity that happened 10,000 years before ours. In that war, the Beasts, along with the Guardians, were essential in defeating Ganon easily and with few casualties. However, he learned from that event. So, when it was our turn, the first thing he did upon awakening was to invade and corrupt all these machines with his demonic energy. The Guardians turned against us and destroyed cities, leaving thousands dead in their wake. In each of the Divine Beasts, Ganon conjured a different demon. And the Champions, who were trapped inside them at that moment... died.
One of the stages of my mission to defeat the Calamity was precisely to infiltrate each of them and defeat the monstrosities created by Ganon, regaining control of them. That's when I "met" Sidon—since at that time I was still suffering from amnesia—and he helped me access the Beast of the Zora domain: the gigantic elephant Vah Ruta.
We got along immediately. His constant cheerfulness and unwavering optimism helped me through those difficult weeks. Today, I consider him a great friend and ally.
Zelda finally recognizes him, and her eyes shine with joy, but she quickly withdraws. She still feels guilty about Mipha's death and was anxious about meeting King Dorephan, her father. She probably hadn't anticipated also having to deal with her brother.
"Sidon… You've grown so much!" she says, awkwardly.
"And you haven't changed AT ALL!" Sidon responds, animated. "You look EXACTLY as I remember! HOW AMAZING IS THAT? Come on, let's go up to the throne room! Dad MUST SEE YOU!"
"Room" is an interesting term, considering Zora's Domain is completely open, built over a water-filled region, and consists of various platforms connected by bridges or stairs.
Seeing how Zelda is disconcerted by Sidon's energy, I try to change the subject as we go upwards.
"We heard Vah Ruta is malfunctioning. Do you know what's wrong?" I ask.
"Oh, yes, yes. It seems it's actually out of… power? Honestly, Link, I have no idea how these Sheikah technologies work or what powers them. I think it's just running out of fuel," he says, laughing.
I exchange a worried glance with Zelda. It's not the first time we've noticed something happening with all constructions using ancient Sheikah technology. Since the Calamity was defeated, we haven't been able to use the teleportation function between Sheikah Towers. The Sheikah Shrines are also inaccessible. Of all the Runes on the Sheikah Slate—the touch-responsive device we used for various functions, including said teleportation—only the camera still works fine.
Zelda looks away. It's been a few weeks since I admitted I was thinking of leaving Hyrule. Despite our better communication—I'm making an effort to talk more—we haven't touched on the subject again. It feels like I'm suspended, like someone paused my life. I still haven't decided whether to leave or stay, but it feels like we're both holding our breath until the choice is made.
We reach the upper floor, where the king sits on his throne at the back of the room. His eyes light up with recognition when he sees Zelda.
"Princess Zelda! It can't be... Are you alive?" he says, surprised.
"King Dorephan," she greets him, bowing. She lowers her head before continuing. "I... am so sorry about Mipha."
"Zelda... come closer, please," he asks. Sidon and I step back to give them space, but we can still hear their conversation. "Mipha knew all the risks when she agreed to pilot Vah Ruta. Don't blame yourself for her fall. She died fighting bravely to defend our kingdom, and I couldn't be prouder of her. And of you too. You all fulfilled your duties as best as possible," he finishes, addressing Sidon and me as well. I bow slightly, appreciating his recognition.
"Mipha was very brave indeed," Zelda agrees. "We spent a lot of time together, especially in the last months before..."
"Let's not talk about tragedies, Zelda. But I'm interested in your stories. It's been so long since I've heard new memories about Mipha... Can we talk a bit? I'd love to hear more about her," he asks, emotional.
I take this as a cue to give them privacy to share stories that will help with the mourning. I look at Sidon, and we silently agree to leave.
"Where is Vah Ruta?" I ask after we leave the throne room. "I can take a look at her... Not that it would be of much use since Zelda is the expert on ancient technologies."
"We brought her back to the reservoir nearby a few weeks ago. She's been idle since then, and when we tried to access her again, we couldn't. Even her lights aren't working properly... usually, she has a constant blue glow, but now they just flicker a few times and then go out."
"Zelda mentioned recently that she thinks we should destroy all these machines, including the Beasts. She and Purah were discussing it just yesterday."
"Interesting," Sidon responds. "I suppose that makes sense... we know so little about how these things work."
"Yeah. Purah agrees but is torn. Her 'Mad Scientist' side thinks we could learn more if we keep everything as it is."
"What do you think?" he asks me.
I find it unusual, as everyone—Impa, Purah, Zelda, and Robbie, the other Hyrule scientist and Purah's ex-husband—has been discussing this matter fervently in recent weeks, but none of them had asked for my opinion.
"I think... the answers aren't here. In the pre-Calamity years, Zelda had already scoured all the libraries in the kingdom for answers about all this. And Purah and Robbie took months to even get the Guardians to work, and they're still not entirely sure how they did it."
"But if the answers aren't here, where could they be?"
"Good question," I shrug. "I don't even know if there are lands beyond Hyrule."
"Of course there are!" he says, enthusiastic. "Kass keeps traveling to foreign lands in search of ancient songs."
I stop in my tracks. Kass. How could I forget him?
Kass is part of the Rito tribe. They are a bird-like species but the same size as Hylians. Kass is a bard, and his master was Zelda's instructor in the pre-Calamity era. As a bard, Kass travels to various places inside and outside Hyrule, researching local and historical music. Many of the songs he discovered were essential for me to find hidden Sheikah Shrines throughout Hyrule—which were crucial for me to strengthen myself for the fight against Ganon.
I get excited about the idea. Perhaps this is a way for me to leave and still help Zelda.
My heart tightens at the thought of leaving her behind. But each day I feel more restless, more desperate for something I don't even know what it is, more suffocated by the idea of never discovering what.
I need to leave before we both get hurt even more. I need to set her free from me, and I need to free myself from the past as well.
I decide to contact Kass as soon as possible.
A few hours later, Zelda joins us at Vah Ruta's base. She starts talking to Sidon to gather as much information and evidence as possible to pass on to Purah. I take advantage of the moment they don't need me to step aside and plan my next steps.
Dear Link,
I was so happy to receive news from you! We haven't been in touch since the Calamity was controlled.
Here in the village, life goes on as usual. My lovely daughters keep singing, tourists keep coming to see the city, and we haven't had any more problems with Vah Medoh.
That is... since you controlled it, it hasn't attacked us anymore. But Kaneli—the old leader here of the tribe, I think you met him—and Teba, his right-hand man, were saying they can't access it anymore. I've heard that all the Divine Beasts are malfunctioning. Do you have news from the other tribes?
Anyway, since I've traveled a lot outside Hyrule in the past, they were already going to send me on a mission to try to find answers. So your letter couldn't have arrived at a better time!
You see, I'm just a bard. All my previous missions were personal, in search of music and culture. I've never been tasked with a mission for the Kingdom. So your presence will not only be appreciated but also necessary! Having dealt with these technologies much more than I have, you'll easily recognize the needed information. And I can guide us, as I know the lands outside Hyrule well. I have an excellent sense of direction.
Since everyone is starting to worry about these problems with the ancient technology, I think we should leave as soon as possible. I'm thinking of leaving in a few days, what do you think?
I look forward to your response urgently. Use the inn's postal service; they can deliver your letter the same day—the communication between them is excellent!
Excited about the adventure ahead,
Kass
I finish reading Kass's reply with a mix of feelings invading me. Anxiety about venturing into unknown lands. Resignation for the decision being made. Guilt for leaving Zelda behind. Anticipation and curiosity about what I'll discover.
The same day we returned from Zora's Domain, I sent a letter to Kass, asking if he would join me on a mission to investigate ancient technologies in lands beyond Hyrule. Two days later, I received his reply. And so, suddenly, my next steps were decided. And, for the first time in my life, the choice was—mostly—mine.
I run my hand through my hair, worried about how I'll tell Zelda. In a rare lapse of cowardice, I wish to simply run away and avoid this difficult conversation. But this weakness clashes so much with my primal instincts that it causes instant repulsion. No, I can't leave without talking to her. It wouldn't be right.
I'm standing in front of my old house. Zelda has been living there since that first day—she's even started decorating it with new furniture, something I never had time to do—and I've been spending nights in different places. Sometimes in the forests, sometimes in the Hateno inn. But, for lack of another address, I asked Kass to reply here.
At this moment, Zelda crosses the bridge towards the chalet. She smiles when she sees me, but her eyes sadden when she sees the letter in my hand and the tense expression on my face.
"Hi, Link... Did Kass respond?" she asks, approaching. I told her I would contact him, as I'm trying to be more transparent with her about what's going on in my head.
I nod, reluctantly.
"What did he say?" she asks, and I see she's trying to hide her sadness because she already sees the answer in my expression.
"Even if I hadn't suggested the mission, the Rito leaders were already considering sending him because Vah Medoh is also malfunctioning. He was happy to have company."
I watch as she digests what this means.
"When are you leaving?"
"He wants to start the mission urgently. I think I'll leave Hateno tomorrow. The Rito village is quite far from here, and I still need to stop by the Lost Woods to store the Master Sword. I don't think it would be wise to take it on the trip."
Zelda nods, and a heavy silence of unspoken words falls over us. We stare at each other for a few minutes, her green eyes reflecting the pain mirrored in mine. My heart feels like it's splitting in two, seeing her suffer, and I curse this restlessness that has taken hold of me in recent weeks. "Why do I need to leave?" I ask Hylia. But I get no answer. I don't even know if she's listening.
Or if she even exists.
The emotions become unbearable, and I look away.
"I still have some belongings stored in the cabin. Is it okay if I go in to collect my things?" I ask, fighting the lump in my throat.
"Of course, no problem... I'll wait outside," she says, understanding.
As soon as the door closes behind me, tears start to stream silently down my face and continue throughout the time I spend packing.