Chapter 4: The Trial
It took Ganon three days of what was essentially "house arrest" to return to a condition that was good enough for Mako to consider him fit. Mako didn't allow him to leave the house or even help with basic chores. The first day hadn't been a problem because he had slept through most of it. But after the second day, Ganon was going insane from lack of anything to do. In his defense, he'd never been a good patient though. All you had to do was ask his mother.
Mako had remarked on his rapid healing, but Ganon brushed it off as Gerudo toughness and a racial ability to heal quickly. The reality, though, was that Ganon was also surprised by the way he seemed to heal so quickly. He'd never healed so fast in his life, and he'd been injured enough times to know. This was new, and in some ways, disturbing. But, he was grateful for it now as Mako took off the bandages and the flesh that had been torn and deeply scored three days earlier now looked freshly scarred and pink. The more minor of the wounds had almost completely disappeared.
"This is incredible. You shouldn't be doing this well this soon. Whatever racial trait this is, I'm jealous," Mako remarked.
Ganon chuckled slightly, and somewhat nervously. "Well, it seems only really useful if you are getting injured all the time."
Mako grinned up at him as she piled the bandage she'd just removed into a bowl. "When there are children around, injuries happen. Ah well. You seem well enough to me, but don't do anything stupid. Rapid healing or not, these are still tender and will reopen easily. Don't push yourself too hard."
Ganon nodded. "I'll try, but I don't know what your elders may ask me to do for this test. I'm afraid I can't make any promises."
Mako sighed in exasperation. "Then don't die. If you aren't dead, I can help you."
Ganon grinned. Mako reminded him of his older sister, Taleka. She was strong willed too. "Deal."
A few minutes later Ganon was bandage free and he stretched carefully to test the new scar tissue. It was tender, but not unbearable. Nodding in satisfaction, he then turned to once again contemplate his armor. It had been cleaned since he'd been in it, since it had been pretty well covered with blood after his last fight. Cilk had been around regularly, cleaning the black armor and asking Ganon all kinds of questions about the armor and fighting. It was honestly the only reason Ganon hadn't gone insane over the last two days.
The armor was now clean, but it needed some repairs. He had, after all, been seriously injured while wearing it. He needed to fix it up, and he didn't have the time, means, or strength needed to repair the Gerudo steel. Besides, as comfortable as it was, he still liked the freedom of moving and fighting without it. So, since the armor needed repairs, he decided to wait to put it back on until he had a chance to go home and let Eabatu take a look at it. Of all four of his mother's children, Eabatu was the best with working metal. She'd made the armor for Taleka, Ganon, and herself. Ganon also suspected that she'd already made some armor for Lidian as well.
Ganon shook himself out of his thoughts and checked the time. It was nearly sundown, so he grudgingly decided that he'd better wait until morning to go speak to the elders. Instead, he rose and went to the door, stepping out into the red, ashy glow of the growing twilight. The village didn't seem to change much each time he left the house. People went about various chores, tending gardens, sweeping away ash, and children played around in the paths. A few of the braver children ran up to Ganon and tugged on his pants or ran around him to try and get him to chase them or react at all.
He did end up giving in to their taunts and chased the kids around for a minute to several giggles and squeals of delight. When they got tired, he taught them a game that involved bouncing a ball one time between them while passing it as fast as they could. If they lost the ball, or it bounced more than once, the game ended and they had to start over. After a couple rounds, some of the kids tried reciting the alphabet, or counting to see how high they could get before losing the ball.
As the sun set fully and deep shadows fell over the valley, parents began calling for their kids and the guards changed shifts. Many people waved at Ganon and he was happy to see that they were becoming more comfortable with having him around. A few were still wary of him, and he couldn't be upset at them. He was fighting a lot of tradition and history, but every little victory proved to him that he was better than all that tradition and history. He wasn't his ancestors.
The next morning, Ganon woke early, feeling refreshed and stiff. He stretched, feeling the scar tissue pull, but not in a painful way. He decided that it would be wise to try and do some exercise before he reported to the elders. He quietly left the house and began a jog around the edge of the village. By the time he finished his circuit, the men of the village were up, some heading out of the village to hunt or gather, and others to switch with the guards. Vekte was among them and he waved to Ganon as Ganon approached the gate, finishing his circuit.
Ganon was breathing heavily and had worked up a sweat. He was panting slightly as he came to a stop near the smaller man. "Good morning Vekte."
Vekte smiled. "Good morning Ganon. I see you are feeling better."
Ganon nodded and began a series of slow stretches. "Indeed. Mako is an excellent healer, and I was going crazy staying inside."
Vekte laughed. "I can understand that. Well, I'm glad you are feeling better. I'd better go." He gestured toward the gate where the hunters were heading out.
Ganon nodded. "Good luck on your hunt!" Vekte smiled and waved his thanks as he jogged to catch up to the other hunters. Ganon walked back into town, still stretching as he moved. A few people called greetings to him which he returned, but others still ducked back into doorways or looked away to avoid eye contact as he passed. Ganon forced himself to be unaffected by this, but he took note of the reactions, telling himself that this was the kind of thing he was trying to prove himself for. To make those reactions stop.
He stopped in the square that stood before the elders cabin. As he watched the place, he wondered what kind of task Antik would ask him to perform. What could the old man possibly want from Ganon to believe that he meant it when he said he wanted peace? Would the task even be enough? Or would it be the kind that had the potential to simply make Ganon disappear? There was only one way to find out.
He almost started for the cabin when he realized he was still in tattered and blood stained clothing. And he needed a bath. He looked like the madman they all believed him to be. Determined, he turned and practically marched back to Mako's house. Mako was in the kitchen when he arrived and she turned to smile at him as he ducked under the low door frame.
"Good morning. How do you feel?" Mako turned back to her cooking and stirred the contents of a pot.
"Stiff, dirty, and ragged, but well enough. Is there a place to wash up? Also, I am in need of clothing that is not so tattered." He gestured to himself as Mako glanced over her shoulder at him. She smiled.
"There is a hot spring up the hill that has been divided into sections for men and women. You can bathe there. As for clothing, my sister crafted something for you. Hopefully it fits, and isn't too uncomfortable. We aren't accustomed to making garb for Gerudo." She gestured to a small pile of clothing that was stacked on top of a chest before she put her attention back on the pot.
"Thank you Mako." Ganon bowed to her back and then picked up the pile of clothing and made his way once again outside. He followed a path up the hill to where a large building stood alone. As he approached, he saw the Hylian symbols for male and female over two separate doorways. Shaking his head over this odd custom, Ganon entered the male side and found a large steaming lake ringed by benches and divided down the center by a tall wooden wall. A stack of cotton materials was on each bench for drying.
The pool was currently empty so Ganon stripped down and eased himself into the warm water. He soaked for a few minutes, letting the water soften the dried blood and relax tense muscles. He released his hair from its tie and then waded into the deepest part to duck under and wet his long, red hair. He worked it until he was satisfied it was clean as it would get and then gently used his palms to rub as much of the dirt off himself as he could without reopening the most tender of his wounds.
Finally satisfied, Ganon waded from the pool, dried himself off, and then inspected his new clothing. It was simple, and styled after the clothing that the people in the village wore, but it would do its job well enough. Ganon pulled it on and tied the sash around his waist to hold the extra material in place, he also pulled on the shorts that were provided.
He was still rubbing his hair with a towel, trying to dry it without adding to the snarls, as he stepped out of the building. He stopped as he was met by Mako who was supporting Elder Antik as they walked slowly up the path toward him. Ganon lowered his hands from his hair and stepped forward to bow to Antik from the waist.
"Elder, I wasn't expecting to see you so early today."
He looked up as Antik hummed, his slow steps stopping. "And I wasn't expecting to find you moving around yet. It would seem we are both surprised."
Ganon straightened, awkwardly holding the towel around the ends of his hair to prevent it from dripping water all over his clothing. "May I ask what brings you here at this early hour?"
Antik chortled, his laugh sounding as raspy as his frame suggested his voice should sound. "I am here looking for you, Ganon of the Gerudo. I expected you to still be an invalid in Mako's care, and instead I learn you have not only healed, but been out running and greeting the hunters. It would seem that already the Triforce of Power has bonded with you and amplified you physically."
Ganon blinked. He'd never actually considered that his incredible healing was due to the Triforce he possessed. "I hope I have not done anything wrong. I have tried to be considerate of the locals."
Antik sighed and started to turn, gesturing for Ganon to follow. "You haven't, and that has made this all the more irritating." Ganon frowned, but Antik continued. "When I heard that a male Gerudo had been found injured on our doorstep, I assumed that Hyrule was under attack and the Treaty had been broken. Then you insisted on meeting with us despite serious injuries, and were remarkably diplomatic and respectful. To top it all off, my own daughter seems concerned about your welfare."
Ganon couldn't help fidgeting at the last. "Did she say anything to you about Link's condition?"
Antik eyed him without turning his head before answering. "The King's Knight is currently being held in the Hyrule castle dungeon, clinging to life. Impa has been personally tending to him, despite the Queen's insistence that he receive no aid until he hands over the Triforce of Courage."
Ganon sucked in a breath. Link was alive, but barely. It was one of his worst fears. He knew he shouldn't have left Link in that field.
"It would seem that these are strange times we live in. Tradition has been twisted, and we are finding allies in unexpected places." Antik stopped near a small waterfall that filled a little pool before trickling away down a stream. He said something to Mako as he settled on a rock. Mako immediately darted away. "And I find that I need your help."
Ganon tilted his head in confusion. "You need my help?"
Antik grunted. "You don't need to repeat me." He pointed down a small ravine path that was close by. Warning signs hung over the entrance and across the path. "Down that path is our burial caverns and crypts. For generations, our dead have been buried there, forming a sort of temple deep in the crypts. Until recently, it was common for us to visit our ancestors and leave offerings for the dead there. However, in the last few months, people have stopped coming back alive."
Ganon caught the dark connotations and turned to face the elder and give him his full attention. "This would suggest that they are still coming back though?" he asked.
Antik nodded. "Yes, they return as shells of themselves, and attack any they come across. We have been forced to close the entrance to the crypts and guard it, particularly at night. No one is allowed in, for we cannot afford to lose any more young people."
"They are becoming Gibdos?"
Antik shook his head. "Not quite. Gibdos are ancient undead. These will enter the crypt early in the morning, and emerge at dusk as a shell of themselves that craves living flesh." Antik looked at Ganon fully. "Your trial, to prove yourself to the Sheika, is to enter the crypts, discover the source of this corruption, and either destroy it, or seal it away. Should you succeed, you will earn our respect and support against the evil corrupting Zelda's heart."