Chapter 25: Hunt
Impa wanted to slice a row of mannequins off right now. They were close enough to being target dummies anyway.
"Don't vandalize my shop with your murderous intentions please," said Eveline, relieved Zelda had taken the Sheikah attire away before Impa would have a chance to see it. She did not need the woman berating her about the purpose of the design.
The fabric was chosen to sustain high heat environments such as Eldin's, with a rustle that was practically soundless, making it ideal for sneaking and hunting. And once Eveline finished the head wrap and mask, along with the rest of the suit - a disguise would be possible. Or for situations such as potentially running away. All of these were recipes for disaster if Impa knew Zelda requested the garment to be made for her to utilize.
An aggravated noise rumbled in her throat. "I was hoping she'd be here. You'd think this is her favorite shop, from how often she visits."
That's because it's one of the rare places she can be open about her and Volga with actual support, Eveline had to refrain herself from vocalizing. She did not envy the princess for when that conversation with Impa would happen.
"I just don't get it," Impa furrowed her eyebrows. "We've had masked assassins, the Manhandla, Redeads, a part giant Stalmaster, portals spawning, and other sketchy incidents going on. I'm convinced she is resistant to asking for our help. Did she learn nothing her father and I taught her? And why is she so secretive about where she went? She really didn't say anything to you?"
The tailor was prudent with her words. "She said it was an emergency, and that she would do her best to be back before the sun sets. Volga would know where to find her if it came to that." She followed up with the change of subject. "How is he? Last we heard, the healers requested for people not to go in the medical ward, so he could rest. The king insisted for him to recover his strength and tend to his injuries, old and new, before setting off anywhere."
Impa heard Torkil had gained injuries of his own from getting battered up in the joust, especially when he got unhorsed. He was in a separate medical quarter, which was probably for the best. Volga and Torkil could end up killing each other before recuperating.
"Volga's fracture from the Valley of Seers has to redo its healing process. The elixir he was given is more potent to subdue the ache, as well as a side effect of drowsiness. This will allow him to doze, even if for a little while. I'm sure he will be awake long enough to find out who won though."
Eveline batted her eyelashes. "Of course he won. Volga unhorsed him, didn't he?"
"Yes," Impa verified. "But in doing so, his own lance crushed into splinters from the might of the blow. Which means Torkil technically got points, enough for a tie."
The tailor covered her mouth with a hand. "They both won?"
The Sheikah nodded glumly and Eveline frowned. "So wait. What happens then? They both earn their requested rewards?"
"That's where we have a grey area. The tournament staff members and the royals have varying opinions on how this result is to be handled. We have those like me, the king, and Zeran who believe Torkil cheated. He should have been banned for striking when Byrne stopped moving, if not sooner." Red eyes blazed like torches. "Don't even get me started on my inquisition to find out what happened to Byrne. Since we can't take disciplinary action yet until evidence has been finalized, rewards are put on hold. A meeting with the Occult Council has been arranged in the coming weeks to determine the solution. I say he shouldn't earn any of it. If Torkil had played fair and tied, that would have been different, but this is obviously not the case."
Finally something Eveline and Impa could agree on. She knew Torkil was trouble ages ago. "What are others saying?"
"The staff suggested breaking the tie by comparing each of their total accrued points, not just from their match, but from the entire tournament. Well. Since Volga called a draw during his joust vs Zeran, he missed out on extra points that could have pushed his score higher. I don't think it's right that he should be punished for making an honorable choice. He's better off having a battle royale against Torkil if it came to that."
"He shouldn't need to," Eveline opposed. "Are the royals debating this?"
"The forest ruler thinks that since the match had continued, when the contestants should have restarted - that Torkil should still get his own share."
"Pfft."
"It doesn't get much better. The sultan recommended that they should both get their rewards, halved. So by his logic, Torkil would only have some of Zeran's mages, and Volga would have a few of the bomb artillery. Either way, Hyrule will benefit from Volga's efforts… most are vouching for him to receive the reward fully."
"Of course he should receive the reward fully!" Eveline couldn't believe this was something to be disputed. "He won, at a disadvantage too!"
"I'm positive he will, there will be a celebration ceremony after all."
Eveline's fierce face brightened. "I knew Volga could do it. Zelda will be happy to hear of this when she comes back."
"She better get back soon," Impa returned to rebuking the princess. "I've been needing to give her a piece of my mind and the irritation keeps building up. I'm ready to go off at her at any moment."
They left the shop, and Eveline made sure the door was locked. "You know," the tailor said with a sigh in the vacant area. "You ask why she doesn't tell you anything. This is why. Stop being so ornery and overbearing. Have a bit more confidence in her. I understand you're upset about your horse and how messy matters are right now, but taking it out on her won't help anything. Be glad, we're going to get a tournament reward for Hyrule!"
"I am glad," Impa's grumpiness didn't hold credence to this statement. "I will also be glad to give her a needed scolding, and to see Torkil punished for his actions. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a stable boy to interrogate."
Several hours earlier…
The climbing axe hooked on the crag, giving Zelda an anchor to evaluate the surroundings again. Next to her was Jules, clinging onto the rocky wall with the convenience of the suction pads under her digits and feet that were intrinsic to the reptilians. Beneath her were the two chieftains, crawling up with them, their forms camouflaged in a basalt grey. And finally, above her was their destination.
"You're sure Amusei is up there?"
"That'sss where the monster took him Princess," Jules clarified. "We made it as far as reaching the summit, but as soon as we got there, we had to scramble. Whenever we get close, it attacksss."
Chief Drem-Se's chin lifted so high, that it was a miracle he didn't reel over backwards. "Hmmph. It'sss not as if we can't fight it. We were able to protect the rest of our clan after what happened to Amusei. This creature simply has an advantage in that it has wingsss. And I still can't believe you asked the princesss for help, Jules," he chastised the young Lizalfos. "I think it was a horrible idea to bring her - she belongs in her castle."
You and Impa would get along just fine..
"Pleassse Drem-Se," Chief Mai-Sa shook her head. "Not now."
Although they weren't directly above lava, the scorching rivers could be seen from their current altitude. Zelda detected movement from a particular stream, and a distinct worm-like body resurfaced, the creature she had come to identify as an Ely Gedda. Its magma covering fluctuated while it moved, and when it was in the midst of submerging in the lava again - a sweeping shadow glided over the fiery eel.
The Ely Gedda was about to disappear when a pair of massive talons landed on the lava, and swooped the Ely Gedda in a way that an eagle would catch a fish. Its claws curled around to secure the long, flailing body, before feathers flurried away with its latest meal.
Zelda stood very still, and it wasn't until the animals had left that she became cognizant that her legs had gone numb. The three reptilians had not made a motion or sound, retaining their chameleon hues of the dark crag. They were just as petrified as she was.
"The Ely Gedda is supposed to armor itself when in danger," Mai-Sa's eyes were wide. "Fire softens its armor so in reality, it's vulnerable in lava. Most animalsss cannot go in lava so typically the Ely Gedda doesn't have to worry about being attacked when being 'exposed'. This monster was able to touch lava, scoop up the Ely Gedda, and it kept the eel from hardening its body into armor. This is rather concerning, as it implies there may be some intenssse heat source from the monster that we aren't prepared for."
Furthermore, those lethal talons pierced into the Ely Gedda's flesh as if it was a turtle without a shell. Zelda was sure its curved beak was also sharp enough to tear through like a sickle. Its hind legs resembled a lion's, however the monster was more bird than feline from a glance.
"A gryphon?" Zelda tried to interpret what she saw. "That's the closest to this representation that I can think of. So rare that they're said to be myths. Where could it have come from and why is it here?"
"Gryphon you say?" Mai-Sa tried out the word. "I have never seen one, but I will say thisss. Something's not right with the ecosystem right now. Animalsss have been restless and are preparing to hibernate earlier than expected. Who knows if this gryphon's land of origin could have been impacted by whatever is going on at the Valley of Seersss."
The Valley of Seers. Somehow, this troublesome place kept coming up again. "Guards have been patrolling the museum since my father's last battle there," Zelda's hands had clammed up since witnessing the gryphon, but now her fingers were slipping. She rubbed them with the powdered chalk from a small pouch so that she would not lose her grip. "Did… did something happen there again?"
"Not so much out in the open," Mai-Sa replied. "Aside from more Redeadsss wandering out there that is. King Dodongo has been getting rid of some, I believe with an accomplice. It is something under the sand that's not natural."
Jules spoke up. "If this gryphon came from a land beyond the Valley of Seersss, it's probably preparing for the winter early too. And it's focused on Eldin as its hunting grounds."
"Well it'ssss come to the wrong place," Drem-Se hissed. "It carried off our seasonal hunt too!"
What a wild concept, in that Zelda had considered hunting an Ely Gedda for the clan, and now something greater has not only stolen their hunt, but threatened the hunters.
Suddenly, they heard a barrage of boulders tumbling down the crag, and sure enough, when they looked up, rocks rained above like a meteor shower. Frantic, they each lunged from place to place to try and avoid the landslide. One rock nearly dislodged their heads, as Zelda and Jules sprung harshly to the side, away from the hazard.
Another boulder clipped Mai-Sa on the back, and while the rucksack behind her softened the blow - the pack broke open as medical supplies dropped far beneath them. Mai-Sa caught the rest of the items in time. Unfortunately they had lost more than they were able to save.
"Better we lose objectsss than us," Drem-Se edged closer to his kin, making sure Mai-Sa and Jules were alright. He gave Zelda a stiff nod.
They resumed the ascent with little to say. Zelda had tested the longshot that Zeran's kingdom had traded to Hyrule. The tool was quite useful to help weave around and close gaps faster - the problem was that it was limited on where it could latch onto. Normally, the longshot would bounce off of stone and not work, but so long as there was something along the rocks that was a valid target, such as hanging vines or certain fragile surfaces, she could occasionally move around in this way.
"The monster iss passing by!" Mai-Sa alerted them, as they once again went motionless. Wherever the gryphon had taken the Ely Gedda, it had either stored the eel at another rocky perch or had a quick meal. The feathered beast changed course and descended, this time in the direction of the encampment of Volga's clan.
Drem-Se let out a forked tongue in urgency. "Mai-Sa, I need to get back to our clan! We held off the gryphon before, but there'sss no telling what it'll do this time. Will you be fine retrieving Amusei?"
"I will. I also have Julesss and Zelda."
The male chieftain made a sound that might as well have been a snort. "You two have too much faith in the princess. The chancesss of her bringing Amusei back home are about as high as her dragging a dead gryphon to our camp for a grand feast."
"Your confidence in me is truly inspiring," Zelda said flippantly. "I hope your seasonings are ready."
"You got cheeksss, Princess," Drem-Se cackled. "But I'm sure we'll be sooner digging up a burial pit for you. In any case, I will go to the clan and distract the gryphon for as long as possible. Find Amusei."
The combination of responsibility for Volga's reptilian family, the pressure of time for many reasons, a ravenous gryphon on the loose, and Drem-Se's insult - had Zelda constantly on the move. She took no breaks, stopping only for a necessary sip from the leather waterskin, or when her companions needed anything. The princess finally allowed herself a moment to pause when they reached the top.
They all briefly slumped on the rocks, before observing the environment. Stone henges jutted out from the ground like oval shaped graves. There were actual mounds at these stone formations, except they weren't being covered up with dirt or volcanic ash.
"Some kind of thick lichen," Jules prodded the outer layer with her spear. "I haven't seen lichen like thisss around here. It's not from Eldin. This gryphon must have brought it from somewhere else."
"Is the lichen meant to be a barricade to keep the gryphon's prey from getting away?" Zelda wondered aloud. "There's cracks along here, look. You can see inside a few of them."
They peered through the gaps they could find. Chameleons, frogs, small birds and mammals, such as squirrels - were trapped in these lichen-coated hollows. Zelda could see where they attempted to gnaw, peck, and scratch into the heavy algae, to try to escape.
"So it keepsss most of them alive until it's ready to eat." Mai-Sa noted. "Similarly to how we use drying and salting to preserve our food, and how some of you humans use ice spellsss or ice for keeping meat fresh, like that enchanted ice storage you gifted us. The holes on the lichen are probably to prevent suffocation. And see how it grouped animals into different hollowsss to separate certain kinds from eating each other."
Perceptive, nonetheless they couldn't help but notice that the gryphon took a particular preference to dining on reptiles, based on its higher selection compared to the rest. This wasn't boding well for Amusei so far, and none of them wanted to admit that. They called out his name past each mound, keeping their voices audible as well as low enough to not draw attention in case the monster was in proximity.
Zelda readjusted her hair band to prop her blonde tresses higher up, the tail end swinging whenever she turned her head or made fleeting movements. The brassiere left her bosom moderately exposed, though the hunting attire was light and suitable to this terrain. Similarly, her Sheikah leggings were silently fitting, and kept her legs cool. Her armor pieces were less welcoming, wedging against her skin. Wearing a prototype in progress made it inconvenient to align armor properly, not that this was at the top of her concerns right now.
She kept searching, when a raspy noise made all three of them jump. Could it be -?
They hurried to its orientation, repeating Amusei's name, and in turn, the noise responding to them grew louder.
"It's coming from that enclave," Jules tugged at the algae blocking the entrance. "It's covered with thisss stuff!"
The jeweled Lizalfos released a funnel of fire at the lichen to burn away the obstruction. But it had no effect. If Amusei really was in there, she was sure he would have tried this already.
"Blades it is then," Zelda unsheathed a boned kunai Mai-Sa had given her from the holster strap around her Sheikah trousers. Eveline had designed so many weapon slots, and she figured this would eventually help in holding her carving knife, her dual daggers, and a miscellaneous weapon.
They began scraping and piercing into the lichen. The arduous process took time and persistence, blade chaffing against skin, cramping hand ligaments, no matter the carving experience.
When they had at last managed to hack off a hole big enough for a Lizalfos to crawl through, a reptilian did emerge, but it wasn't Amusei.
This one looked older judging by the faded scale coloration, and more wrinkled skin. "Chief Mai-Sa," the elder Lizalfos addressed, her voice not unlike someone who had too much smoke in their lungs. "My clan and I owe you and your egg daughter for getting me out of thisss place." she acknowledged Jules. When she caught sight of Zelda however, her pupils dilated, and she followed up with a wheezy growl.
Mai-Sa and Jules matched her energy, surrounding the blonde and returning the aggressive reaction. "Princess Zelda is with us," Mai-Sa warned. "She helped get you out of here too, and has our ressspect."
"It's alright, Mai-Sa," Zelda didn't want to stir trouble with other clans.
"First, the dragon who can turn into a he human. And now, thisss she human, wearing a piece of hunting attire like we do. What is next to join your family, a Goron? I can't believe Chief Drem-Se allows this… mingling."
Jules narrowed her eyes. "He makesss it difficult enough for them already, without other clans adding onto the fuss. Mind your own business and move on if you can't be grateful."
The aged reptilian tilted her head down gradually, which could either be interpreted as a reluctant courtesy or a less hostile dismissal. Before she headed off her own path, she paused, and said something strange.
"They say if you can hear the warbled soundsss haunting the wind and the cries of lost souls, that you'll know the witch of the woods has made presence."
An icy cold pricked at Zelda's skin, chilling her thoughts. Her father had notified her of a sorceress being mentioned by a museum owner in the Valley of Seers. Could this witch of the woods be the same one, or related?
"Well we haven't heard these soundsss in Eldin yet, and we hope we never do," Mai-Sa furled her claws over her chest in a manner that reminded Zelda of a priest initiating a prayer to ward off evil spirits. "We are already facing enough problemsss at a time."
Jules added. "Yesss, like getting this gryphon monster out of our land!"
"I am only advising for your own sakes," her tail swished. "Fight monstersss all you want. But if you ever hear or see the witch, do not stay around. Run, as far away as possible."
Zelda knew there was something wrong when a Lizalfos, a generally proud race, advocated retreat over battle. "I will keep that in mind. And seek a more tactful reassessment if we needed to fight someone powerful beyond our understanding," her voice didn't come out as defiant compared to when she vowed to Drem-Se that they would complete their mission.
"Wise answer, she human," slitted eyes studied her. "When the monster took me captive, I only saw one other reptilian during my day here. A young Dinolfosss that tried putting up a fight. He was taken that way," she pointed in the direction she was referring to. "I assume that's who you were all hollering to."
At last, a lead that would hopefully cut down hours of searching. They set upon the path they were guided to, and recommenced calling out to Amusei. If he was alive or at least conscious, he would have responded if they were getting close. Zelda's ears were attentive to all the sounds around them; from the tuneful chirping of birds to the distant rumbling of the volcanic mountain. No sinister spirits or witches yet, so she supposed they were alive and well in that aspect for now.
They passed a pile of animal bones and wriggling centipedes that made Zelda's stomach churn, causing her to take extra heed to her footing. This area looked more like the aftermath of the gryphon's feeding, rather than living food storage. Their faces fell when they found scraps of skinned platings from a dead iguana, with its tail missing.
"Be strong, daughter," Mai-Sa said gently, and Zelda realized the chieftain was speaking to both of them. She was about to say something when the noise of snapping twigs squeezed her throat shut.
Then they heard it. "Is somebody there?!" The familiar panicky voice came from an enclosed section further away, and they rushed toward the sound. From it, was yet another covered enclave, and again, they carved into the lichen, his voice refueling their energy to hew through faster.
"Hang in there, Amusei, we've got you!"
The last of the lichen didn't seem to cooperate in being lacerated, increasing their frustration and impatience. They practically ripped into the moss with nails, blades, and teeth, as Amusei too made every effort to swipe and squeeze in from the other side. They could see his desperate eyes gleaming the closer he drew. Once he was within their reach, they helped hoist him out. Before Zelda knew it, she was caught in a reptilian group hug.
"Thank you, all of you!" Amusei said tearfully.
As relieved as they were to see him, there was little time to rejoice. They had to get out of here soon, and check on the rest of the clan.
"You're injured, Amusei," Zelda spotted the deep slashes around his tail. Most of the blood had dried out by now, but the dark red still tinged his green skin.
He gingerly grabbed his tail and reluctantly explained. "I know. The monster and I were fighting, and at one point, it lifted me up by the tail with its talons and threw me into the mound. Princess, thisss monster isn't like King Dodongo or Master Volga or even us. It isn't capable of speaking and thinking like we do. It is an entirely feral animal, a hunter that seeksss to kill, eat, or store its food. In any order."
Zelda listened, fetching the medicinal herbs from what remained of their limited supplies. She dabbed an ointment made from calendula leaves to disinfect and heal.
"Ow that stingsss," Amusei protested, but he did not move away.
"Stop being a hatchling," Jules clicked her tongue. "She's trying to help."
Zelda's hand cast a warm light, soothing the prickling of the gash. Since they had lost their rolls of wrappings from the rock slide, she improvised with what they had available. She tore out a large strap of cloth from her leggings with her dagger, then wove it around Amusei's wounded tail.
"Oh, that actually… feelsss a little better," Amusei sniveled. "I really thought I was going to be dinner later."
"We still might if we don't get moving," Mai-Sa led them back the way they came from. She reached the side of the crag they had climbed up on and started to make her way down, followed by Amusei. Zelda and Jules were last, their harnesses connected for their descent as they had been when they climbed.
Several times, Zelda reached a rock that didn't seem to be a safe step, so when that happened, she would move sideways and try going downward again on a different rock. That, along with the climbing equipment, was the extent of her knowledge in tackling slopes. The last time she had done so was on a much shorter crag, when Drem-Se was teaching her how to track mountain goats and hotfeather fowls near craters.
Climbing down is more challenging than climbing up, she thought, not liking how she couldn't really see beneath her as distinctly as she could above. She felt as if she was blindly making her way down.
They weren't even halfway to the bottom when a shrill noise rang up high and within seconds, the sound turned ear-piercing, like a banshee. Heavy flapping accompanied a clearly enraged gryphon. The monster must have registered that Amusei and the elder reptilian, both part of its food storage - were gone.
"It's right behind us!" Amusei exclaimed, as they whirled around to the view of the monstrosity before them. It was using its wings to keep itself hovered at their level, while its hind legs clawed on the crag, reminiscent of a lion climbing a tree or cliff. Its face was completely avian, ferocious eyes glaring from a ruffle of golden feathers and a hooked beak that was wide open as it made a roaring squawk. To their horror, the gryphon jammed its beak at them, fully intending to knock them off the crag or worse.
Jules slid several strides too fast, sending Zelda with her. Zelda's climbing axe screeched down the rocky wall, actually chipping a long trail into the stone as she clenched her fingers around the handle to hang on. When the drop slowed, she didn't dare let go, nor did she have a second to relax, because the gryphon was already going for another attack!
Still fixated on Jules for some odd reason, the monster reached out with its talons to grab her by the back. She swerved away and instead, the monster snatched the rope that was attached between them - wrenching both the princess and the Lizalfos into open air.
Zelda and Jules screamed, flinging wildly and clutching onto the rope for dear life. Beneath them was certainly death… they were too high up to ensure any safe landing point. She could hear their names echo in the smoky current from Amusei and Mai-Sa, and she thought she caught a glimpse of them trying to arm an arrow into their bows. Unfortunately, aiming properly from a climbing position wasn't reliable on already preoccupied arms. Even if they could injure or kill the gryphon - Zelda and Jules were still attached to the rope and the monster, so if it fell, they would go down with it.
Jules and Zelda started to climb up the rope, the whole time fearing that the fibers of the material would not hold their dangling weight for long. Zelda could already see the cord start thinning, while strand by strand ripped apart. As disastrous as it was, getting to the gryphon would be their next life line. Blue eyes closed for a moment, knowing what she had to do.
"Huh?!" Jules felt the harness become lighter, though they still shared the rope. Zelda had been cut loose from her, allowing the reptilian to reach the gryphon sooner, which was safer than hanging on a breaking rope. The monster wasn't having any of it, tossing around savagely, and striving to gouge Jules with its claws. She was able to firmly plant herself around its leg in a bit of a blindspot that the monster had a tricky time prying at. "Princess!" she scanned around tensely to see where Zelda had gone, certain she had not seen her fall despite being detached from the harness.
The rope was still strung around the gryphon's other claw, as Zelda literally held on by the threads. She continued climbing, her progress declining when her hand fumbled for the longshot attached to her belt. Aiming upward at the gryphon's neck, she fired off, desperately scouring for something she could latch onto before the rope would tear apart completely.
It did not work.
She navigated the device to a different spot on the gryphon's upper body and behind its face, trying over and over again. Each time yielded no result, if anything, the constant smacking of the metal cord only agitated the monster more. Having had enough, it finally seized the chain that released from the longshot with its beak.
In doing so, everything happened in succession; the rope in its claw cracked open, Zelda went down as shouts surrounded her, then she was jerked back up again. Perhaps it was the longshot actually striking a valid target, or it could have been that the gryphon still had the chain fastened in its beak. Either way, she was being pulled - right toward the monster's mouth.
Zelda turned her body so that she would land feet first, kicking furiously around the gryphon's beak to keep herself from being stabbed. Its aggressive bill still succeeded in scraping her heel, bringing a pain that had her on the verge of stumbling off.
The longshot must have caught in its tongue or mouth, she deduced that this could be what was distracting the gryphon from peeling her apart by now, because it was whipping its head from side to side to try to get rid of the object. Zelda used this opportunity to swing her weight around the gryphon's head, her fingers steering the cord of the longshot as if they were reins.
Zelda never imagined what wrangling a winged bull would be like until now, in this case being a gryphon. She skidded down its neck as it continued to thrash in the air, until she landed between its shoulders and back. There, she could finally sit up properly and reestablish control over the makeshift bridle her longshot created. The metal was stronger than any rope, and provided the monster something to keep its mouth busy instead of their flesh.
She glanced down to see that Jules was still posted on the gryphon's leg. Remembering how the monster had dipped its claws into the lava to catch the Ely Gedda, Zelda didn't exactly want to see Jules being immersed in the magma stream if the monster decided to do so again.
"Climb up Jules!" she urged, extending her arm as far down as she could reach. "Take my hand!"
Jules, relieved to hear and see Zelda, made her way up, digging her claws into the gryphon's side so that she would not fall off. This was met with another terrible screech, as the monster writhed to try and knock the reptilian away from the bit of damage she was inflicting.
Zelda pulled on the longshot reins to preoccupy the gryphon again, facilitating the process for Jules. She took Zelda's hand, and with a grueling grunt, the princess assisted in lifting Jules to join her. The jeweled Lizalfos sat behind her, startled by the erratic wings on either side of them. Zelda may have been used to aerial rides, but Jules certainly was not.
This was completely different than riding a dragon… well Volga in particular. For one, Volga was always conscientious of keeping her safe with his flight movement. Even when they had been in dangerous scenarios like flying upward from a horde of Redeads in the abyss, or fighting the Manhandla - Zelda never felt like he would let her fall. This was another story. The gryphon wanted them dead.
The monster plunged in a skydive at breakneck speed, as Zelda and Jules struggled to maintain their balance on its back, handfuls of feathers yanked from the action - to which the gryphon did not take well. It veered against another crag, then the trees, and it wasn't until it finally landed that Zelda was able to jump down, using the longshot that was still hooked in its mouth, as a vine. Jules landed more clumsily, clawing her way down the already frenzied beast.
There was a moment where the gryphon could have decided that they were more trouble than they were worth and let them be, but the monster wasn't done with them yet. Since they were all ground level now, Zelda could see how immense this gryphon really was, marginally smaller than an adult dragon. Bloodied claw marks streaked across its side, Jules's doing, and though it was somewhat injured, the appearance made the gryphon look more barbaric.
A heaving snarl took over the monster's feline part, prowling forth to them like a hunter ready to pounce. Zelda's longshot lurched in her hand, for the gryphon had for once and for all, spit out the hook from its mouth. She would no longer be able to restrain it in this way.
Zelda grabbed her daggers from her holster as the monster drew close. It pivoted its wings at her and she thrust the weapons after the other; one hit it straight in the chest, the other struck the carpals of its wings, severely hindering them from taking flight. Summoning her rapier, she narrowly had time to parry the drilling beak that drove toward her. The light of the sword radiated at the creature's beak, as it backed a step. If this was a sign of submission, it did not yield for long with what came next.
The gryphon used its weight to charge Zelda down, evading her slash this time, and slashing at her instead with its talons. It struck right above her knee, sending her to the ground, and knocking the rapier away from her hand. Relentless, it did not hold back, pinning her down by curling its claw around her leg. Zelda tried to break free, her sword barely out of reach from the fall. She couldn't even process the ache shooting at her leg, because the gryphon tightened its grasp to the point it seemed like her bones would break.
"Let her go!" Out of the corner of Zelda's bleary vision, she saw Jules hurling large rocks at the gryphon. Since they had lost most of their weapons when they fell, her options were short, and breathing fire was out of the question. Like the lichen, the gryphon did not seem fazed by fire attacks. It gave Jules a deadly shriek, before turning to Zelda again, though its grip had loosened from deviating to Jules. Zelda tried to reach for her sword again… so close.
And suddenly she felt a searing sensation on her leg. When the gryphon had clamped its claw around it, this was not an ordinary onslaught. The claw itself turned into a molten orange, like it had come from lava. Zelda now understood why it had stripped the Ely Gedda of armor - Mai-Sa had said fire softened the armor, and that's what this was. She was being burned, mitigated by the heat protection of her Sheikah attire. The difficulty was that the monster had purposely dug into the part of her leg that she had cut a piece of the cloth earlier to help Amusei.
Scalding twinges stung her veins, and moisture burned her eyes. A dizzying exhaustion weighed her conscious state, yet her fingers grazed the fine metal of the sword, which looked like a beam of light. The gryphon loomed over her, still immobilizing her leg down with its claws, while its beak - headed for her throat to finish her. Once its brutish face was above her, she shoved the rapier into its neck, hearing and feeling the sounds of tissue, muscles, and bones being penetrated, and the metallic scent of hot blood gushing out. Her rapier pierced all the way through and out of the gryphon's neck. It made a wretched outcry and collapsed forward, as she forced herself to roll away to not get crushed.
For awhile, neither she nor the gryphon moved. Jules's voice in the background reminded her that she was still breathing, but she couldn't seem to budge. "You're going to be alright, Princess!" Jules blubbered, crouching at her side. "The monster…"
They both turned their heads to the gryphon, who had drawn its last breath and went limp. The cut on Zelda's heel and the burn on her knee was so constant, that she could hardly even acknowledge this as a victory yet. Jules offered to help her up, to which she was able to, in a shaky pace. Her bones were intact, so she could walk thankfully.
Mai-Sa and Amusei cropped up in the distance, and made haste to them. Encircled by fretting reptilians, Zelda took it upon herself to put their minds to rest.
"We need to get you back to the clan to nurse your wounds with our herbs," Mai-Sa said decisively. "Princess, we can haul you ourselvesss - "
"There's no need to trouble yourselves, I swear I'll make it to the encampment with all of you. But I will gratefully accept the herbs."
"If you're sure. Let us know in cassse you change your mind though."
Mai-Sa opened her one pack that had not been damaged, and unfurled a large net that had been coiled together. Presumably she might have meant to see if she could trap the gryphon at some point, but that purpose didn't matter now. She motioned for Jules and Amusei to help her fasten the net around the gryphon. Zelda lended a hand anyway, gathering that the plan was to lug the animal back to the clan.
Together, they each took a side; Zelda and Amusei on the front, partly hanging onto each other for support, whilst putting in their share of transporting their hunt. Jules and Mai-Sa towed at the sides, the wings sometimes getting in their way.
The gryphon was cumbersome, and they were all utterly spent by the time they finally made it to the rest of the clan. There were clay pots scattered around, fragmented pitchers, torn up furs and tattered tents, and a small group of injured reptilians that were being treated by the Lizalfos shamans. The state of disarray at the encampment signified the chaos the gryphon had caused prior to its encounter with Zelda in battle.
Everyone stopped to stare and gasp when Zelda arrived with Chief Mai-Sa, Jules, the retrieved Amusei, and the dead gryphon they dragged along in the net.
"By Eldin's flamesss," Chief Drem-Se said in an awed disbelief. "You actually did it. I'm sure you've had help but still -"
Mai-Sa interrupted her mate at once. "You leave her alone, she put in work. I'm getting her and Amusei to the shamansss for healing. Round up those that aren't injured and help me take this monster to the ice storage."
After what had seemed like hours, Zelda stirred from where she laid. Her wounds had been cleaned, treated with the powders from the restorative herbs, then wrapped to compress. The gryphon had left a puncture on her heel that she was sure she would have to be conscious pressing against for the next few weeks. The salve that had been applied, along with her own mending light, did alleviate some of the discomfort - but this was less effective on the burn above her knee.
She couldn't blame the Lizalfos for not having a plant or treatment to soothe burns - they never got burned, so it made sense that they wouldn't find a need to stock on these remedies. Zelda would have to take care of that when she returned to the castle. A trip she wasn't quite ready for yet, regardless of how long she had been away.
Besides, she felt comfortable in Volga's homely cave right now. His maroon bed was snug and warm, and the room had a fresh air that circulated from an opening on the rocky wall that was comparable to a window. This was further emphasized by the matching drapes that she had hung, much to Volga's pleased approval, from her recent visit. This allowed them to have the option to muffle sounds and retain privacy, though beyond the opening was pretty well secluded into a dead end. Above the dead end was a crevice where the breeze swept from outside, almost like a bedroom balcony. The view itself was part of the cave, with cool streams that flowed atop rocks like a gentle waterfall. From there, the water would travel down the sturdy grate Volga had built along the ground, and empty into a spring below cave level. This spring wasn't far from the hidden alcove Volga had taken her to when they shared their first kiss in the Crystal Caves.
Zelda was still amazed by how much Volga had done with his home, such as how he had managed to connect this water feature to his bedroom and made it into an extended bathing area close to the hot spring. He might have taken inspiration from a royal suite layout, but he made it in his own unique way. She loved that she could enjoy a refreshing bath under the calm streams, or go for a relaxing soak in the hot springs. All while having the bedroom conveniently adjoined, so she could walk about in her towel and get in and out of her clothes.
And she did eventually end up having spare changes of clothes in the wardrobe Volga had provided for her to use. He really did make her feel like this was a second home, and though she was still getting used to the idea of partaking in such a domestic setting with her lover - it was something she was genuinely warming up to. When she got a chance, she would take care of the place and tidy up if needed. He never asked her to do chores, she simply did as courtesy. Quite frankfully, it was a practical change from always having her maids do everything, and she was still figuring out more as she went. Like with cooking, she couldn't wait to try making one of Volga's favorite dishes or baking the fudge filled pastry she had been craving.
Her cheek turned on his pillow, as if to hide the color on her face at the prospect of how deep her feelings for him had grown. Even just the crisp, volcanic cinnamon scent on the sheets, his scent, jolted flitters to her stomach, and heated her core. She wondered if the herbs were enhancing her emotional senses.
There was a tentative knock on the door, and Zelda rolled over to blink back at it. "Yes?"
"It's Amusei. Is it alright if I come in? Master Volga gets annoyed with me when I barge in without knocking so I'm trying to be considerate to him and you humansss about privacy."
Zelda slowly sat up on the bed, partially covered by the blankets. She was dressed in a more casual wear that was meant for lounging at home and less so in public. Her sleeveless dress tunic was a soft gold, in thin linen, with ruffles on her skirt draping short beneath the knees.
"Thank you for that, Amusei, you can come in."
The Dinolfos opened the door and the two greeted each other. To Zelda's surprise, he dropped on the floor in an overly apologetic bow.
"Princess," he said humbly. "I'm so sorry for the woundsss you had to go through in fighting that monster! And I want to thank you again for getting me out of there. For going out of your way to help someone like me, someone like my kind."
Zelda found it daunting how starkly different Amusei was from his father. Chief Drem-Se would never bow to her like this. His way of thanking or apologizing, if he did, would be to throw in criticism or downplay if he could. In a sense, this kept her on her toes to do better - but she also valued the balance of the three supportive reptilians too, to encourage her.
"And I would do so again," Zelda said earnestly, then she lightened her tone. "But let me recover from my burn first, hm? How is your tail?"
He made a guilty chuckle, and nodded dutifully. "Much better. I wish we had something for your burnsss, we will definitely find out what to gather for that! Maybe Master Volga knows where. Let me know if there's anything me or the clan can do to help. Please, Princess."
Zelda wasn't going to ask for anything at first, then she remembered something. "Well," she said thoughtfully. "Only if you're feeling good enough for a little leg work."
"I am," he said determinedly. "What do you need?"
She pointed at the parchment and quill in the direction of Volga's desk. "I need to write a letter really quick. The castle hasn't heard from me in goodness knows how long, and I wanted to bring them up to speed. You don't have to deliver it to the castle, I saw how tired Jules was on foot when she got there. But you know the stables at the fork on the road where the Gorons and Lizalfos are separated? That's where I boarded my horse, Hylia. Let them know I'm keeping her there a little longer, and ask for the courier. Couriers make frequent stops at the stables so there should be some available. I will give you extra rupees for a fast delivery, which you will give to them, along with my letter."
"Stables, Goron and Lizalfos division. Rupeesss. Letter. Got it!"
And so, Zelda rushed to get the letter written. Her brain wanted to rest and her eyes longed to close, but she made herself stay up to do it.
Dear Father,
I hope you're all doing well. I've finished taking care of what I needed to do. I'm doing fine so please don't worry. But I will admit that I'm rather exhausted and I'm currently somewhere safe where I would like to get some sleep before traveling back with Hylia. I will be back later today for sure, so no search parties will be needed, I promise. Love,
-Zelda
She wasn't entirely satisfied with it, but it would do for now. After she had thanked Amusei and he had taken off, her head fell back on the pillow. Immediately, she drifted away.
The sorceress had lost count of how many rounds her Poes had made at the valley. Each report came back with either too many Hylian guards patrolling around, mainly near the museum - or, that the golden beast and the silver serpent had wiped away more of the Redeads. Her Redeads.
"Why can't we just expel a shock wave and disintegrate all the guards?" She repositioned her crow mask. "Then, we can raise their corpses or have the Poes save us the trouble. Oh and subjugate those two beasts while we're at it, and make them our own security breach."
Her typical impatience was almost becoming visionary. In due time , he responded back to her. Don't ruffle your feathers about losing Redeads. We will acquire plenty more.
"Then it better be dozens of them to make up from how susceptible to fire they are."
Oh, it'll be a lot more than dozens, my pet , the greed oozed in his voice. Think hundreds, maybe even thousands. Across eras .
Purple eyes expanded at that, following a curl at the corner of her lips. Before she could ask how they would do that exactly, the clunking of enchanted metal that she had become acquainted with rose up from the portal she had been waiting for. His armor seemed to be integrated within the black of the night. There was no moon or light source in the vicinity except the dark magenta wisps of her portal.
"Mistress," he addressed. "The two beasts have finally departed the valley for now, likely to rest. This is the moment to take action. You will still have to avoid the Hylian soldiers, so we should stay away from the museum entirely. The ruins with the altar is where I've seen them the least, so it might be a safe place to start. I can also provide a distraction if need be."
Cia looped a strand of her whip around her finger. "That's an insightful report, splendid job Duncan," she said in an ill-disposed approval. "I hope all of those I bend wills turn out to be as useful as you are."
Duncan had no answer to that except a non committal grunt. "However," Cia paused, surveying him with interest. "If we did need to use you as a distraction and you had to kill the soldiers, would you do it?"
Most of the Hylian soldiers were people Duncan had known for years. They had fought in battles together, exchanged jokes, visited each other's families… he even considered some as friends. "I would rather not," he confessed, actually frightful for them now, and he hated the words that came out next. "Unless you commanded me to, of course."
Cia laughed, an appalling sound that held no remorse. "I suppose we'll have to see if they cause us trouble, won't we? And if you keep following my orders. Because if you slip during times my magic needs to recover - then let's just say commanding you to kill them will only be the start of your punishment. Do you understand?"
"Crystal clear," Duncan said in disdain, with an ever growing hopelessness that had the Poe eye him curiously.
"Oh and do deliver the princess a message next time you see her. I will incite the words of the message into your mind."
Damn, scaring her once wasn't enough to you, eh? I like it, let me add my voice to your… recording .
"Sure," a nasty glint in her eye lit up when she found a vision in her crystal ball that satisfied her. "And that'll be the perfect time, I have a portal not far from that spot in the woods. Question. When I command people, can I force them to tell me their thoughts? Can I make them say what I want them to say?"
No to your first question. Yes to your second , he elaborated. You can have them repeat what you want them to say, but it won't be coming from them. Their voice will be there, but more mechanical, often with a distorted tone of our combined substance. You should probably keep this to a minimum though because having them regurgitate our words won't usually benefit us, and it's costly on magic .
"That's kind of disappointing," Cia persisted. "Why can't I force them to respond from their thoughts? It would make it easier to scry into what they know so I can use it against enemies."
When you command them, their thoughts are still theirs, and they will not tell you if they are trying to protect something. Anything that requires them to think on how to respond to you cannot be controlled - you only control their actions. They ARE your enemies, and it's important you keep them powerless to fight you at all times because believe me, they will try to break free from your control .
Cia found it unfair that her companion could read her mind all the time, while she did not have this ability. Though now that she thought about it, the only mind he could read was hers, wasn't it? Barring her allowing him to share her mind with her, she still found this a strange phenomenon. What was her companion anyway? Was he ever human? If he was… he sure knew a lot about mind control. And she had to wonder. Was he the one who once knew how to control - or the one who was once controlled? There were times, he would speak as if from experience, as if he once shared his mind with another too.
She would have to dwell on this another day, because she was getting a headache making sense of him. And Cia knew he had read these thoughts, so it was intriguing to her that he had no comment on them yet. Was she onto something?
It's time to travel , he commanded, and it wasn't in the way she commanded Duncan. What they had was a willing partnership and in a weird, twisted way, this made their bond special to her. Flirting again, are we? Thought you have a thing for the Hero of Eras anyway .
"That's different!" She snapped. "I have no interest in you like that. If you at least showed yourself…"
I find you attractive too , he mocked, and she couldn't tell if he was being serious or taunting her, which only made him more frustrating to fathom. Portal now .
Of the various portals Cia had stationed in the Faron Woods, she used the one closest to the Valley of Seers. The further she teleported, the more of a toll on her magic it took, so she sought to conserve as much as she could. Cia wasn't worn out from her magic usage today though, and was eager to see what her enigmatic companion had in store for her.
When they rematerialized back in the Valley of Seers, Cia checked that her portal remained in a spot that was out of plain sight. She couldn't wait until she was powerful enough to not give two hoots about covering her tracks.
We are getting there , he spurred her. Once we are finished setting up our forces and you've mastered what we are about to do, then you'll be able to do anything you please.
He had a way of rallying her, and getting her to hunger for more. "So what are we doing this time? The coast looks clear currently, I only see empty dunes and the ruins where we're supposed to create one of our main bases at."
And we will , he said intently. Now pay close attention because this could be a challenge for a Guardian of Time. I believe in you, and I also believe conquering this power will truly deserve your given title. Look at this. I'm projecting the image of a place in your mind, do you see it ?
Cia could see a badly lit expanse of sand and crumbled ruins that seemed identical to the ones they were standing on now, and it even had the altar. In this imagery however, the altar had been surrounded by candles, characteristic of a ritual being performed. There was something else too, a peculiar creature in the distance, short in size, but she couldn't quite make it out yet.
You will go to this place , he told her. By portal. I need you to manifest the portal there so we can travel to it .
"It looks like it's here?" she said in confusion. "But it's different too… is it a different point in time? Or a mirror dimension?"
In a manner of speaking , he sounded cryptic. Go on, Cia. I know you can do it .
"I'm trying to focus," she felt like countless worlds had just flashed before her eyes, as if her crystal ball had shown her everything at once, but she was tasked with setting aside one particular image. She found it, or thought she did, because when she tried to port, the places that had zoomed by had become deformed somehow, with bizarre slants on structures and barren trees, or twisted variations of them.
The air here was heavy and ominous, blood mauve skies illuminating with lightning over a haunted wasteland. This was still in the Valley of Seers, wasn't it?
We are beneath the Valley of Seers , he responded to her monologue. Time is irrelevant here, think of it as being in a darker version of a sacred realm. We are in a rift between… my world and the world we traveled from. I do not expect us to reach my world in this age, nor is it my purpose right now. You have successfully created your first rift, as l knew you would .
His praise electrified her, as it often did the rare times he gave them. More than just for him, but also because she felt like she had learned a new power, or awakened what she had always known to be capable of. Now that she had, what would they do next?
Remember that short creature you saw in the projection I gave you, and you weren't sure what it was? Look again, it should be clear and familiar now .
Cia inspected the sinister area she thought had been vacant, until her eyes landed on a recognizable, stubby figure with red skin and rags. "Right, the Bokoblins you've shown me… ew, they really are ugly."
The creature's beady eyes settled on her, then it moved closer. The way it lumbered was reminiscent of a Redead, but in a faster pace, and more bodily functions. For instance, it was wielding a machete that looked too big for its size.
Have no fear, it's sensing my presence with yours , he explained. Subjugate it. Not like how you did with our Hylian soldier, but how you've been herding the Redead. Remember to establish in their minds that serving us will give them food and shelter .
Cia's dark magic prodded the creature's mind, not a highly intelligent one, but moreso than that of a Redead's. These demonic beings were like little warriors, and to her astonishment, actually handy builders.
Yes, he droned. You see where we're going with this? It starts with one, then we'll have a mass of them to finish constructing these keeps we need. Then they will fight for us. We will need more mortals for the construction and war too, but again, we need to try to stick to those that don't belong to any kingdom to avoid investigations. Let us finish here first though. There's one more experiment I would like you to do .
Cia was ready, and awaited his order.
I need you to port us back to the Valley of Seers where we were. Except, you will be porting this Bokoblin as well .
She did, and experienced an increased strain on her magic this time than before, uncertain if it was because of all the travelling they had done, or because porting to and from a rift was taxing - or if it was caused by bringing something from that rift itself. Cia was definitely not ready to bring a horde from there anytime soon, but she felt accomplished with what she had been able to do already.
As you should , he commended her again. Now deliver this Bokoblin back to the rift before it starts wandering this world and drawing attention. If you're unable to send it back for now, it's not a big deal, we can just take it with us back to your manor. You have exceeded my expectations today. The fact that you were able to travel to a rift between realms, and bid a resident to not only do your bidding, but to teleport it to THIS world is already looking very promising for our plans. We are another step closer to giving you access to open the Gate of Souls .
Cia returned the puzzled Bokoblin back to the rift, and had to take a seat from the exertion of today. She had enough energy to travel back home, and that was it. Duncan would eventually complete her little side quest she had set out for him, and she would consider this to be an efficient day as far as she was concerned.
The light tap on the door went unanswered. Volga quietly nudged it open after a moment, and stepped into his room.
"Zelda?" He whispered, and felt a surge of relief when he found her fast asleep on his bed. Her arms laced around the bundled up blanket, and the sheets rested over her legs. Volga found himself drawing it up over her chest, careful to not wake her. The lovely loungewear formed a 'v' shape beneath her neck that extended ever so slightly between her curves, the light material over them almost transparent. That, along with the peaceful expression on her face during her sleep - was enough to get his heart pumping as blood rushed to his veins. Controlling himself, he was about to pull away so she could continue sleeping.
"Volga," she breathed, and with half lidded eyes, she reached up with open arms to hug him. Of course, this only made his heart race faster, as he leaned in and took her into his arms.
"I-I'm sorry," he said, flustered. "I didn't mean to wake you."
"I was about to anyway," she said sleepily. "I'm glad you're here. How are you? How is your hand?"
It was so very Zelda to ask how he was doing, when she had gone through a rough time. "Jules told me what happened," he frowned. "I was furious when I heard this stupid bird-lion monster had hurt you. And I'm recovering. After waking from the long medicine induced sleep, we were all worried about you in the castle. I know you and my clan are fighters but still… I'm relieved to see all of you."
"I am too," she placed her hand on his. "I made these jars of eucalyptus jelly which I wanted you and father to try for muscle, fracture recovery, and fatigue. They should be long cooled off by now. I could massage it on you if you'd like, and soak your hand in water with the eucalyptus oils too."
He found it sweet of her that she had him and her father in her thoughts when she made these jars to help them. "I love the sound of that," he said affectionately. Nonetheless, he did not forget she had wounds of her own that needed attention.
"Let me take care of your burn, dear," Volga volunteered. "Amusei was frantic about the clan not having anything for that. I do though, in the garden area under the glass panel," he stood up. "I will be right back with it."
Zelda nodded appreciatively and reclined back on the bed again. The medicine was numbing the ache, but she could still feel the throbbing to a lesser degree.
When he returned, he had a blade of an aloe vera leaf in his hand, and a bowl. She watched as he squeezed the aloe substance into the bowl, stirred it, and with clean hands, coated his fingers. Zelda carefully pulled down the sheets that had been covering her legs, and spread out the one that had the wrapping above her knee.
The Dragon Knight's head was downcast as he cautiously undid the wrapping. The pink blisters of the burn circled atop her knee, the mark of the gryphon's molten talon. She noticed her lover's fingers tremble, and knew this was not due to being squeamish or repulsed.
"Volga?" She said softly. "What's wrong?"
He didn't answer right away, then he spoke. "I," he muttered. "I think a part of me always feared the day you could get burned from being around me, or worse, from me. I planted aloe leaves as a precaution, but I hoped I would never need it."
"It wasn't you though," Zelda defended him. "I had torn off a part of my leggings to bandage Amusei's tail, and in doing so, the gryphon targeted that area. Eveline's heat enchantment mitigated plenty, so it's not as bad as it could have been. I know you would never do such a thing."
Volga knew deep in, that she was right, but it still made him feel responsible. This happened to her because she placed herself in danger to save his clan. If only the timing was different, he could have been there for them. Zelda must not have wanted him to be burdened by both the tournament and the gryphon fight, so he could see why she had taken action herself. As much as he wished that she had not taken damage, he couldn't deny how much he admired her, and he wasn't the only one. Mai-Sa, Jules, and Amusei were starting to treat her like she was his mate, their friend, and part of their kin. It was never a requirement for them to, but it made him happy to see.
He tenderly applied the aloe on her burn, noticing her trying not to wince from the sensitive area. She relaxed when he rewrapped it, and though the effect wasn't instant, she could feel the aloe gradually cooling her skin. He set the bowl on the nightstand next to them, and returned to her side, laying with her for a bit. Zelda had told him about the letter she had written to the castle regarding her arriving later, so at least they had an update for the delay.
Resting the side of his head on her middle, he held an arm over her leg, not on the injured area, but around it, almost as if such an action could safeguard her from all fires. And as a reminder of what he would never want to do.
Zelda ran her fingers through his hair, communicating to him and wanting him to know that the fight with the gryphon changed nothing. It would not make her feel any less secure flying with him, nor scared of his claws or fire. What it would do on the other hand, was improve the Sheikah armor further - and to reconsider next time she had to cut out a piece of her cloth again.
No matter how much sleep they already had, merely being around each other like this was enough to lull them to another nap. Even though she wanted to ask him about the tournament, and he wanted to hear her version of her battle in Eldin - there would be opportunities later to chat more. The sound of water trickling from the streams behind the opening was like pleasant rain, which she'd sometimes be in the mood to listen to when neither of them weren't drawing up the curtains for a more quiet sleep.
By the time they woke, it was getting late. Zelda switched into her royal attire, and brushed her hair. She mulled over on whether or not she wanted to take anything back with her. Her hunting and Sheikah leggings had been washed and were currently on a drying rack. Ultimately, she decided that the extra clothes and everything else she had already stowed at his place, would be best to remain there. That, and she didn't want it to be obvious to Impa that she had been in Eldin the whole time if she walked in carrying all that.
"I need to ride Hylia back home," she told Volga. "If you wanted to fly ahead to let them know I'm on my way, it might help tone down some of the tension in the castle from me being away."
"Master Volga? Princess?"
This time, no one had to knock, because Volga and Zelda were already preparing to leave. Jules had caught Zelda's last statement and chipped in. "I hope you can consider, but I can ride with the princess on her mount to make sure she makes it home safe. I'm sure she will but, she'sss injured so just looking out."
Volga felt slightly better at that, as well as amused. "Amusei and Jules really like you, Zelda," he commented to her. Zelda couldn't find it within her to refuse Jules's offer, and she didn't mind the company. Volga could fly Jules back to Eldin when they arrive at the castle, or Zelda could pay one of her carriage drivers to take her - she wasn't going to have Jules running between the two provinces like that anytime soon if she could help it.
Hylia galloped across the field in a white haze, her golden mane flowing behind her, as Zelda and Jules rode. The night was moonless, with only lamp posts and occasional torches to light up the roads or settlements. Villages they had passed by had better lighting, but most of the lights were still out so that people could sleep.
They had passed the Faron Woods, and there, the darkness was seemingly infinite. The bearing of birch, oak, and sycamore trees overshadowed everything next to them and within, luring wanderers to get lost in its convoluted forest. A crow cawed in the distance, and an eerie sound of chains being pulled, magical in nature, was a threat to Zelda's ears, something she had heard before, and had not associated anything good from it.
Jules was less restless, but even she sensed something was amiss. She examined around behind her from where she sat at Zelda's back, and what she saw made her turn rigid. "Princess," she said hoarsely. "Look, t-the treeline…"
Zelda didn't want to look, but she did, bracing herself for the worst, conjuring her rapier automatically, which lit up their terrified faces. She aimed the light of the sword like a candle at where Jules was gaping at.
Hylia had stopped moving, and fidgeted in place, her wary neighing echoing amongst the trees. The chain sound was exactly what Zelda had dreaded. That dark magenta portal lit up in the shadows of the woods, and a figure rose, chains falling at its feet. Armor clunked with every step, but with unexpected swiftness, and even though the armored footsteps got louder, the figure was suddenly nowhere to be seen. Zelda didn't exactly want to wait and find out either, so she tried to urge Hylia to move.
Her horse took a step back instead of forward, and before Zelda knew it, a head sprung up right in the light of her rapier, and for the second or third time today, she and Jules screamed. A helmed head that was, spartan in style, and a matching set of ebony armor - just like the black knight from her nightmare.
" Blood of the goddess," a male voice spoke from the helm, distinctly familiar but she couldn't place from where. He sounded robotic and his tone distorted, like there were two other voices trying to occupy his throat. One of the voices was demonic in nature, making his every word bloodcurdling to listen to. "You will lose. Everyone. Everything ."
What do you want from me?! Zelda wasn't sure if her thoughts had cried out, but she clutched her rapier at him. Jules was making a growling hiss, pointing her spear to keep him at bay, and Hylia was starting to raise her front legs in preparation to stomp at the threat.
Then, he was no longer there.
He had retreated back into the shadows and into the portal, the chains circling around his legs like metal snakes. Zelda, Jules, and Hylia were all numbed from what had just transpired, and little by little began to recover. And now, the white mare took off even faster than she had been riding before, in great need of getting home and being as far away from this creepy forest as possible.
The words the male had said to Zelda still weighed in her mind. Was this a threat? Was this another vision? Jules had witnessed it too. Right?
"Jules, you saw that knight and heard what he said?" Zelda had to make sure. "I'm not losing it, am I?"
The Lizalfos answered attentively. "I did, Princess. You are not crazy. There is definitely dark magic at play around here, and we're lucky we haven't run into the witch of the woodsss herself yet."
Zelda had never been so relieved to see Hyrule Castle until now. She took her horse to the royal stables, provided her with fresh water, and gave her a calming pat, though she herself felt far from it on the inside. She had thanked Jules for riding with her, and Volga readied himself to fly Jules back to Eldin. The reptilian decided she had enough flying trauma for today with the gryphon, and took the carriage option Zelda had proposed instead.
When the princess set foot past the front doors of her castle, she found the entrance hall oddly quiet, dimmed sconces burning along the walls. Her guards that had saluted her and welcomed her back had been outside patrolling, but she was shocked to see no one inside yet. Then,
"You're late."
Impa's voice, despite being low in how she said it, was absolutely livid. She sat up from the armchair in the guest area, and how long she had been stealthily seated there, Zelda could not say. " Two days late, as a matter of fact," the Sheikah corrected. "Not one. Two. Back before the sun sets? Ha! Tack on an extra night of your father and everyone being worried sick about you, no matter, right?"
"I'm sorry," Zelda said, still feeling jittery from her skirmish in the woods. "I did not plan to be away for that long."
"Oh you certainly didn't plan anything," Impa criticized. "The worst part is that you know better. You think that because you're an adult now, you can take off in the middle of a tournament, while all these dangerous happenings are going on, and -"
She stopped short, and Zelda glanced to see what happened. Prince Zeran was approaching them from a distance, with an awkward expression on his face. "I do apologize for the interruption, Lady Impa," he bowed his head at her. "But might I have a word with the princess, if this is agreeable to her?"
Zelda never saw the day she was glad to see him, and at this point, just about anything would have been better than listening to Impa tell her off. All the same, Zeran was conveniently the one person Impa would begrudgingly let her off the hook, since she still fully supported him as a marriage candidate for the princess.
"You might be spared for now," Impa muttered to her under her breath. "But I'm not done with you yet. Just wait until next time."
It seemed Impa was more angry with her for having been missing than actually being concerned for her, so Zelda had mixed feelings on the guilt she harbored, namely for worrying her father, and Volga. What she didn't regret was having helped the reptilians, just like Volga would for her own family.
"Would the alchemy lab be adequate?" Zeran asked.
"I suppose."
She walked with Zeran to the alchemy lab, receiving devious looks, as giggles and whispers lurked about. Sometimes they were her maids, or people from the other foreign kingdoms, or a soldier - although, most were asleep right now. It was annoying that people were acting like they were going to shag somewhere, when it was very obvious that her eyes weren't for him. They didn't even hold hands.
"I uh," he said, running a hand through his dark hair. "I'm sorry about the whole thing with Impa there. And how weird people are acting regarding us. I didn't say anything to them about us being together, people just like to assume things, I suppose. Even though my consort offer still stands, but ah. We can talk about that another time. There's something else I wanted to bring up with you, and I do think it's important enough to address it as soon as possible."
Zelda washed the flasks her alchemist had been using, and paid attention. "Very well. What did you want to bring up?"
"There's something… off going on in Hyrule, and I really can't pinpoint what it is exactly. You feel it too, don't you?" he said darkly. Zelda nodded, and he resumed. "There are magical forces about, and I can tell because my own magic has felt threatened by something I really can't explain. I felt similar to this at that museum in the Valley of Seers. There was this old man with a talisman that was cursed with something very much like blood magic. And when he was finally starting to give your father vital information, this portal appeared and took him away, chains wrapped around his legs."
Zelda all but dropped one of the flasks. "W-what do you think is going on, Zeran?"
"I don't know," he said straight out. "What I do know is that you're going to need all the magical help you can get. I already promised you my mages for your compassion in lending the Great Fairy to help Nenea. But if Torkil gets a portion of his reward or fully, you won't have as many mages to aid you here. That bugger knew what he was doing, requesting my mages, knowing you needed them. It is crucial the Dragon Knight receives his deserved reward fully from defeating him, and that Torkil gets nothing. That meeting with the Occult Council in the coming weeks will be the final deciding factor, so we need to make sure your bodyguard wins."
Zelda finally had another chance to catch up on the result of the tournament, which he had summarized, with no shortage of obscenities when it came to Torkil's name. She always found that man distasteful, but now he had evolved into something much worse. Volga should not have gone through what he had with the bear-slayer's cheating antics. For that, it made her that much prouder and thankful to him for the reward he would provide to Hyrule.
"No matter how the meeting turns out," Zeran leaned against the counter. "Or how many mages you end up with. I think you and your father should enhance your magic skills. I've spoken to him on this matter, and he had already been considering going back to practice his wind magic."
Zelda would have been keen on improving her magic, if she wasn't so busy trying to learn everything else or fighting or carrying out duties. The prince did have a point though. She should prioritize her magic at this time. This meant she might have to sacrifice or limit some of the tasks in her schedule. And if her father was willing to consider going back to his wind magic, when he was so reluctant to what he could do with that power - told her he was taking this as seriously as she was.
"I wouldn't know where to start," Zelda reflected on the plethora of options available when it came to magic. "It's overwhelming."
"Me and my mages can assist you depending on what field you want to focus on," he presented. "It's the least I can do to pitch in short term, before the rewards situation is resolved."
"Thank you."
He turned away for a moment, fine tuning his injured arm, which had been in a cast, slung over his shoulder. "Magic has many options, yes, and we can choose to study multiple fields. In the end, there is always a particular element or utility that most resonates with your being. For me, that is water magic. Sure I can throw fireballs or a streak of lightning, but they will never be as refined and powerful as what I can do with water. We all have it in some form or another. For your father, it could be the wind magic that he so resents."
"And for you," he said slowly. "You are a woman with versatile capacities. Yet. I have never seen a stronger light magic in my life than that solar shield you placed on the Dragon Knight. Back when we thought your informant was a foe, and you protected him. You could do something amazing with that power you know, and not just defensively. I have very few mages who are masters of light magic, but they can teach you more."
Zelda wasn't completely sure if her light magic came from her or her Triforce, or a combination of the two, but she wanted to improve on it so that she could protect Hyrule and those she loved. "I'll do it."
"So, light magic is on the list now," Zeran verbally reviewed. "Let's pick two other fields as sort of sub categories to practice from time to time. Anything more than that would have to be studied further in the future. Hmm. You still strike me as someone secretive, not in a bad way though. Have you considered the art of illusion?"
Interestingly enough, she had. Zelda didn't know if she would have called it 'illusion', but she had always wanted to find ways to better hide herself or help her sneak, hence the Sheikah attire. "I see it as more of a utility," she said. "But I wouldn't mind learning more."
When they brainstormed over the last option, Zelda couldn't really settle on what she wanted to highlight. Healing was apparently part of light magic, which she might benefit more from compared to healing in other categories. Between studying light and illusion magic, Zelda knew her schedule would be quite preoccupied anyway with everything else she had to do, so she let Zeran know that those two options would suffice for now.
"Very well," he said agreeably. "I will speak to my mages that specialize in those arts and see what we can arrange."