Riju had a look of frustration as she fixed her hair for the nth time that morning. "That stupid bastard," she grumbled. "How dare he ignore my request?! I showed him courtesy and invited him, then this is how he responds? Silence?! I swear to the ancestors above, I will fry his proud ass when the time calls for it. Such disrespect! Such dishonor!"
The girl kept complaining to herself throughout her preparations. She glared at her diary, catching the last words of what she'd written just earlier before she shoved it in her pack. Another glance at the mirror to check her appearance. She wore her usual Gerudo attire as they were starting off in the desert. She wore less jewelry today due to travelling around, but she didn't lose her earrings. She was quite fond of them. She wondered if she had to buy clothing soon, seeing her own wardrobe. Maybe she could use this as an opportunity.
As she descended the stairs with her pack, she saw him leaving his quarters as well. However, she immediately looked away due to her irritation. Stupid voe. If he had accepted sparring with her, maybe she wouldn't have been in such a bad mood. She didn't even give him any acknowledgement when he stood nearby. He didn't deserve it right now.
"Claimants, please stand before the council," the eldest of the members instructed when everyone had gathered in the throne room. "Today is officially the beginning of the Rite of Passage. The rules will be given along with maps on where you should go. Each trial is significant and handpicked for you to understand what it means to be a Chief of the Gerudo. This means, you must do each trial alone. Should you seek help from another individual, you will be disqualified. Buliara, please read out the set of trials for the Claimants."
The powerful bodyguard stepped forward with a large parchment in hand. "You will be expected to participate in the following challenges. When you have successfully completed an individual task, you will be given a small orb representing each of the pillars of the Heroines in our desert. Collect all seven, then return to place them in the appropriate pedestals. Then your final trial will be revealed. They are as follows, in no particular order." She cleared her throat and continued. "The Wisdom to Lead, courtesy of the Sheikah. The Strength to Defend, as offered by the Gorons. The Courage to Stand Firm, guided by the Rito. Grounded in Peace and Unity, led by the Zora. The Power to Fight, as directed by our own peoples. The Ability to Protect, courtesy of the Hylians. And finally, The Bearer of the Three. This shall require you to offer homage at each of the three great springs of Hyrule. Faith and respect for both the gods and our ancestors is essential for the leader of our peoples. Venture across Hyrule and complete the rite set before you. Go now, Claimants, and may you find success in your journey." She lowered the parchment and stepped back to allow the pair the opportunity to respond prior to their departure.
Riju bowed in respect, placing a hand over her heart. "Thank you for this challenge that you have prepared even in such a short amount of time. I promise to do my best to be worthy of the throne no matter the outcome." She chose to say little. She didn't want to show everyone how nervous she actually was. Most especially towards the arrogant voe who scrutinized her every move. With a deep breath, she stepped back to let him say his piece before moving out.
Soryn simply nodded his head in acknowledgement. "It shall be done. Thank you." He turned on his heel and strode out of the throne room with the pride and confidence befitting a male in his position. Challenges across Hyrule? He was born ready. His experiences hunting and traveling would serve him well, and perhaps even offer an advantage to him compared to the younger girl who was now following more slowly behind him.
'Ugh, he looks like he's showing off,' Riju thought with an eyeroll. Sure, he was probably more well-versed in the outside world, but she could totally compete against him. She was her mother's pride and Urbosa was her ancestor. She could do this against that big…asshole. Whatever she wished to call him.
The women around town were whispering, wondering who would come back victorious. Riju acknowledged the guards, asking for Patricia, but they shook their heads. "Patricia is off limits, Lady Riju," the guard said. "She's considered a companion to you. Therefore, she can't take you to the desert border."
She looked at them with disbelief. "What? Seriously?! Ugh… very well then," she pouted, moving towards the rented sand seals. Soryn was already there with a serious look on his face as if he was deeply contemplating which seal to choose. She didn't bother. She picked the closest one and paid the woman that cared for them. "See ya later, Claimant Soryn," she smirked as she rode off.
At first, it was going smoothly. However, when they were in the middle of Lizalfos territory, the seal began to veer off her desired direction. She steered it back towards the path…only for it to go the opposite direction. "Oi! What's the big idea?!" she growled, trying to control the panicking creature.
The surroundings weren't exactly dangerous. At least, to her they weren't. They were for this particular seal though, as it hated venturing near monsters and preferred to take the safe path. Did she know of this? No, of course not. She didn't even ask the lady before she took off. Now, both she and her seal were struggling to decide who was really in control. Soon enough, the seal dove into the sand and sent her plummeting off of her shield. Sand filled her mouth and she spat it out, coughing hard as she tried to get her bearings. It wasn't even a moment later when she heard someone coming in her direction. When she finally had the chance to look, it was him. Of course.
Soryn couldn't help the faint chuckle that escaped him when he approached the small figure plopped unceremoniously in the sand. He had taken the additional few moments to learn of the temperaments and preferences of the creatures before departing - and it was clearly to his advantage. "Having a little trouble in the absence of your beloved companion?" he couldn't help but remark as he slid to a stop nearby. "Where's your seal now?" He had to admit that it was amusing to see the previously dignified girl coated in sand from her hair to her toes and glowering up at him. "Shame that you didn't think things through before you left. Not off to a great start, Lady Riju."
If she could just summon lightning properly right now? She would've struck him without feeling any remorse. However, she must retain her image as the current chief. So, she stood up and dusted off the sand as much as she could. "We're just having a little argument. Not that it matters to you," she huffed, walking towards the stubborn seal. "While I can't bring Patricia with me, I'm sure that I'll do just fine with this seal. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a rite to finish."
With that, she left once more. However, she didn't miss the chuckle that escaped his lips. That made her even more frustrated. 'We'll see who'll have the last laugh, Claimant Soryn,' she thought. Thankfully, the seal didn't throw her off her shield anymore, but it was still quite difficult to steer.
They reached the stables moments later and let the seals find their way back to the town. All they needed to do was to rent a horse and go to the first trial. Both of them paid the stable master, acquiring a temporary horse of their own. She was quite happy with her selection and tried to mount it. However, she didn't succeed as she slid off to the other side. She bit her lip, reining her frustration as she attempted once more.
Soryn had acquainted himself with his horse and mounted easily when he looked over at his rival. Goddesses, she can't even manage to mount a horse?! He watched her second attempt and silently noted the tremble to her lower lip. She didn't know how to ride. He sighed internally. If this was to be a fight that was in any way fair, he should probably show her a hint of compassion. Besides, that would likely be to his advantage. Helping his opponent travel? It would be an annoyance but hopefully it would pay off.
He cleared his throat and called to her. "I see you have no experience with a horse either. Perhaps we can come to an arrangement."
As she tried her best not to cry, she almost didn't hear him. The girl took several shaky breaths to force herself to calm down before facing him. "What is this arrangement you speak of?"
"We travel together to ensure that we keep up on the challenges and keep it fair. You handle yourself, I handle myself, and we get on the rite. Unless you'd rather fight with a horse when you've clearly never ridden a day in your life." He raised an eyebrow toward the mount. "Can you handle that?"
Riju opened her mouth to protest, but immediately shut it. Toppling on sand was one thing, but being thrown off into the ground is going to hurt more. So she had to swallow her ego and shook her head. "I can't—I'm unable to ride a horse," she confessed reluctantly. "I've only ever been on one with the assistance of Buliara…and that was years ago." She wouldn't apologize for the inconvenience. Her pride wouldn't allow her. But she could at least show gratitude. "Thank you…for the offer. I accept."
"Alright. Then get your ass over here." He swung down easily from the saddle and waited for her to approach. "Grab the front of the saddle and hold on." He caught her by the waist before she could protest and almost tossed her into the saddle. "Damn, do you even eat?! You weigh nothing."
"There've been sandstorms lately and we couldn't gather as much food as we used to. Which is why there's a scarcity of that at the moment. I ordered the guards to give what they could for the people. I can starve myself a few days rather than see them suffer," she answered, looking away as he studied her body. It's the first time someone actually took notice of her figure. Not that it really mattered. It was just a shock to her.
Soryn stared at her incredulously, the venom leaving his words. He mumbled a curse under his breath. "Didn't know things were that bad out here. Gonna have to fix that too if we can't manage to survive a few sandstorms without starving. Lean back." He barely waited for her to comply before he was up in front of the saddle, and taking the reins off the edge of the fencepost. "Hold on tight. Won't tell you again."
"What are you—eek!" Riju squeaked, holding on to his torso as the horse ran off. The voe was skilled at riding both a horse and seal apparently. She could do better with the latter if it was Patricia, of course. Shame it hadn't been her seal earlier, but that was the hand fate had dealt her. She tried to look over his shoulder, but she was too short. Curse this height. If only her growth spurt had come faster. Alas, she still had a few years to go.
"Better get comfortable. Only stopping to take a leak til we get to Kakariko. We'll get supplies there for the other regions," he informed her, leaving no room for argument.
"Right… Well, I do hope we don't encounter monsters. As much as I can fight, I don't wish to delay our trial," she replied. Riju didn't know what else to say. She was riding with her rival on a horse. Things couldn't get any more complicated than that.
Soryn grunted in agreement but didn't say anything more. There wasn't a need for more conversation in his mind. Sharing a horse with the entitled child was awkward enough. Although… maybe she wasn't as young as he thought? Not twelve like he'd originally assumed, at least. It didn't matter though. He was going to reclaim his throne from her no matter what.
The only sounds that the two could hear during the ride were the horse, the occasional greeting of a traveler or a merchant, and the cries of bokoblins when their camps were near the side of the road. Other than that, the two were silent for the most part. Riju tried to greet people as much as she could out of courtesy, but she almost fell off twice. So, she resorted to just greeting verbally instead of waving. Though, she couldn't help but notice that hewas being careful with the horse too. He wasn't forcing it to run faster unless there were monsters around. Maybe he wasn't so bad with animals? Ah, why even bother? He was her rival. They wouldn't need to know each other any longerafter she made sure that the title was rightfully hers.
Soryn couldn't help but notice she was getting tired as dusk approached. Her grip slackened and she leaned her head more heavily against his back. He also didn't have to consult a map to know it was still a ways out to get to Kakariko. But they were near Dueling Peaks, and that was good enough. "We'll stop here for the night," he informed her while guiding the horse into the entrance for the stables.
"Hm? Wha…?" Riju blinked looking around. They were approaching the stables. If she had to guess with the environment, this was Dueling Peaks. "Alright. I'll pay for a room, I guess." She got off the horse with his help and watched as the stable master placed it in the fenced area. She was about to enter the stable when she noticed he wasn't coming in. "Aren't you gonna pay for your room?" she asked.
He shook his head. "No. Not wasting rupees on a bed. I'm fine camping. Do what you need to." Though in his case, "camping" meant sleeping near the stables, despite his lack of a tent this time. He also had to think about what he needed to do for his evening meal. But one thing at a time.
"Well, alright then. Just wake me up when we have to leave," she said, leaving him to his own thoughts. Surely he had rupees with him so she didn't need to pay for his food. It wasn't really her problem anyway. He would be fine.
She was probably going to pay for everything she needed rather than fending for herself like he would. Well, to each their own. He was going to use his resources to take care of himself and save money where he could. Camping and hunting were the easiest. Horse rental was a necessary expense. But he'd worry about all that later.
Hunting didn't take long for him. Not with his spear proficiency. And a rabbit was enough to create a simple campfire stew for himself. Fortunately the cooking pot was free and he was able to quickly prepare the simple meal.
The young girl had her food ready. As she began to eat, she noticed Soryn outside cooking something on the cooking pot. The inside of the stable was getting a bit stuffy, so she moved outside and sat at the nearby log by the campfire. "Didn't come here cause you needed company. It's just too much inside," she immediately said in defense when he stared at her. "Why're you hunting instead of buying?"
"Why spend rupees on something I can obtain for myself with patience and skill?" he replied. But he couldn't resist the opportunity for a jab. "Not all of us were raised in the palace with women waiting on us hand and foot. Rupees and food were scarce? You hunt and forage or you don't eat."
"Why should I make it harder for me when I'm being given the resources? It's a waste if I don't utilize it," she huffed. "I don't expect people to understand. The women are doing their job well, and they're getting paid fairly for their labor, no matter how mundane. That is to say, it is only fair that I put that to good use rather than waste their time, no?"
"Whatever helps you sleep at night. Makes sense why you can't manage a seal that's not your own, or ride a horse. How often did they let you out of the palace? Once a year?"
"You would think I had a choice," she chuckled bitterly. "Anyway, it's none of your business whether I'm in or out of town. I just do what needs to be done according to what's expected of me, and that is all you need to know."
Soryn rolled his eyes and kept his peace. The stew was lifted off the fire and set onto the bench beside him. He didn't bother with a bowl when it was only a portion for himself. Why dirty another dish? His spoon was adequate, and he focused on his meal. She was sheltered and unskilled with basic life skills, and it showed. After all, what use did she have for learning to cook, hunt, or ride? None of them contributed to her ability to lead the Gerudo. But the differences in their skills would soon be on brilliant display, and he was ready to see her pride and confidence prove to be her downfall.
The two ate in silence and went their separate ways for the night. When morning came, they set out early to make sure they arrived in Kakariko before midday. At least, that's what Soryn told Riju. The latter was still annoyed by his pompous behavior, but she held herself from saying anything. For now.
There was really no hurry in leaving. They could've left an hour later and still have made good time. But Soryn wanted to see how she'd react to an early start. To his irritation, she said nothing, leaving him to silently think of other ways to potentially find what would get under her skin. If he knew her weaknesses, he'd know how she'd operate when faced with a challenge. It would give him an advantage.
Riju deliberately chose to be silent. She knew that if she had complained, he would call her out for it. Every time she did something wrong, she noticed he was on her case. It was annoying, but she was not going to allow him to exploit whatever knowledge he learned from her through mere observations. If he was so keen on getting the throne, she would definitely make it harder for him.
It was under this heavy blanket of silence that the pair rode into Kakariko Village. Soryn wasted no time taking them to the stable to return the borrowed horse. His eyes were sharp as he looked around for any obvious signs that might give a clue about their challenge.
The Trial of Wisdom being assigned to the Sheikah was fitting. She didn't see any signs or hints for what they were about to do. It was either well hidden or they deliberately hadn't prepared it here. "I believe we should speak to the Chief," she told him as the horse got stabled.
"Probably wise to do. Lady Impa will offer direction even if the trial isn't under her leadership." At her look of surprise, he smirked. "Don't think you're the only one with friends and connections just because of your position."
"I don't need you to remind me of the burden and expectation on my shoulders," she grumbled, walking towards Impa's house. She noticed that he regarded the elder with respect. He was trying to get under her skin. She had experienced this countless times ever since she started her leadership. Even now, there were still a chosen few who doubted her and would most probably support Soryn. But he didn't know that - not that she would care if he did. She'd been through this before, interacting with people who were questioning her abilities. She survived then, surely she would survive now.
As soon as they entered, she immediately bowed in respect. "Sav'aaq, Lady Impa," she greeted with a smile. "I believe you're expecting us?"
The little old Sheikah woman lifted her head from her meditative state. "Welcome Lady Riju. I have been waiting, yes. And welcome, Soryn. I see the truth of your heritage has been revealed for all rather than just the ones with eyes to see. Please, make yourselves comfortable. I will call for some tea. Paya!"
There was a scrambling noise from upstairs and a slight yelp when something went tumbling. Hurried footsteps made their way down. "L-Lady Impa, sorry for the c-commotion and all. My stack of scrolls got toppled and I—" She stopped herself short when she noticed that they had company. Very important company. "M-my apologies!" she squeaked, bowing to the floor. "I didn't n-notice! Forgive me for my t-tardiness!"
Riju had to blink before chuckling. "At ease, Paya. You're not going to be punished just because. Please, don't worry about it and stand up."
"No need to apologize. But if you can spare a minute, our guests would appreciate some tea," Impa prompted. "You can bring out those scones we made yesterday as well for them."
Soryn didn't say anything. But he knew the instant Paya noticed his presence too. She gasped, which brought a smirk to his face. He crossed his arms over his chest and winked, knowing full well the effect it would have on the shy Sheikah.
The poor girl was blushing madly, stuttering quite badly as she excused herself to get the tea and scones. She almost stumbled which got Riju looking at Soryn with exasperation. "Did you really have to do that?" she whispered towards him.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he said innocently. His attention turned to Impa. "How have you been?" He asked conversationally.
"I can't complain. My health is good, Ganon is defeated, and the village is in good repair. I have many blessings. How is your mother?"
His face was unreadable as he replied. "She was well when I left. She keeps herself busy."
"It certainly helps through difficult seasons. And what of your people, Riju? How is Buliara?"
"Gerudo Town is doing quite alright , though I do worry for my people with the frequent sandstorms," she replied. "Supplies had been limited, but we did our best to ration them and hold out for another week. As for Buliara, she's worrying over me as usual, telling me to rest even if I told her I had to finish some official documents. I do know it's from a place of love, so I don't tell her off and just laugh whenever she gives up trying."
"My prayers will go up regarding the supply shortage and the sandstorms. Perhaps following the trials a solution will present itself." Impa cleared her throat and paused when Paya carried in a heavy tea tray laden with the steaming pot, cups, and pastries. "Please, have a seat, and we will discuss the trial of wisdom that has been requested from your elders."
The two Claimants took their seat as the table was prepared before them. The shy Sheikah was trying hard not to look at Soryn again for fear that she would lose it and start messing up because of her embarrassment. Riju pitied the girl, but she couldn't really do anything. Paya had to train herself to be the next Chief of Kakariko. As the current Chief of Gerudo, Riju silently cheered her on. She took a sip from the cup and hummed in approval. "This tea tastes good," she said. "I feel like the Noble Canteen would love to have this brew as an alternative for Noble Pursuit for the more chilly evenings."
"After the trials are complete, we can discuss some new trade agreements. I have been meaning to do so, and with that out of the way, the timing will be rather good, I think, regardless of the leadership of your people." Impa sipped her tea and eyed the both of them knowingly. "I trust that's agreeable?"
"Sounds good to me. Thank you, Lady Impa," Riju replied, glancing at Soryn just to see him finishing his tea. She raised her eyebrow. Did he like it that much?
He took a scone and bit into it while Paya silently filled his cup again. He was more hungry than he realized after eating only a snack at the beginning of the day. It was only then that he felt Impa's expectant gaze on him. He nodded with his mouth full, gesturing for her to continue.
"Very well. The elders who reached out to me about the purpose of the trials asked me to create one that emphasized the need for wisdom. Wisdom can be displayed in many different manners. For today, I have requested one of the guards take two packages to the far side of the gate leading to Mount Lanayru. There you will find a Lynel guarding the meadow beside the path. The challenge will be to retrieve the packages without alerting the monster to your presence. If you do, you will need to defeat it before you return."
The young Chief hummed, showing no signs of nervousness. She had surfed through Vah Naboris' sandstorms and aided the Divine Beast's defeat. She faced Moldugas when the need arose. What was a Lynel compared to that? "It shall be done," she replied with a slight bow of respect to the elder.
"As you wish. What do the parcels contain?" Soryn inquired, sounding bored. Lynels could be an issue but if it was simply a matter of sneaking around one? He'd done it countless times.
"That will be revealed when you obtain it, don't you think?" Impa's eyes twinkled. "Any further questions?"
Both Claimants shook their heads. They were ready for this. They knew it in their hearts. A Lynel shouldn't pose an issue if all they needed was to hide from it. However, the knowing smile that Impa had under her hat spelled something else that the two young Gerudo didn't see but in time would soon discover.