As a reminder, you can find MORE of this on my SubStar (dot adult slash KajaWilder), it's posted up past chapter 50 there... And if you guys haven't seen an update in at least a week, please let me know! I have a busy life, and I get distracted and forget things. This story (and PTaL) are supposed to be updated WEEKLY from now until they're both caught up with each other (like I was doing with FwB until this weekend).

And if you're just interested in discussing things with other readers, of course, you can go to my DISCORD here: h- t_ t_ p-s -: -/ -/ -discord . g-g / N9yDA8t6Cw (taking out hyphens, underscores, and spaces of course).

NOTE: This chapter (again) has mentions of sexual assault. It's not going to be pleasant for some people. But as always, light at the end of the tunnel and all.


Chap. 36: Hateno Hijinks

The aches and pains of her several days of travel, starting with climbing nearly sheer cliffs to reach Misko's hideout, the hike up and over the ridge around Mount Rozudo and then the many battles on the Firly Plateau and Marblod Plain that had finally taken her to the Hateno Tower had been tough on her body. She'd even been...

Raped.

Drugged and assaulted.

Yes, Zelda had seen the man dead afterward, and was freed herself thanks to Bubmin's intervention. Yes, she had found the many battles in the Firly Valley to be... therapeutic, close though a few of them were, and against many dangerous opponents.

Then the killing in Ginner Woods, too, which had taken no small amount of care and much walking in a crouched, hunched position as she slunk from one tree or bush to the next, trying to maintain cover as she crept upon the mostly-sleeping Bokoblins. Coming across two other young women who were being attacked, to interrupt one rape and end another prematurely (more or less) had been terrible, too.

Zelda wondered, as she used the now-tepid, soapy water from her long soak the night before to wash up a bit before she dressed, how her mind was not more scared and traumatized than it seemed to be. The only excuse, the only even partial reason, she could think of was that because he memories were largely missing, she simply didn't have the context to truly understand.

Yet that didn't sit right with her. It was the best reason she had, but one would think, she reasoned, that a younger mind- or one with less context- would have a harder time putting things like that in perspective, or putting it behind them. She still couldn't think of any other possible reason, however, not even by the time she finished gathering her things and slipped the door key- this inn had actual locks on the doors!- into a pocket and started heading downstairs for breakfast.

At least the soak had helped with the aches and pains, and a good and long full day's rest had helped a great deal, too. She wasn't limping and wincing with every step, at any rate.

"Ah, you're awake, then," the same young woman who had brought up the bath the previous morning said as she stepped from the first room in the 'better' wing. There were just two rooms there, the one Zelda had rented and this one.

Zelda smiled at her, and once more found her eyes wandering the woman's simple but elegant, pretty sky-blue dress and the way it hugged her curvaceous frame. "Hello. I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name last night- er, yesterday morning."

"I'm Prima," the brunette said with a tired smile, "And you're Zina, right? Dad mentioned it."

Zelda hesitated a moment, then, slightly pink, replied quietly, "Actually, my name's Zelda. I didn't want to embarrass him, by saying he misheard..."

It was a blatant lie, she very well remembered giving the kind man the alias for his ledger out of habit. But somehow, the princess felt she could trust the people of Hateno. True, she'd only met three of them now. Five, if you counted Meghyn and Nat, though for all she knew the sisters were about as homeless as she herself was. But Thadd's simple hesitance to trust her when she'd shown up so well-armed, then his abrupt shift in demeanor when he'd decided she was not a threat had been a very reassuring thing even if he was just a farmer with a pitchfork. Prima and her father, too, had been most welcoming. Yes, it was their job, but Zelda knew full well that the young woman had been coming off a long shift herself when she'd hauled twenty buckets of water upstairs two at a time for her bath. Yet she'd done it without complaint, and even smiled every time she noticed Zelda looking her way.

(Which, admittedly, the princess found herself doing quite a lot. Prima was very pretty, even if she wore a little too much makeup for Zelda's tastes.)

Besides, she reasoned with herself, she had to trust someone. Mina and Mils had been a start, and the people of Kakariko had proven themselves trustworthy, so why not Hateno? Civilization- even relatively small towns and villages- required trust to function, or they'd have fallen apart ages before. It was only reasonable that she should offer trust first, anyway. It wasn't like these were Moblins, or worse.

All of that was decided in less than a second as Zelda returned her wandering eyes to Prima's face. There, they froze. "Er... you have a little, um, c- cream on your jaw. Just- just there," Zelda told her, pointing at the substance running down from the end of Prima's very red lips to her jawline.

The girl blinked, then raised a finger to wipe at her jaw. Her eyes focused on it, and as she looked, realized what it was... Prima stuck the finger in her mouth and licked it clean. "Sorry about that," the girl murmured, a little red beneath her makeup, "I... well, you know how it is. A well-paying customer, tips for a little extra service..."

Zelda's golden eyebrows rose slightly. She knew the girl was pretty, gorgeous even, but that she was acting in the same way Sagessa would have? Or at least, the same capacity, in addition to her regular duties?"

No... that wasn't her business. Zelda really only had two questions, she decided. She leaned in, pasting a conspiratorial smile on her face, "Does your father know...? I don't want to mention it if he doesn't, that's why I ask."
Prima actually coughed, and grew even more red-faced. "Um... n- No... he, er, f- forbade me from it when he caught me once. Said it, uh, disgraced the reputation of the Great Ton Pu Inn."

Zelda snorted and stood up again, "Well, don't worry about me, I won't say a word to him about it, then. And for what it's worth, I've nothing against a woman earning a little extra on the side, so to speak. Just makes me feel better I warned you, before your father saw."

"Yeah, uh, th- thanks for that," Prima murmured sheepishly, "He'd have been right red if he saw it."

Zelda could only assume the expression referred to red-faced with anger, or something similar, so she nodded, "I understand. Um... another question, if you don't mind. And you don't have to answer. Um... about how much does- does a customer tip, to, uh, get that extra... service?"

To Zelda's surprise, Prima's blush actually decreased. She even giggled quietly before answering, "Well, if I think the customer's handsome- or pretty- enough, I'm more willing to do it for less, of course. Gotta find myself a good man that can pay the bills somehow. And my mother always told me, the best way to a man's heart is through is cock. Dad's a bit more old-fashioned, but my mum was a right amazing woman."

"Was...? I'm sorry to hear she's gone, then," Zelda told the inn-girl seriously.

"Ah, don't worry about it, was a bunch of years back," Prima replied casually, waving off the princess' concern. "At any rate, just between you and me, I kind of like doing it. It's fun watching their faces right before they finish, y'know? So it really does depend on the man or woman, but I'd say an average is an extra twenty rupees for a bit of service? Yeah, something like that."

Zelda surprised even herself by reaching into her rupee satchel and slapping to red gems into the girl's hand quickly. "My room tonight then. I'm not sure when I'll be in. Er... if- if you're alright with a woman. You kind of implied..."

"Absolutely," Prima shot back, and pocketed the money quickly, "I'll be there, soon as my dad settles for the night. Um... there were some girls here asking about you. At least, I think it was you. Golden hair, a- a scar, and an adventurer."

For a moment, Zelda let her hand drift up to cover the starburst scar that surrounded her left eye, but yanked it down the moment her fingertips touched the thicker flesh. "Er, okay? Um, which girls?"

"Oh, you probably know their names, didn't even think of that if they were asking about you," Prima giggled, and Zelda blushed as she realized where the inn-girl's eyes were wandering, too. "Nat and Meg- Meghyn. Couple of girls that've been orphaned nigh... oh, about eight years now. Had to make their way, and they chose to do it by harvesting things out of the nearby woods. Mostly mushrooms, but occasionally other things they supply the local shops and farmers with. Stuff that doesn't grow as well in a field."

Zelda nodded with a sad smile, "Yes, I do remember them. I met them just yesterday. They were being attacked by... by Bokoblins. I got to one- Meghyn I think- in time, but Nat... the Bokoblin had already, um..."

"Fuck," Prima exhaled softly, her expression going quite dark for a moment before it softened, "Poor girl... she's always kind of looked out for me and Meg both. We were pretty good friends when I was a little girl, but as the girls here developed," Prima gestured at her bountiful chest, which openly displayed enough cleavage that her father probably didn't approve, "we sort of drifted apart a bit. Not that either of 'em's got any thing to be ashamed of, mind. Just not like this."

Zelda nodded. "Well, they could both probably use a good friend right now, if you can spare the time."
"I'll do that," Prima nodded quickly, "At any rate, Nat said she'd be back tomorrow and Meg tonight. They're trying to bring you a little something as thanks for... well, they didn't say, but given what you've told me I can only guess it's for saving them both from a fate worse than just death."

The princess sighed and ran a hand down her face. "I... suppose it would only be right to accept, if only to make them feel better. I don't need a thanks, precisely, but... it wouldn't feel right turning down a sincere gift of gratitude."

"No, I reckon not," Prima replied. "I know you paid my dad for a couple of days, but that's uh, up at noon tomorrow. So I think you'll have plenty of chance to see them. Should I take the package for you if you aren't in tomorrow morning, or not up?"

"That'd be great, thank you, Prima," Zelda smiled, "I think I'll be in by dinner tonight. Hopefully I won't sleep past breakfast again, too. Either time would probably work, but just in case I miss them, I'm sure I'll be around for a few more days anyway."

"Great. Um, I know it's not my place to ask, and you haven't a need to answer either way. I'm just... well, you aren't like the average person that comes through. So... would you mind, um, telling me what your business in town in? I might be able to help you out."

A single thought went through Zelda's head that sent a shiver of an increasingly familiar emotion down her spine to pool between her legs: Desire. Is she... flirting with me?

"Oh, I anticipate you'll be helping me plenty tonight," Zelda heard herself say, almost as if some strange celestial spirit had put the words in her mouth. But she could not find it in herself to complain. After her experience with Sagessa, the princess found herself quite willing to try with another woman. Especially one as pretty as Prima. "But I don't mind telling you, and it's no great secret."

Prima smiled coquettishly and ran a hand through her own hair.

Zelda explained, "My most important reason is to visit the Ancient Tech Lab in the city, if you happen to know where that is."
Prima nodded, "Aye, most townsfolk know the place by sight. You really can't miss it, it's the manor up on Sumac Hill, east of town. You can see it from just about everywhere nearby on a clear day. Bit if a walk up the road there, a couple of miles, but worth it for the view sometimes. I used to picnic up there a few times a summer with Meg and Nat, actually."

"That's good to know, I do love a nice view. I suppose the other important reason, and a bit more urgent, is just to resupply. I've got a fair bit of raw goods- probably the kind of thing Meghyn and Nat would sell, though I haven't a mind to put them out of business- and am in need of more prepared meals, someone to repair some of my armor and clothing, and possibly to find something new. Having two or three complete outfits is not all that useful, even for a traveler."

Prima smiled, "Well, that's easy enough. East Wind Suppliers is our local general goods store, you'll find that on the west end of town, near the gates. Probably walked right by it on your way in."

"I'm sure I did, as that's how I came into Hateno," Zelda agreed.

"As for clothing and a seamstress, or an armor-maker, there's a couple- well, a brother and a sister- that run that place. It's actually just opposite East Wind. They call the place Ventest Clothing Boutique. That's their family name. The sister, her name's Sophie, she's a... well, shy's slathering on the praise a bit much. Shyer than shy is a better description. She's good at what she does, though. Made my dress. It's not Sheikah make, mind, but good enough for us simple folk."

"I'm sure it's more than adequate, then."

"Right. And her brother, I forget his name, he's the only armorer nearby. Mostly works with treated leathers and hides for the adventurous types, but every once in a while he turns out a full piece of steel armor. He's probably got a few stocked up in the shop at any time, one's probably something he can adjust to your size."

"That's very good to know," Zelda nodded, "though I'm not sure I'm the type for heavy armor. It wouldn't hurt to try it on, I suppose."

"Well enough," Prima agreed, "I wouldn't want anything hurting you, at any rate. There's a bit of an open-air diner in the market at the center of town- that's right outside, really. You can almost always find a couple farmers or their wives or older kids out there, selling prepared meals. Most of their business is for people too busy to cook, but in this farming town, well... that's near everyone. Between Dad and I we do alright for food, but even then about half our customers eat there of a mealtime. Can't say as I blame them, most are better than either of us. We can cook, but we aren't great. That was always my mother's thing."

Zelda nodded again. "Hm. Okay, and-"

Prima kept going, either ignoring or not noticing Zelda's words, "there's the mayor's house, we keep a small Shrine there about half the town attends on Sundays. His wife usually does a bit of a prayer, at least, for everyone. Uh, what else... the stable, if you can stand being leered at by the stable-man... that's just down the road on the right, too, opposite the market. Otherwise it's mostly just farmers and ranchers, aside from the flour mill."

"I've seen plenty of farmers so far," Zelda agreed easily, "But ranchers? Haven't noticed any."

The pretty girl nodded quickly, "Yep. I used to babysit one of their daughters. More up the hills, toward Sumac Hill and Retsam Forest. Sheep, cows, a few goats, that sort of thing."

"Ah, I see. I suppose that makes sense," Zelda nodded.

"Oh, and there's an old quarry- long abandoned- a couple miles northwest, too. No one goes there, though. One of those stone giants settled, and... we think it might be breeding. That's the talk among the menfolk, anyway."

"A stone giant? I hate those things," Zelda shuddered. "I'd avoid them if I could, yes. But... breeding? They're literally made out of rock."

"I don't claim to understand it," Prima told her, waving her hands quickly, "I just hear the men say there are little ones in the quarry. The giant is closer to town, south of Nirvata Lake. Used to go swimming there, but now that's out, and only Lake Sumac and Zelkoa are... well, Zelkoa's surrounded by farm houses, and I'd rather not give everyone a free peek at the goods. Sumac's just a long walk, north of the hill."

"I see. Well, thanks, Prima," Zelda told her with another smile and nod, "I've got to get moving I think, it sounds like I have a lot to do today. I'll try to be back for dinner, though."

"And later," the girl shot back quietly with a coy smile.

"And definitely later."

Then, with one last smile, Prima was gone, bouncing down the stairs ahead of Zelda, probably to clean up the common room before she went to bed for the day.


Later in the day than the morning before, and with a blustery, partly-cloudy sky sending leaves and husks of wheat or other farmland detritus billowing through the town, Zelda stepped past the girl who was barking (and cleaning) to advertise the wares at the East Wind Suppliers store, and knocked once just to be polite before pushing the door open.

She'd met a half-dozen new people, and seen or been waved at by dozens more, including a trio of children that were chasing each other around a notice board near her destination. Zelda reminded herself to check it later, then stepped inside the darker shop.

Darker only because, while blustery, the day was currently bright outside, and the twelve lanterns inside were nothing compared to the sunlight on the other side of the door. "Welcome, welcome," a balding, older gentleman with a red shirt and green-striped vest called from behind the long counter. Zelda watched him tally a few jars of something that looked like sugar in ceramic containers for a moment as she walked closer, then he made a note in a ledger before turning to face her with a wide smile. His eyes were large and round, further emphasized by thick glasses perched on a small nose over a thin, two-piece mustache a little longer than his thin mouth. "I'm Pruce, I run this general store. What can I do for you, miss?"

"I'm Zelda," she told him, glad that she was still comfortable using her actual name rather than the alias she'd been using for so long.

"Pleased t'meet you. You do look like a woman in need of some things, that's for sure."

"I definitely am," she agreed, casting her green eyes aroudn the interior as they adjusted enough to see the goods. There were indeed shelves full of baking and cooking supplies, herbs, spices, and bags of staples like beans and flower, even jugs for milk behind the counter. In front of it and arrayed around the shop, were a few textiles like sheets and soft towels, sachets of tea in wooden boxes, bushesls of rice, of wheat, several barrels full of large mushrooms, rolled placemats, and, to the right of the door, farming tools by the dozen in a wide variety. Hunting tools as well, including a few skinning knives. More importantly to Zelda there were arrows. Dozens of them, finely crafted by the look of it, and a small lockbox with a label affixed atop it: Bomb Arrows: 50 Rupees Each. Special Price: Buy ten, get 30% off!

Zelda smiled, "Oh, I definitely need things. But first, I have a question. Do you know Nat and Meghyn?"

"Sure do. They're my main suppliers, between them, for most of that shelf there on your left."

Zelda followed Pruce's finger to look over the line of goods in question. Most of the mushrooms she'd seen were there, along with about half of the wheat bushels, and some bundled firewood. "Okay, that does make this simpler, then. I need to buy everything they've supplied."

"E- Everything, Miss? I mean, I don't mean to-"

"Everything. And in return, I need you to buy everything- again, everything- they bring in for the next... month, or so. I don't care if it's going to go bad. Buy it anyway. I'll pay a premium for their supply today if that helps convince you."

"I mean, I do usually buy most of what they bring me anyway," the balding older man said with a shrug, "But if you don't mind me asking, why? What's going on?"

"They just... need the help," Zelda told him.

Pruce frowned, and folded his arms over his chest. "Now listen here, miss. I don't underpay my suppliers. They make a fair decent living form what I buy, and I know they supply a few other folks around here, too. I won't have you thinking I'm cheating those kids."

"No, no, I didn't mean that, and didn't mean to imply it, either," Zelda corrected him. "There's... they ran into some trouble, that's all. I'm hoping not having to worry about money for a bit will help, that's all. And I've the means. Not necessarily in Rupees, but I have other supply. I don't want to compete with what they bring in, though. Not if it'll put you and yours out."

Pruce rolled his eyes, "Look, Miss, you don't know me and my store, but this is Hateno Village. We don't like people tellin' us we don't look after our own. If Meg and Nat are having issues, we'll take care of it. I'm sure I can buy whatever you've scrounged up and move it off the shelves in plenty of time for those two. They aren't due back in town for a couple of days anyway, they just left day before yesterday."

"I'm pretty sure they are back," Zelda told him sternly, "since I just saved them both from Bokoblins yesterday morning and they headed home. That's why I want you to buy what they bring, they weren't... they didn't have a chance to gather much in the way of supply to sell. I'm hoping this will help them stay afloat, but also not leave your customers or you high and dry."

"Tch... fine. If it's you being generous, I guess I can't say no," Pruce muttered suspiciously, "but I don't see how some lady I don't even know can make up for the work of two."

"Oh... I think you'll be surprised at just how much I have to sell," Zelda told him, now grinning herself.

His wide eyes got even wider when she started pulling out bushels of her own harvested materials. They didn't return to their normal protuberant size for at least an hour.


Zelda whistled a jaunty tune she imagined she'd heard sometime in a past life as she stepped past the pretty girl who was still calling for more people to come in, though she was more standing next to her broom than sweeping with it now, and headed for Ventest Clothing Boutique with a great deal more Rupees and a lot less supply in her satchel. And yes, many arrows: the man's full stock, ensuring he had to place a rush order with the town's two fletchers lest his own usual customers have nothing for their next week's hunt.

"W- Welcome to Ventest! We're a- a clothing shop with, unm, lots of apparel to chose from. Normal wear to adventure wear, you'll find it wh-where? Right, um, here!"

"Hi," Zelda told the mousy-haired young woman who had been hiding- or at least it looked like she was hiding- behind the door of the boutique as Zelda stepped inside. "You must be Sophie."

"E- eh? I- Yes, I'm Sophie. Um... How did you...?"

"Prima mentioned you," Zelda told her truthfully, "and let me save you some trouble, okay? You don't have to be shy around me. I promise, I'm friendly. I do need some clothes repaired though. This armor first, what I'm wearing."

"Oh, Sh- Sheikah? I can... I suppose I can stitch it up," Sophie murmured thoughtfully, then reached out a hand to rub a bit of the cut on Zelda's left shoulder. "The threads are smooth, at least... it won't be up to their work, though."

"Just a patch is fine," Zelda assured her, "but if you can make it harder to see that'd be great. There's also another project... I understand if this is too hard. The piece is... in bad shape."

With some care, Zelda dug into her satchel and pulled out the muddy, stained, and torn dress that she had been sleeping in for a century. She held it up, and Sophie's dark brown eyes widened. "Wow, such workmanship... but it's in bad shape, for sure," the girl murmured thoughtfully. "I... I'm not sure I can... but if you'd like, I can try?"

"Please, anything you can do for it. The dress is.. important. To me, I mean."

She didn't know, couldn't place why this particular white (or once-white, now mostly brown and yellow) dress was so important to her, she just knew that it was. "Any amount of money. Just whatever you can do."

"Er, um... Okay. I'll do my best, then," Sophie agreed quietly, accepting the dress with the same reverence Zelda was holding it with, then heading for a door to the side that opened into a tailor's workshop. She returned a few minutes later, "I've got it pinned up, so... was it, um, tailored for you? For your, um, m- measurements, I mean?"

"Yes," Zelda nodded, "It- it fit me perfectly."

"Alright. I'll do what I can then," Sophie told her, a little bit of confidence finally appearing in her voice. "In the mean time, I'll also need the armor you're w- wearing... you can change in the office, if you prefer...?"

"I'll do that," Zelda nodded, smiling and feeling much relieved that Sophie at least thought she could do something with the ceremonial dress. "But first I'd like to take a look at your wares. I need a few underthings, and Prima also mentioned your brother might have made some armor suitable for me...?"

"O- Oh, yes. Um, r- Right this way."

Zelda perused the small boutique with Sophie trailing behind. While the girl was quiet and unassuming, the princess found her to be a wealth of knowledge about her own products, and she seemed fairly well-informed about how her brother's armor pieces would fit on her, too. As a result, it was the process of just under an hour for her to find two undershirts and two overshirts of the style Sophie herself and a couple of the other girls around town like Ivee wore, several sets of undergarments that fit more comfortably on her than the Sheikah's old-fashioned styles, two pairs of trousers, and one dress of a similar cut but emerald green, dyed darkly, to Prima's.

All told, that cost Zelda more money than she expected Ventest usually made in a month, but she considered it well-spent. The dress was six hundred Rupees, and the rest about a hundred and fifty total, but she needed some variety in her clothes. The Hateno styles may not be fashionable in any courtly sense that Zelda could divine, but they were comfortable and practical, and more importantly, sturdy.

The section of leathers Zelda largely skipped over, as they seemed more or less functionally identical to the ones she had already purchased in Kakariko Village. But the armor, the actual armor crafted by Sophie's brother, Seldon, was something she spent a lot of time looking at.

Mostly because she had seen its like before. Often, in fact. There were six dummies with a full set of the armor, four male and two clearly crafted for females with slightly shaped cuirasses for the chest, and thinner of build but otherwise very similar. Even the markings and engravings were some that, while a little different from the flashes of memory seeing them caused in her, were very similar to the armor once worn by Hyrule's actual soldiery.

"Where did... where did Sheldon learn to make this armor?" Zelda asked quietly as she ran her hand down one engraved section of an epaulet.

"From our father, who learned from his, and from his," Sophie replied. "We've- well, he's- kept it as close to the original design as we could. A few of the old soldiers of his time helped him with it, we think, 'cause our great grandad took a lot of notes on the markings and style, how each was made. I think grandma mentioned when I was little he was an armorer for the Castle, or something."

"Wow. It shows," Zelda murmured, "the craftsmanship is excellent. I... I'm impressed."
That had not been what she was about to say. She had been going to mention something closer to, I remember them looking almost exactly like this.

But she did not think that would go over well. She didn't want the people of Hateno thinking she was crazy. Not yet, anyway.

"I'll... how long will it take a- a set to be resized for me?"

"Well... Sheldon's out of town until tomorrow," Sophie, who seemed much more comfortable with her now, replied with a finger on her chin. "He should be back near noon, I think. Went hunting for some more ore up northeast. Hm... I've got your measurements now, of course, so that'll help. I think... maybe three days? Four or five at the most."

"Alright. I'll definitely take a set, then," Zelda told her. "Do I need to pay now, or when I pick them up?"
"He usually asks for it in advance, and gives a receipt. I can write one up for you, so if something happens people know we aren't trying to cheat you or rob you."

"Alright, that sounds fair. How much, then? I'd like the finer of the two women's sets, if it's all the same. This one here."

"Of course," Sophie agreed quickly, then seemed to run a quick tally in her head. "Um, th- That'll be... six hundred and thirty rupees."

"That's less- well, I guess it's about the same as the dress."

"I'm sorry," Sophie apologized, turning a bit pink, "It's just... the demand for these suits has made him lower the price a few times, and- and the green dye is thick and expensive. You could maybe pay less for a different dress, but..."

"No, no, I'm not complaining," Zelda assured her quickly, "I'm just surprised. I'll take it. I'll even throw in an extra seventy- make it an even seven hundred- if he can have it done as soon as possible."

"Oh, I- I'm sure he'd be happy to hear that," Sophie said with a smile.

"I'm happy to pay it! Now, let me see... this should be enough. Thank you!"
"No," Sophie gasped as she looked at the literal double-handful of small, rainbow-colored gems Zelda dropped into her paws. "That's so much..."

"Fifteen hundred- and change- rupees. What you told me the price for all this is."

"But... but that's... so much," Sophie gasped again. "How did you- W- Well, it's not my business, it's just... that's a lot. You know?"

"I have means, I suppose," Zelda told her, strangely shy herself. "I... adventure. A lot. Apparently I'm good at it. That's all. Most of my wealth comes from- from monster parts, and mining."

She didn't need to mention that mining, for her, didn't often require hammers or picks, but bombs and magic. That would just be unfair.

"W... Well, keep it up then, if you- if you can handle the danger. I don't think I could."

"You might be surprised what you can do when you have no choice," Zelda told her, knowing she wouldn't really understand. If she were honest with herself, Zelda hoped the taciturn young woman wouldn't ever understand.

With her shopping done, Zelda moved back toward the center of town for a late lunch in the marketplace. She still had so much more to do in Hateno, but for now she deserved a bit of a break after (she imagined) single-handedly kickstarting the whole village's economy a bit.

Right?