Chapter 33: Truly Alone

"I- don't understand..." The words caught in Noah's throat as a tidal wave of memories crashed over him. His stomach roiled, and before he could brace himself, he was doubled over, vomiting onto the cold stone floor. It wasn't just the sudden influx of memories; his mind was relentlessly analysing the fragments, piecing together a horrifying mosaic.

The Hylian woman and child, their bodies twisted and broken, replayed in his mind's eye. The image of the hanged corpse, a silent plea etched into its distorted face, was a searing brand. And the Great Fairy, a creature of myth and magic, was a grotesque aberration, like an egg trying to hatch itself.

When the nausea finally subsided, Noah pushed himself to his feet, leaning against the damp wall for support. He needed to escape this unholy place, to confirm the worst. The blood moon.

His mind raced, trying to make sense of the chaos. Christa's betrayal was clear. Her interruption during the meeting was not a random act of defiance but a planned distraction. Afterall, there was no way a devout follower such as Christa would barge into the meeting with her Saintess, the highest-ranking member of the Church. It made him lower his guard, making him an easier target. With his guard lowered, she lured him to the basement to make these events happen.

Lady Amelia of course, had orchestrated this under her orders.

Yet, the question gnawed at Noah: why such elaborate deception? Why arrest him when a simple request could have sufficed? It was a puzzle with missing pieces. At the very least, there was no need for herself to become involved, all she would need was Christa guiding Noah into the basement.

Christa, once a trusted confidante, had betrayed him with chilling efficiency. Her manipulation was exploiting their shared history to lull him into a false sense of security. The realization that he had never left being a pawn was a bitter pill to swallow but also filled his determination.

As the fog over his head lifted, a new, disturbing thought emerged. Why would the Saintess, a supposed devotee of Hylia, turn against the Hero? The answer was painfully obvious. She must have been under direct orders from the one who had revealed his existence to the village in the first place.

Noah punched the wall in frustration, his voice a hoarse whisper, "Hylia...you damn goddess..." Tears streamed down his face as he grappled with his thoughts. "…are you, my enemy?"

But there was no time for despair. Something was wrong in the village. People were vanishing, their memories wiped clean. He had to act, to warn Impa his conscience would not allow him to stand idly by.

He had no intention of fixing the problem, that was a hero's job. But he can warn Impa.

Summoning his strength, Noah pushed himself to his feet and left the chamber. An eerie silence had descended upon the church, a stark contrast to its usual bustle. As he made his way through the familiar corridors, a growing sense of dread crept over him.

He didn't see Christa, but he was glad. For, he didn't know what he would do if he did.

Noah passed by the room he had his meeting with Amelia and saw an empty room. He didn't see a single soul as he retraced his steps back to the entrance.

As he stepped out of the church onto the steps, his gaze was drawn upward. The blood moon, an ominous crimson orb, hung heavy in the sky, casting an eerie, blood-red glow over the entire village. The once familiar landscape was transformed into a haunting tableau, with shadows stretching and dancing in the unnatural light. The air was still and heavy, pregnant with a sense of impending doom. A chill ran down Noah's spine as he realized the full extent of the horror that had befallen this place.

This was no ordinary blood moon from the game. Lady Impa had warned him of its worsen nature. A cold dread settled in his stomach as he realized the grave implications of its appearance. He needed to act swiftly—returning to his own world would be meaningless if anyone of significance perished because of it.

Noah's face scrunched as he suddenly smelled a rather decaying odour but as he was about to descend the steps, a voice halted him. "Master Link, is everything alright? How did it go?"

It was the Sheikah assassin, her voice filled with concern. Noah had completely forgotten that she was outside waiting for him. A wave of relief washed over him. He had a way out—he could pass the responsibility onto her.

Turning to face her, he asked, "Have you warned Impa yet?"

A moment of silence passed before she replied, "Warned her that you entered the church? I made sure to leave messages every now and then. Your safety was ensured."

Noah frowned, his attention returning to the ominous moon. "And what about the blood moon?"

The assassin followed his gaze, her eyes locking onto the sky. After a prolonged silence, she finally spoke, her voice trembling. "I—I don't see anything unusual. I think?"

'This isn't just a memory problem…' Noah's mind raced with revelation.

He struggled to articulate his thoughts. "I am telling you the blood moon has risen. Does the moon look different to you?"

"What!?" The assassin's voice rose in panic. "T-the blood moon has risen? But that's impossible! I d-don't…"

Her voice faltered as she struggled to catch her breath. "I… only see the regular moon. There's nothing out of place."

Noah's frustration flared. He'd been wrong about memory loss; it wasn't about forgetting. It was as if everyone was being blinded by their own senses. The anomalies, the grotesque scenes he'd witnessed—the people around him simply weren't capable of comprehending them. Their minds ignored what didn't fit into their perception of reality.

This wasn't a failure of memory; it was a failure of perception. Noah recalled the gruesome hanging corpse and the Great Fairy's withered form—his mind had seen them, but couldn't process the threat they represented. The same seemed to be happening with the blood moon.

'So even though the blood moon has rose, everyone still can only perceive it as an ordinary moon.'

Noah tsked at the floor, that made warning everyone significantly harder than he intended.

He faced the assassin, desperation in his eyes. "Lady Impa needs to be warned immediately. If the blood moon has risen, she's in grave danger. Where is she now?"

"The Lady has gone to open the gates to Kakariko Village," the assassin replied. "She's preparing to celebrate the blood moon's disappearance."

Noah's face fell, a grim realization settling over him. If the blood moon had indeed risen, the gates opening would invite even more peril.

"There isn't time for a detailed explanation," Noah said urgently. "The blood moon has risen, but only I can see it. We need to find Impa before it's too late. Take me to her immediately!"

"B-but why can you only see it?" The assassin asked, although her voice felt mute as if she was questioning someone she shouldn't

Noah let out a long-drifted sigh as he cringed at his own voice. "Because im the hero."

'Unfortunately' he added silently.

The assassin must have set aside her own misgivings as she appeared out of thin air with a talisman burning in her hands and without a word, she dashed off, her movements fluid and purposeful.

Noah followed closely, his heart pounding with each step. As they raced through the village, the once-familiar surroundings seemed distorted by the looming threat. The streets were eerily quiet, as if the very fabric of reality was holding its breath.

Coincidentally, the two passed through a small street that Noah recognised, it was the same street with the few trees that he had last seen the corpse that was hanging from the tree. Noah attempted to find it as he wanted to test just what the assassin could perceive, but he oddly couldn't locate the corpse. It was missing.

Noah couldn't spend too long thinking about it however, as the assassin's speed was impressive, requiring Noah to focus on his steps. He couldn't afford to lose Impa to this impending catastrophe. Every second counted. The village, usually a place of refuge, now felt like a labyrinth of potential dangers, each corner possibly harbouring the consequences of the blood moon's sinister rise.

As they neared the gates, Noah's mind was a whirlpool of thoughts. How could he convince Impa of the danger when reality itself seemed to conspire against their understanding? How could he bridge the gap between what he saw and what others were capable of acknowledging?

He didn't know, but he had to decide on it soon.

As Noah and the assassin approached one of the three walls that guarded the entrance to Kakariko Village, they slowed to a brisk walk. The scene that unfolded before them was unsettling: Cado stood among a cluster of Sheikah Guards stationed on the interior wall, their faces etched with concern as they stared at something on the ground.

A gnawing sense of dread twisted in Noah's gut. The assassin, as if avoiding visibility by instinct, vanished into thin air, leaving Noah to navigate this tense situation alone.

Drawing closer, Noah overheard Cado's voice rising above the murmur of the guards.

"What is this? You allowed a Bokoblin to get this close to the village?"

"Sir, with respect, we eliminated it before it breached the gate," one guard defended. "If anything, the guards on the first and second walls should be held accountable."

"It's irrelevant!" Cado's voice cut through the air with a sharp edge. "You are one unit. Their failure is your failure. What if it had attacked Lady Impa?"

"A single Bokoblin wouldn't have posed much of a threat," another guard argued. "And if there were more, we would have detected them."

Noah forcefully maneuverered his way into the circle of guards and caught Cado's attention. "Excuse me, Cado. I'm sorry for the interruption."

Cado turned, offering a warm smile as he motioned for the guards to step aside. "Ah, the Hero. Please, come forward."

Cado's greeting caused Noah to stiffen, as he did not fail to notice the gazes of the surrounding guards lock onto and begin to scrutinize him, but he dismissed their gazes, focusing on Cado.

"I apologize for the scene," Noah said, his voice laced with urgency. "I need to speak with Lady Impa immediately."

Cado's expression shifted from cordial to serious, sensing the gravity in Noah's tone. "What's going on?"

"Danger," Noah began, his eyes locking onto Cado's. "The blood moon hasn't disappeared; its complicated to explain but consider it just to be hidden. As of now, the blood moon has risen, and everyone is in grave danger. If that wall opens, you'll be exposing the village to additional threats."

Noah's words caused an instant reaction amongst the Sheikah guards, especially after hearing that Noah was the Hero. Their faces paling as they exchanged worried glances. Cado grabbed Noah by the arm, pulling him away from the group for a more private conversation. "I don't understand," he said, looking skeptically at the sky. "The moon looks normal."

"It's an illusion," Noah explained urgently. "The blood moon has been risen... probably has for several days; I think."

"Link, I know you're the Hero and that the Sheikah hold you in high regard, but this is difficult to believe," Cado admitted, his brow furrowing. "The blood moon has historically risen only for one day in the past century. If what you say is true, then it's been risen for multiple days which hasn't happened before."

"And if that's the case, the Eastern Region may already be lost," Cado added, his tone heavy with concern.

Noah's frustration boiled over. The incongruity of the situation was maddening. If his memory served him correctly, the first death he had witnessed was the Hylian women and child falling from the bridge on his 1st day in the village but that was undeniability over a week ago, which meant the blood moon had been casting its shadow for an unprecedented duration. The contradiction only fuelled his anxiety.

Yet, Noah had the Lens of Truth and the knowledge of the game's mechanics to guide him. Despite the conflicting information, he trusted his instincts and the urgency of the situation.

Even if that meant taking more… dramatic measures.

Grabbing Cado's arm, he pulled him close. "Who am I?" he demanded.

Cado blinked in confusion. "U… what?"

"I'm asking you, who am I?" Noah's voice was firm, demanding clarity.

Cado stumbled back, taken aback by Noah's sudden aggression. "You... you're Link, the Hero."

"And what is the Hero?"

Cado hesitated. "The destined saviour of the kingdom, to defeat the calamity Ganon."

Noah released Cado's arm. "That Hero is telling you your entire village is on the brink of destruction," he said, his voice low and intense. "You don't need to understand everything. Just trust me and inform Lady Impa immediately."

Cado's face was a mask of confusion and fear. "Impa?" he repeated, his voice barely a whisper.

Noah nodded; his resolve unwavering. "Tell her what I've said. And under no circumstances should she open the gates."

"…As you say, Sir." Cado's voice was resolute as he pivoted and sprinted back to the soldiers, barking orders with newfound urgency.

Noah released his grip on Cado's sleeve and watched as he mobilized the guards, his movements sharp and decisive. Noah's heart pounded with a mix of hope and anxiety. Every second counted. He prayed that Impa would heed the warning and act before it was too late.

But that wasn't his concern anymore, Noah let out a relieving sigh as he relaxed his body. As much as he disliked it, even Noah to admit there were a few perks being in Link's body in this case, the authority of being the destined Hero.

As he watched guards shuffled about, Noah's gaze naturally fell to the floor to the thing they were looking at.

It was a silver Bokoblin wearing a over-sized backpack, the silver was a colour Noah didn't believe he had seen before. From his limited interactions he knew the higher the colour usually corresponds the monsters skill, so he was somewhat intrigued on what a silver Bokoblin could do.

Noah crouched beside the fallen Bokoblin, the dark, decayed odour of its rotten flesh wafting up as he rummaged through its backpack. His fingers brushed against a variety of grotesque contents

"Rotten flesh, rotten flesh… rotten flesh… more rotten fle-? Ah no its rotten fruit. Who knew Bokoblin's watched their diets."

He continued this until he finally felt the rough texture of something that felt different. Carefully, he extracted a medium-sized parchment covered in scribbles and illegible drawings.

"Since when did Bokoblin's take up a hobby in art?" Noah mused aloud, more to himself than anyone in particular.

The assassin's voice cut through the night air, surprising Noah. "Perhaps they need to learn how to wear equipment properly before indulging in such a hobby."

Noah nodded, glancing at the Bokoblin's tattered backpack giving a brief chuckle at the assassin's seriousness. "Well, you're not wrong there. Although this guy seems to be wearing it correctly."

A pause followed before the assassin's voice returned, tinged with confusion. "What do you mean?"

Noah frowned; his attention fixed on the parchment. "I mean the backpack the Bokoblin was carrying."

"…The Bokoblin isn't wearing anything, Master Link."

Noah's heart skipped a beat. He looked down at the parchment in his hands, trying to reconcile what he was holding with what the assassin had said. "What am I holding?"

"…You are holding nothing, Master Link…"

Noah froze, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. Slowly he could feel the growing sense of disorientation almost as quick as frustration. He forced himself to close his eyes slowly and rubbed his forehead, trying to stave the feelings off. This was beyond absurd. The Bokoblin, the backpack, and the parchment seemed to exist only for him, shrouded in a reality that others could not perceive.

'No, I need to understand why the villagers can't see anything,' he thought, struggling to grasp the implications.

There were the killings with the corpses, the blood moon and of course the Great Fairy's condition, as Noah wondered why these would be concealed, Noah found the answer stupidly obvious

His simple conclusion formed: 'Maybe it's to prevent panic?'

If the true nature of the threat had been visible, the villagers would have been overwhelmed, and the threat would likely have lost its advantage. The threat's prey would hide from its attacks, perhaps even attempt to fight back. The ability to hide such horrors was a strategic manoeuvre, one that prevented any real comprehension of the danger.

But why hide the blood moon? Noah was less certain about this connection. The blood moon's significance seemed deeply tied to the current threat, but its role was still elusive.

If his theory was correct, it meant the threat to this village was making villagers ignore or fail to perceive anything alarming, and because the assassin could not see the backpack meant the contents of the Bokoblin's backpack held some critical piece of information. The rotten flesh and fruit were not alarming in themselves, so the parchment had to be important.

Noah struggled to decipher the parchment, which seemed like a puzzle missing its final piece. His frustration mounted as he stared at the chaotic scribbles.

Amid his thoughts, he noticed a shadow flickering over him under the eerie light of the red moon. Glancing upward, he saw a Sheikah soldier standing on the interior wall, directly above the protective rails. The soldier's demeanour was unsettlingly calm and ordinary.

A surge of dread propelled Noah into action as his eyes widended as he instantly understood what was going to occur. "CATCH HIM!" he shouted urgently to the assassin, grabbing his Sheikah Slate and sprinting toward the soldier.

But despite his best efforts, the distance was simply too great. Noah's heart sank as he watched the soldier leap from the wall of their own freewill. The soldier's body hit the ground with a sickening thud, the impact leaving a grotesque pool of blood and mangled flesh.

From behind, a voice pierced the silence, filled with unsettling calm.

"…Master Link…"

Noah's blood ran cold. 'No…'

'Please…'

'Don't say it…'

"Catch who?" She asked, confirming Noah's suspicions.

He truly, was on his own.