Chapter Text
"Link?
Link.
Open your eyes."
It's dark, silent, and cold. I feel groggy, stiff, heavy... and wet? My body protests as I try to move, muscles sore from an unknown strain. My eyelids are like lead. My throat tightens with hunger. Why am I so tired? What's happening?
"Link... Open your eyes."
That voice. Familiar, but... distant. I try to grasp it, to remember where I've heard it before, but it slips through my mind. Who am I? Who's calling me? I move my fingers, sluggishly tracing my surroundings. My hand dips into cool liquid—water? I can feel its weight pressing down on me, dragging me back into the depths. Panic rises in my chest. But then I realize it's not drowning me. Just... holding me in place. I push myself up, wincing as my body complains. The world tilts as I sit upright, legs stretching painfully, arms like heavy logs. I blink against the fog that clouds my vision, trying to make sense of the space around me. I'm alone. Dim orange light glows on the walls, hazy and soft, like distant stars caught in an endless night sky. A constellation? The shapes are almost familiar... but the fog blurs them, making the shapes shift and distort in my mind. I squint, trying to focus, but there's a strange weight in the air, as if something in this room is holding me back, keeping me from remembering.
I reach up to wipe my face, water running through my fingers. Why can't I remember? Who am I? A pedestal stands across the room, its surface bathed in the soft glow of the orange lights. My skin prickles with the chill of the air as I sit in what I think was a tub. The water slowly drains away, leaving goosebumps across my bare skin. Wait—why am I only in my underwear?!
Aw man, this is embarrassing. I glance around quickly, relieved to find the room empty. Still, my heart beats faster than usual. I try to get out of the tub, but my muscles scream in protest. My legs feel like they haven't been used in days, and my body is heavy—groggy like I've just woken up from a long, deep sleep. How long was I out? I swallow, but my throat feels like sandpaper. How is it dry when I was just submerged in water? I stretch out my arms, groaning slightly as I work out the stiffness in my joints. The relief is immediate and almost soothing. It feels amazing to move. I reach up feeling my head, grabbing my hair pulling some strands in front of my face. My hair is blonde. Ok... that's one thing I know about myself so far.
I inspect the rest of my body. Thin yet muscular. Scars—lots of them. Some are faint, others long and jagged, some are small nicks and a few burn marks. A flash of information seeped into my mind. I'm male? Blonde hair, male, and muscular. So far that's all I know. That's unsettling. If only I knew more. But if I find a way out of this room, maybe I'll find someone who knows who I am, and what happened here.
I rise to my feet, my legs wobbly at first. The cold tiles of the floor bite into my bare feet, sending shivers up my spine. It's like I haven't walked in forever—every step feels like the first. The mist seperates and swirls around me as I move. I ignore the numbing sensation in my muscles, the way my joints crack and groan with each movement, as I move toward the pedestal. It's the only other thing in the room, and I have to check it.
"That is a Sheikah Slate."
A voice rings clear in my head. I stumble back, panic rising as I frantically scan the strange space. "Where are you?!" I shout, but my voice comes out as a hoarse whisper. I feel my throat burn as the words escape me. My eyes widen, seeing no one else in the room. Am I hearing things? Is this normal or have I lost my mind? My heart begins to pound, and a cold rush of fear floods my chest. My breath comes in quick, shallow gasps, and the panic builds, sharp and wild. I can't remember—anything. Why am I here? What am I supposed to be doing? What's my name?! A cold sweat breaks out across my skin as everything around me blurs. The world feels like it's closing in, the edges of my vision fraying as I fight for control.
"Please. Try to calm down."
The voice again. Clear and calm. I whirl around, looking for the source, but nothing. Just me, alone in this strange room, the mist curling like tendrils, wrapping around the space. My pulse thrums in my ears, and I clutch my head, trying to fight off the overwhelming confusion. It takes a few long, tense minutes before I manage to slow my breathing, forcing myself to focus on the soothing voice. I close my eyes concentrating on my memories, begging my mind to remember something. Only a dark hole comes to mind, a void and fog is the only thing I can picture. Is that all you're going to tell me?
"In time... you will know more.
Take hold of the Sheikah Slate, it's yours, it will help guide you on your journey."
The voice echoing in my head says yet not answering all of my questions. I look at the glowing pedestal again. This- thing belongs to me? I stare at the strange object, though it seems familiar for some reason. Have I seen it before? My hand instinctively reaches out, fingers trembling slightly. I grasp it. It's light, almost weightless, but smooth to the touch, its surface cool against my palm. The color is a deep bronze, etched with an intricate symbol in the center: a blue eye with glowing orange lashes. I trace the shape of it with my thumb. What is this?
There are strange, glowing orange lines on the back, the same as the markings on the walls around me, pulsing softly.
Suddenly, the room begins to rumble, the ground beneath my feet trembling. I tense, holding onto the Slate as the walls—what I thought were just decorations—shift. With a deep, grinding sound, the wall in front of me begins to move, rising up into the ceiling and sliding down into the floor at the same time. What is happening? Without thinking, I step forward, the Slate still clutched in my hand. Leading to a small hallway, there are some large boxes stacked on top of each other. A couple of chests and another door on the left. Blue torches lightly illuminate the dark foggy hallway, the walls are lined with the same orange dots and lines from the room I walked out of.
Curiously I turn to walk towards the other door, the echoes of my bare footsteps filling the long hallway. Ignoring the chests in front of me, I push on it since there is no handle. It doesn't budge, there is no way to open it so I turn around to the chests. I crouched down to open the closest my bare knee touching the floor, gently placing the Slate on the ground next to me. There is another rumbling sound, I look back towards where the noise is coming from and see that the door is open now, and someone is standing in the doorway. Her skin is rich umber dark brown, her eyes are mesmerizing pools of liquid gold, and her white hair is white as freshly fallen snow and is braided and tied into a loose ponytail. She's wearing a v-cut, white knee-length dress with a small gold circle loop chain around her waist. The dress is clinging to her body, was she lying in water also? Good thing there is not a lot of light in here. She's gorgeous.
Now we are both staring at each other with confused expressions on our faces, then I remember that I'm in nothing but the blue boxer briefs. Blushing I quickly turn to look inside the chest in front of me thankfully there are two pairs of pants in it with shoes, albeit a little tattered and small. "Are you always this undressed when you wake up?" The girl teases.
"Only when I wake up in strange caves." I retort. There's also a holster that looks like it's meant for my mysterious Slate. I place it in the holster the Slate clicks on its hooks.
I pick up what I think are the bigger pair and quickly put them on. They're tight, threadbare in some spots, and uncomfortable, stopping at the middle of my calves, now I just need a shirt. I move a little to go to the other chest and just I as I hoped there are shirts in it though in the same condition as the pants and shoes, tattered and small. The fabric is rough and itchy, and the color is an ugly greenish brown, and it's coming apart at its seams, but it's better than nothing. Some leather straps, some hip holsters, and a few small pouches. I see a long dark blue cloth in it as well, I pick it up to inspect more.
Even though it's tattered and covered in burn marks, it's not bad looking. I wrap around my left shoulder and tie it around my torso, it's long enough the ends reach my knees. I turn the long fabric enough around so that it trails behind. "How do I look?"
"Like someone that just survived a fashion disaster." She chuckles. "At least your dry." I move out of the way so she could get changed. I walk down the hallway there is another door bearing the same image as the Slate. An eye with a single teardrop running down the middle. "Is that the exit?" She asks.
I jumped a little bit I didn't hear her walking at all, she was looking at me excepting an answer. I shrug towards another glowing pedestal with an empty slot, I put my slate in it and the light went from orange to blue. Huge doors opened up making us squint our eyes, my hand hovered over my face to shield my eyes from the sun's rays, and the dark room filled up with golden light.
"Link."
You are the light. Our light... That must shine upon Hyrule once again. Now go."
I heard the voice once again. Our... light? What do you mean? What's Hyrule? The voice didn't respond. I place the slate back in my holster and shield my eyes as I walk up the stairs and through the ankle-deep water. I climbed up the small cliff and she did the same following behind me. I stretched out my arm to offer my hand to help her up. At the of the tunnel, faint green grass sparsely covers the floor. Thick bushes loom at the cave's entrance, with narrow trees on the outside.
I walk slowly at first, the grass softening my footsteps. I instinctively jog to the edge of the cliff in front of me taking in the incredible view. A mountain that looks like it had been split in two, a large verdant grass field that houses a huge castle with a large spire at its center, a massive magma-spewing volcano, a couple of lush-filled forests, and beautiful open grasslands. It's a great feeling to breathe in fresh air after being in that strange cave for what seems like forever.
The vibrant greens of the grasslands and woods, the gorgeous blue of the vast sky. The rolling white clouds and the sun's golden rays warmed my body, while the morning breeze simultaneously created a cooling temperature leaving goosebumps on my exposed skin. Standing on the crest of this hill is majestically peaceful. I can recognize and name these things in sight... but I couldn't remember my own name on my own.
And yet. When I look upon the distant castle, I feel... guilt, frustration, and pain. Why? Why do I feel these emotions about a place I've never been to? I push those feelings aside deciding that it's just my imagination, a remnant from waking up in a strange cave.
Mountains, trees, hills, grasslands. It seems as if it's straight out of a painting, I've never seen such beauty before... uh- maybe? I'm so happy that I have the strength to walk out of that cave because of this incredible view, every little detail is just... wow!
"Woah, it's incredible!" The girl next to me exclaims equally in awe of the scenery before us. Below the cliff is a small forest of thick dark green trees, and a crystal-clear blue lake covers a small part of the ground. Behind me, the cave I- uh- we had walked out of. It's burrowed into a massive sheer mountain. I turn to my right; I see a sloped stoned path broken up with grass and flowers growing out between the placed stones. It leads past a rock wall towards a giant gray ruined building.
Along the path, a man is looking at us. It's difficult to see him from this far, but I can tell that he is tall with broad shoulders, and his face is covered with a hood. He then walks away to sit down by a campfire under a large rock overhang, maybe I should go talk to him, he might know where we are. I walk down the small incline towards the man. "Link..."
"Link...
Link...
Go to the point on your map marked on your Shekiah Slate it will guide you on your journey."
I know this mysterious voice is helping me. Vague as it is, I wish she would stop calling out my name so many times. It's getting annoying. I get it, my name is Link. Realization hits me. Wait... My name! I know my name! How does knowing something so simple about myself bring me relief? I grin to myself at the small victory. Thank you!
I heard a soft bleep from the strange object, I pulled out the Slate and saw a blinking orange-yellow dot that wasn't there before. There is another point on it, that looks similar to an arrowhead and a triangular-shaped light. Strange.
I raise my eyebrows in confusion at what I'm seeing. I take a step forward still looking at the Slate, the arrow and light move in the same direction I did. I turn my body to the right and the light moved the same way. Oh! I'm beginning to understand how this works...for now.
"Um. Why are moving around like that?" She asks. I look up from the Slate to her looking at me confused. It must have seemed silly to just walk around in circles like that. I sigh in embarrassment once again deciding to just show her what I was doing.
"Woah! That's unbelievable!" She exclaims holding the Slate walking and turning in circles now. "I wonder what else this thing can do!" I can't help but watch her in awe of how gracefully she moves around, almost as if she's dancing. The skirt of her dress gently sways to her movements. She twirls one last to face me and hands over the Slate, I put the slate in its holster and walk towards the man.
I can tell that he has a very large build even though he is sitting, he has dark skin from what I can tell, and his hood is covering half of his face so I can't really see him properly, the long white beard that covers the top of his chest doesn't help either.
He doesn't greet us, focusing on the fire in front of him. I see apples roasting in the fire the man is sitting at. I almost cried at the delicious sight. The smell of the apples hits me like a wave, and before I even realize what I'm doing, my hand is reaching for one. My stomach growls, louder and I barely notice the heat of the fire as I take a bite. The warm fruit bursts with sweetness, and for a moment, it's the only thing that matters. I close my eyes to savor it.
"I beg your pardon that is my baked apple, you can't go around taking things without their permission!" His voice is sharp, cutting through the air, and for a second, I freeze. His hooded eyes, dark and unreadable, stare through me as if I've committed some great crime. I can feel my cheeks heat up, and my throat tightens as I try to swallow my embarrassment. " A man who takes without asking first must either be very brave or very foolish."
Why did I do that? I don't even know why I'm so hungry, but I can't bring myself to explain that. I just... ate his food. I feel like a fool. I open my mouth, the words tumbling out too fast. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean— I was just so hungry!" My voice cracks, and I wince, hoping the man won't think I'm more of an idiot than I already feel like.
"Oho ho." The old man laughs. "I'm sorry I couldn't help but pull your leg. Go ahead, help yourself, have as many as you want, an apple roasting over a fire makes for a succulent treat. Your friend can have some too." His lips now curling into an inviting smile.
I don't know if I would call her that, we just woke up in the same place, I shrug and hand her one of the apples. She takes it enthusiastically, her face lighting up as she bites into it. Guess she's hungry too. "Well met strangers! It's rather unusual to see others here in these parts." His voice is deep and despite his mountainous rough appearance, and carries a surprising elegance, like someone used to addressing a crowd rather than a lonely wilderness. His eyes looking at us up and down inquisitively. "Who are you?" I ask, startled by the sound of my own voice—rough, unsteady. How long had it been since I last spoke? Days? Years? I didn't know, and the thought left me uneasy.
How long was I asleep? "Me? Well, I'll spare you my life's story."
"Ow... ow" I look behind me and see the girl climbing the tree to get the apples growing on it. Why doesn't she walk up the small slope to reach them? I sighed and shook my head looking back at the hooded stranger. "I'm just an old fool that lived here alone, for quite some time now." He started.
"What brings two bright-eyed young souls here in a place like this?" I noticed that he didn't give us his name. But then again neither did I. "Where are we?" She asks biting into another apple.
"Oho Ho. Answering a question with a question? Fair enough. As I cannot imagine our meeting is a mere coincidence... I shall tell you." He stands up, his thick faded brown and purple robes rustling as he does. He points with his lantern staff to the crumbling building not far from where we're at.
"This is The Great Plateau. According to legend, this is the birthplace of the entire Kingdom of Hyrule. That temple there... Long ago, it was the site of many sacred ceremonies and a place to worship our goddess. Ever since the decline of the Kingdom a hundred years ago, it has sat abandoned in a state of decay."
I glance at the girl to see if the name sparked any recognition for her, but she seems as lost as I am, her head tilts in curiosity. The girl pauses mid-bite, her eyes following the old man's gesture toward the temple. "It's beautiful, even in ruins." she murmurs, her voice carrying a mix of awe and sadness
The hooded man says. "Yet another forgotten entity. A ghost of its former self." I detected sadness in his voice as he spoke to us as if he had seen the fall of the giant temple. I glance at the temple that stands on top of a giant hill, taller than anything else around here. A sense of familiarity washes over me. Have I been here before? "I shall be here for some time please let me know if I may be of service." He says sitting back down taking me out of my thoughts.
Hyrule, Temple Of Time? None of these places seems familiar to me at all!
The girl walks around us and picks up a torch leaning on the rock wall. "Well then, help yourself to that torch there. And how, may I ask are you planning to use it?" Inquired the old man. She looks down at it for a second then smiles. "To set things on fire!" She giggles. "Oh... that is quite... unnerving, please take caution of any dry grass then." He says with a strong hint of caution in his tone.
"Many beasts roam the area past this point. You can take my axe with you if you please. Assuming that you can find it." His tone became stern. "However, do not swing it around without purpose. You must face your opponents and keep your sights on them! That torch would also make a fine yet fragile weapon if need be. Be on guard younglings. The beasts have become more volatile lately, they are very territorial and highly aggressive, they will attack as soon they see you."
"Thanks for the advice!" She says smiling. "Will you be ok here by yourself?" I walk down the path a little and notice an axe in a stump. I guess this is the one he mentioned, and since he warned us of monsters, I should have a weapon of my own.
I pick it up and strap it to my back. I notice a lizard crawling around, I crotch down to sneak up on it and catch it easily. There's another apple tree on my left and decide to pick some more since we don't know how long it will be before we need to eat again. Better safe than sorry.
"No need to worry youngling, I may be old, but I'm not completely helpless. I have been living here for a long time and can manage myself just fine." He laughs. "I will be relaxing here by the fireside for a while, of course. Although I'll need to cook myself some more baked apples at some point... Simple foods such as apples are fine to eat raw but roasting them on a fire makes them tastier and more nutritious."
"I agree baked apples are very delicious, do have any more cooking tips for us?" She asks enthusiastically. "Oho, do you not have somewhere you have to be? Perhaps when we see each other again I will indulge you, yes?"
"Ok. I'm looking forward to it then. No holding back on cooking tips next time." She waves at the Old Man excitedly, walking towards me with a huge smile on her face. "Hey, look!" She says pointing at something in the middle of a small lake. "I think that's a sword, should we get it?" Before I can answer, she's already leaping off the edge, plunging into the pond below. I rush to the edge to make sure she's okay. She swims to the tiny island in the center, climbs out of the water, and up to the rock where the sword is lodged. Suddenly, a high-pitched voice chimes out. "Ya ha ha! You found me. Wait, you're not Hestu, but you can see me?"
"Noo... we can't see you." She says looking at me skeptically. "Silly girl, if you can't see me then how are you talking to me." The small creature laughs, floating above a circle of lilypads. It's a tiny, wooden, plant-like creature with a leaf for a face, bobbing in the air. "Thats odd, usually bug people just wander around not noticing us. Maybe the Forest likes you. If you see Hestu give him this." It says tossing something to me.
"What exactly are you?" I ask.
"Huh? I'm a Korok silly! The Children Of The Forest! We are hiding all over Hyrule, so if you see something that looks like it doesn't belong, don't be shy about inspecting it. It could be one of my friends."
"Ok we'll keep that in mind, but why are you all hiding?" The girl asks. "Because we are playing hide and seek! Us Koroks love to play games, and children are the most fun to play with! Thats odd, usually big people just wander around not noticing us. Maybe the Forest likes you." It says bobbing its head.
Do you know anything about that sword? I ask pointing to it. The plant creature tilts its head thoughtfully. "That old thing? It's stuck in the rock good and tight. been there for ages. But maybe, just maybe, someone like you could pull it out." It bobs happily, the lilypads rustling beneath it.
The girl's eyes lit up as she grabs the sword. "Sounds fun!" With a heave she pulls the sword free from the rock. "All that for this?!" She holds the sword.
"Haha! Got you!" The Korok laughs. "It's just a rusted sword oh well! Buut... if your set on exploring, find all of my friends they will share their treasure with you!"
Bossy little tree branch. I look at its treasure it tossed to me. "What is this, anyway? Some kind of seed? Why is it gold... and why does it smell funny?" The Korok only giggles in response.
"I wonder who Hestu is?" She asks. "Do you think that he's somewhere on the plateau?"
"Not sure. But a huge game of hide and seek does sound fun! Maybe we should find all of them!"
"Haha, oh now you're speaking my language! Bet I can find more than you!"
"You're on!" I was already wanting to explore this place, and I get to play a game while doing it!
"Great! You caught a Hightail Lizard. Those a great for stamina." She says walking back up to me, taking the red lizard out of my hands. I let her have it, honestly, I'm not sure why I picked it up in the first place, but since she says wants the little critter, she can keep it.
"So where are we going?" Her tattered clothes were completely drenched and a little more see-through. She decided to put the shirt over the white dress she was wearing the pants settling a little way past her dress. I quickly pull out the Slate and show her the blinking dot on it. "That's where? Ok, let's get going. I'll follow you."
I hear soft snorting in the trees to the left, followed by the sound of something small charging toward us. My hand instinctively reaches for my axe. The creature bursts from the underbrush—a small, red monster, its arms flailing as it rushes at us with a high-pitched squeal. Its pig-like snout and large floppy ears make it look almost comical. A loincloth barely covers its crude form, and a small skull necklace hangs from its neck.
Before I can think, my axe swings out with a sharp arc, hitting the monster square in the head. It grunts as it hits the ground with a thud, but it doesn't stay down for long. The monster squeals again and bounces back to its feet with surprising agility. But something happens as it rises—an image flashes in my mind. The weight of a wooden sword in my left hand, a small wooden shield in the other. The feel of combat, but not like this. It's distant, as if I've been here before, somewhere... sometime. A voice calls out in the blur, but the words are lost before I can understand them. My breath catches as the sensation lingers, the flash of memory unsettling and familiar all at once. I shake my head, clearing the fog in my mind, and refocus on the creature before me, now charging again.
With a grunt, I dodge to the side and bring my axe down, cutting through the air and slamming it into the monster's side. It stumbles back, grunting in frustration but determined to continue the fight.
"Is it... always this chaotic here?" I ask, my words feeling distant as I fight, the memory still lingering like a shadow in the back of my mind. I shake off the sudden rush of nostalgia, my focus narrowing as the monster barrels toward me again. My hands already on the hilt of my axe, moving without conscious thought. In one fluid motion, I sidestep its charge and swing. The axe carves through the air, its weight feeling natural in my grip, the timing of the strike perfect. For a fleeting moment, I'm lost in the familiarity of it, as if this motion is etched into my very being.
The blade connects with the monster's side, driving it to the ground. It scrambles back up, clutching its stomach where purple-red blood now oozes freely, staining the soil beneath it. My body reacts before my mind can catch up—I lunge forward, swinging harder. This time, the axe crashes into its abdomen with a sickening thud. The creature lets out a high-pitched wheeze before collapsing to its knees, clutching its wound. One of its horns snaps off as it hits the ground, skittering across the dirt.
I stand over it, weapon still at the ready, my chest heaving as the rush of battle fades. The familiarity of the fight lingers, and with it, a question that feels as sharp as the edge of my blade: How do I know this?
"That's impressive. You fought like you've been doing it your whole life. I thought you said you didn't remember anything?" She asks tucking away the rusty sword into her golden chain. She picks up the dismembered horn to put it in her small pack. "I guess so, but I don't know why, I can't remember. But it seems like my body does." I tell her shrugging." She tilts her head, watching me closely as I straighten up. There's a flash of pride in the memory... but it's drowned by an overwhelming sadness. I shake my head, shrugging as if that can dispel the unease. "I don't know why. I can't explain it. It's like a fog surrounding me, making it very difficult to see." The words tumble out before I can stop them. For me, this feeling of instinct—of something deeply familiar—is both comforting and unsettling.
"I get it. I feel the same way but there are a few things that I can recall. When I woke up, I couldn't remember anything but my name and that I'm in Hyrule. Oh and a few other minor things as well." She takes a deep breath and with every passing second, I grow more with concern about how little I know about myself. Her eyes linger on me for a moment, her curiosity clear, but she doesn't press further. Instead, she flashes me a small smile. "Well, if your instincts keep us alive, I'm not going to complain. But let's focus on that yellow dot for now, maybe when we get there, we can find some answers." She says enthusiastically.
"Why did you pick up the horn?" I ask her. "We can sell it for rupees." She replies. "The more monster parts we collect the more rupees we have. We can make elixirs out of them too, so that Hightail you caught will help later once we find a cooking pot, insects are good to use too of course." She says behind me.
"Insects, critters, and monster parts. That sounds disgusting." I say frowning, guessing that it's not very appetizing.
"Oh it is, very much so, but you get use to it. Maybe... uh probably." She suddenly glances up at a nearby tree, her eyes lighting up. "Oh wait I thought I saw some eggs in that huge tree." Before I can reply, she's already scrambling up the trunk with surprising ease. I watch her climb. At the base of the tree, I spot a cluster of red-capped mushrooms sprouting from the roots. Their vibrant color catches my attention. "Hey!" I call up to her. "Are these red mushrooms safe to eat?"
She pauses mid-climb, glancing down at me with a teasing smile. "Let me see." She says. "If they're what I think they are, you're in for a treat—or a stomachache." She leaps down from the tree with a soft thud and stands beside me, glancing at the mushrooms. "Oh. Those are Hylian Shrooms, completely safe to eat but doesn't give you any strength or anything."
"What do you mean by no strength?" I ask remembering what she said about the lizard. It sounds strange. "Oh..." She pauses. "Well, it's better to experience it than me talking about it." She says waving it off. "Once I'm able to cook them you'll know what I'm talking about."
"Alright, I will." I say not sure if it's worth trying to push for more. We walk a little farther into the small woods to forage for some apples, shrooms and eggs. We make sure the path is still within eyesight since we don't where exactly we are. We find some insects which she informs that they are Summerwing Butterflies and a Bladed Rhino Beetle. We don't find much but it will do for now. On our way back we hear a noise similar to sloshing water. "Hm. Must be a Chuchu in one of the trees." She says calmly picking up a stick. "They're mostly harmless but don't let it jump on your head. It will suffocate you within seconds."
I stare at the spot where the creature exploded, still not entirely convinced. "That doesn't seem harmless." I say shocked at how indifferent she sounds right now. "They are! Most can be killed with two hits from a flimsy tree branch." As soon as she said it, a blue blob with yellow bulging eyes dropped out from a tree, nearly landing on her. She jumped back just in time and swing at the creature. And just as she said with two hits it exploded into blue water and one small blue bulb.
"See nothing to worry about." She says throwing away the broken stick. "It almost landed on you." I pointed at her. "Yea almost, it didn't so I'm fine." She says smirking and picking up the ball to put it in her pouch. I just shake my head and continue on the path, she might be a little reckless.
"Want to check out the Temple Of Time that Old Man told us about, it is right there." She asks enthusiastically. "Sure we still have a ways to go before we get to where that dot is at." We make our way up the stairs taking out some Bokoblins and scour the surrounding chapels. "What are these things, they look like spiders." She asks inspecting it.
"Don't ask me." The creature is unsettling—six long, spindly legs ending in jagged, three-pronged claws. Their cylindrical bodies taper at the top, and it's small head have a single, unblinking eye staring straight ahead. Strange ridges and markings cover it's pale black, textured surface, as though they were carved from some ancient stone. I take a step closer, my instincts on high alert. The sight of these creatures sends an unfamiliar shiver down my spine. Although the creature is rusted and covered in thick moss, there's something about it that feels... wrong. My stomach churns, and a wave of nausea crashes over me. Just looking at it, I can feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. My heartbeat thrums loudly in my chest, drowning out everything else, and a flood of memories rushes through my mind—fire, battle, and these creatures moving with deadly precision. The images flash so fast that I can't grasp them, but the feeling of death, the presence of something ancient and malicious, is unmistakable. The sight of this... thing stirs a rush of unease. It feels like that thing wants my death. To kill me?! I stagger backward, my hand instinctively gripping my chest as though trying to stop the feeling from spreading. The unease claws at me, pulling at the edges of my sanity.
"Link!"
"Link. Are you alright?" She asks gently grabbing my shoulder.
"I...dont know." I gasp trying to regain control. "Something about it—it feels wrong. Like I've seen this before, but..."
"It's ok. Just take deep breaths." She whispers gently rubbing my back in slow circles.
Her voice is soft, soothing, but I can't breathe. My lungs feel tight, each breath shallow and panicked. The air is slipping too quickly, like it's being ripped from my chest. My eyes dart around. I gasp, feeling like the air is slipping to quickly through my lungs. "Wh-where did that thing go?!"
"It's still at the same spot, I dragged you away from it. You were panicking when you saw it. We're at one of the chapels or houses." I'm trembling, feeling lost and disoriented. The memories are still clinging to me, the dread overwhelming. She pulls me into her embrace, her arms wrapping around me. I rest my head against her chest, her heartbeat steady in my ear. "Breathe with me." She whispers again taking deep breaths.
She hums a soothing tune. I close my eyes focusing on her voice. 1...2...3... breathe in. 1...2...3...breathe out. "Thank you. I- I don't know what happened." Minutes pass—or is it hours? I don't know. My heart finally settles into a normal rhythm. When I open my eyes, I meet her calm, reassuring gaze. With a small sigh, I pull away from her warm embrace. "You don't have to thank me I will help you no matter what." She smiles. "And we can skip the Temple if you want."
I would but... "No, it's fine, I really want to see the Temple, I won't look at them." With a final, encouraging smile, she nods as I spot a chest on a raised platform. I open it and pull out a pair of pants and boots.
"Aw really, only one pair of pants and boots in there? Why are they in a chest anyway?" I'm not answering that question. I switch the pants and boots, surprisingly they fit perfectly, I put the ones I had on in the chest.
We walk back up the stairs to the Temple, I do my best to not look at the spider things that surrounds the building. It's rundown and broken as the rest of the place. Overgrown grass and vines grew up everywhere along the grey stones, broken and shattered furniture, the floors filled with cracks and the symbols faded, boxes and pots everywhere. The are huge holes in the ceilings with pieces of rafting missing.
The walls are in a similar state with missing and cracked windows. It's a miracle that this Temple is standing. At the end of the long aisle on top of a small floor platform stands a giant stone statue that almost reaches the high ceiling. I went to pray at the statue, it felt as though she was smiling at me.
Crash. I turn around and see the girl breaking pots. "Hey, look I found a bow, a quiver, and some arrows too, you can have those. I'm keeping these glass vials." She says handing over the weapons. "Did you have a nice chat with Hylia?" I look at her confused as to who that is. "The Goddess Hylia." She says rolling her eyes. "That's one of her many statues."
"Are you not a fan of hers?" I ask not wanting to answer her but noticing slight disdain in her voice. She crosses her arms, gaze fixed on the statue's face. "I... don't know. This statue just feels... off."
"Off? It feels comforting to me. Like... I've been here before." I frown, searching my memory. "Maybe it's part of why I feel I know her."
"Huh, ...I'm not sure actually." She sighs. "It just feels like she's judging me." She asks to herself looking towards the statue. "Oh well, that doesn't matter right now. Let's continue on yea? "I turn back to the statue, mulling over her words, but I only feel calm, as though some gentle presence is reassuring me. Still, I can't ignore her unease. We stay quiet a moment longer before stepping away, leaving the statue's gaze behind. "Before we do, I want to see what's up top, be right back." I say gleefully. The idea of seeing the Plateau from the temple's highest point is too tempting. Plus, I'm curious to test my climbing skills, to rediscover what I can do. A smile creeps onto my face at the thought. I head through a gaping hole in the left wall and spot a wooden ladder propped up against a section of crumbling stone. The wood creaks with each step a, reminder of its age. Did they build this for repairs? Hm. Reaching the top, I carefully haul myself onto the roof, watching out for loose tiles. The angled roof is slippery, so I move with caution, picking up my pace as I approach one of the old towers. Through another hole in the wall, I find an empty room with a chest. Inside, there's a bow, perfect. Now we'll each have one; we just need more arrows, as the girl only found five. I should probably ask her name soon. Referring to her as "the girl" feels... wrong.
I take a deep breath and walk over to a window, broken glass littering the sill. Grabbing onto the frame, I pull myself up, inching higher. There's a sense of thrill climbing to the peak of the temple, as though I'm testing my limits. When I reach the spire, I hear a rustling sound, like leaves in the wind, and spot some faint sparkles nearby. Hooking my leg around the spire for stability, I reach out, curious.
"Yahaha! You found me!" The surprise nearly knocks me off my perch. My heart races as I cling to the spire to regain my balance. That was too close. The little creature, with a leafy face and tiny wooden body, tilts its head at me. "Oh! Careful, Mr. Climber! You're not like me; you don't have propeller leaves for flying if you fall!" It chirps cheerfully.
Thanks for the heads-up now, I think to myself, amused and exasperated. "Here, this is for finding me!" it says, handing me a small, golden seed. "Be careful on the way down, Mr. Climber!"
"Yeah, thanks for the advice, little guy," I mutter, shaking my head with a smile. At least now I know what those sparkles are—and next time, I won't be caught off guard.
I climb down to see the girl at the Temple's entrance. "Hey, you ready to leave?!" I call out to her. "Why would you ask me that? I've been waiting for you!" I climb down the ladder and jog towards her. "So, have you found anything interesting while you were up there?"
"Just another Korok, so we're even and bow." I said shrugging. "Nothing too exciting besides the view." I look at her with an amused smile on my face. "We're even now, you found one Korok and now I have."
"Not for long Blondie." She laughs. "Ah, well glad you had fun." She smiles. "Ready when you are." We leave the temple grounds and spot more of those pig-like monsters ahead. "Let's sneak around these two and get up to that old building." I whisper, pointing. "Those two boulders should hide us."
"They're right next to some explosive barrels... and are they dancing around a fire?" I laugh as I watch.
"Aw, they're kinda cute when they dance." she replies, a grin spreading across her face. Farther behind us, four more monsters lurk, but they don't seem to notice us, probably due to the distance. Lucky for us, as we don't have much cover here.
I study the area; the path we need to take leads straight into a cave behind the two dancing creatures. To our left, some monsters have set up camp inside a giant skull-like structure, and across a small pond on our right, more monsters stand guard on a slope, with makeshift wooden barriers shielding them.
"I'm thinking we take out the ones below us first." I say. "Then swing around to the left, clear that area, and wrap back to the right. That way, no surprises when we check out the cave."
She nods in agreement. "Good plan. Plus, we'll pick up more weapons as we go."
Together, we push one of the boulders off the building. It rolls straight into the barrels below, igniting in a massive explosion that sends the two monsters screeching into the flames. As we walk down to collect loot, I spot a charred sword and a club by the remains, along with a spitfire with a chunk of seared meat. I hope it's animal meat. We move left to the giant skull structure, where a lookout monster stands on a platform. I take aim and fire, the arrow hitting it squarely between the eyes, and it drops instantly. "Looks like there are four more inside—one of them is blue." she whispers.
"Is there a difference?" I ask.
"Yes. Blue Bokoblins are tougher than red ones, even though they're just as dopey looking." She explains. Bokoblin... good to know what they're called. "They tend to rely on numbers rather than brute strength, so they'll try to overwhelm us if we're not careful.I peer into the skull's shadowy interior, scanning the scene. Flickering torchlight illuminates the space, casting jagged shadows against the curved walls. "I see more barrels and some hanging lanterns."
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" She flashes a mischievous smile.
"You climb up." I reply, nodding toward the platform. "And I'll shoot the lantern. Then we can take out any survivors."
She nods, sneaking past the skull's entrance and climbing the platform. Once she signals, I pull back my bow and release, the arrow cutting through the air and snapping the lantern's rope. It falls, igniting the barrels and taking down two of the monsters in a fiery blast. She leaps down, rushing into the skull, and I follow. She slashes at a Bokoblin with her rusted sword until it collapses with a final squeal. Two more close in on me: the red one wielding a wooden spear, and the blue one brandishing a bone-spiked club and a shield. The red one screeches, leaping at me with its spear raised. I sidestep, only to end up directly in Blue's path. He swings at my torso, and I try to move—but my legs freeze.
Panic rises in my chest, my mind racing. Just as the club's about to make contact, she rams into the blue Bokoblin, throwing him off balance. She jabs her sword into his arm, forcing him to drop his club. I hesitate for a beat before thrusting my sword into the monster. It lets out one last scream and falls silent. The last Bokoblin, furious, screeches in anger. It raises its spear high, twirling it in a wild arc to keep us both at bay. She jumps back, while I raise my shield, deflecting the spear and knocking the creature off balance. She lunges, driving her sword into its stomach. With a final shriek, it falls dead. The fight over, I start collecting the scattered loot while she climbs up to the platform, finding a chest at the top. Some horns and teeth are scattered across the ground, but next to the blue Bokoblin, there's a pulsing purple object convulsing on the ground.
I eye it warily. Definitely not picking that up.
"Here, some fire arrows." She tosses them to me with a grin.
"Want to take a quick break?" I ask, rolling my shoulders.
"No way! I'm full of energy; it feels like I haven't moved in ages." She says, picking up a spiked club. I nod, stretching my neck. It feels like I haven't either.
She grabs the other spiked club and a shield, glancing at the pulsing purple mass near the dead Bokoblin. "I hate to ask, but...what is that thing?" I point.
"Oh, nice! That's its guts," she says excitedly, crouching down to cut it out. "They make slightly better elixirs than the horns and teeth." I avert my gaze, feeling a bit queasy. I'm still not sure what she means by "elixirs." But I nod. "Ready to go after the others?"
"Definitely. I'm ready to bash some more heads in." I nod back, and we head toward the cave. My excitement builds with each step. Halfway there, we spot two Bokoblin archers on a small hill near the cave entrance, with two more monsters just a little further back, wielding clubs. "Damn, they're too close to the entrance. Sneaking up is out of the question." She whispers. "How do you want to play this?"
"Not much choice except dodging or blocking their arrows. At least we have shields now." I say, shrugging. "We'll charge the archers, take them out fast, then focus on the club-wielders." She hesitates, glancing at my bow. "Or...what if I try shooting them first?" she suggests, a mischievous glint in her eye as she reaches for it. I raise an eyebrow. "Do you even know how to shoot?"
"Uh... maybe?" She shrugs, giving it a try anyway. "It doesn't hurt to practice." She grabs an arrow, notches it, and, after taking a deep breath, releases it...missing by a good few feet. "Nice shot," I tease. "At this rate, you'll be a pro in no time." She sticks her tongue out at me, unphased, and tries again. This time, the arrow lands short again, but the archers don't seem to notice. "Just wait. I'll hit one of them, and then I'll be the one laughing." She huffs, shooting two more arrows, which also miss. I try to hold back my laughter as she glares at me, determined. She notches the last regular arrow, draws in a breath, and releases. The arrow flies straight and hits one of the archers in the head, killing it instantly.
I stare, mouth agape. "Hah! Told you I could do it. Who's laughing now?" She cheers, triumphant. I close my mouth and smiley. "Alright, alright, well done. But there are still two more to deal with," I remind her. "Three is better than four," she retorts, grinning. "Let's get this over with." She runs ahead, rusty sword ready, and I follow, gripping my axe for a stronger strike than the bulky club would allow. The remaining archer screeches, firing an arrow our way.
I dodge easily and swing my axe. It tries to block, but my swing is too powerful, staggering it back. I raise the axe high and bring it down with a crunch, ending its fight. As I grab the bow and the ten arrows it carried, I glance over to see her sidestep a club-wielding Bokoblin's strike. Another one circles her, looking for an opening. I charge at it, swinging at its arm and slicing it clean off. The Bokoblin screams, clutching its stump, and I take the opening to sever its head.
"The damned sword broke!" She groans, throwing down the hilt. "These rusted weapons are hopeless. And the clubs aren't much better!" Just then, more squealing erupts from the cave, and two Bokoblins charge out. I quickly fire two arrows, headshotting them both. As they collapse, I retrieve their bows and arrows, finding one of them carried a quiver, which I hand to her. "Wow, nice reflexes," she says, impressed. "I didn't even get the chance to pull out my club. You're amazing!"
I turn away, feeling my cheeks heat up. "We should finish off the others before more of them try to ambush us." I mumble, walking off before she can notice. We make our way toward a small camp I spotted earlier. A group of Bokoblins are gathered around a cooking pot in a clearing, flames crackling underneath. Huh, so monsters can cook? I think, then shake my head. Better not to get distracted by thoughts of what I don't remember right now.
I shake my head to clear my thoughts, focusing on the upcoming fight. We cross the small pond and split up—she heads toward the Bokoblin on the watch platform while I duck behind some wooden barriers.
She swiftly takes out the monster and signals me that she's ready to attack the rest. I grip my sword and dash toward them. Startled, the remaining Bokoblins scramble for their weapons. She fires an arrow, hitting one of them in the head. I follow up, slashing another with a single blow to its neck. The third Bokoblin manages to grab its club and shield just as she shoots an arrow into its back. Seizing the moment, I rush forward and slice open its belly. "Yes!" she exclaims, running up to me. "We did it! We make a good team." I open a nearby chest, retrieving a sword. "Here, you can have this." I say, handing it to her since I already have my own. "But let's cook before we go. I'm not sure when we'll find another pot, and these monsters have already lit it. That pond has some fish and frogs, too."
"Fish? But we don't have a fishing rod." I reply, curious about her plan.
"Hah, no worries! Leave it to me. I'll be right back!" She dashes off toward the pond, leaving me to gather some apples and mushrooms for our meal. The delicious aroma of cooking apples and earthy mushrooms fills the air, making my stomach growl. I hadn't realized how hungry I was, and the wait for the food to finish cooking feels endless. I should have eaten more apples after the fight at the skull camp. It doesn't take long for the mix to soften, and I dig in, not caring that I have no bowls or spoons. The combination is simple yet flavorful. Oh wait, I need to save some for her! After this, I'll have to scavenge for more. A few minutes later, she returns, beaming with triumph. "Those aquatic creatures were no match for my fish-catching skills!"
"Great! What did you manage to catch?" I ask.
She grins, holding up a string of fish and frogs tied together with some vines. "Behold! Two Hyrule bass and three Hot-Footed frogs. Not bad, huh?"
I laugh, genuinely impressed. "You weren't kidding about your skills. How did you manage that without a rod?"
"Easy! I just waded in, waited for the right moment, and...swoosh!" She mimics a dramatic grabbing motion, clearly proud of herself. "Turns out, being fast on your feet has its perks."
I shake my head in amusement and gesture to the cooking pot. "So what did you cook up?"
"Nothing fancy—just a fruit and mushroom mix." I say, trying to hide my disappointment. "I saved some for you, but I didn't get enough to fill me up." She nods, carefully gutting and cleaning the fish with a Boko fang. Then she carves a few sticks making them sharp. Poking the sticks trough the fish and mushrooms and tossing the pot. The aroma intensifies, warm and savory, making my stomach growl again. "Fish and Mushroom Skewers! We're officially better cooks than those Bokoblins." She declares.
"That's not a high bar." I quip, taking a bite. It's rich and flavorful, the hearty ingredients combining to create something surprisingly satisfying. "But this is really good. You might have a hidden talent."
"Maybe. Or maybe I'm just better at everything than you." She jokes, smirking.
I roll my eyes but smile back. "Sure, sure. Until you have to shoot another arrow."
We finish eating quickly, the meal giving us renewed energy. As I gather up our things, I notice her gazing at the empty pot, a wistful look on her face.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
"Nothing." She says quickly, shaking her head. "Just...this feels familiar. Cooking outside, sharing food after a fight. It's nice, you know? Like we've done it before." Her words strike a chord, stirring something deep in my chest—an ache I can't quite explain. I nod, unsure of what to say.
"Yeah." I murmur after a moment. "It does feel...right."
"Now is a good time to make elixirs. We have some Hightail Lizards, Bokoblin teeth, horns, guts, Summerwing Butterflies, and a Hot-Footed Frog. Yup, these will do nicely." I watch her every move, fascinated by her expertise. The faint glow of the elixirs she creates is almost mesmerizing.
"How do you know all this?" I ask, unable to hide my curiosity.
She pauses, glancing at the vial of shimmering blue liquid she's holding. "I...don't really know." She admits with a small shrug. "It's like I've done it before, but I can't remember when or where. My hands just know what to do, even if my mind doesn't." I nod slowly, understanding the feeling all too well. I watch closely as she expertly mixes the monster parts and critters together. "Making elixirs is a bit more complicated than cooking." She explains. "You need to be careful not to mix things that could make you sick or even kill you. See this?" She holds up a vial of orange liquid. "This is made from the Summerwing and a horn. It's called a Spicy Elixir. It raises your body temperature to combat cold weather. The more butterflies and parts you use, the longer the effects last, and it determines how strong or weak it will be."
"Think you could teach me?" I ask. "I mean, I'd probably just blow something up, but it's worth a shot."
She chuckles, her grin playful. "Sure, but don't blame me if you end up drinking something that makes you grow a tail."
"Wait, that's a thing?" I ask, half-joking, half-serious.
Her laugh is contagious. "No, not that I know of. But you'd definitely be the first to try it."
We share a laugh before she turns serious again. I nod, trying to process her explanation. "Thanks." I say, genuinely grateful.
"Don't mention it. Just make sure you don't drink them all at once, okay?" She teases.
"Got it." I reply with a grin. I nod intrigued. "And how long will this one last?"
"Since we only have common ingredients, this will last three minutes. I made another with three Summerwings, and that one will last seven. This one is a Hasty Elixir." She lifts up a blue vial.
"It makes you move faster and will last three minutes. I made one for each of us. We only have one Hightail left, so I'm keeping it for later."
"I get it now, but do elixirs have the only effects?" I ask genuinely curious.
"No, some foods can have effects, too, with the right ingredients, of course." She tucks the vials away in her pouch.
"So, we don't need to rely solely on elixirs." I say, relieved.
"Oh, but you have to be careful with what you mix together." She warns. "Certain critters and foods can cancel each other out. The Summerwing is good for combating cold weather, while the Winterwing is for hot weather. Some foods and critters grant stamina, but you don't want to mix them with ingredients that grant speed. Got it?" I nod, taking in her words. She makes a few more elixirs before cleaning the and to prepare some food.
We settle into a comfortable silence, eating the simple meal. I try to remember anything about myself, but all I can recall is my name, thanks to the mysterious yet familiar voice I keep hearing. Can you tell me more? I call out in my thoughts. How and why did I end up in that cave? Did I have friends or family? Do I know this girl? How do you know who I am?
Silence.
I guess I can't communicate with the voice. Frustration bubbles within me, mixed with sadness. How come this mysterious person can give me vague instructions but won't answer my questions? Can't or won't? I ask the voice again.
Still, there's nothing but silence. I sigh, feeling exasperated. "Are you okay?" Her worried expression pulls me from my thoughts.
"Not really." I admit, avoiding her gaze. "I'm just...thinking about everything." I focus on the ground, unable to meet her eyes. "I hesitated to kill those Bokoblins back there. It could have killed me...and you. But I still hesitated. I was afraid to kill them." Why did I hesitate now and not before? It doesn't make any sense! Shame washes over me as I sink into silence, wrestling with whether I should confide in this stranger about how I'm feeling.
We are strangers, yet I feel I can trust her. I gather my courage to speak, close my eyes, and inhale deeply. "Would the old me have done that? Am I ever going to be the same person I was? Who am I supposed to be now?"
She doesn't answer right away. Instead, she sets down her makeshift plate and looks at me, her expression soft yet thoughtful. When she finally speaks, her voice is gentle, almost hesitant.
"I don't know who you were." She begins. "But maybe that's okay. Whoever you were before...doesn't have to define who you are now."
Her words hang in the air, heavy yet oddly comforting.
"You hesitated because you're hyuman." She continues. "It means you care. You didn't just rush in and kill without a second thought. That says something about your heart." She pauses, her gaze dropping to her hands. "Honestly, I get it. I hesitated too. This...fighting, killing—it's not easy for me either. But sometimes, it feels like we don't have a choice. I've been afraid too." She finally admits, looking at me with empathy. "When I killed that Bokoblin, I...closed my eyes when I swung. Afterwards, I had to take deep breaths to calm myself. I don't know if our old selves would have done that. Maybe we'll never know. But I don't think it's either of our faults. It's not like we asked to lose our memories. And even if our old selves wouldn't hesitate or be afraid to take a life, that doesn't make us bad people. We're both going through a lot right now and are very confused by... everything. So, try not to be so hard on yourself, okay?"
I glance at her, surprised by the vulnerability in her tone.
"Who you were doesn't matter as much as who you choose to be now." She says, meeting my gaze with a small, reassuring smile. "And from what I've seen, you're someone who's brave enough to fight, but kind enough to question it. That's not a bad place to start."
Her words stir something inside me—a faint ember of hope that maybe, just maybe, I can figure this out.
I nod slowly. "Right. Thanks. That helps more than you know." I smile at her, feeling a bit better.
She shrugs, her smile turning playful. "Don't mention it. But if you really want to thank me, you can carry all the guts and teeth we find. Deal?"
I laugh despite myself. "Deal."
"Now, on a lighter note, remember anything now that we've spent some time outside that cave?" She asks, smiling back.
"Just my name. It's Link Wild." I reply, not technically lying, but it's the only thing I know about myself right now—my name and that I can fight. "There are things I know too. Like animals, food, plants, and trees. But not their specific names. I'm left-handed, I know how to use the weapons we found, I can fight. And my hair is blonde." I tug at one of my bangs, shifting it in front of my eye. "But I don't know what color my eyes are. What about you?"
She beams. "I get flashes of information—stuff about elixirs and monsters. Oh, and my name is Aona Embers. Kinda cute, huh?"
"Yes, it is." I agree, a small smile creeping onto my face. Her eyes widen.
"Why do you look so shocked?"
"I just didn't expect you to say that!" She squeaks, looking down and tugging on one of her braids. I watch her, surprised by her reaction. She really is cute. "Your eyes are blue." she adds shyly.
I smile, either at the satisfaction of knowing another detail about myself or at how adorable she is acting right now. "And yours are gold." She smiles. After a few more minutes of relaxing, we leave the campsite. "Alright then." I say, standing up and dusting myself off. "Let's get going before any more monsters show up."
"We're supposed to go into that cave. Are you good to go?" I ask, glancing at her arm. "Yup! It's just a small scratch; it doesn't hurt at all." She shrugs, standing up. We walk back and enter the small cave.
"Huh, the ground isn't rock." She says, looking down. She's right; the ground—well, platform—is black and smooth to the touch. I glance up to see what looks like rusted yellow archways embedded into the rock, with a single stalactite hanging in the middle. "Hey, doesn't that look like the pedestal from the cave we came out of?" She asks, pointing to a cylindrical object. I walk up to it and place the Slate in the glowing orange slot. "Looks exactly like the cave we came out of." She says, looking around.
Sheikah Tower Activated. Please watch for falling rocks.
The light turns blue. Huh? I can read! "Why would there be falling—" Aona doesn't have the chance to finish her question before the ground starts to shake violently. The rocks above us crumble, creaking loudly as they fall around us. "Aahh! Earthquake?!" Aona screams. Caught off guard, we both lose our balance and fall onto the platform. Rocks shoot into the air, scattering around us as the platform rises. I quickly scramble to my feet and rush to grab her, rolling us out of the way of a small boulder that almost crushes her. I lay on top of her to shield her from the smaller rocks that rain down. They scratch my arms and back.
After what feels like an eternity, the shaking subsides.
"H-Holy Hylia! What just happened?!" I open my eyes and sit up shakily, unwrapping my arms from her as she asks. I reach out my hand to help her up.
"I'm not sure, but we're not on the ground anymore." I say cautiously, walking back to the pedestal, which is making a weird beeping sound.
"Woah! You can see the entire Plateau and more from up here!" She says, gawking at the view.
Distilling Local Information.
I look up at the midnight-blue stalactite, now glowing with light blue symbols. A droplet of water forms at the tip before falling onto the Slate, clearing the blackened area of the map with more details. "I wonder what those symbols mean?" I muse, staring up at the stalactite.
"It's dangerous to go alone." She replies quietly. Her words hang in the air, and I can't help but stare at her, feeling a mix of curiosity and unease. 'It's dangerous to go alone'—why does that sound so familiar?
"Huh? How do you know that?" I ask, turning to her.
"Oh. Um... I'm not sure." She mumbles, a confused expression crossing her face. The view from up here is breathtaking. The Plateau stretches far and wide, but beyond it, I can see more landmarks—snowy peaks, dense forests, and a faint glimmer of something on the horizon.
"Guess we're not going to find answers by just standing here." I say, breaking the silence.
Regional Map Extracted. Travel Gate Activated.
"Well, that's convenient." Aona says. I glance back at the Slate, where the map now shows more details. "Oh great, that's way more helpful!" She exclaims, taking the Slate out to inspect it.
"Remember."
The voice suddenly calls out to me. I look toward the castle in the distance, a bright yellow light emanating from one of the towers.
"Try...try to remember.
You have been asleep for the last 100 years."
The ground starts to shake again, and a reddish, purple, and black cloud begins to form above the castle.
"The Beast. When the beast regains its true power, this world will face its end."
The cloud morphs into a monstrous figure with horns and yellow glowing eyes. It opens its maw, letting out a thunderous roar that we can't hear. The yellow light shines brighter, as if trying to keep it from escaping. It circles the castle once more before disappearing, leaving a horrid reddish fog hanging over the entire area. A cold shiver runs down my spine, cool droplets of sweat tracing my skin.
"Now then... You must hurry, Link. Before it's too late."
"No!!" Aona suddenly cries out beside me. I turn to her; she's kneeling in a fetal position, clutching her arms around herself, rocking back and forth. "Are you okay? What's wrong?" I ask, bending down to touch her shoulder, trying to offer some comfort. She jerks her head up at my touch, looking at me as if she doesn't recognize who's talking to her. After a few shaky breaths, she shakes her head.
"I'm fine. Seeing that...just scared me a little," she says, standing up. I do the same.
"Thanks for shielding me earlier," she says, looking at me. "You didn't have to."
"You don't have to thank me, but you're welcome." She smiles, looking a little embarrassed.
"So... uh, how do we get down?" she asks, handing me the Slate. I put it back in the holster and walk past her to an opening in the floor that I saw earlier, starting the climb down.