So I don't forget again

Entry 103: Gerudo Tower

After a lot of climbing I found the tower that Kass had pointed out to be back at the Wasteland tower. It stands in what appears to be a bottomless pit. At least it's surrounded by cliffs of varying sizes so I can glide onto it from up high.

As I climbed, I heard that marvelous instrument, so I knew my favorite minstrel was nearby. He stood at the top, by the edge. After collecting the map of the area, I stood by his side and simply enjoyed the music. After finishing his current song, he said that the next song he was about to play is about this tower. "As light shines from the northwest skies, From the tower's shadow an arrow flies. Pierce heaven's light to reveal the prize." We looked around and spotted a pedestal just like the one we got the deer too. The tower's shadow was already on it, so we quickly glided to it. The sun appeared to be standing right on the tower's highest point so I shot an arrow at it. Moments later the ground shook and a shrine unborrowed itself from the ground next to us.

The deer I can understand, but how could the pedestal know I shot an arrow? Did the ancient Sheikah place a target where the arrow landed, but how would they be able to account for the wind?

Kass asked if I was alright seeing I kept rubbing at my eyes. As much as I like it in the Gerudo's territory, everything is unbearably bright here. Even the sun itself somehow seems brighter here!

Once I was finished with the shrine Kass was sitting at the edge of the cliff playing away. He told me that as soon as the sandstorms had calmed, he came here as quickly as he could. Wandering around and hearing anecdotes about Urbosa greatly inspired him. He wrote another glorious song. It was about the almost mother-daughter relationship Lady Urbosa and the Princess had. It even told a tale of Urbosa effortlessly saving the princess from a Yiga attack.

Kass asked if I was headed for Rito Village next, where the last Divine Beast is. I'm not sure. I still need to find the Master Sword but the only thing I know about it is that it was hidden in some forest.

I told Kass of my confusion about how the pedestal could tell I shot an arrow, about how even if there was a target the wind could easily have changed the arrow's trajectory even if shot in the right direction. Kass found that odd too, but these thoughts of the wind reminded him of another hero long past. Like the one who traversed time this one also had and instrument... of sorts. A conductor's baton which controlled the wind. He'd used it to sail the seas, battled countless beasts, even found his way to an undersea palace, all to save his sister.

My only memories before writing in this journal are the brief moments of the Princess or the Champions... nothing else. Surely, I had a family, right? Did I love them? Did I hate them? The Champions are important but why can I remember nothing of myself? Why can I not remember my family, if I had one. Did I have a mother? A Father? Siblings, grand parents? Maybe even a cousin? Or... did I have no one? Is that why I became a knight? Because I had no one to protect so I opted to protect the kingdom? Or did I want to protect the kingdom for their sake?

Even with Kass by my side I feel so alone. I feel as if I'm trudging through the desert's sandstorm every day. So lost with no escape, no sign of anyone else around.

My mind keeps returning to Friend. It reels from her, to my unknown past, to the champions, and the constant isolation I feel suffocating my every waking breath. Why am I like this? Why does this happen? Even with others I still feel this way. I love exploring this land even with the isolation. I love getting to rest in a town for days on end even when the deepest, smallest kernel in me desires for nothing more than to be trudging through those fields and climbing those mountains once more. Yet it seems that my heart purposely searches for this prickling pain... or perhaps it's not searching... There's so much, but how am I supposed to handle all this? I think...

I think I may be less hurt and more so afraid of something? I don't know. Or perhaps I just can't take any more of this death, and Friend's passing was too much for me to take? The more I think about it and read back... I keep noticing her absence.

I asked Kass if he has a family. Notts, Kotts, Genli, Cree, Kheel, the loves of his life, his daughters, and his ever patient, kind, and amazing wife Amali. He regaled me with tales of their romance, of his daughters singing in perfect harmony with his songs, of Amali's marvelous voice, how she was so understanding of Kass needing to journey to fulfill his late teacher's last wishes, of the last day he saw them. He loved travel, of being able to go wherever he wanted, but his heart has always remained with them this whole time. I ended up crying hearing just how passionately, lovingly and tenderly he spoke of them.

Kass asked me if I had anywhere to go after this, my journey. He sounded apprehensive, as if fearing my answer. I at first told him about my house in Hateno and the people there, then the Sheikah village where I made fast friends with everyone, then Goron City where the Gorons call me brother, and then Gerudo town where everyone is just so friendly, especially their Chief! Kass then asked if there was anyone I held dear to my heart. Anyone I wanted to be with. The first person to come to mind was Sidon, but the more I thought about it, I realized that it wasn't just him but Yunobo, Chief Riju, Calisa, and Kass too. I'd like to be with all of them. There's still so much of Hyrule left to see, perhaps I'll find other people as well.

I asked Kass if he would like to accompany me for a while. I told him about finding the eighth statue, and how with him around it'd probably be much easier to find. He was surprised, but said he'd be glad to do so. Though since we're going to the Highlands he said that we should go in the day given how my fingers would freeze off at night.

We made a campfire at the tower. Though we're waiting for day due to the cold, the desert is freezing at night, even in the lands surrounding it. Even clutching the fire rod close to me only made me a little warmer. In the end Kass wrapped a wing around me and held me close. He's so warm! I hadn't noticed till then, but his feathers are fluffy. Rito Village is located right next to the Hebra Mountains. Over time they learned many tricks to keeping warm and even adapted to it themselves. Kass told me that in his village there's a shop where I could buy clothing which would keep me warm even in a snowstorm. He hadn't tried it out for himself, but he heard as such.

I wonder if I'll meet his family when I get there.