Break The Cycle

chapter 12

As the three of you descended down the staircase, you noticed the stairs getting ever steeper, to the point where you had to hold onto the railing with one hand. Every step caused sand and dust to dislodge from the ceiling, occassionally landing on someone's head.

Finally, you reached the bottom of the eerie staircase, and found yourself faced with a large, heavy-looking, rusted iron door. A jangling told you that Riyoko had extracted keys from her pocket, and began to try them all out in the lock.

Fortunately, it only took a few tries until the door unlocked. Riyoko pressed against it, heaving with all her might.

"I think it's stuck," she commented, beckoning the two of you closer to her.

You glanced at Link, who nodded back, and both of you walked over to the door, aiding your aunt in trying to push it open.

After a considerable time spent pushing the great chunk of metal, it swung open and hit the wall with a loud bang. Riyoko reached into her bag, taking out a small box. She opened it, then took a thin stick of wood from inside. Striking the match against the side of the box, it lit up, and also provided a small source of light.

"There should be another one of those levers in here. Both of you take a match-" she lit two more "-and look for it. Then it'll be easier to find what we're looking for when the lights are on."

The three of you split up, walking around the dusty room, careful not to bump into the large bookcases so you didn't set any books on fire.

You traced your hands along one of the walls, searching for any bumps or crevices. Eventually, the brick turned to iron - like the door - and you instead began to trace the shape of that. It seemed to be a long bar; precisely what you were looking for.

Blowing out the match to make sure you didn't harm yourself, you pushed down on the bar with all your might. Lanterns, which you could now see were dangling from the ceiling, were set ablaze, filling the room in a warm glow.

"Let there be light," you smiled, proudly placing your hands on your hips. "Uh... remind me... what are we looking for again?"

Riyoko had begun sifting through the bookcases. "A translator, preferably one about ancient Gerudo to Hylian.. I don't know if it'll be a scroll or an actual book, so look for both." She didn't take her eyes from the rows of books as she spoke.

You nodded, turning your attention to the closest bookshelf and sifting through the books there. No translator to be found. You then moved onto a second, then a third, then a fourth, still finding nothing, until-

"Found it!" a male voice announced from somewhere to your left, followed by a coughing fit. You went over to Link, patting him on the back.

"Are you okay?"

Link nodded, then held up a book, labelled 'Gerudo/Hylian Dictionary'. You took it from him, skimming through the pages, noticing how many of the symbols in there resembled the ones on the ancient scroll.

"I think this is it!" you exclaimed, smiling at the two. "Once we get back up to the top, I reckon I could translate it!"

Riyoko smiled, nodding. "Well then. What are we waiting for?"

The three of you emerged from the underground library, eyes stinging from the sudden light. Blinking rapidly, you looked between your two comrades. Malo was waiting in the throne room with Riju, nervously tapping her foot against the ground. She glanced up at the sound of footsteps, her face lighting up at the sight of her wife, niece and her niece's protector.

"Ah, you're back! Find what you were looking for?" She stepped away from the pillar she was leaning on, unfolding her arms. Riyoko nodded, then stood next to her.