Second Hand of the Chosen Hero

Chapter Fourteen

The door alone was magnificent.

Every ounce of anxiety seeped away for just a moment as she gazed at the work of art; A jeweled bird bordered in gold and bronze, with green silver as its backdrop. Leaves were intricately carved, outlined in curls of bronze. It was weathered as so much else there had been, but, same as those things, that added to the beauty of it in Tya's eyes.

Upon ascending the stairs, she'd been completely taken by the sight. Eagerness swelled in her chest, churning her stomach as she wondered what else she could find beyond these doors, in the depths of the temple. What else, aside from Zelda. If even Zelda. She was too distracted by the concept of works of art and the magic, and the texts to find herself wondering if this was even the correct way Zelda had gone.

Her fingers traced the part between either door and as they moved to acknowledge that there was no handle that she might pull, she tried to push. A fruitless effort which left her looking back toward Link.

The key to entry wasn't truly a mystery. To her, it had just appeared to be an unlit chandelier, but to Link, it looked like something else. He was clearly far more cut for this given how often his assumptions proved correct and hers, wrong.

He motioned for her to come back as he pulled the new tool from his belt and examined it closely. It was a slingshot, even she knew. It didn't seem as if it would be all that effective in actual combat, nor did it seem like it would do a whole lot in general. Really, just an inconvenient way to throw rocks at people's windows, but Link loaded it up regardless and flung a pellet at the purple (really pink) light above the doorway.

She hadn't expected it to work. She expected that to have been a dumb idea, and the door itself to just be stuck shut given its age. But as the mechanism began to click, pulling the entry open, she narrowed her eyes.

"How is it you so easily think of these things?" She huffed, to which Link patted her shoulder.

"Luck!" he answered, voice light and tinted with victory. To her surprise, she found herself chuckling at him, a sound drowned out by the heavy grinding of the doors falling open.

Dirt and dust were broken from the place it had been cemented for so long, leaving a cloud as a wave of cold must billowed from the dark depths beyond the door. The touch of its chill left her shuddering, but she only pulled tighter the sailcloth around her shoulders and began to follow Link inward.

It was a descent into those dark depths that left Tya wary, as it would anyone. For her, it wasn't just the inability to see- in all honesty, she could probably see more than Link since the faint hues of temperature still lingered even in the darkness, all blue in an indication that heat had not reached this far. It also wasn't the fact that they were on stairs, having to feel their way around to be sure she didn't fall all the way down to wherever the bottom was. Both were relevant, and there, yes, but it was also in part due to the fact that she hadn't anticipated Link's reaction to what she could do to defend herself. The very same ability that would, in this moment, be very useful as it would allow them to see.

"Link," she called, one hand reaching out to find him. As she found his tunic, she pulled at him, hand roaming to find his arm and then his hand. He had his shield on the other, she knew. She could hear the scrape of it against the walls as he tried to see his own way.

He hummed to acknowledge her, aiding in her attempt to find his hand. It was likely a bad idea to keep a hold of his sword hand, but it would be far better than losing him while their eyes adjusted.

"I am going to guess you didn't bring anything with us that may light the way?"

"No," he said.

It probably would have been to their benefit if they'd gone back to Skyloft to better prepare for this. But that seemed like it would be a waste of time when Zelda was so close. She was unsure of whether or not she should suggest either of the ideas she had; to retreat and prepare or to ignite and show the way. She didn't want to retreat, nor did she want Link to abandon her upon having her monstrousness revealed. But she supposed it was better to have him do so now when she could find the way back on her own, than him doing so deeper in.