Hyrule's Vengeance: A Modern LoZ

Chapter 3 - Common Interest

Zelda stands frozen for a moment. Eventually she gathers enough gall to speak.

"It's you... from yesterday," she says.

He takes out a cigarette and lights it. 

"I have a phone with me," she says threateningly. "All I have to do is press a button and security will be able to track me."

"I said I'm not stalking you. I have been here for hours."

"Waiting for me," she says but realizes that her coming here was a last minute decision.

He hands her his box of cigarettes. "I think you could use one."

"I don't smoke," she says.

He laughs. "Should have figured."

They are quiet for a moment, giving Zelda the opportunity to watch him. His eyes have dark circles. She wonders if he has insomnia. Or if he is stressed. Then she watches his mannerisms. His slow and cautious movements, his relaxed but stern face. She doesn't feel he is threatening but at the same time, she isn't prepared to let her guard down entirely. She wonders how Crue would react if he found out about their interaction. Then she wonders why she said 'if' as if she plans to keep it a secret.

"What brings you out here tonight?" he says.

"I am a student of the history and archeology faculty of Hyrule Academy," she says proudly.

"Congratulations," he says drily. "But that doesn't answer my question."

"I'm here to complete an assignment. I needed some pictures to go with my paper."

He responds with a nod.

"But if you're not a student of the academy and if you're not stalking me, then really I should be asking you that question."

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," he says exhaling smoke.

"What? Did you kill someone and hide the body?"

He is quiet for a moment. "Yes," he says, the shadows of his face instantly look menacing.

Zelda holds her breath.

"Only one of us can make jokes here?" he laughs. "Though I do like the way you think."

She feels her face glow, embarrassed that she entertained the possibility that he was telling the truth.

"I don't have to be a student of some pompous academy to take an interest in something, do I?" he says.

"Well, no. I guess not. It's just not a common interest."

He nods at the camera Zelda dropped. "It is ok?"

"Oh," she says. She forgot she even dropped it. "It should be. These things are sturdy devices." She pauses as she tinkers with the controls. "Yes, it looks fine."

They are quiet for a moment then and Zelda can hear the cicadas and owls. Something not too commonly heard around the busier parts of town.

"Magnificent, isn't it?" says Zelda as she shines her flashlight on one of the ruins and brushes her hands across the cold concrete slabs. "These are theorized to be the graves of an ancient civilization of a long-forgotten era. Perhaps even a kingdom that had its own laws, rituals, and deities. So little was left that we know essentially nothing other than that they existed... which is odd in and of itself. It's almost as if they vanished without a trace, not wanting to be discovered. I actually wanted to be a student of the Folklore department. I felt that they might have had information complementary to my studies that could shine a light on this mystery but unfortunately, I wasn't accepted."