Tales from Hyrule: The Fisherman's Anecdotes

Traveler's Sword

A Traveler's Sword. The most common weapon wielded by Hylians these days. Not in any way spectacular, but served well enough to protect oneself from the common beasts of Hyrule. "Will it be enough?" I thought to myself. I rarely fought monsters, but it happened a Bokoblin or Lizalfos or two would find their way to be menacing down at Hateno Beach; essentially trying to steal goods from us fishermen. I had no problem killing them off when needed, but I knew that out in Hyrule, there were bigger and more dangerous creatures. I felt a little weary.

I stuck the sword down the sheath on my belt before finishing the packing. It was the sword I had, and there wasn't exactly any time to go to the blacksmith for a stronger one now. Besides, I doubt he would take fish for a payment. With that said meaning, I was broke. The recent catch was all I could rely on, and we needed to find people who were willing to pay enough to defend our dignity.

East Necluda provided good fishing opportunities with lots of porgy in the sea, and carps and bass in the lakes and rivers around, but no one knew them better than my family. I am a fisherman, my father is a fisherman and so was his father and on it goes.

However coming from a town known for its farms and mills along with the many wild apple trees growing both inside and nearby it, I will admit; the Hateno residents may not be the richest—but we never ran low on food and therefore the demand was middle to low. The problem was, in times like ours, it was hard to travel any significant distances with something that rots so quickly, and with Guardians and monsters terrorizing the Kingdom we weren't exactly overflowing with tourists either.

I didn't pack much. I had my sword, my knife and my rope. Maybe, being used to harpooning, a spear would've been good, but I decided to just go with this. I didn't own much clothes so I brought what I had that wasn't smelling of fish and all crusty from the salt water. A jacket and a hat should the nights be cold. Some food supplies for the trip so we needn't take too much of the fish, and last but not least; my guitar.

I placed the guitar case on the wagon and secured it with a rope.

"Oh! Going traveling?" The familiar energetic voice of a certain old lady.

"Miss Purah" I addressed the elderly Sheikah researcher as I turned towards her. She worked and lived in her laboratory in the old lighthouse due to the nearby source of ancient blue flame, and was one of the few survivors of the Great Calamity still alive. "Aye, we got a muckle catch, goin' all the way tae the Gerudo desert tae sell them." I replied to her question.

"A long road." She said. "How will you do with the fish?" She looked down to the side and murmured for a second. "If only I could fix those runes, I could've given you ice."

"Dinnae fash aboot it, sweetheart. Bowie cut doon a Wizzrobe the other day so we got an ice rod tae dae the job." My brother Kal replied with a smirk as he finally came out of the house with his stuff. "So are ye comin' wae us, Purah?" He asked her. No matter if it was a 95 year old scientist, Kal had a way of acting like he was flirting with every female he talked to, in contrast to myself.

She giggled. For her age, Purah had quite a youthful mind. "No can do, Kal." The Sheikah replied with a cheeky smile. "My body doesn't allow long travels anymore. But once I make a rune that reverses age, I promise to travel with you."

Whether she meant it or said it to be encouraging was unclear. Purah always talked about her "runes" that us common Hylians had no idea what it meant, other than being related to some kind of Sheikah technology.

"Aight, gie the flirtin a bye and get yer last shite together so we can get the horsies." I said. "Sorry fir takin' yer time, Miss Purah." The old lady waved us goodbye with a sweet smile as she left. It seemed Kal and I thought alike, for he also brought his guitar. I smiled a little. This could make the path less boring.

As I mounted my horse, my father came to give his farewell. He wasn't fancying too much the idea of traveling on land, and had decided to leave the mission to us young lads. Besides, he was very attached to my mother and didn't want to leave her side if he didn't have to. In contrast to most people, he was well acquainted with the sea, but rather weary about the land and its many dangers.

He gave my horse a pat on the neck and looked at me with his usual serious expression, the pipe hanging from his lips under the big mustache.

"Yer a man noo, Jiam." He said. "Am counting on ye." He paused, it was visible that he was thinking to himself. He glanced towards my brother with narrowed eyes. "... And keep an eye oan yer wee brother. Dinnae let him dae anything too stupid."

"Aye, da. Promise." I said from the back of my black gelding; Gale. Despite being one of the youngest of the group at my age of 17, my father had appointed me to lead us. I turned towards the squad over my shoulder as he left. "Awright lads, aff we go!"

"Aye!" They answered in chorus.