A Hero's Spirit: Echoes in Time

Chapter 4: An Open Mind

Merry Christmas!! I've been STRUGGLING with this chapter. It's still not in a place that I'm really happy with, but I think this is as good as it'll get for right now. I AM really happy with the carriage scene, but you'll find that out when you get there. All together I scrapped more than 1.6k words of this chapter before it became what it is today.

I also fell asleep last night while editing it. XD I do apologize if the end seems a tad rushed, but rest assured there's going to be a lot more interaction with Arc and the Chain in future chapters.

Big thanks to the LU Discord for helping me bounce ideas, and of course to my three wonderful betas who are always there to help keep me on track and keep my bunnies fed.

Also shoutout to Ali and Sylph for trying to make me stick to The List. :) No you don't get an explanation.

~~~Linelinelineline~~~

They left Castletown just as the first rays of dawn crept above the horizon. Wind was still yawning every five seconds, but Arcadius felt antsy. He didn't want to stay put for longer than necessary. He tried to think of this era as something like a bordering kingdom—a place from which he could return home with a simple walk across the continent or a quick call to Teba or Sidon.

But such thinking didn't quell the quiet anxiety that pooled at the bottom of his stomach. He knew that it could be weeks or months—perhaps even years—before he made it back home. It was probably best that he start preparing for the worst scenario—returning to war.

"Those dark thoughts will only weigh you down right now." Urbosa's voice cut through the peaceful quiet of the sleepy dawn.

"She's right. We can't do anything about our situation right now, so we may as well just find the others." Revali spoke as he straightened out a few feathers.

"Be that as it may, he has every right to worry." Zelda spoke up for him.

Arcadius was about to say something when he remembered that Wind was still there. Well, if he was going to be traveling with the other heroes, he should probably make an effort to get to know them. "So, you said your Hyrule was covered by the sea?"

The boy's eyes brightened at once. "Yeah! The Great Sea is what we call it, and there's a bunch of islands everywhere! You've gotta sail on a boat to get anywhere, unless you've got wings like a Rito." The child paused for a moment. "Do you know what a Rito is?"

Arcadius drew back slightly in something between offense and surprise. "Of course I know what a Rito is." He gave the young hero a raised eyebrow. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Well, I'm the only one who has Rito." Wind shrugged. "None of the others know what they are. So does that mean you've got them too?!"

"Wait... None of the others have Rito?" Revali shared a perplexed look with Zelda and the others.

"Yeah. I've got Rito, Zora, Gorons, Sheikah and Gerudo." Arcadius frowned lightly when Wind only looked more confused.

"But... You have Zora and Rito?"

"Yes?" The Champion was sure his own expression was becoming rather exasperated because the child quickly elaborated.

"Well, my Rito said that they evolved from the Zora during the Great Flood. So because I have Rito, there aren't any Zora anymore. All the others have Zora, but no Rito because they never needed to evolve."

Arcadius' gaze flickered towards his ghostly companions for a moment as that information settled in his mind. "So you're saying that it should be impossible for my time to have both Zora and Rito?"