The courage to find me

[Act II - Wisdom] Chapter 8: Oh no, not again

5 years later...

POV Zelda

I watch as a drop of condensed water slowly trickles down the side of my glass of the bar's signature drink in Gerudo: the "Noble Pursuit." The temperature here is high, as always, and the drink is warming up quickly.

"Come on, Zelda, try it! It's delicious," Paya encourages, already tipsy.

Today is my 23rd birthday. So, Purah, with her age adjusted to her twenties, organized a small entourage of the women I've spent the most time with over the past few years and decreed, despite my protests, that we would celebrate in Gerudo. "It's hot there, they have great drinks, and no men to bother us! What better place to celebrate?" she declared.

I don't like celebrating my birthdays. I still have a terrible premonition when I wake up on this day, considering that Calamity struck on this exact day over a century ago. Despite the fact that in recent years this date has passed without major issues, I refused to celebrate. It only served to remind me of my failures and the mistakes I made. It doesn't seem right to celebrate something as frivolous as a birthday on a day that carries so much darkness... because of me.

But unlike previous years, this time Purah didn't relent.

"The Calamity ended long ago, Zel! What better way to celebrate our victory than by celebrating another year of your life?" she kept repeating.

After many weeks of insistence, which wore me down until I gave in, we left Hateno for Gerudo a few days ago, stopping in Kakariko only to pick up Paya. Besides her, when we arrived in the city, we were also joined by Riju - the young Gerudo leader, now 18 years old - and Buliara, her bodyguard.

"It's really good, Zelda, even I've tried it," said Riju, making Furosa, the old bar owner, roll her eyes in disapproval.

In theory, she shouldn't be drinking until she's 21, but being the tribe's leader, no one could stop her. However, unlike Paya, who was already finishing her third glass, Riju seemed to have more moderation.

"It has watermelon, palm fruit, and something else that makes it... electric! But you have to drink it icy, otherwise it's not as good."

I decide to try it. The taste is indeed very tasteful, and as I notice the table go momentarily silent, I realize I've nearly finished the entire glass in one go. But instead of feeling embarrassed, I feel a strange energy buzzing through my skin and a pleasant warmth spreading from my chest.

"See, I knew you'd like it!" Paya shouts, slurring her words.

"Yes, yes, but how about a glass of water now and a piece of bread?" Buliara says to her.

Purah laughs at the situation and turns to me.

"So, Z, how are you feeling?" she asks, and I know she's not just referring to my traumas related to the Calamity. This day also makes me think a lot about Link, since it was because of him that my powers finally awakened, on this very date.

I shrug.

"The same as always."

"You haven't received any more news from him since he left?"

"Not that you didn't know of. The only contact I got was that letter Kass delivered when he returned alone from the mission."

The note was short and succinct. I've read and reread that piece of paper so many times that each word is engraved in the back of my mind.

Dear Zelda,

I am writing this letter because Kass and I will soon part ways. After several months without making progress in the search for answers regarding ancient technologies, he decided to return to Hyrule as he had been away from his daughters for too long.