The courage to find me

Chapter 19: Caught red-handed

POV Link

I close the cottage door behind me after walking Zelda home. We just decided to suspend the exploration operations in the underground floors of Hyrule Castle—along with Purah, Robbie, and Paya, who recently took over as the Sheikah leader. Impa decided a few months ago that it was time to retire.

We're worried that the appearance of this strange toxic gas is a sign that the final attack we were warned about is about to happen. For this reason, we agreed that I should resume the quest to the Past—as the Deku Tree advised me so many years ago.

I lean against the tree next to the cottage, take out the Ocarina, and after a few moments of hesitation, preparing for the dreadful sensations of the journey, play the Song of Time, focusing on the second destination.

Just like last time, being carried back to the past is a horrendous experience. However, being prepared for it, this time I don't vomit or fall to the ground like a sack of potatoes.

I find myself outside. Before me is a large stone staircase, and in the background, there's a forest. I turn and see a double stone door, which seems to be a side entrance to some kind of temple. Intense energy emanates from this entrance, and I assume I should enter. Following the instructions, I play the Ode to the Hidden and, again, become invisible.

Careful not to make any noise, I push the door open slowly—hoping no one is looking this way. I enter the building and see it's empty. It really is a temple, very spacious, entirely built of stone. Various arches lead to different sections. In the center, several columns form a corridor from the main entrance to a staircase at the back of the hall. I see that at the top of the stairs, at the end of a platform, the wall is actually made up of gigantic sliding doors, also of stone.

They are slightly ajar, and an intense golden light escapes from there. After a few moments, the luminosity suddenly dissipates, and the doors open slowly.

Instinctively, I run behind one of the columns; I know it's unnecessary since I'm not visible—but I decide to trust my intuition.

Through the opening, a tall woman appears, seeming to be made of pure energy. Mesmerized, I watch as her skin gradually stops glowing and becomes like that of a common Hylian. Her hair is almost white and very long. She wears a white tunic that ends just above her bare feet. The way she moves is strangely familiar. I also notice she carries a small sword with a turquoise hilt, similar to the one Zelda described from her memories.

I understand, then, that I'm in the presence of Hylia. She looks curiously towards the column where I'm hiding and turns to walk in my direction. However, at that moment, the temple's front doors open, and the man I saw last time enters with firm steps. Seeing Hylia, he kneels and bows in reverence, one hand over his heart.

"Goddess Hylia," his voice is laden with emotion, and his gaze is lowered. "I came as soon as the rains subsided. Many of the villages along the way have been destroyed. Demise and his hordes burned dozens of homes with their families still inside. There was no time to save them."

The pain in Hylia's eyes at his words is indescribable.

"Please, rise, my love. I've asked you not to bow to me," she requests tenderly.

Completely absorbed in the scene, I watch as the man stands and walks towards the goddess. She extends the sword to him, which he carefully holds before examining it, weighing it in his hands and making a few cuts in the air to test its precision. They take care not to touch each other.

"It's a magnificent weapon, Hylia. This blade... is it imbued with your power?"

"Yes... I created it from my light energy," she says, unable to hide the pride she feels. "I believe if we strike Demise with it, he will fall. And then, we will finally have peace."