the legend of zelda Age of Calamity

chapter 15 Under the Desert Sun

The Gerudo Desert stretched endlessly before them—an ocean of sand beneath the blistering sun. Zelda squinted against the harsh light, the wind kicking up grains of sand as they made their way deeper into the desert. The heat was oppressive, suffocating, and the very air seemed to shimmer with the intensity of it.Link, as always, kept his distance behind her, his pace steady and unwavering. He was no stranger to the desert's trials, but that didn't mean he was immune. His hand never strayed far from the hilt of his sword, ever-ready for anything that might appear out of the endless horizon. Zelda didn't know how long they'd been walking; time seemed to blur in the desert's unforgiving expanse. The air was thick and dry, but she had no choice but to keep moving. She was the last hope of Hyrule—she couldn't afford to stop. Still, a nagging concern gnawed at her. Link's stoic silence was even more noticeable today, and she couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't entirely well. Suddenly, Link caught her attention, holding out a small vial. She looked at him, puzzled."Link?" she asked, her voice strained against the wind.Without a word, he handed her the vial, the liquid inside a faint amber color. Zelda took it, turning it over in her hand as she tried to understand his silent gesture. "This is..." she began, before understanding dawned on her. The heat-resistant elixir. She didn't know how he'd managed to get it, or when he'd prepared it, but she recognized its importance immediately. The desert's heat was dangerous, and an elixir like this could be the difference between life and death. She looked up at him, about to thank him, when she noticed something in his eyes—a quiet concern. He had only one vial left.Zelda didn't say anything, but she took a careful sip from the vial, feeling the cooling effect spread through her body almost immediately. She kept it to herself, not wanting to worry him. She didn't even know if he'd noticed how strained her breathing was, how much she had to fight against the desert's relentless heat. But what she didn't realize was that Link was struggling too. His steps were slower than usual, his breathing heavier, though he kept a stoic expression. He was pushing himself—pushing them both to keep going, as always.Hours passed, and the sun showed no mercy. By the time they reached the sparse shade of an outcropping of rocks, Link's legs buckled. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his body collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud."Link!" Zelda gasped, turning to see him sprawled out in the sand, his body barely moving. Her heart raced as she rushed over to him. She knelt beside him, gently lifting his head. His face was pale, drenched with sweat, his eyes unfocused. The desert's heat had done its damage. Without hesitation, she helped him into the shade, her hands shaking with the urgency of it. She quickly assessed him—he was burning with fever, his body unresponsive. His normally stoic expression had given way to an unconscious state of exhaustion. "Link, no... stay with me," she whispered, her voice trembling.But he didn't respond. His breaths were shallow, ragged. Zelda quickly reached into her pack and pulled out a damp cloth. She pressed it against his forehead, praying it would help cool him down. His body was burning, and she didn't know if they could wait any longer for him to recover. The desert was unforgiving, but she refused to let him succumb to its wrath.Minutes passed. Then, finally, she felt a shift. His breathing steadied, though he remained unconscious. Zelda wiped away a tear that had escaped her eyes, relief flooding her chest. And then, to her surprise, Link stirred. His eyes fluttered open slowly, though they were still glazed with fatigue. "What the heck?" he muttered, his voice groggy, as though he had just woken from a long sleep. Zelda blinked, startled by his words. She gave him a look of disbelief. "Link, are you alright?" she asked, concern rising in her chest.But his response made her pause. "Uggggg," he groaned, his face scrunching up as he tried to sit up. "I'm fine, just a little... sandy. Did I just... fall asleep out here?"Zelda chuckled despite herself, though it was mixed with relief. "You didn't fall asleep. You... collapsed.""Oh, right. That's what I meant," Link muttered, looking up at her with a slight, pained grin. "Sorry, I got a little too into the whole 'heroic journey' thing. But hey, I'm back! And I've got a whole new appreciation for... heat. Like, a deep, personal connection with it, y'know?"Zelda raised an eyebrow, her smile tugging at the corners of her mouth despite the situation. "You're making bad puns now?" she asked, unable to stop herself from teasing him."Bad puns? Oh, you bet," Link replied with a half-grin, his voice still groggy but filled with a sense of humor. "I'm 'sun-derfully' tired. You could say I'm a little 'sand-wiched' between duty and exhaustion." Zelda let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "Those are terrible.""I know, but they're better than being dead in the desert," Link quipped with a mischievous gleam in his eye.Zelda sighed, her worry not completely gone but lessened. She helped him sit up, offering him some water. "Let's get you some more shade and rest. You're lucky I'm here to save you from all those puns."Link chuckled again, though it was quieter this time. "Yeah, I'm lucky... and you're welcome for the puns." With that, they both settled in the shade, and for a moment, the heat of the desert didn't seem so unbearable. Even with the challenges ahead, it was nice to share a laugh, to share a brief moment of levity amidst their journey.For the time being, they were safe. But the road ahead was long, and there was no guarantee the desert wouldn't take more than they were willing to give. Still, Link would protect her—and even in the harshest of circumstances, there was always room for a little humor.