The Hyrule Paradox: Worlds Collide | BOTW Isekai (Book 1)

Chapter 21: Attempted Escape

The meals were almost done when Olivia came running up the stairs to the house yelling for help. She was very panicked, and it took a second to calm her down before she could explain.

"Lynn is in danger! I saw her in the village! She had one of our boxes, you know, the one of the ones we used to carry the clothes, and was putting some fruit into it. She saw me, and she grabbed the bag and ran! I tried to chase her but she's too fast! I yelled to her, asked her what she was doing, and she yelled 'Running away!'. She ran into the woods and was heading southwest. I didn't want to chase her because it's nighttime and there are monsters! We have to find her before she gets attacked and wounded!"

Jordan jumped up in response, though he really had no plan of action. Lynn was a freak athlete, and she could run very fast for some time if she really wanted to. Jordan started doing some quick calculations in his head. If Lynn was last seen heading southwest, that means she would be heading towards the Faron region to the south, where the more tropical climate held wetlands, dense forests, as well as Lurelin Village. He decided that he didn't want to think any longer, he was just wasting time. He tried to be a voice of calm while the others squawked about what happened all around him.

"Everyone, calm down! We will find her."

"We had better! It's just like her to do something stupid like this!" Ronny yelled, shaking his head in disgust at his sister's actions. "Either she was scared and decided to run away, or there was some other nonsensical reason that made her go. I've tried racing her before, she's fast, and she can run for longer than you'd think a kid like her could. We have to move quickly!"

"How are we going to find her?!" Mayla piped up, "The sun just set and it will be totally dark soon! We won't be able to see anything out there!" Her words did not help to ease the tension. Jordan tried to bring everyone back down, thinking on his feet as he stood there.

"Not everybody has to go. Only a few of us. I'm going. Will? Are you up for it?"

The young boy hung his head as everyone turned to look at him, the weight of their gaze weighing down on him. He sighed in exhaustion. "I'm a little tired, but I'm willing to search."

"Do you feel absolutely sure that you can go out there alone?" Jordan asked him, making sure that his friend was all in. The young boy stood up straight and took a deep breath, summoning his courage before responding again with a renewed strength in his voice.

"Yes I do."

"Thank you. Does anybody else feel that they can search in the dark safely?" He looked around the room, knowing very well that he wouldn't trust anyone else to come with them. Nobody else had really fought monsters before, or knew the territory around Hateno Village.

"I can go! I–" Ronny shouted, his arm shooting into the air.

"No, you are going to stay here." Jordan demanded, cutting him off.

"Why?!"

"Because you haven't picked up a weapon yet and you don't know what you are doing." Jordan responded reasonably, "I am not going to risk letting you go only for you to hurt yourself."

"But I will be fine!" Ronny protested.

"Jordan, by that logic, neither you nor Will should go either!" Emily protested. Jordan thrust his hands in the air in frustration.

"Somebody has to go. I will always know what I am doing, and where I am. Will has experience and knowledge of this area. If nobody goes, Lynn might...whatever."

He refrained from saying it, but everyone knew what he was going to say.

"I don't want to argue. I can't risk any of you searching for her. Honestly, I don't want Will to go either, but I need him. None of you are as proficient with the weapons we have, much less navigation. It is final. Will and I will go search for Lynn. The rest of you should stay here, and eat the dinner I prepared. Please?" he couldn't help but add that last word, as his bold tone broke and his vulnerability shone through.