[EDITING] The Legend of Zelda: Goddess of Secrecy

Dungeon Chapter 19 - And the Dead Keep It

...and on into a solemn hall. Tombs were leaned against the wall. An eerie feeling ran down Link's spine as he scanned the room. He swore he heard someone ask, "What is this place?" but it wasn't from any voice he knew.

Endeavor stopped and looked back at them, acknowledging the quest regardless. "This is the Hall of the Dead. The Drex bring those who died to this place to be buried."

"Creepy," Zelda replied quietly, shivering visibly at the explanation.

"Be kind to wayward souls, Princess. We will meet them all one day," Endeavor answered and continued walking on down the hall. "They would have hidden the key on the far side. This way."

They continued on their way down the hall. It really was more a labyrinth, but Endeavor seemed to know their way. Link glanced at the tombs as they continued. Each coffin was uniquely carved and named who was in it. Link noticed some tombs had their names scratched out. He moved closer to one to get a better look. Endeavor turned back on their heels and hissed at him, "Do not disturb the dead."

Link took a step back as Endeavor hurried over to join him, before they stopped and studied the coffin. Their expression didn't bring much comfort. "I fear they have suffered enough already." They didn't linger long, continuing on without explanation. Link looked at the stone tomb one last time, before heading after Endeavor, Zelda particularly close after the vagueness of the comment.

Eventually, they wound to the other end of the chamber, passing through a doorway at the far end. The tombs in this room were laid down on the floor, a particular distinction to them to be separated from the rest. They were studded with gems like those on Queen Justice's crown. Based on all other signs in the chamber, Link assumed these must have been the past rulers of the Drex.

But there was something very wrong with these graves. Several had their lids moved. Some lids were still over top of the coffins, others were pushed to the ground. Endeavor drew their sword. Link drew his as well, though he wasn't sure what they were fighting. Focused and offended by whatever it was, Endeavor didn't answer.

The stone door rolled shut behind them. Link looked back as a purple glow came off the stone. That door was not opening. He returned his focus on the tombs.

A hand gripped the side of the coffin it was in. Its bony fingers echoed against the stone as it pulled itself up. The body wobbled on its feet for a moment. It was wrapped in red cloth and breaking chainmail hung loosely to its body.

"This is no Drex queen!" Endeavor exclaimed, hot with rage from the disrespect, before lunging forward to put anger to action. Their sword separated the head from the body in one stroke. The skull hit the wall and shattered. Dust settling behind, they snarled, "ReDeads."

There was a piercing scream. Link didn't have time to block the sound, leaving him paralyzed. Journey whimpered from the noise, before launching herself at the decaying body of the ReDead. The monster tossed her back, and continued its approach on them.

More tombs slid open. Endeavor shouted, "We need a diversion. There is too many of them."

There was a faint memory in the back of Link's mind. It was like the first rays of sunlight as it crept into his mind, something whispered by the wayward beings in the space. He pulled out the Ocarina of Time and played the memory as it came to him.

"You learned the Sun Song. Its brilliant tune can raise the sun, and brings light even to the darkest place."

There was a flash of light. As it faded, Link saw that the ReDeads had frozen. Without waiting, he pulled out his sword and unleashed a mighty spin attack. The ring of ReDeads fell back against the walls. It gave them room to breathe, and then launch their attack on the monsters.

After two more bursts of Sun Song, followed by fighting, the room was cleared. Tedious, but survived. A chest formed against the back wall. Zelda asked, "Where did you learn that song?"

Link shrugged, not entirely certain as he tried to remember the voice from the previous chamber. Endeavor commented, "The Drex carry many secrets with them from legends of old, and they cannot rest while evil remains here. They would be eager to help us, and assisted you in battle by sharing this melody from the past. Let us not waste this kindness."

It was the best answer they could find. Link opened the chest and pulled out a small key. The door rolled open again, letting the sound of falling stone echo down the hall to them. The tombs were opening.

"We're going to be trapped between them and the exit," Zelda muttered.

Endeavor agreed, "Even if they are not all ReDeads, we are still very much outmatched...alone." They drew their short helix dagger, saying, "Our musical ally has given me an idea. And a reminder of what lies here."

They walked to the back of the room. Link noticed a gap in the wall, almost like a pedestal, if pedestals could be vertical. Endeavor asked, "You do know that each Goddess has two elements They preside over?" They held their dagger up in front of the wall. "Din, the Goddess of Power, commands Fire and Spirit."

Tossing their cape aside, Endeavor went on, "Nayru, Goddess of Wisdom, commands Water and Shadows."

Link heard Endeavor take a deep breath in, before finishing, "Farore, Goddess of Courage, commands Forest and Light."

"But you do not know my Goddess," Endeavor stated, after uttering a brief prayer. "She is the Goddess of Secrecy, yes, and commands Earth, you have gathered, but you do not know Her full power."

Endeavor pulled their hand back. "Reechka, Goddess of Secrecy, commands Earth..." They stabbed the opening with their blade. "...and Soul."

There was a hollow sound that came up from the ground. The wailing of thousands came from beneath. Endeavor said, "I am no Goddess, and cannot control what is about to happen. They cannot leave this place, but they do not love the living, be it the first life or one brought back. I suggest we run."

The earth trembled. The ground began to glow a bright purple. Link saw the shapes of people below. Endeavor withdrew their dagger, grabbed their cape, and left the room at full speed. As the light grew brighter, the three made it further and further away from the room.

Tremors continued beneath their feet. The noise was louder than even a ReDead's scream, but not as halting. ReDeads lined the hall now, along with Staflos with ranging levels of armor. When the swarm of creatures got to close, Link would drop a bomb, and carry on running. The wall of wayward souls was fast approaching.

Link dove through the doorway back into the central chamber. Behind him, he heard the sharp sound of stone closing behind him. He looked back to see if a door had been closed.

Rather, he saw thousands of faces staring back at him through some unseen wall. They hovered there, watching, before after a while, they went back. Another chill ran down Link's spine after seeing so many dead.

Endeavor stood up. Yore and Journey stood loyal with her as always. Zelda stood up and collected her bow from where she had lost in in her leap into the room. Endeavor said quietly, "It is the Hall of the Dead...and the Dead keep it that way."

Zelda tested her string once, before turning to Link. With effort as the chill hung on her shoulders, she attempted from cheer in such a grim space. "Well, come on! We've got that key, now we can go on into the temple!"

Pulling their cloak back over their shoulder, Endeavor nodded. "Zelda is right. The passage on is now open to us."

Link pulled out the key and walked up the other hall. After a short while, he reached the locked door Endeavor had mentioned. He slid the key into the lock. The two metal pieces stuck together. The lock dropped and rolled away. The chains hung limp, before falling off. Lastly, the door rolled open.

Drawing his sword, Link walked on into the room ahead...