Winds of Desperation - Vaati x Female Reader (BotW AU)

The Wind Mage

Your eyes opened slowly to the scenery around you. You were fine... everything was fine. You were on the same bed as last night, at the same stable.
Everything was fine.

The sound of people mumbling as they went through their daily routine, as well as the horses that came and went from the stable reassured you of the reality.

That's right... yesterday's riot had left you exhausted. The criminals had turned out to be ones from the Yiga clan, wreaking havoc around the Rito Village area. As always, you were the one to take care of the situation.

Still, at times, all you wanted to do was end their pathetic existence, but something kept you from doing so.

You could easily kill them off and make sure they would never trouble anyone ever again—but that would make you no better than them.

Instead, you opted for a way that sounded incredibly naive and cliché to some—hell, to even you—but it got the job done. Your talent for magic was unparalleled, though very few had ever had the privilege to witness it.

Concealed in dark robes, you used your magic to hurt and immobilize criminals, though not gravely, and only until the Hyrulean Royal Guard followed the traces you left to apprehend whoever it was that needed to be brought to justice next. To you, though, they were little more than useless. The Royal Family only cared for its image, after all.

Still, you knew that, if you showed your identity to the world, you would either be imprisoned, or forced to leave the land... which, honestly, didn't sound like such a bad idea... but you had your reasons for wanting to stay in Hyrule.

Eventually, you had adopted the name of the "Wind Mage", since superstitious folks truly seemed to believe that the so-called ancient evil had resurfaced, after thousands and thousands of years. They simply couldn't accept the fact that a Hylian could wield magic so adeptly, could they?

...But that wasn't your biggest concern right now. Hyrule was in disarray, all because of a recent event that had turned a great faction of the population against the cloaked figure—yes, you—the Wind Mage.

A riot somewhere in the Tabantha region, which left dozens gravely wounded... The suspected means of attacking?

Magic.

"Tch..."

You couldn't help but feel enraged by it. Either the witnesses were lying (or stupid), or there was some idiot out there toying around with magic which had gone out of control. Magic is nothing to play around with like it's nothing, and you knew that.

The only thing you could do now was go and look for the scene, to see it with your own eyes. A few elixir bottles would do the trick to keep you warm, and you'd bring your horse with you as well. Just to be safe though, you'd also bring a dagger or two, along with a sword. Your magic could take care of almost anything though.

You went through your preparations in silence, only once or twice speaking with the stable workers for crucial matters. You didn't feel like dealing with people, but being polite was always for the best. After all, they weren't the ones to blame... no, they weren't.

The next day progressed in the same manner, only this time, you arrived to the Tabantha Tundra stables, rinse and repeat. The people there said the incident had taken place close to those maze-like ruins in the eastern part of the region... perhaps you could search for some loot in there, or investigate further on the kingdom's history.

There's no way you could find anything more intriguing.

...Or so you thought.

There, near the ruins, you found the remnants of a battle having taken place; there were weapons scattered around, pieces of armor, even a few stains of dried blood tainting the snow...

And underneath a little opening, too little to be a cave of any sort, but big enough to fit a person or two, there was a figure; there was a girl curled up in there, shivering, with long, lavender hair and a similar tone to her skin. What stood out the most where her crimson red eyes, which were staring into nothing, almost lifelessly...

On closer inspection though, you realized that it was actually a young man, not older than eighteen—he must have been around your age. The poor thing must have been left behind after the riot, left to rot on his own.
The cruelty of the situation didn't surprise you, but it still filled you with bitterness.

Slowly and carefully, you dismounted your horse and made your way to the boy, walking steadily as to not frighten him. He didn't bother to move or look your way though... he could have easily fooled anyone into thinking he froze to death.
Except you knew better.

"Hey."

You gently touched his shoulder.

"Are you alright?"

You asked in a soft voice.

He didn't move for a moment, but eventually his only visible crimson eye met yours. Time seemed to stop for a moment, as he only stared at you... until his eyes eventually widened and he gasped, moving away from you like a scared animal.

"Who...—?!"

His voice cracked, and it was obvious that he was terrified at least.

Something stopped you from going closer to him though.

You could feel a strong source of power emanating from him... it was...
Almost eerie, you thought. Still, you forced yourself to speak.

"I'm not going to hurt you."

His response was interrupted by a loud growl coming from behind you.

Shit!

The Lynel roared the moment you turned around, making you cringe as the vibrations of the loud sound shook the ground. You'd have to use your magic for this. You could take care of silencing the pretty boy you found later.

"Stay behind me!"

But the boy didn't listen. Instead, a strike of lightning fell from the sky as soon as he raised his arm, falling on top of the Lynel's head. Its body convulsed as electricity coursed through its body, consuming it... incinerating it.

...It was all over in an instant.

You couldn't even begin to process what had happened when you heard a thud right next to you.

"H-Hey! Hey you! Wake up!"

You knelt down and shook the young man by the shoulders, trying to wake him up, but to no avail. He was breathing alright, but out cold. His lavender hair was covered in snow, and his skin was cold as ice. Which wasn't surprising, considering he'd been on that spot for days now.

You huffed and, with more effort than you thought you'd have to put in, you got him on your horse, and began walking back to the stable on foot, while pulling on your horse's reins beside you.

What in Din's name was that...?