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

It's just a myth.

...and once again, the Wind Sorcerer was sealed away by the chosen Hero, bringing peace back to the land.

The hushed voices slowly brought the young man back to his senses.

"But with what's been happening lately, it makes you wonder whether Hyrule is still safe or not!"

The one speaking was a loud girl who claimed to be a journalist and explorer. Her voice was something quite annoying to wake up to, though she was soon interrupted by another female voice.

"Do you really believe those legends? I know it's supposed to be history and all but... seriously? You'd think some ancient evil like that would have found something better to do after all these years, if not, faded away entirely."

Who...?

"[Y/n], was it? I heard you're one of the few people who know a bit of magic here. How can you be a Mage yet be so oblivious to the truth?"

"I'm not oblivious to the truth, I'm simply being rational. Let's suppose the legends are true. Where's the evidence that this Wind Mage has awoken again? All we know is that some beast went on a rampage and injured dozens of people a few nights ago. The only thing I found on the site is that guy. Does he look like some beast to you?"

Silence.

"Anyway... I'll go out for a moment."

"I-In this weather, [Y/n]?!"

"I have nothing better to do. Might as well look at the stars or something while he wakes up. It was nice meeting you. Good night."

You didn't even wait for the girl to finish talking, but simply left the warm interior of the stables and stepped into the cold night.

Right now, your mind could only wonder how that boy could have acquired such power...

***********************************

The young man groaned as he struggled to sit up on the unfamiliar bed he'd found himself on. His head was pounding as if he had fractured his skull, but he had gone through worse pain, in a way. Once his eyes had adjusted to the light, he tried to stand up, failing a few times before he was finally able to walk, one step at a time.

Eventually, he made it outside, where the woman who had saved him was supposed to be. She was sitting by a fire, entertaining herself with a small flame that flickered in her hands. The moment she heard the snow crack close to her, her head snapped upright.

"Ah..."

The man was filled with an unpleasant feeling that whole time. How come someone such as he have to resort to the help of lowly humans?

"I'm glad you're awake... but you should still rest for n—"

"Why did you do it?"

The words came out of his mouth before he could even think about it. The woman blinked a couple times, taken aback by the sudden question.

"Pardon?"

"Why did you come to get me?"

This tongue was somehow unfamiliar to him, yet it flowed almost naturally from his lips. It was similar to when someone stops writing for a few months and, when they take up a pen and paper again, the sensation feels strange and oddly different.

"Because I'm a decent human being, I suppose."

He scoffed at her response.

"Do you go around rescuing everyone you meet?"

She couldn't help but frown.

"No. I just don't like the feeling of leaving people to die like animals." The woman's tone was slightly harsher this time. "What I'm more curious about is how you managed to survive that supposedly huge beast's rampage and how you were able to take a Lynel down in one hit."

It was odd that her main concern wasn't the boy's strange hair and skin color, or the color of his eyes.

He shrugged.

"I didn't see a beast. I don't remember a damn thing other than years spent in the darkness," he said bitterly.

"...Alright, and what about your magic? Who taught you that?"

"..."

Truth is, he couldn't remember. Perhaps the answer was clear on his face since his expression changed.

"...I don't remember."

Truly, what he did remember was his humiliating defeat at the hands of the Hero, along with the burning rage he felt every single time the memory even came to mind.

"Well, they say ignorance is bliss."

"...What?"

"Nothing you should worry your pretty little head about."

The woman's tone seemed almost playful, except for the fact that she was looking into the fire, with a completely serious expression of her face, devoid of any emotion.

How I wish I didn't know a thing.

After a few minutes of silence, the young man finally broke the silence.

"I could help you strengthen your magic."

She didn't look at him, but she replied nonetheless.

"At what cost?"

Perhaps, if she had been looking at him, she would have been able to see the wicked smile forming on his lips...
He had only just reawakened, and yet he was ready to put his schemes into motion... To plan a rampage so destructive that his blissful vengeance would keep him away from returning to that eternal darkness ever again.

"There are many secrets I'm after. Secrets about the kingdom of Hyrule."

Oh, you knew about Hyrule, alright. Too much. With his help, perhaps you could even become whole once again and see your dreams realized...
Perhaps you could fix what happened all those years ago.

"Alright. I'm [Y/n]."

You held out your hand. He looked at it and hesitated for a moment before finally taking it.

"Vaati."

Something about the way he said it sent shivers down your spine.