Chapter Text
Cia smiled as she witnessed Hylia creating a gift for her.
She stood behind her mentor and guide as, over the mouth of an active volcano, Hylia spread her arms and the mouth of the cataclysm expanded further, which spread lava down the slopes and into the ocean.
It was a marvel to behold Hylia’s power, yet, she still felt compelled to hold her sorceress cap on as the steam wafted around them both.
“My apologies, Cia,” Hylia turned to her briefly and smiled sheepishly, “I normally do not have someone with me whenever I craft.”
Cia gasped lightly, fought back the red growing in her face, and looked down to the platform they stood on.
“It is no bother, your eminence,” she fought against the excitement in her voice.
Hylia laughed lightly and it only made Cia all the more embarrassed. Hylia’s laughter spoke softness to her ears and soothed her soul whenever she felt troubled.
And she favored Cia.
Out of everyone that lived in the world, Hylia had shown favor with Cia, who was a simple sorceress who sought to serve the goddess she loved so dearly.
She was about to protest Hylia’s levity when she felt the goddess’ hand tilt her face to see she had closed the distance between them.
“It means more to me, knowing that what I do is for you, Cia,” Hylia smiled before she leaned down and kissed her on the forehead.
Such rapture. Such joy. Death itself could take her there and now and she would be content.
“My lady… your eminence,” she started before her voice left her, “I am ever so grateful.”
Hylia wrapped her arms around Cia’s shoulders and held her closer.
“I know, Cia,” Hylia whispered as she leaned forward and into her hair, “and I am grateful to you as well.”
Anyone else would have been caught unaware by the tumult behind them as the volcano erupted once more. The platform they stood on, however, remained untouched, as a sphere of energy emerged from the lava and hovered up before them both.
“What is it?” Cia asked as she, reluctantly, let go of Hylia.
Hylia stepped forward and as her hands touched the outer shell of the sphere, a deep amethyst crystal took its place.
It hovered over Hylia’s hand as she turned back. “I will show you. May I please see your staff?”
Eagerly, perhaps a bit too much so, she skipped to Hylia and held out her scepter.
With her free hand, Hylia levitated it in front of her before she guided the gem to set on the head.
A pulse of power shook the platform as the staff was completed. Cia’s eyes widened as she felt the incredible amount of potency from her staff as it returned to her hands.
“This is my gift to you, Cia,” Hylia smiled again, “the core of magic, made for you alone. With it, you will be able to overcome any challenge set before you so that the world endures any calamity, any disaster, or catastrophe.”
Cia paused a moment. She dispelled any doubts before she curtsied deeply to Hylia. “I accept your charge with all my heart, Oh Goddess.”
Hylia walked up to Cia again and took her free hand.
“I know it is a hard, and most likely cruel, thing for me to ask you of this. I know you would stay at my side were it an option,” Hylia’a smile was sad.
Cia shook her head. “No, your eminence! I wished for this! More than anything, I desire to be the instrument of your will!”
Hylia seemed disappointed for a moment, before she took both of Cia’s hands, which still held the staff.
“If that is the case, I have a request to make of you. Not an order,” she said as her smile returned.
“Anything,” Cia forced her breath to calm.
Hylia then leaned down and kissed her again. On the lips this time.
Surprised at first, she then reciprocated.
And again.
When they parted, Hylia placed her forehead against Cia’s and whispered. “Be careful and return to me safely, My Beloved.”
Tears of joy welled up in Cia’s eyes. “I will. With all I am, I will.”
*
Zelda was silent as she sat in her study. Normally, she would be settling the affairs of her kingdom, dutifully carrying them out despite the slight resentment of having such responsibility placed upon her at an age like hers.
However, recent events had left her ill at ease.
Reports from the edges of her kingdom had been troubling to say the least. Scouts dispatched to bring her news had yet to return and they were way past due.
The rain outside did not ease her anxiety. If anything, it made the weight upon her shoulders heavier, though it had nothing to do with the worries in her mind.
She closed the book she was reading and was about to stand to return it when the hairs on her neck stood on edge.
“…Hylia…” a voice whispered to her. She jumped to her feet and whirled to see noone else in her study, yet she was not so fooled.
“Show yourself!” Zelda commanded the shadows, her cognizance of magic, while certainly not as great as her court magicians, allowed her to see the intruder just out of normal sight.
“How harsh of you, Hylia,” a voice that tugged at the edges of Zelda’s memory as her guest emerged.
Dressed in royal purple finery and jewels that would have been the envy of many of the aristocracy of her kingdom, a woman walked into the faded light of her study as if she had just returned from a trivial errand.
“Has time truly left your memory a shade of what it once was?” the woman inquired as she held the staff at her side and tilted her head.
It was uncanny. Zelda had never seen this woman before, however, she could not shake off the feeling that this person was more knowledgeable than Zelda was aware of.
Regardless, she could feel the menace that undercut the woman’s presence.
“I regret to inform you that you may have me mistaken for someone else. I have no recollection of who you are or to whom you refer to,” she answered with all the calm she could maintain.
The stranger was still and silent. Her eyes, red as they were beautiful, betrayed the veneer of civility she showed.
“I pondered to ask if you regret anything, Hylia. However, given the circumstances, it seems pointless now,” the woman relaxed her posture momentarily against her staff and looked to the side, “it has been so long. So very, very long.”
Zelda kept herself tense and ready anything as the woman’s eyes revealed the seething bitterness she had once hid so poorly.
“And so, the time for waiting has passed,” the grip on her staff tightened, “I lost something very precious to me and I will no longer allow this farce to continue.”
Zelda was frozen when the woman looked her dead in the eye and could feel the venom in her voice as she stated, “You will remember, Hylia. When we meet again, you will remember the promise I made unto you!”
With that, her form vanished and Zelda panted to get the air back in her lungs. While she was never one for clear premonitions, this was clearly something she could not simply wave off.
She ran out of her study to retrieve Impa to prepare the people of her kingdom for a storm.