Work Text:
Hateno Village was quite the secluded little village. It was beautiful too, a painted picture of apple trees and quaint cottages. Surrounded by dense forests and large hills, no traveler would think to stumble upon it unless their visit was purposeful. After all, it had survived the Calamity, a cruel disaster that nearly took a toll on all of Hyrule. Very few people survived the ravaged villages that sat near the castle. Those who did had managed to wander far into one of the kingdom’s safe havens. And so, the village had flourished, even more so than before. It was as if no such event had even occurred.
Day to day, the villagers performed their chores. The men woke up early in the morning to tend to the crops. Ripe bundles of wheat were chopped with worn sickles, and later processed during the late afternoon in the mills. Many of the older women took care of their children and other household chores, often gossiping amongst themselves. The men gossiped as well. The topics of interest were mostly the same: common village arguments, a mysterious girl at the laboratory overlooking the town, even the occasional mention of monsters down by the beach. Those who didn’t tend to partake in idle rumors were the children, often playing and running up and down the main square.
Today, there was no talk of monsters or mention of needless bickering. A traveler - a golden-haired boy of 17 - came through just before the crack of dawn. He was adorned with a thick doublet, brown pants, and leather boots - all of which appeared quite worn and speckled with dirt. He was hooded, his simple cape covering half of his clothing as well as his eyes. The rich color of his hair still shone through. With his gloved hands, he tightly clutched the reins of his beautiful steed. Her coat was auburn, and covered with stark white markings on her face and hooves. Her bright hair shone just as strongly as her rider’s.
A farmer, still drowsy from his slumber, noticed the young boy, and pointed him in the direction of the village’s inn. He asked the boy where he hailed from, to which he received no response. Perhaps it was best. Many travelers, if there were any, often stumble into town without mentioning their name. However, this boy seemed different, even with his shabby attire. His eyes were kind and confident, yet without malice or incompetence. He merely nodded to the farmer, presumably out of gratitude. He parked the mare at the stable near the inn, feeding her chunks of hay and spare apples from his pouch. She happily neighed in response. The farmer could see the slight smile on the boy’s face. He wished the boy well, and proceeded to head back to his field. As he turned around, he noticed the boy had not entered the inn, but instead in the direction of the mysterious laboratory at the top of the hill.
~0~
It was a tedious journey, climbing up and down many hills and trudging through the forests to arrive at Hateno. And yet, it was still not over. The boy had just passed the village’s last gate, and was soon arriving near a ranch. Before that, he passed a resting woman by a tree, who greeted him kindly. He did not know what to say, so he waved instead. Even if he knew what to say, his mind was jumbled with many thoughts.
As he walked up the hill, Link tried as best he could to recall his history. The old king had told him his name, which he could not remember well. Each letter floated around in his mind like an unfamiliar puzzle, waiting to be solved. But he could not solve it, not yet. He was told by Impa, the elder of Kakariko Village, that visiting a scientist would aid him in discovering who he is and who he was. He couldn’t understand how that would work, but it wouldn’t be the oddest thing. He had just woken up from a strange device made of some sort of sleek stone, which was filled to the brim with a water-like substance. His body was ancient as well, almost near a century old. The world was in tatters. This village seems to be unaffected. And he still could not remember who he was.
His sword swung lightly with his movements. He was told he was a warrior, but nothing more. He couldn’t see it, but he felt it with every swing and parry. He could not remember, but his muscles felt every past bout. His arms swung expertly against the bodies of pig-faced monsters and winged Keese. Even the bones of the undead swiftly clattered on the grass after every slice of his weapon. He was an expert in combat. And he still could not remember who he was.
Link had passed the ranch, filled with fluffy rams and grazing cows. He approached a fork in the dirt path. He followed the direction of the laboratory according to the sign’s inscription, as the latter mentioned the beach.
The hill seemed to grow steeper, however he could see that the looming tower grew closer. The path ascended over a patch of apple trees, all plentiful with the juicy fruit. Luckily, he had eaten a cooked omelet with herbs and salt, although his stomach grumbled for a sweet snack. Still, he had enough energy to keep climbing. He didn’t wish to overwork his poor Epona. After all, she had gotten them all the way to the village. If anything, she alone deserves a bushel of crisp apples and more.
The sun had reached its peak in the sky when Link arrived at the doors of the laboratory. It was an odd building, built with slipping stones and pebbles that seemed to wander out of their spots. It was taller than the biggest mill he had seen in the village. He hoped that the scientist still occupied the building, or else this journey would have been for naught. He would’ve left without knocking if it wasn’t for the strange device near the entrance. It was made of the same stone as the chamber bed he woke up in. It had some sort of opening, similar to the strange torches located alongside the dirt paths he followed. He then observed the wooden doors, painted with the symbol of the Sheikah. Perhaps this scientist did know something.
Link warily approached the entrance, fist at the ready for a hearty knock. He rapped twice on the door’s surface. Before he could do another, the doors opened slightly. The head of an older Sheikah man peered out. He could not see the clothing he wore, but he appeared to look similar to the other villagers that stayed in Kakariko Village. He also wore thick, round spectacles with silver rims. The man observed Link from top to bottom, almost surprised by the arrival of a visitor.
“Oh. Hello. You don’t seem to be one of the villagers. May I help you?”
Link could not find the words. Years of disuse must have made his voice weak. This, or he felt no inclination to speak at all. He was told by the Sheikah elder that the slate at his side would be essential for his visit. He undid the pouch’s button, and pulled out the cool tablet. It lit up with his touch. He held it out in front of the man, whose eyes seemed to widen slightly.
“Oh. I see. Come in please. We’ve been expecting you”
The doors opened wider, revealing many large bookshelves filled to the brim with books and loose papers. The older man motioned for Link to come inside, and he did. He shut the wooden doors behind him, sounding a large, muted thump.
Here, he would hopefully find some answers.