Chapter Text
XxX Elemine XxX
A bright star shines in the sky above Hyrule. Large and shining brightly. That, in and of itself isn’t so unusual. Shooting stars occasionally fall from the night skies, leaving behind shining gems of the heavens in their wake for the adventuring wanderer to find before sunrise.
Yet, unknown to those who happen to see one of those many shooting stars, these shooting stars are not so much stars, as they are the mercy of the goddess Hylia, who presides over the land…. Not so much to save those souls and their destiny, as it is to restore balance to her own lands. This one is one of many brought from the other world.
All of them are on the brink of certain death. Their world destroyed by those sworn to protect it, in a violent act of war so great it created a seam for the goddess to use. To send her elder sisters through; Nayru, Din, and Farore, to find those with the will to live.
The goddesses are not heartless.
In that way, it is a mercy, a second chance, no matter how heartless it might seem to rip so many humans from their homelands.
This one, however caught the attention of the goddess. For selflessly risking her life for another… not even aware of the fast encroaching war.
Not a hero, exactly, but blessed to be sure.
Free to become. The choice is there. Free to shape her destiny. To choose her place.
And so, unlike the other humans, set down throughout the land to awake in a new world, this one is flown to the sleeping place of great heroes. Sent where she can be of use, if she chooses, to take on a mission.
The only human allowed on that tall outlook, once considered a holy place by the people of Hyrule; the capital of a great and lasting nation that has endured against evil time and time again, now left in ruin and the capital moved.
The soul is not graced with this salvation because it is special, but simply because it happened to catch the attention of the right person, at the right time.
because the goddesses think it will be willing— and that makes it valuable to use.
So, just as she strived to save her younger brother from death, she too, is saved from her own death.
And by this simple action, the wheels of this child’s fate begin to turn and change…
The star zooms overhead, the three ancient shrines of Courage, Wisdom, and Power, shine into the sky, three pillars of light in green, blue, and red, as Hylia’s three sisters join their powers with her own— the statue in the Temple of Time shining with a similar golden flare.
After that first, many more stars follow— splitting from the original path that first star leaves in it’s wake.
“An omen…” An old, wizened, man murmurs. Watching as the star approaches. Blue ghostly flames dance around his figure, for he has been dead for a very long time now. “And so close to the awakening…” he murmurs, age weary eyes narrowing as a frown pulls his lips down under his white beard.
The meteor flashes by— a shockwave blasting in it’s wake as it crashes down into the nearby lake— white spray shining in the moonlight. The splash reaching high into the sky upon impact.
“But… Does this omen foretell good or ill..?” The old ghost of a King rumbles, “I wonder…”
The water slowly calms, only leaving a stream of bubbles, until a shape emerges, a girl floating to the surface of the water.
Dark green eyes slowly blink open, staring up at the night sky and all it’s millions of unfamiliar stars. “…where….” The girl’s dark hair drifts in a lazy cloud under her in the water. “Am… I…?” She breathes, dazed and not quite conscious.
Eyes widening she sputters, “Wha?!”, realizing she’s actually in water— she flails for a moment before swimming for the black shore— coughing and spluttering onto a sandy bank along the otherwise rocky ledge of the embankment.
With the added heaviness of waterlogged clothes, the girl stumbles up the slope, sand sticking to her hands and coating her pants.
Shivering from the light breeze, she looks around wildly for something familiar against the dark backdrop of night. Unfortunately she sees nothing. Just dark shapes and the occasional flickering light.
She fell… was she washed down stream?? Where’s her brother?
Wildly looking around, Elly stumbles forward a few more waterlogged steps.
There’s the vague outline of a building close to her, and—
her breath hitches in her throat.
That’s a volcano.
Elly wasn’t anywhere near an active volcano… And is that a castle…? She was in Colorado— they’d been in the mountains!
It’s hard to tell where she is now in the dark…
—And what on God’s green earth is That glowing flying thing off in the distance???
—but no! None of those things should be there!! She was—!
She was….
She was…?
An image flashes of her eight year old brother, screaming her name. Arm reaching out in terror as the ground beneath them breaks away— how she got him off her back and curled around him, damning herself to the fall.
Then there was a bright white light.
She remembers feeling his body dissolve like sand within her grasp.
Was he taken up too…?
But, then how..?
Her legs give out. And Elly stares open mouthed at the glow of far off magma.
“Hm?! A human?”
Elly flinches at the gravely voice. Turning wide eyes— only to squint, momentarily at a shine of warm orange light. Finally making out a rugged old man in strange clothes… holding up a lantern.
He isn’t speaking English… but right now, she’s just glad not to be alone.
The old man’s blue gaze softens, despite the girl’s unusual— and bedraggled appearance— she reminds him of his daughter, in a way.
Small, wet, and lost. How he failed her… maybe he could help this one.
“Come child, the clothes I have may not fit you, but surely something dry, and a nice fire to warm you up would do you well.” The man says, turning to lead the way.
Again, Elly doesn’t understand, but his gestures are clear enough, and his voice is kind...
Shakily, She gets up to follow behind him. Shivering, yes, and nowhere near silent with the horrible squelching her shoes make with every step. She does, however, have enough presence of mind to keep a safe distance in between herself and the old man.
Unsure if she can trust him, or if he’s leading her away to an unsavory end.
“These lands aren’t as safe as they once were.” He explains as they walk, unaware that the girl can’t understand a single word he says, “It isn’t smart to be out after dark. Especially without a light to scare off the beasts.”
His tone is, however, chastising enough for Elly to catch on that she’s being scolded for…. Something. Which isn’t exactly fair. Seeing as she doesn’t actually know what’s going on here.
Not that she can complain to anyone but herself.
It isn’t long after that, that he halts. Hylian ears picking up a familiar sound— one that the girl doesn’t hear— his cloak covers the lantern’s light as he holds out a hand to stop her. “Stay quiet, child.” He whispers when The girl nearly bumps into him in the dim light.
A distinctly inhuman silhouette lumbers out of the dark gloom.
Elly’s eyes take a moment to adjust to the sudden dimness. But they quickly widen in alarm when she sees faintly glowing red eyes on a beast far from human— oh gosh.
A demon.
—Is her first thought. And she’s lucky her fear froze her tongue, outside a sharp intake of breath.
Still, the noise draws the thing’s attention, red points of dim light staring in their direction, even as the old man moves them into the gloomy cover of a nearby ruin.
The night air is suddenly too thick, and for a long moment, the only sounds the girl can hear are her own too-loud breaths, and the slow plip-plop drips from her soaked clothes.
After a moment, the creature turns. Continuing on it’s way. And a slower breath leaves her mouth, both her, and her companion’s muscles relaxing.
It’s only then that Elly realizes the thing is carrying a large club that could easily smash her head in.
Shivers race from her feet, up and down her spine, but she can’t tell if it’s from fear or cold. Her wobbly legs however, are definitely from the former.
There’s a metallic sound, and Elly only realizes the old man has drawn a sword after it’s already out of it’s sheath and glinting in the moonlight.
Then he lunges. Lantern shining in one hand, travel worn cloak billowing as he swings the sword. Faster than an old man has any right to be.
In that moment, Elly gets her first good look at the monster; an ugly, red skinned, pig faced, creature.
The blade slices deep. The creature lets out an ear-piercing shriek. Blood sprays. The goblin Falls, and Elly sucks in a sharp breath.
The creature’s body shrivels before her eyes, turning black and emaciated before dissolving completely into a black fog.
Quickly and efficiently, the man swipes the dark blood from his sword, even as it evaporates, then sheathes the weapon. “I’ll only be a moment, and then we’ll get to shelter.” He says, crouching to pick up the bokoblin’s dropped items before continuing on with the silent child— that too, is something he is used to. Though not from his daughter, but the knight he appointed to guard her all those years ago.
The chosen hero had always been a silent one.
Elly’s mind, however, is far from silent.
What is this place? Where is she? —Were among the most prominent thoughts running through her head, but certainly not the only ones.
That guy has a sword! Used it! Like it’s natural!! She just watched him kill something. Oh God. He just killed that—that— monster! There are real live monsters here!!
Wait, Why’s everything’s dilapidated?? Why’re there so many ruins?? Where’s the technology?? The lights??? There should be more lights! Even the lantern looks ancient!
—So many thoughts race through Elly’s head, though she doesn’t voice any of it aloud; unsure if she should trust this stranger with such vulnerable information, though at the same time, she has no misconceptions of the fact that he could easily kill her just like he killed that monster.
Probably easier, in fact.
She is helpless and completely at this stranger's mercy.
And she hates it.
Soon, the two descend into a valley— though not before the man has to help Elly over a collapsed bridge— the gap just wide enough to jump… of course a gaping dark hole and a stranger’s incomprehensible encouragements aren’t all that reassuring, but Elly makes it in one piece, and that’s what matters right now.
The night air is cold and crisp, nipping at her skin, but adrenaline and a racing heart keep her warm, if nothing else. That doesn’t mean she isn’t shivering. Her head full of cotton. Dazedly, she wonders if this is what going into shock feels like. But no, she’s never gone into shock before, so why now?
thankfully there are no further monster incidents, however the valley with it’s elm trees- silver-white bark glowing dimly in the moonlight, gives Elly a good view of the mostly dark horizon, and again Elly finds her eyes drawn to that volcano— that is, until she nearly trips for the third time on some unseen debris and decides to concentrate on her feet and the dim lantern light.
Further into the valley, they finally arrive at a log cabin… one that looks just about ready to collapse.
“It is humble, I know, and definitely needs some maintenance, if— you are to stay for more than one night. But you are welcome to stay as long as you wish.” The old man says, bustling inside.
He can’t stay long, even this little time with the girl is a strain. He will have to rest until the hero’s awakening if he wants to properly set him on his path. To explain what will need to be explained. If the Shikah texts are to be believed, the likelihood of the Hero retaining his memories is unfortunately low.
Wishing she understood him, as she watches the man warily— again, his tone sounds kind?
Elly notes how there isn’t a lock on the door, of what little of a door it can be called. It’s just a very worn out piece of fabric, with several holes in it she might add, not to mention the holes in the ceiling and walls joining in on the hole party.
Setting logs on the hearth, the man uses a flint and steel to light the blaze, feeding it until the fire meets his standards.
Elly watches from the doorway, though the warmth draws her like a moth, her shivering tense muscles relaxing as the warmth spreads as much as it can in the small cabin, leaving her legs to liquify and nearly give out on her entirely.
Though her knees try to buckle, she somehow manages to remain standing, allowing herself to warily inch closer.
The man has been nice enough so far, he reminds her of Father Christmas in a weird way…Though the old traveler’s hood makes him look mighty suspicious in her book.
Then again, maybe she just happened to run into a really really strange foreign stranger who just happened to have a thing for LARP.
not that that’s likely with the monster he just killed.
She does find it odd though…
she would have said this cabin was abandoned if asked. It doesn’t look like it’s been touched in years.
Movement catches Elly’s arguably muddled attention, paranoia having her lock on and blearily focus as she watches the old man turn to a large trunk— one that almost resembles a treasure chest. An almost imperceptible chime sounds and Elly blinks, was there a music box in there? Rustling through it, the old man eventually brings out a woolen doublet and trousers….
They were meant for the slumbering hero, but it will have to do for now…“Here child, change into these before you catch your death of cold.” He says. Handing her the dry clothes. watching as she slowly blinks long dark lashes. clearing away some of the daze from her eyes— clearly suffering from shock and exhaustion. Briefly she shakes her head, tipping precariously before catching herself.
Once the information registers and Elly realizes what he’s holding out to her, her guarded expression softens in relief and appreciation, and she nods her head, humming in thanks, still unwilling to speak and out herself as being ignorant of the language.
He bows his head back shallowly, something regal about his air in the action that again strikes Elly as odd for a rough looking— probably a woodsman— judging by the ax in the corner of the cabin.
The man leaves and the curtain is drawn back over the doorway. Not much of a barrier, but she appreciates the attempt at privacy— along with the fact that the man makes a good deal of noise outside doing— something. Telling her where he is and blocking out most of the awkwardness she feels.
Regardless, she changes quickly, and when she opens the curtains, it’s to find a half-finished meal of stew waiting for her. A bird of some sort still laying on an outdoor worktable, already gutted and de-feathered. Several green and orange mushrooms lay next to that, along with a pinkish rock she thinks might be salt, and a number of other ingredients.
There’s a hum in the air as the man cooks, almost like static, but somehow softer, like velvet against Elly’s skin. She isn’t sure what’s causing the sensation, and that makes it disconcerting, no matter how pleasant it feels.
But again, it’s not like she can ask anyone.
Despite her tenseness, the fire is warm, and soon the stew starts to simmer— far sooner than Elly expects it to, a delicious aroma wafts up from the pot. One that has her mouth watering.
Ladling out a bowl, the man passes it to Elly in one gnarled old hand. “Now, I must leave you, child.” The man says, heavily getting to his feet once that is taken care of.
Elly looks up in question at that last word, he’s used that word whenever he seems to be addressing her.
He points, indicating…. Something. “You can find an old well in that direction, the water is still good, there’s a bucket and rope there,” again he points, this time at the log cabin, then a wave at the surroundings, “I’m afraid you’ll have to forage your own food after this, but don’t worry, there is food aplenty on this plateau.” Again he points in the direction they had come earlier, “retrace our steps and you will find a forest well fit for hunting— I am sure the Picori and fairies living there will help you as they are able— not to mention the lake—which you are well acquainted with—“ he lets out a deep belly laugh at his own humor and the girl smiles politely, if awkwardly, laughing along, “There you will find plenty of good fishing. As you no doubt know, it is unsafe to go alone, especially at night, so I recommend you do not venture out after dark, and be wary of monster encampments…that should be all I need to explain.”
He pauses, waiting for a response that doesn’t come. large dark eyes unchanging in their intense stare that speaks of deep thoughts.
He finishes his explanation with a bow, surprised that she has no questions for him, but again, he is well acquainted with the silent type, as well as the quick witted. The knowledge he bestowed is of the basic sort. The girl is surely capable of such everyday tasks. “I wish you all the best, young one. May the goddesses continue to watch over and protect you.”
The girl bows back, watching as King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule walks into the gloom of night. Not seeing as he truly fades and disappears with the faint glow of whispish blue flames.
Elly turns back to the campfire, disconcerted by the dark, the unnatural— or more like too natural darkness of this place. Holding none of the light pollution she’s used to. She sits in the warmth, mulling over the ‘conversation’. Confused by both the strange man’s actions and nonsensical words, not to mention the whole situation.
But eventually she gives up and decides to focus on her stew, since she’s unable to make heads nor tails of any of it.