NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: Wind
Moments later, with a bright flash of blue particles, Link's figure emerged precisely at the teleport point of the Lookout Landing Skyview Tower. Instantly, his eyes scanned the panorama with the precision of an ever-alert warrior, and what he saw filled him with satisfaction.
With a swift glance, he took in the bustling activity around him: Karson, alongside Paya, was finalizing the details of several shelters that would function as makeshift infirmaries. They had constructed beds and brought healing water from nearby hot springs, both from the volcanic springs of Hebra and the mystical springs of Taortol in the same region. Link allowed himself a silent smile, recalling how discovering those hot springs had been a true revelation. Following the lead of some sisters who had told him of a valuable stash of mushrooms—his favorite delicacy, especially the lively truffles—he had found hidden hot springs on the outskirts of Tabanta, a remote place far removed from any civilization. Since then, he never missed a chance to sneak away and immerse himself in the warm waters, where he found a brief but well-deserved respite amidst his many exploits.
Suddenly, Link was pulled from his thoughts by a familiar, cheerful voice calling to him.
—Linkyyy! —It was Prunia, greeting him from the doorway of her laboratory with a radiant smile. You've finally arrived! The others are already here, having breakfast. You're the last to show up!
Link smiled, a hint of embarrassment creeping in as he scratched the back of his neck while offering his apologies.
—I'm sorry, I got held up reviewing the maps with Mineru—he said, making an effort to appear nonchalant while concealing the true reason for his delay. In reality, he had been lost in a moment of nostalgia, engulfed in thoughts of Zelda, so vivid that it was difficult to return to the present—. I wanted to ensure we didn't overlook any details —he added, as though his words could dispel what he felt.
Yet his mind kept returning to the image of Zelda, and a small pang of doubt pierced through him. "Would their preparations be sufficient when she wasn't there to guide them?"
Purah waved her hand dismissively, beckoning him to enter.
"Come on, step inside already! I made crepes with stamina honey, perfect for energizing you before what's to come!"
As Link crossed the threshold, he beheld his companions gathered together, sharing a breakfast filled with aromas and colors that infused the laboratory with life and laughter. Riju, wearing a broad smile, greeted him enthusiastically:
"Wow! The hero of Hyrule has finally arrived in person. We were just about to start without you!"
Sidon, seated next to his wife Yona, laughed heartily, giving Link a friendly slap on the back as he joined the group.
"Link, my friend, how is it that even Yona and I managed to arrive before you? " Sidon jested with a conspiratorial grin". I must say, your punctuality needs some work, but you know we'll always forgive you.
Link laughed along with them, warmed by the camaraderie of his friends. In that moment, he realized that this gathering, this bond, was a fundamental part of what truly made their mission ahead so significant. All of them, from the jovial Riju to the tireless Yunobo, were there not just as allies, but as a chosen family.
"What would I do without you all!" said Link, looking at them with gratitude. "You've helped me so many times, but let's be clear: this time I was the one who kept you waiting... so I'll eat quickly." Purah smiled contentedly, watching them with a gleam in her eyes as they enjoyed the meal.
This small moment, Link thought, was a reminder of what everyone wanted to protect: a Hyrule where laughter and peace were the norm, not the exception.
During breakfast, the atmosphere filled with lively conversations and laughter as the heroes shared anecdotes of the incredible feats they'd experienced over the past months. Each tale seemed more astonishing than the last, and their camaraderie was evident in every word. Purah, Josha, and Robbie, eager to hear more details, couldn't resist their curiosity. Determined to make the most of the occasion, they turned to the sages with questions in mind, eager to uncover the secrets and challenges each one had faced in the sacred temples.
Tulin was the first to speak up, his voice steady as he recounted the epic feat he and Link accomplished in defeating Colgera on the Sky Archipelago.
"As you know," Tulin began, his gaze sweeping over the group, "our region was struck by an overwhelming blizzard that completely isolated the village. We're still recovering, and in fact, Link has been helping us with supplies in exchange for arrows and other materials he finds useful."
"By Hylia!" exclaimed Purah, surprised. "What you must have gone through! Tell me, how did you manage to put an end to such a dreadful storm? Link mentioned that you had to climb to the most remote islands in the sky, where you found a mythical place that until now only existed in legends…"
"Exactly," Tulin continued, his eyes bright with excitement. "It was all revealed thanks to an old folk song from our land, 'Song of the Sky Arch,' which has been passed down through generations. In its verses, Link discovered clues about the location of the ark, and we wasted no time in setting out. The journey was... unforgettable. As I used my abilities to propel him forward, Link leaped from one skyboat to another, navigating the blizzard as if the sky itself were his battlefield. It was a feat like no other, something I had never witnessed!"
"And you didn't fall, Linky?" Purah asked with a mischievous smile.
"Well," Link replied, blushing slightly, "a few times I did lose my footing and had to backtrack. But with the nearby shrines and my teleportation ability, I managed without too much trouble. Eventually, we reached the Sky Arch, and believe me, it was worth it just to behold such a floating marvel."
"Oh!" Josha exclaimed, her eyes wide. "I've read about it, but I never thought it really existed. Could you tell us more about what it looks like?"
"Of course!" said Tulin, rising smoothly into the air, his wings tracing graceful circles around the group as his eyes sparkled with fervor. "The Sky Arch... is a remnant of divine glory and power, floating beyond the edges of the sky, hidden among golden clouds. It's a sacred sanctuary of architectural perfection, beyond mortal comprehension, crafted by hands that drank from the eternal wisdom of the goddesses."
"Its doors," Tulin continued with a deep, solemn voice, "towering and colossal, guard secrets from a bygone era. Intricate carvings cover their surface, telling stories of immortal heroes and gods. As one crosses them, they're met with towering columns, like wings soaring toward the heavens, supporting arches of gold and silver that reflect Hyrule's very history. And up there, in those sacred heights, reigns a silence so vast and solemn that even time seems to fade; a place where the air feels eternal and the echo of the divine still resonates."
Those gathered listened in complete silence, captivated by Tulin's voice, which, in his mystical enthusiasm, seemed to transport their souls to that sacred place where history and legend intersect.
Seeing that his friend had finished his epic description, Link continued in a graver tone:
"Once there," Link continued, "we encountered Zelda... or, rather, one of the Demon King's puppets. She led us to the main terminal, the one we needed to activate to stop the storm ravaging the Rito region. Together, we sought out and disabled the key points, while I used my power to create gusts and activate the system. When the mechanism was unlocked, the Demon King's creature appeared: Colgera, a colossal worm-like monster controlling powerful air currents, making the battle even more challenging."
"And how did you defeat it, Link?" Josha asked, her eyes wide with excitement, clearly captivated by the hero's story.
"At first, I wasn't sure how to face it," Link admitted, his voice heavy with solemn tension as he recalled each moment of the battle. "The wind pushed me in every direction, as though the storm itself wanted to swallow me. Then I saw it: those crystalline circles gleaming like dark stars on its massive body. I knew instantly that they were its weak points. I opened my paraglider and, resisting each strike from the treacherous currents, began attacking them one by one, destroying them in a deadly dance against the wind."
"I imagine it wasn't as simple as it sounds, right?" Robbie said, handing him a cup of hot tea, his eyes reflecting the respect of someone listening to the tale of a great deed.
"Not for a moment," Link replied with a tense smile, barely hinting at the intensity of his memories. "Each strike from Colgera was like thunder in the air, and the winds shifted in an instant, leaving me unsteady in mid-flight. Every move had to be precise; one mistake, and I'd have plunged into the void. Hit after hit, I managed to get close enough to strike its weak points, until, finally, with a final blow, it fell.
The instant Colgera hit the ground, its colossal body collapsing, the blizzard stopped, as if the wind itself had exhaled one last breath of surrender. The clouds parted, and the clear sky began to shine above us, bathing the scene in a divine glow. It was then," Link added, "that we understood the Sky Ark's power was once more at peace."
"And when we finally defeated it, when Colgera fell and the skies calmed," Tulin interrupted, his eyes bright with pride, "the spirit of my ancestor appeared before me and named me Sage of Wind! Behold my Secret Stone!"
As Tulin raised his sacred stone, a gentle, warm breeze enveloped everyone present, as if the essence of the wind itself blessed that moment. Watching his companion, Link felt the epic grandeur of their alliance, forged in the heights and forever engraved in Hyrule's eternal legend."