Chapter Text
“Another!” Revali yelled, as I reached for the kite shield loosely fitted on my back. Flying upwards, I grabbed out my bow and focused on the bright blue target. Drawing back my arrows, I let go. All the arrows perfectly made their way to the target, hitting directly in the bull’s eye. Grabbing the kite shield again, I flew back up to the landing pad. Walking past Revali, I poured myself some boiling tea. The cup felt warm in my chapped, shivering hands. Taking a long sip, I sat next to Revali, who was sitting on the landing pad. The wind whistled, making up for the lack of noise, “You did good. Do you want to start using bomb arrows?”
“Yeah! That sounds great, but won’t it be a little bit dangerous?” I asked, as I sipped my hot tea again. Revali side glanced to me than smiled.
“Trust me, you’ll do great with these arrows. The funny thing about the bomb arrows is that you need to be quick, otherwise you’ll turn into a lifeless, burnt piece of meat. Now, why don’t you try a fleeting swipe with said arrows. Make sure to get all the target, or you’ll do thirty laps around Lake Totori. Understood?” Nodding in understand, I put my tea down and looked upon the updraft pit. I jumped collecting my thought, before grabbing my kite shield and flying upwards. Once high enough, I grabbed my bow and started to fire my arrows at the targets. One by one, each target was blown up. Surprisingly, yet completely plausible, I successfully did as Revali ordered. Landing near Revali, I put away my shield and bow and waited for his praise. Revali put his navy-blue, feathered hand on my head and gave it a good ruffle, “You did good (Y/N). I am proud of you.”
A month ago, my wildest dreams couldn’t even comprehend the relationship I had with Revali in that moment. A mentor and his student. One could say there was nothing more to the relationship. Honestly, said person couldn’t be more wrong. Revali and I were best friends. After all, we did spill are problems to one another. Ever since his birthday, Revali has treated me a little different. It could be kindness, but I mainly thought it was pity. Maybe it was a bit of both? Maybe it was neither? Either way, I was contempt; However, the everlasting feeling of dread still hung heavily on my subconscious. Time is a fleeting thing. I still had one more month before I could go to Hateno, yet my switch was still nowhere. Revali offered to fly around the Hebra Mountains to try to find it. I agreed but he came back empty handed. It hadn’t snowed in the mountains so if Revali didn’t find it, it probably wasn’t there.
As I practiced a little more, another Rito came flying into Flight Range. I landed to see what was going on, “Master Revali! A large group of monsters are quickly approaching Rito Village! Bokoblins and Moblins alike. No Lynels or any ‘higher ranking’ monsters are seen in the cluster.” Revali looked back at me, before grabbing his bow and walking over to the landing pad. He looked into my eyes for a single moment. His eyes held large amounts of determination, yet there was something else. A type of worry. With that, Revali flew from Flight Range and out of my sight. Once again, I was left alone, with nothing to do but train. I did so, until my arrow supply depleted. Looking around for some more arrows, I came across Revali’s Diary again. My cold fingers brushed over the leather cover. I debated about opening it.
‘This is a breach of privacy (Y/N)! Revali is a secretive guy, and you should respect that. If he wanted you to know about himself, then he would have told you so.’ The angel on my left shoulder told me. About to put the diary back, the devil’s advocate appeared on my right shoulder, ‘Yeah sure! Listen to the priss if ya want, but Revali’s thoughts have been all over your mind lately. Besides, if your snappy about it, he won’t even know you read it. There nothing else to do anyway.’ Brushing my subconsciouses off my shoulders, I took a look at his diary. I looked around to see if anyone was nearby. There was no one. I was all alone. ‘I guess it wouldn’t hurt to see what goes on in Revali head…’ With that in mind, I opened his diary.
Entry 5
I won another archery competition today. As one would expect, the village can't stop talking about my winning streak. In short order, I've managed to break all of the previous records and set an insurmountably high bar. Everywhere I go I receive praise and affirmations that I am the pride of the Rito. I... could get used to this. The elder asked me what I would like as a prize for my achievements. I told him I wish for an archery training ground. If I am to keep this up, I need somewhere to train at varying elevations. I'm hoping to master a new move I've dreamed up...
‘This entry was from a while ago…’ I thought, thinking about what I read, ‘So he won Flight Range for himself. And that’s how he got so cocky! I should have known it was from too much exposure to praise.’ I knew the reason wasn’t from too much praise but imagining Revali reaching out for attention somehow worried me. He was an amazing archer, and him not getting the attention he needed broke my heart. I decided to move on to the next entries.
Entry 9
I keep pushing my archery skills to the limit. My dive is ideal, but the ensuing ascent is not as smooth as I wish it were. I must return to the Flight Range again tomorrow. There, I will become stronger. Better. I won't rest until I succeed. The Rito children look up to me. I hear they wish to start training at the Flight Range too. Perhaps it's not a bad idea to allow everyone to use my training space. These are dangerous times, after all. Tomorrow I will try a new strategy I've been devising to control the updraft. I refuse to believe it's impossible.
Entry 10
There is a persistent rumor in town that Calamity Ganon's resurrection is imminent. It can't be true... Right? A few years ago, scientists dug up an ancient mechanical beast called Medoh. It was supposedly used to fight Ganon. Hyrule's royal family is in search of someone to pilot the beast. They say to do so requires something beyond skill. They say one's soul must contain an incredible sacred power for a Divine Beast to recognize them as master. They should have just asked for me by name. To control the Divine Beast and defeat the Calamity...would finally allow me to prove myself to the world.
‘Oh Revali, you have already shown so much potential… Why can’t you rest for more than two seconds?’ I thought, narrowing my eyes. The memory of Revali attempting the updraft drifted into my mind as I read. The constant failing must be tearing him apart. No wonder why he hated Link so much. Link was a well-known prodigy, who had everything in the palm of his hand; While Revali was a hard worker, but anything but a prodigy. He was still amazing at Revali’s Gale and archery. I continued through the passages, mostly involving his training until Entry 21.
Entry 21
I was met with one of the most annoying Hylians today. As I was talking to the elder about a recent damage report, two half-witted idiots came in and informed me about a Hylian riding into Flight Range. I obviously asked them why they didn’t stop the intruder, and they told me they weren’t sure if she was going to turn around or not! Simpletons!! When I made it to Flight Range, I saw a fragile, little Hylian girl. She was harmless! As I always do, I gently told her to leave, and she followed orders. Pretty for a Hylian, she seemed off to me. She said something about ‘looking for something important,’ but I guessed she was lying. Something about her was not like the others. I don’t like thinking about it! What’s done is done.
‘Well that was rude! But I guess we did start off on the wrong foot.’ I looked at my surroundings, seeing that there was still no one at Flight Range. Knowing this, I continued to read.
Entry 22
The Hylian didn’t leave Rito Village! What a snake!! Looks like I overestimated her ability to follow orders. Of all things, she came with my pupil knowing full well I would be there. Hylians are so frustrating… Nevertheless… she did apologize for wandering into Flight Range without permission. The fragile Hylian girl’s name is (Y/N). I wasn’t sure if she was kidding or not, but it seems to be the truth. Like what (Y/N) said at Flight Range, she was looking for something. That something she referred to as a ‘switch.’ I have no idea what that means. Anyway, Kass’s lessons are going well. He is growing at a steady rate, and I am sure he will be great at the accordion, though he may be an even better fighter…
The passage continued, but my eyes were mainly focused on the part about me. I remember that day! That was the day I slapped him. He didn’t mention the lash out at all, however. There was nothing to do with it. I was getting interested about Revali’s thoughts about me, so I skimmed through the pages reading whatever was about myself.
Entry 23
(Y/N) is heading to the Hebra Region to search for her lost ‘device.’ What a fool! The worst part of it is that I have to go with her. I could just leave her to die but letting someone approach their own doom would leave a bad taste in my mouth. (Y/N) always seems tired, and her attitude is going overboard. The dark circles under her eyes says enough about her exhaustion and fatigue. It is weird to say this, but I hope she rests soon. Seeing her so tired is giving me a headache. She’s definitely going to get hurt in the Hebra; However, there is something special about her. Maybe special isn’t the right word… Is the word different? I noticed her strange ears. She doesn’t have pointed ears like the Hylians, so it most likely means she is not from Hyrule. That only brings more questions, however. I decided not to say anything. Even I know it is a touchy subject.
I was a fool for thinking I could go to the Hebra in the state I was in. I was tired. I was hungry. Yet, the urge to find the switch was my motivation. So if I obtained the very thing that kept me going, wouldn’t it have been worth the sleepless nights? I had no idea I had worried Revali so much. This was before we even became friends, so why was his worries getting the best of him?
Entry 24
(Y/N) is an idiot. An annoying, obnoxious, insufferable, unbearable, excruciatingly terrible moron!!! Her lack of sleep almost got both me and her killed by the Frost Talus in Coldsnap Hollow! Something amazing happened, however. She used the last bit of her energy to draw an arrow to save me. Her arrow perfectly hit the ore on the Frost Talus’s head. Went straight through even! (Y/N) managed to impress me. Like the delicate thing she is, she fell unconscious after she performed such a magnificent feat. (Y/N) is something special. A type of warrior that Hyrule hasn’t seen in a long time. I have decided to train her to the best of my capabilities, until she is ready to see the rest of Hyrule. Today, (Y/N) earned my upmost respect and interest.
‘I earned his respect…’