Out of Time

by Seren_Knight01

Summary:

Zelda discovers the Shrine of Resurrection--and its current occupant. She awakens the warrior within and the two must find a way to defeat Calamity Ganon together. Chaos ensues as Hyrule tries to make sense of a man out of time.

or:
The Ancient Hero is placed in the Shrine of Resurrection to heal. He emerges 10,000 years later to find his entire race gone, no memories, and facing round 2 against the Calamity. The feral cat man AU nobody asked for.

Notes:

• Inspired by Aspects of a Hero by Tashacee

Chapter 1: Task Failed Successfully

Summary:

Zelda departs for another round of prayers at the Spring of Courage, stopping along the way at the Great Plateau, where the Shrine of Resurrection has been uncovered. The Sheikah have unearthed a forgotten tomb. But... is its occupant still alive?!

Notes:

tysm to Gabby and Chi for the love they've showed this concept.

Another trip to the Spring of Power had ended, once again, in failure. Princess Zelda had returned to Hyrule Castle in dour spirits, her eyes trained on the ground as she tuned out her father’s lecture on dedication. Instead, she focused on keeping her tears from falling down onto the stone floor and her red velvet shoes. They were very nice shoes, hemmed with small gold beads and pearls and unfit to be sullied by tears. 

  There is no point in crying, she told herself. The last time she had wept before her father, he had only lectured her more on propriety and duty and the strength she must have as the princess. There was no room for weakness, no room for tears, in her father’s throne room. 

There would be time for them later, in the small world between her bedposts where she could just be Zelda. 

Her father’s booming voice halted and she stopped zoning out, fearful that she had missed something. 

  “May I retire to recover my strength, Your Majesty?” she asked before he could launch into a new tirade. 

 King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule exhaled heavily. “Very well.” 

Zelda immediately turned around and left. As she neared the exit, the king spoke up again. “I want you to leave for the Spring of Courage in the morning. You leave at dawn.” 

Zelda dipped her head and left. 

The walk back to her room was quiet except for the clicking of the guards’ boots behind her, and the rattling of their weapons. 

Servants and nobles alike stopped in the halls, ostensibly to make way for her, but also to size up the heir to the throne. 

She finally reached her room and left the guards at the door. Her room was silent, the hearth empty and cold. Outside she could hear the guards training in the pavilion below. 

Zelda sighed, wringing her hands. The cold of the Spring of Power had not left her, despite the warm spring sunlight. 

Zelda carefully stripped and climbed into the tub. The water had grown cold, as the maids had first warmed it an hour ago, when she had arrived. Before her father had demanded that she report her progress. 

She scrubbed the feel of the Spring off of herself, then changed into a nightgown. 

She was just getting ready to call for her dinner to be brought to her when the secret passageway behind her bookshelf swung out. 

  “Oh good, you’re back!” Purah said, emerging from the tunnel. 

  “That’s for emergencies only, Purah,” Zelda sighed, laying on her back and staring at the top of her four-poster bed. The drapes needed dusting. 

  “I have an update on the shrines,” Purah sang. 

Zelda sat up. “I’m listening.” 

  “They’re connected,” she said. “All of the shrines across Hyrule have no power, nothing. We theorized that they were connected to a central unit, right? Well, we just found that central unit. Looks like it pulled all the power to sustain itself.” 

  “What?!” Zelda stood. “You mean to say we found the hub? The core?” 

  “Yes,” Purah confirmed. 

  “Where?!”

  “The Great Plateau,” Purah said. “There’s a cave beneath one of the hills, and it goes deep, Zelda.” 

Zelda inhaled in excitement, clasping her hands. “I’ll be able to see it tomorrow, on my way south to Faron,” she said. 

 Purah deflated. “You just returned this morning.” 

  “The king insists that I must try my luck at Courage before another attempt at Wisdom,” Zelda said glumly. The first—and last—time she had been to the Spring of Wisdom had nearly killed her. Devastating hypothermia had sent her into a coma and she had almost lost toes and fingers to the cold. Urbosa had pulled her out of the waters when she passed out, and had yelled at Rhoam so caustically that the king had banished her from the castle grounds. That had been five years ago, on her seventeenth birthday. It had also been the last time she had seen her godmother. 

Zelda took Purah’s hands in hers. “Don’t worry, Purah. Thank you for bringing me this news. I look forward to seeing it.” She squeezed Purah’s hands before releasing them and opening the door to her room. “Send for my dinner from the kitchens, Dame Caya. I’m very hungry after my trip to the Spring.”

  “Yes, princess,” the knight replied, leaving her fellow royal guard on duty. 

Zelda closed the door again. 

  “Tell me everything, Purah,” she said, inviting the scientist to sit on the couch beside her. 

  “We used that new device, the one you built to detect the blue energy, and followed a buried pipe onto the Great Plateau to a cliffside. That’s where we began excavations,” she explained. 

  “So it’s the master shrine?” Zelda guessed. 

Purah shook her head. “Not exactly,” she replied, looking perturbed. “It’s not built like any of the others, and no other shrine is connected to the rest. This one is. It’s like… like the other shrines are some sort of support system.” She paused as they heard a knock at the door. 

Zelda rose swiftly and retrieved the food—steak stew and fruitcake, goddess above she could kiss the kitchen staff—then sat down beside Purah again. 

  Purah poked at her fruitcake. “The Shrine has this stanchion at the second door, with a handprint indent,” she said. “We think the lock is keyed to a person’s handprint or blood, since there are hypodermic needles in the inlay,” she explained. 

  “Has anyone tried it?” Zelda asked, alarmed. 

  “Yes, I did,” Purah admitted. She took off her glove and showed Zelda a plum-shaped welt on her hand. It was also the color of a plum, a deep, vicious purple. “It then spoke and said I had insufficient clearance!” she told Zelda excitedly. 

  “If it rejects me, hiding that from my father will be a pain,” Zelda noted. 

  “But if it’s keyed to the royal bloodline, you could be the only one who could succeed in opening it!” Purah argued. 

  “Is there another way to get through the door?” Zelda asked. 

 Purah shook her head and took a bite of fruitcake. “No. There are hidden panels armed with Guardian lasers. Robbie got a third of his hair burned off when he took his chainsaw to the door.”

Zelda shuddered. “He’s lucky that’s all he lost.” 

  “No kidding,” Purah agreed. “Whatever is back there, it’s better protected than the castle.”

Zelda contemplated this information as she ate. “What on earth could be down there?” she murmured. “None of the Divine Beasts had this kind of security.” They had had Guardians to protect them, but they hadn’t been built into the ground, nor had had a biometric key. “What sort of weapon could possibly warrant such measures?” 

  “No idea,” Purah said with a shrug. “Everything we’ve turned up in our research about the Great Plateau is either irrelevant or burned to a crisp.” 

  “Such as?” Zelda prodded. 

  “Eh, some stuff about the old castle that was on the Plateau. Apparently the royal family moved a few millennia ago,” Purah replied. “Logistics of that left a trail, and the other castle was demolished to make room for the abbey and the Temple of Time.” 

 Zelda hummed. It was interesting history, but it wasn’t what they needed. 

  “I’ll depart early to check on it,” Zelda assured her. 

  “I’ll tell Impa to insist on accompanying you,” Purah replied. 

  “Thank you,” Zelda said heartily. 

They finished their meal in contented silence, their minds whirling with theories and possibilities. 

 

…

 

To Zelda’s pleasant surprise, King Rhoam agreed to a Sheikah presence to serve as her guard to Faron. He eyed her over his pile of reports as she stood in the entrance of his study. “No distractions, Zelda, or delays. I want you in Faron by sunset tomorrow, no later.” 

  “Yes, Father,” she agreed. 

King Rhoam studied her visage for a moment. 

  “If you stay the whole four days in Faron, I will allow you to visit Gerudo Town before you return,” he added. 

Zelda’s heart leaped. “Really? Thank you, Father!” She could investigate the Sheikah tech and see Urbosa? Maybe Hylia did smile upon her. 

  “You must attend to your prayers with diligence,” he said sternly. 

  “Yes, Father,” she said, ducking her chin. 

He sighed and waved a hand, dismissing her. 

Zelda darted away before he could change his mind. Four days of straight prayers would be difficult, but not impossible. Especially in Faron, where the waters were warm. 

Her journey out of the castle was easy, with Impa and two other knights at her heels. Her guards had been increased as there had been more frequent attempts on her life. It was suffocating, but it was better than being killed by assassins.

The morning was bright and lovely, and they made good time to the Great Plateau. 

The researchers welcomed Zelda with a plate of seafood fry, and then they ascended the small hill above the Forest of Spirits. It was an otherwise unremarkable location, but tent pavilions had been erected around the entrance. 

  “Welcome, Princess Zelda,” said Robbie, “welcome back, Director Purah!” he was grinning despite the bandage on his head and his freshly shorn hair. 

  “Glad to find you in one piece, Robbie.” Zelda said with a smile. “Show me the door.” 

  “With pleasure!” Robbie said. 

The interior of the tunnel was cool and a little damp. 

Zelda followed Robbie down a set of wooden stairs to the door, where a stanchion stood before a great door made of the strange metal-stone fusion that most sheikah tech was made from. 

Zelda eyed the walls, unable to see the Guardian turrets that would try to burn her should she get it wrong. 

  “Princess,” Impa began, “are you sure this is a good idea?”

  “There is no progress without risk,” Zelda replied. She handed the Sheikah Slate to Purah. “Try to get some data to interface with this,” she instructed. 

  “Yes, princess,” Purah said, accepting the tablet. 

Zelda hesitated, then placed her palm on the stanchion. She felt a slight prickle as the needles kissed her skin and resisted a shudder. 

Everyone held their breath as the stanchion clicked and beeped to itself for three agonizing heartbeats. 

A trill emanated from the stanchion, and a somehow mechanical voice echoed from it. It was vaguely feminine, and had a calm tone. 

  “Authentication complete. Welcome, Your Highness. How may I assist you?” 

Zelda tossed an ecstatic look to Purah, who was frantically taking notes, then cleared her throat. We’re talking with the mainframe! She thought. The Divine Beasts all had their own mainframes and intelligent technology—though Mipha and Revali insisted they were sentient—but they had never encountered one inside a shrine. 

  “What is the purpose of this facility?” she asked. 

  “The Shrine of Resurrection is a medical facility designed to heal the injured or recently deceased,” the voice replied. 

Purah was practically fizzing with excitement. 

  A medical bay, Zelda thought.  I didn’t know that Sheikah tech could be used to heal! This is amazing news, potentially life-altering! We can save people from the Calamity!

   “Has this facility ever been tested?” she asked aloud. 

  “Yes.”

  “What is its capacity?” Zelda asked excitedly. 

  “The Shrine of Resurrection has a capacity of one. However, most of its facilities are offline and in need of repair before use can resume. Previous task failed successfully.”

Zelda frowned. “What was your previous task?” 

  “The facility’s task was to heal a warrior struck down by the Calamity,” the mainframe replied. “I estimate that it was approximately ten thousand, two hundred and six years ago that the initial injuries occurred. Due to the strain of the system, this task could not be completed in the five-year timeframe my creators intended,” it explained. 

Purah nudged Zelda. “Get it to open the door,” she whispered. 

  “What is your name?” Zelda asked. 

  “I am called Navi,” the voice replied. 

  “Navi, can you open the door for me please?” 

  “Yes, Princess.” 

The door slid open, revealing a deeper room beyond. Zelda removed her hand from the stanchion and moved inside, leading the Sheikah into the room. 

There were chests and racks of weapons, strange jewelry, and faded pictures in frames. 

Zelda rubbed her hand, which tingled. “Navi, can you hear me?” she called. 

  “I can hear you anywhere inside the Shrine,” Navi replied. 

  “What are these items?”

  “Those belonged to the warrior who was brought here by the Sheikah,” the mainframe replied. 

Zelda picked up a gold neck ring, similar to the zora style, but different in texture. Actually, this looks more like bronze that’s been gilded. Is this armor? It reminded her of the armor the Gerudo made. There were necklaces and arm bands of dark green stone as well. “These look… Zonaian,” she murmured. “What are Zonaian ornaments doing here?” 

  “Those are Lomeian in origin,” Navi corrected. 

  “Lomeian?” Zelda repeated while the sound of scribbling pens filled the air like the whir of insect wings. 

  “A cousin species to the Zonai, native to Faron,” Navi recited. “Their society outlived the Zonai by several thousand years and supported the Kingdom of Hyrule in its infancy. Most of them were wiped out by the ninth Calamity, the last warrior among them placed here for healing.” 

  “What happened to them?” Zelda asked, while Purah and Robbie whispered frantically about a ninth Calamity. That would make the Calamity that they were about to face the tenth.

  “The Lomei were wiped out by the ninth Calamity after the Imprisoning War, approximately ten thousand years ago.”

  “No, the warrior who survived,” Zelda pressed. Purah was whisper-screaming about finally dating the Imprisoning War, an event theorized to have existed but never proven beyond vague Zonaian glyphs and ruins.

  “He was placed here for healing.” 

  “Yes, but what happened to him after that?” Zelda said, a little irked by the mainframe’s stalling. 

  
  “Here he remains.” 

The researchers stopped their writing. Those holding objects stopped whispering to one another. The atmosphere in the chamber turned from jubilant to solemn.  

Zelda set down the arm band and raised a hand to her neck, suddenly stricken. 

  We disturb the tomb of an honored one, she thought, horrified. A noble warrior who had fallen during the last Calamity, someone who had laid down their life for Hyrule as the last of his kind. The last of an entire people lay here. Now they were bumbling around in his final resting place. For the first time, Zelda felt truly ashamed of herself. She had never thought that the shrine would be a tomb. 

The third door that led deeper into the Shrine of Resurrection slid open. 

  “I am glad you have come for him,” Navi said. “I had to drain the other shrines to sustain him. I thought he had been forgotten.” 

  “Sus—sustain him?” Zelda choked out. 

  “He will need support from you, as the facilities have wiped his memories. It is an unfortunate side effect of the Shrine, but he is physically fit and in otherwise perfect condition,” Navi reported, seemingly oblivious to Zelda’s mounting horror as she walked deeper into the Shrine. 

There was a pool of blue liquid, a stone bed in the center of the otherwise empty chamber. 

Suspended within the blue liquid, the same energy that sustained the Divine Beasts and powered the weapons, lay a person. 

  “He has been fully restored, but it took ten thousand years longer than anticipated,” Navi continued. “Task failed successfully. I have begun the process of waking him up.” 

Zelda stared at him in mingled fascination and horror. 

He was unlike any person she had ever seen before: his body a dark greenish color. She couldn’t tell if it was fur or skin, though she thought it could be fur. He had a snout and had two large eyes that were currently closed. He had digitigrade legs with four toes, and was covered in white tattoos from head to toe, forming sacred symbols. He had long scarlet hair like a Gerudo, though he clearly wasn’t one. Whoever this warrior was, he was someone of importance. He wore a loincloth but nothing else. 

  “Who… who is he?” Zelda choked out. 

  “His name is Link,” Navi said. 

The liquid drained away, leaving the warrior slightly damp but mostly dry—strange. 

Zelda watched as the ten-thousand-year-old man took his first breath in millennia. His chest stuttered and tried again. He coughed, eyelids fluttering.

  “It’s alright,” Zelda whispered. “Open your eyes, Link.”

Chapter 2: Link's Awakening

Summary:

A lomei warrior awakens to a golden voice and finds himself in a new world.
Zelda's world is turned upside down by another surprising discovery.

Notes:

CW: Religious issues, game mechanics taken literally.

Link, she called him. 

He wasn’t sure who she was, or who he was beyond the name. It was nice to have a name. 

"Be careful, Princess," someone said.

He sat upright, running his tongue along the inside of his teeth. He was surprised to find them all intact. Then he blinked, wondering why he was surprised. He felt… fine, he supposed. A little cold. The not-water that tasted like cold death and bitterness had left his short fur slightly damp and a little sticky. He shivered, hair standing on end. 

A sharp inhalation caught his ear, the appendage flicking in the direction of the sound. 

There was a beautiful woman standing in the doorway, her head surrounded by a ring of golden sunlight that turned her hair to sunfire. Her eyes were a beautiful shade of green. She stood regally, with an expression of concern on her face.  

Her throat bobbed as she took in the measure of him. A flush spread over her cheeks and she blinked, turning to one of the other people next to her. 

  “Please bring Link his clothes,” she said, folding her hands together. 

  “But, princess, they’re historical artifacts—” one of the others, white-haired and red-eyed, protested. He had a bandage around his head. 

  “They are his, we can study them later,” the woman, the princess, said. Was that her name?

They were all wearing things. Should he be wearing things? 

He looked down at himself. He wore a simple loincloth wrap that had been adapted for his tail. He frowned at the mismatched lengths of the wraps around his legs, tugging the shorter one down. A breeze flitted through the cavern and he shivered as it sank into the dampness left by the not-water. He stood, testing his balance. 

The bandaged man left, but the other red-eyed woman stared at him warily. 

The golden woman looked at him with concern but not wariness. It was more akin to a great sadness. “How are you feeling?” she asked him. 

Link shrugged, uncomfortable with the staring from the other person. He felt he was fine. Maybe a little too fine. He kept noticing the absence of pain, and the absence of stiffness. Was that normal?

The golden woman moved aside as the bandaged man came back with clothing and jewelry. 

Link pretended not to notice the other white-haired person pulling out a notepad and beginning to take notes. 

  “Purah!” the golden woman hissed. 

Link ignored them in favor of putting on his waist-wrap. Though he didn’t know what the white and gold fabric meant, his body remembered how to fold it around himself. He knew that it was important to him. He pulled on his neck collar and arm bands, then laced up his sandals. Finally he slid his earrings into place and felt more settled. He gave the golden woman a nod. 

  “Better?” she guessed. 

He nodded again. 

  “Good,” she said, pleased. “Now that you are dressed, I suppose you would like some answers, yes?” 

He nodded a third time. Answers would be greatly appreciated. 

  “We are on the Great Plateau,” she said, clasping her hands. “We are in a place called the Shrine of Resurrection. You have been… asleep for the last ten thousand years,” she explained, her voice gentle and kind. 

He blinked. That’s a long time, I guess, he thought. His tail flicked unconsciously. 

  “Ooh, you have a tail!” Purah, the white-haired woman, exclaimed. 

He looked down at it, then nodded. Do most people not have tails? Well, these people don’t have tattoos or fur like me… or clothes like me. Huh.

He looked at her, lifting his hands. “Do you have one as well?” he signed. 

  “Is that Sign?” the golden woman asked eagerly. “I’m afraid I don’t recognize the dialect.” 

"I can send a letter to Princess Mipha, Your Highness," Purah offered. "I believe the Zora still know some of the older, more archaic dialects."

He deflated. This was going to be a pain. At least he understood the spoken laguage, but it was still disheartening. He pointed to his tail, then pointed at Purah. 

  “Are you asking if we have one?” Purah asked. 

He nodded. 

  “No, most hylians don’t,” Purah replied, “or Sheikah, for that matter. Robbie and I,” she said, gesturing at the bandaged man, “are Sheikah. Do you know what you are?”

He shook his head. 

  “According to the shrine, you are a Lomei,” Purah replied. “Does that jog anything?” 

He shook his head again. 

  “Purah, enough,” the princess said, sounding exhausted. She rubbed her temples. “Link, is it alright if the researchers continued investigating the Shrine of Resurrection? We may be able to discover more about your history,” she offered. 

Link nodded. He wanted to leave the room with the not-water. It made his bones feel like something was crawling over them. 

  Yes, take me with you, get me out of here, please, he thought. 

  “Are you hungry?” she asked. 

He couldn’t decide if he wanted to eat or throw up, but he nodded anyway. 

  “Come with me,” she said. 

  “Princess,” Purah began. 

  “Ten thousand years, Purah,” the princess hissed. “Since he has last seen the sun.” 

Purah deflated, looking slightly ashamed of herself—though it was difficult for Link to read her face, which was so different in shape to his own. “That’s true. We can… wait a bit,” she said. 

The princess beckoned to Link. 

He followed her out through the passageway. Sheikah scholars openly stared at him, and whispers followed in his wake. 

He ascended the stairs after her, then he saw the grass. 

The sun. The warmth. A far cry from the darkness he had been (re?)born in. Without thinking, he rushed past the princess, startling her. He scrambled out of the cave and ran out into the sunlight, into the world of the living once more. 

He came to a shuddering stop atop the hill, overlooking the world with new eyes. His chest heaved with unexplained emotion and his eyes stung. 

  So this is the world, he thought. There were mountains and forests, and buildings and people. A breeze filled with the smell of flowers and herbs ruffled his hair and fur as the sunlight chased the Shrine’s chill from his body. He closed his eyes and savored the sensations. He could hear the chatter of the researchers and the wind in the leaves of the forest below him. He sank to his knees and pressed his palms into the verdant grass beneath him. It was alive. He was alive.

  “Are you alright, Link?” the princess asked kindly from behind him. 

He nodded, breathing in. He could smell a distant campfire, and the sunlight through the trees below. He could smell the crushed grass beneath him.

She came up beside him, her presence radiating gentle warmth. He opened his eyes to look at her. She surveyed the land beyond them with a solemn, regal expression. There was mingled pride and sorrow inscribed on her face. She smelled like the sunlight itself, mixed with paper. Magical. As if the sun itself imbued her very being.

  “That mountain over there is Death Mountain,” she explained, pointing at the tall mountain that overshadowed much of the rest of the world. “The structure in the distance is Hyrule Castle,” she added. “That is where I, and my father, reside.” She clasped her hands. There was something tight in her voice that he didn’t like. Something told him that she didn’t enjoy returning to her home. It didn’t sit right with him, and he regarded the castle with wariness. 

He tilted his head curiously. 

  “I’ll show you a map,” she told him, studying his face for a little bit before turning away. “Come, there’s a pavilion nearby.” 

They joined the Sheikah in a covered tent where there were several cushions and plates of food waiting. 

One of the three Sheikah in the tent gasped as she saw Link, and another of them took a step back. 

  “At ease,” the princess commanded. “This is Link, and he is my honored guest.”

The Sheikah bowed. 

  “Here, Your Highness,” one of the Sheikah said, tasting food from a platter before offering some to the princess. 

The princess accepted the platter, which was filled with a bowl of rice and sliced meat.

  “Please bring some for Link as well,” the princess instructed. 

The nearest girl made a squeaking sound. “Um, what does he, that is, what do you eat, s-sir?” the girl stammered. 

Link shrugged, then looked to the princess. 

  “Bring what you have on hand,” the princess ordered. 

  “Yes, princess,” the girl agreed, and began preparing a meal for him as well. 

He was served the same food as the princess, and he mimicked her in how she ate. The first bite of food was the toughest, then he seemed to remember what to do. 

The food was flavorful and delicious, roast meat melting on his tongue. It was spiced and lingered in his mouth. It warmed him from within.

  “Another,” the princess ordered quietly, and a second bowl was placed in front of him as he finished the first. "Bring us water as well."

Three bowls of food later, he felt at ease. He was warm from the inside out, and his fur was finally dry and no longer sticky. 

The princess sat with him and three other Sheikah joined them. Purah, Robbie, and another Sheikah with a wide-brimmed straw hat. She wore a blue skin-tight suit and was armed, unlike the others.  A warrior then.

Link sized her up, and she did the same to him. 

Princess Zelda gestured at the woman. "Link, this is Impa, the heir to the Sheikah Elder and my sworn protector. Impa, this is Link. He was found inside the Shrine of Resurrection."

"So I heard," Impa said. She dipped her head to Link, the ornaments on her hat tinkling. "I am glad to meet you."

Link mimicked her.

  “This is going to get complicated,” the princess sighed. “Impa, is it possible to contain information about Link’s revival?” 

The one with the hat exhaled. “Unlikely, princess. News is already spreading among the researchers,” she replied. “Keeping him, and your involvement, from your father will be… almost impossible,” she said sorrowfully. 

Zelda's shoulders tensed and a worried crease formed between her brows.

  I don’t think I like the princess’s father, Link thought. 

  “We need more information,” the princess murmured. “About who Link is, and why he was placed in the Shrine of Resurrection. Purah, any luck?” 

Purah shook her head. “Not yet, the Sheikah Slate is still decoding the download we got from the shrine’s mainframe.”

Zelda stirred her tea. “If the last Calamity was powerful enough to wipe out the Lomei, we must learn from our ancestors’ battles to avoid a similar outcome this time.”

  The Lomei are gone? Link stared down at his food. Lomei… the word felt important. It felt like its meaning sat in the back of his throat and rested in his chest. Worry gnawed at him. 

The princess cast an anxious glance at him. “Impa, I would like you to send a message to Lady Mipha as soon as possible. She may be able to help us understand his dialect of Sign,” she said to her attendant. 

  “Yes, Your Highness. Also, it might be worth your time to visit the Temple while we are here,” Impa said. “At least to placate His Majesty and the priestesses.”

The princess nodded. “A good idea, Impa. In the meanwhile, I think it best if Link accompanies us.”

  “But, Your Highness,” Impa continued, “bringing Link with us will cause rumors to spread more rapidly. Besides, he won’t be allowed into Gerudo Town.”

  “I understand,” the princess said, “but Faron was Link’s home. I think there is a possibility that he may recall some memories if he returns. Those memories may yet aid us in our fight against the Calamity,” she said, turning to Link. “Would you be willing to brave the journey, Link?”

  He nodded vigorously. He wanted his memories back, and more than that, he wanted to stay with the gentle princess who had woken him up and brought him out of the dark. She was kind. And the word Calamity sent a shiver of fear down his spine and made his body ache with phantom pain.

The princess dipped her head. “Uncovering your past may be the key that helps us defeat the Calamity, and save all of Hyrule. We will leave tonight.” 

Link dipped his head. 

She smiled. 

 

…

 

Link followed the golden princess down towards the stone building on the plateau that the others called the Temple of Time. 

Impa held up a hand to him. “Wait. We should still limit knowledge of his presence as much as possible,” she said to the princess. 

Link glanced between her and Zelda. 

  “You know what the Yiga Clan would do if they found out about him,” Impa added in a hushed voice. 

A shard of fear entered the princess’s expression, and she folded her arms. One hand came to rest just beneath her collarbone. 

Link coughed, his throat dry. “What is Y-i-g-a Clan?” he signed slowly. 

Impa hesitated, glancing between him and the princess. 

  “Tell him, Impa,” Princess Zelda said in a low voice. “If he is to accompany us, he ought to be aware of the dangers.”

Impa’s face hardened and she gave the princess a solemn nod. She faced Link, her scarlet eyes cold. “The Yiga Clan is the dark reflection of my own tribe, the Sheikah. Long ago, we were one and the same. During your era, we developed technology for the royal family to combat the Calamity—the same technology that has sustained you all these years,” she explained. “But the king of that era outlawed the technology and declared it forbidden. I suspect that your… situation had something to do with that, given what the shrine has told us. It was deemed too dangerous to be used and was buried by royal decree. Afterwards, my tribe split in two. We Sheikah kept our name and obeyed the royal family. But,” she exhaled. “There were some of us who were offended at the demand, and openly rebelled. They swore allegiance to the Calamity and have spent the last ten thousand years attempting to destroy the kingdom. They have made multiple attempts to kill the princess.” 

Link glanced at the princess. He couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to hurt her. His confusion must’ve shown, because Impa continued. “They also take personal offense to Her Highness’s interest in the ancient technology, which is one reason why they are especially eager to kill her. If you meet anyone who offers you bananas, be ready for a fight.” 

Link tilted his head to the side. 

  “They’re very fond of the fruit,” Impa sighed, a hint of exasperation showing through her steely demeanor. “It increases your attack power.” 

Link nodded once, though he didn't know what bananas were. 

  “Oh,” Zelda blurted. “They wear red suits with this symbol,” she pointed at the weeping eye on Impa’s chest, “upsidedown.” 

He nodded again. Don’t trust anyone wearing red suits or smelling like bananas or wearing the upsidedown eye thing. Got it, he thought. He wasn’t sure how he felt about the ancient tech. He could understand why the Yiga were upset, but killing over it? That was insane. 

  If the princess hadn’t investigated the tech, I’d still be in the not-water, he thought. His fur stood on end and he shivered. 

  “EEEEE YOU’RE SO FLUFFY!”

Link whirled around as a voice squealed behind him. Before he had processed what he was doing, he had the researcher pinned to the ground with one clawed hand at her throat. 

  “Oops,” she rasped. 

  “PURAH!” Impa snapped. 

  “You’re fast,” Purah croaked, grinning up at him like a maniac, her crimson eyes gleaming up through her spectacles. 

Link released her and offered her a hand up, fixing his face into what he hoped was an apologetic expression. 

  “Reflexes appear to be in good condition,” Purah said, adjusting her spectacles as she stood. “We’ll have to continue our observations to make sure you’re fully recovered from whatever took you out of commission, but you seem to be doing well. Unfortunately, we don’t really have a standard for your species at the moment.” She shrugged apologetically.

Link made a curious noise and pointed to himself. 

  “Yes, you’re a Lomei,” Purah said. “At least, that’s what the shrine told us.”

  Oh, Link thought. Didn’t the princess say the Lomei are all gone now? His tail wrapped around his calf subconsciously. Had he had a family once? Friends? 

  “We can’t just leave him here alone,” Princess Zelda murmured. “He should come with us.”

  “We ought to let Purah and the others take care of him while you make an appearance at the Temple,” countered Impa. “The priestesses will ask questions, Your Highness.” 

Zelda sighed and rubbed her face. “I know. Link, would you be willing to stay here with Purah? She will be able to tell you what we’ve discovered so far, and her investigation will help us determine your own origins.”

Link nodded. What about the Yiga though? What if they attack? Both the princess and Impa seem very afraid of them.That wasn’t right. Some instinctive part of him knew that if you showed fear to an enemy, you had already lost half the battle. 

  I want to help protect her, Link thought. But more than that, he wanted to repay her for bringing him out into the sunlight again. 

  “Don’t worry, Linky,” Purah chirped, patting his arm. “We’ll get along just fine. Come on! Time to figure out what you’re capable of!”

Link reluctantly allowed Purah to drag him back towards the shrine. 

 

…

 

 Zelda stood before the Goddess Statue in the Temple with her eyes closed. Her hands rested in front of her, clasped in prayer. Is this a sign? She wondered, thinking of the ancient warrior in the Shrine of Resurrection. Why was he there? He must be important, if he alone of his kindred was offered salvation. Was he the worst casualty of the battle? Or was he the only one to survive the battle? There must be some knowledge locked away inside his mind that is crucial for the battle to come, she thought. Thank you for sending him, though I grieve for all he has sacrificed and lost. I will make sure he is cared for. Thank you, thank you. 

Of all the temples and other such places where the Goddess’s likeness rested, she liked the Great Plateau least of all. Not because the Plateau was unpleasant, but rather because it had once been her favorite place in the world. Hazy memories of stirring a pot over an open fire, her father’s hand guiding her, of shield surfing down a small hill while her mother’s voice begged caution, of holding a fishing pole and watching as a bass swam closer.

And also the first time she had come here after her mother had died. The silence between her and her father. It had been another nail in the coffin of their relationship. She hadn’t had the words to explain how painful it was coming here without Mother. 

She loved and hated the Great Plateau, yet it was here that the Goddess might’ve finally answered her prayers. 

  Why did you send him to me, Great Mother? She wondered, gazing up at her divine ancestor’s stone face. As always, she was silent in reply. 

  I should ask him about the Guardians, she thought. No, Zelda, focus! Pray! Okay… he must be the key to us surviving the Calamity, but why would they make a resurrection chamber for just one—

A scuffle interrupted her thoughts. She turned to see Purah entering the main area of the Temple. Behind her was a figure covered in a large white tablecloth. 

Zelda put her hands on her hips. “You brought him in here with just a table-cloth over him?”

  “He’s going stir-crazy, Your Highness,” Purah sighed. "He didn't want to enter the Shrine again. Even offering him sushi didn't help!"

A trilling noise from under the tablecloth agreed. 

Zelda took a deep breath. “Very well, Link, you may remove your disguise.” 

The ancient warrior discarded the tablecloth and stood at attention, utterly unbothered. His twitching tail was the only sign of his discomfort.

  “Well, he seems fine now,” she said to Purah. 

  “Your Highness, I think—” 

The warrior tilted his head to the side and gave a curious trill again. Slowly, he walked up towards Zelda, then passed her to look at the statue. 

  “It is the Goddess Hylia,” Zelda said, clasping her hands. “She is the founder of my bloodline, and the goddess of justice, light, and strategy. It is she who granted my family their Sealing powers over darkness.” 

Link stared up at the statue and let out a strange chattering noise. His ears twitched. He stepped closer, far closer than even Zelda was allowed to go.  He was close enough that he could've touched the statue.

  “Link, you mustn’t get so close,” Zelda began, reciting the lecture her tutors had spouted time and again. "It's very improper, and a sign of deep disrespect towards the Goddess—"

Light from an unknown source poured down over the statue, bathing both Link and the goddess statue. 

  “What?” Zelda breathed. 

Link looked up at the statue, then turned to her and held out his hand. He signed something with his other hand, but his expression was open and hopeful. He made a small chirping sound at her, almost like a bird. His face was open, kind, despite how alien it was to her. She had never known a species with such large, luminous eyes.

Dazed, Zelda placed her hand in his. His nails were curved and sharp yet gentle against her skin. He pulled her close enough to step into the phantom sunlight that radiated from the Goddess statue. Warmth washed over her like she had just sunk herself into a bath at home. She smelled the scent of lilac and rose—her mother's perfume. Yet it was layered with something she could only describe as sunlight. Something warm and somehow sparkling.

  Beloved daughter, a woman’s voice whispered in Zelda’s head. How I have missed you. I’m so sorry that I wasn’t able to speak to you.

  “How?” Zelda whispered, pressing a hand to her mouth as tears welled in her eyes. “Why? Why was it—why was it so simple?” All this time, had it simply been a matter of proximity? Or had the presence of this ancient warrior unlocked some hidden connection? 

  You were led astray by well-intentioned but ill-informed people. Link, the goddess whispered, my devout swordsman. I had wondered where you had gone, dear one. I am so sorry. I wish you had had a chance to enjoy this beautiful world again before being called to arms. You must take up your sword once again.

  Hello, a male voice thought within Zelda’s head, much deeper than she had expected. It was resonant, like that of a singer. Do you know who I am?  he asked eagerly. 

Silence came from the statue. 

  Oh, my dear swordsman, the Goddess replied. Sorrow and grief clouded her voice. What have they done to you? Zelda, my sweet girl, what has happened to him? 

  He was placed in the Shrine of Resurrection for ten thousand years. The process of healing deprived him of his memories, Zelda silently replied. 

  … I see, the Goddess murmured. 

Zelda let out a strangled gasp. My powers! Goddess Hylia, how do I unlock my sealing powers? Please, what have I done to be unworthy of your gifts? How can I atone? 

Alarm radiated from the Goddess. Little one, your magic is and has always been within you. It is not mine to give or take away. Not anymore. I am nothing more than a memory and a little bit of luck at this point. As for how to use it… Each one of my children has had a different way to summon it. Some used the righteous fury they felt on behalf of their mistreated people, some calm meditation, others relied on adrenaline or selflessness or love. Your power is your own. The catalyst for your power is the answer you cannot yet face. To reach the light, you must pass through the shadow of your doubts and fears. 

  I… what?!  Zelda looked up at the statue. 

  You must know yourself, Zelda. Find what you must do to balance yourself. Only then can you use the magic that is your birthright. Go, and bring peace to the world.

With that, the light vanished. 

Silence radiated through the temple for three long heartbeats. 

  “WHAT?!” Zelda shrieked. 

 

…

 

Zelda ordered her party to depart at once from the Great Plateau. Link followed at a respectful distance, slipping around to join the party once they had departed. The man looked like a kicked puppy but she couldn't bring herself to comfort him or reassure him. She was reeling.

Zelda was silent for the whole trip across the Bridge of Hylia, ignoring when Impa hissed for Link to keep up. 

Her ears felt like they were ringing. She felt dizzy. Revelation after revelation had scrambled her head. Sixteen years wasted because she hadn’t been standing close enough to the damned statues. 

Sixteen years spent shivering in freezing waters, voicing prayer after prayer until her voice gave out.

Sixteen years spent withstanding the whispers of the court, the shame and anger of her father.

Sixteen years wishing her mother was still alive to guide her.

Sixteen years heeding propriety and duty ahead of instinct and familial connection.

Zelda wrestled with angry tears the whole trip across the bridge. She wouldn’t cry in front of a guest, especially one who was even more lost and afraid than she was. She was a princess. Princesses had standards. Princesses cared for their subjects, no matter their own troubles.

As the sun fell behind the mountains, Impa caught up to her. “We ought to make camp, Your Highness. These woods aren’t safe after dark.” 

Out of the corner of her eye, Zelda saw Link look at the trees. He was incredibly attentive. The language barrier was going to be a pain, but his intelligence was clear. He also seemed to be loyal to her. The perfect swordsman. 

  If he has no memories, was it simple chance that he helped me hear the Goddess? A man with no memory of propriety had accidentally broken through her biggest stumbling block and it had left Zelda reeling. Uncertain of where she now stood. By all rights she should feel elated. Triumphant. 

All she actually felt was stupid. She felt humiliated and that choking feeling thoroughly suffocated any gratitude in her heart. She hated it, but she didn't know how to make it stop.

She marched off the road and sat down on the grass. 

  “We make camp here,” Impa declared. She knelt down and began setting up the tent she and Zelda would share. “Link can bunk with Sir Cor and Sir Fredrick.” 

The two knights saluted and began setting up their own tent. 

  “I can take the first watch,” Sir Fredrick offered. He was an older knight, his pale blond hair streaked with gray. He was broad shouldered and the tallest of the group. He had served in the Royal Guard for as long as Zelda could remember, and had been a pall-bearer for her mother’s coffin. 

  “I’ll cook,” offered Sir Cor. He was younger, with black hair and warm brown skin that contrasted sharply with his gray eyes. 

Link said nothing, of course, but rather circled the campsite curiously. He examined each bush with care, taking in both sight and smell. His tail flicked back and forth but his face betrayed no emotion.

Zelda chided herself for not taking better notes. When would she ever have the opportunity to observe someone experiencing the world for the first time as an adult? 

But she couldn’t bring herself to speak. 

Impa set up the tent and Zelda crawled inside to collapse on her cot. 

 

…

 

“Sixteen years of prayer,” Zelda seethed, “and all I get for that is sorry, you must look within yourself?! What?! I’ve spent the last decade and a half doing nothing but listening to my own thoughts as I recite prayer after prayer after prayer freezing my hindquarters off!” She buried her face in her hands and gave a muffled scream. She pulled her pillow over her face to screech into it for a moment, allowing herself the indulgence of such a childish expression of anger. “Not only that, but there were no answers for poor Link either! What was she talking about?!”

  “At least she talked to you,” Impa offered. "That's more progress than you've made in… a while."

  “HA! The catalyst for your power is the answer you cannot yet face—Sweet Nayru, what a farce,” Zelda huffed. She rubbed her face. “Impa, I beg of you, please distract me. Tell me what tests Purah did, anything.” 

  “Apparently Link has claws and can jump at least six feet in the air from a stand-still,” Impa blurted. “And he can climb almost any surface, including vertical stone.” 

Zelda had noticed that when the maniac had climbed the Goddess statue to see if he could get a reaction when Zelda’ tantrum had failed. 

  “My father is going to lose his mind,” Zelda groaned. “Why are we still going to Faron?” 

 “You still must awaken your power and we promised Link that we would visit his homeland,” Impa reminded her, “and you also want to see Lady Urbosa so we must keep the promise to your royal father as well.”

Zelda sighed. “Quite right.” She looked up at the canvas ceiling of the tent. “She called him a devout swordsman. She seemed almost as fond of him as she was of me,” she said in a small voice. 

  “I'm guessing that she refers to Goddess Hylia?" Impa surmised.

Zelda nodded.

Impa sighed. "If he was blessed by the Goddess, it would explain why the kingdom went to such desperate lengths to save him,” she remarked. 

  “Do you think he’s the bearer of the Sword that Seals the Darkness?”

Impa picked at her nails. “I’d be remiss not to consider the possibility, but if that were the case, wouldn’t the sword have been with him?”

  “True,” Zelda acknowledged. “Yet another treasure we must find…” Like the Divine Beasts, King Rhoam had ordered the kingdom to search for the legendary sword. Unlike the Divine Beasts, however, it had yet to be found. “Legend says it rests within the Great Hyrule Forest, yet the mist remains impenetrable. How can we test such a theory without the sword?”

Impa was silent for a moment. “It is said that the Hero can hear the gods speak. Mayhaps they will guide him.” 

  “The same is said of my own line.”

  “Yet he still heard Hylia’s voice, and helped you do the same,” Impa pointed out. 

Zelda felt a headache coming on. “Yes, I know.” She had made more progress in an hour than she had over most of a lifetime. “Yet I am still no closer to discovering how to use my power.” 

  “Yes, Your Highness,” Impa murmured. 

Zelda looked up at the ceiling. “If they succeeded in defeating the Calamity, Impa, why would they fight so hard to save the Hero?” The instant the words left her mouth, Zelda was overcome with shame. “I mean…” she rubbed her face. “Why was he so terribly injured that such desperation was warranted?” 

  “Perhaps he had someone waiting for him,” Impa murmured. “We may never know, Your Highness. Perhaps the princess of his era simply wanted to allow him to retire in peace. An apology gone wrong.” 

Zelda sighed. “He’s ten thousand years out of time,” she said quietly. “With his entire society gone. His family, all his friends, with no memory to his name... It seems to be a terrible fate to me. I… I don’t know how to support him. I don’t know what I’m doing, Impa.”

 

…

 

Outside, Link listened to the princess speak. He didn’t disagree with her. 

The Sheikah scientists had said that there was nothing wrong with him but he could feel the cold ache of the not-water lingering in patches and swathes across his body. The joints of his right arm were sore and stiff. His left side felt tight and he couldn’t catch his breath. His left ear wasn’t quite as mobile as his right. He felt off-kilter. 

He didn’t have any memories, not really, but he didn’t want to think about the water. Or the dark. 

Link huddled close to the fire, pulling his knees up to his chest and wrapping his tail over his feet.  

 “How you doing, kid?” Sir Fredrick asked as he watched the darkness beyond the campfire. The two knights had been wary of him at first but had thawed relatively quickly—especially once Zelda had explained where he had come from. She had not, however, mentioned the incident with the Goddess statue.

Link shrugged. 

  “It isn’t your fault. Her Highness gets upset like this sometimes, especially where her powers are concerned. She’ll come out of this soon enough,” the older knight continued. 

Link’s ear twitched and the knight turned as a branch cracked in the night. 

Link saw a deer sneaking through the undergrowth, its eyes reflecting the light of the fire. 

The older knight did not relax. 

Link waved at him, then gestured to the deer and then to his own eyes. 

 Sir Fredrick frowned. “You can see what made that noise?”

Link nodded. 

  “Is it a monster?”

Link shook his head. 

Sir Fredrick nodded and resumed his position, taking a deep breath. “Do you know how to fight?” 

Link shrugged. He wasn’t sure. There had been some weapons in his tomb the Shrine of Resurrection, but he couldn’t recall using them. 

  “How about we spar in the morning before we depart?” Sir Fredrick offered. “You oughta be able to defend yourself. We have our hands full defending the princess.” 

Link dipped his head and kept watch with the knight. He tapped Sir Fredrick's shoulder.

"What is it?"

Link hesitated, uncertain of how to proceed. Nobody here knew his dialect of Sign. Then he tapped the space between his eyes, where Impa's tattoo was. He picked up a stick and drew the Sheikah symbol on the ground, then tapped his brow again.

Sir Fredrick's face brightened. "Oh, Lady Impa? She can defend herself. All Sheikah have trained in basic self-defense, but as the heir to the cheiftain, she had to train extensively in defensive and offensive techniques." He sighed. "I—that is, some of the Royal Guard wished to train Her Highness, but His Majesty decided that it was more important for her to focus on awakening her power."

Link nodded. Still, three warriors to protect the princess when there's an entire clan of assassins after her seems… unwise.

Sir Fredrick made a face as he studied him. "We should work on some basic communication for safety. You seem to understand spoken Hyrulean just fine, right?"

Link nodded.

Sir Fredrick looked satisfied. "Okay, then show me your sign for danger."

 

…

 

When they broke camp in the morning, Link and Sir Fredrick had decided upon a few rudimentary signs: danger, monster ahead, around us, all clear, yes, no, and be ready.

Sir Cor had quickly learned as well, and was now testing Link's sense of smell.

"Okay," he said. "This hasn't been washed in two weeks—don't give me that look, old man, it's for training!"

"We left only a week ago," Sir Fredrick grumbled. "You were instructed to bring the requisite supplies."

"Hey, I forgot, okay?" Sir Cor said sheepishly. "Anyway, Link, tell me what you smell!" He shoved a dirty guard uniform under Link's nose.

Link tried to rein in his expression of disgust. The stench of sweat and dirt clung to the garment. He gestured to his armpit and then pointed at Sir Cor.

"He says you stink," Sir Fredrick translated succinctly.

Link nodded.

"But anything else?" Sir Cor pressed.

Link was aware of the eyes of the princess on him as he sniffed the garment again. She had bags under her eyes as she sipped from a cup that Impa handed her.

He tried to parse out the smells assaulting his senses. There was something sweet and floral under the stench of sweat. He frowned, concentrating.

Sir Cor sucked in a hopeful breath.

Link sniffed again, then lowered the garment, eyeing Sir Cor. 

"Yeesh, Link, what's with the glare?" Sir Cor laughed. "Come on, what did you smell?"

Link hesitated. How on earth do I communicate this? He drew a flower in the dirt. 

"No, no flowers," Sir Cor said with a smile. "Maybe it's fruit you smell?"

Link considered this, then nodded. A fruit would also explain the scent. 

"There's no way," Sir Fredrick protested. "How can he smell fruit on you, Sir Cor?" 

"I spilled fruit pie on my shirt," the other knight said. "I wiped it off but apparently that's not enough to foil Link here."

"You were able to smell a week-old stain on Sir Cor's stinky laundry?" Impa demanded.

Link nodded and handed the shirt back to Sir Cor, who shook his head with amazement and put the garment away.

"That explains the snout," Zelda murmured. She flushed as Link's gaze flicked to her. "Your sense of smell, that is. Certain species have more advanced senses than others. Hylians are disappointingly average at all of them," she said, her embarassment fading away. "The Zora have excellent night vision and can smell or taste blood from miles away, so they have prominent brow ridges and can differentiate between complex flavors through their gills," she explained. "The Rito are similar." She adjusted her posture to sit cross-legged on the mat. "They can see for miles around, but not at night."

Link's brows rose.

Zelda continued. "The Gorons have a great sense for differentiating between textures and vibrations. They live in a seismically active region, so it makes sense. Their large hands help with that, as well as with their preferred method of travel. But they also have poor eyesight compared to the other races. The Gerudo… They don't have any physical senses that are enhanced, but their spiritual senses are highly attuned and they are very fast. Your sense of smell being advanced isn't that far fetched."

"He was also able to see quite well in the dark, Your Highness," Sir Fredrick offered. "There was a creature just outside the camp last night and he was able to see it perfectly, though I wouldn't have known it was there at all if it hadn't made a noise."

"What was it?" Impa asked sharply.

Sir Fredrick looked at him.

Link hesitated, then mimed antlers on top of his head.

"Horns… antlers?" guessed Sir Cor.

Link nodded.

"So, a deer?" Sir Cor assumed.

Link nodded again.

"I see," murmured Impa.

Zelda rose and re-seated herself directly next to Link. "Yes, your black sclera would facilitate night-vision," she murmured, staring at him.

Link's tail flicked nervously.

"Some of the other races bear resemblances to certain animal species. Obviously the Rito look most like birds, and the Zora like fish. You appear to resemble a cat, though not a domestic type," she mused. Her eyes brightened. "Oh, that reminds me. Would you be willing to show me your teeth? Your dentition might allow us to better know the proper diet of your people."

Link perked up. He wanted to know more about his people. Could his teeth really help with that?

He pulled his lips back to show Zelda his teeth.

Her eyes went wide. "Oh my," she breathed. She leaned forward. "Impa, please bring me my notebook," she said.

"What is it?" Impa asked, even as she fetched the materials Zelda requested. She froze at the sight of Link's teeth. "Holy Hylia," she swore. "Why do you have the fangs of a lynel?"

Sir Cor leaned over. "Whoa! I think your canines are longer than my pointer finger!"

Link lowered his lips, the gesture making him feel uncomfortable. He tapped his mouth then pointed at Zelda.

"Oh, what are my teeth like?" she guessed.

Link nodded.

Zelda drew back her lips and Link flinched on some instinct he didn't understand.

Then he leaned forward and examined Zelda's teeth. He ran his tongue over his own teeth, mentally comparing them. He made a pinching gesture with his hand.

"Yes, my teeth are much smaller," Zelda chuckled. "Why did you flinch just now?"

Link shrugged. He didn't quite know.

"Hmm. Maybe your people view the showing of teeth as rude or malicious," she mused.

"With those fangs, I could see how such a gesture could be a threat," Impa suggested.

Zelda made a note in the book. "Yes, like how the Rito view direct eye-contact as aggressive," she mused.

Sir Fredrick rose to his feet. “Your Highness, if we want to make it to the Spring of Courage on time, we will need to leave soon.”

Zelda deflated. “Yes, of course.” She rose to her feet. “Scientific inquiry must be patient, it seems. The divine awaits.” 

Link nodded and stood as well.