The Legend of Zelda: Ascent of the Demon King

[Moonlight]

Ilia's viridian green gaze remained on her father as she awaited an answer, combing her fingers through her short wheat colored hair. "Father, she can't remember anything. The name that she gave me was only a hazardous guess, from what I could tell. Surely you wouldn't send her away?" the woman added quietly after a moment, as not to wake their sleeping guest above them. With how determined the mage was after just waking, it was likely she'd tear open her wounds again. The second time, the consequences wouldn't be very favorable.

Bo sighed and shook his head after a moment, head leaning against his hand. The elderly mayor's eyes were weary from long and sleepless nights, feeling past his own age from the recent levels of stress and anxiety for his villagers. "You're right, dear ... I know, before you say it; she has no one. We'll let her stay, but when she's healed we cannot try to stop her from leaving. And we do not know why she was injured so. We do not know if she will bring pain to the entire village or not. All we can do is wait, and allow the answers to come," he sighed, before splashing water onto his face from the basin. Determined to remain awake until Zathrien returned from his nightly hunt, to see if the mercenary had anything to report and for the peace of mind that he was well.

The green eyed woman nodded after a moment, a small smile playing about her lips. They had all been through much as of late. "My thanks, Father. Try to get some rest before Zathrien comes back in the morning, or you'll run yourself into the ground," Ilia murmured, patting her father's shoulder as she stood.

"... I can leave," a feminine voice said softly, causing both of their gazes to rivet to the top of the stairwell. The mage had found the spare tunic that had been laid out for her, but other than that it was painfully obvious that she felt she was intruding. Selena was leaning heavily against the wall as she haltingly walked down the stairs, unusually pale electrum tresses contrasting with the deep blue of the close fitting and sleeveless tunic. Although her facade was otherwise expressionless, a faint wince escaped through as she tried to continue down the stairs.

"No, you couldn't possibly leave right now - You'll only be killed at this time of night," Ilia cut in as the mage started to speak again, the older woman immediately rushing back up the stairwell to intercept their guest. "Trust us, you can stay until you heal," she said firmly, effectively blocking the narrow stair way.

"... I heard what was said. I don't want to bring danger, when I do not even know what happened," Selena countered quietly, proudly holding her petite frame upright despite the obvious discomfort. As if trying to prove she wasn't weak.

Ilia shook her head, before offering the mage a smile. "We'll be fine. You need to rest and recover - The situation is under control."

"But I am intruding on your hospitality ..." Selena objected quietly, her deep cobalt stare now hesitant. Apparently too proud to accept charity, or afraid she would bring ill tidings upon them. Perhaps a mixture of both, even.

The older woman's brow arched at the mage's resistance to her efforts, wondering what was causing her restlessness. It had been but an hour since she had fallen asleep the first time. Most wounded to such an extent would not have risen for likely half a day, unless a potion had been administered. And blood had soaked through much of her now burned tunic, though a noticeable streak was left down her trousers. It was no wonder the mage was barely standing, and was light headed. "Again, I will tell you to trust us. We'll not throw you out simply because you don't know who you are, Selena. If there is something I can do, just mention it. Who knows, it might trigger a memory," Ilia offered offhandedly, hoping to cheer her some. "Since you are unable to sleep at the moment, though ... How about you come and join us? You may go back up stairs and rest when you feel the need, but perhaps it wouldn't hurt to learn a little about the area," she added, smiling more so.

The much younger girl seemed visibly relieved at her words, before nodding once. Eager to know what was missing, even if it was just a little tidbit. "My thanks ..." she returned softly, though pausing. "... I do not believe I know your name."

"It's Ilia, and no worries. Come, we may as well get started. We can likely cover a fair bit before our friend returns in the morning."

[Kaine]

He ran as fast as the Stalfos would allow him. From what he could tell, however, he was making little progress fast. He could never run more than a minute before several Stalfos suddenly appeared in his way. He had tried simply running at first, but that had done nothing good. When he had stopped to check behind him, there were at least seven skeletons hot on his tail. He cursed his luck and turned to face them all.

They seemed to lose coordination in numbers, as these seven were easily cut down before they became a threat. He looked at their crests and cursed again. They were regular Stalfos. He turned back towards Ordon and narrowly missed the blade of a new Stalfos. He batted its blade aside and bashed the skeleton’s forehead with his own, cracking its neck and dropping it to the forest floor. He snatched the medallion from its neck and ran on.

This was three hours ago. Now, every time he changed directions a Stalfos greeted him. They were simply everywhere. He finally got fed up with the constant fighting and stopping moving completely. The forest went still. Nothing moved, nothing breathed. Zathrien relaxed slightly and scanned the glade he currently stood in. There was nothing out of the ordinary. He looked back and saw nothing. He turned back around to find himself face to face with a Stalfos unlike any other he had ever seen.

Its physical appearance was no different than any other Stalfos knight he had encountered, but this skeleton wore deep purple robes underneath his polished black armor. Atop his head sat a stout helmet adorned with a plume of orange feathers. A fire of intelligence burned in his eyes as he gazed at Zathrien. He was calculating, analyzing.

“So,” he gurgled, “you are the one causing havoc among my men tonight. Interesting.” The Stalfos circled around Zathrien slowly. Zathrien did not follow but tensed incredibly. If the skeleton tried something, Zathrien would be ready. He heard a choking sound that could have only been the Stalfos laughing.

“Do not fear me tonight, swordsman,” the skeleton cooed. “I am not here to end you. I am here to simply observe you.”

“And for what purpose am I being observed?” Zathrien asked through clenched teeth.

“My master has heard of what you have performed tonight. He is most impressed with your skill, as am I. I have never seen a Hylian fight with such…expertise.”

Zathrien’s eyes narrowed. “Who are you? How is it that you may speak my tongue?”

The skeleton chuckled again. “My master has taught me many things. Speech and diplomacy are but a few.”

“And who is your master?”

“That, I will not tell you now. You will come to know him, in time. Just as you will know me.”

Zathrien spoke softly. “Then allow me the honor of knowing your name. Or are you just as cowardly as the footmen I’ve spent the night slaying?”

The Stalfos returned to Zathrien’s view smirking. “I am Lieutenant-General Ghavriaxz.”

Zathrien raised an eyebrow. “Lieutenant-General? My my, aren’t you an important person.”

Ghavriaxz narrowed his cold, lidless eyes and spoke softly, “Be glad my master only wished for observance and not your head, swordsman. You could not hope to defeat me.” A flash of light momentarily blinded Zathrien. When his vision returned, no trace of the skeletal warrior could be found. Zathrien shook his head and continued running.

He met no more skeletons and entered the village within ten minutes. He and Bo had much to discuss now.

He dashed up the small stairs and roughly opened the door to Bo’s house. He saw Bo and his daughter Ilia sitting at the table, talking to a girl who looked vaguely familiar.

Zathrien stood awkwardly for a moment before asking, “Did I arrive at a bad time?”

[Moonlight]

"... so you see, we've been plagued by these unusual Stalfos for some time now. It isn't your arrival that's causing it," Ilia was adding onto her previous words, as if in attempt to reassure her. However, both of the two females pausing when the door was jerked open. Faint morning light was visible behind the panting silhouette, making it clear the man had run for some time. The mentioned mercenary and friend? "Zathrien, what is it?" Ilia queried, shoving her chair back as she stood. Resting a hand on Selena's shoulder in warning for her not to rise, apparently so the wound would not be disturbed.

"Did I arrive at a bad time?" the breathless swordsman inquired haltingly, his forest green gaze sweeping over them in a seemingly habitual manner. Sweat dampened his almost shoulder-length onyx locks, causing Selena to arch a brow. He seemed so familiar ... Yet she couldn't place him. His name certainly wasn't old to her, but it seemed as if she knew someone like him if anything else. Yet more questions - What joy.

The young woman shook her head after a moment, combing her fingers through her almost white locks out of frustration, pale blonde hair shimmering slightly in the dim light. "... No, it's fine. Are you all right?" Selena added, noticing the occasional rips in his garments. It seemed there was a shallow and thin wound, little more than an extended scratch, in the middle of one such rip; but he did at least seem otherwise unharmed. It hadn't even bled onto the cloth.

It was a tad odd, though, when his gaze halted on her curiously. Without the massive amounts of blood staining her skin and garb, though, she appeared much more presentable even if unusually pale. Upon second glance, though, it would be apparent that she was one in the same with the girl that Rusl had brought in earlier. Not to mention the remaining stain down the side of her trousers was a fair hint. Selena brushed aside Ilia's hand after a moment, standing. "Here, you look as if you would appreciate a place to sit," the mage said quietly, gesturing to it as she moved to lean against the wall. Her arm once again clamped over the lightly bandaged area, but refusing to let the irritation show.

[Kaine]

Zathrien raised an eyebrow. “You…you were the injured girl Rusl brought in. You need that chair much more than I will.” He stared at her for a long moment. She was a proud girl, unwilling to truly accept the help Bo and his daughter were freely offering. He understood her motives, but in her state, she should not have been declining whatever help she could get. Had Rusl not found her, she might have been killed easily by the Stalfos he had spent the night fighting.

He continued to stare at her, but spoke to Bo. “Bo, can we speak privately for a moment? There is a matter we must discuss.” He pulled out the Stalfos crest he had taken and watched as both Bo and Ilia flinched. Zathrien guessed the crest was more influential to the people of Ordon than he first thought.

[Moonlight]

Selena's brow arched in turn at his words, before nodding once. "... Perhaps you're right," the young woman conceded after a moment, head bowing somewhat as she moved back towards it. Had she looked that horrible when she arrived? "... Ilia, what exactly happened?" she queried softly when the mercenary turned to Bo, garnering the older woman's viridian green gaze. "I know that you know little more than myself, yet ... I know that I must preform some task. I simply do not know what it is ..." the mage added in a murmur, watching Zathrien.

The healer shook her head after a moment, before turning to face Selena. "When Rusl brought you from the edge of the wood, there was nary a spot left on your old tunic that was not soaked with blood. Father burned it to prevent attracting a disease, but it would be suffice to say that you were in very poor shape indeed. Your wound was caused by a serrated blade, as well - The entire thing was torn," the healer added reluctantly, though clearly causing the mage's mind to set to work. She was sharp witted, but had naught to go on. That much was obvious. "You should be resting, however. You've been up and about for hours on end," the healer said pointedly, in attempt to guide her back upstairs without directly doing so.

"I appreciate that you cared for me, Ilia ... But I do not want to risk losing something almost within my grasp. It feels like I'm on the verge of remembering something ..." the mage murmured, heaving a frustrated sigh. The hollow clang of steel on some type of barrier now echoed in her ears, but she couldn't picture the rest of it. Pausing, though, when Zathrien took out a crest.

... Hadn't she seen that before?

[Kaine]

Bo hobbled over quickly and tried to hide the crest with his girth. “Don’t take that out in here!” he whispered fiercely. “You’ll upset Ilia.”

Zathrien raised an eyebrow and whispered back, “I take it the skeletons harassing you bore these crests?”

Bo nodded quickly and added, “Not just the normal skeletons either. There was one with them, he dressed all fancy, like he thought he was some kind of officer.”

Zathrien stepped closer to Bo. “Ghavriaxz was here? When?”

Bo’s eyes went wide and he whispered more frantically. “About a week ago. He demanded that we all come out and offer ourselves as sacrifices to his master.”

“It is fortuitous that you did not. I fear that this Ghavriaxz and his dark master have a much bigger scheme in mind.” Zathrien’s voice had risen a little while he spoke, and he noticed both Ilia and the girl staring at him. The girl had an odd look about her, like she was in a trance.

[Moonlight]

A flash of rubies glinted in the moonlight, luminescent scarlet eyes suddenly boring into her own. She slowly took a step back, startled. "... It is rude to simply drop in, you know ..."

"It would be much more rude, however ... To carry out what I had in mind," a soft masculine voice whispered, it drifting on the wind to her ears. "Orders are orders, though. You may come quietly, or die where you stand."

"Where are we going, if I might ask?"

"Someone wishes to meet you ... A little visit wouldn't hurt, now would it?"

"It is possible."

"Then what might you be waiting for, milady?"

"For some odd reason, I doubt that I would be allowed to return to my companions alive. Would I?"

"Hmm ... Perhaps not," the voice said softly, suddenly behind her. Feeling the drain of forced teleportation when light flared. A contorting and leaping violet flame being the first thing her eyes set upon as her vision cleared.

The young woman's brow furrowed as the voices and images played about in her mind, eyes briefly clenched shut. Renewed pain lancing across her side, as if reminding her of the wound. "I'm fine ..." Selena murmured upon feeling Ilia's hand upon her shoulder, shaking her head. "... It's just ... I think I've seen that crest before," she added, voice apparently loud enough to garner their attention.

Ilia hesitated, before motioning the younger girl over to join her father and the mercenary. "If you know something, then please, speak. The sooner this is resolved, the better," the healer sighed, hugging herself as her gaze fell to the floor. Unnerved at the sight of the crest, unlike the amnesiac mage.

Selena bit her lower lip at the healer's words, before sighing. "I only had a brief flash ... It likely is not enough to help, unless something else would cause another," she stated plainly, deep cobalt gaze overshadowed as she halted between her and the two men. Guilt now attacking her eyes, that she had raised their hopes only to crush them. The pale mage audibly sighed, her gaze trained on the crest in Zathrien's hand. Unable to meet their eyes now.

Had she only increased their risk?

[Kaine]

Zathrien had watched the pale girl intently as she spoke. She said what she remembered might not help, but he thought otherwise. If he could coax the memory out, they might have a better idea of what was going on in Ordon Village.

“Miss,” Zathrien said softly, “what did you see in this vision? Was it something to do with this?” He moved the crest closer to her. He narrowed his eyes and watched her reaction intently. Anything she could give could help.

[Moonlight]

The young woman hesitated when Zathrien spoke, before glancing up to have him fully in her sights. The onyx and ruby crest seemingly taunted her, the gemstone eyes of the black skull twinkling in the morning light. "... Yes. I did see the crest," Selena said quietly, wondering where the mercenary was trying to take the subject. "... I doubt I will be of any help without memories, however ..." she added plainly after a moment, more of as a precaution not to expect anything grand in terms of news.

Even so, still trying to tear past the veil secreting her past. Guarding it like much coveted cretin. Which it was.

When the crest moved into the shadows from the traveling light, though, it sparked an instantaneous reaction. Deep cobalt magic suddenly flared at her palms in a defensive manner, though it was quickly quenched out of shock. Fleeting apprehension dancing through the mage's eyes, though she did not know why. The mage shook her head, before concentrating on both the crest and the emotion. Trying to force what caused it out.

"... May I?" she murmured after a moment, stepping forward towards Zathrien. After receiving no motion to stave her off, she lightly extended a hand towards the crest. It was cool to the touch, unyielding. The ruby eyes only continued glimmering, however, as if reaction to her internal magic.

"I've brought the requested mage, Lord Ghavriaxz. Your orders are?" the same masculine voice queried smoothly, an oddly pleasant tone accompanying his voice. Calm, despite the fear that was welling up inside of her. The cold steel against her throat and the burning agony jerking through her arms only reinforcing the emotions.

The flowing violet robes of another were briefly visible out of the corner of her eye, though they quickly vanished to her. Only catching sight of a large onyx and ruby crest, glittering in the odd violet firelight. "Hmm ... She does not appear as ... useful as our master expected ... Take her below. Either cut this magic out of her or kill her. Either will be sufficient."

"So I shall ... Pleasant tidings to your own assignment, Milord."

"Hmph," he snorted, ignoring his underling's comment. "Do not delay yourself, Aaron. Our master wishes this task complete by dawn."

Selena jerked away from the crest as if it had bitten her, throat constricting. What did they want of her? Surely magic was not that rare? Unaware that she was trembling slightly, eyes still trained on the crest.

[Kaine]

Zathrien’s eyes narrowed as the girl resumed her trance. Her lips moved, silently replaying a conversation. As she jerked back into reality, she flinched back from the crest and trembled, still staring at it intently. Zathrien chanced a glance at Bo and Ilia. Both were fixated on the pale girl. He stowed the crest away again and stooped down to look the girl in the eyes.

“Tell me what it was you just heard.” His intense gaze never left her eyes.