Rivan

Waking of Saturday, March 11, 2017 ~ 7

Rivan

The road to Zora’s Domain was the longest and most dangerous I had encountered yet. But I did make it to the top.

Near the end I found a couple of large stone tablets bearing records of ancient deeds—the first recounting one Zora King’s triumph against a Guardian that no other Zora soldier could best.

The second was very worn down, and told of the Ancient Hero’s defeat of.... something that was always missing some letters due to time and erosion.

Had I done something?

The first time I saw the word, I could only make out the first and last letters—both L’s—Ah, “Lizal”, perhaps? It would make sense with all the Lizalfos around.

But at the next encounter of that word, the second letter was Y, not I. And I think the one before the final L was an E.

Oh no.

I think I might know what Joseph’s centaurs might be.

I have never played a game wherein I had to fight one. But....

It seems they are powerful but I must not be daunted.

I must remember my old self.

I made it to the top. David asked if that were Minas Morgul. “See the glowing walls?” he said.

“Yes. That is Minas Morgul,” I said, and continued on.

At the far end of the final long bridge, Prince Sidon met me, grin still flashing and eyes still burning and strength still exuding from his royal person. He said it was time to meet his father, and to come this way—

I would.

At a walk.

The road had been long.

Two Zora guards were the first people I encountered. The one on the right seemed.... piqued by my appearance. “Hmm?” I heard him murmur. And when I turned to him— “MASTER LINK!” he shouted, “It’s me! Rivan! We used to swim together when I was but a child!”

Oh my, this was—

But I didn’t recognize him.

He conceded that.... perhaps that was understandable, given that it had been a hundred years. “Come to think of it,” he continued, “shouldn’t you be dead?” And then he backtracked murmuring something about perhaps that question being too personal for a Hylian....

His son, the other guard, reminded him they were on duty.

This.... Rivan.... He said he was now a hundred and thirty years old....

How long do Zora live?

Oh I wished I could stay and talk to him, but....

Farther on there was a fountain with a statue of what I learned to be Lady Mipha, who once controlled the Divine Beast Vah Ruta. The personal secretary of the Zora King told me this—I don’t remember her name.

She told me Mipha’s skill at healing the wounded had been unparalleled, and that all the aged soldiers who had fought by her side so loved and revered her above all others.

Lady Mipha.... someone I had known....

I was running out of juice.

I just needed to keep following that orange glow just ahead....

I made it to the shrine, went inside, was you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me’d by the goings-on inside, solved it all anyhow, received the Spirit Orb....

And saved.