Chapter Text
Act II
Prologue
Rhythmic music and clapping filled the empty stillness of the night.
Lanterns and candles held back the darkness as the townsfolk gathered ‘round the caravan. A “traveling theater” run by the Gerudo known as Din had stopped by for the night. Tables and chairs were hurried to the campsite as children danced along to the music. The main performance hadn’t even begun and yet the crowd was filled with energy.
The crowd eagerly sat down as the performance was set to begin. Excited chattering whispered amongst them as Din stepped out onto the stage. In the back of the crowd an older man watched with feigned interest. He wasn’t here for the dancing or the music, no, he was here for something far more important than festivities. A few moments later, another man, taller and much younger than him, sat down next to the old man.
“Maras,” the old man spoke quietly, adjusting the round framed glasses he wore. “I’m glad to see you alive and well after your trip to Labrynna, I do hope it wasn’t… Troublesome.”
“Not at all Professor,” Maras answered, fiddling with the collar of his blue shirt. “Mayor Plenn listened to me after some… Negotiations.”
The Professor nodded, pleased with the answer.
“Now can you explain why you’ve got me out here outside of some nobody village in the middle of nowhere?” Maras continued. “It was a massive pain to even find this place.”
The Professor pointed to the stage. On it was a pair dancing as several others flanking the stage were hamming away on stringed instruments or single drums. One person even had a cymbal of sorts. The two dancing were an odd pair, one was rather tall with her hair tied high in a ponytail making her crimson hair seemingly dance like flames as she moved. The golden bracelets she, Din, wore glittered in the lantern lights, creating a small show of light on her wrists.
Her dancing partner wasn’t anything like her. He was short, even for a Hylian, and was wearing mostly forest green that contrasted with Din’s red and black. He, too, wore a golden bracelet, but only one and it had a blue gemstone embedded into it. Din and the Hylian locked in a dance with each other, clearly enjoying themselves as the crowd clapped along to the beat of the and cheered them on.
“The Gerudo?” Maras asked. “What’s so special about her?”
“Not her,” corrected the Professor. “The person she’s dancing with. That is our main issue.”
“Is that…” Maras squinted his brown eyes. “Is that Link ?”
“Indeed,” the Professor confirmed with a grim tone. “The hero Link. The one and only. He’s the reason you had to deal with Mayor Plenn, the reason that Veran failed, and the reason that our investigation of the new threat has been so… Unfulfilling.”
“Is he going to be a problem? He’s the only reason that Ganon died after all.”
“No,” the Professor shook his head. “We don’t need him, we’ve got a better solution, and besides. What did Raven used to say? Haven’t I told you?”
Maras sighed, having heard it many times.
“ We beat back Ganon with nothing more than common steel and common prayer .”
“Exactly,” the Professor nodded. “Hyrule doesn’t need him anymore.” He gestured to Link, still dancing on stage. “Especially not when we find the source of power that Silus manically wrote about. We’re this close, Maras, this close.”
Another sigh from the man.
“Where is it?”
The Professor looked down at his folded hands. “Not sure exactly, but it’s not on the mainland, our next best bet is on one of the islands out at sea, but that can take years. But I’ve got a few good captains out looking, which is why you’re here.”
Maras leaned back in his seat. “I’m all ears.”
The Professor dug in his pocket and pulled out an envelope and a dagger.
“You're going to head to Hytopia with these forged documents and cause some trouble. Damage their textile industry, cripple that and their economy will crumble in no time. Eventually they’ll call for aid, make sure you intercept the message and place a request for Link.” He slid the envelope and dagger across the table.
“While Link is off doing his hero work, and getting everyone’s eyes on him. Break into the treasury and steal whatever you can.”
Maras gave a few nods before placing the items into a small leather backpack. “Any reason why Hytopia?”
“They’re rich,” the Professor laughed. “Not as rich as Hyrule, but plenty wealthy. We can’t keep siphoning money from the royal treasury here anymore. If the Princess were to find out about our… Shady practices then…” He titled his head over to the stage.
“I’d rather not find out what the Master Sword does to Hylian flesh.”
“Point taken,” Maras held back a laugh. “I guess I’ll take my leave then. I’ll write to you soon, Professor.”
He nodded again, eyes glued to the stage. “Do be safe Maras, I’ll make sure to have Octavian do his patrols down south by the border. Malzel can handle the unsightly beasts that pop up by Snowpeak.”
“Alright, take care Professor.” Maras patted the old Professor on the shoulder before leaving.
With Maras gone, the Professor kept his eyes trained on Link as a soft feeling of nostalgia overcame him… It wasn’t too long ago that he helped cure the sickly, dying boy that Aflon adopted. Abandoned by his own parents, and separated from his twin sister. A tragedy, really, but the Professor saw it as something else.
Proof that Hyrule didn’t need the Hero.