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dreamcrystals2023-03-08 04:09 pm
multidisciplinary) wrote in dreamcrystals2023-03-08 04:09 pm
Entry tags:
fourth dream π± another dream of another lost champion
Sender: Zelda
To: All
Subject: Passive dream recording
Warning: Mentions of death
--
The Castletown training yards, a place normally bustling with activity from sunrise to sunset, were uncharacteristically quiet that morning. The yard was set for archery practiceβracks stocked with bows and arrows stood one end, while a row of hay bales painted with targets was lined up at the other. Normally, there would be a unit of Hyrulean soldiers gathered around the racks, testing bow resistance, scrutinizing arrow fletching, and talking amongst themselves about whatever it was soldiers talked about.
But today, the yards were empty, save for the Princess of Hyrule, a contingent of her usual retinue, and the Rito Champion, Revali.
Zelda nervously twisted the grip of the bow, her gaze directed anywhere but her companionβimproper behavior for a princess, who knew she should conduct herself with confidence in the company of others. But Zelda found that difficult to do around Revali. The two had spoken less than a handful of times before King Rhoam tasked Zelda to invite Revali to be a Champion of Hyrule, one who would stand against the prophesied Great Calamity and save the kingdom from destruction. Each time they met, Zelda found Revali's presence intimidating, his gaze scrutinizing, as though he was measuring her worth as the Princess of Hyrule and finding her wanting. He probably saw what everyone in court sawβa silly girl who would rather play at science than carry out her royal duties. Regardless of the truth, that was the reputation Zelda had earned over the years while her sealing power stubbornly refused to manifest.
Nevertheless, they would all need to work together in order to prevent the impending Calamityβthe Champions to pilot the Divine Beasts, a certain reticent knight to wield the sword that seals the darkness, and Zelda, with her divine magic, to command them all. Eventually, the princess would have to get over her intimidation.
"Thank you meeting me here today, Champion Revali," she said, bending forward in a low bow, more deferential than a princess ought to be. "My father will be pleased that you have agreed to his request to instruct me in archery."
"Of course, Princess." Revali, as well, bowed respectfully to Zelda, with the exact level of decorum required of his station. "I hope you will convey my cooperation to King Rhoam when you can."
There was an edge to his tone that seemed to say, 'I have more important things I should be doing right now.' But of course, he wouldn't say such a thing plainly. No one refused a request from the king.
Zelda nodded in response, tightening her grip on her bow. A request from the king was not easily declined, but a request from the princess didn't carry the same weight. Especially when said princess didn't enjoy the same respect in court as her father. That was why she hadn't asked Revali outright for archery lessons herself, but did so under the guise of a request from her father. He didn't need to know the truth.
Fortunately for Zelda, Revali wasn't interested in belaboring the matter of duty to one's sovereign.
"Now, let's get started and not waste any more time," he said. "Why don't you take a few shots at one of the targets so I can assess your current level of skill?"
She nodded again. "Of course."
Revali moved several yards away, giving Zelda ample space to fire the bow (and, thankfully, a reprieve from the pressure of his scrutiny). She withdrew an arrow from the standing quiver and nocked it on the bowstring. A brief glance toward Revali confirmed that he was watchingβwith arms folded and a critical expression on his face, no less. The princess had his full and undivided attention (unfortunately).
Zelda turned back to the target and closed her eyes for a moment, trying to swallow her nervousness. It would be fine. She had done this a dozen times in practice. Just raise the bow and fire the arrow. Zelda opened her eyes and raised her bow, drew back the bowstring as far as she could, then loosed the arrow. It sailed swiftly through the air, then plunked down into the dirt a few feet shy of the target.
"That was... adequate."
Zelda winced, but said nothing. Revali probably had a few other choice words he would have used if his student had been anyone but the Princess of Hyrule.
Pulling another arrow from the quiver, this time Zelda made certain to pull back as hard as she could on the bow string before releasing. The extra force sent the shot sailing past the target and into the tall grass beyond.
There was no comment from Revali this time, so Zelda chanced a glance in his direction as she drew a third arrow. One feathered brow was raised, which he lowered as soon as he caught Zelda's gaze.
Embarrassed, the princess jerked her attention back to hay bale targets and prepared her third shot. Why in the world did she decided to ask for his help? She didn't need to be good at archery; it was just a conduit to focus her divine powers for combat. And as long as those powers stubbornly refused to awaken, any time spent not praying was a waste anyway.
But it was precisely that reason that drove her. If she couldn't awaken her powers, maybe she could be useful in another way.
Zelda's third found its mark and thunked into the outermost edge of the hay bale target, as did a fourth and a fifth. From the sidelines, a few of the princess's retainers cheered as her arrows landed. With each hit, a little bud of confidence blossomed in Zelda's chest. The tension left her brow and her lips curled into a smile. 'See?' she wanted to say. 'I'm not completely hopeless.'
She was nocking a sixth arrow when Revali interrupted her. "All right, I've seen enough."
The confidence drained from Zelda's countenance, just as quickly as it had appeared. She returned the arrow to the quiver as Revali approached her.
"No, no, show me your stance," he instructed.
Zelda retrieved the arrow once more and nocked it, raising her arms into position but not drawing back on the bowstring. For a long minute, she held still as possible while Revali studied her posture, muttering under his breath. She made sure to keep her eyes locked on the hay bale target, lest she catch a glimpse of disappointment in his eyes.
"Raise your arms."
Zelda obeyed.
"Higher."
She raised them higher.
"Drop your shoulders."
She tried.
Revali huffed impatiently. "Here, let me."
Without even asking her permission, Revali grabbed Zelda's arms and moved them to the correct angle. He then pressed down on her shoulders, nudged her foot with his until she widened her stance, then corrected the position of her arms one more time. She continued to keep her eyes on the hay bales, holding as still as possible. The entire reason she had asked Revali for his help was because he was the best. It was to be expected that he would scrutinize her every mistake, down to the most miniscule.
But that didn't mean she had expected him to be so brusque about it.
"There." Satisfied, Revali stepped back a few paces. "Now, fire."
Careful not to move out of the position he had placed her in, Zelda drew back the bowstring and released her arrow. The bolt shot through the air and struck the target cleanly in the second ring. Zelda's eyes lit up.
"Much better."
She glanced his way and saw his beak curved up in a satisfied smile. The feeling of intimidation that had been sitting in her chest all this time started to shrink.
"Although that should have been a perfect bullseye."
Her smile faltered.
Revali approached Zelda again and snatched the bow out of her hands. "What is this ridiculous thing you're using?" He gripped her bow and tugged on the string experimentally, testing the bow's flexibility. "This is too stiff. No wonder your draw is so poor." He released the string and held the bow up close to his face. "Just how much gold did they use in this? I thought it was just decorative, but it's structural. This is more like the work of a goldsmith than a bowyer."
With a scoff, Revali tossed the bow in the direction of Zelda's attendants. One of them scurried forward and grabbed it off the ground, as though it might become irreparably damaged by a little dirt. Zelda looked on with worry. Her father had commissioned that bow specially for her, with a design befitting the Princess of Hyrule. And yet here was the Champion of the Rito tribe, regarding it like rubbish.
"Even bokoblins have the sense to make their bows out of a material that's supple." Revali headed in the direction of the bow racks. Zelda hurried after.
Once again, he scrutinized the options before him, making thoughtful noises at some and disapproving ones at others. He tested the draw on several different types of bows, tossing each one aside with disappointment, until he finally settled on a Sheikah bow.
"Try this." Revali handed the bow to Zelda. "It's a Phrenic bow, a Sheikah design. Sheikah bows tend to be light and flexible, so it should be easier for someone of your strength to draw. Normally I'd recommend a Rito design, but I'm afraid even the Swallow bow would be too much for you."
As she accepted the bow, Zelda expected Revali to be disappointed, but he was actually smiling at her. Not a gentle smile, per say, but the self-satisfied grin of someone confident that his decision was about to bear fruit.
And he had every right to be smug. When Zelda returned to her place again before the targets, she found herself easily able to draw the string on the Phrenic bow as far as she needed. Her first shot struck its mark in the innermost circle of the target.
"There. You're a natural."
--
The memory (because it was much more a memory than a real dream) fades away and reveals the dreamscape. Zelda, garbed in the tattered ritual dress she's been wearing since the day of the Calamity, stands aboard Divine Beast Vah Medoh. The hum of its motors is audible as it soars through the sky, the kingdom of Hyrule spreading out below it. The sun is setting behind Zelda, its colors striking across the landscape and setting it ablaze in red and orange. At the edge of the eastern horizon is Hyrule Castle, gray stones bleached in the burning sunset.
Revali stands at the Princess's side, his gaze also directed at the castle. Wisps of ominous wine-colored clouds circle the keep and a rumble like thunder emanates from it. Calamity Ganon, the very monster he and the other Champions died trying to stop.
The pair stand silently together, watching the sun as it sets on the kingdom they both sacrificed their lives for.
"You didn't fail," he finally says, unprompted.
Zelda, her eyes overflowing with tears, turns her gaze from her former home to the spirit of her dead friend. Instead of the stern or exasperated expression she's accustomed to seeing, Revali looks on her with sympathy, his eyes uncharacteristically soft.
"You just weren't given the right tools to succeed."
Nighttime closes in around Vah Medoh and the dream ends.
--
Back in her bed, Zelda opens her eyes. Her cheeks are wet with tears.
To: All
Subject: Passive dream recording
Warning: Mentions of death
--
The Castletown training yards, a place normally bustling with activity from sunrise to sunset, were uncharacteristically quiet that morning. The yard was set for archery practiceβracks stocked with bows and arrows stood one end, while a row of hay bales painted with targets was lined up at the other. Normally, there would be a unit of Hyrulean soldiers gathered around the racks, testing bow resistance, scrutinizing arrow fletching, and talking amongst themselves about whatever it was soldiers talked about.
But today, the yards were empty, save for the Princess of Hyrule, a contingent of her usual retinue, and the Rito Champion, Revali.
Zelda nervously twisted the grip of the bow, her gaze directed anywhere but her companionβimproper behavior for a princess, who knew she should conduct herself with confidence in the company of others. But Zelda found that difficult to do around Revali. The two had spoken less than a handful of times before King Rhoam tasked Zelda to invite Revali to be a Champion of Hyrule, one who would stand against the prophesied Great Calamity and save the kingdom from destruction. Each time they met, Zelda found Revali's presence intimidating, his gaze scrutinizing, as though he was measuring her worth as the Princess of Hyrule and finding her wanting. He probably saw what everyone in court sawβa silly girl who would rather play at science than carry out her royal duties. Regardless of the truth, that was the reputation Zelda had earned over the years while her sealing power stubbornly refused to manifest.
Nevertheless, they would all need to work together in order to prevent the impending Calamityβthe Champions to pilot the Divine Beasts, a certain reticent knight to wield the sword that seals the darkness, and Zelda, with her divine magic, to command them all. Eventually, the princess would have to get over her intimidation.
"Thank you meeting me here today, Champion Revali," she said, bending forward in a low bow, more deferential than a princess ought to be. "My father will be pleased that you have agreed to his request to instruct me in archery."
"Of course, Princess." Revali, as well, bowed respectfully to Zelda, with the exact level of decorum required of his station. "I hope you will convey my cooperation to King Rhoam when you can."
There was an edge to his tone that seemed to say, 'I have more important things I should be doing right now.' But of course, he wouldn't say such a thing plainly. No one refused a request from the king.
Zelda nodded in response, tightening her grip on her bow. A request from the king was not easily declined, but a request from the princess didn't carry the same weight. Especially when said princess didn't enjoy the same respect in court as her father. That was why she hadn't asked Revali outright for archery lessons herself, but did so under the guise of a request from her father. He didn't need to know the truth.
Fortunately for Zelda, Revali wasn't interested in belaboring the matter of duty to one's sovereign.
"Now, let's get started and not waste any more time," he said. "Why don't you take a few shots at one of the targets so I can assess your current level of skill?"
She nodded again. "Of course."
Revali moved several yards away, giving Zelda ample space to fire the bow (and, thankfully, a reprieve from the pressure of his scrutiny). She withdrew an arrow from the standing quiver and nocked it on the bowstring. A brief glance toward Revali confirmed that he was watchingβwith arms folded and a critical expression on his face, no less. The princess had his full and undivided attention (unfortunately).
Zelda turned back to the target and closed her eyes for a moment, trying to swallow her nervousness. It would be fine. She had done this a dozen times in practice. Just raise the bow and fire the arrow. Zelda opened her eyes and raised her bow, drew back the bowstring as far as she could, then loosed the arrow. It sailed swiftly through the air, then plunked down into the dirt a few feet shy of the target.
"That was... adequate."
Zelda winced, but said nothing. Revali probably had a few other choice words he would have used if his student had been anyone but the Princess of Hyrule.
Pulling another arrow from the quiver, this time Zelda made certain to pull back as hard as she could on the bow string before releasing. The extra force sent the shot sailing past the target and into the tall grass beyond.
There was no comment from Revali this time, so Zelda chanced a glance in his direction as she drew a third arrow. One feathered brow was raised, which he lowered as soon as he caught Zelda's gaze.
Embarrassed, the princess jerked her attention back to hay bale targets and prepared her third shot. Why in the world did she decided to ask for his help? She didn't need to be good at archery; it was just a conduit to focus her divine powers for combat. And as long as those powers stubbornly refused to awaken, any time spent not praying was a waste anyway.
But it was precisely that reason that drove her. If she couldn't awaken her powers, maybe she could be useful in another way.
Zelda's third found its mark and thunked into the outermost edge of the hay bale target, as did a fourth and a fifth. From the sidelines, a few of the princess's retainers cheered as her arrows landed. With each hit, a little bud of confidence blossomed in Zelda's chest. The tension left her brow and her lips curled into a smile. 'See?' she wanted to say. 'I'm not completely hopeless.'
She was nocking a sixth arrow when Revali interrupted her. "All right, I've seen enough."
The confidence drained from Zelda's countenance, just as quickly as it had appeared. She returned the arrow to the quiver as Revali approached her.
"No, no, show me your stance," he instructed.
Zelda retrieved the arrow once more and nocked it, raising her arms into position but not drawing back on the bowstring. For a long minute, she held still as possible while Revali studied her posture, muttering under his breath. She made sure to keep her eyes locked on the hay bale target, lest she catch a glimpse of disappointment in his eyes.
"Raise your arms."
Zelda obeyed.
"Higher."
She raised them higher.
"Drop your shoulders."
She tried.
Revali huffed impatiently. "Here, let me."
Without even asking her permission, Revali grabbed Zelda's arms and moved them to the correct angle. He then pressed down on her shoulders, nudged her foot with his until she widened her stance, then corrected the position of her arms one more time. She continued to keep her eyes on the hay bales, holding as still as possible. The entire reason she had asked Revali for his help was because he was the best. It was to be expected that he would scrutinize her every mistake, down to the most miniscule.
But that didn't mean she had expected him to be so brusque about it.
"There." Satisfied, Revali stepped back a few paces. "Now, fire."
Careful not to move out of the position he had placed her in, Zelda drew back the bowstring and released her arrow. The bolt shot through the air and struck the target cleanly in the second ring. Zelda's eyes lit up.
"Much better."
She glanced his way and saw his beak curved up in a satisfied smile. The feeling of intimidation that had been sitting in her chest all this time started to shrink.
"Although that should have been a perfect bullseye."
Her smile faltered.
Revali approached Zelda again and snatched the bow out of her hands. "What is this ridiculous thing you're using?" He gripped her bow and tugged on the string experimentally, testing the bow's flexibility. "This is too stiff. No wonder your draw is so poor." He released the string and held the bow up close to his face. "Just how much gold did they use in this? I thought it was just decorative, but it's structural. This is more like the work of a goldsmith than a bowyer."
With a scoff, Revali tossed the bow in the direction of Zelda's attendants. One of them scurried forward and grabbed it off the ground, as though it might become irreparably damaged by a little dirt. Zelda looked on with worry. Her father had commissioned that bow specially for her, with a design befitting the Princess of Hyrule. And yet here was the Champion of the Rito tribe, regarding it like rubbish.
"Even bokoblins have the sense to make their bows out of a material that's supple." Revali headed in the direction of the bow racks. Zelda hurried after.
Once again, he scrutinized the options before him, making thoughtful noises at some and disapproving ones at others. He tested the draw on several different types of bows, tossing each one aside with disappointment, until he finally settled on a Sheikah bow.
"Try this." Revali handed the bow to Zelda. "It's a Phrenic bow, a Sheikah design. Sheikah bows tend to be light and flexible, so it should be easier for someone of your strength to draw. Normally I'd recommend a Rito design, but I'm afraid even the Swallow bow would be too much for you."
As she accepted the bow, Zelda expected Revali to be disappointed, but he was actually smiling at her. Not a gentle smile, per say, but the self-satisfied grin of someone confident that his decision was about to bear fruit.
And he had every right to be smug. When Zelda returned to her place again before the targets, she found herself easily able to draw the string on the Phrenic bow as far as she needed. Her first shot struck its mark in the innermost circle of the target.
"There. You're a natural."
--
The memory (because it was much more a memory than a real dream) fades away and reveals the dreamscape. Zelda, garbed in the tattered ritual dress she's been wearing since the day of the Calamity, stands aboard Divine Beast Vah Medoh. The hum of its motors is audible as it soars through the sky, the kingdom of Hyrule spreading out below it. The sun is setting behind Zelda, its colors striking across the landscape and setting it ablaze in red and orange. At the edge of the eastern horizon is Hyrule Castle, gray stones bleached in the burning sunset.
Revali stands at the Princess's side, his gaze also directed at the castle. Wisps of ominous wine-colored clouds circle the keep and a rumble like thunder emanates from it. Calamity Ganon, the very monster he and the other Champions died trying to stop.
The pair stand silently together, watching the sun as it sets on the kingdom they both sacrificed their lives for.
"You didn't fail," he finally says, unprompted.
Zelda, her eyes overflowing with tears, turns her gaze from her former home to the spirit of her dead friend. Instead of the stern or exasperated expression she's accustomed to seeing, Revali looks on her with sympathy, his eyes uncharacteristically soft.
"You just weren't given the right tools to succeed."
Nighttime closes in around Vah Medoh and the dream ends.
--
Back in her bed, Zelda opens her eyes. Her cheeks are wet with tears.
no subject
And just like that the dream shifted to something more alarming. He was silent for a while before sending her a journal message.]
That was a beautiful bow you had. Mayhap not the best tool to use, but well-crafted all the same.
[And then there was a pause for a moment or two before more handwriting showed up in the journal.]
would you perhaps be interested in some tea or coffee?
[Asking if she was alright seemed silly, after all. Mayhap he could at least comfort her?]
no subject
Wiping her cheeks with her blanket, Zelda picks up her journal with the intent to simply leaf through it until she is tired enough to fall back to sleep. Before she so much as turns the page, G'raha's familiar penmanship appears before her. Ah, so this dream of a memory was shared. ]
Good evening, G'raha. Or is it 'good morning?'
[ Zelda is tempted to apologize for waking him with her dream and declining his invitation, but decides against it. She actually does feel like talking. ]
A cup of coffee would be wonderful right about now.
no subject
Where would you like to meet? Alternatively, I could brew us up some as well if you would prefer that.
[And probably with more privacy, though his coffee that he had was likely not as good as some you might find at Wild Harvest or anything of the sort.]
no subject
As long as I will not be disturbing Madhuri, I would rather prefer your own home brew this time.
[ Surely G'raha isn't too bad at making coffee. He's been with Madhuri for awhile now; surely some of her culinary skills have rubbed off on him. ]
no subject
[Luckily for Zelda, his coffee isn't bad. Sending her directions...]
If you're comfortable with using the revenytes, there's one outside of our home. That would be the fastest way.
[It was mostly there for testing purposes when it was in beginning stages, but it was handy to have.]
journal -> action
That is most convenient. You can expect me within the next fifteen minutes, then.
[ It's just long enough for Zelda to put on something presentable and brush her hair, but not to get completely ready for the day. She's too tired to put her hair up in its usual braid crown.
So it'll be just shy of fifteen minutes when Zelda materializes outside of G'raha and Madhuri's home and knocks on their door. ]
no subject
With the new face, Inei perked it's head up, hopping down from the couch to also greet the new friend. Though startled at the sudden movement, Doga remained parked on its portion of the couch.]
Come on in. The coffee hold be done shortly.
no subject
[ Zelda dips her head in greeting as G'raha invites her inside. She manages to hold back a yawn until after he turns around again. It's rude to yawn in someone's face.
As she looks around the cozy home, a bright, glimmering creature approaches her. How beautiful! And something about it seems familiar. Zelda crouches down and holds out her hand for Inei to inspect. ]
Good morning, little one.
no subject
It's nothing special, but I hope it'll suffice.
no subject
Upon seeing G'raha return with the promised coffee, Zelda pushes herself upright and heads to the table. She helps herself to cream and sugar until her drink is as light in color as her skin. She takes a seat at the table and takes a long, deep breath, inhaling the scent of fresh coffee. ]
It smells wonderful.
Thank you, truly, for allowing my intrusion at this hour. It ... has been some time since I've had a dream of home.
no subject
'Tis no trouble at all. Full glad am I to extend the invitation. This person seemed important to you.
no subject
He was, yes. [ She curls her hands around her cup. ] Revali was one of the Champions of Hyrule, our greatest warriors hand-selected by my father to protect the kingdom against the return of Calamity Ganon. He was the most skilled archer among the Rito and... well, he knew it.
[ To say the least. ]
no subject
His teaching methods could have been more gentle, but I can absolutely see his skill in the little bit that I saw.
[But the mention of a calamity stuck out the most in her comment.]
If you don't mind my asking, what is this calamity that you speak of?
no subject
Ah, but the Calamity. Zelda's expression turns melancholy, her smile a little smaller. ]
In my kingdom, there was once a great evil called Calamity Ganon. Although we call it by a name as though it were a being, it is more of... pure hatred given form. It was sealed away 10,000 years ago, but prophesized that it would return during my father's lifetime. Heβwe tried everything to prepare for its revival and protect Hyrule. We discovered ancient machines that had been used against it 10,000 years ago and called on our greatest warriors to pilot them. But all of our preparations were ultimately for naught and Hyrule was destroyed.
no subject