Chapter Text
“Ah yes, thank you all for coming. As much as I love the lecture hall, there’s something much more fun about hands-on experience, don’t you think? Besides, I think we all like some fresh air instead of listening to my hot air all the time.” There was some polite laughter as Professor Gaepora thoroughly enjoyed his own joke too much. “I believe it’s important to begin the semester with a good overview of everything we’ll cover in this class, and nowhere is better than the Hyrule Archives! …and not just because I’m the director.”
You rolled your eyes. It wasn’t the first time you’d heard his jokes, and it wouldn’t be the last, considering he was your father. The class shuffled through the entry, past statues depicting the rulers of days past. Of course, at the entrance was Zelda the Luminary, founder of the University of Hyrule, holding an eternal blue flame in her hand to “light the path to wisdom” for all students.
Being at the University was a treat in itself, let alone the Archives. It was the oldest learning institution in Hyrule, said to have been established after the Calamity by the aforementioned Zelda – people stopped attempting to count which Zelda she was by that point. It was highly exclusive to the best and brightest – or the richest. Classes were small. Even this gen-ed class, HIS-103 “Hyrule Historia: Age of Legends”, had only about thirty students.
As much as you hated the feeling of using your father’s privilege to get into the University of Hyrule, it was hard to resist, considering it was the best place to study history in the country. It didn’t hurt that it meant working in the Archives, somewhere that you’d practically considered home since you were a baby. It also didn’t hurt that both the Archives and University were housed in the former castle of the royal family. Being around all of this history was like a drug to an inquiring mind like yours, something you imagined you shared with the school’s founder.
As Professor Gaepora’s introduction continued, you decided to let your mind wander. You strolled past cases of artifacts, such as a strange brass beetle, a pair of winged boots, a cane said to make blocks appear, and a jar said to generate wind. You stopped next to a case filled with Goron-made items, including an oversized rusting sword. “Think they used this to inspire the weapons in TriFighters?”
Your friend Corbus nodded. “Definitely, but I doubt this one shoots energy beams.” Corbus was a Goron himself and a brilliant engineering student. The two of you had bonded early on over your love of games like the popular tournament brawler TriFighters and various comics. Even today, Corbus wore a worn T-shirt of his favorite anime, Kaito Keaton, the Midnight Thief. “Maybe that’s what I’ll do my paper on, the inspiration for the game!”
“Ne-e-e-erds,” your other friend Avil said, resting his chin on your head. He clearly inherited the Gerudo height gene, towering over you, despite his usual slouch. Despite his teasing, Avil was just as much as a nerd as you and Corbus, making fast friends since the two of you would often help him figure out coding bugs in his programs. The two of you were also his biggest support during his transition. Despite Avil’s loose, billowy clothing and rail-thin build, he was also an athlete – often trying to get you and Corbus to join his workouts to little success. “Don’t you wanna do something a bit more exciting than that?”
“Like what? And get off my head, your chin hurts!”
Avil laughed. “Wouldn’t it be more fun to study the inspirations for monsters from the Legend of Saria?”
“Class, if we could gather over here a moment? I know you’re all excited to delve into the mysteries of the past,” Professor Gaepora chuckled. Most of the class didn’t sound all that excited as they all gathered around him.
“Ancient texts and legends often describe a curse and a cycle of reincarnation, sometimes called the Curse of Demise, where an evil would arise in Hyrule, only to be defeated by a hero and a member of the royal family. We believe these curses were stories told to explain natural disasters, which led to Hyrule’s technological stagnation for centuries. The last of these popular legends ends with the final defeat of the Demon King and thus breaking the supposed curse on the land and ushering in a golden era. Whether it’s true or not is fun to imagine, but we can’t deny that after the destruction of the Demon King, Hyrule flourished and underwent the industrial revolution that led us to the comforts we enjoy today.” Professor Gaepora paused to gesture to the many exhibits. “As you know, the legends are important parts of our culture. To start familiarizing yourself with them, you will be preparing a paper on one legend or topic and its impact to the modern world.”
One girl, named Romani, sighed next to you. “Ugh, where do you even start, there’s hundreds of these.”
“Maybe I’ll do the legends of the animal spirits?” Her friend Ilia wondered aloud.
You noticed someone sidled up next to you. “So, you got a topic yet?” Ivan asked, wearing his trademark newsboy cap and smug grin. His fellow fraternity cronies backed him up. “Maybe we can turn it into a partner project?”
“I’m not gonna do all the work for you Ivan.” Ivan frowned, but you could tell it was more based on the person who now stood behind you. You turned around to the bulky red Rito and his rival frat bros. “That goes for you too, Groose.”
“Aww c’mon don’t wanna give me a try?” The big guy waggled his eyebrows.
“No, because I think the homoerotic tension between your gang and Ivan’s gang would make me feel like a third wheel.”
“What?!” Groose and Ivan both blurted out. You walked away as they spluttered. Any attempted flirting from those two was always just for an easy grade anyway. Instead, your eyes wandered over to the one guy you’d help in a heartbeat.
You sighed, looking over at Link. He just seemed so perfect… hair like gold and eyes like sapphires. He was the strong silent type, but you lived for every time he smiled, and the mask slipped ever so slightly. He was also the best out there when it came to sports, especially the Knight Games. While your country’s obsession with its medieval past was a little strange, you had to admit watching the swordfights and impressive obstacle runs was fun. Link was a star, possibly the best in a generation at them. If only you could work up the courage to talk to him and ask him out…
“Oh Link! There you are!”
Oh, and there was the little problem of him currently dating your cousin.
To say Zelda was popular was an understatement. Zelda seemingly had her hands in fifty extracurricular activities at any given time; you swore she had to be cloning herself somehow. Her side of the family was filthy rich. She always had the newest fashions, tech, anything. You swore what she was wearing today was imported directly from Hytopia, probably taken off the model who wore it yesterday. Worst of all, you couldn’t be mad at her for being some kind of snob or general mean girl. She was nice – sort of, terms and conditions apply. She seemed to always know when something was bothering someone and always managed to turn up at the right times to lend a helping hand. She was untouchable, impossible to hate. Which, of course, only made it worse to see her with the man of your dreams. The weird part was that around you, she seemed to run hot and cold. Back before high school, the two of you were inseparable, but then she seemed to be pushing you away as she drifted towards Link. She was perfectly cordial to you now, but it really felt like it was out of obligation.
Instead of facing them, you decided to peel off from the group and clear your head, almost running smack into another student.
“Oh sorry! I’m so clumsy,” the professionally dressed upperclassman said. She straightened her glasses that made her red eyes seem even brighter. Despite being the top of the business degree program, she always seemed to have her head in the clouds. This was especially apparent when, as your dorm RA, she tended to constantly forget her popcorn in the microwave.
“No problem, Impa,” you said. “I didn’t know you were taking a history class.”
“I’m not,” she said, straightening her papers. “It’s a paper I’m doing on leadership styles. So hard trying to navigate all the changes in court politics… Wish I had someone who was an expert to help me…”
You groaned internally, but to be fair you did owe her a favor. “If you want, I can help you a bit tomorrow. I’ve already narrowed down my topic on my paper, and I practically live in here anyway.”
“It’s not too much trouble?”
“Consider it a thanks for fixing that mess with the dorm shower and tearing that plumber a new one.” Thank the goddesses for that new water heater.
“Oh, you’re the best, thanks!” Impa said, giving you a quick hug before dashing off again. All you could do was shake your head and continue on your walk.
You stared out of the windows of what used to be the Dining Hall. Castle City spread out for miles in all directions. The towering skyscrapers, impressive as they were, still were lower than the spires of the castle. It made you wonder what it must’ve been like to live in the castle in its heyday.
“Hey.”
You jumped, spinning around to see Link. He stared at you, hands in his pockets. “Uh, hi!”
“Hey,” he said again. “You know where the exhibit on monsters is?”
“Oh… uh, yeah. I’ll show you!” You led the way, while Link followed, hands still stuffed in his pockets. “So… monsters are pretty cool! No one has seen any real monsters around here for a while, not since after the whole Demon King thing at least. A lot of people say they don’t really exist, more just things to scare little kids, but they really did! Well, maybe not all of them, some of them do sound pretty silly.” You laughed nervously, as Link simply followed you silently. You led the way past a wall filled with magical rods and staves from the well-known Fire Rod to the mysterious Tri Rod. “Um, I think some would be cool to see though, like Lynels sound so cool – super deadly but cool, y’know? I was always scared of Dead Hands though, I got so many nightmares after reading about those! Did any stories scare you when you were a kid?”
Link gave you a slow blink and simply shrugged. The silence was almost stifling. “Uh, yeah…” you continued, as you rounded the corner towards another room with a carved dragon. “Dragons were probably the rarest you know,” your mouth running away from you again. “We really don’t know a ton about them, considering there’s so many depictions from Aquamentus to Valoo to the Zonai cults, but they’re basically the kings of monsters, if you ask me. Kinda appropriate since once of our kings was literally called the Dragon King, right?” All too soon, you found yourself at the entrance of the monster exhibit.
Link gave you a nod. “Thanks.” He slowly strode away, giving you one final look. You waved awkwardly as he walked around the corner.
Once he was out of sight and earshot, you wanted to rip your hair out. “Ugh, why did I ramble so much! He probably thinks I’m some kind of know-it-all!”
“There’s a difference between being a know-it-all and trying to teach,” came a voice. You looked up to see your father. “Now what has you in a tizzy?”
“It’s nothing, really.”
Your father followed your line of sight towards Link. His bushy eyebrows rose. “Ahh… I see. Sometimes it’s hard to find the courage. Why, I remember when I first saw your mother, I was stunned – stunned I tell you! I fell straight into the fountain! She came back to help me pick up my sopping books and notes. I could hardly string together a thank you.”
“Thanks for the words of encouragement,” you said, “But Dad… he’s already dating someone else. Zelda?”
He shrugged. “Is he? The way he walks around her, you could’ve fooled me.”
“You’re just saying that.”
“Don’t worry son, things have a funny way of working themselves out.”