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Whats your method for transcribing music from BotW? And, while I'm at it, whats your method for composing?
oh?? Oh??? OH??? Questions about music? Questions about composing for Kip?? You know not what waters you have just unleashed.Â
Ok so for the first question, I just transcribe based on the internet, and just by listening to the soundtrack by ear. I kinda just stitch together the melody based on sheet music on musescore, and covers on youtube, and I just kinda see how those versions are composed and then based on that I craft how I want the music to sound on my own version.Â
I have this decade old Yamaha DGX640 keyboard that only has five song slots so the most I can(know how to) do is record one two-handed harmony and use my phone to record me playing the melody on top of that. But itâs kinda tedious and the botw songs are usually easy enough to play with just two hands anyhow so I really only use that method when I wanna be fancy. I have a habit of just using left to play arpeggios and by then the music usually sounds full enough. (cough cough that Rito Village one cough cough) So yeah itâs basically a method of studying the basic material online and then making up and crafting whatever stuff sounds nice around it
As for the original comps, well theyâre all usually based on some botw concept (as Iâm guessing most of the ones youâve all seen are just the oc themes lol) so I do one of two methods. The first method is I take the key signature of a botw melody that is related to the thing Iâm composing for, then I fuck around on a keyboard until I have a melody I think sounds cool. USUALLY I make it on a typical build to coda/climax thing, but the example Iâm using is an exception (cause it was my first draft and all I did was repeat the first half with additional harmony)
Ok so I take the key signature, I craft my original part of the music, and then based on the âstoryâ I want to tell, I fuse in a bit of the botw bits within âlowsâ of the song. So in Zimiriâs Theme for example, I had this certain segment of Kassâ Theme that I liked, so I started based on that key signature. Then I just completely forget about botw while I compose the parts for my character. So Zimiri is a Sheikah poet for the royal family, and also a bard, so I made his theme in 3 to give it that waltz feel. The Eflat key has that...idk the technical term, but it just has that vibe of kindness and serenity and wisdom which is what Iâm going for in his character. Now, Zimiri also has a crush on Zelda, but he knows thatâs unrequited and heâs mostly ok with that, but that doesnât stop him from at least dreaming of some unreality where he could dance with her under the stars (uh fic spoilers I guesss). Hence, his main melody, (0:10) the half note Eflat to D to Bflat, is of the same beat pattern of Zeldaâs lullaby. And then, uh character arc spoilers! The story Iâve constructed for Zimiri is basically this idea that he comes to understand this battle between what he wants and what he knows he needs to do. He has a harmless crush on Zelda, but he knows he needs to respect her and do what he can as her friend during these rough times. [I mention Zelda a lot but I swear thatâs only like 7% of his character] He recognizes that Adello and Revali and a bit of Link, they all want to [REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED] but he tries to push them to be more [REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED], even if that isnât always successful. Heâs mostly a static character, that recognizes what other people want, but wants to help them be better through what they need, which is an ironic trait since itâs a bit contradictory to his whimsical and almost naive cinnamon bun personality as a bard. But thatâs like his main thing, you see like, he wants nothing more than to be the hero of the story and to wield a sword and save everyone, and while its OK to dream that, he still is content and fills his role as support, as the âharmony,â the background to the melody if you will. So THAT is why, the song is crafted where itâs grounded into his main melody, those three notes, the halfnote Eflat, to D to Bflat, and while the song ascends and seems to dance in the stars and the harmony (wink wink parallels) rises and becomes more prominent over the course of the song, it ultimately always Always comes back down to those three main notes. Itâs like a dream that will eventually fade back into reality. The whole song is an ascension to those higher, magical notes in the âstars,â that comes back down to the essentials of Zimiri, those three main notes, that as said before, are similar to Zeldaâs Lullaby, but is purposefully, a full descension in the scale, it doesnât rise.Â
Ok and then Finally, finally finally finally, we come back to that botw aspect. Like all of that, is just the original stuff and the thought that goes into where the notes go and how the stuff moves and plays out, itâs basically like planning a fic outline or something. But anyhow, this idea that Iâve been crafting for Zimiriâs theme, this concept that he understands that even though he might not be the one to save the world or see the fantastical end to the story, this whole ascension and descending thing, with the higher parts being a the stars that arenât yet in your reach or the dreams that are not yet reality and all that sap? Right so now thatâs when we can put a bit of Kassâ Theme into those higher parts. 0:33 and 1:07 are just bits of Kassâ Theme slowed down, specifically, the parts in Kassâ Final Song the time and sacrifice aspects of the legend. âNow resurrected after 10,000 years//Her appointed knight//Gives his life//Shields her figure and pays the price.â You could probably hear the â10,000 yearâ part most prominently. So one, the botw aspect serves to the themes that Iâm going for in this character, and two, it serves as that connection between Zimiri and his eventually successor, a successor who would live out to see a dream that he couldnât wooAAAoooh parallels. And even still, the segment that Iâve drawn out of Kassâ Theme still descends (seamlessly I might add, if to toot the horn a bit) into Zimiriâs core 3 note theme. So while Iâve written the piece to pick up at those whimsical parts, and to foreshadow and encompass the journey I have planned for this character, Iâve ultimately grounded the music itself to a specific scene that I have written, (and not yet posted I need to finish some other things) where Zimiri playing music to himself under the stars, the melody on his lute serving only to keep the sky company.Â
OH RIGHT and I said I had a second method for composing stuff didnât I ahaha...this post it already way too long and full of uneditted rambling so maybe Iâll gush about that some other time :p
Hey, Kip. I think you're good with names (Literally, I am being serious. I need advice, please.) I was wondering if you had any names for a girl? Names that are kinda unique but also could be use din everyday life. Please help? Don't be sarcastic; I think you're very creative with good ideas.
Hm, well. Thatâs kinda a broad question isnât it? Itâs a bit hard to to come up with an original name when Iâve got nothing to go on here. Iâm assuming this is for some oc?
So like, when I came up with names for my characters, I like to use real word names, and then mixing them up a bit. Iâm a sucker for name origins.Â
Zimiri, for example, is a very loose variant on Zimri, Hebrew origins that means âmy praiseâ and âmy musicâ so you know...perhaps a bit on the nose for a bard. I then combined it with the word âMiriâ because I needed to associate his character with community and fellowship for foreshadowing reasons
Adello is a variant on the name, Adela. Broken down from an old german term meaning ânoble,â because of dramatic irony/foreshadowing cough cough and Adela is also the name of one of Willliam the Conquerorâs daughters, a man who was known as William the bastard who rose of from illegitimacy to eventually become one of the most significant figures in European history. Gee willikers hope that isnât also foreshadowing of anything ahahahaha... I believe the -ello part was some italiant suffix that means small? But at this point I just think it sounds nice.
I could really go on and gush about more stuff but I digress. So....something unique that could be used in everyday life....well whatâs your character like? What do you plan to do with them? Just fuck around on google, maybe behindthename.com and look up name origins or what language you prefer or even just the letters you like. Or hell, fantasynamegenerator is a good start too. You donât even need to use the names themselves, but just using them to get a good idea on what sounds like something, and then...fuck around and add and take away some letters. I mean, only you know what the ârightâ name is anyhow, yeah?
I reworked the theme for my oc, Zimiri (who is Kassâ teacher), so now here that is! Reworked it mostly out of necessity, since I need to submit a band final project, which is why this is called âThe Skyâs Companyâ because that way my director doesnât get to ask questions about what a Zimiri is. So thatâs nice...Â
As for why itâs called The Skyâs Company...welp cause itâs supposed to kinda sound like a night sky because of...things and spoilers for a thing Iâm still writingnfgahkdjlvfdvÂ
So again, apologies for the shitty quality, but hey, thereâs less keyboard thumps now so :/
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â excerpt from folk song, The World Behind, writer unknown, dated back to the Era of Myth
- - - - - - - - - -Â
6 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days before the Hyrule Castle Slaughter, the Akkala Citadel Massacre, the slaying of the Champions, the death of the hero, and the rise of Calamity Ganon...
Her job ends on doomsday.Â
She should be working, and truly she wanted to, but circumstances had led her to walk towards the echoing laughter.
Already trying to prepare the quip she would throw back at them, (as undoubtedly theyâd complain about her being late again), the researcher weaved through the familiar roads of West Castle Town. Most of the houses were dark, with the only light source coming from the occasional flickering lantern, and the pale complexion of the midnight moon. Needless to say, it made the warm glow of The Adequateâs Tavern stand out all the more as she approached.Â
Another roar of laughter and shouts escaped from an open window on the south side of the pub. The bags under her eyes curved with her smile as she recognized one of the voices. She absentmindedly traced her fingers along the outer walls of the tavern as she walked, loose chips of faded blue paint falling to the pavement below. The wooden sign above the door creaked with its askew weight. The Adequateâs Tavern was printed in bold, blue letters atop a faded yellow outline. The missing eâs and tâs gave evidence to the buildingâs true quality.Â
Pushing open the door, the researcher was met with a swirl of familiar scents, ranging from alcohol, apples, bread, and leather, along with a smokiness coming from the fireplace near the back of the bar.Â
Closing the door behind her, she walked through the entrance, passing under a wooden overhang, and alongside a long, stone-slated bar counter. She overheard a conversation between the barkeep and a waiter.
âYes, theyâre here again, so get out there already!â
âThe scientists?â the waiter asked.
The man started shoving her towards the storage door behind the bar. âYes, yes, now hurry up and stock up on that apple cider. Iâve already turned four full pitchers from the three of them, and the fourth is no doubt on the way. We can turn a bigger profit from those kids than any random alcoholic that stumbles in here tonight!â
The waiter disappeared into the back, and the barkeep was left muttering by the counter. Chuckling to herself, the researcher moved away, starting to search for the scientists in question. Other than a single, beige wall that separated the edge of the bar with a support beam in the middle of the room, the pub was very open and lively. Square and circular tables were littered across the floor in mismatched patterns, ranging from oak brown to birch white. Clearly, aesthetic was not the centerpoint of the place.Â
She walked about the pub, scanning the faces of the men and women alike who crowded by the booths and tables. The tavern mainly housed a sea of Hylians, who let out the occasional drunken laugh, or hearty chuckle. It was a miracle she could hear her thoughts at all, as the air was rich with the sound of clattering dishware and the patter of dancing feet, as in a small corner to the left was a semi-circle stage housing a small band. A Hylian man with umber dark skin, much like her own, blew away at a Lurelin-made, seashell harmonica. To his left, a blonde woman extended her arm in quick and elegant strokes with a bow and fiddle. Two others struck away on small drums and bells, and the playful gig they performed had gotten several people up from their feet to dance for Hylia knows how long. The music wasnât terrible, but she had heard better, from a certain Sheikah in particular...
As if fate had read her thoughts, she finally caught sight of her friends.
It hindsight, it was easy enough to expect the bard to be at the table closest to the stage. Yet, it was probably the three heads of cloud white, Sheikah hair that gave them away the quickest. A young teenage boy sat across a square table from two other Sheikah, a boy and a girl. He was looking at nothing in particular, as he plucked away at his lute, presumably tuning it. Wrapped around his head was a small cluster of green wooden beads, woven with brown string. They dotted like a line of stars in his fluffy, white hair, alternating between pine and sage shades. The knot tying the strings and beads around his head hung loosely like vines just by his right ear. He was just asking to look like a starstruck, homeless traveler, if it werenât for the bright red cape pinned across his shoulders. The golden, Hyrulean emblem holding the crimson cloth together signified his status as an important worker of the palace. Although, no one would be surprised that this thin, skinny teenager was a bard and court poet, and not a royal knight.Â
Suddenly, the bard looked up and met her gaze, a pair of warm, red eyes catching the light of familiarity. He patted the empty seat next to him and said something to the other two Sheikah in front of him. One of them looked back, a young man with storm wild hair that seemed to part like lightning. He had a beige, long sleeve coat over a red tunic, as was the classic Sheikah style. However, the style of his white jacket told of his rank as a scientist. With chocolate eyes and a contagious grin, he nudged the girl next to him and fake coughed.
The young woman wore roughly the same outfit, although she had a navy blue skirt and boots compared to the other guyâs black pants and shoes. Her eyes were also red, albeit, with a more striking scarlet color, compared to the other boyâs warmer wine shade. Looking back, she adjusted her bright, Sheikah red, round, sparkly, diamond decorated glasses, complete with white accents that matched her hair. It was pulled in a messy bun, a hairstyle that her close friends knew was less for looks, and more for practical purposes, as supposedly, âthe stupid strands always find ways to bother my eyes. No, stop, I donât need a comb! My eyeballs are just sensitive, okay?â
Pivoting past a waiter, the researcher finally moved closer to the trio, brushing her curly dark hair above her shoulders as she prepared for the sarcasm to begin.
The stormy eyed scientist spoke first.
âPurah, Purah! Is that...a ghost I see? It looks like Adello, but I feel like I havenât seen her in a century, I surely thought her dead! Am I beingâŠhaunted?â
Purah turned in her seat and gave a fake gasp. She adjusted her red rimmed glasses at the sight of her. âYouâre right, Robbie! Iâve heard about these spirits. They only come at midnight under a full moon, and they appear when you have friends that donât know how to time manage and haunt you by coming to your birthday party with their terrible fashion sense 45 minutes late!â She clapped her hands along with the syllables of â45 minutesâ to let her point be known.
Robbie awed at Adello in sarcastic wonder, and the boy across from him exhaled out of his nose with a smile.Â
Adello put a hand on her hip. âSave your breath, I was just working a bit overtime on the Divine Beast sketches. You know, work? For the jobs that we all have? So we can pay our taxes and shit? Unfortunately, not all of us have fancy salaries Mrs. Royal Scientist.â Â
Purah turned to Robbie, pulling down her glasses and looking at him sternly. âSee, this is another trait of these kinds of spirits. Theyâre cursed to only say excuses for eternity.â
He shook his head. âCoupled with the fact that their fashion only ever consists of one color? Truly, a terrible fate for a ghost indeed.â
Adello narrowed her eyes. Smoothing out her juniper colored tunic, she said, âOkay, first off, green is a great color on me, it pairs well with my skin tone. Youâre both just blind, no wonder you need glasses.â Purah put a hand on her chest dramatically, but she continued. âPlus, Iâd really rather not get fired since that ceremony thing with those Champions is tomorrow and, as you all know, I just got that promotion.â
The researcher propped a black leather boot up on the empty chair by the table, flipping her jet black hair dramatically. âHow does it feel to be in the presence of someone with an actual on-the-field career?â
Purah stuck out her tongue, and Robbie cupped his hands and booed. However, the boy sitting on the other side of the fourseated table gave a celebratory strum of his lute, giving Adelloâs pose a bright background flourish with a few upbeat chords.
She winked. âThank you Zimiri, at least someone can recognize skill.â The bard gave a little bow with his head, grinning. âA few chords is all it takes to enhance a dramatic, late night entrance.â
Adello chuckled, finally sitting down in the empty seat beside him. The old oaken chair and floor creaked under the new weight. Robbie let out a huff.
âYou kids need to learn to respect your elders.â He announced the word ârespectâ with the tip of his tongue. The researcher rolled her eyes.Â
âAh yes, a whole one year gap between us. What astounding age and experience that these elders emit.â She gestured at Robbie and Purah with a sweep of her arm.Â
âUh, excuse me, but I believe in my case itâs now double that. A whole two years, my dear, naive child. For as of 4 hours ago, I now emit the knowledge of an existence spanning two decades!â Now it was his turn to pose dramatically, pointing towards the ceiling.Â
Everyone at the table groaned, turning to occupy themselves with something else. Purah started writing in her journal which she pulled out from her satchel, and Adello started to become very interested with the ceiling. Zimiri continued to pluck nothings on his lute.
Robbies crossed his arms, his white long sleeves folding across the Sheikah red shirt underneath. âOh I see! So when Adello brags, she gets a musical accompaniment, but when I do it, itâs suddenly annoying and embarrassing?â
Adello smirked to herself, and answered, âYep, thatâs how it goes!â
âAlright, you donât get to speak, Miss I-donât-know-how-to-be-punctuation!âÂ
Purah promptly smacked Robbie over the head with a pen.Â
âHey! Wââ
âThe word is punctual, you idiot.âÂ
Robbie slumped his shoulders and made a face. He tapped his thumb and fingers together, mimicking the opening and closing of a mouth while he muttered mockingly in Purahâs tone under his breath.Â
Purah finished off a note in her journal before turning to the rest of the table. âAlright Adello, time to catch up. Weâve been playing âTill You Spill and Iâve already got some juicy stuff in here!â
Turning the pages of her journal towards Adello, she gave a chaotic grin. âLast round, Zimiri revealed that he once got teary eyed in front of the King himself after reading a poem about clouds.â
Zimiri raised his hands in defense. âLook, the clouds were an analogy for lost childhood innocence and I got choked up with that authorâs amazing choice of imagery and descriptions, okay?â
Purah pointed her pen at him to hush, and continued. âOf course, him being a sentimental dork isnât anything new, so he lost that round to Robbie who revealed the identity of his first crush.â Â
Zimiri muttered something about the game being rigged towards the birthday boy, but Adello talked over him, excitedly.
âOoohhhh? Robbie?? Who are they?â She propped up her elbows and cradled her chin in her hands, excited at the prospect of more embarrassing information she could hang over his head.
He mumbled, looking to Purah for assistance, but she only cupped a hand over her ear, waiting for him to respond. âYou all fuckinââ he sighed, âitâsâŠsheâsâŠc-châŠâ he avoided everyoneâs gaze, âher name is...CherryâŠâ
Adello gasped, gleefully. âThat girl from your old university?? The writer you hung out with!?â
Purah beamed, shaking Robbieâs shoulders excitedly. âI know right???â She loosened her grip and allowed him to wiggle out of her grasp for a moment. âOh sweetie, campus days may be long gone for all of us prodigies and geniuses,â she flipped a few strands of her white hair with a turn of her head, âbut Iâm sure youâll get her someday. You just gotta turn up the charm, find a way to woo with words. Iâm sure writers love that.â Purah pulled down her glasses and gave a forced wink at him.
Adello tried to hold her tongue to no avail. âPffft. Yeah, you can try wooing her with your punctuation.â This got a snicker out of Purah, and caused the birthday boy to blush furiously and slump further in his seat. Zimiri finally spoke up.
âNow, now, letâs all play nice. We donât need to pester him further about it, he did win the round after all.âÂ
âUh, yeah. Speaking of the game, you still need to drink up, mister.â Purah slid a tan brown cup of apple cider towards him, the translucent contents sloshing around like muck in a gutter.
He leaned on the back two legs of his chair. âIsnât it punishment enough to smell it? The cider isnât even near my face and my mouth is already burning.â
She shrugged. âThem's the rules of âTill You Spill. Your secret sucked, so swig!â
The poet groaned, but complied. Tipping the cup towards his lips, Zimiri took a hearty slurp of the cider, much to everyoneâs amusement. It felt like hot, molten copper mixed with old apple skins. How could something both burn and freeze your throat at the same time? He let out a gag, to which Adello patted him on the back with a short laugh.
Raising his posture, Robbie crowed, âWhen we finally have Zimiriâs birthday maybe then weâll actually upgrade to the alcohol.â
Adello raised an eyebrow. âUh, right, because the upgrade from disorientingly strong, smelly apple cider, is you two being flat out drunk. Right...âÂ
Purah slammed both her fists down with pride, letting the cups and pitchers slosh a few amber colored drops onto the worn wooden table. âBold of you to assume Iâd drink at all, considering Iâve never lost a round! Mwahaha!â She blew a raspberry at her. âThis tongue is apple free, baby.â
She gestured with her pinky and index finger at Zimiri and Adello. âNow, you two! The late combatant and the latest loser shall spill next. Give us your juicy gossip!!â
The bard, still reeling from his drink, leaned back in his chair and gave a nod toward Adello. âLadies first?â
While she wasnât undefeated in this drinking game, she sure as hell was playing to win. Especially since somebody needed to knock that smug expression off of Purahâs face. Adello thought to herself quickly.Â
Zimiri, no doubt, is probably gonna say something self-deprecating again, as heâs too nice to actually reveal anything embarrassing about anyone else. So...I just need to say something unexpected and interesting...perhaps something embarrassing about...hmm, Iâve already exhausted all my info about those cushy nobles and guards in past roundsâŠ
Suddenly, she snapped her fingers. âThe princess has a secret stuffed animal collection.â Seeing the light in her co-workersâ eyes twinkle, Adello knew she had chosen her words well. Purah leaned in. âOoh? And how did you come across this juicy piece of information?â She rested her chin on an arm with an innocent smile.
âWhen I sent my application for the new job a few weeks ago, I gave it to the princess directly. It was late at night, and I bumped into her as she just left her room. The door was cracked open for a few seconds, before some royal, pompous guard slammed it right in my face. Yet, it wasnât before I saw the pile of,â she counted on her fingers, âcow, sheep, bird, dog, and several horse stuffed animals piled high by her big, blue bed. I bet if I peeked for just a few more moments I could have found enough to pin her as a true horse girl.â
Robbie shrugged his shoulders, unconsciously rapping the table with his finger. âWell, speaking as a horse guy myself, I can attest to the fact that the childhood horse obsession phase never leaves, so I find Princess Zeldaâs collection quite admirable.â He gave a nod towards Zimiri. âEither way, itâll be tough to top that, Zim. Cute, yet slightly concerning, fact about our future queen? Quite the competition. Shall I signal the waiter for a refill now?â
Zimiri plucked a few more strings from his lute, before finally setting it down on the floor. He tilted his head, playfully. The string with sage green beads seemed to sway with the tavernâs music, and he spoke with a glint in his eyes. âWell, I might be faced with impending failure and ultimate defeat, but hells if Iâm not one to try instead of mope.â
He combed his fingers through his messy, white hair, pondering his next choice of words. Fiddling with the beads and strings wrapped around it, he thought out loud.
âLetâs see...to top out on an embarrassing fact about a respected princess...it's natural to combat it with something...personal? That always seems to be the more valuable information in this gameâŠâ Adello shook her head. He was playing right into her hand.
âWell...Robbie won last round with the identity of Cherry...so, how about I dish out something similar. See, Iâve...uhâŠâ he rubbed the back of his neck, âOh! Well. Court poet, shrine researcher, the job gets you close with the princess...kinda...Iâd like to think weâre close anyhowâŠâ He mumbled the last part of his sentence and let out a short cough. Then, he went back to fiddling with his short, messy hair.
âSo⊠ever since I moved into the castle, When did my mom move⊠five years now? Iâve, uh⊠had a crush on... ZeldaâŠâ He gave an uncertain grin, and raised the palm of his hands as if to ask, âwell?â
At first he was met with silence. In his head, he started to celebrate the victory of his first âTill You Spill round in literal months. That was until he was met with groans and pitiful mutters.Â
âOh Zimiri,â Purah sighed, âI was rooting for you too.â Seeing the bewilderment creep onto the poetâs face, Robbie answered the question before it even escaped his lips. âLiterally everyone here knew that bud, itâs not a secret.â
The bard started to sputter, moving his hands in wild, questioning motions.
âBut? Whaâ I? You!? Didnât youâ I⊠W-Well I mean, I know Adello knew, I told her years ago, but you guysââ
âOh my gods. Zimiri, you literally talk about her all the time, youâre totally in love. Given that weâre also the recipients of your long spiels and ballads about how âintelligent and thoughtful and amazing Zelda is,ââ Purah said the words to mimic the tone of Zimiriâs honey sweet voice, âitâs exceptionally, extremely, very, very obvious.â
âR-Recognizing a personâs positive traits doesnât instantly mean in love!â
The royal scientist leaned across the table and patted his head. âRight, but you also started attempting love songs a coincidental 2 weeks after starting your job of shrine research with her. Your eyes are already red, so whenever she passes by itâs like your pupils magically form into adoring hearts. Try to stay away from poker, itâs for your own good.âÂ
Zimiri continued to sputter, his cheeks becoming roser by the second. Robbie turned to Purah. âSo, all in favour of finding Adelloâs spill better than Zimiriâs?â The two of them raised their hands in unison. âAlright buddy, secret sucked, so swig! WAITER PLEASE!â
Adello watched as the same woman she had seen near the bar earlier made her way to the table. Picking up a pitcher, she poured out a fresh cup of Adequateâs Apple Cider. The four of them had been here so many times, they didnât even need to verbally ask for the order.
Before he could even start to reach for the cup, Adello snatched it out of the way. âNah, itâs okay. Iâll do one for you, Zimiri. These two monsters have already tore you to shreds, and Iâm sure I need a punishment anyway for coming in so late.âÂ
He started to protest, but after catching the look in her dark, iron eyes, he relented. âWell, I thank you for your generosity.â The other two, however, were not as compliant.
Purah cupped her hands around her mouth, yelling, âBooooo... Boo to pity! Boo to generosity!â Robbie mimicked her.Â
âYeah you have to respect your eldersâ wishes. We demand blood! Suffering!âÂ
Adello cracked her neck for show, before downing her glass of cider in a few gulps. The stench and tingling sensation seemed to stick to the sides of her throat. It would take more than water to clear that out. âAdequateâ was being very generous when describing its quality.
âMmmm. The ciderâs weirdly salty tonight, I think your attitudes got mixed in here.â
Purah blew another raspberry at her.
They played for a few more rounds, the clatter of cups and breaths of laughter decorating the hours. Much to everyoneâs distaste, Purah continued her winning streak, getting by with unbeatable information about the King, royal guards, and one embarrassing anecdote about how her little sister, Impa, had caught her writing an interesting letter to the âlocal archery hunk.â
Yet, Purah laughed along with the rest of them, the eyes behind her red rimmed glasses held no shame, which Adello envied. Of course that sort of attitude would make you a master at this game. Robbie and Adello attempted to team up and be biased towards Purah in an effort to get her to lose, but either Zimiri didnât take the hint, or he just really liked playing fair which wasnât exactly out of character, even if it meant more drinks for him.Â
Suddenly, a bell towards the back of the pub rang, signifying the end of the bandâs gig. The dancing paused, as people gave their thanks, varying from politie applause to drunken yelps. Robbie then rapped the table with his hands, excitedly.
âYou know what else tonight needs? Some amazing music, eh Zimiri?â He bounced his eyebrows up and down at him, and gestured towards the lute leaning on one of the table legs.
âI donât know,â Zimiri replied, âIâve only a part-time hire for the weekend rush hours, and I wouldnât want to blindly get on stage and sing without being given permission.âÂ
Adello scoffed. âUh, are you kidding? The owner would love for you to play without paying you. Havenât you heard the talk around town? The Adequateâs Tavern: Home of alright food and acceptable ale, but an outstanding bard!â
He fiddled with the string in his hair again. âOh yeah? Iâd love to meet him someday.â At this, Adello clicked her tongue and promptly shoved him out of his chair with her hip.Â
He laughed to himself as he stumbled aback. âAlright, alright, but only because the birthday tyrant requested it.â Robbie clapped his hands in a âchop-chopâ fashion, to truly signify his role as the newly dubbed tyrant.
Suddenly, Zimiri perked his head. Stepping back towards the table, he reached for his cup. âOh wait, I just lost that round. I still need to drink myââ
Adello grabbed the cup right out of his hands. She tipped it 180 degrees and let the cider spill completely onto the wooden floor. He hopped back, and Purah let out a surprised yelp, saying something about letting the stench seep into the floorboards. Robbie just started to laugh, wildly. Noticing the small commotion, a few other guests looked back at them and started to snicker to themselves.
Setting the cup back on the table, the researcher said, âGreat, now you donât need to ruin your voice any longer. Now get up there and one-up the last band.âÂ
The bard pushed his chair under the table. Picking up his lute as he stood and faced Adello, a charming smile on his face. âHeh, well. My singing voice is grateful. I suppose now Iâm in debt to comply.â He gave a curt bow.
Robbie clapped his hands again. âGreat, great. Now quit the manners and letâs go already! I still have to order the cake pie!â
Both of the girls rolled their eyes in unison. Zimiri shrugged and started to walk through the small crowd of standing Hylians, and towards the small stage.Â
A few of the regulars who recognized him let out whoops and whistles, yelling out âBard!â or âMore music!â in support. It seemed that no one really knew his name, but it was nice enough to know that even working here part time would grant you the honor of being recognized by a bunch of random folk. One confused patron, who only associated him with âzâ yelled out âYeah, Zelda!â before promptly slumping under the table. Looking around, a blonde girl caught his eye, as it seemed she was staring at him. He waved, and her cheeks, much to Zimiriâs confusion, turned pink at his gaze and she turned to her friends who started giggling.Â
Moving past the last of the Hylians with an, âexcuse me, sorry!â he finally stepped on the stage. The bard pulled up a small stool to the stage, leaning against it. Most of the folks continued to whoop in approval, seemingly eager for another chance to start dancing. Even the barkeep clapped his hands, probably excited at the thought of a free gig.
I guess, if no one is stopping meâŠ
It was a rowdy bunch, but not a new one. Zimiri had played for these kinds of audiences before.Â
âI see that quite a few people are itching for a new tune. So, uh, any requests?â he announced as he strum a chord on his lute.Â
A mass of different voices bounced around the tavern, requests ranging from The Babblerâs Jig, Miskoâs Tale, The Eldin Bluffs, and Can I Get More Ale? Although, Zimiri wasnât quite familiar with the chords of that last song.Â
He couldnât stop himself from being biased towards the request of a certain dark skinned girl to his left.
âThe World Behind!â Adello said. âEnough with those new ballads, I demand a classic!âÂ
Robbie pumped an arm in the air. âYes!â he shouted. âI second that! So is my decree as birthday tyrant!â
The bard smiled, preparing the fingering on the neck of his lute. He turned towards the audience. âWell, Iâm afraid I have no choice but to heed to such authority.â He began to pluck the beginning notes, tapping a tempo with his boot against the stage. âNow then, a beat, if you all would be so kind?â
The tavern chattered in approval, before piping down. There probably weren't more than 30 people, but the beat they made was definitely sufficient. The sound of stomping, banging mugs, and clapping filled the room. The tempo didnât even need much adjusting, as The World Behind was pretty familiar around Castle Town. The beat was like a child pretending to be a marching soldier, unconcerned and playful.
Zimiriâs smile widened. A lively crowd indeed, this will do nicely.Â
With that, he started to sing. His silvery voice echoed across the tavern, as he closed his eyes and began to play.
The boys have gone out to the wishing well
Will they come back? Oh only time will tell
A rupee for a life refined
But time and dreams never align
So tell the world weâll leave it all behindÂ
Many of the guests had started to dance again, while the rest continued the beat of the song. As Zimiri plucked rapid notes on his lute, he heard a supporting holler from Purah. Next to her, Robbie was slamming his fist to the beat, clearly enjoying himself.
Have you seen the soldiersâ drinking ale?
They wish to sing along with nightingales
To dance on home with songs and rhymes
To banish all the fears from mind
Yes tell the world weâll leave it all behind
Another pause between the verses, and the bard played the âdecorativeâ rapid notes in between. He didnât mean to seem like he was showing off, but Adello would attest to the fact that this happened whenever he got too into the music. Looking towards her, Zimiri saw her give a double thumbs up.Â
Of beasts and men and all atrocities
The damn-ed fate, she owns all that you see
To a better day of new design
Forgot about the gods divine
Oh tell the world weâll leave it all behindÂ
At this point, some of the guests were singing along, though not to the point of overpowering his own alluring voice. Laughter rang out around the warmly lit room once again. Zimiri looked out at the dancing patrons and smiling guests, grinning at the feeling in his chest this brought. He continued the last verse.
Watch the home whileâ
âHEY!â
The sudden gruff voice startled the bard to the point where he nearly slipped off the stage.
Lumbering through the double doors, three guards entered the tavern. The one in front, who had interrupted the music, wore a typical knightâs outfit, the same as his male and female coworkers behind him. However, the black hooded cape he wore atop his metal armour swayed with every step he took across the floor, his supposed rank silencing the room.Â
Well, mostly, silenced the room. A few ticked off guests were booing, groaning, and mocking him for ruining the entertainment.Â
âOh would you lot shut up for 2 seconds?!â he said, his voice booming across the tavern. âListen, Iâll be blunt. I gotta give two messages for this establishment.â
The guests shook their heads, mumbling. Their booing and insults continued, but their volume quieted, it was too early to be getting cross with a couple of knights. Even Zimiri quietly slipped off the stage back towards his friends so as not to be at the end of the knightâs intimidating voice. Â
The female guard behind the knight handed him a slip of parchment. Unfolding it, the guard cleared his throat.
âFirstly, your music and pounding is disturbing the noblemen next door. Heâs staying at the inn or something and wants you to, quote,â he read from the paper, âquit the mindless thumping, for Castle Town is a place of serenity and peace, not of nonsense jigs and banging.â
The groaning and insults started up again; the man gave a shrug, stating something about how he was just following orders.Â
Adello couldnât help but laugh out loud. âHA! Well, with an attitude like that, thisâll probably be the first and only time heâs been bangedâ he should be grateful.â
The room exploded into a mess of laughter and whoops. Even the guard smirked to himself, but attempted to hide it with a shake of his head, saying âWatch the mouth, girl.â Although, his stern tone wasnât in it.
After a second, he cleared his throat again. With a stomp of his boot he regained the pub's attention, the laughter suffocated out.
âNow, weâre also here looking for a Dr. Robbie Kimura? I received word they might be around here?â
With the attention now towards a single table, most of the guests went back to their idle banter. A few waiters nodded their head towards the table in the back, and the man caught sight of three, white haired teenagers, who were sitting with the dark haired girl who had quipped out earlier.Â
The scientists turned around too late, in an effort to avoid the knightâs gaze. âGee, what a bunch of snitches,â Robbie mumbled. The three guards started to walk over to the table.Â
âDr...Robbie?â
âWhoâs asking?â Robbie squinted with his dark brown eyes.
âDoctor? Really? Is this some kind of prank? You and your friends donât even look old enough to drink.â
He scoffed. âOkay, first, yes I am a doctor! I didnât fly through all those courses over four years just to be called, âMr.â And secondly, Iâll have you know that I am a ripe 20 years of age today, and Iâm here drinking expired apple juice with my associates. So take that, pal!â
Beside him, Purah gave a proud nod in agreement. Zimiri started to wave politely at the guard, but Adello grabbed his arm before he could finish the movement. The guard was a bit unsettled with the way that girl was glaring at him. What was some random Hylian doing hanging out with a bunch of Sheikah anyway?
âRight, well, look here, son. Some curious aristo-brat snuck into the courtyard and caused one of those flying, metal Sheikah things to fall apart. My boss said that it was your prototype so you should come back and clean it up before something explodes, and possibly give a sincere apology to the meddling kid who got a few scratches.â
Robbie threw his hands in the air, exasperated. âYouâre really gonna pull me out of a birthday just so I can go apologize to a spoiled kid for breaking in and ruining my Guardian?â
âIf it lets me keep my job, then yeah.â
Robbie mumbled something about not getting a slice of the apple cake pie.Â
Suddenly, Adello got up and pushed her chair in, smoothing out the belt around her tunic as she walked towards them.Â
âAh yes, well, thank you my dear assistant for the assessment but Iâm capable of taking it from here.â
The guard raised a bushy, black eyebrow. âSorry, whaââ
âYou said you only wanted Dr. Robbie? Well great job, you found them. Now letâs get going, I need to finish up a new design anyway.â
âOh, Iâm sorry, I should have had my mother consult you for your opinion before I was given my name.â
This time, the guard didnât smile along with her quip. âThis is not the time forââ
She held up a finger to silence him, and glared at the three guards with her iron eyes.
âLook, Iâm not a nobody. Iâm more than capable of fixing up the guardian and any other disasters you might have left lying around the castle grounds. If Iâm feeling generous, maybe Iâll even lick the kidâs boots, itâs not my first time dealing with this, alrighty?â
The knights looked at each other, quizzically. The researcher crossed her arms.Â
âYouâre still following your precious orders, aren't you? How would you know what Dr. Robbie looks like? You canât be faulted for not knowing someone you never met. So, youâll just have to take my word for it.â
The blonde man behind the gruff, black caped guard, whispered something to his female coworker. Her gaze switched between the girl and the man. Still seeing the uncertainty in their eyes, Adello leaned closer to the knight and lowered her voice. âCome on, have a little heart, itâs his birthday.â
A beat of silence sat, only filled by the mild mumbling and chatter of the tavern. Finally, the guard let out a sigh.Â
âAlrighty Dr. Kimura. Iâll help escort you to the site.â
Robbie started to protest, but Adello quickly silenced him with a wink. The guard turned towards the rest of the room, yelling, âThe rest of you, the sun is gonna rise in a few hours so save your rioting for then! Am I clear?â
The patrons just responded with stupid groans and half-hearted agreements. They started walking towards the door. The female guard started to put a hand on Adelloâs shoulder, but she brushed it off, saying something along the lines of âI can walk on my own two feet, thank you very much.â
Purah turned in her seat. âIâll save a slice of cake pie for you!â Adello turned her head and responded with a two fingered salute, before disappearing out the door with the guards.Â
The tension in the tavern was almost immediately cleared, the moment the knights left. Most of the people went back to their normal conversational volume, and the waiters began to patter about with more confidence. However, Zimiri slumped in his seat, letting out a sigh.Â
âWhy does she always do things like that?â
Robbie fiddled with the edge of his cup, tracing his finger around the rim. âWell, you know her. Undermining authority? Check. Insults and quips? Check.â
Robbie continued to list off more traits, but it faded out of Zimiriâs ear. Always jumping onto otherâs burdens. Ah, that idiot. I bet she hasnât slept for the last two days.Â
Purah suddenly piped up, taking out her pen and rapping it against the table. âAlright you two, letâs not let the sacrifice be in vain. Pool your rupees, weâre getting Robbie the fancy cake pie.âÂ
The clatter of a few red and blue rupees echoed on the wooden table, although Zimiri knocked Robbieâs share aside, saying how the birthday tyrant shouldnât have to pitch in. Purah turned in her chair and started to wave her hand, in order to get the attention of a waiter. The bard watched as a woman with a tray started to walk over to the table. Then, he turned to Robbie.Â
âSo what should we do while we wait?â Zimiri asked. Robbie stroked his chin, looking around the room.Â
âI think...the people could still use some music.â
Looking out at the crowd, Zimiri noticed how the guards' interference had really dampened the atmosphere. The warm and lively laughter that was present just a few moments earlier was now replaced with more monotone chatter.
He nodded his head in agreement, putting on a charming smile. The place needed a new pick-me-up, did it?
Well, what else is a bard for?
Stepping back onto the stage, he strummed an open chord, double checking the tuning. The whooping and clapping started to return, much to his delight. Plucking a familiar melody, the warm feeling in his stomach returned as he watched the new smiles that started to fill the room. However, before he began to sing, Zimiri first focused on craning his neck to look out a window, trying to catch a glimpse of a certain girl in the night.Â
It seemed the moon and sun were balanced on the edge of the world. The night had started to submerge behind the walls of West Castle Town, with only the brightest stars still perched upon the ink of the navy blue sky. The silver lining of greying clouds just barely glowed from the faint light of the day, still trying to break out of the eastern waters.Â
Adelloâs footsteps echoed through the cobblestone streets, but she could barely hear it against the shifting of metal plates from the guards in front of her.Â
The gruff man looked back, scratching his peach fuzzed chin as he spoke. âListen, if you finish your work quick I might be able to escort you back here.â
Adello shook her head. She turned to retrieve a journal from the pouch on her belt, opening its pages as an excuse to avoid his gaze. âNo, itâs fine. I still have some more work I should be finishing up at home anyhow.â
âYou...live at the castle?â
âMmm.â
The guard took her blunt response as a sign to not continue with the niceties, much to Adelloâs relief. Looking up, she gazed at the looming castle. Its towers were like mountain peaks, sitting above the blurred silhouettes of the buildings of Castle Town.Â
Taking out a bit of charcoal, she started to sketch its outline on a fresh page in her journal. While she only had one color, she tried to capture the shadows and lighting that cascaded on one side of the castle to the other.Â
The female guard slowed her step, starting to walk alongside the researcher.Â
âAlready working?â
Adello didnât look up from her journal. âUh⊠you could say that.â
She laughed. âWell you best hope you know what youâre doing. This kidâs father has been yelling at Her Highness all night. Supposedly because sheâs helping to lead Sheikah research, so everyone associated with guardians is at fault.â
Adello finished up the tower of Princess Zeldaâs study in her sketch. She smiled to herself at the finished work. It was one of her better pieces. Putting the journal away, she turned back to the guard and scoffed. âIs that so?â
The guard hummed a yes, her blonde braid swaying to each side as she walked. âApparently, the kid is the son of some visiting nobleman from the East Post. Itâd be in your best interest to apologize profusely if you still wanna walk around alive.âÂ
Adello shook her head. She didnât know it then, but looking back, many moons from now, she would laugh at the irony of her response.
Zimiri, a pansexual: *slaps them with a frying pan* THATâS WHERE YOUâRE WRONG BITCH
Zimiri: ...
Zimiri: Oh my god Iâm so sorry I donât know what came over me I shouldnât have said the B word that was my mistake are you ok Iâm so sorry I shouldnât haveâ
Hey all! Iâm almost done with Chapter One of a fic Iâm working on, so in the mean time, why not have a quick teaser?
Eventually Iâm gonna also post the full thing on AO3 so the format is better, and itâs also gonna have zelink and some revali stuff in the future...although Iâm mainly gonna focus on character growth and arcs than the romance. All in all, when Iâm done youâll have to read it for yourself. In the mean time..
Enjoy!
Where Time Takes Us
6905 words (of like...15k itâs a teaser ok)
6 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days before the Hyrule Castle Slaughter, the Akkala Citadel Massacre, the slaying of the Champions, the death of the hero, and the rise of Calamity Ganon
She was supposed to work until whenever doomsday struck, and truly she wanted to, but circumstances led her to walk towards the echoing laughter.
Already trying to prepare the quip she would throw back at them (as undoubtedly theyâd complain about her being late again) the researcher weaved through the familiar roads of West Castle Town. Most of the houses were dark, with the only light source coming from the occasional flickering lantern, and the pale complexion of the midnight moon. Needless to say, it made the warm glow of The Adequateâs Tavern stand out all the more as she approached.Â
Another roar of laughter and shouts escaped from an open window on the south side of the pub. The bags under her eyes curved with her smile as she recognized one of the voices. She absentmindedly traced her fingers along the outer walls of the tavern as she walked, loose chips of faded blue paint falling to the pavement below. The wooden sign above the door creaked with its askew weight. âThe Adequateâs Tavernâ was printed in bold, blue letters atop a faded yellow outline. The missing eâs and tâs gave evidence to the buildingâs true quality.Â
Pushing open the door, the researcher was met with a swirl of familiar scents, ranging from alcohol, apples, bread, and leather, along with a smokiness coming from the fireplace near the back of the bar.Â
Closing the door behind her, she walked through the entrance, passing under a wooden overhang, and alongside a long, stone-slated bar counter. She overheard a conversation between the barkeep and a waiter.
âYes, theyâre here again, so get out there already!â
âThe scientists?â the waiter asked.
The man started shoving her towards the storage door behind the bar. âYes, yes, now hurry up and stock up on that apple cider. Iâve already turned four full pitchers from the three of them, and the fourth is no doubt on the way. We can turn a bigger profit from those kids than any random alcoholic that stumbles in here tonight!â
The waiter disappeared into the back and the barkeep was left muttering by the counter. Chuckling to herself, the researcher moved away, starting to search for the scientists in question. Other than a single, beige wall that separated the edge of the bar with a support beam in the middle of the room, the pub was very open and lively. Square and circular tables were littered across the floor in mismatched patterns, ranging from oak brown to birch white. Clearly, aesthetic was not the centerpoint of the place.Â
She walked about the pub, scanning the faces of the men and women alike who crowded by the booths and tables. The tavern mainly housed a sea of Hylians, who let out the occasional drunken laugh, or hearty chuckle. It was a miracle she could hear her thoughts at all, as the air was rich with the sound of clattering dishware and the patter of dancing feet, as in a small corner to the left was a semi-circle stage housing a small band. A Hylian man with umber dark skin, much like her own, blew away at a Lurelin-made, seashell harmonica. To his left, a blonde woman extended her arm in quick and elegant strokes with a bow and fiddle. Two others struck away on small drums and bells, and the playful gig they performed had gotten several people up from their feet to dance for Hylia knows how long. The music wasnât terrible, but she had heard better, from a certain Sheikah in particular...
As if fate had read her thoughts, she finally caught sight of her friends.
It hindsight, it was easy enough to expect the bard to be at the table closest to the stage. Yet, it was probably the three heads of cloud white, Sheikah hair that gave them away the quickest. A young teenage boy sat across a square table from two other Sheikah, a boy and a girl. He was looking at nothing in particular, as he plucked away at his lute, presumably tuning it. Wrapped around his head was a small cluster of green wooden beads, woven with brown string. They dotted like a line of stars in his fluffy, white hair, alternating between pine and sage shades. The knot tying the strings and beads around his head hung loosely like vines just by his right ear. He was just asking to look like a starstruck, homeless traveler, if it werenât for the bright red cape pinned across his shoulders. The golden, Hyrulean emblem holding the crimson cloth together signified his status as an important worker of the palace. Although, no one would be surprised that this thin, skinny teenager was a bard and court poet, and not a royal knight.Â
Suddenly, the bard looked up and met her gaze, a pair of warm, red eyes catching the light of familiarity. He patted the empty seat next to him and said something to the other two Sheikah in front of him. One of them looked back, a young man with storm wild hair that seemed to part like lightning. He had a beige, long sleeve coat over a red tunic, as was the classic Sheikah style. However, the style of his white jacket told of his rank as a scientist. With chocolate eyes and a contagious grin, he nudged the girl next to him and fake coughed.
The young woman wore roughly the same outfit, although she had a navy blue skirt and boots compared to the other guyâs black pants and shoes. Her eyes were also red, albeit, with a more striking scarlet color, compared to the other boyâs warmer wine shade. Looking back, she adjusted her bright, Sheikah red, round, sparkly, diamond decorated glasses, complete with white accents that matched her hair. It was pulled in a messy bun, a hairstyle that her close friends knew was less for looks, and more for practical purposes, as supposedly âthe stupid strands always find ways to bother my eyes. No, stop, I donât need a comb! My eyeballs are just sensitive, OK?â
Pivoting past a waiter, the researcher finally moved closer to the trio, brushing her curly dark hair above her shoulders as she prepared for the sarcasm to begin.
The stormy eyed scientist spoke first.
âPurah, Purah! Is that...a ghost I see? It looks like Adello, but I feel like I havenât seen her in a century, I surely thought her dead! Am I beingâŠhaunted?â
Purah turned in her seat and gave a fake gasp. She adjusted her red rimmed glasses at the sight of her. âYouâre right, Robbie! Iâve heard about these spirits. They only come at midnight under a full moon, and they appear when you have friends that donât know how to time manage and haunt you by coming to your birthday party with their terrible fashion sense 45 minutes late!â She clapped her hands along with the syllables of â45 minutesâ to let her point be known.
Robbie awed at Adello in sarcastic wonder, and the boy across from him exhaled out of his nose with a smile.Â
Adello put a hand on her hip. âSave your breath, I was just working a bit overtime on the Divine Beast sketches. You know, work? For the jobs that we all have? So we can pay our taxes and shit? Unfortunately, not all of us have fancy salaries Mrs. Royal Scientist.â Â
Purah turned to Robbie, pulling down her glasses and looking at him sternly. âSee, this is another trait of these kinds of spirits. Theyâre cursed to only say excuses for eternity.â
He shook his head. âCoupled with the fact that their fashion only ever consists of one color? Truly, a terrible fate for a ghost indeed.â
Adello narrowed her eyes. Smoothing out her juniper colored tunic, she said, âOk first off, green is a great color on me, it pairs well with my skin tone. Youâre both just blind, no wonder you need glasses.â Purah put a hand on her chest dramatically, but she continued. âPlus, Iâd really rather not get fired since that ceremony thing with those Champions is tomorrow and, as you all know, I just got that promotion.â
The researcher propped a black leather boot up on the empty chair by the table, flipping her jet black hair dramatically. âHow does it feel to be in the presence of someone with an actual on-the-field career?â
Purah stuck out her tongue, and Robbie cupped his hands and booed. However, the boy sitting on the other side of the fourseated table gave a celebratory strum of his lute, giving Adelloâs pose a bright background flourish with a few upbeat chords.
She winked. âThank you Zimiri, at least someone can recognize skill.â The bard gave a little bow with his head, grinning. âA few chords is all it takes to enhance a dramatic, late night entrance.â
Adello chuckled, finally sitting down in the empty seat beside him. The old oaken chair and floor creaked under the new weight. Robbie let out a huff.
âYou kids need to learn to respect your elders.â He announced the word ârespectâ with the tip of his tongue. The researcher rolled her eyes.Â
âAh yes, a whole one year gap between us. What astounding age and experience that these elders emit.â She gestured at Robbie and Purah with a sweep of her arm.Â
âUh excuse me, but I believe in my case itâs now double that. A whole two years, my dear, naive child. For as of 4 hours ago, I now emit the knowledge of an existence spanning two decades!â Now it was his turn to pose dramatically, pointing towards the ceiling.Â
Everyone at the table groaned, turning to occupy themselves with something else. Purah started writing in her journal which she pulled out from her satchel, and Adello started to become very interested with the ceiling. Zimiri continued to pluck nothings on his lute.
Robbies crossed his arms, his white long sleeves folding across the Sheikah red shirt underneath. âOh I see! So when Adello brags, she gets a musical accompaniment, but when I do it, itâs suddenly annoying and embarrassing?â
Adello smirked to herself, and answered, âYep, thatâs how it goes!â
âAlright you donât get to speak Miss I-donât-know-how-to-be-punctuation!âÂ
Purah promptly smacked Robbie over the head with a pen.Â
âHey! Wââ
âThe word is punctual you idiot.âÂ
Robbie slumped his shoulders and made a face. He tapped his thumb and fingers together, mimicking the opening and closing of a mouth while he muttered mockingly in Purahâs tone under his breath.Â
Purah finished off a note in her journal before turning to the rest of the table. âAlright Adello, time to catch up. Weâve been playing âTill You Spill and Iâve already got some juicy stuff in here!â
Turning the pages of her journal towards Adello, she gave a chaotic grin. âLast round, Zimiri revealed that he once got teary eyed in front of the King himself after reading a poem about clouds.â
Zimiri raised his hands in defense. âLook, the clouds were an analogy for lost childhood innocence and I got choked up with that authorâs amazing choice of imagery and descriptions, OK?â
Purah pointed her pen at him to hush, and continued. âOf course, him being a sentimental dork isnât anything new, so he lost that round to Robbie who revealed the identity of his first crush.â Â
Zimiri muttered something about the game being rigged towards the birthday boy, but Adello talked over him, excitedly.
âOoohhhh? Robbie?? Who are they?â She propped up her elbows and cradled her chin in her hands, excited at the prospect of more embarrassing information she could hang over his head.
He mumbled, looking to Purah for assistance, but she only cupped a hand over her ear, waiting for him to respond. âYou all fuckinââ he sighed, âitâsâŠsheâs...c-châŠâ he avoided everyoneâs gaze, âher name is...CherryâŠâ
Adello gasped, gleefully. âThat girl from your old university?? The writer you hung out with!?â
Purah beamed, shaking Robbieâs shoulders excitedly. âI know right???â She loosened her grip and allowed him to wiggle out of her grasp for a moment. âOh sweetie, campus days may be long gone for all of us prodigies and geniuses,â she flipped a few strands of her white hair with a turn of her head, âbut Iâm sure youâll get her someday. You just gotta turn up the charm, find a way to woo with words. Iâm sure writersâ love that.â Purah pulled down her glasses and gave a forced wink at him.
Adello tried to hold her tongue to no avail. âPffft. Yeah, you can try wooing her with your punctuation.â This got a snicker out of Purah, and caused the birthday boy to blush furiously and slump further in his seat. Zimiri finally spoke up.
âNow, now, letâs all play nice. We donât need to pester him further about it, he did win the round after all.âÂ
âUh, yeah. Speaking of the game, you still need to drink up mister.â Purah slid a tan brown cup of apple cider towards him, the translucent contents sloshing around like muck in a gutter.
He leaned on the back two legs of his chair. âIsnât it punishment enough to smell it? The cider isnât even near my face and my mouth is already burning.â
She shrugged. âThem's the rules of âTill You Spill. Your secret sucked, so swig!â
The poet groaned, but complied. Tipping the cup towards his lips, Zimiri took a hearty slurp of the cider, much to everyoneâs amusement. It felt like hot, molten copper mixed with old apple skins. How could something both burn and freeze your throat at the same time? He let out a gag, to which Adello patted him on the back with a short laugh.
Raising his posture, Robbie crowed, âWhen we finally have Zimiriâs birthday maybe then weâll actually upgrade to the alcohol.â
Adello raised an eyebrow. âUh, right, because the upgrade from disorientingly strong, smelly apple cider, is you two being flat out drunk. Right...âÂ
Purah slammed both her fists down with pride, letting the cups and pitchers slosh a few, amber colored drops onto the worn wooden table. âBold of you to assume Iâd drink at all, considering Iâve never lost a round! Mwahaha!â She blew a raspberry at her. âThis tongue is apple free, baby.â
She gestured with her pinky and index finger at Zimiri and Adello. âNow, you two! The late combatant and the latest loser shall spill next. Give us your juicy gossip!!â
The bard, still reeling from his drink, leaned back in his chair and gave a nod toward Adello. âLadies first?â
While she wasnât undefeated in this drinking game, she sure as hell was playing to win. Especially since somebody needed to knock that smug expression off of Purahâs face. Adello thought to herself quickly.Â
Zimiri, no doubt, is probably gonna say something self-deprecating again, as heâs too nice to actually reveal anything embarrassing about anyone else. So...I just need to say something unexpected and interesting...perhaps something embarrassing about...hmm, Iâve already exhausted all my info about those cushy nobles and guards in past roundsâŠ
Suddenly, she snapped her fingers. âThe princess has a secret stuffed animal collection.â Seeing the light in her co-workersâ eyes twinkle, Adello knew she had chosen her words well. Purah leaned in. âOOoh? And how did you come across this juicy piece of information?â She rested her chin on an arm with an innocent smile.
âWhen I sent my application for the new job a few weeks ago, I gave it to the princess directly. It was late at night, and I bumped into her as she just left her room. The door was cracked open for a few seconds, before some royal, pompous guard slammed it right in my face. Yet, it wasnât before I saw the pile of,â she counted on her fingers, âcow, sheep, bird, dog, and several horse stuffed animals piled high by her big, blue bed. I bet if I peaked for just a few more moments I could have found enough to pin her as a true horse girl.â
Robbie shrugged his shoulders, unconsciously rapping the table with his finger. âWell, speaking as a horse guy myself, I can attest to the fact that the childhood horse obsession phase never leaves, so I find Princess Zeldaâs collection quite admirable.â He gave a nod towards Zimiri. âEither way, itâll be tough to top that, Zim. Cute, yet slightly concerning, fact about our future queen? Quite the competition. Shall I signal the waiter for a refill now?â
Zimiri plucked a few more strings from his lute, before finally setting it down on the floor. He tilted his head, playfully. The string with sage green beads seemed to sway with the tavernâs music, and he spoke with a glint in his eyes. âWell, I might be faced with impending failure and ultimate defeat, but hells if Iâm not one to try instead of mope.â
He combed his fingers through his messy, white hair, pondering his next choice of words. Fiddling with the beads and strings wrapped around it, he thought out loud.
âLetâs see...to top out on an embarrassing fact about a respected princess...it's natural to combat it with something...personal? That always seems to be the more valuable information in this gameâŠâ Adello shook her head. He was playing right into her hand.
âWell...Robbie won last round with the identity of Cherry...so, how about I dish out something similar. See, Iâve...uhâŠâ he rubbed the back of his neck, âOh! Well. Court poet, shrine researcher, the job gets you close with the princess...kinda...Iâd like to think weâre close anyhowâŠâ He mumbled the last part of his sentence and let out a short cough. Then, he went back to fiddling with his short, messy hair.
âSo⊠ever since I moved into the castle. When did my mom come here⊠five years now? Iâve, uh⊠had a crush on... ZeldaâŠâ He gave an uncertain grin, and raised the palm of his hands as if to ask, âwell?â
At first he was met with silence. In his head, he started to celebrate the victory of his first âTill You Spill round in literal months. That was until he was met with groans and pitiful mutters.Â
âOh Zimiri,â Purah sighed, âI was rooting for you too.â Seeing the bewilderment creep onto the poetâs face, Robbie answered the question before it even escaped his lips. âLiterally everyone here knew that bud, itâs not a secret.â
The bard started to sputter, moving his hands in wild, questioning motions.
âBut? Whaâ I? You!? Didnât youâ I⊠W-well I mean, I know Adello knew, I told her years ago, but you guysââ
âOh my gods. Zimiri, you literally talk about her all the time, youâre totally in love. Given that weâre also the recipients of your long spiels and ballads about how âintelligent and thoughtful and amazing Zelda is,ââ Purah said the words to mimic the tone of Zimiriâs honey sweet voice, âitâs exceptionally, extremely, very, very obvious.â
âR-recognizing a personâs positive traits doesnât instantly mean in love!â
The royal scientist leaned across the table and patted his head. âRight, but you also started attempting love songs a coincidental 2 weeks after starting your job of shrine research with her. Your eyes are already red, so whenever she passes by itâs like your pupils magically form into adoring hearts. Try to stay away from poker, itâs for your own good.âÂ
Zimri continued to sputter, his cheeks becoming roser by the second. Robbie turned to Purah. âSo, all in favour of finding Adelloâs spill better than Zimriâs?â The two of them raised their hands in unison. âAlright buddy, secret sucked, so swig! WAITER PLEASE!â
Adello watched as the same woman she had seen near the bar earlier made her way to the table. Picking up a pitcher, she poured out a fresh cup of Adequateâs Apple Cider. The four of them had been here so many times, they didnât even need to verbally ask for the order.
Before he could even start to reach for the cup, Adello snatched it out of the way. âNah, itâs ok. Iâll do one for you, Zimiri. These two monsters have already tore you to shreds, and Iâm sure I need a punishment anyway for coming in so late.âÂ
He started to protest, but after catching the look in her dark, iron eyes, he relented. âWell, I thank you for your generosity.â The other two, however, were not as compliant.
Purah cupped her hands around her mouth, yelling, âBooooo... Boo to pity! Boo to generosity!â Robbie mimicked her.Â
âYeah you have to respect your eldersâ wishes. We demand blood! Suffering!âÂ
Adello cracked her neck for show, before downing her glass of cider in a few gulps. The stench and tingling sensation seemed to stick to the sides of her throat. It would take more than water to clear that out. âAdequateâ was being very generous when describing its quality.
âMmmm. The ciderâs weirdly salty tonight, I think your attitudes got mixed in here.â
Purah blew another rasberry at her.
They played for a few more rounds, the clatter of cups and breaths of laughter decorating the hours. Much to everyoneâs distaste, Purah continued her winning streak, getting by with unbeatable information about the King, royal guards, and one embarrassing anecdote about how her little sister, Impa, had caught her writing an interesting letter to the âlocal archery hunk.â
Yet, Purah laughed along with the rest of them, the eyes behind her red rimmed glasses held no shame, which Adello envied. Of course that sort of attitude would make you a master at this game. Robbie and Adello attempted to team up and be biased towards Purah in an effort to get her to lose, but either Zimiri didnât take the hint, or he just really liked playing fair which wasnât exactly out of character, even if it meant more drinks for him.Â
Suddenly, a bell towards the back of the pub rang, signifying the end of the bandâs gig. The dancing paused, as people gave their thanks, varying from politie applause to drunken yelps. Robbie then rapped the table with his hands, excitedly.
âYou know what else tonight needs? Some amazing music, eh Zimiri?â He bounced his eyebrows up and down at him, and gestured towards the lute leaning on one of the table legs.
âI donât know,â Zimiri replied, âIâve only a part-time hire for the weekend rush hours, and I wouldnât want to blindly get on stage and sing without being given permission.âÂ
Adello scoffed. âUh, are you kidding? The owner would love for you to play without paying you. Havenât you heard the talk around town? The Adequateâs Tavern: Home of alright food and acceptable ale, but an outstanding, white-haired bard!â
He fiddled with the string in his hair again. âOh yeah? Iâd love to meet him someday.â At this, Adello clicked her tongue and promptly shoved him out of his chair with her hip.Â
He laughed to himself as he stumbled aback. âAlright, alright, but only because the birthday tyrant requested it.â Robbie clapped his hands in a âchop-chopâ fashion, to truly signify his role as the newly dubbed tyrant.
Suddenly, Zimiri perked his head. Stepping back towards the table, he reached for his cup. âOh wait, I just lost that round. I still need to drink myââ
Adello grabbed the cup right out of his hands. She tipped it 180 degrees and let the cider spill completely onto the wooden floor. He hopped back, and Purah let out a surprised yelp, saying something about letting the stench seep into the floorboards. Robbie just started to laugh, wildly. Noticing the small commotion, a few other guests looked back at them and started to snicker to themselves.
Setting the cup back on the table, the researcher said, âGreat, now you donât need to ruin your voice any longer. Now get up there and one-up the last band.âÂ
The bard pushed his chair under the table. Picking up his lute as he stood and faced Adello, a charming smile on his face. âHeh, well. My singing voice is grateful. I suppose now Iâm in debt to comply.â He gave a curt bow.
Robbie clapped his hands again. âGreat, great. Now quit the manners and letâs go already! I still have to order the cake pie!â
Both of the girls rolled their eyes in unison. Zimiri shrugged and started to walk through the small crowd of standing Hylians, and towards the small stage.Â
A few of the regulars who recognized him let out whoops and whistles, yelling out âBard!â or âMore music!â in support. It seemed that no one really knew his name, but it was nice enough to know that even working here part time would grant you the honor of being recognized by a bunch of random folk. One confused patron, who only associated him with âzâ yelled out âYeah, Zelda!â before promptly slumping under the table. Looking around, a blonde girl caught his eye, as it seemed she was staring at him. He waved, and her cheeks, much to Zimiriâs confusion, turned pink at his gaze and she turned to her friends who started giggling.Â
Moving past the last of the Hylians with an, âexcuse me, sorry!â he finally stepped on the stage. The bard pulled up a small stool to the stage, leaning against it. Most of the folks continued to whoop in approval, seemingly eager for another chance to start dancing. Even the barkeep clapped his hands, probably excited at the thought of a free gig.
I guess, if no one is stopping meâŠ
It was a rowdy bunch, but not a new one. Zimiri had played for these kinds of audiences before.Â
âI see that quite a few people are itching for a new tune. So, uh, any requests?â he announced as he strum a chord on his lute.Â
A mass of different voices bounced around the tavern, requests ranging from The Babblerâs Jig, Miskoâs Tale, The Eldin Bluffs, and Can I Get More Ale? Although, Zimiri wasnât quite familiar with the chords of that last song.Â
He couldnât stop himself from being biased towards the request of a certain dark skinned girl to his left.
âThe World Behind!â Adello said. âEnough with those new ballads, I demand a classic!âÂ
Robbie pumped an arm in the air. âYes!â he shouted. âI second that! So is my decree as birthday tyrant!â
The bard smiled, preparing the fingering on the neck of his lute. He turned towards the audience. âWell, Iâm afraid I have no choice but to heed to such authority.â He began to pluck the beginning notes, tapping a tempo with his boot against the stage. âNow then, a beat, if you all would be so kind?â
The tavern chattered in approval, before piping down. There probably weren't more than 30 people, but the beat they made was definitely sufficient. The sound of stomping, banging mugs, and clapping filled the room. The tempo didnât even need much adjusting, as The World Behind was pretty familiar around Castle Town. The beat was like a child pretending to be a marching soldier, unconcerned and playful.
Zimiriâs smile widened. A lively crowd indeed, this will do nicely.Â
With that, he started to sing. His silvery voice echoed across the tavern, as he closed his eyes and began to play.
The boys have gone out to the wishing well
Will they come back? Oh only time will tell
A rupee for a life refined
But time and dreams never align
So tell the world weâll leave it all behind
Many of the guests had started to dance again, while the rest continued the beat of the song. As Zimiri plucked rapid notes on his lute, he heard a supporting holler from Purah. Next to her, Robbie was slamming his fist to the beat, clearly enjoying himself.
Have you seen the soldiersâ drinking ale?
They wish to sing along with nightingales
To dance on home with songs and rhymes
To banish all the fears from mind
Yes tell the world weâll leave it all behind
Another pause between the verses, and the bard played the âdecorativeâ rapid notes in between. He didnât mean to seem like he was showing off, but Adello would attest to the fact that this happened whenever he got too into the music. Looking towards her, Zimiri saw her give a double thumbs up.Â
Of beasts and men and all atrocities
The damn-ed fate, she owns all that you see
To a better day of new design
Forgot about the gods divine
Oh tell the world weâll leave it all behindÂ
At this point, some of the guests were singing along, though not to the point of overpowering his own alluring voice. Laughter rang out around the warmly lit room once again. Zimiri looked out at the dancing patrons and smiling guests, grinning at the feeling in his chest this brought. He continued the last verse.
Watch the home whileâ
âHEY!â
The sudden gruff voice startled the bard to the point where he nearly slipped off the stage.
Lumbering through the double doors, three guards entered the tavern. The one in front, who had interrupted the music, wore a typical knightâs outfit, the same as his male and female coworkers behind him. However, the black hooded cape he wore atop his metal armour swayed with every step he took across the floor, his supposed rank silencing the room.Â
Well, mostly, silenced the room. A few ticked off guests were booing, groaning, and mocking him for ruining the entertainment.Â
âOh would you lot shut up for 2 seconds?!â he said, his voice booming across the tavern. âListen, Iâll be blunt. I gotta give two messages for this establishment.â
The guests shook their heads, mumbling. Their booing and insults continued, but their volume quieted, it was too early to be getting cross with a couple of knights. Even Zimiri quietly slipped off the stage back towards his friends so as not to be at the end of the knightâs intimidating voice. Â
The female guard behind the knight handed him a slip of parchment. Unfolding it, the guard cleared his throat.
âFirstly, youâre music and pounding is disturbing the noblemen next door. Heâs staying at the inn or something and wants you to quote,â he read from the paper, âquit the mindless thumping, for Castle Town is a place of serenity and peace, not of nonsense jigs and banging.â
The groaning and insults started up again, the man gave a shrug, stating something about how he was just following orders.Â
Adello couldnât help but laugh out loud. âHA! Well, with an attitude like that, thisâll probably be the first and only time heâs been banged, he should be grateful.â
The room exploded into a mess of laughter and whoops. Even the guard smirked to himself, but attempted to hide it with a shake of his head, saying âWatch the mouth girl.â Although, his stern tone wasnât in it.
After a second, he cleared his throat again. With a stomp of his boot regained the pub's attention, the laughter suffocated out.
âNow, weâre also here looking for a Dr. Robbie Kimura? I received word they might be around here?â
With the attention now towards a single table, most of the guests went back to their idle banter. A few waiters nodded their head towards the table in the back, and the man caught sight of three, white haired teenagers, who were sitting with the dark haired girl who had quipped out earlier.Â
The scientists turned around too late, in an effort to avoid the knightâs gaze. âGee, what a bunch of snitches,â Robbie mumbled. The three guards started to walk over to the table.Â
âDr...Robbie?â
âWhoâs asking?â Robbie squinted with his dark brown eyes.
âIs this some kind of prank? You and your friends donât even look old enough to drink.â
He scoffed. âOk, first, yes I am a doctor! I didnât fly through all those courses over four years just to be called, âMr.â And secondly, Iâll have you know that I am a ripe 20 years of age today, and Iâm here drinking expired apple juice with my associates. So take that, pal!â
Beside him, Purah gave a proud nod in agreement. Zimiri started to wave at the guards, but Adello grabbed his arm before he could finish the movement. The guard was a bit unsettled with the way that girl was glaring at him. What was some random Hylian doing hanging out with a bunch of Sheikah anyway?
âRight, well look here son. Some curious aristo-brat snuck into the courtyard and caused one of those flying, metal Sheikah things to fall apart. My boss said that it was your prototype so you should come back and clean it up before something explodes, and possibly give a sincere apology to the meddling kid who got a few scratches.â
Robbie threw his hands in the air, exasperated. âYouâre really gonna pull me out of a birthday just so I can go apologize to a spoiled kid for breaking in and ruining my Guardian?â
âIf it letâs me keep my job, then yeah.â
Robbie mumbled something about not getting a slice of the apple cake pie.Â
Suddenly, Adello got up and pushed her chair in, smoothing out the belt around her tunic as she walked towards them.Â
âAh yes, well thank you my dear assistant for the assessment but Iâm capable of taking it from here.â
The guard raised a bushy, black eyebrow. âSorry wha-â
âYou said you only wanted Dr. Robbie? Well great job, you found them. Now letâs get going, I need to finish up a new design anyway.â
âOh, Iâm sorry, I should have had my mother consult you for your opinion before I was given my name.â
This time, the guard didnât smile along with her quip. âThis is not the time forââ
She held up a finger to silence him, and glared at the three guards with her iron eyes.
âLook, Iâm not a nobody. Iâm more than capable of fixing up the guardian and any other disasters you might have left lying around the castle grounds. If Iâm feeling generous, maybe Iâll even lick the kidâs boots, itâs not my first time dealing with this, alrighty?â
The knights looked at each other, quizzically. The researcher crossed her arms.Â
âYouâre still following your precious orders, aren't you? How would you know what Dr. Robbie looks like? You canât be faulted for not knowing someone you never met. So, youâll just have to take my word for it.â
The blonde man behind the gruff, black caped guard, whispered something to his female coworker. Her gaze switched between the girl and the man. Still seeing the uncertainty in their eyes, Adello leaned closer to the knight and lowered her voice. âCome on, have a little heart, itâs his birthday.â
A beat of silence sat, only filled by the mild mumbling and chatter of the tavern. Finally, the guard let out a sigh.Â
âAlrighty Dr. Kimura. Iâll help escort you to the site.â
Robbie started to protest, but Adello quickly silenced him with a wink. The guard turned towards the rest of the room, yelling, âThe rest of you, the sun is gonna rise in a few hours so save your rioting for then! Am I clear?â
The patrons just responded with stupid groans, and half-hearted agreements. They started walking towards the door. The female guard started to put a hand on Adelloâs shoulder, but she brushed it off, saying something along the lines of âI can walk on my own two feet, thank you very much.â
Purah turned in her seat. âIâll save a slice of cake pie for you!â Adello turned her head and responded with a two fingered salute, before disappearing out the door with the guards.Â
The tension in the tavern was almost immediately cleared, the moment the knights left. Most of the people went back to their normal conversational volume, and the waiters began to patter about with more confidence. However, Zimiri slumped in his seat, letting out a sigh.Â
âWhy does she always do things like that?â
Robbie fiddled with the edge of his cup, tracing his finger around the rim. âWell, you know her. Undermining authority? Check. Insults and quips? Check.â
Robbie continued to list off more traits, but it faded out of Zimiriâs ear. Always jumping onto otherâs burdens. Ah, that idiot. I bet she hasnât slept for the last two days.Â
Purah suddenly piped up, taking out her pen and rapping it against the table. âAlright you too, letâs not let the sacrifice be in vain. Pool your rupees, weâre getting Robbie the fancy cake pie.âÂ
The clatter of a few red and blue rupees echoed on the wooden table, although Zimri knocked Robbieâs share aside, saying how the birthday tyrant shouldnât have to pitch in. Purah turned in her chair and started to wave her hand, in order to get the attention of a waiter. The bard watched as a woman with a tray started to walk over to the table. Then, he turned to Robbie.Â
âSo what should we do while we wait?â Zimiri asked. Robbie stroked his chin, looking around the room.Â
âI think...the people could still use some music.â
Looking out at the crowd, Zimiri noticed how the guards' interference had really dampened the atmosphere. The warm and lively laughter that was present just a few moments earlier was now replaced with more monotone chatter.
He nodded his head in agreement, putting on a charming smile. The place needed a new pick-me-up, did it?
Well, what else is a musician for?
Stepping back onto the stage, he strummed an open chord, double checking the tuning. The whooping and clapping started to return, much to his delight. Plucking a familiar melody, the warm feeling in his stomach returned as he watched the new smiles that started to fill the room. However, before he began to sing, Zimiri first focused on craning his neck to look out a window, trying to catch a glimpse of a certain girl in the night.Â
It seemed the moon and sun were balanced on the edge of the world. The night had started to submerge behind the walls of West Castle Town, with only the brightest stars still perched upon the ink of the navy blue sky. The silver lining of greying clouds just barely glowed from the faint light of the day, still trying to break out of the eastern waters.Â
Adelloâs footsteps echoed through the cobblestone streets, but she could barely hear it against the shifting of metal plates from the guards in front of her.Â
The gruff man looked back, scratching his peach fuzzed chin as he spoke. âListen, if you finish your work quick I might be able to escort you back here.â
Adello shook her head. She turned to retrieve a journal from the pouch on her belt, opening its pages as an excuse to avoid his gaze. âNo, itâs fine. I still have some more work I should be finishing up at home anyhow.â
âYou...live at the castle?â
âMmm.â
The guard took her blunt response as a sign to not continue with the niceties, much to Adelloâs relief. Looking up, she gazed at the looming castle. Its towers were like mountain peaks, sitting above the blurred silhouettes of the buildings of Castle Town.Â
Taking out a bit of charcoal, she started to sketch its outline on a fresh page in her journal. While she only had one color, she tried to capture the shadows and lighting that cascaded on one side of the castle to the other.Â
The female guard slowed her step, starting to walk alongside the researcher.Â
âAlready working?â
Adello didnât look up from her journal. âUh⊠you could say that.â
She laughed. âWell you best hope you know what youâre doing. This kidâs father has been yelling at her highness all night. Supposedly because sheâs helping to lead Sheikah research, so everyone associated with guardians is at fault.â
Adello finished up the tower of Princess Zeldaâs study in her sketch. She smiled to herself at the finished work. It was one of her better pieces. Putting the journal away, she turned back to the guard and scoffed. âIs that so?â
The guard hummed a yes. âApparently, the kid is the son of some visiting nobleman from the East Post. Itâd be in your best interest to apologize profusely if you still wanna walk around alive.âÂ
Adello shook her head. She didnât know it then, but looking back, many moons from now, she would laugh at the irony of her response.
