Big IW creative writin...I don't know if this is absurdly large but I think its just right, he's as wide as two regular space marines, bro is just bulky as hell
overview: despite your complaints, tylers always too soft in you. if he's not going to take initiative, then it seems like you'll have to.
tws: tyler durden himself, not beta read and written at 4 in the morning, please forgive me if it's garbage anonđđĽš
the day starts off bland, all things considered. a casual day late into the spring,, some light rain that had already eased up in favor of sunshine and a nice breeze. on a day like this, after a rough night prior, tyler was content in lousing lazily on the couch, a cigarette between his fingers and his eyes fixed onto the cheap tv that sat on top of a barely standing table.
you sat on the other side of the couch, legs crossed at the ankles over his lap. you weren't focusing much on the tv, instead droning off into your own thoughts. lately, you had noticed that tyler seemed to.. baby you, for lack of a better word. compared to how he treated his groupies, friends, whatever they were,, he treated you like glass.
it was sweet, but you could take a little roughhousing too. you didn't want to be treated like a baby. you were a grown pup for crying out loud! it starts out small, unnoticeable at first. lightly poking him with your toe, to which he just gives your leg a light pat without looking away from the tv. it only peeves you more, so you give his thigh a rougher nudge with your foot.
finally, he looks over at you, cocking a brow. "what?" you only shrug. when he looks away, you're back at it again, kicking him harder this time. he grabs you by the ankle, jaw twitching as he looks back at you. your expression finally breaks into a smile. his own expression softens upon seeing it. "you play too soft." you say suddenly.
he blinks at you a moment, chin tilting up slightly as he registers the words. "whaddiya mean?" he cracks a slight grin. the grin falters when you somehow manage to launch yourself ontop of him, eyes wide with a toothy grin. you take the cigarette from between the fingers of his far-hand, stubbing it out in the ashtray on the old coffee table. he watches you with a quizzical smile until you take hold of his shoulders, using all your might to send the couch the two of you are on backwards with the both of you rolling away across the floor.
as the two of you come to a halt, his hand is already tucked under your head to keep it from hitting the floor too hard. it was sweet, once you noticed it. but you're quick to refocus yourself, rolling over to straddle him. "you're too easy with me." you complain again. tyler's brows raise slightly, smile remaining easily in place. "what're you on about, huh?" he questions, giving you a light poke in the ribs, to which you squirm slightly.
you grimace, giving his hand a light swat. "I mean, I wanna actually wrestle!" you puff. "without you babying me so much." you declare. tyler snorts at that. "wrestle you?" he began, bringing a hand up to your cheek, thumb swiping underneath your eyes. "aren't you a little too soft for that? your pretty skin'll bruise all nasty." he teased, giving your cheek a light pinch to which your expression contorts yet again. "I'm serious!" you growl, despite how unintimdating you appear. just how could he refuse when you make such cute faces?
in reality, as pretty as he thinks you'd look covered in bruises, especially from him, he can't help being concerned. he tends to get too into fighting sometimes, living proof wandering around the streets right now, on about their normal lives despite their broken bones or busted lips. he didn't want to get in too deep and actually hurt you like that. but you didn't seem like you were backing down anytime soon. he exhaled a loud sigh, the corners of his lips twitching up briefly.
"alright, alright fine. so long as it's just play." he relents with a grin, watching how your eyes shine with excitement. you don't wait much longer than that. no sooner than the words leave his lips, the two of you are rolling all about, elbows pushed into sides with a gentle undertone, palms shoved in faces to make the others head hit the ground. a battle for dominance, a sublte whisper feeds your thoughts, triggering an instinct once dormant.
your eyes flash, and he notices how your movements grow rougher, your hits getting sharper. he's immediately concerned, and goes to say as much, but the moment of weakness becomes your advantage. in the blink of an eye, you've got your legs wrangling his, halfway leaned onto one of his arms with one hand holding down his free wrist, and the other holding his head against the ground. it's an awkward, honestly uncomfortable position, but you maintain it. chest heaving, eyes wide to match his own.
rationality catches back up to you as your grip softens up, hands moving to rest on either side of his head. he grins slightly, and you can already hear his teasing words before he speaks them into existence. "must've been waiting to do that for awhile, huh?" your nose scrunched slightly before relaxing, an awkward smile twisting your lips. "sorry.. I didn't hurt you too bad, did I??" you're quick to start looking him over, pupils shrinking just slightly.
he shook his head with a snort. "I should be asking you that. I'm just fine, baby. promise." he reassures you, the muscles in your shoulders relaxing. after that it's quiet for a few long moments, just the two of you staring at eachother. finally, he brings his hands up to your cheeks, cupping them. you blink once, twice as you watch him close. he tilts your head down slightly, giving you a soft kiss on the forehead.
you smile to yourself a second, that expression immediately replaced with surprise as you jolt back. "you bit me!" you yelp, eyes wide. he snickered. "what, like it's the first time?" he teased, hands moving to rest on your waist. "my forehead, you bit my forehead!" you're absolutely baffled. your reaction only causes him to laugh more, your cheeks flustering as a low growl leaves you.
"weirdo." your grumble in complaint. his laughter eases up into a light grin, shifting slightly underneath. "alright, cmon, down boy!" he jokingly commands. "I'm squished under here." he complains, despite easily lifting you up off of him as he sits up. "yeah, yeah." your reply, equally sassy as you pull yourself up off the ground, him standing beside you a moment later. you intertwine your fingers with his and he pulls you close, ruffling your hair because he knows it gets on your nerves only to give you a small peck on the side of your face afterwards.
again, sorry if this is super bad!! I wasn't sure if you wanted like hybrid!reader or just like, puppycoded!reader, and I also didnt know which version of tyler you meant so I went most popular.. realizing now I could've asked before writing but what's done is done.. đĽš
As much as I thought the OoT manga had hit on something good with what they did with Volvagia being rescued by young Link and later he was forced to kill it, I really love Hyrule Warriors and Volga.
So, a concept, which allows me to expand on the Nobility and the corruption plot line that Zelda is fighting an underworld war with:
A century before OoT, the Lord of the Akkala Region whom resided in the Akkala Citadel was Volga who was known as the great Dragon Knight of Akkala. Â He had no interest in Court nor politics, caring only for battle and victory and as a result was at odds with the other regions. He was determined to be the greatest knight and fill his trophy room with the heads of mythical creatures and monsters and win every grand tourney throughout Hyrule.Â
He was so arrogant and full of self-worth, that he sought the greatest trophy of all to crown his castle, the head of the mythical Dragon Dinraal. He tasked scholars from Hyrule Castle to research a way to summon the Dragon whom rarely appeared and only to those worthy. Knowing of his warrior nature and of Dinraal as an aspect of the Goddess of Power Din, they aided him, believing that he sought Dinraalâs blessing.
When the time came, he performed the rite and summoned Dinraal at the Spring of Power. Sensing the deceit of Volga and his men armed as they were for a hunt, Dinraal cursed him in the form of his avatar, a fire dragon. The men, minds twisted by the power of Dinraal, mistook their master for their quarry and attacked. Volga fled to the north flank of death mountain, his scaly hide full of arrows and roared in anguish.Â
And so the Dragon Knight Volga disappeared never to be seen again. His nephew claiming Lordship over Akkala.Â
A century passed and the Dragon Volvagia became a scary bedtime story for children. Should you wander into the shadow of Death Mountain, into the Badlands with itâs great skeletons, the fiery Wyrm shall devour you. Here is where the fallen warrior lay dormant, wallowing in memories long gone of honourable battle and the hunt.
Until the Evil Gerudo King Ganondorf found him and using the Triforce of Power, twisted what remained of the Hylian Warrior into the hungry raging monster. He commanded the dragon to rule over Death Mountain and bring the Gorons to heel.Â
Soon a young man with a faerie challenged him. The battle was vicious as it raged in the molten depths of the Fire Temple. Wielding the legendary hammer of the Gorons, Link shattered the scales of the monster before delivering the final blow with the Master Sword. The dragonâs head rolled to the ground, and much to the horror of the boy, it transformed into the head of a man.Â
Every being that had fallen on his sword had been a monster, a being created by evil, but not this time. Lifeless green eyes stared up at him and something broke within. He had spilled the blood of a man.
Ganondorf fell, and time reset and the dragon awakened in itâs cave. A haunted dream to add to his meaningless existence of hunting animals for meat.
Ten years passed until one day two Hylians entered his den. Roaring and breathing fire he engaged to push them from his territory but they held firm with skill and magic. Face to face he came with a young man whose features struck a chord in the back of his mind, of a boy, a hammer and crushing pain.Â
But before he could turn the figure to ash it was the other young man dressed as Sheikah that called him by his name, his true name which had not been uttered in a century. The two Hylians then lifted their hands and the dragon was blinded by Golden light and when he opened his eyes he knelt on the floor, a man once more.Â
Bested in battle by these fearless warriors, whom broke his curse, he swore his fealty to them and took an oath to be a guardian of the Spring of Power, to atone for his original sin.Â
A new ally honour bound to her service was to be an asset to the Princess, for those who ruled Akkala were a source of corruption in her Court that she wished to root out. A trusted heir to the throne of Akkala would be useful and perhaps could help her bring down the current Lord, Volgaâs great-great nephewâŚ
this is sooooo specific iâm sorry âŚ. soft dom tyler durden x puppydog boyfriend (afab nonbinary) fluff (fluff -> smut if u want) perhaps puppy boyfriend wants tyler to wrestle/playfight with him but tylerâs scared of being too rough or something I donât know i just like this guy so much and LLLOVE the idea of him being a big softie 4 his partner but still letting them be in on the fighting thing uahaha âŚ..
It should be up and posted! It's a bit messy for my first actual request but I hope you enjoy!! đĽš
hi!! on here I go by rev, and I go by he/him. I am a transgender man and I'm 18! I don't post very often, but when I do it's to help me try and get over writersblock or just when I'm hit with an idea. my asks are almost always open unless my profile specifies otherwise!!
fandoms ill write for
⢠supernatural
⢠anything jake gyllenhaal related
⢠mha
⢠jjk
⢠arcane
⢠detroit become human
⢠the boys
⢠the walking dead game
⢠attack on titan
⢠until dawn
⢠shameless
⢠the last of us
⢠no I'm not a human
⢠fightclub
⢠challengers
and more! just ask, and if I know it I'll do it! :D
things I won't write
⢠scat
⢠ageplay
⢠incest
⢠rape
⢠illegal age gaps
⢠smut for underaged characters
⢠probably fem readers (sorry ladies!)
and surely more that I can't think of, but as said, ask and I'll let you know!
DNI list
⢠minors
⢠ageless blogs
⢠zoophiles / pedophiles
⢠proshippers / people who ship family members or illegal agegaps
⢠racists, homophobes, transphobes/terfs, misogynists, and anything similar to these ideals.
Finalized
please be sure to read this before making a request or interacting with my feed! I hope you all enjoy my work as you come and go!!
Shad, local bookshop owner and avid scholar is delivered the partially destroyed notes of his late Fatherâs controversial research into the legend of the Hero of Time. Theories which challenge the very foundations of Hyrulean society.
It was a warm summer day in Castle Town. The sky was a brilliant blue, and the breeze was gentle and cool as it flowed through the bustling streets keeping the temperature pleasant. It was noisy and alive with the shouts of merchants, the laughter of children and the clinking of chainmail from the guards on patrol.
Walking through the crowds, deep in thought was Shad. He hadnât noticed the weather or the cheerful buzz of the world around him and he artfully dodged around all the people with a skill only learnt by those who had spent their life in town.Â
After a short walk he came to his destination, the bridge at the north end of town that lead to Hyrule Castle. Here he sat on a nearby bench and pulled a very tattered book out of his satchel. The bookâs cover was relatively new, and was one of the few things keeping together the burnt pages. He untied the leather cord that held the cover shut and re-read the letter inside for what must be the hundredth time in the past three days.
When the Historianâs Guild revoked your late Fatherâs membership they attempted to destroy his offending work. I managed to save most of it. It is time it was returned to you. Some truths should not remain buried.Â
Should this interest you, a trusted friend will meet you in two days time at Castle Bridge at noon.Â
Shad was very interested. He had spent his whole life fascinated by the history of Hyrule and his Fatherâs research. Many of his favourite memories as a boy involved running down the enormous bookcases of the Castle Library while his father worked and the stories he would tell of their ancient land.Â
His father never told him why he was cast out from the Guild, forbidden from returning to the Castle. A difference of opinion was as much as he would reveal. He went on to open a bookshop in town where he stayed until he passed from illness a few months ago. Shad had found few references to his Fatherâs research, he knew that it revolved around the myth of the Sky Kingdom and the Goddess Hylia but there was little evidence left to be found.
That is until two days ago when he woke up in the morning to find the book on his bedside table. Any fear he had about a stranger breaking into his house while he slept was quickly forgotten in light of the book containing his fatherâs lost research. While many pages were destroyed, there were enough sketches and musings left to get him started. He was hoping that whoever he was meant to meet could fill in the blanks.Â
He didnât need to wait long when he was shaken from his thoughts by a hearty chuckle.
âShad dear boy! Look at you! How time flies.â The voice belonged to a very old man in a long robe. He shuffled along with the aid of a walking stick, back bowed but eyes twinkling behind thick glasses and bushy eyebrows.Â
âHe-hello sirâ Shad replied standing to his feet and giving a polite bow. âForgive me I-â
âDonât remember me? Do not fret I didnât expect you to, after all the last time we met you were but a little lad playing hide and seek amongst the bookcases. I am Lord Rodamus, retired Royal tutor and member of the Historianâs Guild.â He then gave a playful wink. âA dear friend told me iâd find you here.âÂ
âIt is a pleasure sir. May i ask to who this friend is?â
âYou would not know them personally if that is what you are wondering.â
Shadâs list of questions just got bigger but there was a more immediate one that was pressing on him.
âI must confess Sir Iâm confused as to why you are interested in helping me with this? This bookâs destruction was ordered by the Historianâs GuildâŚâ
Rodamus smiled. âAcademia is a war zone of opinion dear boy. It forms the foundation of society itself.â He proceeded to tap the cover of the book with a gnarled finger. âSo when new ideas crop up that threaten the very meaning of our world and the beliefs of those that shaped it, well⌠fear is a powerful force. Your father had a saying-â.
âThe greatest weapon is knowledge.â
âIndeed.â He then looked skyward and took a deep breath of the air, a calm smile on his face. âWhat a beautiful day it is, I hope you donât mind humouring an old man by going for a wander.âÂ
âIâd be happy to sir.â
âWonderful!â
**
If Shad was being honest, he had no idea how to react to the situation. Last week his life revolved around running his Fatherâs bookshop, reading and dreaming about adventures contained within. Then he received a book so ideologically dangerous that the Historianâs Guild had once tried to destroy it. Now he was following a tottery old man about town as he made delighted noises at stalls as though he hadnât left the Castle in years. He probably hadnât.
Eventually they came to a stop in the square behind The Temple of the Goddesses, a hub of architectural beauty in the heart of Castle Townâs more affluent district. Rodamus found himself a seat on a low stone wall facing the impressive sculpture carved into the back wall of the Temple. Three thirty foot circular arches bordered by elaborate marble columns contained gold leaf encrusted mosaics of the Golden goddesses, towering over the fountain before them. Before the central mosaic of Din the Goddess of Power was a smaller, yet still towering marble sculpture of the Goddess Hylia. Her two enormous wings swept forward to curve around the feet of the smaller armour clad figure of the Hero of Time. He stood upon a plinth above the water, cape carved to float behind him. The legendary Master sword lifted high infront of him.
Shad had seen it before of course, it was one of the greatest artistic accomplishments of last century. He wasnât as awestruck by it as most were, he found it gaudy. He glanced out of the corner of his eye at Rodamus who was gazing in appreciation at it. One of the pages in his fatherâs notes had contained a sketch of the fountain and while many of the written notes had faded or had burnt, one remaining word had stood out, likely as the quill had pressed so hard it had practically tore through.Â
Lies.
âImpressive isnât it? Commissioned by Queen Zelda the XIX one hundred and eighty years ago, it is one of the few pieces of Hylian Art depicting the Hero of Time. Most consider him a myth, a bedtime story for children. Apparently the knight was meant to be a simple representation of the Hylian army, hence the shape of the armour. However stories have floated around since then that the Queen convinced the the sculptor to render the Master sword in his hand which was only revealed to the clergy on completion. It was an enormous controversy of course.â
Shadâs brow wrinkled in confusion. âI donât understand, the Hero has always been a figure of Temple canon why would this create controversy?â
âBecause no one can agree anymore on the hero as an idea. The priests once preached that the Goddess Hylia chose a hero of great courage to be her champion. Upon his sacrificial death she chose to relinquish her divinity and pour her light into the future, choosing a vessel to carry her power. To fight beside her champion when evil rose once more. It is a lovely tale, promising that we will always be protected at the hands of Hylia.â
âThe vessel of Hylia is said to be a position passed down amongst the women of the Royal Bloodline. This is the main explanation as to why there has always been potent magic. It looks good for the Royal family as well, it is hard to distrust a sovereign that may be blessed directly by the divine.â
âIn the end the scholarly debate comes down to symbolism. The story of the hero is often told as a person of great valour to serve, a position anyone can aspire to be. Itâs an idea deep within the ideals of our military, our protectors. The heroism and bravery to serve Hyrule.â
Rodamus turned to Shad.
âTo understand why this particular statue angered the clergy so is because it was altered by a Queen in direct position to the plan. And in doing so it brought back memories from the past that were believed to be long buried.â
With a grunt, Rodamus rose to his tottery feet. âthat of course is another story, one that your father like the Queen, attempted to bring back into the light.â
Shad had also risen to his feet. âPlease tell me.â
Rodamus smiled, âWhy donât I show you?â
***
It had been a slow walk back to the Castle, with frequent rests and side distractions. The Guards didnât react as they crossed the bridge, passing onto the great stone edifice of Hyrule Castle. Shad presumed they would head to the Library, which housed some of the greatest knowledge of Hyrule, but he was wrong. Instead they wound slowly down through long forgotten stairwells, where dust clung to every surface and spiders spun grand webs. It was through hidden doors behind moth bitten tapestries and deep into the rock itself that they found themselves after a time before a door. Rodamus pulled out of his robe a very rusted key and with much struggling finally managed to open it.
The mystery of the decent into the depths of the castle had Shad practically bouncing in barely concealed excitement, this left him almost immediately as the door opened onto an abandoned storeroom. It appeared to contain mostly furniture, some pieces draped in heavy and moth-eaten cloth. It was mouldy too, and Shad jumped as an enormous rat scuttled over his boots.Â
Rodamus didnât seem to pay this any mind as he edged his way through the mounds of broken wood to the back corner where a sheet was draped over something. The cloth had been removed recently as there were only remnants of broken web clinging to it. Rodamus snapped his fingers near a new looking candlestick which leapt into flame, illuminating the room. He turned to Shad with the look of a teacher about to start a lecture. Shad leaned forward eagerly.
âUp until seven centuries ago the story of the Hero of Time was told differently. He featured quite frequently in art, which is one of the reasons we have a common understanding of the appearance of the Master Sword. Of course scholars these days raise the theory that artists could have simply copied each other as no one in recorded history can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that it ever existed. That of course is another debate I will bore you with another time.â
âNow do you know who was on the throne seven centuries ago, albeit briefly?â
Shad had already done the math. Once he read something, he rarely forgot a detail. âQueen Zelda XIII.â
âAlso known asâŚâ
âThe Mad Queen.â
âCorrect. According to history she suffered from terrible dreams, some say the dreams of prophecy, others memory. Either way she was often sickly and struggled to commit to the simplest of duties. Her brothers had passed from the plague and when her father joined them the Council had no choice but to crown her Queen. The magic of the bloodline of course had to continue. They eventually managed to convince her to marry a man of their choice who went on to solely rule the kingdom. In time she bore him a son and the bloodline was secured.â
âNow she was referred to as the Mad Queen because she was often lost to her dreams and visions. Reports found deep in the royal archive from her doctors refer to her as frequently delusional and prone to hallucination. As she grew older the worse these delusions became. She would frequently be found screaming about her sistersâ betrayal despite only having brothers and a lover that they took from her. There is no evidence either to suggest she had a secret lover as she was watched far too closely.â
The room fell silent as the words hung in the musty air for a moment.
âYouâre probably wondering what any of this has to do with art and history?â Rodamus looked like an excitable boy about to drop a big secret. He started to whisper.
âThis all resulted in the Queen doing something that would forever change the Templeâs relationship with the Hero of Time.â
Shad was perplexed. âHow?â
âAre you familiar with the Temple of Time on the Great Plateau?â
âYes, I have been many times. Itâs the Oldest Temple in Hyrule dedicated to Hylia. It houses the largest statue of her in existence.â
âOne of the oldest, others have been lost to timeâs embrace. Statues of Hylia exist all across our land and are usually depicted the same, yet this one is different and iâm not referring to her size.â
Shad closed his eyes, as he did so the Temple came into view. Tiny details sprung up, the smell of the stone, the empty window frames. Hylia rose above him her smiling face carved simply into the rock. Shad looked for something odd and eventually it clicked.
âHer hands are positioned differently. Her left palm is open facing the roof and her right palm is facing outwards as though giving a blessing. Her hands are usually clasped in prayer.â
âPraying to her elder sisters the Golden Three for our safekeeping. Many depict her as a passive mother figure these days and forget she was once a fighter. Her left palm is flat and open because she used to hold something.â
It was then with a grin that Rodamus grabbed hold of the draping cloth and removed it in a cloud of dust.
Shadâs eyes widened as he took in what stood before him. It was a very old statue of a man standing upon a slab of stone. He was dressed in draped cloth like the ancient soldiers of Hyrule, a round shield strapped to his right arm and in his left raised high, was the Master Sword.Â
âThe Great statue of Hylia once held the Hero of Time?âÂ
âShe did. Raised high above the floor where he would only be a glimpse from those worshippers far below. A man held above the common people. It is a true wonder of scale the statue was when complete considering he is life sized.â
Shad looked at the statue who only matched his own average height because it was standing upon a stone slab. He was usually depicted as a towering man âLife sized? I suppose people were shorter back then.â
Rodamus laughed. âPerhaps, or maybe the storytellers didnât think it sounded impressive for a small petite man to do big things. Do you notice anything else unusual?â Â
âYou can see his face, it is always covered by a helmet or the raised sword in paintings. Father once said it was so anyone could stand in his place.â The heroâs face was of a young man, his long hair was held back from his face by a headpiece that rose into the wing shapes associated with Hylia. His draped clothes left part of his chest and arm exposed, the musculature was lean.
Every other depiction of the Hero of Time shared common features, that of what was considered the romantic ideal for a hero. A tall, muscular hulk of a man. This was not it.
âWhy is it here? why was it never returned to the Temple.â
âBecause the Queen changed the story. She had it removed from the Temple and brought to her chambers in secret. When they tried to remove it she would apparently scream and claw at people. She claimed he was her lover, they had all betrayed him and she would keep him safe until their next life. They would finally be together.â
âThey did eventually remove the statue and the poor woman threw herself from the northern battlements. No one likes to go there even to this day. They say at dawn you can hear her ghost wailing, though any architect will tell you it is simply the wind passing through the balustrade.â
âThe damage had been done however. There were always legends about the heroâs soul being immortal, that throughout history he was in fact the same man reborn. Which of course creates problems for the story.â
âHow so? What does it change?â
âIf the Queens of Hyrule are a vessel of Hyliaâs being, and are therefore what remains of her actual self⌠Then what does it mean for a Goddess to romantically love a mortal man?â
âSo they removed him from the canon?â
âThey tried.â
Shad was silent for a time, Rodamus had pulled a pipe from his robe and was puffing peacefully.Â
âIs this what got my Father dismissed? A theory about the Goddess loving the hero instead of simply blessing him?â
âWhat got him dismissed was what this theory meant. That our divine Goddess, protector of our kingdom, mother to us all was at her very core simply a woman who fell in love with a man.âÂ
Rodamusâs lips curved into a sly grin,
âHow blasphemous, to insinuate that a Goddess could fall so low as to relate to us sinners.â
***
Night had fallen by the time Shad had left the Castle. Candles were glowing in windows as families arrived home and the hearty smell of dinner flooded the streets. He barely remembered the walk to his own house, his feet moving on their own accord as his mind was spinning around chaotically. He was passing into a dim alleyway behind his shop when he was shaken from his musings by the plucking of harp strings.
His eyes shot around looking for the source as the melodious sounds bounced across the walls. As the music slowed and began to quieten a silhouetted figure emerged from behind a chimney overlooking the alley. Fingers danced nimbly across the harp strings as the song came to an end.
Shad felt his body freeze as part of the figure edged into the dim light cast by a lantern at the alley entrance. Their face was buried in a scarf and hair wrapped in cloth, light body armour clung to a slight yet masculine looking frame and rows of sharp knives were buckled to their waist and thighs. A faded Sheikah eye was emblazoned on the chest plate. Shad recognised them immediately, for their image graced legions of wanted posters hung from almost every wall in town.
Sheik the Bard. Assassin, Thief, Dangerous.Â
And now staring at him in an empty alley with one eyebrow raised in amusement at his shaking.Â
Sheik glanced away over the sea of rooftops as though lost in thought,
âThe flow of time is cruel. Truths are buried beneath the stones flung by the arrogant and weak minded. The righteous who sacrifice themselves for the good of mankind are simply erased with ink and quill.âÂ
They idly stroked a few strings, releasing discordant notes into the night.Â
âYour father tried to lift one of these stones and like many before him was buried beneath more. The mound becomes greater until it forms a monument of lies which casts a shadow to consume us all. It is time for the monument to fall, and for a son to continue what a father beganâŚâ
Sheik turned to him once again.
âBy digging at its foundation.â
Shad, full of fear found the courage to unclench his jaw. âIt was you⌠you left my fatherâs research for me.â
âSome things are meant to be found, by the right people.â
âLike you?â
âPeople like you, hungry for the truth. When you dwell in the shadows like I do, you must open your eyes wide to see whatâs before you. That book told me nothing I didnât already know.â
Shad was silent. This was absurd. The most dangerous person in Castle Town had been in his home and was now sprouting riddles about the state of Hylian Society. On top of that they were clearly in league with the former Royal Tutor.Â
âWhy tell me all this?! I run a book shop. Iâll be honest iâm glad to finally know what caused my fatherâs dismissal, but what can I do about it now? How can I change anything, who would even care!?â
The ground trembled only silently as Sheik leapt from the roof to land silently before him. He jumped back until he was pressed against the brickwork. They stepped forward into his personal space. They were a similar height and their green eyes bore straight through the lenses of his glasses.
âI have watched you for a while now Shad. Witnessed your passion for knowledge, seen you give books to those who cannot buy, seen you teach those who cannot read. I can see in your eyes that you want what all scholars want. You want to know more about everything your eyes and your heart touches. You want to understand.â
They held up the book that they had clearly pickpocketed from Shadâs bag without him noticing.
âIt is against your nature to put this book on a shelf and leave it to collect dust. Not when it leads to so many unanswered questions. Which is why I have started you on this path of discovery.âÂ
Shad glanced down as his boots fear was welling up in him again but for different reasons.
âWhy me? There must be hundreds of people more qualified to look into this. The furthest iâve been from home is the Great Plateau. I trip over my boots at least once a day, Iâm allergic to most animals and have barely held a sword. What could I do?â
Sheikâs eyes softened. âIn my experience, it is the people you least expect that have the power to change everything for the better.â
They then turned their back on him, fingers returning to strings as a soft melody drifted around them before melting into the shadows.
