animus_network | 1st song ❦ [video]

-So is this how it works?

[On the screen is a small girl, looking about 13, dressed in green and far away from her home. Her eyes glance down a few times, reading the piece of paper in her lap and following its every instruction. Clearly the word technology is foreign to her, let alone the ability to use it.]

Good thing the letter is so thorough, I would've never learned to use this by myself. Of course, I could always be talking to myself instead. I really hope not.

[She lets out a small nervous laugh, but she really does mean it. Just knowing anyone else was out there.]

It's so quiet here, I can't hear anything. Not even the faintest calling from the spirits. Everything here is so cold and hard, so different from the forest. It's actually a little scary...but I guess it's the way things have to be.

[Her eyes saddened a little. This was all real, she could feel it deep down. But then there was always a harder truth to accept.]

What that letter said, about home being destroyed, I don't believe it's a lie. After all, everything passes in time. But for there to have been so little left...I failed in my duties. I'm so sorry everyone.

[As a Sage, she should've been able to see this destruction come. She should've been able to do something...]

If anyone can hear me, my name is Saria. I'm looking for my friends. There are the Sages like myself: Rauru, Darunia, Ruto, Impa, Nabooru, and Princess Zelda; the other Kokiri children....Link....If any of those sound familiar, please let me know.

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Princess Zelda. [Saria bowed her head in respect, but the expression on her face was overjoyed. The leader of the Sages was alive. She had heard but to actually see and hear the princess.]

Why do you say that? Has something happened?

[She allows herself a small, polite smile in return, the happiness in the other girl's expression being infectious.]

Yes - a great deal, in fact. But perhaps this discussion would be one better had in person. May I meet with you, Saria?

Oh, of course. Just- where exactly can I find you? This place is so big, even compared to the Lost Woods. [That and she could easily find her way through the forest. Not so much here.]

It is indeed, and believe me when I say you do not want to go wandering around alone and unprepared.

[~~It's dangerous to go alone!~~]

I am currently on the bottom floor of the dormitories. If you have not gone far from where you awoke, then I am not far.

No, I haven't wandered far. [Though that warning doesn't make her feel better for wandering out in the first place.] I'm on the second floor, but it shouldn't take long to find a way down.

[She doesn't mean to make her feel bad, but alas, it's a cruel truth of life in the Tower. She only hopes that the gentle Forest Sage may avoid harm as much as possible.]

Ah, good. These upper floors are by far the safest in the Tower. There is a stairwell around the center of the floor; shall I meet you there?

Okay, that's fine. [The safest in the Tower?] I'll be there soon. [A few attempts and there's the off key.]

[[ooc: would you like me to start a log?]]

See you then.

[With a nod, she turns off her own video, making her way towards the staircase like a woman on a mission. The risk that Ganondorf would see her conversation with Saria over the network is far too great, especially given the presence of his more technologically advanced allies. Meeting in person will be safer, she thinks.

And she'd like to see the Forest Sage with her own eyes.

As promised, Zelda will be waiting for Saria at the stairwell on the first floor of the dorms, perhaps looking a bit tired but otherwise well.]

[It took Saria a minute or two to completely log off the network, making sure everything was as she had found it before. With time she should be able to get better with it.]

[Hopefully.]

[Saria walked the way to the stairwell, thinking over the princess's ominous tone. It wasn't as if Saria wasn't accustomed to some danger, after all the Lost Woods were no stranger to monsters of its own.]

[Just what was this tower really like?]

[Taking just a little longer than it took Zelda to get to the same place, once catching a glimpse of the princess Saria ran down the rest of the steps.]

Sorry I made you wait.

[As Saria comes into view, Zelda smiles, though there's a gentle shake of her head at the apology.]

No need; I am simply glad to see you for myself.

[Even if time has necessitated use of the network to quickly speak with the other residents of the Tower, she still isn't completely used to using it. Speaking in person still feels much more authentic.]

I should be the one to apologize, for calling you away from speaking with others. But I felt it would be safer to speak with you away from the public eye.

[There's a pause, and she takes a steeling breath, her expression turning grave.]

... The King of Evil is here, hailing from a time centuries after our own. He has created something of an alliance with various other villainous characters here as well. I do not yet know their numbers or their plots, but...

[But she wants to keep Saria out of harms way, if she can.]

[She shakes her head.]

No, it's fine. You know this place much better than I do. [If the matter was that urgent, then Saria had an obligation to see the Princess immediately. Besides, as with Zelda, speaking in person felt right.]

[And her smile faded as her eyes widened at the news. No.]

[No.]

[Not him.]

But...the seal...

It broke. I do not now how.

[She's... already had her little breakdown over Hyrule's ultimate fate, but even now she can hear the Evil King's final words ringing in her ears and sending chills down her spine.

YOU... CURSE YOU ZELDA... CURSE YOU SAGES... CURSE YOU LINK! Someday when this seal is broken, that is when I will exterminate your descendants! As long as the Triforce of Power is in my hand!

She balls her fist angrily, but she will not let her emotions get the better of her. Not now.]

I am truly sorry, Saria.

[Somehow, their powers just weren't enough.]

No, don't apologize. [Not when she was just as much at fault. The Sages power couldn't last forever.]

[But still-]

What can we do? We can't just let him roam free and unchecked.

[She knows there's really little they can do. That the power of only two Sages wasn't enough to stop him. Not when the seal requires all seven.]

[But...if there was anything...]

I know. I have done my best to at least keep a watch over his actions, and I have been looking into other measures --[Hylia.]-- but... confronting him as we stand now would only exacerbate the problem.

[He said he'd formed a truce in her absence last month, but she knows better than to trust his words. As soon as it stops being beneficial to him, he'll stab them all in the back...]

This Tower has drawn a great number of powerful people into it, many of which do sit on the side of moral righteousness. Should he attempt anything, he will not go without retribution.

Until we can find a better solution, that is all I know to say.

1st song ❦ [video]

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