~As you both know, Hyrule was created by the three great goddesses Nayru, Din, and Farore...

Upon their departure from this land, they left behind the Triforce...and one more gift that scant few ever knew about.

They knew that, in dark times, evil would rise and attempt to throw Hyrule into chaos. And so, the goddesses created eight spirits to help the people of Hyrule to survive and maintain peace across the land, a delicate balance that would have to be kept in order for life to flourish.

Jarom, the first spirit created and spirit of the water, was made to keep the dangers that dwell within the water at bay.

Xax, the dark spirit, was next; he was created to subdue the sort of beasts that now only live on in nightmares, the worst of the shadow creatures. Without him, the beasts he repels would have long ago destroyed Hyrule utterly.

Kuro, the wind spirit, kept the weather from tearing the fragile new Hyrule apart.

Goro of the earth and Lau of the light were created to help life grow.

Filan, the spirit of wisdom, working together with Tetle, the spirit of courage, helped to lift Hyrule from dark times should the land ever fall.

Sofei was last made, but that does not lessen her importance. Sofei, the spirit of love, lives on in the hearts of Hyrulians, and without love life would exist...but it would be an empty existance indeed.

The spirits went eagerly to their tasks, but soon found that as time went on, they became exhausted with their constant work and needed to rest frequently. To conserve their powers, they decided to take refuge within a host chosen from those they helped to guide and protect. Within their hosts, they were able to work without resting, and life was good.

But, for all good there is evil. After a time, the existence of these spirits was common knowledge. Many who have learned of the spirits quested to capture them, and make the power of the spirits their own. But, to do such an act, you would have to separate the spirit from its host and that itself was no easy task.

To simply kill the host body would free the spirit and throw it to the winds, to seek another host to reside in. No, you would have to find another way to extract the spirit...and so there was another way found.

His name being lost to time, there was a great magic-user who befriended the host of Kuro. By studying the host man, this magic-user created a powerful medallion that would safely extract the spirit from the living host without harming either one of them. He was proud of his creation, and sadly did not foresee the possible hardships such a medallion would create.

Evil sought the medallion, to use it to find, capture, and enslave the spirits to do their wicked bidding. Ashamed now of his invention, the magic-user tried to destroy it but failed. To keep the medallion from falling into evil hands, he hid it away in a place where only the pure of heart could enter.
Since he someday hoped that evil would cease its search for his medallion, the magic-user made it so that those of his family line would always know the location of the medallion’s hiding place, should the need for it ever arise.~

“And I am a descendant of that magic-user...not even I know his name anymore,” the elder finished.

Throughout the history lesson, Link and Vitanre had sat mesmerized, listening to the elder’s every word. Neither of them knew anything of what they’d just been told...Vitanre never knew there were other spirits besides Jarom, and Link had just never known about the creation of the spirits.

“Now then...” the elder said, after a long silence. “You two have a most important, and very difficult, task set before you. Vitanre,” the elder turned to fix the young female with a penetrating gaze. “Darian was the host of Jarom.”

“Darian...” Vitanre breathed, at a loss for words.

“Evil is once again attempting to capture the spirits...Link, you were called here to help Vitanre in her quest-“

“MY quest?” Vitanre squeaked, paling as she stared incredulously at the elder.

The old woman nodded slowly. “Your quest, my child...you are destined for so much more than a simple life here in this little fishing village...” She then turned to Link. “Who better to protect Vitanre than the hero of Hyrule? It was not coincidence that sent you here Link, you were meant to be here and to help Vitanre.”

Vitanre sat silently, soaking it all in. This wasn’t right...she wasn’t meant for anything special. This had to be a mistake; how could she possibly do something this important? She’d never wielded magic, had never even left the village...

She glanced sideways at Link. He too seemed a bit taken aback, although he appeared more thoughtful than worried, as was Vitanre.

‘Of course this sort of thing wouldn’t worry him...he’s fought more foes, fought for the very existence of Hyrule as we know it...and you’ve never even ventured out beyond the woods where you first met him ’ she thought to herself.

She jumped at the light touch of the elder’s hand upon her own.

“My dears, the responsibility of this quest has been set squarely upon your shoulders, but do not fret.” The elder squeezed Vitanre’s hand comfortingly, and likewise did so to Link. Then, to the slight embarrassment of both Hylians, the elder put both of their hands together. “Together the two of you shall succeed, and all shall be alright,” the elder said, smiling over the two clasped hands.

Link stared down at Vitanre’s hand stuck in his. Her hands were small, compared to his, and yet still seemed just as strong and capable of wielding weapon just like him. He looked up slightly, and saw Vitanre too studied their hands, her face unreadable.

The elder, standing, caused their hands to part. “Now,” the woman said, groaning as she brought her cane forward and infront of her. “If the two of you would...oh, well, if Link would accompany me back to my house, I shall fetch the only map that shows the way to where the medallion rests. You,” and with that, the elder tapped Vitanre smartly on the knee of her good leg, moving with surprising speed for such an aged person. “You will stay here and rest. It will be best for all if you are fully healed before setting out on your quest.”

As the elder began to slowly make her way outside, Link stood, clenching and unclenching the hand that had just held Vitanre’s...it was an odd feeling to say the least. Link didn’t even think he’d ever held Zelda’s hand before, whether by choice or force.

Vitanre sighed heavily, and shifted, having to grab her injured leg and manuever it so that it was back up on the cot and stretched out beside her other.

“Rest well then,” Link said, nodding to her as he swept his saddlebags to his shoulder and left. Her face still wore a troubled expression as she stretched out with her arms flung above her head.

Link quickly caught up with the elder, and together the two made it to her house without trouble. The elder opened the door and entered without so much as a glance back at Link. She led the hylian back to the room he’d been in earlier than very evening. She stopped before a seemingly blank spot on the wall, and turned to Link.

“Behold the legacy of a forgotten man,” she said. She raised a hand, palm facing the wall, and swooped it quickly over the wall’s surface, just barely skimming above the wood. As though it were ice, the wall dissolved away and disappeared, revealing a small square cubby hole set into the wall.

Inside the hole rested a tube that looked like it was a hollowed-out bone of some long extinct beast. The elder reverently removed the tube from the wall and turned it to show a wax stopper stuck on one end to Link.

“Within lies the map...open it only when you have need of it,” the elder warned, handing the stoppered tube to Link, who took it carefully and stowed it away within his tunic.

“Now...go get rested yourself...if I know Vitanre, she’ll want to set out as soon as possible.”

Link only nodded as he left, though he knew he would not get much sleep.