Revali

[Seems like a lot of paper bundled together, forming a diary. At least it's helpfully marked with numbers at the corners of the pages, nice. The title of the diary is right on the first page, leaving absolutely no doubt who this belongs to. Although, if he was ever asked, he'd deny it's his.

As if it wasn't incredibly obvious.

Seems to be pretty sporadic, instead of writing everyday at a set time:]

I had forgotten how it felt to be alive. I feel like new, yet I see no visible differences compared to how I was before my death. I'm strong, I'm agile, I'm, undeniably, myself. Unfortunately my return doesn't include my clothes, as I instead had some sort of uniform that left a lot of feathers showing. Quite awkward. At least others shared my annoyance.

That's right, I'm not the only one wherever this city is. A few dozens people more, none of them from Hyrule, are along with me. Whether they were also dead before being here remains to be seen, but I assume that's the case.

---------------

As expected, nobody is even close to my level.

That doesn't mean they're bad people, they simply are lacking in many ways. Some are extremely annoying, others seem more interested in playing around, and others are unpleasant. Of course, I made clear who I am and what I can do. Everyone is more concerned about my appearance. It's absurd. How can they consider me being a Rito of more importance than my legendary abilities?

There's still no clue as to why I'm here, or how it happened.

---------------

Finally. Three came out of the tower. I thought they'd have answers, but their introductions brought only more questions. I expected they'd be powerful, possibly malicious entities, and instead what I saw were three people who wouldn't be out of place among the rest here in terms of behavior. Perhaps the only way to get answers is to get into the tower myself. I'll have to figure that out someday.

It's ironic that so far they're the ones who realize my potential. One of them, Suriel, asked me to introduce myself. I gave them my best. They seemed pleasede.

Regardless, this can't stand like this. I will get in touch with them and see what I can get.

----------------

I don't get it. Why does it seem like they're just as lost as the rest of us?

I talked to another one, Shamsiel. Contrary to my expectations, they were very mild and courteous. In a way they remind me of Mipha, or perhaps of the princess. I don't want to lower my guard, and truthfully, I had gone to that meeting expecting to make clear I wasn't going to tolerate evasive answers or threats. Instead what I got was to talk about myself -- which of course was fortunate for Shamsiel -- and got in exchange some information about their world of origin.

Interesting information, but it's not what I was looking for.

That said, how can they achieve flight without magic, purely by technological means? Van Medoh can fly, but that's a mechanical beast of considerable size. It sounded like Shamsiel can make others do it without needing something so large.

I almost want to see it. It can't compare to my flight, but I wouldn't mind taking a look. To judge. That's it.

---------------

I have found out I have lost my ability to soar, as well as any wind magic. I have lost all I worked on for years. If I find I have lost my archery skills as well, I truly don't know what I will do.

My first thought was to throw a bottle and get the Watchers to answer me, to get them to give my abilities back, but I refuse to lower myself to that level. If they want me to beg, I won't.

For now I will try to compensate in other ways. There must be something else I can do. If danger comes, I must do all I can to keep everyone safe. This may be as far from Hyrule as it can get, but that doesn't make me any less of a Champion. I don't feel any more altruistic than before, but I believe this is my chance to prove myself -- and this time I won't fail.

----------------

I made a fool of myself. Fortunately it was only in front of three people, but it was troublesome. I can't describe the fear and the dread that invaded me, and as a result of it, I behaved like a complete novice! What's wrong with me?!

Doesn't matter. It's irrelevant. I will prove I haven't been talking about my achievements in vain.

Should I apologize to them? The child, Rika Furude, probably will forget about it soon, but I cannot expect Kitsuragi and Van Zieks to do the same. Perhaps I will set the record straight with them, but for that, I will need proof. Something to show I'm not some fool who lost his mind under stress. Something that caused all that deep dread!

I will go back to the courtyard from time to time. Now that I have my bow back and am working on making arrows, I can face anything.

----------------

Something's deeply wrong with this city. It's not a danger that's now gone, it's here and present.


While I was searching in the courtyard, I found myself unable to leave. Alarms sounded, and there were lights in the sky! And I fell asleep. Even though I tried not to, even though I had absolutely no intention to rest, I lost consciousness!

It's obvious none of this is on the same level of danger as Calamity Ganon, but clearly there's more to all this than meets the eye. I will find answers, even if it kills me again.

-----------------

Someone may be dead.

This wasn't how it was supposed to go.

--------------

It brings me no surprise the deeply unpleasant man I banned from Hyrule killed someone. What I didn't expect was how unnecessary everything he did was. I never talked with his victim at all, yet I can say with certainty he didn't deserve any of what happened.

Those Watchers have a lot to answer for. At this point I don't expect them to give any meaningful answers. Not that it will stop me from making inquiries. I will find out what's going on, one way or another. As long as I'm here I won't stand idle while there's a threat over all of us!

----------------

These Watchers should do more to fight against the situation. Perhaps that's hoping too much.

At this point I have no reason to see them ever again. By all means, I could step away and never make any contact with them, and I would probably lose nothing of value. But despite that, I plan to talk to them once again, even though I stand to gain nothing from making conversation with them.

If I had to make a guess as to why they have gotten my attention...I'd say it's because they all remind me of the princess of Hyrule. Locked with duties that weigh on them, having trouble attempting to navigate the tough responsibilities and demands bestowed upon them. The more I hear the more I believe they're not fitting for being Watchers. Perhaps Baraqiel is a little more prepared. As for the other two, my impression is that they will break under the weight of it all, if there are more deaths.

Are we meant to aid them? If their role is to watch, does that mean that we need to save them?

Nonetheless, having to sit around with a specific task while someone else handles it all is a frustrating feeling I have grown to understand. That century of my spirit being trapped in Van Medoh, waiting for that knight to wake up and go against insurmountable odds to save everything and everyone...the Watchers' plight will never reach such heights, but at its core it feels like I should understand how it feels.

Fine then. I cannot allow the rest to find out I have found some sympathy for the Watchers. And if it turns out I'm mistaken and I'm letting myself be fooled, as unlikely as that is, I won't stay my bow.

--------------------

I cannot believe I'm once again forced to share a bed with someone! And now, I'm underwater! And so is everyone else, I guess. The point is, there's no shortage of inconveniences! Upon waking up the first thing this dense boy did was accuse me of being concerned over if Flat was alright.

But fine. Since the other three Watchers have finally appeared in front of everybody, I will judge if they're the foes I should be targeting.

I shall locate Flat before long, though. I'm convinced if he had been in a room other than mine, he'd have been an easy target for a murder. Now that I'm not there to ensure he doesn't suffer an untimely end; he's easy prey for anyone unscrupulous enough to kill.

------------------

Flat is alright. I managed to convince him to not "do experiments in the kitchen". Nero will never be aware of the suffering I have spared him.

------------

Today Medli took a form that doesn't fit me at all: a lamb. Afterwards, I was led away, to a place where Shamsiel spoke to me. There they requested I protect someone at the cost of my own life!

While asking me to protect anyone is not new to me, doing so with me dying in their place goes beyond the pale. I thought of rejecting it right away! And part of me believes I should have! Yet I accepted. I feel like I have made a mistake.

Are there really people here who are worth giving my life for? I doubt it. My intention was to fight for their sake and survive to tell the tale. Death upon my success was not part of this, at all.

I care not for the teams. After having talked with two of the Temporals, I'm increasingly convinced we're entangled in the scheme of something above all of us. All of us -- Celestials, Temporals, and the forty of us -- should resist. I won't play this entity's game like it wants me to.

Regardless, I intend to fulfill this...role for the time being. However, as soon as an alternative presents itself, I intend to take it.

For the time being I believe Nero may be a target. That kitchen...supposing Qi Rong did not cause such a mess -- which I find it unlikely -- that could be a sign of animosity towards him.

I also will bestow protection over Kim Kitsuragi. I haven't know the man for long, but I believe he's a man of integrity. If, by any chance, he's wrongfully targeted during one of these absurd trials, I will take his place -- and defeat any executioner who believes they have what they need to face me in combat. Even though I have no aerial combat available to me, I won't go down quietly.

--------

The Watchers have no idea what happened that night Qi Rong went and killed someone. His actions may not even be entirely intertwined with this competition -- something I'm inclined to believe as well, given how utterly buffonish his reasons were. Despite that, it may have set something in motion. I'd say that, if he did, hard times are upon us.

Shamsiel said there's something linking this underwater city and the last one together, some sort of secret. Investigating more probably is necessary.

Another thing they said is that I should maintain my skepticism of the Watchers. Naturally! They're working under some potentially malicious entity, no matter if they're willingly doing so or not. But the implications of that is that I should associate more with everyone else around here.

I will consider that, but Shamsiel better not have their hopes too high. I don't mind protecting them all, but talking to them much is a different matter altogether.

--------

It's as if everything was waiting for the end of the week to start going wrong.

Not only one person more is most likely dead, another four are currently missing -- and I don't discard they may be deceased as well. I remember last week, for the trial, we all were forced to move from wherever we were at and get to the trial room. If none of the missing people join us, I can only assume the worst.

Shamsiel said I should stay skeptic of the Watchers and try to work together with everyone else here. I fail to see how talking to people who are just as much in the dark as myself will be of help, but something about them remarking I should stay wary makes me worry. Perhaps I will refrain from discussing this...strange competition unless I'm in that place alone with Shamsiel. In that case, if I must start trying to get along with others, who should I start with?

---------

I had decided to protect Nero Turner. As such, it only makes sense I swallow my distaste for this sort of secrecy and make contact with him, both to figure out what happens when I protect someone, and to make sure he keeps me in mind. I didn't reveal anything, but only a fool would stay deluded enough to not notice this wasn't a casual encounter. I do judge him reliable enough despite his absolute incapacity to lie, and if his profile is any indication, he avoids difficult conversations. With some luck this was difficult enough for him to avoid even mentioning it in the future.

I'm aware I'm taking a big risk. However, I do believe we're not enemies. I don't have to work against these people. We're allies. Even though a few are going to make me grow gray feathers before long, we're on the same side, regardless of the teams. That's what I believe.

With some luck, my decision to trust Nero Turner won't turn against me. I even asked him to not mention me to the Watchers. After all, there's no guarantee the Temporals are aware of my...duty. Giving them this information so easily could be harmful. And I have no doubt the Celestials would disapprove of this moment of calculated recklessness.

I may never know if this decision was right or wrong, but I pray my judgment is correct. Don't betray me, Nero Turner.

-----------

Those four are back. Injured, deprived of sleep, but back.

I'm not naive enough to believe the last one missing is safe and sound, or even injured and agonizing somewhere. I'd bet my bow it's going to be trial time.

------------

As expected, we have undergone another one of those absurd trials. Another culprit will be executed. This time it's not some nonsensical people eater, it's a normal person whose motivation I don't know, but I'm willing to give the benefit of doubt and think this wasn't done out of bloodthirst. Not that I'm ruling out that possibility. We can't know each other.

We probably never will.

-----------

I have heard an Angel made of Dust talked to Bertolt and encouraged him to kill. I see. We're dealing with cowardly creatures, having to resort to prodding impressionable victims to go and commit murder, for reasons that absolutely cannot be worthwhile. Whatever plan or ideology these angels have is not worth the breath they use to spout it.

After hearing that I thought about talking to those Watchers again, but I doubt I'll get the answers I seek. With some luck, the situation will give them some leeway, but I won't hold my hopes up.

I do wonder what sort of people they usually are at home, though. They arrived here a week before the rest of us. How did they react while they got inducted into their role as Watchers?

I cannot make the time to visit them just for a word with them, but perhaps I'll spare some time to check and make sure they haven't gotten crushed by despair during the last week or something similar.

-------------

This city we're at is full of glasswork that lets you watch some of your memories, even if you had forgotten them. As if that wasn't enough, other people can watch them as well. Medli seems to be particularly entranced by them, getting me so many of these shards. I'm uncertain what to think about these memories.

Among them, she unearthed one that leaves me particularly conflicted. It was that memory of us Champions after that unbearably stuffy ceremony, once the king officially named us Champions and the princess took that true-to-life image of us all. I refuse to even consider what any of them would do were they in my place, but I have the constant feeling perhaps they'd have more success in trying to navigate this...role I have been given. Perhaps they'd also have found someone else to rely on. And, more importantly, they would be doing all they can to dismantle this ridiculous competition. That's a sentiment I fully agree with, though. I decided to try to find anyone else who may be in touch with a Watcher like I am, and see if together we can make some headway.

I talked to Van Zieks. I figured if there was someone others would come to, it'd be him. Turns out I was wrong. Clearly if there are more people with this sort of roles, they don't think the same way I do. It's vexing.

I should be careful given the task I have been entrusted with, but at the same time I know I won't get anywhere unless I take a leap of faith and trust more. How am I supposed to do this?

---------------

I took the time to show Shamsiel my home. They reciprocated with a memory of their own.

It's ironic the one person I get along with the best may be one of the Watchers.

-------------

Van Zieks had asked me why on earth I'd use my role on anybody. I didn't answer that -- and even now I don't know.

All the other Champions would say it's because that's the right thing to do, and that by giving their life they have protected someone else. I hardly can agree with that. Despite that, I'm willing to perform this role, even if it means I'd die after being brought to life.

It's possible even after all this is over and I return home I'll be dead again. I can't get my hopes up I will be so fortunate as to be granted life beyond this game. This borrowed life may only be temporary.

Shamsiel had said that I, as someone who had died and was revived here, would understand better than most how important lives are.

Somehow I have the feeling saying that I do may not be entirely correct, or else I'd be more careful with mine.

I don't know.