"SIDON!" Link shouted, hammering on the bathroom door to be heard over the rushing water, "CLASS STARTS IN TWENTY MINUTES YOU NEED TO GET OUT!" "I don't think he can hear you." Tulin said, "He tends to have selective hearing when taking showers." "Tell me about it," Link grumbled, jiggling knob on the locked door. The rushing water was still going strong. "If he's not out in five minutes we're leaving him." "How far is it to class?" Yunobo asked from his bunk. "Maybe a five-minute walk, but it could be more depending on how many people are in the corridors." Tulin answered. Link groaned comically. "I thought you didn't care very much about classes and stuff." Tulin asked, flapping up to his top bunk. Link shrugged. "I still don't want to be late on the first day." "It'll be fine," The rito added, "Even if we are a little late, they're bound to allow some tardiness, this place is huge, it'll take students forever to find the right classes, especially if it's their first time." "Still I'd rather be on time." Link pressed. "Ok, students please take your seats!" The teacher said as Link and his friends walked in. He breathed a sigh of relief and set his bag down at a table. They had made it exactly on time. Sidon, Tulin, and Yunobo joined him at the circular table, swiveling in their seats to face the professor. Link held in a laugh, the man couldn't be over five feet tall, but stood on his desk with an air of massive importance. "No, no," He said, "Don't sit there, we have assigned seating in this class. In the spirit of building new friendships, you will be assigned table partners at random." "There's no way." Sidon mumbled. Link just shrugged. "It's only one class, it'll be fine," He said, "Plus, maybe we'll make some new friends." Sidon sigh-groaned, but nodded. "The tables are as follows," The Professor said, and began to list off names. Students moved and mixed, sitting at their assigned tables, introducing themselves to their new partners, some with enthusiasm, some with trepidation. Sidon got paired with a tall Zora girl named Yona, for which he seemed quite happy, and Tulin and Yunobo scored a table together. Finally, the professor, who had introduced himself as Robbie, called Link's name. "And finally, Mister Link will be paired with Miss Zelda." He announced. Link glanced up in surprise. Zelda blinked. What were the odds she'd get paired with the boy who had helped her? She wasn't upset, he had been kind and friendly, but save a few waves or nods across the courtyard, she hadn't seen him since their first day at Hylia Academy. Well, there could be worse partners. Zelda stood and collected her books, making sure not to drop any while the class watched. Impa nodded encouragingly, and a quick scan of the room showed Link at a table in the back corner. He waved, and she gave a small smile. Shouldering her pack, she weaved through the various tables and chairs until she stood at her new seat. "What's up," Link said, scooting over to make room for her. "Hey." She set her bag down and took a seat. "You enjoying the Academy so far?" He asked. She nodded "Yeah, it's pretty incredible." He grinned slyly. "Even for a capitol girl?" He asked. She opened her mouth to respond but hesitated. "How'd you know I was from Capitol?" "Your accent." Link said, "You have a certain ring when you say your 'R's and 'S's." Zelda cocked her head. This boy was much more observant than she originally thought. "Huh, I guess I do." She said. Link shrugged. "It's not a bad thing, I think it sounds cool." "Really?" "Yeah, it makes you sound smart and elegant." He grinned again, "Almost like a princess." Zelda blushed slightly. "Why would you ask if the school is still amazing 'even for a Capitol girl?'" She asked, saving herself from having to respond. Link chuckled. "I don't know, don't you guys all live in palaces and eat gold and stuff?" He said. Zelda frowned slightly. "We're not that rich." She insisted. "Compared to Kakariko, you guys are well off." Link insisted. "We're pretty deep in the mountains." Zelda cocked her head. "Does that bother you?" she asked. Link shook his head. "Definitely not," He said, "I actually prefer that. I love the wild, and as cool as I think Capitol is, I would never want to leave my home." "Huh." Zelda said, somewhat impressed. "Can I have your attention up here, please!" The professor called from his desk, "I hope you have all found your partners agreeable, but now we must start our lesson." He held up a small orb. Yellow and gold light emanated from its center, pulsing softly. "This," Professor Robbie continued, "Is an ancient core. It was used by our ancestors to power their artifacts. It is exceedingly rare, as few have survived to present day. The device in my hand is over twenty-thousand years old!" Continue in credits
"I acquired it myself in a particularly harrowing adventure in the Gerudo Desert! Many a monster did I slay, and I nearly lost my life more times than I care to remember, but here I stand, and with a treasure of the ancient world!" Link looked at Zelda skeptically. He sincerely doubted the little man could wound any monster, much less the ferocious Lizalfos that roamed the Gerudo Desert. Zelda snickered, but Professor Robbie continued. "The core derives power from the crystal in the center, which gives it its characteristic yellow glow. The device takes the raw energy from the crystal and purifies it into usable power, which it then uses to form a field of energy around it about eight feet across. This allows it to power anything within the field wirelessly. As far as we know, the charge never runs out or diminishes." Robbie handed the device to a Rito girl up front. "Pass it around and study it, but please, be gentle. As I said, it is an exceedingly rare and valuable piece of history." Link watched as the core was passed around. It seemed incredible that the small, seemingly brand-new device could be over twenty thousand years old! He whistled softly when the device reached their table. The crystal inside seemed to be almost alive, pulsing with that warm yellow glow. "It's incredible." Zelda whispered. Link nodded. "I wonder how much power that thing produces." He said. "It was used to power minor scout guardians and several forms of weapons," Zelda said, not taking her eyes off the device as she turned it from side to side. "The larger constructs needed a stronger source, so the ancients created a larger engine to give them energy and even power their beams." Link raised his eyebrows. "You enjoy ancient tech then?" He asked. She nodded. "I love it, but I've never seen a core up close until now. I never realized how intricate the gears were." Link grinned. "I think I scored on a table partner." "So what class do you have next?" Link asked as he and Zelda collected their books. "I have a free period, then I think all the freshmen are meeting in the courtyard to choose electives." She responded. Link blew air through his cheeks. "Oh yeah, I forgot about that." He said. "Do you know what you'll pick?" Zelda asked. "I'm not too bad at archery, so I'll probably join up there, and someone mentioned there was Battle Ring." Zelda raised her eyebrows and slung her pack over her shoulder. "You're the fighting type?" She asked. "I'm the self-defense type," Link corrected. "What about you? Got your electives all lined up?" Zelda shrugged. "I figured I'd take Ancient Engineering and Linguistics." "If you end up building a guardian or something and it destroys the entire school, I'm pointing back to the day when you decided to take TWO ancient technology classes in one day." Link quipped. Zelda blushed and laughed. "I don't think I'll be that good." She said. The two left the room and strode into the courtyard. "I've got a free period too," Link said. "I'm meeting my cousin and friends here for lunch. Do you want to join?" Zelda hesitated. She had assumed she would eat with Purah, Yoan, and Impa. But before she could speak, a tall Zora boy walked up with Yona behind him. Link fist-bumped the boy. "How was it?" He asked. "Pretty awesome, actually." Link responded. "I happened to get the leading expert on ancient technology as my table partner." He gestured to Zelda, "Zelda, this is my best friend, Sidon." Zelda offered a small wave, and Sidon saluted, throwing a crooked grin. "Did we finally find someone who's smarter than Link?" He asked as Yona came to stand by Zelda. She shrugged self-consciously. "How'd you guys do?" Link asked Sidon and Yona. Sidon grinned. "Pretty awesome. This is Yona, Link. She's from Zora's domain, and apparently I found a new partner to cheat off." Yona smiled. "Nice to meet you, Link." She said. "Hey guys," Impa waved as she and Purah walked up. Zelda felt her jaw drop slightly as Impa confidently gave Link a side hug. Link returned the gesture. What the... "I haven't seen you since day one," Impa said. "Are you avoiding me?" Link grinned. "Maybe." Impa punched him in the shoulder. "So much for favorite cousins." She said. Now Zelda's jaw really dropped. Impa had mentioned that she came to Hylia Academy with her cousin and his best friend, but LINK? What were the odds? Purah introduced herself easily, as did Link and Sidon's roommates when they arrived. "Now that we're all here," Link said, "who's down for some lunch?" I've heard the food here isn't half bad." "I have heard otherwise." Impa objected. Sidon shrugged. "Who cares how it tastes? Food is food." "I second that opinion." Yunobo added. Link raised an eyebrow at everyone else. "I could eat." Yona said, looking at Zelda and Purah. Zelda nodded. "I'll show you where the cafeteria is." Tulin said.
