✧ The Light Between Us ✧ ☆•° Chapter 15 °•☆ In ancient times, the Champions had been leaders in their races. Now democracy complicated matters. Not to mention hierarchy no longer allowed the strongest to rule - that was a "barbaric" form of government. Coincidentally, one that would've greatly eased my job. "I trust your judgment," Father had told me. "I believe you will pick the right people for the role." A lot of pressure and responsibility, no doubt. But I had a plan. A sign of a Champion in an older Hyrule was some connection to natural powers - for example, lightning or wind. That would be a huge factor in this process. Another was the Divine Beasts themselves. According to legends, only the Champions could enter the Divine Beasts. This was a less reliable method, as the machines AncientTech was currently constructing were merely replicas and not the originals themselves. However, I was counting on it. And now, of all things, I was heading back to school, despite all the abnormality plaguing my life. I wasn't planning on scouring Hyrule for every possible contestant, so I decided to ask Impa and Link to help me brainstorm ideas. Speaking of which... Link had been commanded by Father to protect me at school. Apparently he thought Impa alone wasn't enough. She was a little upset over it, but quickly recovered after a few conversations about motorcycles and gaming consoles with Link. The day had run without any major events so far. I caught a glimpse of Kohga and Sooga between classes and quickly veered away before they could see me. My cheeks flushed in frustration. How were they still in school?! At lunch time, I grabbed a simple Wild Greens salad from the cafeteria and plopped down next to Impa and Link, who were chatting away about their online gaming accounts like old friends. ~ Like friends, ~ I told myself. ~ Not something more. ~ But the idea burned into my head. "Why was nobody with me in the lunch line? I could've gotten mugged," I said sarcastically. I meant it as a joke, but it came off with a bitter undertone. Impa immediately began apologizing. Link just grinned sheepishly and poked at his food with a fork. "No, no, it's fine," I said, attempting a smile. "I was kidding." We didn't say anything for a bit, picking at our food in the awkward white noise of the cafeteria. I wasn't kidding. I was jabbing at their relationship - like I had any rights too. It wasn't as if I was Link's girlfriend or something. The thought gave me butterflies. ~ Imagine if I was, ~ my mind whispered rebelliously. I peeked at him out of the corner of my eyes and almost burst out giggling. Link had arranged his salad into the shape of a Korok and was now stabbing it violently. He caught me staring at him and hurriedly laid down his fork, his face red. "What do you have against Koroks?" I asked, holding back a laugh. "It's unnatural, talking plants," Link muttered. "Sucky little bleibers, always in the worst places." I smirked. "Like your plate?" "Yeah." Link shuddered. "Can't say I'm looking forward to the Lost Woods anymore. I hear it's full of them." ~ Some boyfriend, ~ I thought, quenching my tangled feelings for the moment. "So..." I kicked the bottom on the lunch table, searching for words. "How do you think we should find the Champions?" Link chewed thoughtfully for a moment, during which I tapped Impa on the shoulder. She jumped and gripped her knife in a fighting hold, then sighed when she saw that it was me. "Sorry," she said, clearly embarrassed. "I guess my brain was somewhere else." I repeated my question and she laid down her knife gently, then rested her head in her hands. "Lemme think," she said, and I nodded. "Ooh! Ooh! I know!" Link exclaimed. "We have GPS look for the biggest mansions!" "How would that help?!" I asked, throwing my arms out. It was a ridiculous idea. What was even going through his mind? "I dunno." Link shrugged. "I want some rich friends." "What about me?" I commented before I knew what I was doing. "Oh. Um. I..." he stammered, looking away. "Sorry, I-I forgot..." "About me?" I finished. Link bit his lip nervously. "Princess, I'm really sorry... um..." I stood abruptly, knocking over a glass of water that spilled on Impa. Her head shot up, then she saw my frown. "Princess? Are you okay?" she asked. "Yeah," I retorted. "Just need a moment." I stomped off to the girls' restroom. Where, incidentally, I met the first Champion. ☆•° Chapter 14 °•☆ ☆•° Chapter 16 °•☆ ✧ Special thanks to for coming up with the GPS line. ✧
