Embers

[Ganondorf]

Shortly after DA 2022, in Erde Nona

Gallo’s essence spiraled out of the sky as blue motes, channeling into a single point as he neared the invisible influence of the nearby medium. His formless existence changed into that of his original corporeal form – a large brown bear, but as a spirit, his fur shining cyan and translucent.

A humble log cabin sat cradled within a small clearing surrounded by looming pine trees. A trail of smoke curled from its lone chimney. A hunting rifle rested against the front wall, beneath the verandah.

I don’t like this at all, Gallo thought to himself. This is desperate.

But the other Elder Beast Spirits made an airtight case. Kolith simply wasn’t trustworthy for this mission – not that they didn’t believe in his integrity, but his inexperience with spirits left him exposed in ways that were difficult to teach. At least this time, they had to go elsewhere.

The shimmering translucent bear lumbered through the wall, passing into the humble cabin.

A single, large room comprised the interior. A basic stove and oven nestled in one corner, near a simple round table with a single chair. A bed hugged the opposite wall. But what truly caught Gallo’s attention were the trophies.

All along the walls hung different decapitated heads of wild beasts. Deer, foxes, tigers, lions… the room was a history book of the owner’s depraved addiction to needless, wasteful hunting.

“Gallo?” a voice said, followed by a hearty chuckle. “Now that is funny.”

The Elder Bear turned his head. A man with a wild, unruly mane of brown hair stared back with intense cobalt eyes. He raked at his thick and unmanaged beard with clawed fingers. His other hand – and other arm – was composed of a set of long copper poles joined with rounded hinges to imitate joints.

“Lionel,” Gallo said without moving his muzzle. “I’m afraid my reason for being here is anything but humorous.”

The scruffy man seized a cup of hot tea from the table with his prosthetic hand and sipped. “Now I know you have more sense than that, Elder Bear. Your reason means less than shit to me. Especially after how we… left things.”

Gallo narrowed his glowing eyes. “I didn’t come here to retread the past.”

“No, I’m certain you didn’t,” Lionel said, walking about his cabin. “Whatever you purpose here is, I know it’s two things. It’s selfish, and it’s desperate.”

This was going as well as Gallo could have expected, but he had to persevere. “It may be desperate, but it’s anything but selfish. There is a grave threat that we can only trust with you.”

Lionel sipped at his tea, narrowing his eyes and smirking. “You know what, Gallo? I’m in a good mood today. I finally bagged that son-of-a-bitch fox that ate all my chickens. So I’ll hear you out. But it’s really only for my amusement. Don’t get your hopes up.”

Any opening would do, he supposed. “You must be aware of the Unmaking by now.”

Lionel shrugged. “I think I’ve heard it in passing. Doesn’t have much to do with me.”

“Perhaps not now,” Gallo said. “But there is something festering on Cevanti. An entity taken by the corruption that’s lurking, waiting for a chance to strike. We need you, with your talents, to investigate it for us.”

“That’s it?” Lionel said, tilting his head. “Some vague boogeyman on another planet? Why would I be concerned about that?”

Gallo wasn’t as dim as Lionel surmised. The hermit hunter only cared about things pertaining to him. Honesty would have his cause dismissed.

“We think it may be another Elder Beast,” Gallo said, “but twisted by the Unmaking. We fear it’s amassing an animal army to take on Markov. We need someone who can reason with it, or at the least, subdue it.”

“I’m still missing the part where-“

“You can hunt,” Gallo said. “All of those poor native creatures of Cevanti are lost to the corruption. We will grant you the powers you need to take them on, and you can take as many trophies home with you as you want. Feel free to take your… other instruments of death, if you don’t trust us.”

Lionel looked away and cocked an eyebrow, lost in thought. “Hmm. A hunting holiday does sound appealing.”

“There are likely beasts that differ from what you’d find in Erde Nona’s forests,” Gallo said, trying to sweeten the deal as much as it sickened him.

“And a bit of novelty too, huh?” Lionel nodded. “All right. I’m in. But the question is… do you think you can trust me?”

“We don’t have a choice,” Gallo said.

Of course not, he thought to himself. But perhaps you shouldn’t be so quick to trust me, either.