To leave Link behind was one of the hardest things Ilia had ever done. Every instinct screamed at her to stay by his side, to watch over him, to be there when he awoke. But the Great Deku Tree's command had been absolute, and a deep, instinctual trust in the ancient spirit overrode her own fear. She and Paya walked away from the Grove of Sages, their new quest a heavy weight upon their shoulders.
Their path was now the stream itself. A small, glowing current that had flowed from the base of the Deku Tree led them away from the grove and into a part of the Faron Woods that felt wilder, more primal, and far more ancient than anything they had yet seen. The trees here were draped in thick, hanging vines, and strange, luminous flowers bloomed in the perpetual twilight, their petals opening and closing in a slow, rhythmic breath.
"The Deku Tree said we must prepare the way," Paya said, her voice a low, focused whisper as she scanned their surroundings. "He mentioned two other Elders: the River Serpent and the Great Owl. They are the primary guardians of the paths to the Spring. Without their blessing, the forest itself will prevent us from reaching it."
Their journey was a testament to their complementary strengths. Paya, with her Sheikah training, moved like a ghost, her senses sharp, her knowledge of ancient lore guiding their general direction. Ilia, with her shepherdess's heart, was the one who truly saw the woods. She was the one who noticed the subtle signs—a family of timid forest sprites hiding from a territorial beast, a patch of rare healing herbs growing at the base of a waterfall. Paya was their sword and shield; Ilia was their eyes and their heart.
The stream led them deep into the earth, into a colossal, subterranean cavern lit by the ethereal glow of countless phosphorescent crystals. In the center of the cavern was a vast, misty, and perfectly still underground lake. The air was cool and smelled of wet stone and deep, ancient water. This was the domain of the River Serpent.
As they approached the shore, the water in the center of the lake began to churn. A great, serpentine head, its scales like iridescent, shimmering pearls, rose from the depths. Its eyes were two huge, luminous orbs of liquid silver that held the calm, deep wisdom of the abyss. It was not a monster; it was a being of pure, elemental power.
Its voice, like the sound of a thousand a deep, resonant bell, echoed not in the air, but in their minds. You walk the Elder's Path. You seek the Spring. But the scent of sorrow and the chill of steel cling to you. The river does not suffer such things gladly. Prove that your hearts are as clear as my waters, or you shall go no further.
A great whirlpool began to form in the center of the lake, its powerful current threatening to pull them in. Paya instinctively drew her blade, preparing to use a Sheikah binding spell to counter the magic. But Ilia, remembering her encounter with the Owlbears, put a hand on her arm. "Wait," she whispered. "It's another test. It doesn't want a fight."
Ilia stepped to the water's edge. She did not have an instrument, only her voice. She began to hum the simple, clear notes of the Ordonian lullaby, her song a small, pure offering of peace against the raw power of the ancient spirit.
The whirlpool faltered. The great Serpent's head tilted, its silver eyes focusing on the village girl. Paya, understanding Ilia's intent, sheathed her blade and bowed her head in a gesture of profound respect to the ancient guardian.
The combination of Ilia's pure heart and Paya's respectful humility was the key. The whirlpool subsided, and the waters of the lake became as still and as clear as glass once more.
You sing a song of the land, the Serpent's thought came, its hostility gone. And you bow to the old ways, Shadow-Folk. Your hearts are true. You may have my blessing. A single, perfect, shimmering scale detached from the Serpent's neck, floated across the water, and came to rest at their feet. Paya picked it up; it was cool to the touch and hummed with a gentle, healing energy. A path of glowing stones, previously hidden, now illuminated a way across the far side of the lake.
Their next journey led them upward, out of the cavern and high into the interlocking branches of the colossal trees. They were now in a world of wood and moonlight, a place of dizzying heights and breathtaking beauty. This was the domain of the Great Owl.
They found him waiting, perched on a massive branch that overlooked the entire forest. It was Kaepora Gaebora, the same ancient guardian Link had met in his first journey through the woods, his great, golden eyes seeming to hold all the wisdom of the stars.
Hoo-hoo… The guardian and the shepherdess, his mental voice echoed, a dry and knowing sound. You have soothed the river. But the sky sees all truths. A pure heart is not enough. A sharp mind is also required to navigate the coming darkness. Answer my riddle, and the final blessing is yours.
He posed his riddle, a complex and ancient stanza about the cycle of the sun, the moon, and the stars, and their relationship to the three golden goddesses.
Ilia was completely lost in the cryptic, poetic language. But Paya's eyes lit with recognition. She had spent her entire life studying these texts, these prophecies, these sacred histories. She stood tall and, without hesitation, gave the answer—a quiet, concise, and perfectly reasoned explanation of the riddle's celestial and theological meaning.
Kaepora Gaebora blinked his great, golden eyes in satisfaction. Hoo. The mind is as sharp as the blade. You are worthy.
He spread a great, silent wing, and a single, luminous silver feather drifted down and landed in Paya's outstretched hand. This will ward off the lesser shadows and keep your path true.
He gave them one final, piercing look, his mental voice a solemn, final warning. The way is now prepared. The blessings have been given. But know this: The Elders can open the path, but we cannot force the destination. The Faron Spring offers its sacred gift, but the hero's spirit itself must be willing to accept it. The final choice will be his alone.
With that last, heavy piece of wisdom, the great owl fixed his gaze on the distant horizon, his part in their trial now complete. His form seemed to blur, becoming one with the twilight shadows of the high canopy until he was gone, leaving only the silver feather in Paya's hand as proof he had been there at all.
Paya and Ilia stood in the quiet of the high branches, the two sacred gifts—the Serpent's scale and the Owl's feather—humming with a gentle, protective energy. Their side-quest, the task given to them by the Great Deku Tree, was complete. They had earned the blessings. They had prepared the way.
Their journey back to the heart of the woods was markedly different. The forest itself seemed to have changed. The wary, watchful silence was gone, replaced by a gentle, welcoming murmur. The ancient trees, which had once seemed to recoil from their presence, now felt like ancient, benevolent guardians. The path, which had been a struggle, now seemed to clear itself, the undergrowth parting before them as if in deference.
The Koroks were no longer shy, hidden figures. They would now appear openly, their leafy masks peeking from behind trees, giving small, encouraging waves as the fellowship passed. Friendly forest creatures—deer with eyes like liquid gold, curious, chittering squirrels—would watch them from a safe distance, their fear replaced by a quiet respect. The forest had accepted them. It had recognized the purity of their intent and the blessings they now carried.
As they finally walked back into the serene, golden light of the Grove of Sages, they saw the Great Deku Tree, his ancient face calm and knowing. And at his base, still lying on the cart, was the sleeping form of Link.