Tonight's dinner was more extravagant than yesterday.
She looked up at her eldest son with suspicion.
"Are you really not doing anything illegal?"
This question came every day, so the little ones were already used to it. Without further delay, everyone helped arrange the food.
After praying to the goddess, they began to eat.
Everyone had a terrifying appetite—especially Elrik.
"Brother, it's delicious."
Emily, the youngest of the three sisters, thanked Elrik with the corner of her small butter-stained mouth and a bright smile.
Before, they couldn't even dream of having such a meal; they would have been lucky to eat once a day. Much less to spend an entire night enjoying so much food.
If it weren't for Elrik and his saying:
"Food is meant to be eaten,"
they would have saved most of the dinner for the next day.
But Elrik was stubborn and would not allow it.
And so it went, day after day…
Elrik stroked Emily's small head and kissed her forehead.
"Eat as much as you want, so you can grow up healthy and strong, and join the Royal Guard like Dad."
Elrik knew this was the dream of his siblings.
The death of their father in service and their difficult living conditions had inspired all the little ones.
Although Elrik didn't like the idea, he could not extinguish his siblings' hopes, so he had no choice but to encourage them.
"Today the Royal Guard came to recruit again; I wanted to tell you, but you were nowhere to be found."
Hanna, his mother, said quietly.
"That's true. They said they recruit every three months."
Little Timmy perked up at his mother's words.
His brother Tommy, however, rolled his eyes.
"Why talk about it? The eldest brother won't join after failing last time."
Elrik felt his eyebrow twitch.
He could feel the disdain in the little brat's words.
Still, he paid it no mind.
"Strange things have been happening lately. Maybe that's why they are preparing for something. Also, I've seen them start digging up those metal things. I can tell it's some strange technology—metal creatures I've never seen before."
Elrik commented.
He had repeatedly seen residents of Kakariko Village digging up very strange metal creatures.
Many-legged, with a single eye.
For some reason, a chill ran down his spine when he saw the motionless statue.
"Are they preparing for a war?"
Hanna's interest was piqued.
"I don't think so; otherwise, they would have already announced it."
Elrik shook his head slightly.
Since no one knew anything, they simply changed the subject.
After tucking the little ones in, Elrik told his mother he would be away for a few days on a training trip.
"It's too much money, dear, I can't accept it."
Hanna was horrified to see the bag full of silver rupees.
"Mom, I told you, you only have to worry about raising those kids. I don't want you ever having to work again. Besides, I still have plenty of money and don't even know what to spend it on."
Elrik reassured her.
After some time calming his mother, Elrik went up to his room, packed a few things, and shot out the window into the night.
"System, I accept the mission."
Elrik's gaze hardened with determination.
[Mission Rank: S]
[Steal the Sheikah Stone]
[Description: Take the Sheikah Stone from the Royal family of Hyrule]
He didn't know what the Sheikah Stone was, but seeing that it was an S-rank mission, he didn't hesitate.
The rewards would undoubtedly be worth the risk.
After all, the location marked on his map was Hyrule Castle.
In other words:
He had to infiltrate the castle to steal the Sheikah Stone.
Elrik had learned that power was everything in this world, and if he wanted to protect his family, he had to become very strong. If that meant becoming an enemy of the kingdom, he was willing to take the risk.
...
The afternoon lazily stretched over the village as Elrik pushed open the wooden door of the professor's study-house.
The scent of aged ink and parchment dust greeted him like an old embrace.
Professor Robell—a small man with thick glasses and gray hair tied in a ponytail—was bent over a table lit by a bluish oil lamp, surrounded by rolled maps and leather-bound books.
It wasn't Elrik's first visit; years ago, Robell had taught him at Hatelia School.
But this time, the silence was heavier.
"Elrik," the professor said without looking up, "your step smells of burned oak and moonless night. What kind of mischief are you seeking today?"
Elrik approached, placing on the table a leather bag that jingled with several blue rupees and a polished Centaleon horn.
"No mischief. Just information," he replied, keeping his voice low. "I need a detailed map of the surroundings of Hyrule Castle… and another of the center itself. Streets, ducts, even Sheikah sewers, if there are any."
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