—The Demon King corrupted the Divine Beasts and the Guardians —the Zora said—. He seized them and turned them into weapons against us.
Eric felt a faint chill crawl down his spine.
The Zora let out a bitter laugh.
—Our protector became our curse.
He gestured toward the unrelenting rain.
—Ever since she was corrupted, Vah Ruta has caused constant rainfall, without rest. Rivers swell beyond what is natural. Roads collapse. Mountains turn into death traps.
—And that's not all —the Zora added—. The storm empowers the electric Lizalfos. Constant ambushes. Exhausted guards. A growing number of wounded.
He lowered his voice.
—The Zora Domain is isolated. Trade is almost nonexistent.
Eric rested an elbow on his knee.
—And the King?
—King Dorephan… —the Zora shook his head slowly—. He is strong and wise. But he cannot stop a Divine Beast on his own. And our prince only thinks about running off to play.
He looked at Eric frankly.
—No one can approach Ruta without dying or being gravely injured.
Silence fell between them, broken only by the ceaseless sound of rain.
—So you survive —Eric said at last—. —But each day weighs heavier than the one before.
The Zora nodded.
—Exactly.
Eric watched the wheels turning without pause.
—I can't help you defeat that thing. But I can give you back some mobility.
He then explained the reason for his visit to the Zora region.
….
Hours later, they finally left the Lanayru marsh behind.
From that point on, the rain struck with such force that it became a constant roar, like a thousand soaked drums pounding over them.
The few villagers from Hateno clenched their teeth.
—If this were a normal caravan… —one muttered.
—We'd already be tumbling downhill —the other finished.
Eric didn't argue.
He stood atop the lead cart, his cloak still partially hiding his face, the Bow of Light resting across his back.
He surveyed the terrain with the same calm others reserved for a meal placed before them.
The mud tried to slow them.
The slopes tried to steal their momentum.
The rain tried to turn everything into a trap.
And yet…
The Zonai wheels kept turning.
Steady. Stubborn. As if the storm were nothing more than a minor administrative inconvenience.
The convoy advanced through the most dangerous stretch of the ascent, where water streamed over bare stone, slick and treacherous, until they finally reached the entrance to the domain.
The Zora patrolling the upper approaches saw them first as silhouettes.
As they neared the main bridge, spears were raised.
—HALT! —a Zora guard shouted from the platform above.
Lareph, the scout they had picked up along the way, leapt to the edge of the cart and raised both arms.
—It's me! —he shouted—. Lareph!
There was a moment of confusion.
Then recognition.
—Lareph? You're alive?
—More than that! —he added, pointing at the convoy—. They're from Hateno! They're allies!
The weapons lowered slightly.
—Approach slowly —the captain ordered.
Eric raised a hand in peace, and the carts crossed the bridge at a measured pace.
The next instant, the Zora Domain revealed itself in full.
Carved stone columns. Suspended bridges. Water pouring endlessly in cascading falls.
It was as if the place had been designed by a goddess with an obsession for moisture.
And yet… it was beautiful. Majestic.
Still, the air felt… tired.
The faces of the Zora showed a deep, excessive mental exhaustion.
The guards escorted them along the elevated corridors.
Villagers and Zora children peeked out, murmuring as they watched those "carts" move forward as if by magic.
—How did they… get here? —an elderly Zora whispered, almost to herself.
One guard replied, disbelief thick in his voice:
—It must be those moving things.
Then he quickly glanced at his companion.
—Hey, weren't you on a date with his wife yesterday?—
The other Zora guard flushed.
—We all thought he was dead —he said.
—This is going to be fun. That guy's three times stronger than us—
—Bastard, this is not fun at all!
Eric and his group finally reached the summit, leaving the carts in a wide open area on the lower level.
The throne room was vast, water flowing nearby in cascading sheets.
At its height, upon the dais, sat the king.
King Dorephan.
Imposing. Severe.
Ancient as a mountain beneath the sea.
His gaze locked onto Eric the moment he entered.
At his side stood Sidon, prince of the Zora, upright and alert… though curiosity shone clearly across his face.
Lareph stepped forward first and bowed deeply.
—My king! —he said—. I bring news… and visitors.
Dorephan raised a hand, silencing the murmurs.
—Lareph —he said in a deep voice—. I believed you lost.
—I nearly was, my king —the scout replied—. But these travelers saved me… and thanks to them, I was able to fulfill my mission—
The hall reacted.
A ripple of disbelief passed through those present.
—Impossible. No one dares reach us in this deluge—
Eric stepped forward.
He offered a brief, proper bow.
—Eric Thalren, of Hateno —he said—. I bring a letter from Mayor Reede.
A Zora guard approached, took the parchment, and carried it to the king.
Dorephan opened it calmly, read… then lifted his gaze.
—Hateno —he repeated slowly—. The village that has been sending rumors of some rather "unusual carts."
Sidon smiled as if someone had mentioned his favorite meal.
Eric did not let himself be distracted.
—We arrived thanks to a technology called Zonai —he explained clearly—. They rely on nothing but energy.
He gestured outward, where the convoy waited, dripping water as if it had just emerged from a river.
—I'm not saying the journey was easy. Only that now… it is possible.
Dorephan observed him in silence.
With the weight of a king who measures people the way one measures a dangerous current: never underestimating it.
—Then tell me, Eric Thalren —he said at last—. —Why do you come to my domain, when so many others avoid it?
Eric held his gaze.
—Because you are isolated. And an isolated kingdom weakens. I come to trade. To open a new route. To move supplies.
—And while I'm at it… to request weapons.
A murmur rose, protests whispered at Eric's audacity.
Dorephan raised a hand.
Silence….
—You wish to trade for our weapons? —the king said slowly—
Eric nodded, utterly unshaken by the king's sharp gaze.
Though he was nowhere near the level of this veteran of time, he believed the king was wise enough to see the benefits laid out before him and understand that Eric came with no ill intent toward his domain.
—We need armaments to train new militias for the village. Monster hordes have been stronger and more aggressive lately. Creatures have been sighted with colors unlike the norm. What does that mean? They are far stronger and more resilient. It's as if something ominous is approaching—
Eric paused.
—And we'd also like to load up on provisions for the coming winter.
Sidon stepped forward, grinning.
—Father! I told you we need brave allies —he said—. And he brought wheels!
Dorephan did not smile, but the atmosphere softened slightly at the honesty of Eric's words.
—You speak with courage, despite your young age —the king said at last—. That is rare among children these days.
Eric inclined his head.
—I am… simply someone who wants to protect his home village at all costs.
The sound of rain filled the silence of the hall.
Dorephan looked at the parchment, then at Lareph, then at Eric.
Rain continued to hammer against the corridors of the Zora Domain.
Eric did not break the silence.
He waited patiently. This was a negotiation, not a plea.
—Can you create more of these carts? —the king finally asked.
Eric immediately understood the direction of the negotiation.
And he did not hesitate.
—I can build you carts —he said at last—. —Identical to the ones you saw arrive today.
A murmur spread among the Zora councilors, disbelief plain on their faces.
Eric continued, clear and direct.
—In exchange… I need a large shipment of weapons, shields, and armor.
The king's eyes narrowed as he evaluated him. Then he placed both hands upon the throne.
—Zora weapons are not given lightly, boy —he said—. But your carts…. —he glanced toward the windows, where the convoy was still visible—. They are quite interesting.
A brief pause followed.