Eric read the letter.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
Sidon.
>"Eric, friend of the Domain,"<
Your creations work even better than we imagined! Thanks to them, we've managed to secure dried grain, salt, durable fabrics, and tools we hadn't seen in a very long time.
Our fishermen can now carry surplus much farther without losing it along the way, and without fearing electric Lizalfos.
Father is… surprised. And coming from him, that says a lot.
Eric allowed himself a small smile.
Knowing that his work wasn't just functioning, but restoring dignity to an entire people, was a reward very different from points or artifacts.
He kept reading.
The tone shifted.
"Now, the important part:
I won't lie to you. The matter of Vah Ruta has been delayed longer than expected."
Eric frowned.
"Councilor Muzun opposed it with everything he had."
Eric remembered the grumpy old Zora who, throughout the entire meeting, had done nothing but glare at him with visible irritation, interrupting more than once.
"He doesn't trust Hylians. He never has. To him, allowing one to approach the Divine Beast is reopening a wound that still hasn't healed."
Eric exhaled slowly.
"For days, he blocked any vote. He insisted it was madness, that even considering your proposal was a disrespect to my sister and to the fallen."
The letter tightened slightly in Eric's fingers.
"But in the end, Father intervened forcefully. Since the day he threw a Guardian off the cliff, he's gained significant prestige and support as King."
"And it's because we're worried. If Vah Ruta continues to cause constant rainfall, the problem will no longer be limited to the Domain."
"The rivers that are born here do not recognize borders."
Eric paid close attention to this part.
"The currents are already increasing in volume. Riverbeds risk overflowing. Even if it's still years away, if Ruta never rests, the continuous rain could trigger a large-scale flood."
"All of Hyrule could be affected, especially villages downstream, roads, and settlements still struggling to stand after the Calamity."
Sidon's handwriting grew heavier.
"The council understands that if the Divine Beast isn't stopped, this could end in catastrophe, and in this matter, we truly need outside help."
"Waiting indefinitely for Ruta to stop could cost more lives than taking the risk."
Eric slowly let the air leave his lungs.
"That's why, even though Muzun resists, even he knows time is working against us."
The letter ended there.
Eric folded it carefully.
—So it's not just the Domain… —he murmured—. It's all of Hyrule that's at risk.
He remained lost in thought for a long while.
—One step at a time… —he muttered.
Now, with approval to approach Ruta secured, Eric made a simple and highly imprudent decision:
To prepare properly.
The scouts' reports were clear.
Ruta allowed no one to get too close.
Violent currents, concentrated rainfall, absurd hydraulic pressure, and on top of that, freezing attacks.
Approaching it without a solid plan was, at best, an elegant way to die soaked.
So in his mind, he began sketching a plan that could take to the skies, allowing them to observe from above and judge whether they had a chance.
Looking at the ten crates filled with monster materials he had collected over the past days while clearing the surroundings of Hateno, Eric decided to embark on his first true venture.
And an idea took shape.
One of those ideas born not from common sense, but from youthful pride mixed with far too many hours using Ultrahand.
His younger brother had already left when Eric found himself alone in the clearing, surrounded by planks, stakes, and other Zonai devices exchanged through the system.
Planks x15
Stakes x10
Fans x10
Steering Stick x1
Rockets x5
In total, he had spent around 500 points.
His mind sank into deep reflection.
For days, he had wondered whether these devices could allow him to take to the skies like the Rito, the birdfolk tribe.
The more he thought about it, the more feasible the idea became.
It didn't help that the glider already had a bird-like shape. In truth, this was something his ancestors had already experimented with.
Gliding without flapping wings. Tilting the body just enough to change direction.
—If they can… —Eric murmured, imagining what he wanted to build—. Then something similar should be possible.
Hot air balloons existed, of course. Eric had seen them, even studied them.
But they were something else entirely.
Slow. Clumsy. Completely dependent on the weather.
Vulnerable to fire, to wind, to any monster with even minimal range.
Useful for observation, but not for what Eric wanted to create.
This was different.
He laid the long, flexible planks on the ground and joined them with Zonai stakes that emitted a faint green glow.
The wooden base began to take shape almost on its own, guided by instinct: a wide wing, extended, slightly curved upward at the tips, more like a wooden manta ray than any known vehicle in Hyrule.
At the center, he improvised a simple fuselage, just enough to stand on and control the devices.
Below it, with more care than he was willing to admit, he added:
A lower compartment for the ten crates of materials, secured with strong bindings and finally locked in place with Ultrahand.
Two Zonai rockets were mounted at the rear, not for sustained flight, but to "push" the takeoff.
And finally, the Zonai fans, angled in different directions.
Some to provide forward thrust, others to allow landing without smashing the vehicle to pieces.
He tested several configurations until the balance felt… acceptable.
And lastly, the steering stick.
Hours later…
Eric stood silently before his creation.
He wiped his forearm across his brow, leaving behind a streak of dust and sweat.
—Perfect… —he said, drawing in a deep breath—. If this crashes… at least it'll be in style—
He activated the energy with a light tap, and the rockets roared.
The craft lurched off the ground clumsily, then became surprisingly stable.
Eric let out a laugh that was swallowed by the wind as Hateno shrank beneath him.
—HAHAHA, MOM, LOOK, I'M FLYING! —he shouted, even though he was already several meters up.
Hateno was calm.
Too calm.
Until a massive shadow swept across the central plaza.
—Is that a… bird? —one villager asked.
—A monster? —said another, hand going to his sword.
—No… —a child murmured—. It looks like there's someone on top—
The sound came next.
A mechanical roar, followed by a deep whistle.
Lyra, along with many villagers, rushed into the plaza and looked up.
—…no —Lyra said in a very calm voice, recognizing the silhouette—. No, no, no, no—
The aircraft descended.
Eric cut the energy flow to his arm at the last second. With two energy cells, he could fly for almost a minute.
As the craft dropped, many panicked and ran, but Eric activated the downward-facing fans, arresting the fall.
Then he landed smoothly in the middle of the plaza, kicking up dust among the crowd.
The ten crates hit the ground with a perfectly synchronized THUMP, followed by the vehicle itself.
Absolute silence.
Then Eric jumped down from the wing, raised his arms, and announced:
—AERIAL DELIVERY COMPLETED!
He said it with exaggerated flair, arms spread wide.