One good turn... [closed to Daja]

[redeyes_andblue]

They had been distracted by the podpop, but Sheik still had kept his appointment - payment to the blacksmith, Daja, for fixing his beloved lyre. It wasn't too much of a hardship, either - a few songs and some tea, which would explain the burner, teapot, flask of water, two teacups, and little pouch of just enough tea for two set beneath the tree Sheik was now lounging beneath.

Honestly, he had been pleased to find the little park - and quite close to Daja's forge, too. Now, he set everything out on a flat rock in the shade and settled back to wait, newly repaired lyre in his lap.

Comments

[fireforger]

Daja listened closely, fascinated. "It's moving!" she said when the shadow rose up. "Does everyone in your world have magic?" she asked when it settled down. "In my world only some people are. But if magic is tied to particular races, does that mean all Sheikah have Shadow magic, like you?"

The idea of everyone having magic was a new one - as was the idea of particular races having particular kinds of magic. True, Trader magic was different - but that was more because they were taught different, not because of any differences inherit in their magic.

[[ooc: wooooow, you are so dedicated Naomi XD]]

[redeyes_andblue]

"Some do," he nodded, "The Sheikah are one of the few races where magic is intrinsic - in others, like the Gerudo and the Gorons, it's rarer. There are some very powerful magic users amongst them, but..." He shrugged. Magic in Hyrule was something he had been observing for years. "A user has to be born with the potential, and train for a long time. In races like mine and the Kokiri, and a lot more instinctive, and in races like the Hylians, it's like..."

Tapping his fingers against the ground, he frowned a little thoughtfully. "Within Hylians, all have the potential, but very few end up using their natural abilities. When they do, though, it can be... dramatic. The Hylian I mentioned earlier is the most powerful magic user I've ever come across."

[Why, thank you.]


((OOC: This is called 'overthinking the issue' XD))

[fireforger]

Daja nodded, taking it all in. Who could and who could use magic was much more complicated in Sheik's world that in her own.

"Your world sounds like an interesting place," she remarked with a smile. With a sip of her tea, she gave Sheik a knowing smile. "Now, I've heard two songs from your home. You need only play a third and Bookkeeper Oti will mark your debt as paid."

[redeyes_andblue]

Oh, he thought he had only played one. Still, he'll accept it for now.

"It is interesting," he agreed with a smile, "And one of the more interesting places is Death Mountain, and its population of Gorons." And without much more preamble, he launched into his next piece - an extension of the Bolero he had played earlier.

[fireforger]

Daja was feeling generous, Sheik. Besides, if you want to give out freebies, you should wait until after the debt has been paid.

"Death Mountain?" she said with a raised eyebrow, before settling down to listen to more of Sheik's beautiful music.

[redeyes_andblue]

He finished playing with a flourish, then grinned a little at the earlier question. "It's an active volcano," he shrugged, "And has, in the past, caused death - there was an eruption that practically buried Kakariko about... a hundred and fifty years ago, I suppose?"

Quietly, softly, he started playing another piece - background music as he spoke. (It could count as third by his count - Sheik did not enjoy ripping people off.) "The mountain has been an ever-present part of Hyrule's landscape, and Kakariko has sat at its foot for nearly five hundred years. It started out as one of the annual settlements that the Sheikah took, we - they were nomadic back then. But around... three hundred and fifty years ago, the village became permanent, and became the home of the Sheikah in Hyrule. Even when the old village was destroyed by the volcano, we still remained there."

He could still vividly recall the sight of the ruined village - flows of ash that had scoured the little wooden village from top to toe. Only the Shadow Temple, largely underground, had survived.

[fireforger]

"It's a bit morbid, though," Daja said. "And it's not like the volcano did anything other than act according to it's nature."

She went silent, listening to the music and remembering her own experiences with molten lava. For all that her magic was based in fire, she hadn't been able to pass through it. But she remembered the heat and the power. The power of the natural world was indeed something to be respected.

[redeyes_andblue]

"I suppose it is a bit morbid," he shrugged. "Still, I didn't name it - and many of Hyrule's landmarks are rather literally named."

Finally, he set the lyre aside, reaching for his tea again. "Death Mountain is a mountain that causes death, the Lost Woods are enchanted woods that make people get lost, the Haunted Wastelands are wastelands that are haunted..."

Seriously, some people had no imagination.

[fireforger]

Daja laughed when she heard these names. "They really call them that?" she asked.

[redeyes_andblue]

"They really did. I'm afraid we are not very creative when it comes to names, it seems," he said with a faint, sheepish grin. "Even my village, Kakariko, wasn't very creative - it's just the Sheikah word for 'at the mountain's foot'."

[fireforger]

"At least it sounds like a nice name," she said, smiling.

Taking one last sip of her tea, Daja said, "Thank you very much for your music. You play very well."

[redeyes_andblue]

He gave her a formal nod, a smile on his face. "It was a pleasure - fair repayment for the wonderful job you did on the lyre."

[fireforger]

"I hope that we can do business in the future, then," Daja said, standing up and bowing to Sheik.

[redeyes_andblue]

He finished off his tea, then stood and returned the bow. "As do I. I'm sure you'll find no shortage of work, here. M-may those of Fire look down favourably upon you."

Well, he hadn't had to use one of Din's blessings in a long time - really, it was no wonder he stumbled.

[fireforger]

Daja smiled. "And may your records be balanced in Bookkeeper Oti's books."