The Legend of Zelda: Mark of a Hero | Part 1 - Hyrule

Overworld Chapter 38 - Permitted Explosions

...further up the trail towards Goron City. Constant was right, it didn't take them long to reach the city. Less than an hour later, they found themselves on the outskirts of the mountainside city.

Before them spread a stepped settlement climbing up the side of the mountain. Despite its abandonment in recent days, there was still a wealth of light flickering before them, a dozen amber dots in a field of red and gray stone. Most of the buildings were single leveled structures made from metal or stone, likely mined very locally. Some of the rail lines had even been repurposed to serve as shuttles between the levels of the town, though their cars now remained dormant without anyone to operate them, let alone ride.

As when they entered Cephlan, Goron City was chillingly still. There wasn't even a guard posted by the main gate. With Death Mountain to keep watch, Link doubted there was much of a need. It felt a little unnerving all the same to walk into what was supposed to be a major city and find it so void of life.

Saddiqah and Link continued down the main boulevard, looking for any sign of help. The sun would set soon, and Link was sure if the Tektites hadn't found the rest of their group yet, they would once night came. He pushed forward with more urgency.

It didn't take long for them to find someone, fortunately enough. Link even recognized this someone he realized as the Goron roll up to meet them, before uncurling himself in their way. Katolo stood taller than Saddiqah did, it was quite easy for him to bar their path.

"Who are you?" Katolo asked, equal parts surprised and concerned. "What are you doing here?"

Glad he doesn't recognize me at least, Link thought before he turned to point back at the pass as Saddiqah pointed to the tattoo on her arm to answer the first question. "Our friends got trapped on the way up. We went on ahead to find help."

"There's more of you?" Katolo replied with alarm. He pressed his head in his hand, shaking it slowly. "Din help me, this day just gets worse." After a moment, Katolo turned back to face them. "Forgive me, you said your friends are trapped on the pass. I think I can help with that."

"Lord Katolo!" The shout broke the trio's attention back the way Katolo had come. Hurrying along at a more standard speed rushed a Hylian woman. They waited the few minutes for her to catch up, before she bent over to catch her breath as she reached them. Puffing out one more time, she turned to Katolo. "My lord, you can't just go racing off like that!"

Katolo rubbed the back of his neck at the scolding, grinning wide despite it. "Sorry, Aphe."

Aphe sighed, her arms dropped before her as she returned to catching her breath. Under her breath, she grumbled, "You should have mentioned the marathon requirement in the interview too." Straightening herself again after a moment, Aphe clapped her cheeks and turned to Katolo once more. "If you're going to agree to hire a Hylian as your assistant, Lord Katolo, then you need to be more considerate of my limitations."

Still with an embarrassed grin, Katolo nodded. "You're right, Aphe. I'll work on it."

Saddiqah filled in the gap Link didn't think to cover. "Lord Katolo, is it?"

Katolo lowered his arm and nodded. "Not much of a lord at present, but yes. And this is Aphe, as she said, my assistant."

Aphe bowed. "A pleasure."

"We hate to bother the lord of the city then, but we do need to get back down the pass to help our friends. A boulder from the volcano is blocking the path," Saddiqah explained for Aphe.

"Oh! That's terrible!" Aphe replied, before she turned to Katolo. "We going to help them, of course, my lord?"

"Of course, Aphe!" Katolo answered, as if that were natural. Then, a little more stumped, he rest his head on one of his fist to think. "Now, a boulder blocking the whole pass. I can clear a lot of debris, but I don't know about that. I think...Ah! Yes! Aphe, I know what we need!"