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“Greetings, Master Revali.”
Revali looked up from his handiwork to the one standing in the doorway. It was a leisurely-looking Teba, who had seemingly just finished his process of winding down after the long day of defending Hebra. His weapon was stashed away in his temporary quarters. Revali found it questionable, he would never be seen without his bow. With the number of monsters on the rise, there was no room for lazing around unarmed, so he sat huddled over his weapon as he cared for it for the millionth time that day.
“Teba.” He nodded in return. As Teba stepped further inside, taking Revali’s greeting as an invitation, Revali quickly questioned him, “Is there a problem?”
“No, no...” Teba said, “I... Forgive me. I should have asked if you were busy, Master Revali.”
“What for?”
“Well, I was wondering if I could talk to you. I have looked up to you as a Champion for the majority of my life, I never thought I would get to experience actually meeting you... Now that I have, I wanted to know if you’d allow me to ask you some questions.”
Revali relaxed, considering it for a moment. Teba was by far the most likely person in all of Hyrule to be granted such a thing. He would probably just ask about technique and routine, and Revali wasn’t one to avoid flaunting either topic.
The Champion nodded once again. “Take a seat.”
Teba did so on one of the stools by the open window. He pondered what to ask first. It was true that he wanted to ask such basic questions, but they slowly became more trivial as he witnessed Revali first-hand on the battlefield—and had touched on them verbally in casual conversation anyway. What Teba really wanted to know was not written in any journal or passed down by any Rito song.
The Champion had already strayed so far from Teba’s initial characterization of him. He held pride that all Rito carried... but it was certainly... well... more than expected. It was also putting a damper on his plans of truly knowing Revali.
“Your gale,” Teba began, “I have practiced it myself. It’s true that no Rito has ever perfected it as you have.” Revali smirked at that. “How did you accomplish it?”
Typical question. If it would be this type of conversation, Revali had done it before many times. It would certainly bore him if it carried on for too long. For Teba, though, he’d try to push on until he simply had to break free of the dull imprisonment.
Revali answered it as he always did, “Many days of practice in the Flight Range. I knew if anyone were to master the technique, it would be me. So, I pressed on until the updraft was nothing more than docile to my flight. It was easily perfected once I had the feeling. I must admit that I’m not surprised my talents have not been met, much less surpassed, even a century later.”
“You have much to be proud of, Master Revali,” Teba assured. He didn’t want to put up with the back and forth of feeding of compliments and the feasting of them. He wanted conversation. He wasn’t going to let his time with the Champion be wasted on things he already knew. “Before then, you said it required many days of practice. What was your first attempt like?”
But Revali was too smart for that. He’d never be caught belly-up so easily. “It was as simple as finding the air around me. Feeling it. Forcing the updraft from there. Soaring only took a matter of repetition.”
“How much repetition?”
Revali scoffed. “I don’t know, I spent my hours focusing on the craft, not the passing time. No sense in counting meaningless attempts.”
His words had been too blatant. Teba realized Revali’s acceptance of him would not come from an ambush. The Champion was not a Lynel, he was not a hoard of Bokoblins. This was an arrogant Rito who would only let his guard down after being backed into a corner, and that would be a difficult string of questions.
“I apologize,” Teba continued. “I only hope to know what to expect from my years of work.”
Revali nodded again. He’d been brought back to the ground.
“I’ve had my Falcon Bow since I was a teenager. It was a gift from my parents. I’d always wanted to be able to wield yours, Master Revali, the Great Eagle Bow. I knew it was too advanced for me at the time. How did you receive it?”
Revali hesitated. It was clear he could sense Teba may have been leading into something. Nonetheless, he answered, “It was also a gift. I was rightfully deemed effective in my archery skills. It was from the chieftain after my first victorious battle with a white-maned Lynel in the mountains. I had won on my own.”
“I’d expect nothing less.” His eyes fell to said object in Revali’s lap. “Were you a warrior for the village at the time?”
Revali hesitated again. “I was not. I was a few months too young at the time. I was dubbed a warrior several weeks early for my exceptional skills. I only proved myself further after my admittance. I would have benefitted them much earlier than that, but I’m afraid my many notable achievements hadn’t been recognized.”
“May I ask why?”
“I...” Revali gripped the bow in his hand, feeling the curvature beneath his wing. It felt right and granted him the words to answer with. “I was what some may consider a rogue at the time. I defended the village in the gaps the warriors did not cover. I did not allow anything to slip through. As the Champion, I removed every crevice that I had filled beforehand. They had depended on me, and I knew that no other solo Rito could do the job I did. I’ve created a much more effective army.”
“You functioned as your own battalion then,” Teba smiled. “You provided a great service. I admire that. I’m sure those who know of your work can agree.”
“It doesn’t come up often, I admit. I’m sure whoever I told... They do agree.”
“Is that where most of your training came from? The hands-on method?”
“Goddesses, no. That wasn’t training. I spent my time training at the Flight Range. Those moments in the mountains were where I showed what my practice had led up to. The mastery of archery, aerial combat, among my many other triumphs.”
“So... you spent time freelancing in the army and training separately.”
“Exactly.”
“How did you have time for anything else? I don’t doubt that you could find a way, Master Revali, but I hardly have the time management for it.”
“There... wasn’t much more that I did. I dedicated myself. Everything else could wait.”
“What about friends? Did you practice with them? And family? Did you still have dinners with them? Holidays, I’m sure-“
“Everything else was on hold.”
Revali wouldn’t crack. Not with room to slip out. He had to be cornered somewhere. But where?
Teba bowed his head. “My apologies once again, Master Revali. You are speaking clearly, it is not misunderstood. I wish to be as hardworking as you, however I fear I can’t commit to such rigorous work, especially not at that age. You are a very dedicated warrior, it’s not surprising you were chosen as Champion above all other Rito.” He met Revali’s gaze. “My family is too important to me. It may be a weakness of mine. I would do anything to protect them. And my friends, as well. I value them more than anything...” Teba softened his tone, “I value your opinion highly, also. Do you find my loved ones’ importance to be a weakness of mine, Master Revali?”
“No,” Revali said a bit too quickly. “No, I... It’s not. I understand why someone would. It cannot be helped.”
“But is it a weakness? Even if I cannot help it? You were able to press on despite it, I only want to know if I must in order to follow in your footsteps.”
Revali tore his eyes away, sneering. There was a debate erupting in his head. Teba internally begged for it to be in his favor. Revali sighed, “I didn’t have much in terms of family. I... I don’t. As for friends, I’m afraid I didn’t have many who qualified. We... all had different interests. The Rito are very community-based, I’m sure you’re well aware, and I was not as involved in related traditions and holidays. I had other priorities as I grew. They required my independence.”
“I see,” Teba said. His next words were cautious. If Revali allowed them, he knew he was getting somewhere. “You didn’t ‘fit in’ then?”
The silence was deafening. It was as if Revali’s Gale had transcended beyond its purpose, and halted the skies themselves. There were a few moments where Teba wasn’t sure if time was actually passing. It seemed as if Revali had caught his own breath, too.
“No...” Revali said. “I suppose not...”
“I understand. Your past triumphs have led you to where you are now. There is no shame in that.”
“Right...” He began to fiddle with pieces of his bow.
“I have a good friend. His name is Harth. We train together often and we both look up to you, Master Revali. I met him not long before I received my bow. But we were young, and you are still young. I know you’re technically a hundred years ahead of me, but I feel as though you deserve to be told that you still have a life ahead of you once this Calamity is over.”
Revali said nothing.
“Have you ever wanted to settle down, Master Revali?”
He swallowed. “I’ve never considered it. Too busy.”
“I understand. I come from a time where the Calamity was a part of our lives, I’ve known it since I was a child. We built up around it. I was lucky enough to be able to have family and friends despite it. I’m sure it would be much more difficult now, with everything on the rise.”
“You have family?” Revali asked, almost surprised. There was a tinge of sorrow in his voice, in softness and in strain.
“I have a wife and child. Saki and Tulin. And some cousins—and their families. Tulin is still very young.” Teba chuckled, “He wants to grow up to be like you, too. It runs in the family now, I suppose. I wish to pass down my bow to him, like I mentioned before. I hope he can appreciate it someday, especially now that it has been in your presence.”
Revali shook his head and snapped himself from his daze. “You will train him well, with my techniques, of course.”
“Of course,” Teba repeated, suddenly rising from his seat. He stood to face the window and gazed out over the edges of Rito Village engulfed in the yellows, pinks, and purples of sunset. “The training ground already means a lot to him. I’m glad I’ll be able to pass down stories of how his father and the Rito Champion were able to train together there. He’ll need a lot of motivation to live up to you.”
The barrage of back-to-back compliments and questions snuck up on Revali like Lizalfos in a blizzard. For once, Revali found himself struggling to keep up. It truly was backing him into a corner. He wanted to answer Teba truthfully and found himself further and further back, constantly losing ground without realizing it, and unable to retort to bring the conversation back to his advantage. He was playing into Teba’s hand like an emotional fool, no one had ever attempted such a strategic conversation with him, hardly anyone had ever held a regular conversation with him. It seemed too one-sided: Teba asking questions and explaining his lengthy reasonings and life story. Yet, Revali felt as though he’d been stripped of his weapon and...
It was right there, in his hand. But he was still defenseless. Defenseless against... what?
“I’ve always felt that I come across as too proud. Arrogant. I worried I didn’t have much to be proud of.” Teba’s vision of the village was unbroken. Revali’s vision was cracking right in front of him. “I think I’m a bit stubborn. Well, that’s what my wife has told me,” he chuckled again, heartier—genuine. “I know that I’m just disciplined. That’s how all Rito are, aren’t we? Prideful and structured down to our very roots. We have a lot of history and talent to uphold.” Teba glanced over his shoulder at Revali. “What do you think?”
Revali sat stunned for a moment, still not knowing what to do. His fight or flight was battling with the serene breeze and candlelit room filled with the prominent voice cornering him. “I...” he tried, but nothing came to mind. He couldn’t think. He couldn’t even be angry. The truth sat on the tip of his tongue and he didn’t know if he had the strength to hold it back or say it at all.
Teba turned around to face him again. “It’s a difficult question. I know you’ve agreed you didn’t fit in with the rest of the Rito, but you truly are what the Rito aspire to be, not just because you’re a Champion. You have great confidence and skills to back it up. It’s very apparent in the way you carry yourself, both here and on the battlefield. You truly make a mighty warrior. I hope you see that, Master Revali. Honestly. I wouldn’t see a reason why your fellow Champions wouldn’t think of you similarly, if not the best archer in all of Hyrule.” Teba motioned to the bow Revali was clutching to his chest to prove his point. “I just wondered if you knew that as well.”
Revali gulped down his lump in his throat in a fruitless effort to get rid of it. “Of... course I do. I’m well aware of my abilities. I know I’m respected as such. That’s why I have...” He looked down to the bow. Still defenseless. The greatest archer in all of Hyrule, holding the greatest bow in all of Hyrule: defenseless. “That’s why I carry this. To prove it.”
“You feel you must prove yourself, Master Revali?”
Teba worried he had stepped a bit too far with his wording, but Revali didn’t flinch. “I must maintain my title...”
Teba spoke, sensing Revali wouldn’t finish that thought, “The same way you maintain your borders.”
“Yes... I must maintain myself, too.”
“Oh, I- I meant the borders of the village, Master Revali, as you said before.”
Revali shook himself free again. “Yes! Yes. My village—that’s what I said. I must protect my people as exceptionally as I always do. As exceptionally as I am capable of. As exceptionally as my skills I dedicate myself to.”
“Forgive me for mishearing,” Teba said. “Your fellow Champions must also follow similar routines, I assume. They have their own people to protect. Link serves Central Hyrule, I presume, and whatever the Hylian Royal Family must assign him to. Guarding the princess, and such.”
Teba was shocked Revali had no response to hearing Link’s name. “I assume so, as well,” he said. There was another moment of quiet as Teba thought of how to carry on the last of his thoughts, but Revali suddenly did so for him. “How are they all faring in your time, with the Calamity over? Rito Village is prospering?”
“Exceptionally. I would like to think you would’ve been very proud of it. We no longer have any monsters, and we are all at peace in each corner of Hyrule. Trade is excelling, all the economics, you know. The Yiga Clan has been unheard of after Calamity Ganon’s demise. I cannot be sure that they are gone entirely, but I don’t know what else is left for them. They’re no longer pests, thankfully. Hateno has become one of the main outlets for the rebuilding of Central Hyrule. The field had been untouched by travelers and fighters for the longest time. It was open range for Guardians. It’s currently being rebuilt, which is where most of our warriors have been stationed. Just building. Dedicating our strength to something useful, with nothing left to really fight...” Teba paused. “The Princess is in charge of it, for the most part. Her focus has been on reestablishing Castle Town. Though it’s not much of a ‘castle’ town anymore. She has been... avoiding it. I assume it brings up poor memories. I am glad that this current Princess Zelda will not have such trauma. It took a toll on her for a while.” He smirked, causing Revali to manage to raise a brow. “She is not much of a Princess anymore. She insists on avoiding the title, as well. But she is much happier that way... She and Link... I must ask--pardon, Master Revali, if you aren’t aware--but do the Princess Zelda and Link in this timeline get along well? Friends, maybe?”
“I don’t know the answer to that,” Revali said.
“Ah. Well,” Teba shrugged, “I suppose I shouldn’t prattle on about their business, even if in this time it does not occur as it does in mine... But they are very close, and I will leave it at that.”
Revali thought about it for a few seconds. “Oh.”
“Though he is not as much of a role model as you are, Master Revali, I do admire Link’s strength, as well.”
“I see.”
Teba wasn’t getting the answer he wanted. He tried a more direct approach. “Is that frowned upon, Master Revali?”
“What?”
“I can’t help but notice you seem to... dislike...”
Revali waved it off. “He doesn’t deserve what he’s earned. He pulled that sword out by pure chance; I doubt he was the sole person able to remove that sword, anyway. I don’t see the reason to celebrate him.”
“I understand,” Teba said. “Who... Who do you think should carry that sword?”
Revali sighed. “I see what you’re doing, Teba. I think you have gotten enough information out of me to understand how I feel. It does not need to be said.”
Teba nodded, allowing himself to soften again. He’d succeeded. This was his mightiest, successful battle, and he wasn’t even armed.
“I will tolerate tonight,” Revali said, standing up from his position on the floor. “But if you feel so inclined as to tell others-”
“I will not, Master Revali, and I assure you I won’t do this again. I was only curious. I apo-”
Revali put up his wing to silence him. Despite his words, he seemed to be happy, as told by the smile forged in his face (quite the rare occasion, Teba assumed). “You’ve apologized enough for tonight. It is getting late. I’m tired of talking.”
“Yes, it is late,” Teba agreed, “but I have not had the opportunity to have dinner.” He and Revali moved to the center of the room. Both unarmed. “Would you care to join me, Master Revali?”
He took a moment to glance back at his bow, then to the darkened sky over the village that barely clung onto the orange hues of sunset. “Fine,” Revali sighed again, almost relieved. “I think it’s well-deserved right now.”