Fandom High School

"Congratulations, everyone!" Sidon started his class that day with his biggest, most enthusiastic greeting yet, and, accompanying it, his biggest, toothiest smile as well. "You've done it! You've reached the end of the semester! I knew you could do it! And I hope you've enjoyed this journey through all the fascinating, incredible, brilliant creatures of Hyrule as much as I have! And now? It's time to test your knowledge with a little exam!

"Now," he said, "there are a great many creatures we did not get the chance to explore, but if you have any last minute quick questions about any we have covered, now is the time to ask them, before we see just how much you remember about what we've gone over. But if you have confidence and are assured in your knowledge, then we shall just get started! How does that sound?"

Going by his enthusiasm, Sidon, at least, seemed to think that sounded pretty incredible! There were few people out there that could get this excited over a test....and he wasn't even taking it!

"Apologies for my absence last week!" Sidon proclaimed, quite cheerily from the front of the classroom, as one would be wont to expect. "There was a bit of trouble in Hateno Bay this last week that called for the assistance of none other than the Prince Who Felled the Giant Octorok, who is, of course, none other than yours truly! Thankfully, this large beast was not nearly so giant as the one I fought in such grand, legendary battle....although, I suppose, that might just be a matter of perspective, because I myself was quite a bit smaller then, if you can believe it! But the whole incident has certainly inspired the topic for this week's class and, furthermore, I shall make it up to you with the second half of class with a little trip to the Danger Shop, but first...!"

He paused, dramatically.

"Let's talk Octoroks!"

And so he did, delving into the details of the octopus-like creatures found all throughout Hyrule in their various forms: forest, rock, snow, sky, and especially the water! There were also the treasure octoroks, which added an additional element of intrigue to these quick and quirky beasts! He went into a little bit of a discussion on ways to help find Octoroks when they were in hiding in the breath of the wild, their various attacks and movement patterns, and even ways to fight them, which, he promised, would come in handy very soon! In case anyone had any doubts as to why they were going down to the Danger Shop for the second end of class.

A little bit about their diet specifications...or rather, their lack thereof, which made for some unique opportunities to have them ingest harmful things like rocks or bombs or, and now Sidon was really grinning, princes! And that meant regailing the students of the tale when he defeated the giant octorok by allowing it to eat him, and then piercing its belly from the inside, not only facilitating his escape, but sealing the monster's fate and saving the village all in one mighty poke!

It was a good thing he did have other plans for the rest of the class, or the students would have gotten the much longer version of the story; it was, after all, one of his personal favorites to tell!

When they came into the classroom that day, the students would find not only Sidon's heartfelt but misguided attempts at drawing a few skeletal figures on the board, but also, on the desk at the front of the room, several bones, inexpertly arranged in an attempt to recreate the hopefully now familiar shape of a lizalfos. Totally normal thing for a class! And Sidon was clearly very proud of this find, as indicated by the brightness of his toothy grin.

"Today," he started, with clear excitement, "we are going to be talking about something a little spooky, a little frightening. Today, we are going to talk about stals!

( Skele-bros. )

With that, Sidon's bright and cheerful demeanor at the start of class had faded rather significantly, but he finished with his best attempt to shake off the darkness of the topic with another smile.

"And that," he said, "is a brief overview of stals, what they are, and how they came to be, and also while we can be quite comfortable in knowing we need not worry about this one," he gestured toward the desk, "here today."

Well, at least not until he gave it to Liliana, which was definitely a great idea, right?

"Are there any questions? If you'd like to come see the stal up close, I would encourage it, as it's also likely to give you a good idea some of the skeletal structure of lizalfos in general. And, of course, as always, if there are creatures like stals that you are familiar with that you would like to share your stories of, I would love to hear them."

"I hope you're all ready for an adventure today," said Sidon, flashing a shining, toothy grin at the students from the front of the classroom, with a pump of his fist, because he, personally, was always ready for adventure, "because we'll be going back to Hyrule again today, and we're going to learn all about Hylian horses! Now that you've learned about moblins, bokoblins, and lizalfos, and even had some first-hand experience with that last one, I think we can safely venture out into the lands and be prepared should we run into any trouble! Hopefully, though, we should have a nice peaceful visit where we can focus on these majestic beasts!

"It may come as a surprise to you all," Sidon continued, with the kind of chuckle that made it clear that he knew this was going to be a surprise to no one, "but I am not much for horseback riding, myself! However, horses and mules are an incredibly popular way to travel around Hyrule, to the point where there is an elaborate network of stables scattered throughout the land, for all your travel needs! One may find far more than horses at these stables; they may also find a meal for the day, a soft bed, and even helpful information! But today, we are focusing, of course, on the horses, and the stable owner has kindly agreed to impart all of his knowledge about Hylian horses to you, from the very basics to the thrilling lessons! So, as soon as our portal arrives, we'll head out to Hyrule and you'll get to see the horses for yourself. And...."

He threw in a little bit of a wink.

"We may have something else in store for us, as well!"

Once again, the board at the front of the classroom with the highest ceiling sported a very lovingly but terribly drawn depiction of what sort looked like perhaps a slightly hunched over lizard person with a horn and maybe a spear (???), if you squinted at it the right way. Or perhaps once Sidon got finished with the lecture, it would make a little more sense, when the students knew more about the topic of the day. Until then, though, Sidon was clearly proud of his work (he really felt as though he was making some improvements!) and was clearly very excited to talk about today's subject.

Granted, he was always excited to talk about most subjects.

"Good morning, everyone!" he greeted them, with his usual, cheerful, bombastic way. "Today, we're going to talk about another beastly creature that roams nearly every corner of Hyrule, the Lizalfos! And when I say every corner of Hyrule, I truly mean it, because these monsters are incredibly adaptable to all sorts of various weather and geographical features, from the snowy, icy mountains of Hebra to the dry, scorching sands of the Gerudo Desert, the impossible heat of Death Mountain, and even to the wet and rainy lakes of rivers of my own Zora's Domain! As a matter of fact, the lizalfos population in the Lanayru Mountains were I live can sometimes be so rowdy and out of hand that I often have to take trip back home to help in the efforts to squash them and keep them in line! Now, that might sound a bit cruel, but the lizalfos are viscious predators that strive to encroach on any territory they seem fit, and will attack without mercy or morals. Let's talk a little more about them.

"They are quite lizard-like, not only in their appearance, but also in their nature. They possess protruding eyes that allow them to look in multiple directions at once, making it very difficult to be sneaky around them, and they are just as vicious when attacking with their long whip of a tongue as they are with any variety of weapons, which they use quite efficiently and well. They tend to favor short swords, bows, and spears, however, and are quite fond of jump attacks, leaping down on their enemy from great heights....as well as the ground, as they are, in fact, fantastic jumpers. They are also incredibly fast, amazing climbers, and many of them can also camouflaged into the surrounding area, so one must be sharp-eyed and sharp-witted to catch a lizalfos at bay! They are reasonably intelligent, and, in fact, they have the ability to make their own weapons and armor, which truly does make them a formidable opponent, far more than the more bumbling bokoblins and meandering moblins we discussed last week!

"Lizalfos, much like Zora, will come with a wide variety of different colored scales, and they often make camps on various rivers and lakes around Hyrule that involve a raised wooden platform, usually in a circle, with sheets and tarps to protect from the elements, which look a bit like...this."

Here, Sidon did his very best to draw such an encampment, but you would still mostly have to use your imagination, by the looks of it.

"They will also sometimes build these around trees in some areas, and, in the dessert and the snowfields, they tend to burrow in the sand and snow to better conceal themselves further. They mostly eat a diet of fish and insects and are excellent spear-hunters, though they will not hesitate to turn those spears on Hylians and Zora alike, nor will they be likely to refuse other kinds of meat! Some of them have the ability to breathe fire, but the ones that give us Zora the most trouble are the Electric Lizalfos, who can produce lightning with their horns, and will discharge that power when hit! So it's very important, especially if one is sensitive to fire or lightning, to be well prepared for that possibility! They can also lash out very powerfully with their tail, and specialize in a water-spitting attack that is difficult to avoid. Not so much a problem for a Zora like me," he chuckled a little, "but definitely something most would have to look out for!

"Lizalfos horns, talons, and tails are often quite prized among merchants and traders who hope to use them for various elixirs and powders. They can also swim, which makes them a particularly interesting foe to fight when one is in the water! They are a nuisance in the Domain, if I"m entirely honest, but I simply must admit, they are a nuisance that I do rather enjoy fighting!"

He flashed a big, toothy grin at the students.

"And that," he declared, "is an overview of the lizalfos! Do you have any questions or anything I should elaborate on? If anything, I should very much like to go over some useful tips in fighting them, as someone who has fought many in my wide span of years! Why, fighting lizalfos is very much an every day sort of adventure back home!"

The danger shop that day was set up to look like a lush green forest, with plenty of little copses of trees and rolling hillocks, dappled sun filtered through the branches, and Sidon was very excited about today's lesson.

Well, he was usually pretty excited about most lessons, but this one in particular, because it was a consistent favorite of his since the first time he taught it.

"Welcome back, everyone!" he greeted the students cheerfully, with an excited opening of his arms and then a pump of his fist. "I have something very exciting for you today! We've spent the last few weeks going over some very important, but admittedly very run-of-the-mill Hylian creatures, but today, we're going to mix it up a bit, and discuss one of the legendary Hylian creatures, the great and mysterious blupee! A small, spiritual creatures that dwell within the forests of Hyrule, the blupee is said to be about the size of a large rabbit, and to move similarly, with bounds and hops and quick leaps and evasive maneuvers. They're said to glow blue, with the body of the aforementioned rabbit, but the face of an owl, and golden wreaths in place of its ears! They are said to be swift, and very easily startled, and very few people have ever actually seen the enigmatic beasts! Some claim that they are mere figments of the imagination, but there are others who say they have not only seen a blupee, but they have discovered that, when one strikes one with an arrow, the blupee, while unharmed, will drop rupees for the archer to collect before disappearing back into the spiritual realm from whence it came!"

As he spoke, of course, there was a flash of blue from somewhere behind him. Sidon turned toward it for a moment, then turned back toward the students with a grin. "Did you see that? I think we may have a few blupees in our midst even now as we speak! Now, surely, not all of us here are excellent marksmen, so perhaps shooting a blupee might be a bit out of our scope right now, but surely, at least someone at some time has certainly tried to catch a blupee in other ways! And if not?"

He laughed, beaming at them all.

"Then we shall be the first!"

Well, them, and the two classes before them where he'd taught this same lesson.

"Remember, though, they are quite skittish, and remarkably fast, so you may need to be quite sneaky and swift or perhaps even clever yourself in order to catch one! Sighting a blupee in the wild is a rare event indeed, so let us make the most out of it! Are there any questions before we begin? If not, let us begin our hunt, and may you find yourself quite victorious! Happy hunting!"

The class would be meeting in the Danger Shop this week! How exciting!

Well, Sidon clearly was excited for it, that bouncing energy radiating off of him as everyone came in to what was a nice, tranquil meadow, bright with wildflowers, with a copse of trees gathered around a sizeable pond on one end, snowy mountains looming up ahead to another, and the slope of a hill down to the sandy beach and the sea on another. And, in the last direction, things got a bit rocky and coarse. Basically, a setting that seemed to represent most of the different landscapes one might find around Hyrule.

And one might also notice, in land and sea and air, an abundance of birds.

"Welcome back!" Sidon greeted them eagerly. "I hope you're all ready for another exciting look at more Hylian creatures! Now, while we started with the mighty cucco, who is absolutely a rare and unique bird to Hyrule specifically," and therefor did not in any way resemble any sort of Earth bird at all, really!, "there are many other birds that roost in the skies and trees of my wondrous homeland that are a little less...unique, when compared to the kinds of birds you may find right here in this world! Still, we will spend some time getting to know them as well, and today, we're going Hylian bird watching!

"I have for everyone not only some binoculars to help you search the skies, but also, a handy guide to the most common Hylian birds, which includes helpful pictures and information about them! Take some time to look it over, ask me any questions if you have them, and then I'd like you to set forth! Either on your own or with a friend, if you'd like to partner up, to seek out and find at least three of them! There is a spot in the back of your guides for you to make your own observations and thoughts about their appearance, their behavior, their songs, where you've found them, or whatever else you'd like to include, but I would like you all to make some observations and I will collect them at the end of the class!

"But...enough time wasted with talk!" Sidon flashed them a grin. "Go forth and find some birds! I'll be happy to help, if you need it. There's also some birdseed if you'd like to try to entice them with treats, and keep in mind that some of them are not only quite skittish, but they are quite fast, too, so you may have to be both cautious and quick to get a good look at them! Any questions before we begin?"

"It's almost impossible to believe," Sidon said, starting class that week with his customary big, excited grin, as he looked about the classroom, "but we're almost to our very last class! We have spent a great deal of time learning about my homeland of Hyrule, of its various regions and people, a few of its legends, a few of its tragedies, but we have, alas, only skimmed the very top of the rich lore and stories I could tell you! But, I figured, rather than just trying to throw as much as I possibly could at you in these next few lessons, I thought perhaps I might open it up to see what you might like to learn more about.

"Especially," he added, throwing out a particularly cheeky wink at the class, "since it may effect our final class!

"Now, then," he said, "today will be quite simple: if there is anything you'd like to know more about or any questions you may have about anything having to do with Hyrule at all, now is the time to ask them, and we shall see what new fascinating things we can discover through the power of curiosity! And, also, if anything, even if you have no questions at all, I would very much like to know what part of our Hylian history and legends you enjoyed the most. It is always valuable information to know what resonates, and what doesn't, and, again, it may still come up again, as we are not quite out of the woods yet!

"So I shall now open the floor to you," he swept out his arms in a grand gesture before bowing before them, "my intrepid students! What lingering interests or thoughts do you have to share? What shall we dive into just a little deeper? Or do you have something completely out of left field for us all to explore?"

"Welcome back, everyone." Sidon's greeting that morning was a little more subdued; there was still a smile on his face, of course, and an undeniable energy in his voice, but everything just seemed far less exuberant and extravagant, and the class was about to know exactly why. "Now that we've had a chance to do an overview of each of the different races that call Hyrule its home, it's come time for us to talk a little more in depth about a less pleasant resident of our fair land, one whose name you've heard often enough in our previous discussions, and that is none other than Ganon, the calamitous one.

( Yee-haw. )

Well, those who took his last class probably knew that it influenced it much more than he was letting on, but, again, that was a legend for another day, and he turned his attention eagerly toward the students.

"Please, I am eager to hear your thoughts!"

"Good morning, everyone!" Sidon, with all his usual excitement and eagerness, greeted the class with a mighty gesture and a broad, toothy grin. There was, of course, another drawing on the board to enlighten them to today's topic of discussion, and, honestly? It wasn't even that bad this week! That, of course, had nothing to do with Sidon't artistic talent improving and much more to do with the fact that it didn't take a whole lot of skill to draw shape of a Goron or the silhouette of large singular volcanic peak.

( Rocks of Ages )

"But that is," Sidon concluded with a nod, "mostly all there is to say about the Gorons in a broad overview. Even if one cannot make the rather arduous and heated trek into Death Mountain to visit them, one may still experience the company of these stolid, joyful, steadfast people throughout all of Hyrule, as they have a traveling spirit themselves and enjoy sharing the wealth of their mines with the world, and we are all quite richer because of it....and not just because of their mining efforts!

"So...what do you think?" He looked to them eagerly. "Is Death Mountain a place you might like to visit...despite the name? Or perhaps because of it! What would you be most interested to learn or see about the Gorons? As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts and questions!"

"Good morning, everyone!" Sidon greeted the class with his usual cheer, a toothy grin of excitement for the lesson ahead of them. "I know you're all probably quite excited for the school trip next week, but I hope you'll at least indulge me in one more Great Lesson of Hyrule before you shift entirely into vacation mode, because today, we are going to be learning all about the Sheikah tribe!

( New Sheikah Slate, who dis? )

"So that," Sidon concluded proudly, "is the rundown of the Sheikah Tribe and a brief look into their history and their troubles. If you ask me, their position in the greater population of Hyrule is a rather intriguing one, isn't it? To possess the power and technology to save the world, only to have that technology then feared by others, and shunned, to the point of exile!, because of it! And then, once that technology is needed once more, to have to turn against you and threaten the world to ruin! And what of the Yiga Clan? What might drive a person to choose to side with the Darkness, instead of the Light? Are they misguided, or do they simply see things differently? I would be delighted to hear your thoughts, should you have any, and, of course, to answer any other questions you may have regarding the Sheikah and their history and place in Hyrule!"

"Don't get too comfortable, everyone!" Sidon announced, once everyone had gotten to the classroom, his grin particularly eager and sharp that morning. "Originally, I was planning on having us start delving into the various races found throughout Hyrule, but I'm sure everyone is quite eager to get started with their weekends and the visits from their guests, should you have any coming, so I figured we'd do something a little different today, in the meantime. Let us take a fantastic voyage today...to the Danger Shop! Let us go and see what great wonders await us! Last one there is an octorock's bladder!"

Leave it to Sidon to make even a traverse across the school to the Danger Shop an exciting, rallying experience, offering up words of encouragement as they went. Once inside, they would find themselves in a lush, green forest, with plenty of trees and little hillocks and underbrush.

"Today," Sidon announced eagerly, "we are going to talk about the great mysterious blupee! A small, spiritual creatures that dwell within the forests of Hyrule, the blupee is said to be about the size of a large rabbit, and to move similarly, with bounds and hops and quick leaps and evasive maneuvers. They're said to glow blue, with the body of the aforementioned rabbit, but the face of an owl, and golden wreaths in place of ears! They are said to be swift, and very easily startled, and very few people have ever seen the enigmatic blupee! Some claim that they are mere figments of the imagination, but there are others who say they have not only seen a blupee, but they have discovered that, when one strikes one with an arrow, the blupee, while unharmed, will drop rupees for the archer to collect before disappearing into the spiritual realm from whence it came!"

As he spoke, of course, there was a flash of blue from somewhere behind him. Sidon turned toward it for a moment, then turned back toward the students with a grin. "Did you see that? I think we may have a few blupees in our midst even now as we speak! Now, surely, not all of us here are excellent marksmen, so perhaps shooting a blupee might be a bit out of our scope right now, but surely, at least someone at some time has certainly tried to catch a blupee in other ways! And if not?"

He laughed, beaming at them all.

"Then we shall be the first! Remember, though, they are quite skittish, and remarkably fast, so you may need to be quite sneaky and swift or perhaps even clever yourself in order to catch one! Sighting a blupee in the wild is a rare event indeed, so let us make the most out of it! Are there any questions before we begin? If not, let us begin our hunt, and may you find yourself quite victorious! Happy hunting, and, if you do have guests visiting this weekend, I very much look forward to potentially meeting them!"

"Good morning, everyone!" As expected, Sidon was quite full of the usual excitement and eagerness to get to teaching some of his favorite students (simply by the virtue of the fact that they were, in fact, his students) about his favorite place ever (simply by virtue of the fact that it was, you know, his home). "And welcome back! Now that we've all had our introductions, it's time to start diving in to the deep and rich history of Hyrule together! And, truly, one of the most difficult questions one must ask oneself in such a situation is simply: where does one begin?

"Thankfully," said Sidon, now flashing the students a toothy, shining grin, "the answer is just as simple: one begins at the beginning!

(  Din | Nayru | Farore | Hylia  )

There was a smile at the end of that, expectantly eager and bright, but there was something a little distant about it, perhaps even a little forced, as he said those particular words, like he was still trying to convince himself to believe it. But it was a fleeting thing, just a small flash of doubt, quickly shoved aside for the task at hand.

"As I said," Sidon concluded, "it happened so long ago, that we don't know much about the creation of Hyrule, but we can speculate, and we have much evidence to support these speculations. Please, by all means, ask me any questions you may have, and, barring that, allow me to propose a question to you instead: what sorts of creation myths do you have where you are from? What sort of legends and history have been formed around its formation? Do you personally believe these myths to be true? What are your thoughts on such things? Let us discuss!"

On the door to the classroom that day, the students would find a note, written in a somewhat blocky script:

My sincerest and deepest apologies, my intrepid adventures and legend-seekers!

In the wake of the most recent Blood Moon, Zora's Domain has been absolutely BESET with vicious lizalfos and moblins, and at this dire time, my kingdom needs me and I shall not be able to make it into our final class!

Go and make some legends of your own!

~Sidon, the Zora Prince~

You could practically still hear that glint off his smile at the end there, couldn't yoi?

[[ so fun story! I came home last night to no internet and am still very much without! And there is no way I'm writing a Sidon class post with only tiny phone internets, because ooooooof. So enjoy the free period, kiddos ]]

Since everything seemed relatively back to normal and Sidon had finished taking care of a few princely demands back home, it was back to the classroom again this week, where, on the board, there were seven figures drawn. It seemed like they were all intended to be relatively the same size and shape and seemed to have the vague suggestion of statues of women, and Sidon had tried, but honestly, they probably weren't going to contribute a whole lot to the conversation. Clearly, he wasn't going to let that stop him.

"Welcome back!" he greeted them eagerly, as always. "And let us begin another great Legend of Hyrule! Today, I'd like to take us all...metaphorically speaking, as it's actually far too arid and dry for me to traverse there myself....to the Gerudo Desert, specifically the East Gerudo Ruins, where one might find the Seven Heroines."

Sidon flashed the students a toothy grin, his hands lifted eagerly to start painting for them a picture.

"Gathered in a circle in a small alcove in the towering cliffs that border the western edge of the great desert stand seven massive," and you know they were massive is Sidon considered them big, spreading his arms out wide to express fully their magnitude, "figures, looming and stately statues of women cloaked in fine robes,, armed with serene and wise expressions and beholding massive stone swords, tips pointed down into the sand. These are the Seven Heroines, and they are said to be the glorious protectors of the Gerudo people! But even though they are warrior figures honored by those warrior women, it is said that, long ago, people would traverse from all over Hyrule to seek their blessings. Each of the heroines is said to possess their own unique power, as well:

"Skill!" As he listed them off, Sidon named each power with emphasis, and a different pose, as if trying to embody the spirit of these heroines himself in appealing to their skills. "Spirit! Endurance! Knowledge! Flight! Motion! And gentleness! All traits that are very important on their own, but, encapsulated in just one individual, are the clear markings of a fine and honorable warrior, indeed!

"As a matter of fact," Sidon continued, "the Gerudo's own Champion, a warrior by the name of Urbosa, was said to weild a sword called the Scimitar of the Seven, a weapon truly fit for one who could embody their powers with ease and grace! There is also said to be some sort of secret hidden within the space occupied by the statues of the Seven Heroines, though what that secret may be or what exactly is the key to revealing it is a subject of much mystery and speculation.

"Should you ever find yourself traversing the Gerudo Desert, a visit to the Seven Heroines may well be worth your while! I hear they are extraordinary to behold, even though time and the harshness of the desest have weathered their once pristine visages down considerably, which only goes to show we are all subject to the ravages of time! Though they still remain quite the mystery, some Gerudo have invested a lot of time into understanding the secrets of their heroines and who knows what may eventually be revealed....or what may eventually disappear into the past, buried forever deep under the sands."

He gave them another grin.

"So! What do you think? Any speculation on who these heroines may have once been? If you were to seek out their blessing, which power do you think you would deem the most helpful? What could be the secret that lies beneath their temple? Are there any similiar stories of seven such beings in your own histories? As always, the floor is open, let us hear your thoughts on the matter!"

The class would be meeting in the Danger Shop that week, which meant that Sidon was particularly excited about the lesson and all it would entail. And, apparently, what it would entail included a very moody, atmospheric forest cloaked in fog, the skeletal shapes of the leaf-less trees emerging around the ruins of some long-gone entryway. Although the air was temperate and mild, something about the misty desolation of it might just send a chill racing up your spine, but Sidon's eager grin might just be enough to chase it away.

"Nestled in the Great Hyrule Forest, on a island at the center of the great gorge known as Lake Mekar, is a vast and mysterious place known colloquially around Hyrule as the Lost Woods!"

And, yes, Siodn's voice dropped to an appropriately awed and enigmatic hush there.

"Not much is known about the Lost Woods, although many things are said about them, and it is of little surprise! The constant cloak of fog that wraps around the place keeps its mysteries far from prying eyes, and it is said that anyone who attempts to venture too deeply into the woods will find themselves either utterly lost for all eternity, or, if they are lucky, swept back to this very entrance instead, as if the very forest itself were politely escorting you to the door and asking you to leave! Naturally, the lure of attempting to solve such mysteries is a powerful one, and one that many adventurers of Hyrule have attempted to answer, but to no avail!

"When viewed from above, one might take notice of a burst of pale pink leaves at the very center of the fog and mist and skeletal branches, adding even more questions to the nature of this place. What is so special about this tree? How might one reach it? Will we ever truly know? The tree is said to be a great and powerful forest spirit, perhaps even a forest god, and I have even heard whispers that he may somehow be tied to the Sword that Seals the Darkness that we have mentioned in a previous lesson. It is also said that he looks over those known as Koroks, or Children of the Forest, who protect the forest and all the vibrant life that goes along with it, and that these mists and the deadly feeling of the Lost Woods is said to be merely a disguise to protect their realm and keep interlopers out. Only the truly worthy may find the path to the heart of the Lost Woods, and the vibrant Korok Forest within!

"And so today!" The grim enigmatic tone of Sidon's voice lifted back up in a burst of excitement and another broad grin. "That is what we shall attempt to do! Perhaps one of you may be worthy to discover the Korok Forest and the great Tree Spirit within the mysterious woods! Or perhaps we shall all be but lost souls in the mists, constantly whisked back here to this very spot to have to try again! Don't worry, though! There are torches throughout the forest to perhaps guide the way. How are these torches lit and maintained? Is it by the Forest Spirits themselves? Or perhaps the woodland creatures that seem to be able to gallavant through these woods without the same care and caution that we must take for ourselves? Perhaps. There is only one way to find out!"

"Good morning, everyone!" Sidon greeted the class with every bit as much of the excitement and vivre you'd have expected out of him, perhaps even a little more, grinning broadly as he opened his arms to them and then pumped a fist across his chest. "And welcome back! I suspect you all had a wonderful adventure over the spring break holiday; I know I certainly did! And hopefully, you all had a chance to experience some of the grand and magnificent beasts that roamed the plains of Kenya, from the graceful anelopes, the powerful elephants, the stately camels, and the regal lions! But what if I told you...." Here, he seemed to pause for dramatic effect, holding his toothy grin at them for just slightly too long, "...that Hyrule herself is absolutely teeming with such magnificent creatures! I should hope, by now, that such news would not come to a surprise to you at all, but you may be surprised to hear that we have one creature that would put even the mighty lions of Africa to shame, and that is the creature we shall learn about today: the lynel!

And this was when Sidon gestured to the board, where he had drawn a very crude shape of....something...that looked lke maybe it was a horse, but there were definitely human-like features in there, too, so perhaps a centaur? But with a sun as a face? And trees for arms? Lightning bolts coming out of its head?

Sidon was not an artist, but he tried!

"The lynel has roamed Hyrule since the ancient times," Sidon continued eagerly, "and are easily one of the most cunning monsters to still call Hyrule its home! Fiercely territorial, they will often find a stretch of land to claim as their own and protect it from nearly anyone who dares to venture into it. We actually have one such lynel that often makes his way toward the Polymus Mountain and gives us quite the headache on occasion! They possess an incredible intelligence, a magnitude of impressive strength, powerful weapons, and a staggering resillience. I can think of no other creature in all of Hyrule that I have personally encountered as fiercesome and challenging as a lynel!

"Which is exactly why we are going to go see one today! Never fear, we will not be truly treading on Lynel territory, as even with as tenatious as a team of Fandom High students can often be, we will not disturb them so, but we shall be encountering a facimile of one in the Danger Shop. Should you be feeling quite bold, I encourage you to see about taking this mighty beast on! But keep in mind, they are strong and determined and resistent to all elements to boot! If you woke up this morning hoping to meet a challenge head on, well, then, my friend, you are in luck!

"But if you'd prefer to hang back and merely observe the lynel and ask questions regarding it, or perhaps even cheer on your more fightingly inclined classmates, there is nothing wrong with that! Just as we would not wish to actively engage in the observation of the animals during our visit to Kenya, we can still experience a lot merely by appreciating them in their natural habitats!

"So let us embark!" Sidon declared, with a wide wave of his arm as he headed toward the door. "To the Danger Shop, where we shall meet our Lynel....and hopefully not our demise!"

"Good morning, intrepid adventurers and explorers!" With far too much energy even for a third period class, Sidon greeted the students with a bright and eager grin as always. "And welcome back to another lesson in Great Legends of Hyrule! This week, I decided we might go a little topical and discuss some of the many Legends of Hyrule that have to do with love and romance in light of the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday! So get ready to sigh and swoon and get starts in your eyes, everyone, as there is no lack of intrigue and passion throughout the land of Hyrule!

(  Hearts for Hyrule!  )

"In my experience," Sidon concluded, his smile now soft and a little distant and tender, "love comes to you when you least expect it, in the most surprising of places, but one thing I feel with every inch of my soul is that if one does not put themselves out there, then how do they ever expect to find it? But perhaps you think different. Perhaps you've experienced differently! Perhaps you have your own great romantic legends of your own worlds that you'd like to share! As usual, that is, of course, what I hope you'll be willing to partake in for the rest of our time together today. What do you think of these romantic legends of Hyrule? What are some of your favorites from your own worlds? Are you a big fan of romantic stories? I would love," and, yes, there was another chuckle there, "to hear your thoughts!"

"Hello, again, my intrepid scholars of great legends!" Sidon greeted the class with the usual excitement and vigor, but, alas, there were no drawings on the board that day to try to decipher. He was depending solely on his skill as a great weaver of stories with this one day! "And welcome back! You may recall that last week, we discussed powerful legendary weapons, specifically The Sword that Seals the Darkness, which you may remember is weilded by a great hero of Hylian legend! And you may recall that such a Hero has a counterpart, as champion to a powerful Princess with incredible magical powers that she cultivates from her bloodline decendant from the Goddess Hylia herself to protect our land! Today, we talk a little bit about those powers and the source from which they come: the Three Springs of Wisdom, Courage, and Power!"

( Like some kind of...TRIFORCE or something.... )

Here, Sidon cut off his musings with a chuckle. "And what," he concluded, looking at them all with his yellow eyes shining eagerly, "questions might I be forgetting that you may have? Let us, as always, discuss!"

"Welcome back, everyone!" Sidon greeted the class with the expected exhuberance from the front of the classroom, his grin" sharp and eager as they all settled in. "I hope you've all had a truly fantastic week, and that you are ready to take our first bold step into the Great Legend of Hyrule now that we can begin in earnest! I will have to admit, I had a very difficult time trying to decide where we should venture first, but there is truly but one legend that, unfortunately, looms quite powerful and real in Hyrule during our present day that there could be no other place to start than with that of Ganon, the calamitous one.

( Yee-haw. )

Well, those who took his last class probably knew that it influenced it much more than he was letting on, but, again, that was a legend for another day, and he turned his attention eagerly toward the students.

"Please, I am eager to hear your thoughts!"

"Good morning, my intrepid Hylian travelers!" Sidon greeted the class with even more of the usual excitement and eagerness, if such a thing was even possible, grinning from sidefin to sidefine. "And I hope you are ready for adventure for our final class of the semester! And it's not an adventure to be missed! Our portal will be here soon, but, in the meantime, surely you recall all the lizard hunting we did last week....well! Those efforts have been put to good use because I have here," he hefted up a very large bag that clattered with the sounds of glass bottles within, "a wealth of Fireproof Elixirs, concocted by none other than the delightful Gaile that we met last week at the Foothill Stable! And we will need a lot of them, as well, as we shall be going to the very heart of Death Mountain itself, via Goron City! And you'll soon realize that I am not being hyperbolic when I tell you that this place is hot! So please, do not be stingy with the application of your elixirs, they will be needed to resist the heat and fire of this place. Each one will grant you about five short minutes, so don't be stingy. We wish to return as unsinged as possible!


"Are there any questions before we leave? Once we arrive, I encourage you to explore and speak with the Goron people while we are there and take in the sights, though I do warn you not to venture too far away from the city proper, as it is incredibly dangerous even on the main paths. Explore at your own risk and only if you have a weapon!"

Despite himself, he bounced a little on the balls of his feet. Yes, a nine-foot tall Zora, eager as if he were but a small hatchling. But this was as much a thrilling adventure for him as it was the students! He was quite certain that no Zora had ever ventured this deep into Death Mountain. They were about to make their own Hylian history today.

"Come grab as many Elixirs as you can carry, and let us prepare for adventure!"

"Good morning, my eager and intrepid travelers of Hyrule!" Sidon greeted the class with his usual energy and excitement, surprising absolutely no one, with a toothy, eager grin on his face that shifted in a tragically regretful expression. "Welcome to the last leg of our journey; it seems our time here with this semester shall be coming to an end soon! But fear not! There is still at least one thrilling adventure I have planned for you in the last class," here, he threw in a wink so they would know that what he had planned was truly a doozy!, "but that means we have but this class and the next one to learn of all the finer details of my great and thrilling world!

"We have already covered a great many thing here in this class that has hopefully given you a lot to think about! We've talked about geography and the different people who populate the world, their various cultures and some of their legends and stories. We've talked about monsters and fighting them and the terrible Calamity Ganon that still plagues the land and threatens our ultimate destruction at every turn! We've talked about stables and other various tips for travelers. But today, I'd like to ask you: is there anything you'd like to learn about that we have yet to talk about? Or that you'd like to learn about more?

"If it's something simple, we can discuss it here today, or, if it's more complex, that is what we shall use our last lesson before the big finale for! So what would you like to still cover or explore in greater depth?

"And when we are discussing that," Sidon concluded with a nod, "I shall like to request of you a great favor! I would like for each of you to write for me an essay....nothing too long, worry not! I am still not the best at reading English, I must admit, so I certainly don't expect a grand novel, by any means!" Here he chuckled lightly. "But I would very much like to read about which part of Hyrule has captivated you the most and for what reasons, so if you would be so kind as to put that all down on paper for me to consider for later, I would very much appreciate it.

"So, then!" He clapped his hands together and let out a bright laugh. "Let's get to it! Here's your chance to bring up any questions or thoughts on what you feel might be missing in your Hylian education, and if there isn't much, well, then, I'll leave you two to get to work on those essays!"

"Good morning, intrepid travelers!" If there seemed to be a little extra oomph in Sidon's greeting that morning, it was for a very good reason that would become evident in short order. But this was a lesson he had been very excited about, and that was the reason why he'd saved this race of Hyrule lesson for last! "So far, we've met many interesting and unique races from all around Hyrule, but this week, we finish out our exploration of the various peoples that populate the land with one that is very near and dear to my heart, as one might expect, and that is my very own people, the magificient! The spectacular! The absolutely wonderful Zora!"

Excuse him a moment while he positively swelled with pride; if either of the students felt like cheering or applauding this reveal, it would not at all be remiss!

"Let us begin!"

( IDK, sounds a little fishy.... )

Taking a moment for himself, for reverence to Mipha, Sidon ducked his head and went quiet for a bit before he continued, some of his energy tampered down into soemthing much softer.

"I could, of course, go on about my people. We have many wonderful stories that I love to share, and, of course, should you have any questions about them, I should hope I have an answer! What kind of future leader of my people would I be if I could not? So, instead of just filling your head endlessly with jabber about the Zora, allow me to turn the discussion to you guys! What would you like to know about the Zora? Do you have a similiar amphibious race where you are from? Would you enjoy living around so much water, or do you prefer to stay nice and dry? Obviously," he chuckled again, "this is something near and dear to me, so I am more than happy to discuss whatever you would like about the magnificent Zora!"

"Good morning, my intrepid travelers of the vast exploration of the mind and Hylian history!" Sidon, clearly, was in fine form that morning as he came into the classroom for today's lesson, where a very rough sketch of some sort of stick figure but with wings instead of arms and maybe a beak on its face, but it was rather hard to tell, was already waiting demonstrably on the board. "I hope you're ready to explore one of Hyrule's wide and varied races, because today, we're traveling to the northwest, to just below the snowy, icy Hebra mountains, into the Tabantha Frontier, which we will discover is hope to the fine and feathered Rito!

( Fly away with me... )

"Now," Sidon's voice went a little more serious for a moment, "I know that is not the most uplifting note to end on, but it is, alas, a harsh reality of the state of Hyrule today, one that any potential traveler should be quite aware of. The influence of Calamity Ganon is everywhere, sometimes in small reminders, and sometimes, in the case of the Rito, in large, looming, and inescapable ones. But I do not wish to have us end on such a somber reminder. For today, using the wonderful technology afforded to us in this world, I was able to visit the Rito and record for you some of their marvelous songs! And so today, we will listen to some of them, and discuss, and I'd like, if you feel comfortable, to share with us all your own songs, should you have them, or at least share with us any sort of musical tradition you may have in your own cultures. That sounds much better than such a focus on looming doom and gloom, now, doesn't it?"

"Good morning, everyone!" Sidon greeted the class with his usual cheer, a toothy grin of excitement for the lesson ahead of them. "I hope you are all doing well, and that you are looking forward to the school trip next week! I know I am! I'll certainly never complain about a visit to a place by the ocean!"

He was going to confuse so many local fishermen next week. It was practically tradition!

"But before we set our minds too firmly into vacation time, we still have a lesson ahead of us, continuing on our exploration of the various types of people found around Hyrule, and today, we'll be learning all about the Sheikah tribe!

( New Sheikah Slate, who dis? )

"So that," Sidon concluded proudly, "is the rundown of the Sheikah Tribe and a brief look into their history and their troubles. If you ask me, their position in the greater population of Hyrule is a rather intriguing one, isn't it? To possess the power and technology to save the world, only to have that technology then feared by others, and shunned, to the point of exile!, because of it! And then, once that technology is needed once more, to have to turn against you and threaten the world to ruin! And what of the Yiga Clan? What might drive a person to choose to side with the Darkness, instead of the Light? Are they misguided, or do they simply see things differently? I would be delighted to hear your thoughts, should you have any, and, of course, to answer any other questions you may have regarding the Sheikah and their history and place in Hyrule!"