Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Entry 19: Memories
Leaving Zora’s Domain behind, I made my way across Hyrule Field, cautiously navigating the open expanse. It wasn’t long before I encountered a handful of Guardians, their eerie, mechanical screeches piercing the air as they locked onto me. The battles were intense, but with the Master Sword’s radiant power and my growing confidence, I managed to defeat them and press on.
Eventually, I arrived at the Sacred Ground Ruins. The crumbling remains of what was once a grand ceremonial site stood in quiet defiance against the encroaching wilderness. As I walked through the shattered stone and overgrown pathways, I pulled out my Sheikah Slate, comparing the landscape to the photo. The angles matched perfectly—this was the place.
I took a deep breath, letting the weight of the moment settle over me. I cleared my mind of distractions, focusing only on the faint echoes of the past.
Then, it happened.
A memory surged to the surface, vivid and undeniable. I was standing in the same spot, dressed in formal armor, surrounded by an air of awkward tension. Princess Zelda was there, presiding over a solemn ceremony to appoint me as her knight and Champion of Hyrule. The only witnesses were the four other Champions—Mipha, Daruk, Revali, and Urbosa. I remembered feeling out of place, sensing that my presence somehow deepened Zelda’s own feelings of inadequacy, as if she viewed me as a constant reminder of her perceived failures. Daruk made a comment that Zelda's tone and demeanor was as if we had already lost the battle to come.
When the memory faded, I stood there in silence, the echoes of that distant moment lingering in the air. Impa had been right—returning to these places was the key to restoring my lost memories.
With newfound resolve, I left the Sacred Ground Ruins and set my course straight for Kakariko Village. There was much to discuss with Impa, and even more still to uncover.
I arrived in Kakariko Village as the evening sun dipped behind the mountains, casting long shadows across the quiet homes and shops. Without hesitation, I made my way to Impa’s house. Before I could say a word, she greeted me with a warm smile, her sharp eyes immediately noticing the Master Sword resting at my side. She had already heard news of my victory over Vah Ruta, her sources clearly as reliable as ever.
I recounted everything—my battles, the memories I’d recovered, and the faces from my past slowly returning to me. She listened intently, nodding thoughtfully before encouraging me to seek out the remaining locations captured in the recovered photos. Then, with a sense of quiet reverence, she presented me with a gift: the blue Champion’s Tunic. The very one I had worn during the knighting ceremony from my memory. Holding it in my hands, I felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity and connection, as if a piece of my former self had been restored.
The next morning, with renewed purpose, I left Kakariko Village to seek out the remaining memory locations. My travels across Hyrule had given me a good sense of the land, and I was confident I knew where most of the places were. The first two appeared to be near Lake Kolomo in Central Hyrule and the Ancient Columns in Tabantha.
I traveled tirelessly, stopping only briefly at stables to rest and tend to Phoenix. Each time I arrived at a location, I took a moment to calm my mind, focusing on the connection between the landscape and the fragments of my past. Just as before, the memories surfaced. At Lake Kolomo and the Ancient Columns, I recalled tense moments with Princess Zelda—her frustration palpable as she questioned my abilities and resented my constant presence, a duty assigned to me by her father, the king.
Despite the sting of her words, I pressed on, driven by a mixture of determination and curiosity. My next destination was Kara Kara Bazaar, its oasis shimmering under the scorching Gerudo sun. Here, another memory resurfaced—one of danger and clarity. I remembered saving Princess Zelda from an ambush by three Yiga Clan assassins. The fear in her eyes, the desperation of the fight, and the relief that followed etched themselves into my mind. I believe this was the moment something shifted between us—when she began to see me not just as an obligation but as an ally.
In the memories that followed, from the rugged slopes of Eldin Mountain to Irch Plain in North Hyrule and the waters of Deya Lake, Zelda’s demeanor gradually changed. She started to open up to me, her words no longer laced with bitterness but with vulnerability. She spoke of her fears—the growing power and numbers of monsters threatening Hyrule—and revealed a side of herself I had never seen before. Her passion for knowledge shone through as she eagerly shared her research on Hyrule’s flora and fauna, her eyes alight with excitement.
She even admitted, somewhat shyly, that she admired my unwavering dedication to my role as a Champion, wondering aloud what qualities had led to my selection. Beneath her curiosity, though, was a deeper struggle. She questioned her own abilities, burdened by the weight of expectations she never truly embraced. Her destiny felt like a chain rather than a calling, and despite her efforts, she lacked the drive—or perhaps the belief—to fulfill the role everyone expected of her.
With each memory, I pieced together more of our shared past—gaining not only a deeper understanding of who I was, but also who she was beneath the titles and expectations. A princess bound by duty to her people, yet quietly breaking under the immense pressure to awaken sacred powers she had no clear guidance to unlock. It felt as though the fragments of my lost life were slowly stitching themselves back together.
And yet, there were still more memories to find—more truths buried across Hyrule.
The next picture seemed to be taken within Hyrule Castle. Exhausted from my constant travels and the relentless pursuit of my memories, I decided to rest at Riverside Stable. After a long, much-needed sleep, I felt rejuvenated and ready to continue my journey.
