Empty Goddess

## *Information*

*"I traveled Hyrule in my last pilgrimage to visit each of the Shrines to the Goddesses. I saw the extent of the destruction waged by Ganon's army and the World Eater. It was outside my first destination, Din's Shrine, that the World Eater came to me. I saw his form in the blackened sky, and he looked down to me as though he knew where I was at all times. He circled above me and descended. I feared for my life, but did not run from him. I wished to speak to him, and he was giving me the opportunity.*

*He landed on the ground with a sickening sort of grace, and with hideous precision; enough that when he relaxed his neck, his mouth was an arm's length from me. I stared into his eyes and he into mine for an eternity. The world around us was silent. His rumbling beneath reeked of sulfur and charred flesh. We did not speak for eons.*

"*Hylia," he said with unsettling calm, "I had hoped that we would speak sooner, but to converse at the end of the story... it is fitting. Do you agree?"*

*I responded, "I am sorry, Alduin, I-"*

*Alduin began to laugh, and the ground shook. "You are sorry," he said, "I should not be surprised. You cling so dearly to your ideals. Forgiveness. Peace. Redemption. You think these are the qualities of wisdom. You are a fool. You are empty. Do not think that you can reason with me, Hylia."*

*"I do not expect to," I said, "I know that I can do nothing to stop you. Our fates do not align with one another. Hyrule must die and another world must take its place."*

*Alduin was silent.*

*"The tides of fate do not take sides, World-Eater. I know your destiny, and I know this war was inevitable. I know it cannot end in anything but tears."*

*"Do you surrender, Hylia?" Alduin asked.*

*"I do not surrender. I will fight until the end, because you are an aberration. You cleanse the world, but your hatred and pride have poisoned your mind. I know that Hyrule must die and I will make sure it rests in peace, but I will not have you subvert the corpses of my people."*

*"Such arrogance, to think that you might save Hyrule from my wrath."*

*"When you appeared, I knew this war could not end in victory."*

*"You accept, then-"*

*"I do not!" I shouted, "All of this was inevitable. The wheels were put into motion thousands of years ago. What is not inevitable is the undeath of Hyrule. I do not want victory: I want closure and peace. This war cannot end in victory for anyone. Not me, not Ganon, not you. This war must end in a draw, and Hyrule will rest."*

*When I spoke, Alduin's maw began to glow with anger and smoke billowed from his nostrils.*

*"You cannot prevail against me! I will outlast you, Hylia."*

*"I know. You do not understand, Alduin. I am not arguing with you, and I do not wish to succeed. You want destruction, and I accept my fate."*

*"**Hi los nid!** You are the goddess of the Triforce's center. You are the hole that keeps the greater goddesses apart. You are the forgotten gap that prevents the world from being complete."*

*"If so, then I give it structure and I give the world quality. If I am emptiness, then I am distinction. I fortify the world by making it rely on the strengths of its parts. You see only the end. You see only failure. You do not see from. If I am emptiness, if I am nothing, than that is the fault of your twisted corrupted perception."*

*Alduin roared, then bellowed, "**Mey! Zu'u fent krii hi het! Yol... Toor... Shul!!**"*

*Suddenly, Alduin reared back and a gout of flame exploded from his mouth. I quickly conjured a magical shield to reflect his fire-breath. We stood locked in balance; the grass around me burning and disintegrating, the soil hissing and steaming, the stones glowing red. Alduin stopped as abruptly as he started and remained in a ready stance, his neck curled and his glowing eyes glaring down at me.*

*"So be it," he growled, smoke pouring from his mouth and the ground shaking as he spoke, "I will see to it that I devour your soul last, Hylia. Your **tahrovin** will not go unpunished."*

*Alduin took flight, staggering me with the wind from his wings. I watched him disappear into the black clouds. I made ready to visit my second destination: Farore's Shrine. Like Din, I knew she would not be able to speak to me, but I sought to attempt to allay her fears. My final visit would be Nayru's Shrinefar north in the icy seas. From there I would make my way to the Triforce Shrine to face Ganon at the end of all things."*

## Notes

The words of Dovahzul that Alduin speaks are translated as follows:

***Hi los nid!*** (You are nothing!)

***Mey! Zu'u fent krii hi het! Yol... Toor... Shul!!*** (Fool! I will kill you here at this place! Fire... Inferno... Sun!!)

***tahrovin*** (Treachery)

*Empty Goddess* is located in a chest next to the statue in Din's Shrine, and is only accessible if you have the Guilt Key from the Ruptured Towers.

The book explains how Zelda, the Queen of Hyrule, is preparing for the end at the conclusion of the Last Great War of Hyrule, after witnessing the terrible war from Ganon and his undead army. The book mentions that Zelda travels across the Kingdom of Hyrule to visit the Shrines of the three Golden Goddesses of the Triforce, before being encountered by Alduin the World-Eater himself.

## Background and Information

Alduin the World-Eater calls the Queen of Hyrule by the name Hylia, the Goddess mentioned in *The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.* Alduin seemingly recognizes Zelda as carrying the reincarnated soul of Hylia, or is addressing Hylia through Zelda's bloodline.

The phrase, "the end of all things", is a slight reference to the *Lord of the Rings: Return of the King*.

## See Also

Goddess Shrines

Wisdom, Power, and Emotion

Zelda's Epitaph

Ruptured Towers