It's a late evening in Hyrule Castle Town. There are few citizens left on the streets, running to escape the light drizzle. The soldiers stay rigidly at their posts, spears in hand.

Shad steps outside, his shoes clicking against the cobblestone. His focus is on the book in his hand- The Truth about the Oocca. A strange creature with a bird's body an an odd hairless human-like head decorates the cover.

He hopes it sells better than his last project. The last one wasn't enough to make the rent payment for his Central Square home. It's a nice two-story building that neighbors the gaudy eyesore that is Chudley's Fine Goods and Fancy Trinkets Emporium. The snobby doorman looks at Shad with disdain as he strolls past.

Shad wonders what to do now. Without income from his books, he risks eviction. He has a sizable inheritance stored away, yes, but he hesitates to use it. He wants to succeed on his own efforts.

He stops to look at the impressive fountain at the square's center which had, until recently, run dry due to the freezing of Zora's Domain. The people have water again, but it's still not the end of Hyrule's troubles.

Princess Zelda hasn't been seen in weeks. Not even the town guards can get into the castle. Monsters attack travelers frequently. And then came the news that Kakariko had all but been reduced to a ghost town. Word is that, while the monsters had been cleared out, only its shaman and the bomb shop owner are left.

Shad sighs, adjusting his glasses. When he was recruited into the resistance, he hadn't known what he had gotten into. Thankfully, they don't expect him to fight. Rather, they have him searching through Hyrule's past for clues. Is true passion is with the Oocca people, however, a subject few take seriously.

His book and notes tucked under his arm, he resumes his walk to the market in the southern part of town. It's not convenient, but it's the only way to get to the stairs that lead down to Telma's bar in the alleyway.

He mustn't be late.