Strange chanting filled the morning air as the priestesses of Nayru conducted their ritual. The holy women had arranged themselves in a circle around the spring, calling upon their Goddess to lend them the power they would need to carry out this sacred rite. One among their number was particularly giddy about being able to participate in the holy ceremony. Judith Vilcaron, an acolyte of the Cult of Nayru, had to keep herself from quivering in excitement and distracting her Sisters, such was the momentousness of the occasion. She knew little of the specifics of the spell her superiors intended to cast; as one of the lowest-ranked clergywomen present, her role was merely to provide magical energy with which to fuel the ritual. What she did know, however, was *why* they had traveled to this place... If the senior priestesses' theory was correct, the implications were profound. Judith wasn't entirely clear on the details, but she knew the general events of what had lead the Cult to take such drastic action. Two weeks ago, Sister Feinne, one of the Cult's agents stationed in Mido, had discovered a pristine grove within the ancient forest of Woodfall... The same kind of areas that were rumoured to serve as a home to Great Fairies. While she had not encountered any fairies in the grove, she had detected traces of an exceptionally-powerful binding spell, suggesting that something, or someone, had been magically imprisoned within it. After delivering her report to the capital, the Cult's leadership had deliberated for a time before concluding that it was likely a Great Fairy had been sealed away in the grove by some malevolent force. Naturally, the council had called for any available priestesses to embark on an expedition to break this mysterious seal, as it was the Cult's duty to aid those in need... Plus, it never hurt to have such a powerful being in your debt. There was no telling what arcane secrets a Great Fairy might be privy to, and having one as an ally would be a formidable alliance indeed. Suddenly, Judith was snapped out of her reverie as the Canoness, the priestess who had been placed in charge of the operation, clapped her hands together to gain everyone's attention. "The preparations are complete. It is time." On cue, all of the women drew their staves and held them aloft, channeling their innermost reserves of magic and directing them to the senior priestesses. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as the Canoness and her adjutants worked at breaking the seal, reciting increasingly complex incantations. Judith could feel her limbs growing heavier with exertion, but stubbornly refused to let her grip falter for even a second. Yet she need not have worried. Just as abruptly as they had begun, the senior priestesses completed their final invocations. For a moment, nothing happened. The spring's waters were completely still. Had the spell failed? Judith was about to remark aloud on the eerie silence when her nostrils were assaulted by an overwhelming scent. The smell was sickeningly sweet, yet Judith could not bring herself to call it an unpleasant sensation. The pungent aroma was relaxing... Intoxicating, even. Judging by the reactions of her peers, she hadn't been alone in experiencing the unusual fragrance. "Do you smell that? It's-" "Wow... not even Castle Town's finest perfumes could compare..." "Wait. Something's not right..." The latter sentence had been uttered by the Canoness, who seemed to be staring intently at the spring with an expression of intense concern. Unfortunately, she never got the chance to elaborate. Without warning, a wave of energy exploded from the water, expanding outward in all directions. Judith quickly attempted to cast Nayru's Affection to protect herself, but her barrier only delayed the inevitable. Flung off her feet by the explosion, Judith landed hard on her back. Already drained from expending her magical strength to aid in the ritual, the young priestess could feel her consciousness slipping away. The last thing she saw was a figure rising from beneath the surface of the spring. A slender, pale woman clad in fine purple silks had emerged out of the water, and began to hover in midair. That was not the most shocking part, however: That distinction belonged to the butterfly wings and antennae that sprouted from the woman's body, marking her as a Great Fairy! For the briefest of moments, the young acolyte was certain that the mysterious woman had locked eyes with her, her icy blue orbs peering into Judith's very soul. Then, like the rest of her Sisters, she blacked out. Elsewhere in the forest, animals shuddered and fairies panicked. Not all of them understood what had transpired, but none of them could shake the feeling that something terrible had been unleashed upon Hyrule... Judith Vilcaron has purchased a Great Fairy License for 100 Rupees!
