On the counter of the Enchanted clothing store in Kakariko Village is a little book that sparks a deceptively simple sidequest. It’s the first volume of Traysi’s “Rumor Mill” gossip books that are scattered throughout Breath of the Wild, and it suggests that one of the best places to visit in Hyrule is the Lover’s Pond. While this doesn’t trigger a proper sidequest quite yet, it does give you something to remember to look out for on your travels.
As luck would have it, if you’re following the main quest, there’s a special beauty spot in the next village you visit. To the south of Hateno Village is the Ebon Mountain, and clearly visible on the map is a little pond in the shape of a heart. Is it really this easy?
No, it’s not.
Follow the curve of the mountain up to its peak and the moss and grass give way to a rocky plateau. In the center, much to your surprise is not one, but two ponds. The shapes point directly south, and as you draw closer you see that they do indeed make a heart, but with a large, jagged fissure of rock in between. The waters are shallow and blue, and it’s a really strange and beautiful sight. Lily pads hug the inner curve on one side, giving it a splash of green, and frogs hop away from you as you walk through the central line.
Look to the north and Death Mountain glows ominously in the distance, with Hyrule Castle just visible between other summits to the northeast, and Duelling Peaks to the east. Here is the perfect vantage point for marking shrines and towers in all directions, and there are plenty to be spotted from here. At night, Hateno Village is lit up like a little toy town, emanating a warm and welcoming glow.
But stand in the waters, speak to the young man standing by the pond’s edge, and one thing becomes clear: This is not the Lover’s Pond. Nothing happens here. Young Mimos waits, the frogs come and go, and the occasional goat makes its way to the top, but that’s it. This particular pond doesn’t trigger a sidequest, but it’s anything but a waste of time. After all, the quest couldn’t be that easy. Where’s the fun in that?
This non-quest epitomises the spirit of Breath of the Wild for me. Very little happens at the pond on Ebon Mountain, but the journey and the view make it as special an experience as any other sidequest in the game. You’ve tried to find a rumoured secret spot, and while you haven’t found that particular one, you’ve hardly failed either. You stand at the peak of a mountain, ready to journey in any direction you choose now, based on the sights spotted from the top. Every peak jumped off in this game is reminiscent of that first step off the Great Plateau, and that rush of exploration never really goes away.
You’ve found a heart-shaped pond once, and now you’ll be more determined to find the true Lover’s Pond. The quest continues, and you’ll be more determined than ever to find the truth in the rumors. This is the beauty of incomplete sidequests: There’s always somewhere else to explore next.
