One of the more tedious tasks of Spirit Tracks is that many of its side quests are made much more complicated due to the train’s controls. Cargo transport is easy enough, but it is the passengers that make an already finnicky mechanic all the more annoying.
And my most loathed passenger happens to be Zelda’s teacher. Since he has so many passenger quests, I grew to severely dislike him, especially since I had a lot of trouble with the train mechanics when I was younger. However, subsequent replays of Spirit Tracks has softened me to the anxious academic.
The Teacher is not a particularly egregious character by any means. From his introduction and his interaction with Zelda, there appears to be a sense of fondness between them. It is likely that he spent much of Zelda’s youth as her personal tutor allowing them to grow closer. The Spanish version of the game even has Zelda referring to the Teacher as “abuelo” which means grandfather. This suggests an almost familial bond between the two.
Due to this close bond, the Teacher is understandably distraught when Zelda’s body is stolen by Chancellor Cole. Initially, he believes Link’s story that Zelda had been kidnapped, however, he dismisses this in favor of believing that Zelda merely wandered off.
Something about this dismissal frustrated me on a first playthrough. It made what was sure to be the most educated man in Hyrule, the educator of their sole ruler, seem a bit too clueless. His statement that he must inform the princess of the princess’s disappearance certainly did not help either.
At least the Teacher had the forethought not to stir up trouble in the kingdom by sending guards out to all corners of Hyrule to search for Zelda, and instead he took up the mantle of Zelda’s rescuer himself. And to do so, he used Zelda’s actual rescuer to scour the kingdom for her. Though he does so in a nearly non-existent disguise, even continuing the charade when called out.
For someone so determined to brave the elements and dangers of the world, he also has a lot of nerve to complain about a train not following the speed limit. Even when said train is being attacked by demon trains, pirates, extremely angry pigs, and whatever other monster Malladus sends after Link.
But with age comes patience and empathy, and I was able to find some understanding of the Teacher. He cannot see Zelda’s spirit, nor does he have the same information as Link. He is just a normal teacher trying to find his missing student. When Link explains that Zelda’s spirit is with him, he understandably reacts poorly at the suggestion she passed away.
It is also possible that he believes Link’s story about a kidnapping, but uses denial as a way to cope. He will not accept the worst possible outcome until he sees that himself. I must commend his integrity in finding out what happened to Zelda on his own before believing a child’s honestly bizarre story.
So while the Teacher could learn a thing or two about treating workers better, he is probably one of the most dedicated characters in Spirit Tracks. If I were Zelda, I would be glad to have such a caring man watching over me, even if he is a bit silly.
