Up in the skies of Skyloft, Knights protect the peaceful citizens from any lingering darkness piercing through the clouds. Many join the Knight Academy in the hopes of joining the ranks and gaining their knighthoods. Karane, named after the wetlands bird crane, is one such student in her senior year training to fly through the clouds at night and fight monsters, fend off Remlits, and save citizens that walk off the floating islands.
Her uniform consists of a yellow-green color and, unlike the well-known pointy hats most knights (and heroes) wear, Karane fashions a beret atop her head — a stylish look guaranteed to make her stand out against all the other students, and perhaps attract some unwanted attention.
Fi describes Karane as a strong student and notices that she is quite popular with the male students around the academy. During the day, she can be found hanging around the back of the classroom staring at a bookcase. With her hand on her chin, a passing glance could assume she’s a studious student, but in reality she’s daydreaming her heart away.
If approached, she’ll often ask Link about his opinion on another fellow senior knight, Pipit. If Link tells her Pipit is nice, she’ll start listing all of Pipit’s good qualities and get a little flustered at the awkward question. If Link questions her, she’ll grow flustered more quickly and ask Link to forget she asked such a strange question. Even so, she still finds a way to bring up Pipit in every conversation.
Every time Link has an accomplishment in the game such as earning his tunic or learning the Spiral Charge, Karane will compliment the young hero, but not without sliding in a comment about how Pipit could do better. A quick investigation of her room will also reveal further hidden feelings about the seniors student. Upon her desk is a drawing of Pipit next to a heart, next to an envelope also stamped with a heart.
Karane’s secret crush on Pipit is not just background flavour and comes into play in the Gratitude Crystal sidequest: Cawlin’s Love Letter. Not Pipit, Cawlin. Just as Fi said, many eyes are on the red-haired student.
In the sidequest, Link is tasked with delivering Cawlin’s love letter to Karane. If Link follows through, Karane will take the letter, assuming (or perhaps hoping) it’s from the one and only Pipit. The bad handwriting and the signature at the bottom reveals otherwise. She can see that Groose’s lackey had put his heart into the letter and laughs, “…Hah! As if.” Karane, while her heart lies elsewhere, still confronts Cawlin, being a little kind for once as she tells him how much heart she can see in the letter.
With a little bit of matchmaking, Pipit interrupts the conversation, confessing his love and revealing he has also had a crush on Karane this whole time. Their relationship blooms, officially becoming girlfriend and boyfriend, and their gratitude goes out to Link (literally) for helping them find each other.
Karane’s love story is just one of many little pockets of stories to be found throughout Skyloft. Her strong will and daydreaming personality bring life to the Knight Academy in a cozy, heartwarming way. We may not see her in action as a knight-in-training but she is still a strong female, not afraid to speak honestly. Her story, like many others, gives Link something to fight for — to save. And with Pipit by her side, Zelink might have some competition as the cutest couple.
