Legend of Parocaav: The Quest for Redemption (First Draft)

Chapter IX: The Realm Within

Roku still stands there in complete awe. She cannot believe what she just witnessed. This gateway had opened up for Drayk, and he didn't even know how he did it. What was this book he was talking about? Maybe it's just a sign that he really was chosen by Lady Parocaav like herself. Roku looked over at Drayk, a feeling she couldn't explain entranced her for a moment until Leon started talking once again.

"I will not be going into The Hidden Meadow with the two of you. I will wait for you here," Leon tells them, "Before you ask why I will tell you. If there is no one here on this side to prevent the entrance from closing... you two would be stuck in that realm for the rest of eternity."

"Alright Leon. We won't be long, I promise," Roku assured him.

"You'll understand why you must go at all once you're there. Drayk. I'm sure you already have a hunch," Leon said.

Drayk simply nodded while walking towards the descending stairs. He reaches out for Roku's hand. Her face flushes red a little and takes his hand. Leon watches them as they disappear into the gateway.

Once they reach the bottom of the stairs, they cannot believe their eyes. The Hidden Meadow appears to go on and on, farther than the eye can see. It was a vast and grand valley. There were no trees, only tall grass. There was no bugs, birds or any sign of life whatsoever. Roku marvels at the sheer size of this never-ending meadow of grass.

"We must find the Ultimate Magic Roku," Drayk explains.

"Ultimate Magic?" Roku asks with a puzzled look on her face.

"It was referred to as Cosmo Magic and even the Goddess Magic in some ancient texts."

"You don't mean?!"

"That's right. The very power of Lady Parocaav herself. I'm sure Leon believes we will able to receive it, as well as wield it since we are the Bringers of Hope."

"Where do we start looking?"

Without answering her, Drayk starts to walk away from the stairs. Roku quickly follows. She knows they can't get separated very easily in a place as open as this, but she doesn't want to get too far either. As soon as they get several yards away from the stairs they came down, it disappears without a sound.

Suddenly, dark clouds cover the skies and a strong wind picks up. Thunder crashes! Meteors start falling from the heavens like rain.

"Look out!" Roku exclaims.

She raises up both arms and spins them around rapidly above her. A vortex of wind whips around in a spherical shape. The falling rocks burst and explode in impact with Roku's magic. The ground beneath their feet shakes in a massive earthquake. This force throws Roku and Drayk onto the ground. As soon as her hands hit, her wind barrier vanishes.

"What's happening?!" Roku yells.

"A test of our skills I believe," Drayk says as calmly as possible, "This realm was bestowed as gift for the creation of alchemy."

With that thought on his mind, Drayk quickly scribbles a an alchemic circle into the dirt. It glows a bright reddish orange and walls of earth shoot up all around them. As soon as it covers them, it solidifies into a shiny metallic substance. The falling meteors break apart on contact, and this metal absorbs the earthquake.

"I'm so glad you know alchemy Drayk!" Roku shouts.

The sound of meteor strikes begin to seize and the ground stops quaking. Drayk taps the side of the metal wall and it crumbles. The skies are still grey, but the wind has stopped. They both slowly and carefully get up on their feet. Cautiously, they look around. Waiting. The skies begin to clear and turn back to a bright blue.

"How did you know what to do?" Roku asks more confused than ever.

"Call it instinct," Drayk simply tells her.

"Is it because you read that book?"

"I didn't even read it all... just the first couple of pages... I feel like this is all familiar somehow. I can't explain it any other way."

"Maybe there's more to it than that. No matter though. When and where did you read it?"

"Last night. I couldn't sleep and it was sitting on the desk in my room. This morning when I awoke, it was gone."

"Strange."

Drayk just nods and continue to look around, almost expecting something more to happen. A beam if white light shoots straight down from above. It looks like it is a few miles away from them.

"Let's go!" Roku shouted happily, "Come on! I'll race you!!"

She instantly starting sprinting towards the beam of light. Drayk realizes what just happened he placed both hands slightly behind him, pointed down. A strong stream of wind blew violently from his hands, pushing him forward rapidly. It doesn't take long before he catches up to her. Soon he passes Roku, leaving her in his dust. A shocked expression hits her face, then it turns to a challenging smile.

She figured since Drayk was mocking him with Wind Magic, she'd use Fire Magic. She positioned her arms like Drayk, but fire shot from the palms pushing her upward. She got nice and high to not burn away all the grass. Once she was satisfied with her elevation, she shot forward.

Drayk feeling full if himself, turned back to look at Roku. To his surprise, she was nowhere to be found. The sound of her laughter sank down from up above. Drayk immediately directs his attention skyward. There, in the sky, was Roku! Using Fire Magic nonetheless! She had caught up so quick. This couldn't be tolerated. He must be cross his magic. Flames twirled in the wind, shooting him up towards Roku. He was now moving faster than she was.

"Give it up Roku!" Drayk shouts as he flew passed her.

Just then, their magic stopped working. They fell about twenty-five feet to the meadow below. The grass parted as they rolled and bounced through it. The two of them suddenly came to a dead stop, both feeling defeated. Drayk groans and painfully sits up. He rubs the top of his head to feel a huge bump.

"What the Hell?!" Drayk angrily shouts.

"Uuuuugh...." Roku groans.

The whisper of a woman echoes all around them.

"Magic is forbidden in this part of the realm.... even alchemy is restricted.... true endurance is key now...."

The voice disappeared, getting softer until it is no more.

"How far do you think it is?" Roku asked with a sigh.

"At least another few miles. Don't worry, I read this realm is not effected by time. When we get back to Leon, we will appear to show up a second later than when we left him," he tells her with a calm, soothing voice.

"I think you might be wrong about how far it is Drayk," Roku signs heavily, "Even after all that ground we covered..... we don't appear to be any closer to it....."

After a brief moment Drayk says,"Damn," under his breath.