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

Chapter XXIII: Oro, City of Wind

Finally, a large city is on the horizon. Oro, City of Wind, and capital of the Wind Country. It's massive wall blocking view of most of the city. Giant skyscraper buildings standing tall above the world. The most secured Resistance residence. It is surprising that so many people remain. Most of the population are however mostly average joes. Oro is still location of Resistance headquarters and even home to several high ranking Rogue Officers. Thousands of Rogue Soldiers call this place home. Millions of citizens, most of them Wind Mages.

Drayk and Roku are getting so I close now they can smell fresh baking bread being carried in the wind. Food. They have been using magic to stay alive, but it doesn't take the growl in the stomach away. The last meal they had eaten was back in Oasis nearly a week ago. Hungry was an understatement.

"How come I have a feeling that Joseff will be difficult to track down?" Roku asks.

"Oh he won't be. When you serve in the Resistance.... Let's just keep it simple," Drayk replies sounding confident, "He won't be."

"I'll trust you Drayk," Roku says with a smile, "I never even dreamed such a city existed."

"You spent way too much time on that mountain Roku."

"Oh shush it."

Roku sticks her tongue out at Drayk and he just laughs at her. A little smile still remained on his face. She was like no one he has ever encountered before. He kept finding himself thinking about her. Butterflies fluster in his stomach when he does. Whenever he ends up thinking about Roku, his mind turns to Sammi. She would have loved Roku. They were similar in many ways.

Oro was once a very peaceful and open-minded city. Over the recent years the citizens have become more aggressive towards outsiders. The Bringers of Hope have a double advantage of gaining their trust. Roku was raised by the Crito, master if wind and Drayk is an active Rogue Soldier in the Resistance.

The city gates are huge in size. One could push a small house through once the gates were opened. To left of the entrance was a small window with iron bars. A man dressed in a black gi sits inside. Drayk and Roku walk up to him and notice the crest of Wind on the chest of his uniform.

"State your business with Oro outsiders!" The guard shouts.

"My name is Lieutenant Drayk T. Kirkwood of the Resistance. This is my accomplice and friend, Roku, sixth student of Master Crito," Drayk states trying to sound official.

"We are the Bringers of Hope!" Roku smiles, "We come in peace!"

The look on the guards face goes pale. Turning his head he shouts to the other guards in the back. They can be seen standing at the doorway behind the guard. He gets up out of his seat to go talk to them. The guard explains to them what he has just heard. After a moment he comes back to the window and stares into their eyes.

"You may enter. Joseff has told of your coming," the guards tells them, "Please hurry to see him, Oro is in grave danger."

Drayk nods politely to the guard and then starts walking towards the opening gate. Roku bows at the man behind the window and quickly follows behind Drayk. The gate opens just enough for them to enter, then slams closed behind them. Once inside, Drayk and Roku marvel at the beauty of this city. Oro's buildings are all made out of white marble with golden metallic trim. The towering skyscrapers seem even bigger now that they are standing within the city walls.

The streets are bustling with busy Orians going about their days. A different man wearing guardsmen garbs walk up to where they stand. He is an older man, maybe in his late fifties, and he wears commander bars on his shoulders. He stands at attention before them.

"Bringers of Hope. My name is Commander Blake Quintly. I am the head commander of the Resistance in this area," Blake states.

"Pleased to meet you Commander!" Roku exclaims excitedly.

"Blake Quintly. The same Quintly that once served with my father?" Drayk asks.

"That's right lieutenant. Lance was a dear friend of mine," Blake answers, "Thought your name sounded familiar. No time for smalltalk though. We must make haste to Joseff."

Blake starts walking towards downtown, Drayk and Roku stare at each other for a moment before catching up the commander. Walking and talking is perfectly ok Roku thought to herself. Questions fill her head. Some were out of pure curiosity, but one question sat on her mind.

"Commander," Roku began.

"Please, call me Blake," he jokes before she can finish.

"Ok.... Blake. Why are we in such a hurry? What is happening here?" Roku asks straightforward.

"I am not to be the one to tell you that. You must wait to speak with Joseff," Blake responds quickly, "Please Miss Roku, no more questions until we reach the palace."

After several minutes of a fast-paced walk, they reach a humongous solid emerald colored mansion. The insignia of Wind to the left of the door, and the crest of Parocaav the right. Just above the doorway, something was written in a scribble neither of the Bringers could recognize.

Inside the mansion is even more miraculous in beauty. A huge pearl white foyer with golden chandeliers hanging all about. Paintings of important looking men cover the walls from ceiling to floor. Going up the middle of three staircases they reach a simple wooden door. Blake opens it up and lets Drayk and Roku walk through it. He doesn't follow them in and shuts the door. This room is a throne room. Across the room stood two red throne chairs with a golden trim and feet. The walls and floors are barren of any decoration. No color anywhere. Just a white room with two chairs and a white door hidden behind the throne.

A sickly looking woman sits in the right chair, the left one is empty. She is a beautiful middle-aged woman with long golden brown hair. She wears red and white dress and a silver tiara in her hair. A man is standing beside the woman with a staff in his right hand. He is dressed in the same brown robes Crito always wore. This man is young looking, probably around the same age as Drayk. He appears to be the woman's advisor of sorts.

"My name is Lady Quintly," The woman speaks to them in the most gentle voice they have ever heard, "You may direct me as such. I am the empress of this city."

"What a beautiful country it is Lady Quintly," Drayk says with a bow, "We are the Bringers of Hope."

"I know who you are. No one comes into my city without me knowing who they are," Lady Quintly continues, "Joseff is not here at the moment. He had left the city a few days ago and has not yet returned."

"We need to speak with him as soon as possible Lady Quintly," Roku tells her, "Blake said it was urgent to make haste?"

"You must excuse my husband. He should have been more upfront with you the two of you. You need Joseff to reveal more of the prophecy to you, and we need him to maintain order in our defenses," Lady Quintly pauses, "Without Joseff here, our city is in danger. He is the one that keeps the magic winds protecting us."

"My master is missing Bringers," the man finally speaks, the sound of worry in his voice.

"Please Bringers of Hope. You must return Joseff to us," Lady Quintly commands, "He is important to the future of this city and to your quest. Joseff must be saved."

"He was last seen headed towards the mountains to the east. He said something about needing to see some old hermit friend of his," the young man explains.

"Was that hermit named Crito?" Roku asks suddenly.

"Y-yes, I think so," he studders back.

Roku thinks back to the life she spent up in those mountains with Crito. No memories of anyone ever visiting him eluded her. What business did Joseff have with her master and childhood guardian?