Legend of Parocaav II: Against the Darkness (rough draft)

Chapter X: Goi, The Cursed Elder

Up on top of the cliffside overseeing the buried town, Roku and Sammi are still patiently waiting for something to happen. So much time has passed since Drayk disappeared down into the tunnel with no sign of his return yet.

"Think that curse was broken? Shouldn't something have happened by now?" Sammi asks impatiently.

Before Roku can respond with a sarcastic remark, she senses something she cannot explain. She jumps to her feet and draws her swords.

"Stay down Sammi," Roku orders as she leaps down towards the mouth of the tunnel.

"Not likely!" Sammi snickers as she joins Roku's side.

"You're just as stubborn as your brother."

"Where do you think he got it?"

Sammi ignites black fire in the palms of her hands, ready to strike. Suddenly, the flames go out as a blackened blur zooms over them. She tries to light them again, but is unsuccessful. Instantly she panics, cowering behind Roku like a child. Without her magic, she is powerless.

"I told you to stay up there," Roku teases, "Go find somewhere safe."

It takes every bit of control to fight the urge to tell Roku off and to just go hide behind a home. Roku yells to get the beasts attention. It stops just above the home of the infant and looks straight at her.

"Leave them alone!" Roku screams, "I cannot allow you harm that child!"

Goi roars out with anger and flies over to Roku. He strikes at her, but she blocks his powerful blow. Her feet dig into the ground a bit upon impact from the beast. She stares into its cold eyes and notices a hint of sorrow shining through. Goi. Trapped and helpless to watch his body's actions. A smile spreads across Goi's face as he breaths fire at Roku. She ducks out of the way and tries to stab Goi, but her blades spark as they scrape off his skin. He laughs and slashes at her, and she barely blocks his attack with her twin blades.

Sammi watches from a safe distance and thinks out loud, "Drayk.... where are you?"

Meanwhile ~

Drayk tries using his alchemy to liquify the roof of the small cavern, but it hardens before he can escape. He can sense what is happening back in town, and is desperately trying to reach them.

"I should never have left them!" Drayk shouts.

He pulls the charm out of his pocket and looks at it. Thoughts of being helpless enrage him. He knows he can't stay down here, he has to help Roku and his sister. A green light shines from the charm for a moment, then his sword lights up as well from its sheath. Drayk pulls out the strange duplicate sword he found here. A small hole is at the very bottom of the handle. He loops the chain through it and locks it closed. The charm glows green once again, and envelops the entire sword.

Once the light dies down, Drayk realizes the sword has changed. The sword now looks like a sword he once saw in a history book about Gaia. The blade is always as long as he is tall, and just under a foot wide. The blade is quite thick but comes to a razor sharp edge. The whole blade is a deep green with a black handle. The legendary blade that is said to have been brought here by Gaia herself. Drayk can feel the power radiating from the blade. He notices something carved into the bottom of the blade: the chain unleashes the sword's power.

Meanwhile ~

Roku flies through the air and comes crashing down into the side of a building. She crumbles through the wall to the inside. Shaking, she gets up and holds her twin blades up and ready. Goi flaps its wings and launches itself towards her. With such little energy left, Roku is hit hard and unable to resist his strike. She slams into the ground and lets out a scream of agony. Her vision loses focus and starts to get rather blurry. Blood drips from her mouth as she pants to catch her breath while standing up.

"I.... don't know.... how much.... more I can take," Roku barely manages to say before she drops to the ground unconscious.

With uneasy emotions, Sammi finds the courage to jump up yo help Roku. She lands right in front of her and grabs one of her swords. The beast laughs and slashes at Sammi, who can't keep up with its speed. Blood splatters from her legs as the beasts claws tear her flesh open. She screams and drops to her knees, covering the wounds with one hand. Goi raises one arm to strike the helpless Sammi again, but stops when a sharp piece of rock shatters against its chest.

"Leave my sister alone Goi!" Drayk yells as he jumps over to shield her.

He draws out his sword and attaches the charm. It transforms into the Blade of Gaia instantly as he does. A brief glimpse of fear hits the beast's eyes, almost as if he knows the power of this sword.

"The Blade of Gaia," Goi speaks with a demonic echo, "No magic can stand against me!"

Goi disappears into the shadows and reappears behind Drayk. He takes a slash at him, but Drayk easily parries the attack. He smiles and spins the sword around, slicing through the rock-like skin of the beast. Green blood drips to the ground as the beast roars out.

"I was taught how to melee fight from my father, Lance. He was the greatest swordsman of his time," Drayk laughs, "I surpassed him before I even learned magic from my mother."

Drayk kicks Goi in the chest, throwing it off balance. He then leaps back and kicks off the ground. Drayk moves the massive blade across Goi's chest as he passes him, cutting him deeply. Blood gushes from the beasts chest as its eyes glow red with anger. Goi flaps its wings, pushing Drayk off his feet. Goi strikes at him with its claws glowing red, but Drayk manages to avoid being harmed. He dives under the beast and carves the blade down from its chest to its waist.

Drayk moves out of the way as Goi topples over and hits the ground face first. Dust is lifted up around it from the landing. Once it clears, Goi is seen laying face down in his normal form. His body starts to faintly glow white. He turns his head to look at Drayk with a smile on his face. His eyes close for a few moments before he opens them to stare back up at the Bringer.

"Well done Drayk.... you really were chosen by Gaia if you can wield that sword," Goi speaks, than stops to cough up blood, "You.... saved my people."

Before Drayk can reply, Goi's body disintegrates and disappears with a light breeze. Drayk removes the charm from his blade and sheathes it. He places the charm back into his pocket and rushes over to Roku and Sammi. His hands glow for a moment while he heals their wounds as best he can. Once Roku gains consciousness, she finishes healing the three of them. Gyrz comes walking up to them, followed by all of the villagers. They all begin to applaud as Gyrz gets close to the Bringers of Hope. He smiles at them for their success, but turns to sorrow as he look down where Goi had fallen.

"I thank you for saving my people Bringers of Hope," Gyrz says with a smile, "We know may peace once again."

"Sorry I couldn't spare Goi," Drayk says with regret in his voice.

"Nothing to worry about Drayk," Gyrz assures him, "We are much better off without the beast, even if it means not having a leader."

"You're wrong," Roku teases, "This place has a great ruler. You care about them just as much as Goi could have."

"Thank you Bringers of Hope," Gyrz smiles, "I will never forget what you have done here. You have freed us from the curse."

"You're welcome," Drayk says, "We have what we came here looking for as well. Hate to fight and run, but we have to get going."

"Nonsense," Gyrz jokes, "You cannot leave until after we celebrate with a feast."

"Come on Drayk," Roku teases him, "Let's join them."

"Alright, but first thing in the morning, we're heading out," Drayk agrees.