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

Chapter XIV: Yle, The Banished

With their stomachs full, the Bringers of Hope all walk towards the cavern's entrance. Several minutes pass before Yle shows up and joins them. A slight smirk still remains on the man's face as he approaches the entrance.

"Thank you for not leaving without saying goodbye. I hope I did not make you wait long," Yle says with a smile.

"Of course. You somehow remind me of my original Master, Crito," Roku smiles back.

"The hermit?" Yle asks.

"That's the one! Did you know Crito?"

Yle's face is completely blank of expression and turns to face away from them. He puts his hands in his pockets, petting the mouse with his fingers.

"Crito.... how that name infuriates me! Crito trained you? Explains the name you go by. Roku," Yle tells her, laughing cynically, "Killing his apprentice will be almost as satisfying!"

"What are you talking about!?" Drayk exclaims.

"Wait!! Now I know why your name was so familiar to me Yle," Roku sighs, "You're.... Yle the Banished.... aren't you?"

"So Crito does still talk about me? I'm sure he would. He's the reason I was banished from Wind Mage Country. Him and Synn both," Yle snaps, watching Roku's reaction, "You're her daughter. This is too perfect! Explains how you got my Waystone."

Yle pulls the Waystone out of his pocket and holds it up high. It starts to glow white when he does. Roku pats down her pockets, searching for the stone. To her surprise, it is nowhere to be found. She draws her twin blades as she finds herself rather enraged.

"Put those away girl," Yle mocks her, "Those won't harm me! No weapon can get close enough to me! You want to know why I was banished?"

"Not really," Sammi sarcastically replies.

"No one asked you 'dark one'!" Yle yells, "I, Yle, was responsible for casting a strong enough spell to protect the Lands of Wind from the rise of the Elite Forces. You know how everyone repayed me? Years later, I was cast aside because my magic was so feared among the other Wind Mage Clan, they claimed I was a threat. Me!? A threat! Not until being accused of one. I laid waste to millions of my own people just to give them a real reason for them to fear me. Only Crito and Synn were strong enough to defeat me in battle. I have had too much time to do nothing but prepare for my revenge. My power has weakened when they took Vortex from me, the very gift I had received for my loyal service to the royal family. Now! Vortex is mine again! I can already feel my power returning! Arise! Vortex!!!"

The mighty Dragon of Wind appears, destroying the caverns. The Bringers all bolt outside before the whole thing collapses in on itself. Yle floats up into the air using a powerful wind. He reaches out and touches the dragon on the nose, and Vortex is absorbed into his hand.

Vortex's voice echoes as it fades away, "I'm sorry.... Bringers of Hope.... I have let you down."

Yle laughs out uncontrollably, "At last! Something I should have done years ago! The Ancient Winds are now mine to control!"

With nothing more to say, Yle casts an intense wind, encasing them all. The rocks from the fallen cavern get picked up and spiral through the winds. The speed of the winds get faster and faster, creating a vacuum. The air gets sucked out and the Bringers start gasp. Roku raises up her hands, moving them in the opposite direction of the windy vortex. Some of the wind frees itself and moves the same way as her hands. Drayk and Sammi cough as they catch their breath.

"Now, now," Yle taunts, "Good move though."

He makes a spear out of wind and throws it down below. It pierces through Sammi's shoulder, making her scream out in pain. Yle creates more and continuously spikes them toward the Bringers. Drayk lifts his arms up with his palms open and his fingers curled out. The ground beneath them shoots up to block the nearly invisible spears. Sammi turns to face the wall of wind surrounding them and shoots a stream of black fire into the whirlwind. Flames shoot out at the top and explode all around Yle. He flinches and lowers the raging winds.