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

Chapter XLVIII: Alone

For the first time, Roku is truly alone. She has always had someone near her ever since Master Crito had taken her in. Now, everyone she has cared about is dead. Most importantly though, Drayk was no longer at her side. His presence is dearly missed as Roku wipes the tears away from her face. Her sorrow turns to hatred as she starts to think about Tao. He betrayed everyone, including Leon, whom trusted him to come here in the first place.

Roku skips a rock across the surface of the River of Souls. She lets out a heavy sigh as she tries to regain control of her own emotions. Merii had sounded so confident that she can do this on her own, but she isn't so confident in herself. Roku stands up and dusts the dirt off of her pants. Slowly, she starts to walk to where Drayk's body had vanished from. A stone slab sits in the middle of the worn down alchemical lines with the words 'Rest in Peace Drayk' carved into it.

"I'm sorry Drayk. I couldn't save you, or your sister," Roku says with tears swelling up in her eyes, "I will not let your deaths be in vein! I will stop Lady Parocaav! I'll.... come by to visit when I can. I will never.... forget you Drayk."

Roku wipes the tears away from her face while grabbing her blades. After a moment of staring at the grave, she begins to head south. She is not yet ready to face Lady Parocaav. Besides that, she is wanting to see how far the planet has drained lifeless. Roku can't help but feel like she needs to know, like it will put her mind to ease knowing if she has more time.

Her mind keeps wandering back to Tao, that traitor. Once she defeats Lady Parocaav, she's going to kill him. This idea gives her at least some comfort, not much though. She will avenge his death and punish Tao for his betrayal to all living things on this planet. In her mind, he is worse than her father, Kraag. Even when he had been lost to the darkness, he was still able to find himself once more. Tao has locked himself in that darkness, embraced it, and used it to help Lady Parocaav kill one of the Bringers of Hope.

Meanwhile ~

A little bit of blood drips from the mark left by Roku on Tao's neck. He applies pressure to it with a bit of cloth ripped from the sleeve of his shirt. Once the bleeding stops, he stands up. Out as far as he can see, is grey. The world is dying. People are losing hope. Even the Elite Forces have disband. Tao listens to the dying wishes of mankind as they make due with the future before them.

A tear runs down his face as his mind turns to Roku. The look on her face broke his heart. She wasn't supposed to see that happen to Drayk. Tao raises his arms high above his head and shouts as loud as he can. Tears are running down his cheeks as he drops to his knees.

"Leon!!" Tao cries out, "I can't take this anymore!"

A gentle breeze blows in a white smoke. The smoke spirals together until it forms Leon, who is standing before him. A worried look is on his face as he approaches close to Tao.

"I know it's tough, but she cannot know," Leon says softly, "You have done a good job so far Tao, you're alm-"

"No! I am not Tao.... not really. Just an identity I had to take after a few months of being in the past," Tao interrupts, "I have to explain what I did to Roku!"

"You will have time for that eventually. Now is not the time."

"Leon, we've been friends for a long time...."

"Yes we have Tao. By technicalities, you have been my friend for thousands of years."

"Then why can we not speak freely now?"

"You cannot reveal yourself yet. Even here, secluded, there is not a guarantee Lady Parocaav is not watching somehow. She has eyes all over this planet."

"The Elites Forces are no more. They disbanded after hearing Lady Samantha.... Sammi.... was killed. She has no support left."

"Do not misjudge her. There are still few that cling to her cause."

Meanwhile ~

Roku is approaching where color is starting to be visible again. She has reached the southern outlet of the River of Souls where it drains out into the ocean. The seas beyond the horizon is all that's left with color. There's not much time left before all is lost. Soon, Lady Parocaav will have all the power of Gaia.

That feeling of doubt strikes her again. She has no idea how she will be able to face the Goddess of Life on her own. Without Drayk, only half of the Ultimate has survived. If she doesn't even try, the planet will die for sure. Even if she loses, she can at least die knowing that it won't be without a fight. She would feel much better if she had someone at her side.

"Tao, I can never forgive you," Roku says out loud as she stairs out to the sea, "Ugh.... I have never felt so alone."

Meanwhile ~

"You have no idea how alone I feel Leon! I can't be me! Drayk.... is gone, and Roku wants me dead!" Tao yells, "I should be by her side!"

"Your heart is in the right place," Leon assures him, "You can explain everything to her soon. Very soon. She will need you in the upcoming fight with Parocaav. Besides that, imagine how she must be feeling. If you feel alone, Roku must feel it too."

"She needs this time by herself, I know. Roku has one last thing to do before she's ready to face her. I.... just feel bad."

"I know you do."

"I love her Leon. With all my heart. I never stopped thinking about her, even after the seven years I spent back in the Ragnarok Wars. She has been all that has kept me going.... through it all. Especially when I got back and first saw her again. She was so happy with me, just as I was with her."

"Look Tao.... Drayk. I know you love her. You will be there for her. I know that you being needed during the wars caused this, but you must stay strong. It is almost time for you two to be reunited, Bringers of Hope."