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

Chapter XLIX: The Shadow

Out at the southern channel of the River of Souls, sits Roku. Her mind is racing with what had recently happened. By freeing Sammi, she ended up killing her. Tao betraying the light and killing Drayk. All this is more than she can handle. This is even harder for her than Crito's death was. He may have been a father figure in her life, but Drayk is love of her life and her partner in the quest to defeat the darkness.

Roku lets out a sigh and stands up. Her eyes are unblinking as she stares out into the sea. The sun setting off in the distance reflects a warm orange glow across the waves. A calm breeze blows by, rustling her hair. She takes a deep breath and holds it in for a moment before letting it out. In the back of her mind, she knows it is time to head out. It's not long before Gaia's power will be completely drained. Soon, Lady Parocaav will have infinite power.

Just as Roku turns around, she hears a fading giggle. She looks around, confused as to who it was. The land around her is flat, grey and lifeless. No one is near her, nor anyone as far as she can see. A second giggle can be heard as she spins around. Slight movement on the ground at her feet catches her attention. She notices that her shadow is positioned as if it were giggling. A little freaked out, she leaps back.

Her shadow has not followed her, it has stayed where she once stood. The shadow begins to rise up from the ground and solidifies into a physical shadow form of her. At this moment, she realizes she no longer feels any sadness, anger, grief, regret, or fear. It is all standing before her, in this shadow version of herself. Suddenly, she realizes that the urge she had to come here means so much more. Maybe this was a way to get her to this place, a hidden message from Leon, guiding her.

The shadow Roku tilts its head to one side and its eyes glow a bright white. It draws out shadow twin blades. With a swift movement, it strikes at Roku. Just as quickly, she draws her blades and blocks the attack. She uses her left blade to push the shadow's aside while she slashes at it with her right blade. Her sword passes right through it, tearing it open. Black smoke rises from the opening, then seals itself closed.

Not sure what to do, Roku jumps away from the shadow. Her weapons won't be able to kill this creature. She tries to remember more of the Shadow Magic she learned, hoping something might give her an idea. This is the sort of thing Drayk was good for, he always has an answer. Roku shakes her head, trying to get him out of her mind and focus on the fight at hand.

Meanwhile ~

Tao has his ear to the winds, listening carefully. He can hear Roku fighting her shadow doppelganger. Everything is going accordingly and it is almost time before he can finally reveal himself. Oh how long it's been since he could be himself, his real self. Seven years he has lived as Tao of Ragnarok. Soon, they will face Lady Parocaav.

"Hang in there Roku. You have what it takes," Tao says quietly to himself, "I have faith in you."

Meanwhile ~

Random blasts of elements shoot from Roku at the shadow, all of which are not causing any damage to it. At this point, all she can really do it block the incoming strikes at her. In her mind, she is frantically trying to remember something that might help. Not even the alchemy she's been taught is sounding useful in her head. Roku hears a whisper in her mind, but she cannot make it out. It starts to get loud enough to hear and clearer: 'You have the power.'

Once the words are understood, she has flashes of images race through her thoughts, those of that first vision from receiving her powers from Lady Parocaav. An idea sparks in her head as she jumps away from her shadow. She focuses her mind and her body starts to glow a bright white. The light even covers over blades, totally encasing her.

Roku runs toward her shadow and slashes at it. The shadow is able to parry one blade, but the other cuts across its arm. The light shreds the darkness apart, causing the whole arm to dissipate. The shadow takes a few steps, looking at where its arm was. Its glowing white eyes lock onto her as it strikes over and over with its remaining arm.

Roku doesn't even raise a weapon to defend herself, she just keeps dodging its attempts. Angrily, the shadow shrieks out with an ear piercing screech. White smoke comes out of its mouth towards Roku. Her light aura makes contact with the smoke when she tries to attack and it causes an explosion. The blast sends Roku flying backwards towards the beach's edge. As soon as she hits the ground, her aura goes out.

She pants heavily as she tries to catch her breath. It feels like it was knocked right of her by that explosion. Her power has been significantly drained, she almost feels tired and worn out. Roku heals her fatigue with her Light Magic. Before she can regain her focus, the shadow strikes at her again. Its blade slices through the skin on her arm, making it bleed.

Roku groans a little bit as she readies herself for another attack. Now that she has been able to damage it, the shadow is being more relentless. It keeps striking at her with its one arm. She keeps parrying the attacks while slashing at it, even though she knows it won't do anything.

"I will defeat whatever you are!" Roku yells out.

She leaps up into the air and uses Wind Magic to carry her up, high above the ground. The shadow tries to follow, but cannot. It is unable to cast any magic. Roku has found her chance to concentrate. As she falls back to the ground, she begins to glow in a white aura again. Just as she lands, she strikes at the shadow. It blocks her attack, but the light envelops the shadow's blade. It disappears from the shadow's grip and it jumps back.

Roku quickly follows it and stabs both blades into its chest. The shadow drops to its knees with light shooting out of the holes left by her swords. The light bursts out of the shadow from all over as it disappears. Once it's gone, Roku's aura disappears and she heals the wound on her arm. She sheathes her blades as she sighs heavily.

"I.... did it on my own," Roku sighs to herself.

"Very nice.... Roku," Tao says from behind her.

Roku spins around and shouts, "What the hell are you doing here Tao!?"

"Roku.... you don't understand.... what hap-"

"Shut up! You betrayed us all! You killed Drayk!"

"I can't explain right now, but it's not what i-"

"I said shut up Tao! You will pay for what you've done! Prepare yourself!"