"The Invitation"

It was a bright full moon that night. I was walking in Pashrow Marshland when suddenly dark clouds appeared and covered the sky. Thunder roared and lightning started to strike the ground. I have never seen such a phenomenon in all my years of travels in Vanadiel. As if it was a harbinger of things to come. It started to rain so hard that I ran towards the outpost to keep myself dry. As the rain was pouring down hard, I noticed a figure of a person walking in the pouring rain. The figure looked like an Elvaan. It was walking towards the outpost.

The Elvaan was a female. She had a scythe strapped behind her back. She sat beside me when she entered the outpost. Without looking at me she said. "What a time and place to get caught in a downpour."

"Yes, the rain came so sudden. The sky was clear and suddenly this."

"So how are you Icon?" the Elvaan said to me.

I was shocked to hear my name and turned around and looked at her. She still was facing the rain. How come she knew me?

"Who are you and how come you know my name?'

"You can call me Umbra. Actually I have a proposal for you."

"Proposal?"

"Yes a proposal that I think you should accept without even thinking."

"And the proposal would be?"

"My Master wants you to join him. He said you have potential to become a great mage."

"And who will your Master be if I may ask? And what the hell will I be doing if I join him?"

"To help my Master to rule over Vanadiel."

"Hahaha... are you serious or just joking? No one man can rule Vanadiel. Jeuno and the other nations will band together and oppose any despot or tyrant that has ambitions on world domination."

"Join him and you will soon see that I am speaking the truth."

"Your Master is just another raving madman who dreams of the impossible."

"My Master has politely invited you to join him. Please don't mock him. All ask from you is a simple yes or no."

"The answer is no. Besides I don't know your Master. Sorry I don't deal with strangers. I am just a lowly mage. What can I do to help your Master."

"My Master is more powerful than you think. He can tutor you to become better mage. You should be honored he even considered inviting you. You are the first Hume he has invited to his side."

"Why? Don't tell me this is a race thing?"

"He only invites Elvaans to his cause. He deems other races "inferior"."

"So your Master is an Elvaan?"

"So Mister Icon, What is your answer? Yes or no?"

"The answer is still no. Even if you ask me again and again the answer will still be no."

"So be it. Good day Mister Icon. I hope you will not regret your answer."

She stood up and walk outside to the pouring rain. As I watched her slowly disappear from my sight, I wonder why crazy things have been happening to me lately. First it was the trip to Bastok with Tiny Heart, then my unavoidable love affair with Karla and now this. My life is in shambles. I need to go away some place where no one can find me. I need time to think. I don't know if it was a premonition or a strange feeling within me, I suddenly stood up and ran outside the outpost. Bolts of lightning came crashing down from the sky striking the outpost completely destroying it. Was it a natural event or as Umbra said her Master is all powerful. Inside me I knew it wouldn't be the last time Umbra and I will be seeing each other.

-O-

"Master, he has declined your invitation to join him." Umbra said.

Umbra's Master stood up from the large chair he was sitting in. He walked towards Umbra. Umbra was shaking from fear. She knew the Master isn't one who would take no for an answer.

"So he declined me just as I expected. He has resolve. He is the destined successor to my powers just as the oracle said he would be."

"Now he knows details of your plan Master, what should we do with him?"

"Leave him for the time being. He does not pose any risk to us. We have other more pressing matters to attend to. Leave now."

Umbra bowed and quickly left.