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Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: Invitation

A few months ago in Carowa Village, Alistair's servant, Reva, entered a dimly lit room. Shadows flickered wildly on the cold stone walls, and the scent of old parchment and candle wax mingled in the musty air. Alistair stood waiting for Reva to give her report, his presence adding to the tension.

Reva walked in and faced Alistair, the tension thick between them. "Milord, I have completed your order. I've hired the Dark Guild," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Alistair nodded, his gaze fixed on the map. 'Good. That boy has a divine fragment within his soul. We need to watch him closely, as too many eyes are already on him.'"

Reva's brow furrowed with concern, her fingers tightening around the edge of her cloak. "Yes, sir. The divine fragments must be secured, as the Gods tasked us to do."

"You're right. I hope the coyotes won't notice," Alistair replied, his tone grave and laden with unspoken fears. "Also, give this letter to the Dark Guild. Ensure they understand the gravity of this mission."

Reva took the letter with a nod, her expression determined yet tinged with worry. "Understood, Milord."

---

In the present, Hiro and the mysterious figure entered a hidden room, a clandestine stronghold concealed behind the façade of a simple shop.

The journey through the shop's narrow, twisting corridors was a stark contrast to the mundane exterior. Their footsteps echoed in the dim passage, and as they moved deeper, the atmosphere grew increasingly opulent.

The hidden room's interior was lavishly decorated with velvet drapes, golden chandeliers, and rich scents of polished wood and old leather-bound books.

The large room was dominated by a grand table, and the luxurious setting did little to ease the tension.

The two proceeded inside and the wall covering the hidden room began to close, slowly sliding back into place with a soft, grinding noise, leaving Rick—the shop manager—behind.

As the entrance sealed shut, an unsettling silence enveloped the room, broken only by the distant drip of water and the breezing winds echoing through the gaps.

The mysterious figure sat at the table in the middle of the room, watching Hiro as he narrowed his eyes.

"Don't be feisty. Come here," the mysterious figure said, inviting Hiro to take a seat.

Hiro eyed the figure warily but complied, sitting down with a mix of curiosity and unease.

As he sat on the chair, he asked, "Where are we? And can you please give the egg back," he demanded, his voice cutting through the opulent silence like a blade.

The mysterious figure chuckled softly, the sound echoing off the walls and sending a chill down Hiro's spine. "No," she replied, pulling back her hood to reveal her identity.

"I am Priscilla, a member of the Mage Tower and the Dark Guild, and we are inside the Dark Guild branch office here in Frostvale."

Hiro's eyes widened in shock, not at the place he was in but at the identity of the mysterious figure.

He had assumed the figure was a man, yet standing before him was a girl around his age, with blazing red hair and piercing red eyes that seemed to see through his very soul and a stance that exuded unshakable confidence.

"You're a girl? How can you move so fast?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly as he struggled to regain his composure.

"Oh, that's my magic," Priscilla said nonchalantly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Anyway, I'm not here to talk about that. I was employed to guard and accompany you somewhere," she explained.

"What? I don't need you to guard me. I'm old enough to take care of myself. Who even employed you for something irrelevant?" Hiro pressed, his frustration mounting.

"Oh, really? Then why didn't you sense me watching you as you entered the city?" she asked.

"I was preoccupied and how would I even know?" Hiro replied. "Also why did you take my egg? Give it back."

"I just took the egg simply because it seemed very precious," Priscilla explained, her tone softening as she studied him. "By the way, what is this egg?" she asked, handing it back to Hiro.

"I don't know," Hiro replied, a mix of truth and lies swirling in his mind. "Someone just gifted it to me."

Priscilla raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "You expect me to believe that? No one just gifts an egg with that kind of aura."

"Believe what you want. It's the truth," Hiro retorted, clutching the egg protectively.

Priscilla sighed, shaking her head. "You're stubborn, aren't you? Well, it's none of my business. But you should be more careful. There are people out there who would do anything to get their hands on something like this."

"Thanks for the advice," Hiro replied sarcastically. "But I can take care of myself."

"Clearly," Priscilla said dryly. "Anyway, here," she said, opening a box on the pedestal and handing Hiro an envelope. "They also tasked me with giving this to you."

Hiro accepted the envelope and carefully opened it. The parchment inside crackled ominously as he unfolded it.

---

Good day,

"If you're reading this message, I assume you've already left your village and arrived in the north. I spoke with Chief Helga, and she told me about your dream of adventuring. From our conversation, I concluded that you would head north first for your adventure."

Since the day I met you, I noticed something within your soul – a divine fragment. Only those who are chosen are given.

With this in mind, I would like to invite you to Albion Academy, located in Cerulean City within the Valor Empire. Albion Academy is renowned for nurturing individuals with extraordinary abilities, offering them a place to safely develop their powers.

I believe that there, you will find the answers to many of your questions and the guidance you need to harness your full potential.

Travel safely, and I hope to see you soon.

---

Hiro looked up from the letter, his mind racing. "Who are you? and Albion Academy?" he murmured, the name echoing ominously in the grand room. "Why would they want me there?"

Priscilla watched him intently, her red eyes never leaving his. "It seems like someone has taken a particular interest in you," she said, her voice a whisper that seemed to carry a world of secrets. "Perhaps you should consider their offer."

Hiro's grip tightened around the egg, the weight of the letter's words sinking in.

The shadows around them seemed to grow darker, the atmosphere thick with suspense and uncertainty. "Maybe," he said as he read the last message. "I know you know me."

Suddenly, the ink began to glow, each letter pulsating with a sinister light. Hiro's heart pounded in his chest as a soft hum filled the air, growing louder with each passing second.

Without warning, a brilliant, blinding light erupted from the parchment, forcing Hiro and Priscilla to shield their eyes. Hiro stumbled backward, his breath catching in his throat as he saw a magical circle appeared below the floor.

The circle glowed with an otherworldly intensity, casting long, dancing shadows across the room. Suddenly, it teleported Hiro and Priscilla away.