Shadow Essence

The Great News

"My little necromancer!" the plump old woman with wispy white hair exclaimed.

Marah winced, sure necromantic powers were cool, but it wasn't exactly a good time to be a necromancer. In fact it was never, the government, or rulers, or whatever had always had a ransom over all necromancer's heads.

"Mother Nature, please don't say that", Marah winced.

Mother Nature chuckled and straightened the folds of her ankle length tunic. Marah always took a sideways glance at the dress, she personally thought it looked like a tent," Oh dear, don't worry for you are only one hundred years old, and frankly you barely look sixteen".

Marah shifted her weight uncomfortably," Yes ma'am".

Mother Nature chuckled and placed a cup of tea into Marah's hand," Please, do sit down", Mother Nature waved her hands at an old, moss covered arm chair next to the window.

Marah hesitated," Um, about the window-"

"Oh, silly me!" Mother Nature exclaimed," You necromancers and sunlight, sorry I forgot you prefer the shadows". With that Mother Nature walked up the the chair, and used picked it up using a tree branch and set it down next to the shadowy hearth.

"Thanks ma'am", Marah sighed as she slipped into the antique tree-chair. Marah cautiously sniffed the herbal tea, being Mother Nature, everything she made or had was plant based, including her food and furniture. The tea smelled like eucalyptus, Marah subtly placed the tea on the living birch wood table.

Marah shuddered, Mother Nature's house was filled with so many living thing that Marah's nerves tingled with anticipation.

Mother Nature looked up from her teacup sensing Marah's anxiety," So, girl, do tell me why did you come".

Marah looked at her hands," Well, I have a problem and, uh, it's kinda like, I don't know how to say it", she confessed.

Marah knew her exact problem, but she knew it wasn't a great idea to tell anyone the problem. The problem was that she was almost out of shadow essence. Her shadow was already nearly gone, and if she lost all her essence she would a) start spawning ghost, haunting spirits, and the undead b) get killed by the government.

Marah got up and walked up to the light window. She took a deep breath and confessed," I'm almost out of shadow essence".

Marah looked down at her faded shadow, and fiddled at her black diamond studded, bone shaped bracelet. This was horrible problem, but apparently Mother Nature was delighted.

"Dear! That's amazing news!" Mother Nature gasped grabbing Marah's fore arm examining my bracelet," Pa, get over hear!"

Marah snatched her arm away from Mother Nature. Were Mother Nature's energetic, warm, alive  hands touched Marah's skin her arm had begin to burn, literally. Marah shook her arm until her hand stopped smothering, touching the keeper of life and nature, certainly left a mark.

"Yes?", answered two men's voices, one was an old croak, and the other was a young melodic purr, like how a stereotypical California dude would sound.  

A man emerged into the room. he had rosy cheeks, a long beard, a long blue cape trimmed with gold with a pocket watch, an hour glass in one hand, and a cane in the other.

"Father Time", Marah addressed the man slightly bowing.

"Marah, my dear girl, long time no see, how has time treated you?" Father time chuckled, well at least his old voice, the young man's voice purred flirtatiously.

"Pa, we have no time for this nonsense!" scoffed Mother Nature as she clasped her hands together, and making a golf clap.

A small pixie appeared," At your service malady and sir!"

"Julio, go fetch the blueberry scone I made in the kitchen!", Mother Nature ordered.

"Yes ma'am!" Julio saluted before disappearing into a shower of golden pollen.

"So, love what am I needed for?" Father Nature questioned pulling out his stop watch and clicking one of the brass knobs.

"I have wonderful news! Marah is running out of shadow essence, and she is still alive, and the bracelet has accepted her as it's master!" Mother Nature  exclaimed reaching for Marah's arm.

Marah yanked her arm away.

"Oh, sorry dear, it's just been so long since I've seen a necromancer, I've forgotten the Rules. No touching bare skin, I cause too much life!  I almost thought necromancers were all extinct!" Mother Nature exclaimed patting me on the shoulder carefully only touching grey hoodie.

Marah looked up at her mentors," Why is me loosing my shadow essence and possibly getting killed by the government great?"

"Oh dear, you getting killed isn't great," Mother Nature started," One second dearie, Julio were are the scones?!" Mother Nature screamed.

Father time sighed and continued," Well anyway, it's been a while since we've had a Grim Reaper, and when the other one resigned, I've been working double time doing his job. And since the bracelet hasn't killed you, we can only assume you've been accepted. And if it's accepted you we have to wait until all your essence burns away, and if the scythe accepts you are will become the Grim Reaper and be eternal! If it doesn't kill you that is" Father Time beamed.