The Darkness Can't Give Me A Fright - A Poem
Shadows cloud my sight
Darkness of the night
The darkness can't give me a fright
The moon in haunting
The night is dawning
The darkness can't give me a fright

I'm trapped in the night
No escape in sight
The darkness might give me a fright
The shadows are bars
All light's gone too far
The darkness might give me a fright

All is dead silent
I need to end it
The darkness will give me a fright
No light for miles
No key, just shackles
The darkness will give me a fright

I think there's a light
An end to this night
A possible way back to light
Now I've found the key
Now I can be free
A possible way back to light

A shadowy trail
Has lifted the veil
I have found the way back to light
The light's far away
But I will not stay
I have found the way back to light

The trail has ended
Sanity mended
I'm finally out of the dark
I don't see my home
None of what I've known
Am I really out of the dark?

I'm looking around
All seems safe and sound
At least I'm finally in light
But no matter where
This horrid nightmare
Will follow me through the light

---

Morning by the Sea - A Short Story
One day, a village girl named Emaya was taking a peaceful stroll along the shore of the Adreyan Sea. As she gazed upon the setting sun, casting it's glow upon the shimmering water, she saw something sticking out of the sand. Deciding to investigate, she plucked the algae covered bottle out of the wet sand. She could barely make out an object inside of it. She pulled out the stopper and a slip of paper fell out into her hand. A single word was scrawled across the sheet:
HELP
A shiver went down her spine. At first she thought, this must be a joke, but that raised an even greater question: who would do it? She had to return home, so she decided to have the oracle in her village take a look at it. She made her way to the cliff leading up to the village and walked up the stone staircase. As soon as she reached the village, she headed to the oracle's hut on the outskirts of the town. As she approached the door, it started to open.
"Greetings, Emaya. Come in." greeted the oracle.
Emaya heeded her word and entered her little hut. The oracle, Asei, had lived in their village since before she was born. Asei was trusted by everybody in the village, especially the lord of the village. She respected Asei endlessly after hearing the story of why Asei came to their village in the first place. Their lord, Makais, was a former prince and, knowing he was destined for a greatness she says is too ludicrous to believe, watched over him from the day she discovered his future. She claims that he will save the nation from a great and terrible evil that would take the lives of many before eventually being thwarted. However, she refuses on saying anything more.
"So, what is it you want me to look at?" questioned the oracle.
"This." replied Emaya, holding out the slip of paper along with the bottle she had found it in.
Asei took the two items and closed her eyes, as she did whenever she used her abilities.
"Water... turning red... statues... mermaids?" murmured Asei.
She opened her eyes once again with a confused look on her face. She looked up at Emaya and stared at her silently before speaking again.
"You know, visions are never completely clear, but that was..." stated Asei quietly.
"Do you have any idea what it could mean?" asked Emaya.
"Just be careful." admonished Asei.
"Okay." responded Emaya