Published writing

Limping lies The salty air stung my eyes and the sea breeze whipped by hair. People hurried along paveways, their black cloaks like birds desperate to go with the wind. The stagnant air of the museum was stifling and I greeted the fresh air with pleasure. Grey clouds blanketed the sky and a thin fog started to gather. The sea was alive with waves that tossed sea foam onto the sand. I stared at the rickety houses and waved to our neighbours. Iris and Harold were frequent visitors of Addison's Hall of Quirks and Wonders. Iris would often bring us freshly baked goods and Harold would donate us interesting pieces of glass and shells he found at sea. I shook my head trying to get the thought out of my head. Something was happening. I could feel it. I squinted into the thick sea of people and I saw a limping man. A small silver box poked out of his pocket and I knew exactly who he was. Inside the box was a key. A key to the house in front of us. The new tenant had a sharp cane and a proud limp. Everyone in the whole of Sardine harbour knew that to have a limp was nothing to be proud of. You wouldn't be able to work and feed the harbour.This man clearly didn't know his Sardinian ways. Part two Does the new tenant mow his lawn? I do hope so Barbara. They better not get up at five in the morning to mow it though. You are very right Mary. I hope they'll give us fresh jam for our toast! Seriously Anna is that all you care about?! I stared at the gossiping ladies wondering what rumours the were going to spread. I glanced at the old house when I noticed tightly drawn blinds. When the man came out he was wearing old fishermen's clothes. I took a walk by the sea to clear my thoughts. I knew something was up he was secretive and private. Too private. He hadn't spoken to any of our neighbours and he seemed to know his way around already. Part 3 I snuck around the gate in my black suit. There were stares and whispers, glances and sniggers. What was wrong with me. Did I look weird, did wear the wrong clothes? Calm down. This is an ordinary town. With ordinary houses and a not so ordinary girl. With a spatter of freckles, a mop of brown hair and frost coloured eyes. Her eyes were fixed at me so I ran. I ran as fast as I could. Darling, can you tell me why the man was behaving ever so strangely? How would I know Barbara. I bet he has some bad business going with the kid. Mary you are being so obnoxious. He is just trying to befriend her. A middle aged man befriending a girl like Adele! No way Anna.

When the planets was created and humans had just started to roam the Earth, an evil spirit sat above the cosmos, pondering on her dilemma. Inclementia, the demon of the underworld was contemplating the task that the mother goddess had set for her. Amalthea had told Inclementia to pay a visit and warn the humans. She found this as an opportunity to wreck havoc upon Earth, but she desperately wanted a spot in the high court of heavenly gods. Nevertheless, mischievousness overtook her as it always had, and Inclementia sped down to the planet in a bright light of purple, her unmistakable clawed feet behind her. The humans didn't notice the unfamiliar hooded figure that ambled down dirt paths. They didn't notice the slightly clawed footprints that followed the mysterious profile. Everyone except one. Minerva had sensed that the clumsy person underneath the black cloak was not ordinary. Born in a family of judges and high court advisors, she had lived an isolated life. Adrenaline tingled beneath her veins, the feeling wanting to be unboxed but silenced by strict words. That night as stars speckled the midnight blue sky, Minerva crept from her panelled bed. The cold grass tickled her feet and she longed to run across the rolling hills. Suddenly, she heard metal fall against metal. Minerva turned around slowly and saw a silhouetted figure in the moonlight. Clawed footprints followed the being and her heart raced as she recognised the outlines. Inclementia. The Merciless. It was too late. The demon ran towards Minerva with outstretched hands and she frantically searched for anything to throw at the spirit. A silver blade glinted in the moonlight and she grabbed it with her shaking hand and plunged it into the icy cold air, straight into the demon's heart. The scream of Inclementia was the last thing she heard as the ringing in her ears overtook her senses. As ribbons of pink and yellow swirled in the dying light, Violet sat at the windowsill and gazed at the houses opposite her. House 56 had been abandoned for 13 years and the old couple that had lived there had vanished in the most suspicious circumstances. The street wasn't normal. It was separated from the main road that all the houses branched from. The houses were near the harbour and the salty air was in Violet's veins. The neighbourhood was peaceful. Until the arrival of a new neighbour. Cecilia and Robert Hazelwood had lived in the house opposite Violet. House 56. When the new neighbour arrived, she was nothing to what she had expected. With midnight black hair that hung loosely over her shoulders, she had happily answered to all of the neighbours nosy questions. The new neighbour revealed herself to be Clementina and she had recently moved into the city. More neighbours crowded around her and people came out of their houses to see what the noise was about. Violet watched the scene unfold through her bedroom window. She could sense that Clementina was unusually reserved, as if underneath her picturesque face was an entirely different person.

Unseen eyes feasted on the sight. Whispers were carried along the wind into waiting ears. A rushing stream gently crashed onto rocks as the current pulled it towards the lake. Trees created a dappled canopy as the last rays shone weakly. Through the dipping branches of the ethereal wood, a huddle of soldiers sat around a fire. They had created refuge in the forest as they fled from the rebellion forming in the city. The kingdom's emblem was printed clearly onto their uniforms and the soldiers had hoped they the trees shadowed their identities. "Find her." Two red eyes glinted hungrily in the moonlight. The hounds were getting impatient as they paced around the bare forest floor. "Find her and bring her back dead." The only sound of the forest now was the breath that caught in her chest. The tall, sloping mountains of her city was now enveloped in flames as the rebellion drew longer into the night. She ran towards the valley but her foot caught a loose rock and down she fell into a world of darkness. It swallowed her like a sinkhole, black was everywhere she looked and she could feel her limbs getting heavy as all her strength was drained into the abyss. As if waking from a dream, Agnes felt light headed like she was detached from her body. Something tugged at her mind; a pinprick of light so quick it disappeared the moment she tried to grab it. Pushing herself out of bed, she surveyed her surroundings. Agnes knew she had walked through these corridors and rooms before but when? She wandered through the spidery halls until she got to the door. It was made of polished oak and blocked out every bit of sun from outside. Pushing it open, she squinted into the busy street as people moved along the pavements. The white suburban houses were lined against each other with neatly trimmed gardens in front of their porches. It was all too natural for Agnes. She had always been an outsider, she felt like she belonged somewhere else. Again, the pinprick of light shone in her mind and she tried to grapple it but it slipped away into the depths of her memories. As Agnes turned away from the door, she could hear gasps and mutters from behind her. A man in a long trench coat shuffled up the street as if having a limp. When he reaches Agnes's front door he suddenly stopped. Slowly he turned around and stared straight at her. That night as stars speckled the night sky, Agnes heard a muffled voice. She treaded softly throught the corridors and pulled open the curtains. The new neighbour was looking at a mirror and muttering as if talking to someone. She cupped her ear against the window and caught the last words. "I found her."

The salty air stung my eyes and the sea breeze whipped by hair. People hurried along paveways, their black cloaks like birds desperate to go with the wind. The stagnant air of the museum was stifling and I greeted the fresh air with pleasure. Grey clouds blanketed the sky and a thin fog started to gather. The sea was alive with waves that tossed sea foam onto the sand. I stared at the rickety houses and waved to our neighbours. Iris and Harold were frequent visitors of Addison's Hall of Quirks and Wonders. Iris would often bring us freshly baked goods and Harold would donate us interesting pieces of glass and shells he found at sea. I shook my head trying to get the thought out of my head. Something was happening. I could feel it. I squinted into the thick sea of people and I saw a limping man. A small silver box poked out of his pocket and I knew exactly who he was. Inside the box was a key. A key to the house in front of us. The new tenant had a sharp cane and everyone in the whole of Sardine harbour knew that to have a limp was nothing to be proud of. You wouldn't be able to work and feed the harbour.This man clearly didn't know his Sardinian ways.

I enjoyed the fortnightly sessions because you taught us how to write a story and we could do any spooky topic we liked. I kept coming back week after week because I was really looking forward to my finished story. I think I have improved because now I understand the different stages of writing a story. My favourite term was Term 4 ( I joined this term ) and I love spooky and creepy stories. Here are some of my ideas for future terms: Spooky season/ A night at a graveyard Your character decides to explore a graveyard and the things in it come back to life. You find a portal/ chest/ time capsule? You enter and ........ The bottom of the ocean Your character is a normal person ship wrecked/ pirate that was ship wrecked/ other thing that was swimming/ diving that either sinks/ swims to the bottom of the ocean. What they're about to discover could change their life. Happily never after Your character find a secret library somewhere an is attracted to something that when touched transports them to a fairytale. They must follow the course of their fairytale but they are allowed to make a twist.

I enjoyed the fortnightly sessions because it taught me how to write stories in a creative and humourous way. The reason why I came back every single week is because it made me feel like I had to finish what I started, because what is the use of an unfinished story? I think my writing abilities has improved a lot even though I had only started Writer's club this year! My favourite term was Term 4 because it was the term where I joined, but it was also extremely fun and suspenseful! Here are a few ideas of what topics we could do in the future: The secret room Your character finds a secret room/passageway/portal in their house. Out of their own curiousity they go in to explore the new world, but is instead transported to a dark room where they must conquer a monster/solve an impossible task/etc to escape. The future Your character is in 2080 and the age of AI has long begun. To save his/her world, they will have to travel back in time to 2023 to warn their ancestors of their harm.

The Silver Blade    By Samantha Nam 5/12/2022                  The stars were scattered across the sky like spilled marbles. The lonely caw of a crow could be heard in the still night air. Lights were dotted around the village as people got ready for sleep to overwhelm them. The only creatures awake now were the animals that feasted on the darkness. Yet as the clocks struck midnight, a girl appeared at the library. She was no ordinary girl, for she had a mission and her name was Raven. The faint sound of clocks striking midnight could be heard from the village. Raven leaned against the library walls as exhaustion threatened to overwhelm her. The library was overflowing with books but Raven had not come for them. Crooked shadows covered the walls and the ominous ticking of the clock filled the room. Suddenly, Raven froze. The clocks had stopped ticking. Slowly, she turned around and was met with two piercing eyes. In front of her was a figure in a khaki jacket with a belt and a rifle. That was the last thing Raven saw before everything went black.   The moment she regained consciousness, Raven could tell something was wrong. A haunted feeling had crept into her chaining her feelings. She remembered the glowing figure and looked around to find a trace of where it went. She was horrified to find it had been watching and waiting all along. Suddenly, it began to speak.   If you put yourself in mortal danger, you shall meet a prowling stranger. Diamonds and opals are known as nobles. To kill this creature, use your feature. A glinting object, you must protect. It'll save your life, the silver knife. The ghostly poacher reached out towards Raven. It was as if she was in a trance. Hypnotized. His icy cold hands gripped her. Memories of the past came flooding back to Raven. She was part of the legend. The legend of the the shadow wolves. They had wispy shadows for fur, claws as black as obsidian and eyes as red as rubies. They would let out haunted hollow howls to let their victims know their fate was sealed. The poachers had hunted them down one by one but perhaps they had missed one. Raven shook her head trying to get the spooky image out of her mind. She slowly walked over to the glass cases of artifacts chilled by the lifelike encounter. She saw a ring emblazoned with the royal crown and curiously, she slipped it on her finger. She tried to open the catch but it was jammed. As Raven took a leather case, she asked the poacher if anyone had tried to kill the shadow wolves and made it out alive. One person had and that was her great grandmother. Raven opened the case and a bright aura of light flooded her eyes. It was the silver knife.   Captured by the beauty of the blade she wasn't prepared for the blood curdling scream. Raven was unsteady on her feet. Together, all these events made sense. She had finally realized that her destiny was entwined with the legend and she may lose her life trying to kill the beast.   Raven heard a light click come from her hand and she saw the ring had opened and from inside fluttered a sheet of paper. It was a diagram from the book of animal anatomy. To a normal person it was rubbish, but to Raven it was the key. Raven ran to the shelf that had the book of animal anatomy and pulled it out. She heard a metallic grinding sound as the shelf pulled away becoming a doorway. Raven stepped inside clutching the silver blade. The creaky hinges of the shelf were closing. Now there was only one way to go. Most people would have gone mad in this labyrinth but not Raven. She ignored every cry for help, every shattering scream. It was all a lie. After what seemed like countless days and countless nights, Raven arrived at a clearing. Here would be a legend. A legend set into stone. About a girl and her quest to defeat the shadow wolves. Raven could feel the air buzzing with anticipation. This was where she would have the battle. The battle to death. Slowly a hunched twisted figure appeared out of the shadows. It had souls for fur, no longer pure but black stained with fury and hatred. It had bright piercing ruby red eyes and claws as dark as obsidian. It was hungry for blood.  The wolf unleashed its pitiful souls in an attempt to chain her together. Raven grabbed her blade and cut away the chains. The shadow wolf created a storm of black vines and trapped Raven in it. Slowly it tightened the black vines suffocating her. Yet, Raven had a trick up her sleeve. She grabbed the silver blade and in one swift motion, she sliced through the sticky thorny vines. She would not be easily defeated. Raven raised the silver blade above her head and plunged it into the heart of the shadow wolf. She was engulfed in a bright light and the last thing she saw were white wisps leaving the husk of the shadow wolf. Rest in peace little souls.  Raven awoke in the beanbags. Surely it was all a dream ? She looked at her belt and saw the tarnished silver blade edged with blood. She looked out of the window and saw the sun rise out of the clouds. The library was about to open and Raven did not want to be seen in there. As she was about to leave, a message carved itself into the blade. ' I will be back' . Two years later...... The sky was painted bright blue and not a cloud was in sight. Raven pushed open the glass doors of the state library. She breathed in the musky smell of books and entered the library. The library had tried to cover up the bloodshed but the horror of the shadow wolves still stained the building. It would never stand quite as tall or proud for it bored the battle of a dangerous creature. Raven would never forget that day. It was seared into her memory. She looked around the library and her eyes locked onto a bright red ruby. Her worst nightmare was coming true, for that was the eye of a shadow wolf.

The Medal I was here again. The thought ricocheted in my brain as I stood in front of the train station. The lights flickered time to time giving the station an abandoned sense. Paint peeled from the walls and the railway was rusted and cracked. The monotonous sound of the clock ticking filled the room. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. It was enough to drive you mad. I turned and walked up the stairs eager to be released from the gloomy prison of the dark station. The wind smacked me in the face making me gasp. It stung my cheeks and made my eyes water. What now? I had gone all this way yet there was no reason. The sun had surrendered to the moon and now an inky blackness crept across the town. Aimlessly, I wandered down streets. I didn't know if it was fate that had twisted my path, but when I looked up, the state library looked above me. It stood tall and proud in all its glory of bushes and flowers. The moonlight showered a dim glow onto the sandstone pillars. A light breeze swept over my hair and as if a cue, I stepped in. The faint chirping of crickets could be heard from outside. My footsteps echoed around the empty building. I hadn't come for the books but I still felt something pulling me deeper into the library. As I ventured in, I saw purple sparks that had shot out from a bookshelf. Curious I bent down to look. Immediately, I regretted that move. I was paralysed to the spot, the menacing aura holding me in a tightening grip. I tried to scream but no sound came out. The shadows engulfed me and I was thrown back at the force of it. The glowing purple light intensified and my arms tingled as the light brushed them. Nowhere to hide now. A voice spoke in my mind, slurred but enticing. I leaned in. No one will remember. I have come. A powerful blast of light threw me against the wall and the room glowed white, pure white that danced in spots across my eyes blinding me, then it turned black. It hurt to look. Every light seemed intensified and sharp colours blinded me. Rubble and loose books created a nest around me, and I turned around painfully to see that a chunk of the wall was gone. I lay there in the rubble when something caught my eye. A shadow danced across my vision and I reached out to grab it. Though it was small, a shiver went down my spine as I held it, unnaturally cold. I quickly let go of it and it flitted around my head before retreating into the shelves. I stood up slowly, digging my feet into the ground as I wobbled. I was about to leave when something shimmered in my nest. I bent down and pulled it out. It was a medal rusted with age. It shined a dull silver and it was tied to a thick rope. I held it in my palm and stood back up. The shadow had returned and it was now examining me curiously. A book on a shelf caught my eye. It glowed a deep purple and floral emblems covered it. Reaching out I pulled it, but what came out was not the book, but a passage. Cogs whirred and the mechanism twisted into a door. Where the shelf was, there was now a stone archway. I looked at the shadow and as if a cue, it disappeared into the archway. Taking a breath, I followed it into the unknown darkness of the passage. My eyes adjusted to the darkness and the first thing I saw were giant tongues of flame. They glowed a deep purple and they flickered over the floor casually. The walls rose to a dizzying height and runes were etched into them. The air in the chamber hung with perspiration and the flames emitted wild smoking fumes. I tensed. Turning around, I saw two unblinking eyes staring back at me. They shimmered in the air and colours swirled in their crystalline depths. I stood, entranced by their intricacy. Looking closely, I realised that the faint outline of a body could be seen. A soft voice brought by an invisible breeze snuck into my ear. I am back. You do not remember me do you? The voice faded into the air leaving me slightly confused. The voice was familiar yet, how could that be? I should have learnt to not trust entrancing voices by now. Pure white light had once again blinded me and I soon realised that the voice was the same one I had heard earlier. Now defeated, I lay in a crumpled heap on the floor. I could not help but think of the familiarity of the voice. Soft and enchanting yet underneath was of hard intentions. Who did that remind me of? I closed my eyes in a vain attempt to rouse sleep, but I was not welcomed. Suddenly, the truth dawned on me. I knew who the figure was. I slowly rose and paced around the chamber. The medal still hung around my neck and I chose to examine it more closely. A name was inscribed on the side but age seemed to have covered it up. It was a simple design with nothing else but the royal emblem on it. I leaned against the wall but instead of a hard surface, I felt air. I stepped through the doorway and walked into another room. It's as smaller but grander with swooping curtains and a chandelier. A figure sat at a small desk and it looked up to reveal the two iridescent eyes. I backed away slowly as the figure stood up. Don't worry. You know who I am. And the figure warped into someone I did in fact know. A tear slid down my cheek. "Grandma?" Come my darling. It has been too long. I stood up and followed her into a room. I have waited a long, long time to avenge my death. I looked confused. "What are you talking about?"Yes, I will have my revenge. A burst of light shot out from her hand and binded me. This was not Grandma. No, it was someone else entirely. I slumped against the wall and examined the medal again. I blinked. It had changed! I watched as it morphed. Now all that was on it was the words 'This holds the secret.' The ghostly figure had come back. I had to use my wits if I wanted to make it out alive. I stood up and unbinded myself with the medal. The ghost was outraged. In an attempt to cocoon me, it released wispy shadows that weaved themselves into a coffin. Except it wouldn't be mine. I held the medal like a shield and I heard a blood curdling scream. The soul of the ghost was sucked out of its body and into the medal. I guess it's strength was also its weakness. Three Years later... The clouds heaved and grumbled as a storm was ready to be released. I ran to the nearest building and took cover. I didn't mean to stumble into the state library, but I had and now memories clouded my mind. Everything seemed to be normal but underneath the library were the memories that still pulsed with horror. I slumped into an armchair and was about pick a book when a straggly figure caught my eye. The figure looked up at me and a pair of eyes I would have chosen to never see again, stared back at me.

The dark inky sky hung over the peaceful village. The lamps flickered violently casting shadows onto the the slimy cobblestones. As the first flakes of snow fell, a girl arrived at the library. She was no ordinary girl. She was a girl with a mission and her name was Raven. Raven stood at the doors of the library as she admired the architecture. A thin sheen of white covered the windows. Its sandstone pillars loomed above her. Raven pushed open the creaky mahogany doors and sat down in a chair. The library was eerily quiet. Raven was about to pull a book off the shelf when the hairs on her back shivered. Someone was watching her. Slowly she turned around. In front of her was a figure in a khaki jacket with a belt and a rifle. That was the last thing Raven saw before everything went black. The moment she regained consciousness, Raven could tell something was wrong. A haunted feeling had crept into her chaining her feelings. Raven remembered the glowing figure and looked around to find a trace of where it went. She was horrified to find it had been watching and waiting all along. Suddenly, it began to speak. If you put yourself in mortal danger, you shall meet a prowling stranger. Diamonds and opals are known as nobles. To kill this creature, use your feature. A glinting object, you must protect. It'll save your life, the silver knife. The ghostly poacher reached out towards me. It was as if I was in a trance. Hypnotized. His icy cold hands gripped me. Memories of the past came flooding back to me. I was part of the legend. The legend of the Umbre Anima. The shadow wolves had wispy shadows for fur, claws as black as obsidian and eyes as red as rubies. It would let out haunted hollow howls to let their victims know their fate was sealed. The poachers had hunted them down one by one but perhaps they missed one. Raven shook her head trying to get the spooky image out of her mind. She slowly walked over to the glass cases of artefacts chilled by the lifelike encounter. She saw a ring emblazoned with the royal crown and curiously, she slipped it on her finger. She tried to open the catch but it was jammed. As Raven took a leather case, she asked the poacher if anyone had tried to kill the umbra Anima and made it out alive. One person had and that was her great grandmother. Raven opened the case and a bright aura of light flooded her eyes. It was the silver knife. Captured by the beauty of the blade she wasn't prepared for the blood curdling scream. Raven was unsteady on her feet. Together, all these events made sense. She had finally realised that her destiny was entwined with the legend and she may lose her life trying to kill the beast. Raven heard a light click come from her hand and she saw the ring had opened and from inside fluttered a sheet of paper. It was a diagram from the book of animal anatomy. To a normal person it was rubbish but to Raven it was the key. Raven ran to the shelf that had the book of animal anatomy and pulled it out. She heard a metallic grinding sound as the shelf pulled away becoming a doorway. Raven stepped inside clutching the silver blade. The creaky hinges of the shelf were closing. Now there was only one way to go.

I was here again. The thought ricocheted in my brain as I stood in front of the train station. The lights flickered time to time giving the station an abandoned sense. Paint peeled from the walls and the railway was rusted and cracked. Benches lined the pavement beckoning you to a world of boredom. The monotonous sound of the clock ticking filled the room. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. It was enough to drive you mad. I turned and walked up the stairs eager to be released from the gloomy prison of the dark station. The wind smacked me in the face making me gasp. It stung my cheeks and made my eyes water. What now? I had gone all this way yet there was no reason. The sun had surrendered to the moon and now an inky blackness crept across the town. The warden approached me slowly. Desperately, I looked for any form of escape. Behind me was a fence that lined the pavement. I quickly scrambled over it, tumbling onto the road. I ran as fast as I could and when I reached an alley I stopped. The warden's shouts had reduced to almost quiet murmuring. Catching my breath, I slowly walked through the dark path. Each breath rattled in my chest like coins in a tin box. At the end of the alley, a silver gate stood. Behind was the library. The moon showered light onto the sanstone pillars giving them a silver glow. Everything else was webbed with shadows. I slowly walked up to the gate and pushed it. Creaking, it swung open. I shivered, not from the cold but from a foreboding sense. It was like someone was watching me. I slowly walked towards the heavy doors of the library. Each minute seemed to pass like an hour. Finally, I managed to yank the doors open. I stepped into the library surprised at how warm it felt. My spine prickled yet I was sure that no one else was there, right? Venturing deeper inside, the sense that someone was watching me intensified. Suddenly, I stopped in my tracks. A voice was talking, but where did it come from? It was chanting a song like it was a spell, and as I stuggled to hear the words I felt goosebumps snake up my spine as I listened. Tendrils of smoke curled around me making my eyes water. I sat up and immediately surrendered to a bout of coughing. I could see shelves of books in front of me and concluded I was still in the library. My hands were tied to a flat bed with ropes of a dark material. The smoke rose around me creating a barrier from the shelves. On further inspection, I realised that the books were all black and the titles were written in gold ink. A particular one caught my eye. It was a thick book around five centimetres. Instead of black, it was pure silver and decorated with gold symbols. The symbols were sharp and angled like broken sticks. The title was written in red ink and I squinted to read the letters, 'Umbra Magicae'. A figure crept into the room silently. It lifted its head as it entered and I let out a soundless scream. The head of the figure was deathly white like wax, and where the eyes should have been, there were sunken holes of black. The figure was neither human nor monster, it was a skeleton. Bones clacked as it walked closer towards me. I felt its hand wrap around my skull and I gasped as bones dug sharply into my skin. I was paralysed to the spot, the menacing aura holding me in a tightening grip. I tried to scream but no sound came out. The shadows engulfed me and I was thrown back at the force of it. The glowing purple light intensified and my arms tingled as the light brushed them. Nowhere to hide now. A voice spoke in my mind, slurred but enticing. I leaned in. No one will remember. I have come. A powerful blast of light threw me against the wall and the room glowed white, pure white that danced in spots across my eyes blinding me, then it turned black. It hurt to look. Every light seemed intensified and sharp colours blinded me. Rubble and loose books created a nest around me, and I turned around painfully to see that a chunk of the wall was gone. I lay there in the rubble when something caught my eye. A shadow danced across my vision and I reached out to grab it. Though it was small, a shiver went down my spine as I held it, unnaturally cold. I quickly let go of it and it flitted around my head before retreating into the shelves. I stood up slowly, digging my feet into the ground as I wobbled. I was about to leave when something shimmered in my next. I bent down and pulled it out. It was a medal rusted with age. It shined a dull silver and it was tied to a thick rope. I held it in my palm and stood back up. The shadow had returned and it was now examining me curiously. A book on a shelf caught my eye. It glowed a deep purple and floral emblems covered it. Reaching out I pulled it, but what came out was not the book, but a passage. Cogs whirred and the mechanism twisted into a door. Where the shelf was, there was now a stone archway with the words 'Umbra Regni' engraved onto it. I looked at the shadow and as if a cue, it disappeared into the archway. Taking a breath, I followed it into the unknown darkness of the passage.