I have several ideas for projects I want to do this semester. The first is continuing work on Enchanted Tutor from last year's round table. I was only able to complete one chapter of this five chapter story and I feel that the first chapter can still be greatly improved.

My second project idea is to continue work on my Shadowed Secrets series I started this summer. I have plenty of ideas on what I want to do with these stories but I don't know the best way to get there.

The third idea I came up with is writing new versions of the traditional fairy tales so that the women in them are equally as strong as the men and they don't all end up in romance. I thought of this when I realized how much our fairy tales actually influence the children of our society. I didn't like the message they are sending so I thought of writing some that have a more “modern” message.

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By: Alicia Scott

         Kendria sighed as she sat in class almost counting the minutes until class ended. Only half paying attention to what the professor was saying she continued to work out a new code system in her notebook.

"Are they ever going to teach us anything new? I learned this stuff years ago from one of the books I read," she thought to herself.

Finally the professor dismissed the class and she quickly grabbed her stuff and ducked into the hallway.

         "Hey Kendria!" a voice called after her as she walked to her next class.

         "Oh hey Radella. How was class?"

         "Eh sameo, sameo. You?"

         "The same dull lectures and notes."

         "Well do you want to head over to The Mysts after our last class?"

         "Sounds great."

         "Excellent.   Well at least this class is somewhat interesting."

         "Agreed," Kendria replied with a smirk as they stepped into the room and found their seats.

         Finally the last class was dismissed getting Kendria and Radella to hurry to their rooms to drop off their books before heading out again.

         "At least it's a nice day to walk over," Kendria commented as the breeze played in her reddish-blond hair.

         "Yeah. Part of the reason I wanted to go today rather then wait." Radella commented with a smile, "especially with the weather being so unpredictable lately."

         "Most definitely. Not to mention the fact that we both needed to get away from campus for a bit."

         "Here, here," Radella laughed as they walked along the street. It was a few minutes later the two girls reached the small, secluded two-story house pained a pine-green and a dark sky-blue that doubled as a small new-age/fantasy shop. As they stepped inside they couldn't help but softly gasp.

         "No matter how many times we come it always surprises me on how much it feels like another world," Kendria softly whispered as they watched the ever present fog swirl around their ankles.

         "That is because it is Young Ms. Kendria. When you step inside you enter the realm of imagination," a woman greeted as she stepped up to Radella and Kendria.

         "Good day Ms. Celesta," they greeted with a smile.

         "Enter and feel welcome," Celesta smiled as she stepped aside so that they could step into the main part of the store. They slowly walked around the small store with Radella selecting a few items now and then.

         "Ray check this out," Kendria softly commented getting Radella to look over her shoulder at a small star shaped frame engraved with runes. In the center was a small silver mirror.

         "Wow that's cool.   Are you going to get it?"

         "I'm seriously thinking about it," Kendria replied.

         "Well don't take to long because we need to head back soon.   We both have a lot of homework we have to do."

         "Yeah I know. I should be ready in a few minutes," Kendria stated with a sigh, "I just want to take a look at the jewelry," she added walking over to the sales counter, the mirror still in her hands along with the only other thing she had picked up a worn looking book bearing the same runes as the mirror.

         "Finding everything alright?" Celesta asked softly.

         "As good as always Ms. Celesta," Radella commented, as Kendria seemed lost to a trance as she gazed at a small necklace.

         "You have found something you like young Kendria?"

         "Can I see that small necklace, the one shaped like a sword?" Kendria softly asked without looking up.

         "Of course," Celesta replied as she brought it out of the display case and laid it on the counter.

         Kendria gently picked it up and examined it for a couple seconds before adding it to the pile of her book and mirror, "I'll take it," she smiled.

         "Ah you have chosen well this book and mirror but the set is not yet complete," Celesta commented as she looked at the choices, "A bag there is as well," she added drawing something from under the counter and placing it on top. It was a small shoulder bag made of worn looking leather but looked as if it was still as strong and durable as the day it was first made, "A gift for such a valued customer," she smiled as she rang up the total and as Kendria paid, placed the book and small mirror in a box bearing the same type of runes, "Take good care with these Young Kendria and may they serve you well," she added handing the collection to her along with her receipt. She quickly rang up Radella's adding a gift to hers as well and the two girls were soon headed back to the dorms.

         They spent the rest of the night doing their homework taking a short break for dinner. It was about midnight when Kendria finally put her work aside and turned in for the night. However soon after she found herself standing in the middle of a battle. She ducked as arrows and spells flew back and forth. She stood in shock for a couple minutes before hearing some shouts from behind a large hill. Feeling unexplainably drawn to it she carefully headed towards it slowly. She carefully climbed the hill staying as low as she could. She softly gasped when she spotted a woman wearing a worn gray cloak over a light blue tunic and black pants facing off with a man dressed in dark reds and black with his dark hair pulled into a low ponytail. The woman threw a spell towards the man and as he was recovering she drew a long thin blade and leapt to the attack. The man was barely able to bring up his in defense. They continued with hand-to-hand combat for a few minutes before an explosion threw them both back a few feet. As they were both climbing up a horn sounded followed by a commotion of an army retreating.

         "Sounds like your troops are retreating Joseph. Face it today's victory belongs to us," Astrene smirked.

         "Your army may have won Astrene but you won't live to celebrate it!" Joseph growled before throwing a spell at Astrene that exploded, throwing up a cloud of dust and getting Kendira to cover her head. When the dust finally cleared Astrene was still lying prone on the ground but Joseph was nowhere to be seen.

         'What was that all about?' Kendria silently woundered as she carefully made her way down the hill and over to Astrene, "Are you going to be okay? Do you need me to get one of the healers?" she softly asked in a voice not her own as she gently rolled Astrene onto her back.

         As she slowly opened her eyes Astrene gave a small smile, "No young one. My time is over. The task now falls to you. Please protect our people and help this land find peace."

         "I can't I'm just a novice and a nobody!"

         "You are wrong. You are the only one who can keep the blade safe until the true Wielder comes. Only then can a lasting peace be brought to this land." Astrene returned with a cough.

         "As you wish wise Protector," Kendria replied getting a small smile before Astrene slowly closed her eyes and released her last breath. As soon as she did Kendria felt a searing pain flood her body. As she began to scream she jerked awake to the sound of her alarm going off.

         "Wow, that was a really bizarre dream," she softly said before turning off her alarm clock and began getting ready for the day. Just as she was about to leave she spotted the small dagger necklace and after holding it for a short while she came to a decision and slipped the necklace on, hiding it beneath the uniform. As soon as she was sure it was hidden from view she headed down to the main cafeteria for breakfast meeting up with Radella on the way.

         "Hey Kendria are you even listening to me?" Radella asked as they were eating breakfast.

         "Sorry.   I guess I zoned a bit."

         "A bit?   You were a million miles away.   Something up?"

         "Not really I just had a really bizarre dream last night."

         "Want to talk about it?"

         "Perhaps later," Kendria replied glancing at her watch, "We should get to class."

         With that the two girls threw away their trash and headed to their first class of the day separating as they stepped outside the dormitory doors.

         Kendria went through her morning classes only half paying attention to what the professors were saying, unable to get the dream off her mind. When her lunch break finally came she quickly rushed to her room and pulled out a blank leather journal and wrote the dream down. She finished just before her break ended and she headed back to class this time she was able to concentrate more on the lectures.

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