BACKSTORY:

Many centuries ago, there was a mysterious kingdom that existed, although many people only call it a myth nowadays. The villagers of this kingdom had been using a special source of magic, which came from sacred matches. The power of the matches was released when a match stick would be lit and so, each family of the Yamatai Kingdom used this power to speak to lost ancestors. Although, the empress of the Yamatai Kingdom wanted to use the power of the matches for something else. Empress Hasuko wanted to have eternal power and so, she started to use her matches to collect the souls of ancestors, which gave her power. Each time she used the matches her power and strength grew, until one day, she had no more matches left. That night, Hasuko told her guards to start a fire in the village and take every match stick they could find. If a family did not have any matches they would be taken away to the lost islands, where no one would ever find them again.

A little girl that night, named Akura, hid underneath her bed in hope that no guards would find her. She was quiet as she could be, but soon saw her mother and father were taken away by the guards. When they left she slowly sneaked out the back door and ran to her grandmother's home, in hope that no one would find her there.

Young Akura's POV:

"Grandma, are you there?", she whispered.
"Oh! Akura, where is your mother and father?"
"They were taken away grandma."
"It's ok, come with me now."

As we made our way, torture grew in my mind. The scene of blazing fires burning down innocent families' homes and young children hugging their mothers, in fear they'd never see their families again. Just as they were scared, so was I. Although, my mind could've never imagined the feeling of being left alone and lost on an island. Unlike others, my grandma was lucky enough to be prepared for these situations, though we'd never suspected it could ever happen. Many of the villagers regretted this thought and wished they could've prepared a better future for their children, who were now crying on their shoulders.

Grandma took me by the hand and we quickly sneaked over to her small horse stable. I watched as she praised her horses and whispered to them to stay quiet. The horses instantly became calmer and I wondered how she was could do such amazing things.
"Akura, quickly hide behind the hay stacks before they see you.", she whispered.
I did as she said, and watched as she covered the horses in old wheat bags. She soon came and hid with me behind the hay stacks, staying as quiet as we possibly could.

"Try to go to sleep Akura. When you wake up the war will be over, and then we will leave.", and I tried to do so…although, it was very difficult to sleep that night. The sound of screaming children and burnt houses collapsing, was all I could hear most of the time. Even though, I was just a little girl, I wanted to save those people and defeat Hasuko. I would never doubt that I didn't fear those guards or I wasn't scared of being taken away, but I never wanted the moment to last any longer. I tightly shut my eyes and closed my ears with my hands, doing my best to ignore everything around me. Then I felt my grandma's warm arms wrap around me, calming me and giving me enough comfort to slowly fall asleep.