The Keeper of Legends

Prologue: A World of Secrets

Years go by, and people forget many "things." People have tried to keep these "things" alive by telling their children and loved ones about events or "things" that lurk in the night that they should watch out.  They might write them down on paper, trying to remember the past.  Sooner or later, those "things" are written on paper to become legends or fairy tales.  People die off, and these "things" soon become forgotten.  But they still exist; they just gradually fade away into another world, into another existence.  There, they thrive, are full of life, and repeat themselves.

            Events that happened might seem unreal or too farfetched. They happened so long ago, and people want proof or hard evidence. But all the proof has faded along with the forgotten. "Things" cannot exist unless people acknowledge that they are there. Yet, people cannot admit it if the evidence has disappeared. People cannot believe things that are written on paper. Anyone could write a story.

            "The real world" is the common term for the world where average people exist.  But the actual name of this world is Hadar.  They have their cell phones and cars.  They fly in airplanes and live in suburban houses.  They become too busy to remember the events of the past.  Conservativeness clouds their judgment, and they cannot imagine what could be real.  They live their lives every day, living on an average schedule, doing the same mundane things.  Time becomes essential, and they must live every second, concentrating on survival.  There is no more time to remember that life used to be a lot more complicated.

            In a way, the people of Hadar are protected from danger.  Ignorance is bliss for these people.  It's better only to worry about themselves: humanity.  Worry about the economy and peace amongst each other.  They may only cause harm to themselves or be caused by natural disasters.  They do not know what real fear tastes like.  Fear stirs the elements, which also starts "The Periphery," allowing tiny holes to stay open for a short period, and things may escape.  But the things that run may not harm them because they are just images.  They are not from the same world.  They may not exist in the same world.

            A select number of people want to believe that life is not what it seems.  Then, they might get a glimpse into the "forgotten land."  Children see them all the time.  They grow up with friends that only they can see.  Monsters from the forgotten land visit them inside their closets or under their beds.  These monsters feed on the fear of the children, knowing that the fear is what keeps them visible.  They like to play with toys in children's minds as if they were a game.  But, the children look at and touch images from another world.  The image can roam free between both worlds along with the connection with their human.  The child forgets sooner or later, and the bond is broken.  The image remains trapped in the forgotten land.

            Using "forgotten land" as the common term for the parallel dimension to Hadar is easy.  It is easier to grasp, but the actual name is Naque.  Together, both dimensions form the world of Shemil.  The Periphery, which separates the two dimensions on a higher plane, was created by the Noble elves that live in the Nimsae Forest of Naque.  They brought their power together a long time ago to give a place to the creatures and people who have lost their place in the hearts of humankind.  They, too, remain in Naque because the humans have forgotten all about them.

            As time passes, Naque will expand because of the newer things people forget.  They have their computers and day planners to help them remember important things like time.  They no longer want to spend time with their children and tell them the lives of the past.  Instead, they give their children things like video games.  The children need to catch up with their friends from Naque.  The video games preoccupy them with other thoughts, usually of violence.

            If these two dimensions knew about each other, there would be chaos.  The people of Hadar would not know how to handle the dangers of Naque.  There will no longer be protection.  People would die of fear or be destroyed by the creatures of their past.  But the elves did come up with a solution: the Gatekeeper.   Only she has the power to prevent these two dimensions from colliding.  She must keep peace in the world of Shemil.