Hidden Behind the Veil (Carnivalland #1)

Prologue

It was still during ancient times when the light of the sun was said to keep the monsters in check, under the belief that darkness was their home.

A widely known myth spread across the kingdoms, declaring a nightmare bringer made of darkness and evil, disguised as lightness itself, aiming to trick people and lure them to their death.

The fear of it lingered like a mist in the clouds, poisonous enough to intoxicate people’s souls, making them weak and na?ve for every bit of help or ray of sunlight the ancient gods granted them.

If they couldn’t trust the night, how would they be able to survive the day?

Then, a revelation from a haunting fairy was pronounced. It was said to be an omen brought by the gods and goddesses themselves to initiate a new period of reign.

The dread of the people intensified when the Elven King and his wife were blessed with a child said to be more powerful than any being should ever be; born with a divine scar on its face, interpreted as a mark of evil.

For protection, the people relied on moon spells done by witches and demons of the night.

What was originally an anticipated birth turned out to be the worst nightmare for a little boy whose hair shined like moonlight—light itself becoming flesh.

The myth of the nightmare bringer was projected onto him, resulting in entire kingdoms filled with the most powerful people fearing a child they thought to be the omen of death, the person who was believed to end the world.

However, not all believed the myth, dismissing it as a dark fairytale born of shadowed minds and ancient storytellers, meant only to spread darkness and fear.

And na?ve people always feared the darkness.

The Witchmaker, who was reputed to be a descendant of the powerful sorcerer Merlin, wrote once that learning was solely for sage individuals who never regret their dreams and wishes.

This ancient tale about the connection between knowledge and power worked against the myth of the nightmare bringer, as only na?ve individuals succumbed to trepidation rather than optimism.

Nevertheless, the kingdoms never strived for knowledge, only for power, lost in wrath and gluttony.

The gods and goddesses decided it was time for someone worthy enough to bring the message of the Witchmaker back to life.

Arisen in ashes, made of fire and flames, a new power had spoken, and it was not only a little boy whose magic was about to change the world, but also a dreamer far away from their world.