PLOT

Manipulated Daydreams takes place on what is essentially a different world than what we live in now. With magic widely known and accepted, there is no need for complicated machines and electricity, as even the weakest human can muster up magic of some form. The unnamed world seems to be stuck in time, never moving forward in technology. Few people see the point, as they have everything they need. But a world stuck in time leads to problems. For centuries, millennia even, the population has been caught in a same way of thinking. Discrimination is a massive problem, but it has never been about the color of skin.

Those who go by legend believe the world was created by the first beings, two immortal god-like creatures whose true form still remains unknown. They were known as Light and Dark, Lucis and Ereba. Some believe they were created themselves to be companions of the other, complete opposites meant to be soulmates. It didn't seem to end that way. The two fought until they grew weary and eventually drifted apart to separate ends of their world. Lonely, they created new companions. Out of the light came the keepers of Water and Air, Nero and Aeras. Out of the dark came the keepers of Fire and Earth, Pyrra and Demea. The new Keepers helped Lucis and Ereba reconcile, and out of their new-found friendship more creation began. All six worked together to create the population of the world, Lucis and Ereba at the head of the council. The Keepers decided they wanted to pass on their powers into those they created. Therefore, each creature is born with the gift of one of the elements. To keep their children from becoming too powerful, the Keeper council made sure that each creature could control only one. However, there were some flukes along the way, as well as some experiments. Every now and then, someone comes along with the gift of two, possibly even three.

But that is barely a problem to be concerned about. The Keepers' intentions were always pure - well, Lucis's were. He had never meant for his children to hate each other, but hatred and power always seem to accompany one another. It didn't take long for the Keepers' children to draw conclusions about what elements were the greatest and most powerful. At the top of the hierarchy was Light and Dark; below them were Water and Fire and at the bottom was Earth and Air.

Ereba was thrilled that her children worshipped her. She loved hearing their prayers in the back of her head. THe power it gave it - she had always wanted it. Lucis, on the other hand, had never wanted such a thing. He had simply wanted to share the world he and Ereba created, but instead he was looked up to as a god. To try and show his children he was no better than they were, Lucis created homes for the Keepers around their small world, so they could live among them. Earth found its home in the East, Fire in the South, Water in the West, and Air in the North. Lucis and Ereba, Light and Dark, had homes in the very center of it all; castles that were just out of eyesight from the other at their tallest tower.

Unfortunately, this also backfired. Seeing how suddenly the structures went up, the children thought that the Keepers were indeed gods. They called their homes temples of the keepers and began to visit their grounds to leave gifts and prayers. After centuries of this treatment, Lucis finally cracked - he couldn't take it any longer. He could not stand being treated like a god. He disappeared and took the Keepers with him. Their temples were empty of life and their children were without guidance.

All hell broke lose. For a while, it was chaos; there was endless fighting as people tried to rise to power, claiming to be the new Keepers. It stayed this way for decades until Lucis and Ereba came to them once more to set things straight. They chose four people with genuine thoughts to become to the new Keepers and gave them nearly full powers over their respective elements. The new Keepers, Lucis said, were not gods. They were simply advisers, teachers, protectors of their element. With the Keepers guiding the people, Lucis and Ereba vanished once more and haven't been seen since that day centuries ago.

When a Keeper dies, everyone within that element can feel it. It's a sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach, and a feeling as though something has gone terribly wrong. In the event that a Keeper is killed in cold blood, it's even worse. The world wouldn't last long without even one Keeper missing. As one dies, a new one rises in their place, having heard the whisper of their original Keeper. Once they have accepted the position, a soft whisper is sent out among that element - the new Keeper's name.

The castles of Light and Dark remained empty for centuries more. Until very recently, the castles were dark and covered in dust. They were locked from the outside world, impenetrable to visitors.

Two weeks ago, a light appeared in the tallest tower of each castle. They haven't gone out since.

As one can imagine, this brings both curiosity and fear. People have tried getting into the castles, but there seems to be some sort of invisible force field surrounding them. Others wait outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of whatever is inside.

One week ago, an eagle was seen carrying a package through a window of Keeper of Light's castle. Other than that and the light, nothing seems out of the ordinary.

People can only wonder what is going on until the occupants show their faces. Are the people inside the new Keepers of Light and Dark? Have they simply found a way to get through the castles' guard? Or are they Lucis and Ereba, finally returning?