Save me a Story – Kingdom of Selat

This is the continuing story of my adventures in the tale: Save me a Story. If you wish to read the introduction to understand what is happening, click this link: 

https://www.hdhstory.net/Storyblog/?p=3431 

Otherwise, I’ve tried to summarize what happened at the beginning of most of the sections of this story.  

Kingdom of Selat

Folktales, fairy tales, fables, myths, and legends have existed for millennia. But where do these stories originate? I’m sure you will find many explanations if you research the origins of these stories. 

Aesop, for example, according to the Encyclopedia Brittanica, was no more than a name invented to provide an author for fables centering on beasts so that “a story of Aesop” became synonymous with “fable.”

Again, according to Brittanica, myths are symbolic narratives, usually of unknown origin and at least partly traditional, that ostensibly relate to actual events and are especially associated with religious belief.

Fairy tales are part of folklore. Webster’s Dictionary defines them as a story (usually for children) involving fantastic forces and beings (such as fairies, wizards, and goblins)

These stories can be written down, created by authors, as in the stories by Hans Christian Andersen, or collected orally and then written down, as in the stories collected by the Grimm Brothers. 

Some are based on actual events, whereas some are just made up. 

Their origins get lost as these tales and stories get passed on from generation to generation. Their meanings are accepted or adapted to create new stories that fit the times we live in. 

Scholars heavily debate all these origins. They base their findings on research, ancient manuscripts, and stories they’ve heard from others. There is a lot of disagreement. 

However, I have found the true origins of all these stories and tales. They are real. The characters not only did exist but still exist. I can’t tell you how the stories got from here into our world, but the characters in these stories are real, for I have met them. As to the stories, they are still evolving. 

Where are all these eternal characters and stories? They are in a Kingdom called Selat. 

I have no idea where the kingdom of Selat is. I was transported here magically, sent by a mystic on an errand to save all the stolen stories. Yes, magic does exist, as do talking animals, fairies, giants, gnomes, a boy named Jack, and others. In my travels here, some of these characters I’ve met. I’ve even met characters from other stories, like the talking beaver from the book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. At least, that is where I think he was from. I guess C. S. Lewis must have found his way here, also. 

I haven’t figured out how the stories we all know evolved. If the stories were true and ended, as in the case of Little Red Riding Hood, shouldn’t the wolf be dead? Yet according to Granny, he still exists. Some of these characters from different stories even interact with each other. Little Red really knows Goldilocks and probably the three bears as well. 

The best I can surmise is that the kingdom of Selat is a repository for all folklore and story characters. The stories themselves were created by people that were here. Through happenstance or magic, people found their way into Selat, where they interacted with these characters. They either witnessed the events or created these stories independently to share outside Selat based on the characters they interacted with. 

It would be an archeological and historical find for someone to come here and do first-hand research. 

In my interactions with Granny, Jack, and the Beaver, some are clearly aware of the story they are in or were part of, and some are not. And though I know the stories and how they play out in my world where characters live or die, they keep existing here in Selat, adding to the magic. I don’t think one could get bored living here. But I guess that would ruin the magic. 

I would love to spend more time here and learn about Selat and its culture, but I have a task to fulfill. It was foretold that I, or someone like me, a storyteller, is to find out what happened to all the stories which have disappeared and bring them back where they belong. A lot of the characters have disappeared as well. At least now, I better understand where I am, who resides here, and what I’m looking for. Maybe I can succeed with some extra help from those who have not disappeared. I might even learn a little magic myself.

Continued in…Lorn