But that was before the return of magic. We took for granted our position at the top of the food chain, and in the bleak times between magical ages, that made sense. Long ago, our ancestors believed there were more dangers than a few hungry animals outside in the dark. The world after magic returned is far less familiar, and there are enough threats of one kind or another to make the bravest among us afraid. There are actual dangers from the things that go bump in the night, and so far, there isn’t anyone to bump back. People stay indoors after dark, but that doesn’t guarantee safety. Sometimes, that just makes them a meal in a box. If fear is the new normal, maybe its time to try some of the protections from the past. People will try anything: prayers, herbs, hex signs, anything that might hold the weird at bay. We called it folklore, and smiled at the simplicity of olden times, until the monsters they described turned out to be real.