An excerpt from the Kagekoku Monogatari—

The Creation Myth.

In the beginning, there was…nothing. Absolute nothingness filled the void of existence, and that was all.

Then, with a light that had no explanation, They were there—the Higher Beings who would mould the void.

But, for us, it was Her, the Goddess, whose conscious dwelt On High in Paradise, who bears the biggest part of our respect. She Awoke from the vastness of her millennia-long sleep and found the place before Her a void. Upon this sight, She felt a great sorrow in her heart, and she began to weep. She knew, with the knowledge available to Her, that She was one of several High Beings, that Her brethren existed and dwelt elsewhere, but at that moment, She was alone.

Her tears fell into the vastness of the void, creating a swirl of chaotic colours as they joined and collided in the centre. The swirls met, combined; spun faster and faster until, with a sound like thunder echoing through Her Paradise, the tears receded and showed the land She had willed to exist. Not a world, as people have told in tales past, but simply a land.

She called it Megami no Koku—Land of the Goddess, in the language She first taught us. And She smiled as She ran fingers through the fabric of Her Creation, sparking the elements within to life: Earth, Air, Water, and Fire first; then, after a few more moments, Wood, Metal, Spirit, and Storm. She watched them dance within Her creation, raging and ebbing, combining and separating… And She smiled for a brief instant, for She was happy.

But then, when the elements had aligned themselves and covered Her Creation in further wonders—plants, trees, lakes, rivers, mountains, plains, valleys-She found Herself against filled with sorrow. Though She had created another Paradise, it felt not alive.

She retreated for a time, to reflect on Her Creation. Each thought she had, each reflection, sparked a tear, which in turn became a thought, an idea, and, eventually…an Angel.

Seven all told, at least at first. Seven great Archangels, seven great emotions and ideas. Devotion. Compassion. Protection. Love. Pride. Perseverance. Justice. And they loved Her, adored Her, and filled Her with new hope for Her Creation.

She returned, and saw the way the elements had shaped things anew; had, perhaps, gone too far beyond Her plan. To prevent this from occurring again, she summoned the Seven and sought their advice.

Guardians, was the decision made, and so She set about to make Guardians of the elements, of the four corners of Her Creation. To the north She placed a giant tortoise-snake, black-jewelled resplendent in its hard casing. She named him Genbu, and gave to him command of Earth and Wood. To the east she placed a serpentine azure dragon, whose scales shimmered in prefect reflection of the sea. She named him Seiryuu, and gave to him command of Water and Spirit. To the south she placed a red bird of fire, one who would be reborn from the blazing ashes of himself in resplendent flaming plumage. She named him Suzaku, and gave to him command of Fire and Storms. And, last, to the west she placed a white tiger, whose fur sparkled with silver in the light. She called him Byakko, and gave to him command of Air and Metal.

Four Guardians for four corners…and, yet, it did not felt right. Again She consulted Her Seven and asked what she should do. And they consulted with each other and came to her with their results: place a central guardian upon the land. And so She thought, and concluded that their answer was satisfactory. And then She planned, and designated the central guardian thusly: to become a small, flattened land-rise deemed Taikyoukou.

And then She smiled, for it was good.

After a time, She allowed Her Seven to descend, to view the land and report to Her their findings. Upon their return, She heard only praises drip from their mouths—and urges for more. And so She thought, and decided that She would create more, more like her Seven, and yet different.

So first She created animals, four legged creatures of the forest and grasses, legless creatures of the ground and water. She created insects to live off the land and animals, to help them renew. And then…then she created the first of two legs, those called the Majin, the People of Magic. Created of similar image to the Seven, She was so proud of Her new creation that she gave to them dominion not only over the animals, but over Her elements as well.

The Seven seemed pleased as well.

And so things continued for a brief bit of time, until the Goddess had created humanity as well. And then, tired from Her exertions, She retreated to Her Paradise to slumber.

And woke not again until One of Her Seven betrayed Her.