Millenia ago, back in the world’s infancy, humans rose to dominance. Like toddlers they were arrogant, and in their arrogance, they believed themselves above nature and the rules by which the world functioned. They came together first in clans, then in tribes. They pushed the boundaries of the world, until they no longer considered themselves as a part of it but rather as the rulers of it. They created civilizations, the beginnings of villages and towns, not once stopping to consider their impact on the world around them.
From these beginnings came The First. Their love and respect of nature captured the attention of The Mother herself. She watched them as they walked the hills and valleys, watched them care for the land, as others no longer did. She peered into their hearts, searched the deepest recesses of their souls and found only love and joy for nature. The Mother decided to test them, so she came to each in turn.
She found the first near a burning mountain, hand outstretched and face filled with longing. She watched as the fingers grazed the boiling red liquid, as the hand snapped back to its owner, tear filled eyes the only sign of pain. She disguised herself as an old man, storming onto the mountain and raging about the dangers, how they should seal off the mountain. Instead of agreement, she received pleas for understanding and ideas for how they could live safely in harmony with the burning mountain. The Mother smiled as her disguise melted away. For the love and care shown to fiery mountain, she granted the gift of fire manipulation. Thus, the first Ignis was born.
The next she found near a raging river. Disguised once again, she created the illusion that she worked on blocking up the river. When horrified shouts came at her to stop she ignored them, carrying on. Words flew at her, lectures on the harmony of the river, the life teeming inside it, the damage would be caused even as the blockage was torn apart with bare hands until they bled. The Mother caught up the bleeding hands as her disguise melted, healing them as the granted the gift of water manipulation. Thus, the first Aqua was born.
The third she found perched among branches of a tree. With her disguise in place, she began chopping down a nearby tree, one of the oldest in the forest, with branches reaching high into the sky and a trunk wider than three men abreast. The strike of the ax against the tree rang out several times before a hand yanked the ax from her. Gentle words told her to look at the tree she chose, to choose one more appropriate to her needs but to leave the ancient ones. The Mother’s disguise melted, and she granted the gift of earth manipulation. Thus, the first Terra was born.
The last she found in a field, twirling in the blowing wind. She fixed her disguise in place and stomped across the field, hands gripping tight to a hat threatening to leave her head. She grumbled loudly about the wind, but a hand stopped her. Words taught her about the benefits of the wind, all the good it did for nature and for people. The Mother melted her disguise and granted the power of wind manipulation. Thus, the first Ventis was born.
And The Mother smiled upon them, granted them her blessings and good fortune and bade them go and sow harmony between the people and nature.
—Creation Myth