🇧🇷 (em português)

Chapter 5: Recollection and Verity

By looking at the past, one can find

new perspectives in life. A day in

the secret garden is marked by words

of knowledge from a distant time.

An illustrated story based on the Touhou series.

"Why is it important to preserve nature. That is my question for everyone."

"Oh, it's because I love flowers."

"No, you blockhead. it's because we wouldn't have homes otherwise."

"What do you mean? We live in Nusokén now, so who cares."

"I like the fresh air, it's nice."

"That's easy. It's because of the Calzone Layer!"

"..."

"Duh. We're all Fairies. It's like asking why would a fish respect water."

"Fellow Hirokaria. Your hearts have spoken, but the answer to my question
does not lie in your reasoning, but in, 'Urutó’hary, Urutó ywot.'"

"Oh dear. We fell for her ruse."

"Urutó... ugh. I don't understand what you mean, Pajé."

"It means, 'Our grandfather, our father.' Today is an important day, because
you will hear a tale of truth. It is about the origin of this world and its
laws. The Laws of Nature that we must follow as Hirokaria of Nusokén."

"So that's what it was!"

"Shh. Be quiet, idiot."

*** *** ***

A long, long time ago there was only the starry sky. In this mantle of bright
lights, two of them stood out from the rest. Those were the Sun and the Moon,
the avatars of the gods. The Sun would brighten the day while the Moon would
shine through the night. Because of this, the two of them could never meet.

Feeling dissatisfied, the gods summoned a creature from the darkness. It cut
through the sky with its cosmic size, serving as a mediator and a messenger.

She was Mói Wató Mag̃karú Sése, the Great Feathered Serpent.

The Great Serpent — whose size was larger than anything else in this world —
would spend her days with the Sun and her nights with the Moon. Over time, an
unexpected love was born as both stars fell for her overwhelming beauty.

It was through this love that the serpent had many children. Among them, she
produced two worlds which God later merged into one, creating Paradise. This
world was molded into absolute perfection and it was protected by God's laws.

"Wait a second. Was this Paradise our world?"

"No, that came later. That paradise was different. Pristine. Hallowed."

"What about the other kids? What happened to them?"

*** *** ***

The Children were allowed to live in Paradise as long as they followed God's
laws. But as time passed, they grew distant and unfaithful. God's perfect
world was eventually corrupted, and in a moment of regret and grief, he took
Paradise away and rose up further into the skies, leaving everybody behind.

"But where did they go next? They couldn't just stay living on nothing!"

"Maybe they lived on the Serpent's back? But them, why not just follow God?"

"True. If she was so huge, couldn't she just follow him up there?"

"Pajé, what happened to the Serpent? Where did she go?"

"The Great Feathered Serpent? Why, you are sitting on her right now."

"Eeeek!"

"P-Pajé, please don't scare us like that!"

*** *** ***

When paradise was taken, it was the Serpent who was accused of corrupting it.
The Children betrayed their mother, using their magic to transform her into a
new world. The Great Feathered Serpent became Mother Earth, the mother of all
living creatures that came afterwards, Supernaturals or not.

Mother Earth's world was far from perfect, but her children still chose to
cherish it, so history would not repeat itself. At last, God returned, and it
was through his wisdom — now truly respected — that new laws were settled.

"Pajé, them the reason why we respect nature has to do with these laws?"

"Yes. Because if the Laws of Nature were ignored. If we did not live seeking
balance with Mother Earth. She would revert to her original form and return
to the Darkness. And this time, there would not be a third Paradise for us."

"It's like a magic seal. Ugh. I hope to not have any nightmares about this."

"Hmm. I think I figured something out."

"About what?"

"About why we call ourselves Hirokaria. Is it because of the Serpent?"

"Oh yeah. Hirokaria does mean 'children', and Nusokén would be, er..."

"Paradise."

"Right. Children of Paradise. Is that true?"

"It brings me joy to see your excitement, but your answer lies on a tale of
its own. It is a story for another day as there is no time left for today."

"Aw, but I really wanted to know."

"In the end, the Hirokaria have a special connection with this world and its
past. Never forget what you heard today, because preserving the past is one
of our duties. Now, it is about time for you to move on with your schedules."

Like a mantle of stars, they shone their lights bright, illuminating even the
darkest nights. Once the Moon appeared, its light filled their hearts with a
new sense of purpose. When would the Sun rise again? Only God could tell.

Elsewhere, a Hirokat had an uneventful day in the Garden of Paradise. While
she only wished for a carefree life, the stage was already set for modern day
tales. Someday she would understand why as she lived in extraordinary times.