Dawn of Legends

And in the centuries that followed the creation of the many species, the mortals, who walked upon the earth, began to grow corrupt in their hearts. Their minds, once pure and full of wonder, began to turn towards selfishness and greed. The magic of the earth, which had been given as a gift, was misused, and its power was twisted to serve desires that were born of darkness.

And the Architect, seeing this, called upon Yggdrasil, saying, "Thou, O Tree of Life, who art the guardian of the earth, witness the wickedness of those who walk upon this land. The hearts of the mortals are hardened, and their actions have spread corruption like a disease. They no longer respect the balance of life, and their greed grows unchecked."

And Yggdrasil, ever watchful, felt the disturbance in the air, the taint upon the land. Its leaves rustled with sorrow, and its roots, deep within the earth, trembled with fear. And Yggdrasil spoke, saying, "I have seen it, O Architect. The mortals have forsaken the path of harmony. They have turned their hearts away from the light, and their souls have darkened."

And the Architect, with great sorrow in His voice, spake unto Yggdrasil, saying, "The time may come when the wickedness of the mortals cannot be undone. If they do not turn away from their evil ways, they shall be consumed by their own corruption, and the world shall be lost to darkness."

And Yggdrasil, feeling the weight of the Architect's words, spoke solemnly, "I shall warn them, for the earth is still pure in its core, and the balance must be upheld. But if they do not listen, I shall not hesitate to bring forth the cleansing fire. The wicked shall burn, but those with pure hearts shall not be harmed. They shall witness the fire, and it shall be a sign to all who walk upon the earth."

And the Architect said, "Let it be so. If the mortals do not heed thy warning, then let the fire of purification fall upon them, and let it be a testament to the power of the balance."

And Yggdrasil, in its deep wisdom, called forth a great storm. Its branches trembled, and its roots stirred with power. A voice, like the sound of thunder, echoed across the earth, and the sky darkened, the sun hidden behind a veil of clouds.

And Yggdrasil cried out to the mortals, "Hear me, ye who walk upon this earth. The time has come for you to return to the path of harmony, or face the consequences of your wickedness. You have twisted the magic of the earth to serve your own desires, and the balance is in jeopardy. If you do not turn from your evil ways, the earth shall be purged, and only the pure of heart shall remain."

And the mortals, hearing the voice of Yggdrasil, were filled with fear. Some trembled in the face of the warning, their hearts full of regret for the harm they had caused. But others, their hearts hardened in arrogance, scoffed at the warning, thinking themselves above the consequences.

And so it was that Yggdrasil, in its great sorrow, began to gather the fire that would cleanse the land. The flames rose high, brighter than the sun, and they spread across the earth, consuming all in their path. The wickedness of the mortals, the greed, the hatred, and the corruption, were burned away in the fire, leaving nothing but ash and desolation.

And yet, those with pure hearts—those who had remained true to the balance, who had not succumbed to the darkness—were untouched by the flames. They stood apart, witnessing the scene with sorrow and understanding, for they knew that the fire was necessary to restore harmony.

And Yggdrasil, watching from its place, said, "Let the wickedness burn, and let the earth be cleansed. But those who are pure of heart shall endure, for they are the true stewards of the earth. They shall rebuild, and the balance shall be restored."

And the fire raged on, purging the land of all that was corrupt. The mortals who had turned from the path of harmony were consumed, their wickedness turned to ash. But the pure-hearted stood, unscathed, watching the flames, knowing that the earth would begin anew.

And the Architect, seeing the cleansing fire and the survival of the pure-hearted, spoke, saying, "It is done. The earth has been purified, and the balance has been restored. But the mortals must remember this lesson. They must walk in harmony with the land, or they too shall fall to darkness once more."

And Yggdrasil, its branches now still, spoke once more, saying, "I shall remain, and I shall watch over the earth. Let those who are pure of heart take up the mantle of guardianship, and let them protect the balance. For if they falter, the fire shall come again."

And the Architect, His voice heavy with the weight of His creation, said, "Let it be so. The fire of purification has cleansed the world, but it is up to the living to maintain the balance. May they remember the lesson of the fire and walk with respect and wisdom upon the earth."