Story of Seasons: Fire and Ice

Prologue: The Winter Goddess

Humanity.

A fickle and foolish race, with diversity and individuality unlike any other. Some were gentle and kind, bringing joy to all that they could and living in unity with the land and each other. Others were selfish and cruel, waging war amongst themselves and those around them, leaving only devastation in their wake. Most were somewhere in between.

Different as they were, however, they all shared a similar flaw: they lacked balance. Humans wanted results without preparation. They wanted the good without the bad. They wanted the day without the night.

As such, their relationship with the gods was a volatile one. To some, they prayed and gave thanks. To others, they cursed and gave scorn. While they praised the gods of light and showered them in adoration, they spurned and despised the gods of darkness. While they worshiped the water and sun gods for crops and bountiful harvests, they resented the fire and ice gods that brought about their destruction and rebirth.

The seasons were no different.

The spring goddess, Haru, was beloved by all, for her arrival brought the end of the frost. Her flower was the hyacinth and her animal the robin. Her calm and gentle nature attracted both humans and gods alike. She had many followers and received countless offerings and prayers. They eagerly anticipated her arrival and mourned her departure.

The summer goddess, Vara, was similar. Her bloom was the sunflower and her animal the blackbird. Her friendly and outgoing nature was infectious and ensured that she was always surrounded by loyal followers. Loving the warmth she'd bring, humans looked forward to her season every year and excitedly awaited her return.

The autumn goddess, Demani, had fewer followers, but still enjoyed reasonable offerings and prayers. With her she brought the season of change, transforming the landscape into a vast mosaic of crimson and orange. Her flower was the marigold and her animal the fox. Like the vulpine, she was reserved and cunning and many humans awaited her arrival for the late harvest.

Then there was Yuna, the winter goddess. Her flower was the mistletoe and her animal the wolf. Unlike her fellow goddesses, she did not enjoy the affection and praise of humans. Because her season brought the bitter cold, crops and wildlife would sleep in preparation for the following spring. To most, she was a shy and quiet goddess and was often disrespected by the other gods due to her lack of followers. As a result, she spent more time running with the wolves and singing songs to the moon than around those of her own kind.

The four of them performed their duties diligently for centuries, bringing the changing of the seasons and maintaining the balance for the humans in their domain. Among their fellow gods, they enjoyed a peaceful life, living in relative comfort and harmony. All were content... except for one.

While Yuna was a kind and loving goddess by nature, her isolation often left her feeling dejected and alone. Her relationship with humans was strained at best and hostile at worst. Though she performed her duties like everyone else, her work was often met with resentment and disdain. Some went so far as to even pray for her absence, wishing with all their might that she would just disappear.

Over time, the lonely goddess grew tired of their cruelty. She became bitter and started to resent the other gods and the humans in return. Her heart grew cold, and her loyalty began to wane. Before long, that uncertainty grew into loathing and hatred. She started to question her purpose to the humans and whether they, along with her fellow deities, would be better off without her. She began to wonder if she would be better off without them. She began to wonder about the possibilities of a life outside of their homeland, perhaps in a realm where her presence was appreciated rather than rebuked.

One day, she made her decision and finally answered their prayers. The humans got their wish, and the season of winter was no more. The frost no longer covered the landscape. The time of rest and dormancy never came. The winter goddess abandoned her duties, the humans, and her homeland to explore life far beyond their realm. She vanished without a trace, never to be seen again.