“Burnt Pearl” is a classic creation myth used to explain the origin of planets, peacocks, people, and much more.

Together we found comfort in the pale pages
of smudged black ink; the stresses of earning wages
and an exhausting day of play dissolved in bed.
So I read.

“Long before the land of paper and gunpowder
had ever even heard of a rain shower,
the world was naught but soot and smoke
Until a dragon, who had hence slumbered, awoke.

“When she rubbed her eyes, the chaos coalesced
into celestial orbs so big and bright; she almost cried.
With a heart full of hope, she became obsessed
with animating the beauty of the night skies.

“Her emerald body flew toward the nearest light
But try as she might, never did she arrive.
In the midst of her path lay a pit of blight
so black that she went blind in one eye.

“After being dazed and lost for days, a new plan she did contrive.
She sang to the stars with only one message in mind:
‘Serve as my eyes and you too will take flight.’
Twelve twinkles answered her call in kind.

“Together they toiled to expose the core of pitch,
But the months-long work did not go through without a hitch.
Four stars thought the others were off to a slow start,
and they schemed to take the world for themselves. Indeed, they nearly did depart.

“But the dragon caught wind of their greed,
shortly before it was put into action.
When the twelve’s light finally pierced the void, the faction
of four seized the chance to do the dirty deed.

“As the darkness was slowly receding,
the dragon’s all-seeing eye was suddenly blasted by four flashes.
Just in time, she curled around the infantile planet, impeding
its annihilation. It was left with only a bleached surface and some ashes.

“This dispelled all doubt; punishment was in order.
Enraged, the dragon transformed the four into the first men and women.
And the faithful eight into peacocks to watch over them.
Between the realms she built a broad border.

“After this, the mother of the mighty was mightily tired,
so she perched herself on a snowy oak,
and promptly started snoring.
Those vibrations set the world spinning, yet she has not since awoke.”

That brings us toward our final moment
When I asked if you found the story boring
and silently tucked you in by the fireside.
How I yearn to keep this fleeting feeling from becoming a lament!

“Bleeding Jade” is a tale of two wars: the external and the internal. Both are shown to be equally important.

Grass stains and angry
gashes never prevented
you from conquering.
I dressed your wounds and caressed
your forehead before we read.

“Cast down from the skies,
the men were irate. They blamed
each other, the stars,
anything but themselves
for failing. They feigned strength yet

“They were secretly
starving. They did not know how
to hunt nor fish nor farm
And they refused to cook.
Full stomach, no saved face.

“Meanwhile, the women
ambled through arid deserts,
gathering droplets
from saxuals and meat from
their many-eyed guardians.

From disobedience,
the seeds of chaos were sown.
Malevolent spirits
possessed the men. Across
mighty mountains, Yi chased Er.

And across stormy seas,
San chased Si.

Away from heaven’s haven,
The land lay forsaken
but not forgotten

Each story may contain edits from the original RMB post. Retcons herein are official. That said, I hope you enjoy it and all feedback is welcome!