The Logic of the Other

The origin of all things was a single creature. Before it died, it gave birth to five children, each inheriting one of its traits: flesh, wisdom, energy, soul, and creation. When the creature died, its body became a vast, flat plain, and its children made their homes upon its bones. Energy found the world too dull, so it created the sun with flame. Wisdom thought the world needed balance, so it pieced together the moon. Bored, Soul split itself apart and became the gods. Flesh, also bored, began scattering pieces of its own body. The gods used some of that flesh and parts of their own souls to create all kinds of races. Creation, bored as well, sowed concepts throughout the world, and the world came alive. Later, Flesh died and became forests and waters. Wisdom died and became mountains and ore. Energy died and sank beneath the earth, nourishing all things as it became the abyss. Soul lost its sense of self, and the gods became independent. Creation lost its balance by scattering itself, then shattered into countless laws that completed the world. Five regions formed where they died, and humanity received gifts unique to each, establishing systems of biology, technology, magic, faith, and supernatural abilities.

(As for the rules of time, no matter what, no one can travel to the future or change the past. The world exists only in the present.)

[The opening of this book uses a lot of first-person narration and inner monologue, which is very dull. (It's being rewritten and will read much better later.) The early style is light and the pace is slow. The protagonist isn't especially powerful, so this isn't a power fantasy. It's about gradual growth and slowly introducing readers to the world. The overall style is lighthearted and slice-of-life.]