Fallen Shards

Prologue

Long ago, the high goddess of the heavens, Empress Yozora of the heavens' Celestial Empire, divided the sky into 4 regions and each was bestowed a guardian.

The Azure Dragon of the East, Seiryuu. Azure blue scales, like sapphires, upon his whole body which glimmers in the sunlight and glows in the moonlight.
Head of the guardians; Known to be just and benevolent. Bringer of wealth and good fortune to those who he deems worthy. The element of wood; the season of Spring he guards;

The Vermilion Bird of the South, Suzaku. Seemed to be burning, like the sun. Vermilion red and golden feathers glowed with its body's flame. A Phoenix whose fire never extinguishes.
A symbol of good luck;
Bearing the fire element, he guards the season of Summer;

The White Tiger of the West, Byakko. Majestic body so much larger than a normal tiger. Stripes of very light grey on its fur, so white, it seemed to be reflective of light.
The guardian of protection, even from evil spirits.
Bears the metal element, guardian of the Autumn season.

And the Black Tortoise of the North, Genbu. Very large body and much larger gem like shell on his back. Void black shell,comparable to a extremely rare black pearl, glistening as diamond would;
Symbol of longevity and wisdom;
He who bears the element of water, guards the Winter season.
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These 4 guardians of the sky protected the heavens' gift to Earth known as the Sacred Jade tranquility. It is their duty to use the Jade's power to bring prosperity to the lands.

A sacred temple was build for the stone. A temple as white as the clouds of clear day inside yet dawn and dusk it reflected from outside. In it the sacred stone rests with four pillars upon its sides.

Found a top of a mountain, so high, that not even half of it can be seen from land. Impossible to reach, yet humans still manage to find a way to reach it. You would think it would be to give offerings for the 4 guardians. But no, it is to try and claim the Jade's power for their own.

From the heavens' Celestial Empire, the guardians watched as many humans tried to steal the Jade. Yet they did not intervene nor stop them, knowing non will prevail.

The Jade possesses such strong force of power, that a humans' body would crumble and perish the moment he/she touches the stone.

The guardians warned the humans, however these humans did not believed that they would perish the moment they lay a finger on the Jade but only cares about its powers. One by one they tried to steal it, one by one they turned into dust.
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But the humans weren't the only ones who desired the power of the Jade. The Yokai, too sought the its power.

They are monsters or spirits who are can be terrifying or bewitching and attractive; calamity and spectre; Creatures living on Earth who are not humans.

Unlike humans, they were strong enough to withstand the power of the stone and use it for their own. Yet they are never as powerful as a guardian is, and so they hid and waited for the right time.
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Watching from their heavens' Celestial Empire, the guardians soon grew curious of humans' life. And so the night before winter turned to spring, upon the Celestial Empress they bowed. They wished to know, to feel what's it like to be on land.

The empress was hesitant, for she knew they're not suppose to be on Earth, that it would upset the balance and that this comes with a high price.
She explained the consequences of their wish but they were still willing to take a risk; The empress sadly granted it.

"No humans shall see your true celestial form. And so, on land a human you shall be. 20 cycle of all 4 seasons I will grant, after this you can never once again leave."