Our first tale begins thousands of centuries ago, when humans revered dragons and treated their word as law.
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Once there was an Empress named Jingū who lived in the land of the rising sun, an island that she ruled with honor and dignity. Across the sea to the east, there was a neighboring highland country that overlooked many islands. Driven by power, the Empress wanted to claim the islands for herself. The people who lived in land across the sea objected to this, and the two nations fought over the islands. The Empress declared war on the enemy country and was determined to rule over the islands.
Now, there was a legend that told of a magical orb called a tide jewel that could control the land, sky and sea. The Empress sought to use its power to control the neighboring islands. But the tide jewel belonged to the great Ryūjin, a dragon god who lived at the bottom of the ocean, and the Empress believed that it would be impossible to obtain it. Takeuchi, the head councilman and advisor to the Empress, suggested acquiring a diver to fetch the tide jewel. The local divers were known for their swiftness and their ability to hold their breath underwater for long periods of time. The Empress was pleased with this idea and allowed Takeuchi to search for a worthy diver as she continued to oversee war matters.
After looking far and wide across the country for a suitable diver, Takeuchi found a woman by the name of Tamatori. She was the fastest and strongest swimmer Takeuchi had ever seen. The head councilman told the diver that if she were able to acquire the tide jewel, then the Empress would be most pleased. Tamatori agreed to this, as to aid the Empress in her time of need would be an honor. The diver began to prepare for the most challenging dive of her life. The next day, she took off and dove beneath the emerald waters.
Swimming downward along the currents, Tamatori had reached the bottom of the ocean and began to look for the tide jewel. Soon, she spotted a glowing orb resting on the seabed, shimmering a bright white, pink and blue. As she reached out for it, she saw a figure approaching out of the corner of her eye. Grabbing the tide jewel, Tamatori made her way back to the surface of the ocean as fast as she could. As she broke through the water, the dragon known as Ryūjin quickly followed after.
Curious, the dragon god asked why the diver had stolen from him. Tamatori explained how the Empress needed someone to bring her the tide jewel in order to win the war and conquer the islands. The dragon tilted his head towards the land of the rising sun. “Look towards the horizon—there is your homeland. Tell me, is it not more than enough?”
Tamatori looked upon the expanse of the island. Stretched out for hundreds of miles, it seemed to go on forever. From a distance she could see its beautiful hills, lush forests and tall mountains. “It is enough,” she agreed.
“Then there is no use in fighting. Climb onto my back—we shall put a stop to this endless war.” Doing so, Tamatori and Ryūjin made their way through the water to a fleet of navy ships from both nations. With the tide jewel, the dragon created a wave between the opposing sides, putting their battle on hold. Ryūjin spoke loud enough for all to hear.
“To seek more power from the world and deny what the world has granted us is foolishness. You must put a stop to this fighting before it is too late. Do not regret losing what you have already been given. ”
Knowing it would be pointless to go against the might and wisdom of a dragon, the Empress agreed to put an end to her conquest. With that, the war between the land of the rising sun and the land across the sea came to an end. Everyone went their separate ways—the Empress pursued diplomacy between the two nations, leading her country into an era of peace. Tamatori was nonetheless rewarded for her actions and continued to lead a fulfilling life as a diver. And with the tide jewel returned to its rightful owner, Ryūjin returned to his home at the bottom of the sea. Perhaps he still resides there to this day.