Elven Creation Myth

Elves believe that the world and all life was created by a group of higher beings. Since this was a massive task, those Divine Parents split responsibilities and each of them focused on things made from a specific element.

The Elder Four and the Younger Four

In the beginning, there were only four deities - the Air Father, the Energy Mother, the Ground Father, and the Water Mother. After setting up the fundamentals - the oceans, the solid land, the atmosphere, and the light from above - they realized that more detailed work was required. So they conceived four children that combined their talents. Those are now known as the Fire Father, the Lava Father, the Plant Mother, and the Fog Mother.

Creating Life

Once the world was filled with weather, vegetation, volcanoes, and wildfires, the Eight began crafting various animals. But eventually, they got bored by their lack of intellect, so they decided to add beings more similar to themselves. Thus, the Elves were born. The Eight were quite proud of their latest creation. They watched as the Elves tamed the wild animals, tended to crops, and invented all sorts of tools.

Gifts for their Favorites

Soon, the Eight began to notice Elves of exceptional merit - ambitious leaders, wise teachers, loyal protectors, warm-hearted caregivers. Curious what those Elves could achieve, the Eight decided to gift them fractions of their magic. The Elder Four picked some of their favorite Elves, and each one placed a crystal on their backs that was not found on any other life form. The Elves did not disappoint. They learned how to use these gifts to shape the world to their liking, rise further above their peers, and leave their mark on history. Soon, the Younger Four were eager to join in. They also chose their favored people and added smaller crystals, gifting them some of their less mighty but more refined magic.

Too much, too soon

Curious what else the Elves could achieve, the Elder Four added more crystals to the shoulders of their favored Elves. However, much like a child given a sword, the Elves were not ready to wield that much power. They started causing more harm than good, destroying what they built and hurting those they loved. Horrified, the Eight drained the power from their crystals, leaving them dark and dull.
  Suddenly, the Elves found themselves without the powers on which they had come to rely. Many perished in harsh weather, fell prey to wild animals, or were murdered by rivals who saw this as an opportunity to take their place. The Eight saw their struggles, but since they worried about the entirety of their creation, they now withheld the gifts they had handed out too eagerly.

Adopting the Children

Eventually, the Elves started pleading with their gods, begging for another chance to prove themselves worthy. The Eight took pity, but they also remained cautious. So they offered a compromise.
  The Eight would take care of the innocent children of their favorites, but only if the parents could earn the favor of at least one deity. Furthermore, the Elves were only allowed one gift from an Elder deity and another from a Younger one. Just as parents who slowly hand more tools to their children, the Divine Parents would gradually allow them to perceive and control the elements as they would mature and learn about using magic. But even then, the empty shoulder crystals would always remain as a warning to be responsible with one's magic.

Drunk on Power

Retellings of the myth vary on what exactly happend when the Elves got too powerful. In most cases, they were a danger to themselves and the world around them. In others, combining the magic of all Eight made them so powerful that they threatened the gods themselves or even reality as a whole.

Crystals on other Species

Once the Elves discovered other sapient beings, they needed explanations for why those would also have attunement crystals. Some versions paint the other species as "the Fallen", descendants of Elves who could not prove worthy of the second chance and devolved into beast people. Others say that certain animals grew jealous and stole the crystals, trying to emulate the Elves but ending up with perverted forms of the divine magic. Yet another idea is that some of the original empowered Elves slipped away, trying to become gods themselves and uplifting beasts to build their own following.