Of those denizens of Thera, there existed one who had faced this void
before. One who had, by luck and sheer force of will, found a way to
re-form himself.

First was awareness. "I am."
Second was understanding. "I exist."
Third was recollection. "I was undone. No! We. We were undone. ALL was undone."

Eventually, he who had been banished before was able to re-form himself once more. The awakening was enough for other beings who had been powerful enough to re-form themselves as well. Together, understanding of what had happened dawned upon them all. And they began to create. Again.