7 7s of 7 years and 7 days in FFVII a.k.a.: FF7, or the 7 obsessions

[MJN SEIFER]

the true story begins seven years ago at Nimbleheim

The Nibelheim incident only occured 5 years before the game began.

I think he means the promise.

[DarkBahamut]

the true story begins seven years ago at Nimbleheim

The Nibelheim incident only occured 5 years before the game began.

The first part of the story we learn (the farthest thing in the past) is Tifa and Cloud's promise 7 years ago.