Deep in a vast foreign land, surrounded by gigantic trees, a child could be seen jumping across tree branches to tree branches. Behind each jump, a large black cat followed close behind. This small child showed a carefree expression in simple village clothing.
After an hour of jumping around the trees, both the child and the cat, hopped down near a large village.
Both ran into and through the village full of endless energy.
Finally, they stopped in front of a old cabin house by a beautiful and glistening lake. The child open the front wooden door, creaking as he slowly pushed. He ran into the kitchen where a young woman could be seen making stew. The enticing fragrance of the stew assaulted the nostrils of the child walking in.
"Mom! Mom!" the child beamed tugging his mother's sleeve.
He held up a reddish-brown plant in front of his mom.
"Look at what I found when I was foraging with Blacky! Well . . Blacky sniffed it out first, I digged it up!"
"Oh, what is it?" the mother spoke gently to the bubbly child. She stirred the stew on last time and looked at the plant in her child's right hand
"Wow! You found a hundred year old ginseng! We can put this in the stew and it'll make you even stronger and healthier."
"Will it really!?" the child exclaimed in shock.
"Let's eat it right now mom!"
"Now, now Silver," smiled the mother as she took the ginseng from Silver's hand.
She brought out a stone pestle and grinder from the top cabinet and begun grinding hundred year old ginseng into a soft paste. Then, she teared the paste into nine pieces and rolled them into marble size balls. Feeling content with the ginseng paste balls, she threw them into the stew and stirred a few more times.
"We have to wait for your father, he'll should be coming back from hunting soon."
"Did someone call for me?" a young man asked as he made his way into the kitchen.
He held a green feathered chicken the size of an adult torso with his left hand and gave Silver's mother a kiss on her right cheek.
"Son, you want to eat without me again? Such a fatty son yet you're still skinny!"
"Dad!" exclaimed Silver, staring gluttonously at the chicken. His drool escaping from the corner of his lips.
"Let's eat, let's eat! Come Blacky, it's time to eat dinner! Eat. Eat. Food."
"Alright, alright young child. Let mother cut up the chicken and throw it into the stew and you will get to eat soon," giggled Silver's mother.
She gave her husband a light peck on his lips and playfully ran her finger through his hair, staring lovingly towards him.
"Good, I'm starving! I'll picked the feathers out then," laughed Silver's father moving a chair out from the dining table.
His hand suddenly moved, unable to be seen by the naked eyes. The chickens light green and blue-green feathers quickly came off, revealing a cold, naked, and dead chicken.
"Nori, grab the sharp axe so I can chop up the chicken."
"Yes, Galbi," replied Nori shuffling to the back. On a bench, outside their cabin, Nori grabbed a sharp looking axe and came back inside.
Once she came back, she handed the axe to her husband.
An hour later…
After they added the chicken to the stew, the small family began eating. Somewhere in the corner of the kitchen, Blacky was eating up the stew too. Three plates were neatly stacked near Silver's current plate as he gobbled it down. Finishing his fourth and final plate of chicken ginseng stew, he burped in satisfaction.
Both his father and mother smiled and laugh at their son in amusement while eating their stew. Silver was too busy eating to join in their miscellaneous subjects throughout the dinner.
Once they finished dinner, the trio finishing cleaned up after themselves and cleared the small dining table.
Silver played with Blacky for an hour, instantly knocking out on the side of it's stomach. Galbi walked to his son and picked up the snoozing boy to his room. He laid him down, tucking him in bed while Nori hummed a little tune.
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They too, went to bed.
Silver woke up at first light, stumbling around drowsy, walked to the bathhouse. Today was the Coming of Age Ceremony within their village. Every child, age thirteen, had to be present for the ceremony so they can obtain their star marks.
Obtaining the star marks meant they would begin their path as a warrior like Silver's parents.
Putting on his white clothes, walking out of the bathhouse, Silver took a deep breath to calm his nerves.
His father's star mark was a Crimson Eagle while his mother was the rare Shadow Horned Snake. Although they had complete opposite marks, somehow, his father and mother worked extremely well together.
They could be considered as the few strongest in the entire village, including the chief. Everyone admired them, even most of the young childrens wanted to be as strong as them too.
The trio and the black cat sauntered to the center of the village, where the ceremony was to be held. Silver walking on ahead, as his parents and Blacky stayed back in the crowd.
Getting closer to the village center, he could see the towering [Sirius Star Altar]. If one looked closely to his eyes, they could see small specks of violet in his honey brown eyes.
He stopped and stood next to the other thirteen year olds, facing the altar.
Although, Silver should feel scared, he felt exceptionally calm. In his mind, there something telling him that the star marking ceremony will forever change his fate.
Staring the group of children, the chief nodded and turned around to activate the arrays of the altar. Many colors emanated from the altar, blinking a few times before it lost its colors. Minutes later, a shining white light shot from the heavens, into the altar, and at the thirteen year olds.
Each individual was covered in a film of various colors, illuminating the center of the village.
The first to be noticed was a chunky and round boy, his fat trembling from his star mark being awakened. An image of a black striped, white tiger appeared above him. Its projection fully formed, the white tiger gave a mighty roar that could explode the eardrums of the crowd.
"Fey Luden has the mark of the Great White Tiger!" yelled a old man stared in complete shock.
"Our vill-"
Before he could finish his sentence a dragon's roar, a bird's screech and a rumbling yawn could be heard within the light.
From the left, a fit boy with an arrogant look stood straight with an intimidating aura. Right of him was an adorable girl with cute smile and prominent dimples. You could tell she would become a true beauty in the future.
Somewhere in the middle, village chief's youngest and extremely lazy son, showed uninterested expression. He was the most relaxed out of the other three.
Above all four, their divine beast projected above them. Each beast spread out their intimating and mighty aura as they fiercely announced their return.
"Incredible! Gluttonous Fey Luden's mark is the fiercest, Divine White Tiger!"
"The genius Long Zhen is true prodigy! He definitely deserve the mark of the strongest, Divine Azure Dragon!"
"Oh my! Yan Li's mark of the fearsome, Divine Vermillion Bird! A future beauty like her would definitely become a powerhouse too!"
"Aye... that good for nothing chief's son. Can't believe that bum, Fu Wonton, has the mark of the Divine Black Tortoise!"
Everyone felt thoroughly astonished!
All four divine marks would appear in their small village. And not just any divine marks, these four were the of the celestial grade! The highest grade one could obtain.
Throughout history, the four divine marks appeared once during the creation of their world. From then, one of these marks would pop up once every millenia. It's been a few millennia since they appeared! This could be an auspicious or ominous sign.
A sign of a new era or the greatest calamity.
For a small village like theirs, albeit larger than most, could create a large commotion with the neighboring villages. They would gain attention from the sects and powerful families in Wok City or even the from the imperial city of their North Star Kingdom.
"Our Windfall Village has been blessed by the heavens!" exclaimed the chief kowtowing 9 times in front of the Sirius Star Altar. His stood up, unable to hide his euphoria, facing the children and the villagers.
"Let us finish the ceremony! We have one left, who is still bathing in the heaven's light!"
Everyone became quiet, still in the state of elation, fidgetly waiting for the last person to obtain their star mark.
Hidden within the glorious light of heaven, a dark cloud appeared. No one could see the child nor notice the changes happening inside. Rumbling could be heard, the child looked up with a surprised face.
Although everyone had a different scene for their marks, it seems as if his was truly invisible to the crowd. Furrowing his brows, lightning began clumping together at the center of the dark cloud, ready to striked down at any given moment.
Lights of violet formed on the forehead of the preoccupied, staring at the lightning with a fierce expression. For some unknown reason, he didn't feel fear at this danger but felt like he should endure this one strike.
**BOOM
The lightning struck the child, but somehow he appeared unscathed by the strike. The stars above the heaven shone brightly, engulfing him in cosmic wonder. Scenes and images of memories poured into his brain, slowly transforming the body and mind.
An aloof, yet lofty, Three-Eyed Black Crow appeared after heaven's light dissipated. It flew around and over the young boy curiously, inspecting its new owner. Everyone stared at the crow in confusion, almost if they saw it nod in approval.
Finally, the crow cawed in content, returning to the star mark on the child's forehead. After it disappeared, the star mark on his forehead faded.
No one but the four divine marked children saw the child's star mark. For a split second, they could a frightening aura emanating from his forehead. It was at that moment, they all decided something within their hearts.
What they decided, no one but them would know.
Under the shadow of the trees, near the village center, a large black cat was staring at the young child.
'The mythological and legendary Three-Eyed Void Crow, the most powerful and mysterious being of us five void creatures. The first born from the void, disappearing in the river of time after training us for trillions of years. It finally made its appearance before you, Silver.
You truly have stepped on the unfathomable void path that even fate cannot hinder but are forced to help you. It seems like I can only watch from afar and let your clouded path be revealed by each step you take,' Blacky thought as he gazed at the flying crow entering the middle of Silver's forehead.
'With this, your memories should be unsealed.'
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Small changes:
Windstorm City -> Wok City
Eclipse Imperial Kingdom -> North Star Kingdom