Several days later, Mareus was once again at Elders' Hall staring at the now empty altar. His grandmother’s soul had finally dissipated from her vessel, as her only remaining family he had the responsibility of receiving her hairpin. It was tradition for the eldest grandchild to inherit the item as their own token, otherwise the family would keep it as an heirloom until it was chosen again.

After two weeks the altar had become her hairpins' home, and after another two the adults would say how impressive it was that it still glowed for so long. Now that it was finally gone, the altar felt like it was missing its most important piece.

What’s the longest one has sat in there? How long until the next one does?

Mareus let his mind wander for so long that he didn’t notice the attendant waving him down. Not until a feminine voice silenced the thoughts buzzing in his head.

“Can I accompany you?”

Mareus turned to see a beautiful redheaded woman standing next to him. “Sister Mai.” He noticed that she was wearing nicer robes than usual. “Apologies, did you have business with the elders?”

“No.” She smiled. “May I join you?”

“I have no reason to refuse Sist–“

“Good.” Mai grabbed his hand. “We should hurry then. They’ve been calling you for sometime now.”

The attendant gratefully saluted them as they raced past.

Even without the extra decorations from a celebration, the Elder’s Hall was exceptionally grand. Though now it had more of a regal and slightly oppressive aura than during the wedding.

“We appreciate you coming today young Mareus.” Several voices commanded the space without any one standing out among the others.

Mai slowly lowered her knees to the cushion and Mareus quickly followed her lead. He kowtowed before the now seven elders. Their authority pressing down on him like an iron plate on his back.

“It is my honor, dear elders.” He replied.

Sweat trickled to the floor as he held his forehead to the cold tile. Despite their relaxed views on proper conduct while out in the village, in the Elder’s Hall it was a different matter. This was their domain and they must be shown the utmost respect.

“Raise your heads.” A lone voice commanded.

When Mareus sat upright he stopped his eyes at the base of their podium. There was a reason they sat above him. And it was because of that reason that he couldn’t meet their eyes here.

“Young Mai, approach.” The same voice spoke. Even without looking Mareus knew that the elder woman’s voice belonged to Granny Wei. Mai’s new mother. “Do you accept the weight of this token?”

“I do.” She said plainly.

“Do you acknowledge Mareus as the inheritor of such a token?”

“I do.”

“Are you prepared to offer the War Elder’s vessel to its inheritor?”

War Elder? He thought.

“I humbly accept this honor.”

Mai’s steps quietly echoed through the silent hall as she approached Mareus. When they finally stopped he looked up to see his grandmother’s pale hairpin resting on golden silk. The purple flower was far more striking against the silk than it ever was against his grandmother’s black hair.

“Mareus,” Mai’s sudden voice shook him to the core. “Do you accept the weight of this token?”

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He stared into Mai’s eyes for a single breath that went on for what felt like hours.

There’s green in her eyes. He noticed.

Mai adjusted the wrapping and he finally remembered that she asked a question.

“I–I do.” He resolved.

“Do you acknowledge the responsibility of caring for the token and living up to what it stands for?”

“I do.”

“Are you prepared to inherit the War Elder’s vessel?”

Mareus sharply inhaled. The breath circulating his body felt dry and sticky, with needles dancing on his lips.

“I humbly accept this honor.” He lowered his head and held out his hands to accept his grandmother’s hairpin.

The weight that settled in his palms felt heavy.

“Good job.” Mai whispered.

Tears freely fell past his cheeks as he looked back at her eyes.

Mai hesitated for a moment before returning to her seat beside him.

“Thank you, Young Mai.” Elder Wei’s voice wavered slightly.

As one, the elders spoke. “You may leave, Wei Gin Mai.”

Mai bowed respectfully to the elders, then shuffled out of the hall and signaled for the attendants to close the over-sized doors behind her.

Gentle footsteps echoed from the podium, growing closer at a measured pace until stopping at Mareus’ side. He had to brace his hand to keep from falling over when the old woman threw her full weight into her embrace.

Elder Wei’s voice wavered as she spoke, “It’s okay now. Gongzhu would have been proud of you.”

Something about the uncertainty of her voice mixed with the simplicity of her words broke the dam he had so carefully built up over the last month. For a moment, his tears silently fell until his eyes finally met hers. His breathing shortened into quick huffs until he couldn’t hold back and his cries filled the hall.

Her sternness melted away and she pulled the boy in tighter, cradling him closely. Her own silent tears left a trail in her makeup as she wept along with him.

Once Mareus was able to recollect himself the most ancient looking of the elders spoke up.

“If you’re prepared, we’d like to discuss some things with you about Hua Gongzhu. Things that concern your own past.”

“My past?” He asked.

“Is now a good time for this?” Elder Wei turned back to the withered man.

“We’ve already agreed that it’s best to speak with him about this.”

Elder Guo was the oldest of all the elders by at least half a century and it showed. His eyes were so sunken that they were almost hidden completely and a dark bark-like texture replaced his once youthful skin. The walking corpse was the earliest nightmare for most of the children in the village. In actuality, he was one of the nicest elders. Even if he could be stern at times.

“That’s not what I mean, First Elder. Wouldn’t it be better when the child is more settled?” Elder Wei protested.

Elder Guo ignored her and turned his gaze towards the young boy. It was pointless for them to argue about what would ultimately be the boys decision.

“What do you think? Are you so immature that you couldn’t handle a conversation with this old man?”

“I…” He didn’t know what to say. His throat was already hoarse from his cries, but now there was a lump that felt like he was trying to swallow his own head. “I–I…” Mareus stammered.

Disappointed, the elder turned and made his way further into the hall.

“I want to know.”

Elder Guo stopped.

“I want to know!” He slammed his palms to the ground.

“Very well.” The elder didn’t move. “Follow me.”

They stepped into a side room that felt more like a closet than the elder’s office. Adding to the atmosphere were seemingly random decorations that were tossed here and there without an afterthought. Elder Guo removed a crate of scrolls from his chair and gestured for Mareus to find a seat.

“Please excuse the mess, I’ve been preoccupied with some matters and my record keeping has suffered thanks to it.”

“Is something wrong Elder?” Mareus pushed some random trinkets off a large pelt before uncomfortably sitting.

Elder Guo waved the question away. “Nothing that concerns you. Now tell me.” He took a sip of his cold tea before recoiling. “How long has this been here? So, tell me, what has Lady Hua told you about your parents?”

“Grandmother never liked talking about them. But, I do know that my mother wasn’t from the village.”

“Were you not more curious about them?” The wrinkled flesh that once could have been an eyebrow raised.

Mareus shifted in place before finally muttering an answer. “It’s not that I wasn’t. It’s just that… I was happy with Granny Zhu. She would get sad whenever I talked about them, and I didn’t want to make her sad.”

“I see.”

Elder Guo silently brewed a new pot of tea and shuffled through the papers as he waited. Unsure of what to say, Mareus quietly waited with him. Until the elder offered him a cup.

“Hua Gongzhu is not your grandmother by blood.”

A hollow clunk filled the room as Elder Guo sat his cup down.

Of course she’s my grandmother. Who else could she be?

“There was an incident that happened back when you were no more than a few months old. You see…”

The elder’s voice faded into the background. Mareus only caught segments of the explanation here and there.

“...she led a team to investigate…the caravan was ravaged by a mad beast…you were barely breathing…Lady Hua insisted that in all ways except for blood you would be her grandson.”

The last line somewhat shook him out of his daze.

“Now that she is gone, you will need to decide on what you wish to do.” He paused as he finished his tea. “I see that you’ll need some time. Take a few days, think about what you want and who you want to be. Only when you have made a decision should you return here.”