[…]
"Where am I?" Hikari muttered, walking alone across the vast continent of Asuka. "I need to find a shelter fast."
In the distance, he spotted robed figures in white cloaks, each wearing visible marks. Most were Beast Tamers.
In this world, Marks are divided into three tiers:
1st Tier — Basic Marks often seen on the arms. The most common is the Beast Tamer Mark.
2nd Tier — Sub-Elemental Marks, derived from the five elements, as well as Light and Darkness.
3rd Tier — Elemental and Psychic Marks, capable of manipulating nature and the minds of others.
Marks are adjectives that represent the soul and personality. Everyone at birth can obtain one naturally. The Marks can be granted by genetics and culture, and each Mark can evolve following the soul of the user, meaning that someone born with a first-tier Mark can become a third-tier Mark by a meritocracy system.
"You guys are cultists, right? And judging by those wolves… just Tier I. I don't even need to draw my sword to take you out."
However, Hikari noticed something odd. One of the men, the one who seemed the leader, didn't have a beast.
The leader, who had long white hair and penetrating red eyes, with a medium stature, laughed while analyzing Hikari.
"He must be controlling something else… maybe a fairy, another beast or a ghoul," thought Hikari while trying to discern the enemy's strategy.
The white-haired man stepped forward, laughing at the situation.
"My name is Talis, Sir Talis. Representing the Onism, we are here to strip you of your belongings, especially that sword-katana that, according to my info, has the Yukihana clan's insignia."
Hikari narrowed his eyes.
"As I thought… a fairy. She's fast, too fast."
"But if I can just see her…" thought Hikari while assuming a fighting posture.
"Hand over your katana, brat. Kids are not meant to play with knives," said Talis while commanding his troop to attack Hikari.
"Release the wolves! Prepare arrows, we need that sword!"
A flash of light interrupted the scene.
Without hesitation, Hikari drew his katana, Onoko. His intimidating posture crushed the enemies' hope in the surrounding air, and in a single motion, he dashed forward, swift as light, and decapitated every enemy in the blink of an eye.
The leader, frozen and fearing for his life, said:
"Tha-that's a Light Mark? Impossible in a simple boy?! What the hell is happening… Wait, is that smoke?"
Sir Talis, still not believing what was happening, thought:
"Even with a small boy?… He has a Mark that powerful?"
Sir Talis, now desperate, asked for Hikari's name.
"Hikari Yukihana," he replied coldly. "Now tell me. How far is the shelter?"
"Two days and a night following the Unan constellation, and—"
Those were the last words of Sir Talis, representative officer of Onism, who in less than one second was decapitated by Hikari.
Onoko, of all the katanas forged by the Yaruzu Clan, is a masterpiece gifted to the Yukihawa Clan.
While wandering during the snow, Hikari camped during the day and at night followed the Uran constellation.
But what he didn't know was that, because of his poor navigation skills, instead of following the Uran, he followed the Turan, arriving at Hinosca in four days and three nights.
"There is no winter anymore. Probably I went to the wrong place."
Until he noticed that he had arrived at a place he had been years ago.
Hinosca, the Asuka capital and most prestigious city, home of nobles and the Gladiators Pitch.
As he approached, two guards blocked his path, interrupting his entrance.
Seeing the Hinosca capital gate, he asked the Gatekeepers the fee.
Both Gatekeepers had totally different physical appearances. One was unusually short, while the other was average-sized, almost 2.08m tall. He had dark skin, a defined face and muscles, black eyes and extravagant black hair.
While his Mark, visible on his arm, shined, a fairy appeared with a little Gatekeeper attire and holding a wooden sign that read:
"Fee: Fifty Golden Crowns."
That was a completely absurd entrance fee compared to other towns and cities that asked for, at maximum, five silver crowns.
"What the hell!!" Hikari swore. "No other city charges this much to get in!"
The fairy explained that it was to keep beggars away, pointing at a man sitting nearby.
Hikari, already angry at the whole situation, drew Onoko again, and in one swift cut slashed off the fairy's wings.
The taller guard reacted immediately, activating his Mark.
He soon bulked up with overwhelming force.
It was a Tier Two Beast Tamer Mark.
Instead of summoning beasts, the guard was channeling his power and stealing the beasts' strength to increase his own power.
His muscles grew and he became taller, reaching 2.20m while performing an extension of his power.
"That fairy must've been his contracted creature. He probably performed some ritual to ascend from Tier One to Two. This might get messy…" thought Hikari while analyzing his options.
And then Hikari remembered something important.
Hikari revealed the Yukihana Clan emblem engraved on Onoko.
The guard's expression shifted from rage to disbelief.
"That sword belonged to the fifth heir of the Yukihana Clan, who died ten years ago! There is no way…" said the guard in disbelief while looking into Hikari's eyes.
The guard accepted his fate. Insulting the Yukihawa noble clan would make him lose his life.
But while he was thinking about it, Hikari slashed his arm off, and while the scream of pain echoed:
"I don't care about this… I just feel sorry tha—"
While the guard was about to say his last words, a female voice, loud and angry, was heard, paralyzing Hikari and the guard.
"What the hell is going on!?"
A young girl marched up to the confusion.
Hikari looked her way and asked calmly:
"Is this man important to you?"
"Of course not, dumbass! I just want to know who the hell destroyed the armor I made!" said the girl, yelling and angry about the situation.
Hikari understood that she must be a blacksmith, and a skilled one.
That was when the girl presented herself as Eto Yaruzu, and Hikari recognized her as a descendant of the most renowned blacksmith clan on the continent.
Hikari recalled the rumors about the sister of the future Clan Leader, said to be more talented than even the legendary 8th Chief.
"So… you are that Eto?" said Hikari.
While the conversation was happening, the bigger Gatekeeper previously mentioned grabbed the guard and used him as an excuse to save his life and sneak into the city.
"Alright, let's make a deal. Take me to the Guild and I'll help you in the forge," said Hikari while staring into Eto's eyes.
"Deal. But get to work, old man."
[…]
Onoko
Forged by the 10th Chief of the Yaruzu Clan.
Capable of channeling the Elemental Mark of Water.
The edge has never dulled, even after hundreds of executions.
Contains a rune engraved on the blade capable of unleashing overwhelming force when awakened.
[…]
While chatting with Eto, they ended up reaching the Guild.
Eto approached the Guild receptionist.
Hinosca — The Strive Guild.
Eto asked Hikari to wait in the reception while she went to the second floor searching for the Guild Master of Strive.
While Hikari waited, observing the Guild decorations, suddenly a woman receptionist called Hikari's name and explained that Eto's request was approved.
Even with Hikari awaiting Eto's return, he decided to fill out the contract.
"Please, sir, I need your name, surname, age, Mark and class," said the kind receptionist.
After filling out the contract, it ended up as:
Name: Hikari
Surname: Yukihana
Age: 15 years old
Mark: Light — Tier 3
The receptionist paused, stunned.
A boy this young with such a powerful Mark, and a member of the Yukihana bloodline.
The receptionist verified it again using her Mark of Truth.
After being accepted, Eto appeared behind Hikari and explained that the Guild Master accepted the "Merchant Recommendation" and guaranteed the Gold Rank[1] as well.
Before Hikari realized what was happening, the Guild Master entered the room.
"If I'd known that the next Yukihawa heir was coming, I would've prepared a proper welcome."
The name of the Guild Master was Azeli, a tall elf around 2m tall, and even though he was really ancient, he still preserved a young look.
It is based on your Mark, contracted creature if any, and battle records.
Algi had long blonde hair, green eyes, a peaceful look and sharp ears.
Hikari was granted the rare Gold Rank by Azeli himself.
As time went on, on a calm afternoon, Hikari walked through Hinosca's streets as a gentle breeze came.
Hinosca, the Noble Capital, is the most important place. In this city, geniuses and nobles come to increase their status and power.
While Hikari was walking, he saw a forge and remembered that he needed to talk with Eto.
While entering this random forge, Hikari encountered Eto.
Then Hikari looked again and saw the name Yaruzu on the forge, and by a lucky guess he had found the right forge.
Eto was busy bending a large amount of iron.
"What are you waiting for? Go to the basement and grab some coal too."
While entering the basement, Hikari found piles and piles of an immense amount of iron and coal.
After hours, while Hikari was grabbing the coal, he decided to look at what Eto was doing, and when he saw it, he understood it all.
Eto needed this entire amount of coal not to smelt into iron, but to create steel plates.
After hours of working, Eto ended up making more armors, and a lot of steel and iron was still smelting and had not been used yet.
"Watch this," Eto said with a smile.
She extended her hand, and her Mark absorbed the metal directly, storing it.
With swift gestures, she forged ten new armors, each one made of steel.
Hikari asked why she didn't do it before, and then she explained that the quality of the armors made by her hands was hundreds of times better than the ones she made using her Mark.
The ones created with her Mark had a disadvantage: they lost much more durability.
Because of this, the low-grade armors were given to the Coliseum, while the high-grade ones went to the military.
"So you are important to Hinosca's defenses, right?" said Hikari while looking at the armors.
The military emblem, Green details and material used in them. Armor patterns detailed with the Hinosca symbol and steel plates covering vital points while deflecting incoming hits and protecting the soldier.
Hikari, looking at this work, knew that it could be considered a masterpiece and decided to leave and walk through the streets to discover more of the city.
While walking and meeting people in the city, Hikari started feeling a stronger presence, but this time decided to ignore it and move to the Guild.
Hikari stopped in front of the Guild and entered it.
While walking through the Guild corridors toward his assigned room, which had been granted to him for being Gold Ranked, Hikari saw that his face was on a bounty board.
"So the Yukihana Clan really is looking for me."
[1] Note: Guild Ranking SystemPlatinum > Gold > Silver > Iron > Bronze > Rookie