The thundering sound of horses disrupted the quietness of the forest. It’s small inhabitants running away at the sound, while the forest spirits observed the riders, curious. Men did not enter this forest, it was forbidden, but these were not normal men, they had magic, and they had a good reason for this trip. There was light in the direction they were heading to, they had seen it from their viewing post, an intense light coming from the centre of the forest. Everyone knew about what happened after, so they wasted no time and steered the horses towards it.

The light was growing closer and at the same time weaker, the intensity it had at first dying as the minutes passed. They had to be fast to not lose the source of it.

The light was so faint you wouldn’t had seen it if it wasn’t for the darkness of the night when they decided to dismount, too afraid to hurt the source of the light if they didn’t see it.

After all the quietness, there it was, a small cooing sound, so out of place in the dark night. One of the riders left his horse back, approaching the sound carefully and kneeling by its source. There was a baby, a human baby, its small body still softly glowing with light, just enough that you would find it inhuman, and there, in the middle of their chest a black mark, one that every person with magic or not has seen before, either on paintings, statues or carvings, some elders even claim to have seen their bearers long ago. It’s a Mark that brought hope and despair at the same time when every few generations the bearer and their four equals appeared. They are protectors of the world, envoys from the gods, their presence a blessing but one that awakes unease, will the protection be needed? Will they be able to live in peace with the Kyusei among them? Only time will answer.

The rider hurried to take off his cloak, wrapping up the baby with care and holding her to their chest before turning to the other one.

“We have to call for the council. They are here.”