Chapter 3: An Odd Feeling

Both Feng Biao and Hunter decided it was best to listen to the woman and stepped forward. The same thought ran through both their minds

'She seems like the one in charge.'

From her attire to her demeanor, it was hard not to notice the aura of authority she exerted. Hunter took the initiative and spoke first

"Hey, my-."

Before Hunter could finish his introduction, the woman raised her hand to his face, took a long drag from her cigar, and said, "Go get the rest of the ones I know we're supposed to be here, and if they're dead just shut up."

Hunter's face visibly got red, and Feng Biao thought he might snap back a smart response. However, he ultimately turned around and made his way towards the decrepit buildings surrounding the plaza.

This turned out to be unnecessary, for out of the surrounding building trickled out groups of people. The first thing that stood out to Feng Biao about these people was the different ways they had covered up their right hand. They were also young, all around the age of Feng Biao and Hunter.

'It's probably too late for me to cover up my Mark now,' Feng Biao thought, taking comfort in the fact not all of them had covered their Marks up. Curious now Feng Biao decided to see what Mark was on Hunter's hand on and on the woman's.

Hunter's hand had a single star and a shape that looked like 3 triangles interlocked in unison above it. The woman had 2 stars and what looked like an oddly shaped 4 in the middle of them.

'Hunter's Mark comes from a Norse Partial Divinity and this woman's from a True Divinity, but I don't remember where that weird 4 is from'

He would have asked under different circumstances, but he knew even asking Hunter about it within earshot might raise the ire of this woman.

'She's someone who is looking for an excuse to snap. It's best to keep my head down here and go with the flow'

"Alright," the woman clapped as she began to raise her voice for those coming close to hear, "I'll keep it short and simple, and no questions because I don't want to answer any and I don't need to."

"I'm going to ask you a question and while your right hand is bare over your heart, same as mine, you're going to repeat the following as your only response," the woman said before taking another drag from her cigar and continuing, "I have a genuine Mark of Divinity."

"I'm not at fault if you fuck up something that easy."

"Simple as that, now line up, and if I say next you go into the bus," the woman said motioning for them to line up.

So those who were nearest did. Even at the front of the line, Feng Biao could hear those behind him sharing information about what she had said. Hunter had chosen to shuffle behind Feng Biao as the line was forming, the look on his face showing he was a bit sore about the previous incident.

That meant Feng Biao was the first in line. He sighed as he took a step forward. Meanwhile, the woman had her right hand over her heart and watched Feng Biao with an expression as if to say, "hurry up."

Placing his right hand over his heart Feng Biao saw the woman's Mark move. Inside of the star and the oddly shaped 4 he saw a flood of movement.

As fast as the red coloring within the star and the 4 moved the actual shape remained exactly the same.

"Do you have a genuine Mark of Divinity?"

Immediately he felt an odd sensation, a tightness in his chest as if something were squeezing it. Feeling the pressure growing tighter Feng Biao felt nervous and his mind raced.

'A Divine Ability. I've heard of them, but I'm not really sure how they work.'

Feng Biao only knew Marked possessed Divine Abilities, but as for the details, he'd only heard stories. Some Marked could create a fire that melted through rock, others could summon up famous weaponry associated with their Divinity, and from what Hunter had hinted, pretty much all of them were physically stronger than the average human.

With the pressure intensifying Feng Biao chose to repeat the phrase he had been told to say.

"I have a genuine Mark of Divinity."

Instantly the pressure on his chest dissipated. Feng Biao heaved a sigh of relief, being able to breathe without that painful feeling coiling around him.

"Alright, next," the woman said without much enthusiasm.

Feng Biao walked past the armed men and entered the bus, taking a seat in the middle watching as the students passed what he could only assume to be a test. One by one those who passed filled the bus, with Hunter taking a seat next to Feng Biao.

'Should I ask him about Marks?'

Looking around Feng Biao saw the bus was filling up at a rapid pace and decided that wasn't a good idea. It was impossible to have a private conversation here, others would hear, and he still wasn't sure how dangerous showing his lack of knowledge could be.

He could tell the woman had some sort of Divine Ability which could tell if one was lying, and consequences if they were. At least the best idea of the situation he could come up with.

After all, that squeezing pressure on his chest had gone away the second he answered the question she had posed to him truthfully.

Instead, Feng Biao chose to ask what he felt was a safer question.

"So Hunter, what was the point of that?"

Hunter looked at Feng Biao for a second and then began to speak "Well, some Divine Abilities can grant Marks to people. They're not very strong, limited at best, but even those can still generate Divine Abilities."

"What's the problem then?" Feng Biao asked quizzically

"Hmm, limited ain't the right word. More like rusty double-edged swords cause from what I was told they have heavy drawbacks on the person using them, and they go away if the person who Marked them in the first place dies. And the Divine Abilities they grant aren't even as strong as anything you or me can get," Hunter said as he stretched in his seat and continued speaking.

"Nothing wrong with having one as long as you're honest about it, but people with them would rather lie and say they have a real Mark of Divinity. The pay grade and opportunities are different for us, ya know? It's pretty stupid if you ask me, not like you can hide that in the long run anyway."

Before Feng Biao could answer he heard a noise, the same sound the soldiers had made when they exited the bus. Looking outside he and Hunter saw the woman who had been rather arrogant kneeling, her cigar now on the floor. All in the bus sat quietly watching the scene, a shared understanding that what was going on outside was important.

"Lady Zhilan, I wasn't informed you were going to be coming here," the woman said her words laced with anxiety.