God Of Death's Shadow Princess

Book 1: Spring & Winter

Under the heavy dark skies, a lone, thin figure rushed through the dense forest.

Her small body covered in various cuts and drenched in blood as she grasp tightly onto the bundle of cloth in her embrace.

Behind her a pack of Shadow Wolves could be seen stalking and chasing after her. Their eyes glowing red with bloodlust and hunger.

She continue to ran, disregarding the many splinters and torn wounds on her numbed feet. Her calf had been bitten once and was bleeding profusely, but the pain did not stop her, she bit down on her dried and cracked lips, running for her life.

From time to time she would glance down at the little toddler she hugged tightly in her arms. Her face serene and calm as she slept in her mother's embrace unaware of the danger she and her mother was in.

But how could such a frail lady outrun a pack of wolves. With each step and breath, the shadow Wolves kept closing in.

-Swoosh-Swoosh-Swoosh-

A yelp of pain cried out followed by a loud thud on the ground. The rest of the Shadow Wolves stopped when they saw their comrade had taken an arrow to its eyes and now remained unmoving on the ground.

The lady who had been running turned in the direction of the arrows to see a group of men mounted on horses. Three of them dressed in armor surrounding the one in the center, who seemed to be the leader of the group.

The three continued to fire a barrage of arrows at the wolves making them scrambled with fury and changed their targets towards the 4 men instead.

Seeing that they were helping her, the woman finally breathed a sigh of relief, exhaustion had caught up to her and finally with staggering steps, she hid behind a large rock and collapsed.

-13 years later-

"Father! I brought you some rare bird's nest from the Yuan empire."

The older man, although with streaks of white in his hair, chuckled gently as he turned to meet the innocent young lady who came running towards him. Her voice sweet like nectar and dressed in her light green dress, each step she took seemed as if spring would follow.

"Chang'er, slow down. A lady in a dress shouldn't be running about."

The young lady giggled but still slowed down as she greeted her father,

"Chang'er understands and greets father. "

The old general smiled as he patted his beloved daughter on the head.

"Hmn. Have you been training diligently?"

Chang'er smiled gracefully as she hugged one of her father's arm,

"Yes father, I can feel power manifesting within my dantian*, I'm sure that I'll be a Bearer."

In this world there are dangerous beasts and lesser demons from the demonic realm. The Song Empire manage to rise and conquer many surrounding land with the help of Bearers. 

Each bearers have a stigma and how powerful their stigma is, depends on their innate potential and the stigma's willingness to accept them. But only those with strong martial spirit and innate potential are able to host a stigma.  

Being a Bearer comes with the heavy responsibilities to keep the Empire safe by hunting demons and beasts. They are an Elite force that also act as the private attack force for the Emperor.

Many wished to become a Bearer as that also meant that one's power, status and fame will also increase. That is also why every 16 year old child from noble lineage will be tested if they are suitable to become Bearers.