The group approached Elder Biang, who was just finishing sending another group of three through a portal.
Seeing the group that approached him, Elder Biang inwardly shook his head. 'These five decided to team up?'
This was the most fearsome group he had ever seen.
The group that was about to step through the portal turned, looking at the approaching group of five. One of the members was the elderly woman who spoke up earlier.
"Oh, deary. It seems like the stars have all found each other." The woman gave the group a warm smile.
Jaime laughed, shaking his head. "Thank you for the kind words, but I'm afraid that even I cannot outshine your radiance."
"Oh." The elderly woman laughed softly. "Boy, you certainly know what to say to a lady. Where were you in my younger days?" The elderly woman sighed.
Elder Biang glanced at the troublesome boy and then at the elderly woman. He sighed before speaking. "I am sorry to interrupt, but the portal won't last forever. You must go."
"Oh, dear. Looks like I'm wasting everyone's time, haha." Giggling, the elderly woman turned, walking to the portal. "Well, if I see you on the other side, buy an old lady a drink?"
With a wave, the woman stepped through the portal alongside the other two people. The other two were both elderly women, who also waved. "You kids stay safe."
Then, they all disappeared into thin air as the portal closed.
Jaime whistled, watching this. "This place is crazy."
Elder Biang beckoned them over. "Alright kids, where do you want to go?"
Jaime looked behind him at the rest of the group.
Aisha just shrugged. "Don't care."
Timothee smiled. "Eventually we will see the whole world. Doesn't matter where we start."
Jenna didn't say anything but also shrugged, showing that she didn't care either.
Jaime then looked down at the boy he still had in a pseudo-headlock. "Well, leader. I guess it's up to you. I vote we go to this old man's granddaughter's house."
Elder Biang snorted. "Not a chance, punk."
Cain looked up at Jaime's grin before turning to the rest. Aisha snorted but gave a reassuring nod. Timothee gave a thumbs up with a huge smile. Jenna just looked at him before looking away.
Cain smiled at the group of people. It had been so long since he could interact with people. 'I'm truly blessed to have met all of these people.'
"I also want to experience everything this world has to offer. But, I want to eat some delicious food. It has been a long time since I had anything tasty."
Jaime chuckled. "Food it is then." He looked up at Elder Biang. "If you could drop us in a place with good food, that'd be great."
Elder Biang smiled at them but shook his head. "And how are you going to pay for the food?"
Jaime's smile never left his face as he shrugged. "Life finds a way. We will think about it when the time comes. And, worst comes to worst, we just attempt to dine and dash."
Aisha snorted when she heard that, as Timothee laughed out. Even Jenna smiled, gently shaking her head. Cain didn't know what a 'dine and dash' was, but if he could eat tasty food, then he was in.
Elder Biang had never heard the term 'dine and dash' before, but he had a general idea of what Jaime meant. He shook his head. 'This boy. It truly seems like he has a death wish.'
"Well. It would be a shame if you all died in a dine and dash attempt before you even had a chance to cultivate, so I won't send you to a high-class establishment. But, the food should still be adequate and far cheaper."
Jaime nodded. "Sounds good to me. Everyone else?"
They all nodded their heads.
"Then it's settled." Elder Biang waved his hands, making a similar portal of shifting air appear beside him.
"Tell it to me straight, Grandpa. Are you some sort of god or something?" Jaime asked after seeing the old man's power.
Elder Biang laughed, shaking his head. "You brat, stop calling me grandpa. But no, I am not a god. Gods have far more power than I."
"Oho. But there are gods?" Jaime smirked.
Elder Biang knew that he wasn't supposed to tell them anything about the world, but Jaime had gotten him to slip up.
The boy's smirking face irked Elder Biang. "Boy, you truly are one of the most annoying people I have ever met."
"Thank you."
"Not a compliment." Elder Biang waved his hand, beckoning them closer. "Before I send all of you through, there is one final thing."
"All of you are going to be branded with a special mark. I have no idea how it works or what it is. All I know is that this is a power beyond my reach, and we only borrowed it to give to you."
"Branded? That sounds dark." Jaime frowned.
"Don't worry, it won't hurt." He then looked over at Aisha, or more specifically, the tattoo sleeve on her arm. "It will be similar to that ink in the girl's skin. It is a spiritual mark that allows you, newcomers, to identify each other. That is all I know."
Jaime shrugged. "Well, when in Rome." He then pulled up his sleeve, offering his wrist to the old man. "Brand away, Pops."
At this moment, Elder Biang wished that the brand actually would hurt the boy. But, unfortunately, a harmless golden glow showed on Jaime's wrist for a slight moment before fading; revealing a mark underneath.
Jaime looked at his wrist–where there was an indigo tattoo of a perfect infinity sign, framed by a black border. It was a mesmerizing tattoo, and Jaime smiled when he saw it. "I should've gotten it right on my forehead. Haa~ Too late now."
Elder Biang wanted more than anything to smack the boy, but he managed to resist in the end. Looking down at Cain, he said, "you're up next."
Cain nodded, offering his wrist, the same as Jaime.
The spot over his wrist began to glow gold, the same as Jaime, but then something changed. The golden light morphed into a magnificent rainbow of swirling colors before being sucked into Cain's skin.
When the small light show was over, a shimmering rainbow infinity sign was left on his wrist. The tattoo was also bordered by a black outline, serving to enhance the beauty of the tattoo.
Jaime whistled, looking at Cain's wrist. "I'm starting to think that you might be the reincarnation of a god or something stupid like that~"
"Me next, me next." Timothee ran up excitedly.
Elder Biang nodded. "Do you want it on your wrist as well?"
Timothee shook his head as a ridiculous grin spread across his face. He then pulled his bangs back revealing his forehead–and looked right at Jaime. "Since you couldn't get it on your forehead, I have to be the one to carry the torch."
Jaime burst out laughing as Aisha spoke up. "Absolutely not."
Timothee grinned. "Quick Pops. Brand my forehead before she can stop us."
Elder Biang was stuck between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, It was Timothee's choice, and it wasn't Elder Biang's place to go against his wishes. But, on the other hand, the stare that Aisha was giving him sent a shiver down his spine. 'Never underestimate a woman's fury.'
After a short internal debate, Elder Biang decided to go with his life. Clearing his throat, Elder Biang spoke. "I'm sorry, I can't just-"
At that moment, a bright golden light began to shine, coming from Timothee's exposed forehead.
When the light disappeared, there was the same infinity symbol glowing on the boy's forehead. This one was blue with a black outline, the blue seemed to shift within the black outline, almost like waves in the ocean.
The tattoo was extremely beautiful. There was just one problem, IT WAS ON HIS FOREHEAD!
If looks could kill, Elder Biang would have already died ten times over. 'It wasn't me!' He wanted to scream out that he had been wronged–that it was all a misunderstanding. But he couldn't find the courage.
Aisha walked up to Timothee, closely inspecting his head before sighing.
Jaime, on the other hand, was bent forward, holding his knees while laughing his heart out– tears forming around his eyes.
Cain and Jenna both seemed shocked that the boy actually did it. He actually got the tattoo on his forehead!
Jenna snorted. "I guess this is why kids aren't allowed to get tattoos."
Aisha shook her head, glaring at the grinning Timothee. Tomthee's smile went from ear to ear–it was clear that he didn't regret his decision one bit.
Aisha then walked up to Elder Biang and offered the back of her left hand. Her gaze was deadly as she looked at the old man, but she didn't say anything.
Elder Biang gulped, feeling like his throat had suddenly become extremely dry. With a wave of his hand, a golden glow shone from Aisha's hand. The light faded away, revealing a green tattoo with a black border. The tattoo had the same beautiful shifting color as all of the others, almost like it was alive.
After looking at the tattoo for a moment, Aisha turned and walked back to Timothee's side. If he went to do something stupid again, she planned on being close so that she could prevent it.
Jaime finally managed to stop laughing. Wiping away his tears, Jaime stood up, looking at Timothee–who still had a beaming grin on his face, like he had just played the funniest prank in the world. Seeing his face, Jaime couldn't stop his laughter from starting up again.
Jenna shook her head as she walked past. She looked and, seeing that everyone was still distracted by Timothee, she quickly pulled up her shirt, pointing right below her belly button.
Elder Biang almost averted his eyes when the girl suddenly pulled up her shirt. But, when he noticed her point at her stomach, he just nodded and waved his hand.
A glowing golden light showed from Jenna's stomach, but, as it was disappearing, a rainbow swirl of light suddenly flashed and then vanished–like it never happened.
Jenna looked confusedly, at her stomach, but the tattoo didn't seem different. It was the same as Timothee's, a blue infinity symbol framed by black.
Seeing that it wasn't different, Jenna dropped her shirt and shrugged, turning back to the others. Most of them were still focused on the beaming Timothee, but he was looking right at her.
When she made eye contact with him, Timothee's grin grew as he pointed just below where his belly button would be.
Jenna's cheeks slightly flushed as she turned back around, facing Elder Biang. "Can we go now?"
Elder Biang felt like he was being thrown a life preserver when he heard that question. "Yes, yes! It's about time for all of you to go. As I said, I can't keep the portal open indefinitely."
Jenna nodded her head, immediately walking forward and into the portal.
Seeing how much of a rush she seemed to be in, Jaime asked absentmindedly. "What's got her in such a hurry?"
Timothee grinned before completely spilling her secret. "She got the tattoo on her stomach, thinking no one was paying attention. Except I, in a moment of genius, kept a close watch on her and saw everything." Timothee puffed his chest up a bit.
Jaime nodded. "I see." He then looked at the portal, a confused expression on his face. "What a strange girl."
Jaime didn't dwell on it for long, quickly turning to look at the others. "Ready?"
Without waiting for a response, Jaime ran forward and jumped into the portal, vanishing from the area.
Timothee followed right after, jumping in while yelling, "Woo-hoo!"
Aisha shook her head and glanced at Cain. "You first."
Cain nodded his head, taking a deep breath before stepping into the swirling portal.
Before Aisha stepped in, she gave a glance at Elder Biang. "Thank you for your help." She then stepped into the portal and vanished.
Elder Biang sighed, feeling extremely relieved at the moment. "Why do I feel like the heavens hate me? Did I wrong you in a past life?"
With that, Elder Biang turned back to the rest of the people–trying to forget about the troublesome five whose journey had just begun.