A bright lovely day had struck upon the beautiful lands of Gangjeom, a rich kingdom ruled by a group of strong individuals, each possessing of their individual powers. In this land, each family had their own descendent that determined their power, some stronger than another, or some that were useful for other things that wouldn't necessarily be considered powerful. Throughout the discovery and sectioning out of the powers in the kingdom, a hierarchy started to form, going from the lowest rank.
An old teacher that was loved by many gave the children of a small little village just outside a dark forest a teaching about the
"There is the Dongkyam, the ones without powers or those who were born with only a small capability of using their power that it was nearly impossible for them to use. The second last rank, were the Eunyam, they're the farmers of the hierarchy. They're not weak or poor, but not powerful or rich either, they weren't necessarily respected, but they were the pillars of society as they were the official providers of the realm.
The next layer in the hierarchy were named the Jinamya, the Jinamya were those who had the first grade of power, or rather powers who could be used for hunting or protecting themselves. To most, the Jinamya were about the same level of the Eunyam, but the Eunyam see them as below them and the reason as to why that is, is that they aren't granted protection for their trade by the second highest class, they have to fend for themselves with their family's power and make a living mastering their own art of crafts or selling animal products.
Many Jinamya resort to criminality, their way of honest living began to become harder and harder the more families had grown to become a Jinamya, or found ways to sell similar products as to theirs; their markets began to have more supply than there were any demands for the goods they crafted or hunted. A family rarely grew up in the ranks with their powers getting more developed and powerful, majority of the time they wouldn't climb the ranks, but rather decrease due to the gene of the power gradually decreasing with each generation.
The next rank, were the Ha-eulchi. These people are the royalty of the hierarchy, their powers are extremely strong and have more variety as to what they are able to do with them. Their powers aren't just simple ones or a single one at that; Most royal or noble families possessed of two powers in their family that they could morph together, some combinations, making to be the most lethal weapon. They take much pride in their position in society which is shown in their beautiful flowy garments with rich colors to show their wealth and position within their rank. Colors have their specific meanings within this kingdom, possibly one of the most important things within the many rules. Only a select few even obtained shrines if they have brought phenomenal work and pride to the land.
The two remaining ranks above the Ha-eulchi were named the Bae-ya-nam and Taeyoohana. Not much is known about these ranks besides that they are above the Ha-eulchi. They are the hard ruling hands of this kingdom, their powers could be seen as celestial as the Bae-ya-nam were chosen by the many gods people worshipped in the land, they represent them in the mortal realm, some came from the lowest rankings simply due to a god starting to take a liking to their person, blessing them with a fraction of their power in order to climb the ranks and be their walking vessel on the lands.
The Taeyoohana are those who were at first the Bae-ya-nam, they are the select few that lived long or honorable enough to have ascended to be of celestial family and ranking. This is the highest rank a soul can be that was born with mortal blood. It isn't just the highest rank for mortals however, it is the highest rank within the lands by rule of the original gods. To make sure no god would take advantage of their vessels or power, or even destroying the land, they had no say or do in the mortal grounds. They are not allowed to touch or change anything to have the mortals rule for themselves and live without the fear of being struck down by a god.
Of course this doesn't mean the gods have no role in the world however as they are still allowed to bless those who worship them at their dedicated beautiful bright red shrines. The original gods aren't the only ones with shrines, as the Taeyoohana too have shrines people could worship for their blessings or symbolic reasoning such as supporting them.
There is one unspoken rank that is even below the powerless Dongkyam... They're the Jun, the fallen Taeyoohana that have been abandoned by their rank, they have either lived the curse of losing their powers and therefore sanity which ends up in them being outcasted and shunned from the rest, or by choice have left the rank.
The reasoning for leaving by choice is extremely rare. There are only a hand full of Jun that have descended by choice, their names are often forgotten, though some who were once the most influential or loved Taeyoohana, turned into myths that people tell the new generations, many of the myths having turned negative in order to scare their younglings off from ever taking the path of abandoning the rules of the Bihajoon.
The shrines of the Jun have been abandoned or even destroyed judged by the crimes they have committed or the beings they turned into. Most Jun turned into monstrous beings such as most
Some Jun can shapeshift into different forms by choice, most take shape of someone they have seen before, but only by touch can they take over their physical identity."
The children circled around the kind old man were listening with full dedication. Some of their concentration sometimes dripped away like a small creak that would dribble into a bigger lake. The old man was always referred to as 'Gray teacher with funny beard' by the children due to his long gray hair and the long sleek strands of hair hanging from his chin. This old man himself was an Ha-eulchi himself. He wasn't too active in the circle of ruling, but his wisdom and respect was the pillar of his existence. He owned one of the largest archives of
He lived a relatively peaceful life, his old life that is. When he was younger, he was a fierce warrior that was extremely active in the
From afar, a young traveling merchant was listening in on the wise lessons of this 'Gray teacher with funny beard.' Of course he knew this man's actual name and ranking unlike these children who thought of him as just another wise old man from the same ranking as them (Eunyam.) This old man was non other than 'Ha Cho, the all seeing owl.' If it weren't for his hat that he always wore, the young merchant wouldn't have recognized him.
During his traveling, he would always read scrolls he'd buy from the money he earned from his flowers or scrolls people traded for his goods. One of these scrolls were the stories about this particular Jinamya who climbed up the ranks to become a Ha-eulchi in order to leave a peaceful life without fighting but instead indulging himself in wisdom and teaching others.
The young merchant found him quite admirable as most Ha-eulchi had either gotten addicted to their fame and riches which resorted in them wanting to be praised for no reason other than their name and ranking. Ha Cho actually had a reason to be praised, especially by how he would teach any child no matter their ranking how the Bihajoon was structured and how it worked.
Instead of falling into a slumber due to drinking the best wine around, he indulged himself into the scrolls and myths to understand just about any topic better than anyone else.
It was about time for the young merchant to go however, as he put on his slightly worn down straw hat detailed with fresh flowers he had picked the same morning. Before he could leave with his carriage pulled by his trusty cow named
He had heard about this young merchant as his wife had purchased the most beautiful and fresh flowers from him one day whenever he had visited their shrine to decorate them in order to show his gratitude for the old wise man's work. She had to praise the young man to her husband for how soft spoken and kind he was, but also his knowledge about flowers and their meanings that he had taught her.
"My dear Hoon-So, please come by my shrine one day to enlighten me about the beautiful language of flowers. I would be delighted to share my favorite recipes of tea with you if I may?" Hearing this from the old master made Hoon-So light up and immediately not before he could gather any of his words.
"B... But of course! I'm sure I will pass once I go up north again in a few weeks! I have only a few more villages to go in my first journey of spring!" "Alright my child, I will be expecting you then, please bring the freshest of flowers so I may surprise my beautiful wife."
Hoon-So nodded to the old man in promise before raising his hand up in the sky to wave everyone of the village goodbye for the rest of his first spring journey. In his young life, he had already made a great impression on the small friendly villages he had visited, all of them knowing his name and kindness, some having blessed to be met with him first hand during his travel.
Moving from the village of Mho, he was going south-west towards the newly found village granted by another Ha-eulchi that was known for her beauty and hand of justice. Her shrine had grown to have so many admirers and worshippers, that they had started building a village around it, naming it their proud little village of Soo-na.
The name was based on the charming Ha-eulchi's name Soolana they had grown to love dearly.