"Before the Rain of Beings, there were already people roaming around NyxE. Those people, in which we have agreed to name the 'Firsts,' can be extremely talented and gifted. Two of those people are of course Lillian Vondri and Griffith Einar. Now, there are many Firsts who are peaceful but there are others that are menacing to us if we don't take enough precautions! And that's why we're here! To protect and defend you from those threats! Threats like the Witch! Starting tomorrow we will begin our expansion towards the Prairie! We will begin construction and officially declare ourselves! Tonight we celebrate! To our first official year of living on NyxE! Today we become our own ORGANIZATION," Michael Ivan declared.
People dance and sing around ginormous bonfires, having fun and getting warmed up against the cold. Music played by people improvising instruments. The sound of laughter filled the freezing breeze instantly warming up. People surrender themselves to this new life away from earth claiming life has gotten better somehow.
In song, they lift up white handkerchiefs, spin and dance. Truly a magnificently beautiful sight. Not a single soul was blue; only joyous as the day star sets for the night. Tonight is the night everyone stops and follows the oligarchy created. The leaders chosen were Ichtaka Tototl, Michael Ivan, Lillian Vondril, Keahi, and Griffith Einar.
Today people will reintroduce themselves to forget their old lives. Many have chosen to change their names and get a new fresh start; while others travel and discover new things. Not everyone shares the same views of the oligarchy; many stay due to how strange and fearsome this world is.
As today Griffith officially archives leadership over the council and everyone. Tonight, Lillian and Griffith adopt Little Dao Ming, who'll be renamed. This name hasn't only been chosen by Griffith but also Lillian herself. They both wish to take responsibility for this boy together, but due to their newly found status they realized it'd be quite difficult. No one will ever call this boy Dao Ming anymore, but young master Bing Wen.
From this day forward, we are all reborn. Today the year on NyxE starts.
***
It has already been three whole years ever since arriving on this new marvelous planet, NyxE. Little Dao Ming or rather, Bing Wen, is now eight years of age. Today the People of COPESS celebrate the birth of four newly found and built districts. One of the districts is located northwest of the prairie all along the desert, the Inferno desert. As its name suggests, it is due to the extreme temperatures ranging from a high of 130 degrees and a low of -24 degrees. It depends on which part of the desert one travels by, there are only a few who have the ability to withstand these changes in temperature and live a fairly normal life.
The creatures that roam this land are humongous and hostile. Their massive size may even be equivalent to the size of an earth whale! Many of them are afraid of fish Lanterns; like elephants with mice, they do their best to avoid these out of water fish. Many of which are partially blind and avoid smaller creatures all together. This district considers itself separate from COPESS, despite having access to great trade routes and goods connecting one another, they have built themselves to become more of a monarchy. Bescahdet is a kingdom near the great oasis that currently has a Queen.
The second district is the furthest from the prairie, but is neighbor to the deserts; the non followers. This district does not even consider itself a district due to the fact that they want nothing to do with COPESS or any other newly found belief systems and simply want to live a normal life far from oppression. This district houses many people who don't resemble or share many humanoidcharacteristics and or are just outcasts. They are quite free to believe whatever the people there wish to and don't quite have many restrictions. This district of non-believers or non-followers is made up of many small towns and big cities with their own set of jurisdictions, government, or sovereignty. Each may even have their own disciplinary centers. And those that don't, just pass criminals to COPESS.
The third district is relatively peaceful and has a great number of farmers. They're land is known to have many magical properties. Their huge forests and swamps are housed with many bizarre plants. Not much is known from those areas due to the amount of people who've gone in and ended up missing. They're located just south of the desert and west of the great prairie.
***
Bing Wen, at the ripe age of 13 has been eagerly preparing for the public matchmaking ceremony. Today twelve individuals have been chosen from those who are willing to commit to someone. In this new tradition each person will be given a mask to wear until the day of their marriage. When two are engaged they are not to know to whom; this was really creating pairs of two and engaging them together so when they came of age, they didn't have to worry about any intimacy leading to accidents or encouraging lewd behavior. It also reserves one's purity while also renouncing beauty for the other. The symbol of renouncing oneself for another has become more common than on earth molding into something deeper. Not knowing to whom they are engaged creates a string of destiny that ties one to the other. This is also a way that prevents the two from consummation before marriage.
The waiting in between one's engagement to marriage is to conserve their own purity by not cutting their own hair, signifying how long one has waited for the other. No one other than oneself can touch or do their hair. All engagements done so far have been between men and women for the sole purpose to grow and multiply. Not all engagements have been consulted with the matchmaker who can see glimpses of one's future but her own. She herself has the license to not just marry people but also the ability to break engagements and guide through divorces. Of course, not all engagements are matched by the matchmaker herself. There are some who chose to declare their own love and marry shortly after. Those of course being some of the older folks.
When Lillian and Griffith first heard Bing Wen ask to speak to the matchmaker, they were against the idea, later causing Bing Wen to grow curious. And so, Bing Wen couldn't bare to let this matter go eventually, preparing to personally visit her without an announcement.
Finally finding the courage to arrive to the matchmaker's front door, he sees a girl around the age of 12 waiting for what it seemed to be him. Her hair, a war of jet black and snow-white hair perfectly sectioned together neatly in a low small pigtail. He walked up to her, but before he could speak, she said, "Welcome young master, my lady has been waiting for you, please follow." The girl kept her head down as she invited him in. She led him through the property until they arrived to the main hall. The doors and windows were left open and inside was filled with purple and pink see-through curtains hanging all around the room. As he lifted the curtains with two fingers his eyes journeyed around. The matchmaker herself was behind another set of curtains that prohibited him to fully distinguish her appearance. The whole room was dimly lit in pastel pink and blue.
He took several steps when the matchmaker softly spoke in an up-tune tone, "I see you, I know why you are here. So eager to be matched right? Haha, please come take a seat young master." BingWen sat on a cushion placed near her but was still at a distance with a small coffee table separating them. She spoke as her voice strained, "To be direct with you, I've spoken to your parents. They knew ahead of time you'd make your way here. I've seen it. Your future. But the thing they don't know is that you have multiple futures that play out for you. In a way it's in-cohesive. There's a variety of different paths you chose but have not? I saw someone who you've been with for so long and yet you've never met them until you've turned twenty-one. There are various ways the two of you meet. It doesn't seem the two of you have a clear future. I saw another person who mistreats you. And one whom stays here with or without you. Nothing is set in stone dear. But I do see a beautiful girl who seems like the perfect match. She's here and grows to become a true strong beauty."
The matchmaker takes her time to study his facial expressions and movements; therefore, creating long silence between them before a girl comes in with a tray with beautifully decorated and elegant porcelain teacup set. The matchmaker gently took a cup and poured some tea for Bing Wen. She slowly pushed the teacup revealing her pale shaky hands.
The matchmaker took initiative to speak, "Please drink, and tell me why you're so afraid of your little friend's feelings. Haha, you're so cute and adorable. Coming all the way here afraid of her. So easily flustered over the smallest of matters." Bing Wen could only drop his head bashfully while slowly sipping his tea. She continued, "... too bad I won't be able to witness this union in person if it becomes true." Bing Wen shot his head back up wanting to ask why? The matchmaker understood his expression. She hesitantly reached out revealing her hand once again to pat his head changing the subject, "Anyway, in my visions I've seen that your life really hasn't been much of a happy one. I want you to stay strong for the people around you. And persevere for the future. If you marry the girl, you'll stay in COPESS for the rest of your life. If you leave you have to remember that you can make your own decisions and think for yourself. Just remember that when the opportunity comes, you can take the ticket out or not. Be happy, stay strong, live life, and don't be impulsive. Please remember my words and never look back."
She drank her tea and said longingly, "living in a tree seems like a lot of fun. Maybe we should've grown some of those out here Instead."
BingWen and the matchmaker were bidding each other farewell. The little girl from before led him to the door. She gave him a couple tea packets, "please take some with you we simply have too many." BingWen, even more puzzled than before, bids her farewell and leaves her humble abode.
After today, a few months after his thirteenth birthday, he walks along the aisle of the crowd adorned with the finest jewelry, accompanied by his parents. Behind them were more people ready to announce their engagement. The matchmaker stood in front of the crowd sitting on an elevated platform. She wore a light pink, see-through veil, embroidered with an elegant floral design on the bottom of It. She lifted her arms and began the ceremony. This was the last time the public would ever see Bing Wen's face again.