Chapter Text
Overall, the Gods of this world were no kinder in most regards than any other Gods, they gave as many gifts as they did punishments- sent out curses to their people as often as they blessed them. But perhaps they were grander than most, or merely feeling more generous than usual- for when the first of the many kinds of people that would soon populate the world evolved, stepped onto land and began to wander, the Gods sent them a wondrous present.
Marks blossomed on the skins of the people, bright and colourful- mimicking art forms and styles that had yet to be performed or exist. Some were intricate, some simple- some large and some were small. They appeared on the shoulders, faces, chests, of the people. They were beautiful, and each was unique- but above all, they were a mystery.
There didn’t seem to be a connection between the person and their mark- how did it make sense for the hunter of the village to have a bright paste-painted basket splayed across their abdomen, or for the weaver of the settlement to have a shiny, pointed arrow along the vein of their wrist?
It wasn’t until their two hands connected, rough palms finding a way to hold each other for perhaps the first time- that one particularly bright fellow made the connection- that perhaps the shiny arrow on the weaver’s skin was not meant to represent him, but the hunter- who’s fingers currently traced the inky lines of the arrowhead.
Word spread quickly among the settlements.
Soulmates, was what they were dubbed by the populaces, in their many languages- those pairs and groups of people whose Marks connected them- whose Marks told them that they were meant- were destined- to love each other in some way. Some were platonic, siblings and best friends and partners of all sorts could be found with Marks binding them together. Many were romantic, lovers both great and small in proportion with their own symbols to prove their devotion.
The Marks did not seem to discriminate in many regards- men, women, and others alike were all marked for each other. Species did not play a role either- with elves being meant for gnomes, humans for fae, vice-versa and so forth.
For the many few decades before the elves, fae, and humans had discovered each other- there seemed to be those who’s soulmate seemed to be nonexistent, those who died with their marks still without an identity to hold to it. Folklore rose to the occasion, filling the holes of unknown with stories and myths- curses, bad luck, and false Marks all used to explain the fate of unfound Soulmates. Most of them disappeared after the co-discoveries of other species and beings, or at least lost some of their weight.
It was one of the many great effects of the Marks, that relations were formed and discovered with kingdoms of different beings so quickly relative to the worlds around them- some semblance of peace and proximity necessary for the meeting and discovery of Soulmates.
They were all different, so very very different in their cultures and biology- but in this world, there was always the connection between all of them- that on the day their soulmate was born, a unique Mark would appear on their body. A Mark, promising them that no matter their height or power or voice- that they were all meant to be loved.