WATTYS 2016 WINNER Untouchable. Stone. Jewel - these are some of the names used for people who are born with a gemstone at the centre of their forehead. This unfortunate phenomenon cannot be detected before birth, it cannot be prevented, if a family has a Jewelled child, there is only one outcome: Before they're sixteen, they will have to leave human society forever and serve "the Zephyr". Among the Jewels there are those who have it worse. Those who sport clear diamonds on their foreheads, the Undefined. The downtrodden, the unlucky - the doomed. Cello Riles and Syianne Locke are both Undefined. On their sixteenth birthday, they each leave their homes and travel across the country to the Zephyr, attempting to go into service. Though aside from the place, or thing, that will take them from human society forever - what IS the Zephyr? There are only questions promised, only shadowy riddles guaranteed. Yet faced with no other choice they must venture forth and plunge into the unknown - the Zephyr. [A big thanks to @stpolishook for being a wonderful friend and helping me figure out how to write a better synopsis] COVER BY Abyss-of-Crazy

I was a young girl living in ancient China during what became known as the Tang dynasty. I was found abandoned on the doorstep of a monastery by the monks that lived there, they called me Nǚhái or girl. My mistress called me Yīnghuā or Cherry Blossom as she found me in my blossoming Cherry tree. My mistress taught me to read, write and do sums from the time she found me and she trained me in martial arts even though it was frowned upon for a girl to learn. She instructed me up until my last round in what would come to be my last tournament, it would be years before I would see her again. With China torn by civic unrest and a gravely ill Emperor, the Crown Prince needed a bride of common blood that could quiet the people of the lower classes. When I was caught competing the Prince saw in me that opportunity and the power to keep the noble class from turning against the Imperial family by possessing the beauty they prized and gain approval from the military leaders for my fighting ability. In the end I was given a choice, marry the crown prince or perish and the latter was not an option.