The City of Tears (Part 1)
To obtain the mark, Kaizen entered the circle of stones arranged in an intricate pattern in one of the rooms of the shaman's house. His breathing quickened his heart, or vice versa, as he watched the shaman prepare to begin the ritual.
The old wise man in his black robes had said something earlier about intense pain, which made Kaizen a little afraid. He did not handle pain very well. Most of the time, he was very angry.
The shaman looked at him with misty eyes and began to sing a chant in a strange language as he approached. The shaman's chanting gradually intensified, and Kaizen's vision began to blur and his mind became confused, until the halfling's words became a roar that filled the entire space of his mind. Kaizen felt a chill run down his spine like a shock as the spell began to work.
The stones of the magic circle began to glow at that moment.