Autumn of the fifth year of the Firefolk Era, the seventh day after the Everlasting Light Festival.
The Starfire River of the Nine Provinces surged on as ever, its torrents of light winding down from the horizon like the Milky Way pouring into the mortal world. Yet people knew—this fire was no longer the fire of old.
It was no longer merely an "art" awakened by Nian Sheng, forged by Fire Artisans, and controlled by mechanisms, but a "Way" fueled by flesh and blood, kindled by conviction, and bound by sacrifice.
Zhaoming had leaped into the Flameheart Abyss, merging his body with the heart of civilization. His form had scattered, but his spirit endured. His flesh was nowhere to be found in the world, yet his name passed from mouth to mouth among the people of the Nine Provinces like starfire, like wind sweeping through a sea of trees, like flames setting a wilderness ablaze.
The Starfire Mark quietly took shape.
That night, a strange vision suddenly appeared above the Nine Provinces—the river of stars hung low, firelight rose, and countless sparks surged from the Starfire River, gathering in the heavens to form a rotating mark: an empty lamp, a crimson gleam at its heart pulsing like a heartbeat, its handle engraved with the character "Ming," meaning "light," which slowly dissolved amid the radiance into the outlines of countless names.
—It was the mark of the oath of starfire, a sign that the heart of civilization was choosing its guardians.
Anyone whose heart flame still burned and whose will flame remained undying could be chosen.
The first ray of light fell upon Gray Ridge Village.
A He, the girl who had once been too poor to light a Starfire Lamp, was kneeling before the old stove at the village entrance,