"Everyone," John echoes with a nod. "Those born here become marked with it after puberty, while the rest of us get it somewhere between the forest and home." He flashes the red imprint of his diabel coffin-shaped mark in the center of his palm, to emphasize his use of the word marked as deliberate.

"Their whole culture and religion is predicated on staving off the manifestation of that beast, so they tend to get a bit thingie if they think someone isn't making an effort." Another meaningful glance at Lu's purple skin. "You'll cop some misguided shit along those lines."