In the world of Korai Uji, love and society are ruled by one undeniable force: The Soulmate Law. At its core lies the Glow Phenomenon—a divine marker that reveals a person’s true soulmate. But what exactly is the Glow, and why does it hold such power over the people of Korai Uji?

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The Origins of the Glow

Long before the Glow was understood, Korainians endured a devastating era known as The Barren Times—a 60-cycle period of mass infertility that nearly erased their civilisation. Desperation grew as entire bloodlines faced extinction, until something extraordinary happened.

Korainians began to Glow.

The first recorded instances of Korainian couples, who experienced glowing hair from root to tip, coincided with their successful conceptions. The Glow Phenomenon was heralded as a miracle—proof of the Universe’s hand in matchmaking and the key to restoring Korainian life.
In response, The Soulmate Law was enacted in Cycle 0 AL, requiring all adults to seek out their destined partner. In modern Uji, a Glow isn’t just a sign of love—it’s a legally binding contract. Intimacy outside of this divine pairing? Entirely illegal.

Folktales and Rumours

Of course, not everyone sees the Glow as pure salvation. Travel beyond City Korai, and you’ll hear whispers, rumours, and old-world theories about what truly caused The Barren Times.

In the Colony Outlands, many believe the infertility crisis was the Universe’s judgment for Korainian sins—ranging from the bloody wars between Scales, to the intermixing of Scale bloodlines, to the more damning claim that Korainians simply lost their devotion to the Universe.
The truth? Well, that depends on who you ask.

The Search for a Soulmate

Adulthood in Korai Uji begins with a rite of passage called The Jump. On their 15th birth cycle, all Korainians—even those from the Colonies—must travel to City Korai for their official Adulthood Inauguration and Maturity Ball.

Beneath all the pomp and ceremony lies the real purpose: the start of the soulmate hunt. Young Korainians, armed with their Adulthood Handbooks, are encouraged to test the waters and date freely—searching for the one who will trigger their Glow.

In this phase, many engage in flings—temporary, no-glow relationships meant to pass the time until the Glow appears. But once it does? Commitment is absolute. Any intimacy beyond that point is considered Infidelity—a serious crime in Korainian society.

The History of Flings & The Companionship Etiquette

For the first two hundred cycles, The Soulmate Law was strict. Dating was nonexistent—if a couple didn’t Glow, they simply walked away without question.

Then came Chief Kor, famously remembered as “The Chief That Championed Flings”.
In cycle 200 AL, Chief Kor expanded the Council of Elders from four seats to eight and split the Elder of Guidance into two roles:

• Elder of Maturity (handling logistical matters)
• Elder of Philosophy (handling modern concerns)

It was this new Elder of Philosophy who proposed The Companionship Law—better known as The Fling Law—legalising casual, no-glow relationships.

While flings are lawfully permitted in modern Uji, they come with strict etiquette:

• Flings must remain private—public displays of affection are frowned upon.
• Korainians are expected to keep searching for their Soulmate while in a fling, but only through formal dating—no intimacy until it's time to officially test a potential match.
• If a Korainian meets someone new, they must inform their current fling before ending the arrangement.
• Once the Glow appears, all flings must immediately end.

Even with these rules, flings remain controversial. Some view them as a necessary way to navigate the soulmate search. Others see them as unnecessary distractions, complicating what should be a straightforward journey dictated by the Universe.

And in Korainian society, complications are best avoided.

The Consequences of a No-Glow

So, what happens if two Korainians test their luck and… nothing happens?

A no-glow.

Best case? Awkward. Worst case? A sign of divine rejection so unsettling that one or both korainians flee the relationship entirely.

Most Korainians dust themselves off and keep searching—after all, you’ve got to find your soulmate somehow. But some take long breaks from dating, worried that the Universe may view their hesitation as a rejection of its will.
And that? Not a risk most Korainians are willing to take.‍

But what about those who never experience the Glow?

These individuals are known as Incompletes. Unable to procreate, their existence is met with deep social stigma. While Incompletes can still engage in flings, many Korainians steer clear—fearful that their misfortune might be contagious.

The Weight of Tradition

For most, the Glow Phenomenon is an undisputed law of nature—a guiding force shaping history, relationships, and survival. But not all Korainians accept it without question.

Take Nykia Nykia, a young Redscale from The Mid Regions and the narrator of In The Water. She’s spent her life taught to trust the Universe’s will—but deep down, she wonders: What if she never experiences the Glow? 
What if she does—but doesn’t love her soulmate?

She isn’t alone. In Korainian E.R.A, Teo Umi reflects on the meaning of Soulmates in his standalone story. In Second Testimony, a young Korainian from The Pits chases the hope of fulfilling The Soulmate Law with someone already in mind.
But regardless of personal doubts, one fact remains: For over 267 cycles, the Glow Phenomenon has shaped Korainian law, relationships, and continued prosperity.

The hunt for a Soulmate isn’t just tradition—it’s survival.

Ready to face it alongside them?

You can dive into The World of Korai Uji in the First Dive thread.

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