The morning began as usual, dark curtains being pushed open. Bright sunlight pouring through over the sleeping form of Jace. Being woken up by his mother shaking him. He sat up and it it wasn't for his facial features and flat chest, he'd probably be mistaken for a female or his mother, having adopted her genes rather than his father's.

He got dressed in jeans, a black shirt and hoodie with black converse. Walking downstairs, he sat at the table where his mother prepared gluten free waffles and packed his lunch which was very much kimchi from the spicy smell. His father was Korean and introduced the dish to him as a child and has loved it ever since.

Jace ate with his phone on hand, sorting through the pulled up calendar he had. As expected, he had two tests, a musical audition and choir practice. He took a deep breath, standing up after eating. Taking to gather his books, music and sketchbook into his bag before heading downstairs to get the kimchi his mother made before running out the door.

The sun had begun to rise, about 7:10 and his school bus ran at 7:15. So he ran to the bus stop, catching up to his friends Ava and Keith.

Keith was head of the baseball team, managing the team and being the main coach even as a student. Ava was a culinary student, running her own recipes and making cooking a challenge. Her new challenge was to create her own version of kimchi.

Jace stopped, panting after running that 10 minute walk in 2 minutes, the bus pulling around a corner before stopping.

"About time Jace. Your getting late my guy. I doubt my bro wants to drive you to school again." Ava spoke, laughing. "You got kimchi? I can sense the spice." She joked, loading the bus.

Jace rolled his eyes. "Yeah whatever." Handing the container of kimchi to Ava, he followed suit, Keith getting on after.

The ride to the high school was filled with the scent of spice from the kimchi and the talks of yesterday. Jace pulled on his headphones and played some music, sitting back as he watched the trees and sky.

Sooner or later they got to the school, getting off and walking inside. First, Keith branched off for practice, leaving Ava and Jace to talk about kimchi and for Jace to give Ava the recipe he had before Ava ran off to prepare.

Which left Jace to walk alone to the large choir room where several other choir members were rehearsing. Among the few there, he mentally cursed as he saw Isaiah, one of the varsity choir members and Jace's ex talking to the freshmen.

Jace tilted his head down, walking into the room where folders of music and uniforms were held. He took off his bag and set it down, filing through folders of music and picked out a few. He lead the Choir himself in place of his teacher when the teacher wasn't feeling it. Isaiah was just an obstacle to deal with. He sighed and walked back out, sitting in front of the large music stand.

He remained quiet and once the bell rang, the choir room flooded with JV choir kids. Isaiah leaving as well. Jace stood up, letting the teacher take attendance before going back to their office. Jace went to the piano, greeting them happily.

He spent the first 15 minutes warming every one up, reveling in the beautiful sound. He stood up, taking the folders of music and passed around 5 different songs to everyone.

"Alright, we did amazing at the concert last week. Now we have to get ready for the lunar new year concert. We have 2 months to prepare. You have 5 songs, two will be sung alongside the varsity choir. The opening song and the closing song." He spoke, holding his own set of the music.

He gave instructions and allowed them to separate into sections. He went to the piano, practicing on the piano. Soon he felt something painful, starting off as gentle throbs from his fingers to shooting and excruciating pain up his arms and neck. Centralizing in his head as a massive migraine. He stopped playing, getting up from the piano bench and moved towards the mirror wall and he looked into the mirror.

His face draining of color as he saw a tall man standing behind him in white robes, his eyes a dark gleaming silver. He turned only to see no one behind him, the young choir members turning to look at him and prompt shouts as Jace's legs gave out, his eyes closing from shock.

He woke up nearly 5 hours later in the hospital, his mother beside him in her pretty blue dress and leather jacket. The room was blinding white. Nearly painful to look around but he managed to turn his head from the bright fluorescent lights.

"Mom... something happened... i saw a guy... he looked like that figure in the shrine..." He spoke, his throat raspy.

His mother looked up in surprise to see him awake but upon hearing what he said, her face darkened. The life and joy always present on his mother's face was gone. Replaced with grief and concern.

"I almost forgot about that... Jace... we have to talk..." She spoke, locking the door to the hospital room.

She sat on the edge of his bed and held his hand. Then she began to explain. Long during the reins of powerful emperors in Japan, came the Emperor Qui, a ruthless man and tyrant. On the opposite side of Japan came a new rise of power, birthing Emperor Shi, a gentle man with a protective stance.

From the two, a war began, and Shi wasn't as powerful as Qui and the only way to stop the war, brought forth by Emperor Qui was the public execution of Shi. Although Shi knew he could continue to fight, his people came first so he accepted, coming to the border of the two empires in white robes. He faced Qui and spoke a curse towards him before Shi took his own life with a dagger.

From then on, every man in the family would die by age 18, until a female was born and ghost wed to Shi would the curse stop. Yet when it came to Jace's mother, his grandmother contacted Shi to find a better deal. Shi accepted that the next child to be born into the family would have to be his or the entire family would face the wrath Shi held.

Jace took a moment to let it sink in, his day was ruined. Come to think of it... his birthday was in six months... He'd die. His mother would die. The power of life and death laid in his hands.

"I... don't know what to do..." He whispered.

His mother put a silver amulet in his hand, a silver owl with his wings encompassing a jade stone.

"This should help you speak with Shi. I know you'll find a way, Jace. You're just like your father."