Tarnished: tainted, dull, polluted, less respected, outcast, not good enough, etc.

Tarnished

Merely 2% of the society can turn out to be Tarnished. A person without a soul mark on their 21 birthday. They can date freely but cannot marry those with soul marks, especially Redgold strings. They are free to match any other Tarnished only after their 35 years. There are reports that some Tarnished received their soul marks later, after their coming of age. They called "late whisperers". They get a Tarnished marking at the back of their ears.

Tarnished doesn't favor rich or poor, commoner or royal/celebrity. If it identifies you, it chose you.

When the youngest reach their 21st Birthday by midnight there will be a blinding sting at the back of their will be in a form of a cross or (the location only behind the ears.)Hidden behind the earlobe or some kind of visible behind the ears.

It can be the most thrilling or the most devastating experience.

More youngsters that want the privilege to embrace their own fate desire this branding.

Others feel panicky and dismayed because they don't choose to go out and scout for they preferred a soul mark which means love will discover them.

Most Tarnished felt even if they are deemed the outcast of the system, people are less respected because of an absence of soul marks. Or they indeed thought like they are not deserved, love.

They are still the branding that more stringed soulmates are jealous of.

They can find natural love on their own. They have the right to binge dating without eyebrows being lifted, but they are still under the morality code.

The only problem with the thus Tarnished status they are not allowed to be in a committed relationship with a soul-marked person. It's highly illegal. The soul-marked person must be a blue or yellowed string and has been permitted by the System laws as a registered Tarnished.

The tarnished community is regulated. They cannot wed before 35 years as a "Late Whisperer "soul mark can still appear after years being a Tarnished, eradicating the branding of the ear.

Sometimes the Tarnished get an indication of a new soul mark after a year after the official appearance of a soul mark (22 years or before 35 years.)

Most Tarnished made use of this season to experience total freedom in dating as many people as possible.