The Pledged

On the distant planet of Tiansu, there exists a unique intelligent life form with no childhood or old age, no birth, nor true death. They come into the world in an extraordinary manner, preserving the most primal memories of survival through generations of reincarnation. They are the Tiansu people. Every Tiansu individual, upon finding a desired partner, must undergo a life-or-death rite of passage to form a union. The victor of this ritual becomes the absolute dominator in the marital relationship, while the defeated is known as—the Bonded.