Item from Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Onyx bands forcibly inscribed on the children of rebellion leaders — meant to mark them as enemies and control them, the relics instead became symbols of solidarity and quiet defiance.
After Fen Riorson's rebellion was crushed, Navarre's leadership branded the surviving children of rebel leaders with onyx relics — raised, intricate bands inscribed on their wrists. The marks were intended as permanent identifiers, ensuring that the children of traitors could never hide their heritage. Instead, the Marked Ones turned the relics into a badge of solidarity. The relics carry no magical power but wield enormous social force: they mark their bearers as targets for suspicion, discrimination, and surveillance. Xaden's relic is the most prominent, extending up his forearm in elaborate patterns, and it serves as a constant reminder that Navarre punishes children for their parents' choices.