When Markus was a baby, he was left at the doors of the Order of Saint Bran, and subsequently spent the next thirteen years living within the monastery walls. Although the boy had no particular distinguishing features to speak of, the elder brothers of the Order always showed him kindness and raised him as one of their own.

The days and years went by, until one day a terrible disaster befell the monastery: it was attacked by the legions of Varados. Countless hordes of vile monsters besieged the fortress, and the monks of the Order perished one after another. When the intruders broke into the innermost sanctuary of the religious complex, they found a frightened boy sitting in the center of the courtyard, his eyes squeezed tightly shut in fear.

Markus didn't want to die. He prayed with all his might for his good monk brothers to live, and for this awful nightmare to end. Suddenly, the heavens opened, and a pillar of light came streaming down into the courtyard, turning all the evil spirits into dust. The holy sunbeam emanated a warm, healing wave of energy, which restored all of his fallen brethren to life. That's how Markus acquired incomparable powers, bestowed upon him by the gods themselves.

Since then, Markus, the Shining Paladin, has been traveling the world, a bright light in the darkness, a shelter and shield for the weak and vulnerable.