A boy grows up believed to be powerless after his parents burned away their own magic to save his life. Shunned as an outcast, he carries a secret that could upend everything—until the power they sacrificed everything to hide begins to surface.
Ivan, you can see the Academy from all the way out here? Yeah. Every year, only a handful of students from the Family Academies make it into the Grand Every apprentice dreams of earning a place at the Academy.
You'll get there. I'm sure of it. I hope you are right. What are you doing up so late? Something wrong? Lady Victoria, where are the baths?
There's a private thermal bath at the end of the corridor. It should be empty. Thank you, Lady Victoria. Ivan really is Mum and Dad's son. So that makes him my... brother?
What am I thinking? He's my brother. Still, he moved so fast back there. Can someone with no magic really move like that? So this is how a great house lives.
This bath is bigger than the Academy's communal bath. And the whole thing's private. Who's there? I'm sorry. I had no idea anyone was in here.
Lady Victoria said it was empty. I'm leaving. Right now. Ivan, I've put a barrier on the door. How did you get through it? I don't know. I just opened the door. I didn't feel anything. You didn't feel it?
That's impossible. The barrier's still active, and it hasn't been damaged. Ivan, are you... Ah! Turn around! Right now!