Nina Rowan, a six-affinity mage, enters Asterfall to become the greatest healer, but her light magic is dismissed. When she's attacked by Livia Vale, a housemaster takes her in as a bonded prodigy. Can Nina prove that healing magic is power before her enemies strike again?
Stormcrunt wood is priceless. Even a 3,000 year piece could start a bidding war between academies. Nina, you made a bowl out of it? What else would I make?
Don't you people eat? Alright, put it away for now. Mentor, everyone can use these. I have plenty more. That wood grows everywhere back home. It really isn't rare.
He hands out priceless treasures like firewood. Who is this girl? I really want to take it, but something tells me I'd die the second I tried. Do you know why I took you in?
Because I'm the cutest person alive? Or because you know I'll become the greatest healer in all Astafil? I took you in because... Lyra Wen. Report to the Chancellor's Tower immediately.
Sooner than I expected. Tell those disasters I don't care what they did before. House Valiant is about to be dissolved. I don't care how they do it.
They will prove they're not useless. Liam, what does she mean House Valiant is being dissolved? I just got here! I haven't even tasted a gale rabbit yet.
And now the whole house is closing? We failed her. Lyra has seven bonded protégés, but none of us has left the House grounds or entered an Academy trial in The Council thinks House Valiant serves no purpose, so they want it dissolved. Why won't any of you leave?
It's a long story. Come on. Once you meet the others, you'll understand. House Valiant stays. Anyone who disagrees can fight me for it. Enough, Lyra! Everyone knows your old injury's never fully healed. Do you honestly think you're still Astafall Academy's strongest fighter?
You're welcome to find out, Southwood. Let's all remain calm. House Valiant has seven bonded protégés and not one of them enters Academy trials they contribute nothing you cannot justify holding one of the Academy's great houses dissolve it join the faculty at Chancellor's
Tower and let your students remain as general trained students that should satisfy the council who says House Valiant can't justify its place in every generation of this Academy if my students rank second no one dares claim claim first. Refusing the trials doesn't make them useless. Chancellor, give us two months.
My students will prove House Valiant has never stopped being Astorfall's finest. Agreed. If House Valiant still cannot prove its bonded propogies deserve their standing in two months, the house will be dissolved. The matter is settled. Now, Housemaster Wynne, I hear you You injured several bonded propogies from House Stormgrad over a little light mage?
I did. She's now House Valiant's eighth bonded propogy. If Stormgrad propogies can gang up on one of mine, I can pick on one of theirs. Absurd!
Academy rules require a student to clear 700 steps of the Thousand Step Trial before becoming a bonded protégé! Easy. We'll have her climb it.
Leon, I don't think Piers I is home. He is. Piers? Lyra brought home a new junior.
Does he not want to meet me? Oh! Would you look at that? An Aera crystal on the ground. I wonder whose it could be. Didn't you just throw it? If it's on my property, it's mine!