The Volsung Academy says magic is safe. They are wrong.

Vivienne Desai finally has her chance to shine. Stepping out of her twin sister's shadow, she has been accepted into Volsung Academy—the pinnacle of magical education in humanity's Golden Age.

It is a time of expansion and optimism. Magic was discovered only sixty years ago, and the galaxy believes the future is limitless.

But on her very first night, Vivienne witnesses something the masters say is impossible: a mage losing their mind.

While the Academy leadership dismisses the incident and factions argue over whether the threat is even real, Vivienne knows what she saw. Caught between the "Deniers" who want to preserve the status quo and those whispering of a dark future, she must navigate the treacherous politics of the school to find the truth.

The Golden Age is cracking. And Vivienne might be the only one looking closely enough to see it.