During his first year at the Ephemeral Academy, Cam grew far in his Ephemeral Mastery, becoming a person of significance. The eyes of the mighty are now upon him, and they promise him wealth and even marriage into their houses should he offer them loyalty. Yet Cam has other concerns. He no longer trusts his sponsor, Rainen Winder—the Wilde Sage—whose usage of Cam and his friends has seen them almost die on too many occasions. A dilemma exists, however, because breaking with the Wilde Sage will also result in Cam’s expulsion from the academy. Needing wisdom, Cam seeks advice from several of his instructors—the new master of the sword, Cinder Shade, and his wife—but before he can enact their counsel, a fresh challenge becomes apparent. A mythical Realm—deadly beyond measure—proves all too real… and an unprepared Light Squad must survive it.