Maxantarius Farlione has spent his life refining the precise, lethal arts of magic, driven by the singular ambition to honor his prestigious lineage and secure a place in the upper echelons of the military. But the transition from training exercises to the visceral reality of the Ryvenai War shatters his illusions of clean victory and noble glory. As the borders of Ara crumble and his family is thrust into the epicenter of the slaughter, Max is forced to reconcile his hunger for status with the brutal cost of the power he wields.

The stakes escalate when Max enters the competition for the title of Arch Commandant, a role that offers the influence he needs to protect his people but demands a ruthless disregard for personal sentiment. Faced with a trial that pits him against the one perso...

Maxantarius Farlione has spent his life refining the precise, lethal arts of magic, driven by the singular ambition to honor his prestigious lineage and secure a place in the upper echelons of the military. But the transition from training exercises to the visceral reality of the Ryvenai War shatters his illusions of clean victory and noble glory. As the borders of Ara crumble and his family is thrust into the epicenter of the slaughter, Max is forced to reconcile his hunger for status with the brutal cost of the power he wields.

The stakes escalate when Max enters the competition for the title of Arch Commandant, a role that offers the influence he needs to protect his people but demands a ruthless disregard for personal sentiment. Faced with a trial that pits him against the one perso...