Introduction: In a land where magic is feared for its maddening effects, Cian dreams of becoming a mage—just like his father before him. But when a deadly magical plague spreads across the land, claiming his parents and countless others, the noble Houses descend into chaos, blaming sorcerers for the devastation.Raised by his grandfather, an aging scholar who clings to forgotten myths, Cian finds himself caught between a world that reviles magic and a destiny he cannot escape. When House Blackthorn, a militant order sworn to eradicate all magic, nearly executes him, he realizes his life is worth less than a whisper in the wind.With war looming and dark forces stirring, Cian is forced to flee. But as he uncovers ancient secrets hidden in the ruins of the past, he begins to suspect the plague is not a curse of magic—but something far worse. Something awakening.To survive, he must embrace the very power he was taught to fear… before it consumes the world....