A world of many contrasts. Born in the outer fringes and around the shadowy forests, Marla knows the world as a wild and beautiful place, full of nature and danger. Far off in the city where the Light Chargers rule, she's read about a place of stone and architecture, of order and control. Literacy and education are widespread, but controlled by the ruling Light Chargers.

A collector of books, Marla has read about so many amazing places. She'd love to go see them some time. Her country has everything, from wide open plains and farms to thick forests, an ocean at one side, and even a mountain range. Originally chosen to be the apprentice healer, her life looks settled and small. Never in a thousand years did she imagine she would get to travel and see anything beyond her local area.

However, in her world, magic is split. Those who wield creative magic and those who wield elemental magic are at odds with each other. The creatives love the wild places. The elementals prefer to stay in their ordered cities and homes of stone, where young elementals are less likely to destroy things as they learn to use their powers. Was this always the case? When Marla discovers her peoples' secret libraries, she'll learn more than she ever expected.