The future looks bleak in Akaladia. The secret society of the Selected has successfully eradicated all folk born with a strong, latent Spark of Connection . . . but for a few exceptions. Determined to destroy any and all potential threats to his rule, the Great Master of the Selected has commanded his followers to hunt down and destroy all folk born with a strong, latent Spark of Connection who escaped Kyros Draksas' program to quench the Kanazanda. The Adi'vardikhar has also ordered for the Selected to sow and spread chaos and terror upon the land, as the next step in his plan to bring all of Akaladia to heel. Oblivious to the Selected's chilling plans, Earlyan Marnes has returned to the Desert Continent of Ocrecia, where he will find that things are about to change radically. Training as a warrior is about to come to an end, the Selected are closing in on Earlyan and his mentor, and the young warrior is about to face a stiff test of character in the shape of an enigmatic, mysterious, young beauty. Lunembril Police Inspector Danowain Raksika is about to find out that his questionable actions to save the life of mighty Moira Vinard have done nothing other than turn him into a target of the Selected's elite spies and assassins. Young Alsbeth Mattis has passed her Loyalty Trial as a member of the secret society of the Selected. There is little to celebrate, though, as Alsbeth's actions have only led to an unbelievable set of events that might just bring powerful House Mattis to an end. Unbeknownst to all, a menace rises from the depths of the jungle, a threat to the whole world at large that will change the face of Akaladia in one searing, fleeting flash, as the Warriors of Balance come forth to fight the evil rule of the Hall of the Selected."