Book excerpt: The year is 1719, of Median's Fifth Age. The world is on the brink of war. A thousand year old strife that never fully died. The need for Mana is ever growing. Attempts at peace treaties with the far away Rastanova Empire to the south, and the Drujhman Emirates to the west, seems failing. Unease shakes the foundations of the Commonwealth Reaches and the Alliance of Kingdoms. Enter Aractus d'aiTaran. Brilliant. Talented. Powerful. The youngest Ma'agan to ever be raised to the high title of Black Adept in his ancient order. Four years after the senseless murder of his master, the then most powerful man in the world, a mysterious letter arrives. Boldly promising answers, the author of the letter beckons Aractus to travel southwards through the lush reaches of Altecia, down to the remote ruins of Obsidian Hills. Aractus' very own place of birth, destroyed sixteen years earlier. Ignoring all signs of impending doom, Aractus sets off, aided by his three trusted friends; the love of his life and Apprentice, the lovely half-human half-high-elf Nydhea d'Arden, his best friend - the infamous Elven connoisseur of beautiful women - Aryawen Elmàr'ill, and Ragash do Marakhien, a Vampire Lord. Together they must seek the truth and pull apart the veil of a conspiracy that spans continents and centuries.