After a violent attack that left Nox in a Dark Sleep and unable to wake, The Dark Band has been forced to separate with half of them staying behind in the capital and the other half venturing to the South Sea Temple of the Cognoscenti to seek answers, knowledge, and advice from a mysterious being called The Black Sage. Still trying to recover from the disastrous attack and feeling guilty for leaving Nox behind in a vulnerable state, Liviana must learn how to cope and compromise with her new companions: Emani, one of the three High Cognoscenti, Anders, a gifted but vapid and sheltered Cognoscenti trainee, and Dorrin, Colm’s cousin and future steward of all of Magnatellus. As they travel, it becomes clear that things are not as they seem within the group and tensions begin to run high. After the group suffers a devastating blow and they uncover cryptic and possibly dangerous information, Liviana has to decide whether to continue on her set path to train and use her magical ability to save Nox or to follow a new road that has been placed before her to discover something that’s much bigger than her and the other members of the Dark Band. Once they reach the ancient and imposing South Sea Temple, they are introduced to the final High Cognoscenti, but can he be trusted? Liviana must decide who to align herself with and who might possibly be trying to destroy the group from within. And who is the mysterious Black Sage