Mikhail was once an archmage, but now he's just a young kid who has to start everything from scratch. The Academy, where he's viewed as a weakling, becomes the arena for a fierce battle for survival. But someone who once conquered dragons and destroyed empires has an advantage—cold intelligence and strength that nobody expects from a rookie.

Awaiting listeners in this volume are Mikhail's first major encounters with a world where weakness is punishable by death. Not only does he find new allies, he also lays the foundations for his own legend. Here, every decision is a step toward greatness or ruin.