OGAWA, Kellie

Berlain has spent his life trying to fit into a world which has never understood him. But when the gods show him the rising darkness, he must decide how to use the gift he has been blessed with.

From his country monastery to the heart of The Kingdom, Berlain is shadowed by forces which see his worth more clearly than he can. With every step, he must face the truth he has denied since childhood—he may be far more important than he ever imagined.

Yet power means nothing in the hands of one who does not believe he deserves it. And if Berlain cannot rise above the doubt which binds him, the world will fall with him.

When a squad of Grassland Riders vanishes without a trace, twin apprentices Ayliah and Fareed set out on a journey that will challenge everything they believe. Their search leads them deep into Raider territory where survival demands not just skill—but the courage to choose wisely.

Yet the further they ride, the more truths surface—reaching beyond the plains and into the heart of power. In a court where power and influence are currency, can two young Riders make themselves heard before war ignites?

And in a race against time, as loyalties shift and motives unravel, one question lingers: who can they trust?

To succeed, Ayliah and Fareed must become more than apprentices. They must decide who they are—and what they’re willing to become.