Born with magic, but not status. Aiden is a skilled and talented magus, and the peasants of the human empire have embraced him as one of their own for improving their lives - but his abilities could kill him at any moment. As he discovers that not everyone is interested in changing the world for the betterment of all, Aiden becomes locked in a bitter battle with aristocratic fops and other narrow-minded, dangerous entities - human and otherwise. But empires are built on laws and rules, and the laws require all Magi to attend the College of Magic to learn how to handle their gift and find their place in the empire. To enter the College requires gold that Aiden doesn't possess, and if anyone is caught using magic outside of the College without its approval, the sentence is death. Will the self-righteous flames endemic to all young men spark a cleansing fire and heal the empire, or simply consume their host until the vessel is nothing but a scorched shell? This is Aiden's journey; come along...if you dare.