A dying world. An academy to train seafaring heroes. Four eighteen-year-olds trying to survive it all. Silver beasts, lack of provisions, royal intrigue, and cloaked threats plague this realm. Four young people are chosen to attend the Hall of Explorers academy to train their minds, bodies, and magic, to sail and find their people a new world. Representing the Lakelands, Eleksander, the sensitive boy with a shrouded past. From the North, Sabina, the rational warrior with her snowtiger. On behalf of the Woodlands, Hale, the fearless orphan with something to prove. From the Peaks, Avelynne, the insecure countess with a shameful secret. Before they brave the unknown seas, they must complete their training. Not to mention getting to know each other and become a tight-knit team. Disturbing and bloody incidents soon make that even harder than it should be. Not knowing who to trust makes it worse. They will have to face their individual issues and overcome them together if they’re to avoid becoming puppets in a game where they don’t understand the rules. Or worse, die before even finishing their training.

Our four mapmaking magicians are back at the Hall of Explorers. As they continue their studies, their journey to find new lands is brought forward following a calamitous event. However, seafaring and exploring turns out to be even more dangerous and complicated than they expected. Soon they have to battle not only the perilous waves, the king’s cruel plans, and sea monsters, but also their emotions. Eleksander pines for Hale, who in turn joins Sabina in having feelings for Avelynne. Meanwhile, Avelynne is realising her lack of romantic interest may run deeper than she thought. Meeting new people on their journey makes things even more complex. Feelings will however have to take the backseat as they realise that the magical conspiracy they are part of is even bigger than they thought and that the ocean is full of surprises; some wonderful, but far too many of them dangerous beyond measure. And like the king of Cavarra, the sea doesn’t show mercy.

Fate has dealt all its cards and now it’s time to see how they can be played. Avelynne, Eleksander, Hale, and Sabina are on their way back to Cavarra. They’re bringing home extraordinary experiences, found friends, new information, and bushels of grief and guilt. Not to mention their mysterious golden magic. However, foremost in their minds are the king’s lethal lies and secrets, which will have to be faced now as everything comes to a head. Sadly, the revolution, the plague of the silver beasts, the unknown creature in the lake, and the enigmatic spell that suffocates Cavarra aren’t the four mapmaking magicians only issues. They must face who they are and what they wish to do with their futures. Not to mention their increasingly complex love lives. Do these four choose the paths set out for them? Or do they throw away conventions and forge new roads? All options come with a cost, but some costs will always be worth paying. As long as death doesn’t take away their opportunity to choose.