Cover is somewhat bent Book description: A Secret Friendship. An Impossible Choice. Mage-in-training, Emolin, struggles with her place in the Altava hierarchy and her compassion for those living in servitude, especially the Paran slave, Hajana. If their friendship were ever discovered, it would mean death for both of them. But when a mysterious figure claims Emolin is the one who can cleanse the land of Parans once and for all, she is forced to choose between Hajana or the lives of thousands. Hoping she can find another way, Emolin is forced to head to the other side of the country to rally Alchemist forces for the war against the Parans, leaving Hajana to wonder if the two of them were ever friends to begin with. Can Emolin come up with a plan to prevent the war? Or can Hajana discover a way to save herself?