An End to a Means

Magic is the lifeblood of the Realm of Thiara. Those gifted at birth with the ability to harness its awesome power are the Beneficent, the ruling class. Those left wanting are the Forsaken. There are a few who use magic outside of the Beneficient’s control—they are the outcast, the hunted, the Deoso. As a Deoso-trained witch Benia knew she would face trouble if the Beneficent ever found her. This morning they did—but having her house burned to the ground was only the start of her problems. The same morning there was a surge of magic like nothing she had ever felt before. Now she’s hearing of a plague, a mysterious allergy to magic that has already killed thirty-seven children. Sneaking into the largest Beneficent city in Thiara to look for answers seemed an easy task to Benia, but what she finds there may change her Realm forever.